Valentine’s Day was just around the corner. Sage packed her things and was getting ready to head
back to Salem City to attend the racecourse launch party.
Yoel, as one of the partners, was attending as well. Melody, on the other hand, was heading back to
Mostal with Ross.
Melody had been massaging and doing chiropractic treatment for Yoel since he injured his lower back.
Melody might seem like a playful child at times, but medically, she was skillful. Yoel and Melody bonded
over time and formed a special friendship.
For Yoel, that ‘special friendship’ between them was built upon the fact that Melody had helped treat
him with chiropractic, and in return, he would let go of the pistachio incident.
However, his generosity was not what Melody was after. “Brother Rich, will you miss me when I’m
gone?” Melody asked with her big sparkly doe eyes, staring at Yoel with anticipation.
Yoel had been stared at by plenty of women before, but he was overwhelmed by Melody’s gaze. He
dodged her gaze and said, “I…I think so.” “Really?” Melody asked with a bright smile on her face. “You
must think of me every day, okay?” Yoel was surprised by her absurd request and chuckled. “I have to
think about you every single day now?”
Yoel had never in his life thought about a woman every single day before, of course, nor had he
thought about men. “Of course!” Melody was determined. “If you think about me every day, you’ll be too
busy to think and date other women.” “But I have to start dating. I’m getting old. If I don’t start looking,
I’ll end up alone. Do you want me to grow old alone?” Yoel said.
“You won’t. You have me,” Melody said with a serious tone. “Wait for me, I’ll be graduating in a year’s
time. After that, I’ll look for a university closer to where you are so we could live together.”
Living together, she said…
“You better focus on your studies and make sure you get into a university. Don’t think about those
things for now, young lady,” said Yoel. Melody scoffed lightly and said, “Don’t underestimate me, I have
really good grades. And if I’m not allowed to think about those things, you can’t as well. Don’t even
think about doing things. We have to be fair to each other.”
Yoel nodded and hummed yes half-heartedly as if trying to convince a child. “Pinky promise?” Melody
reached her pinky finger out to Yoel.
Yoel’s eyes widened, “Pinky, what now?”
The last time Yoel made such a childish gesture was when he was in kindergarten! He refused!
“Cross my heart, hope to die!”
Yoel’s refusal was rejected. Melody dragged his pinky out forcefully and hooked hers onto his. She
even stamped her thumb on his and said, “First person to break the promise will be punished with torn
underwear!”
“Woah, how scary.” Yoel was mainly surprised by how immature Melody was.
Melody, on the other hand, was satisfied.
Ross’ impatient voice was heard coming from outside, “Melody, it’s time! Let’s go!”
“Coming!”
Melody waved Yoel goodbye. “Bye, Brother Rich! You must think about me. You have to…” She almost
ran into the door. She then blew a kiss to Yoel before closing the door behind her.
Yoel was not sure whether to laugh or to cry.
The corner of his lips lifted as he mumbled to himself, “Kids these days…” Together, Freya, Ross, and
the rest began their journey to Mostal at the Nadeem City Airport.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda