Golden Melody

Chapter 4

Chapter 4- The Price of Freedom

Zatariel Wov

His Pov

Summer break came faster than I expected, and with it, a wave of both anticipation and dread.

The air was warm, and the sunlight spilled through my window, bathing my room in a golden glow, but it couldn't quite chase away the shadows that lingered in my mind.

I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the grogginess of a night filled with restless thoughts.

Miexha Wayne Verra

Her voice echoed in my mind, a melody I couldn't escape, a reminder of the warmth that had been missing.
Her laugh, her voice-there was something about her that made everything brighter, easier.
She had this way of seeing the good in everything, and her optimism was infectious.

And now, this summer, I'd have the chance to see her every day, to spend time with her outside of school, just the two of us.

The thought of it filled me with a strange mix of excitement and nerves.

I was falling for her, hard, and I was terrified of what might happen.

I rolled over, grabbing my phone to check the time.

8:30 AM

Too early to text her, right?
Or maybe not.
What if she's already up?
I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over her number.

My usual composure felt like a flimsy facade, crumbling under the weight of my emotions.
This was different.
This was Mimi.

I exhaled sharply and dropped the phone back on my bed.
No, I'd wait until later.
Besides, I had plans for today.
Cooking lunch for Miexha was going to become a summer tradition if I had anything to say about it.
I jumped out of bed and headed downstairs, already making a mental list of ingredients.
Something light, maybe pasta her favorite for today?
She liked it a lot last time, and it was perfect for summer.

As I started prepping in the kitchen, my mind kept drifting back to her.

The way she smiled at me whenever I brought her lunch, the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about her dreams and her sister.

I wondered if she felt the same pull, the same inexplicable connection that I did.
Was I just a fleeting thought, or was there something more?

Just as I finished packing the food into the new Tupperware I'd bought just for her
(yes, I was that guy now),
My phone buzzed on the counter.
My heart leaped.
It was a message from her.

Miexha
"Good morning Riel! Later?"

Me
"Of course! Got something special for lunch, See you at the park?"

She replied almost immediately.

Miexha
"Yay! I can't wait! See you in an hour!"

I grinned like an idiot, quickly typing back before I could overthink it.

An hour.

I had one hour to try and calm the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

I was supposed to be the cool, collected one between the two of us, right?

But with her, nothing ever felt predictable.
Everything about her was unexpected, refreshing, and-dare I admit it?-irresistible.

After grabbing my things, I headed to the park.

The Creative Private Park had become our unofficial spot-a small kiosk hidden among the trees where we could sit, eat, and talk for hours without being bothered.

When I got there, Miexha was already waiting, sitting on the bench with her usual bright smile.
She was wearing a simple white sundress, her long curly brown hair tied into a messy ponytail, and I couldn't stop staring.
She looked...

different, more radiant than ever.

I took a deep breath and walked over, trying to keep my cool.
As soon as she saw me, she waved excitedly, her smile widening.

"Riel! You're hair's a mess!"

I laughed, setting down the food between us.
"I guess I'm too excited for lunch."

She grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Good thing I'm excited for both."

We started eating, and like always, the conversation flowed naturally-her laughter filling the air every time I made some offhand joke, her soft gaze resting on me whenever she paused to think.

Every little moment with her felt like a stolen treasure, a fleeting glimpse of a happiness I never knew I craved.

As we finished our meal and sat there, quietly soaking in the summer warmth.

But then, a shadow crossed her face.

"Riel," she said, her voice soft,
"I need to tell you something."

My heart sank a little.
"What is it, Mimi?"

"It's about Ron," she said, her eyes downcast.
"He's... he's been gone for a while now. He's on vacation in another country. I've been waiting for his calls every day, but he's been so busy. I miss him so much."

My stomach tightened.

Thyron.

The name felt like a bitter taste in my mouth.
I knew he was obsessed with her, and the thought of him trying to control her, to keep her away from me, filled me with a primal rage.

But I had to be careful.
I couldn't let my jealousy cloud my judgment.

"I'm here for you, Mimi," I said, my voice steady.
"If you need anything, anything at all, you know you can always count on me."

She smiled, a small, grateful smile that warmed my heart.
"Thank you, Riel. I know I can."

I reached out and took her hand, my fingers intertwining with hers. "I'm here for you, always."

But as I looked into her eyes, a wave of jealousy washed over me.
I wanted to be the one she missed, the one she waited for every day.

I wanted to be the one she thought about when she was alone.
I wanted to be the one she loved.

But was she?