Golden Melody

Chapter 112

Chapter 112

InterMall Restaurant

They ended up at the rooftop restaurant.

Open sky above them.
Soft wind.
The city is buzzing in the distance.

Miexha took another bite of her food.

“…Riel,” she admitted, “your cooking is still better than anything five-star.”

Zatariel leaned in slightly, smiling.

“I know,” he said.
“You fell in love with my pork adobo all over again back in Green Garden.”

He leaned closer.
“Come here—”

—
ZZZAP.

A sharp spark snapped between them.

Zatariel jerked back.
“OW—what the—?!”

Blue static danced across his fingers.
He stared at it, offended.

“…Is this Jayson’s doing?” he muttered.
“He coded jealousy into the air now?!”

Miexha burst out laughing.
“Maybe it’s… nano-field husband protection?”

She reached out— And patted his head.
No shock.

Zatariel froze.
Then narrowed his eyes.

“…So I can’t hug you, but you can pat me like a dog?”

“A cat,” she corrected with a grin.
“I don't like dogs.”

He sighed dramatically.
“Unfair universe.”

They went back to eating.

“…I’m curious,” Miexha said after a moment, poking at her food.
“About your wife.”

Zatariel paused.

“Your son has red hair,” she added, glancing at him.
“So… is she a... Sebastian?”

He choked.
Actually choked.
Coughed.
Then immediately looked away.

“Oh—uh…” He laughed awkwardly.
His spoon slipped from his hand, clinking softly against the table.

“You’ll meet her later,” he said quickly. “At home.”

Miexha blinked.
“…Wait.”

Her brain caught up.
“You’re staying at our house?”

Zatariel shrugged, like it was obvious.

“I manage the household,” he said.
“Take care of the kids.”
A beat.
“Jayson’s buried in work. Asha’s busy saving the country.”
He glanced at her.
“And you were in a coma.”

Miexha exhaled slowly.
“…You’ve had a difficult few years.”

Zatariel immediately leaned back, putting on the most pitiful expression he could manage.

“I have suffered greatly,” he said solemnly.
A pause.
“…But I stayed.”

Miexha looked at the tiredness behind the humor.

At the way he never actually left her world—
Even when he wasn’t part of it anymore.

-------

By four in the afternoon, they were back at DIS.

The school gates slid open with a soft hum.
Miexha barely had time to steady herself before the first student walked out.

Leon.
He stepped toward them, rubbing his cheek— A very visible red handprint stamped across it.