Zake walked me all the way to my apartment,
and as we reached the door, I turned to him,
a lingering smile on my face.
"You can stay if you want," I offered,
half-hoping he'd say yes, but he shook his head with a warm smile.
"Thanks, but I've already booked a room at a hotel nearby,"
he said, waving off the idea. "By the way, do you have work tomorrow?"
"Nope, it's Sunday," I replied,
feeling a rush of relief at the thought of having a day off.
Zake's eyes lit up.
"Perfect! How about we grab lunch and explore the city tomorrow?
You can show me all your favorite spots."
The thought of spending more time with him made my heart skip a beat.
"I'd love that," I said, my excitement spilling into my words.
The next day,
the sun was shining brightly as I met Zake outside my apartment.
He greeted me with his usual cheerful grin, and we set off,
wandering through the lively streets of the city.
Our first stop was a cozy little café, hidden away in a quiet corner,
where we shared stories over steaming cups of coffee and indulgent pastries.
"So, this is your favorite place?"
Zake asked, taking a bite of his croissant. "I can see why—this stuff is amazing."
"Best coffee in town," I said, taking a sip from my cup. "
And it's quiet enough to get lost in your thoughts, you know?"
Zake nodded thoughtfully.
"I get it. Sometimes you just need a place that feels... yours."
After our leisurely breakfast, we wandered through the bustling city streets,
visiting quaint shops and browsing through street stalls.
Zake tried on ridiculous hats at a quirky boutique,
making me burst into laughter, and we spent way too long at a bookstore,
flipping through titles and reminiscing about the books we used to read as kids.
As we strolled down a busy avenue,
we stumbled upon a street musician playing a familiar tune.
Zake paused, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face.
"Remember this song? We used to sing it at the top of our lungs in your backyard."
I laughed, the memory rushing back.
"Oh gosh, I'd almost forgotten! We were so terrible."
"Speak for yourself," he teased, nudging me playfully.
"I was practically a rock star."
We kept walking, talking about everything and nothing,
the conversation flowing effortlessly, just like it always had.
It felt like old times—comfortable, light, and full of the easy joy that
came from being with someone who knew you so well.
When lunchtime rolled around,
we found a charming little restaurant tucked away from the main street.
We sat at an outdoor table, the warm breeze brushing against our
faces as we enjoyed our meals. The food was delicious,
but it was the company that made it perfect.
"So," Zake said, leaning back in his chair,
"what's next on the itinerary, Miss Tour Guide?"
I grinned, pretending to think deeply.
"How about we visit the art gallery nearby?
It's quiet, has some amazing exhibits, and you can make fun of my questionable taste in art."
Zake laughed. "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way."
We spent the afternoon wandering through the gallery,
admiring the artwork and occasionally poking fun at the overly abstract pieces.
Zake's jokes kept me in stitches, and for a while,
I forgot about everything else—Leo, work, and all the complicated
feelings tangled up in my heart.
As the day came to an end,
we found ourselves on a quiet rooftop with a stunning view of the city skyline,
the sun dipping low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange.
We leaned against the railing, enjoying the peaceful moment.
"This was a good day," Zake said softly,
his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "It's been a while since I've had this much fun."
I smiled, feeling the same way.
"Yeah, it really was. Thanks for today, Zake."
He looked at me, his expression tender and sincere.
"No, thank you. For everything."
We stood there for a while,
watching as the city lights flickered on one by one, and in that quiet,
golden moment, it felt like all the distance and time that had separated
us had melted away, leaving behind only the warmth of
our friendship and the hope of what could be.
As Zake walked me back to my apartment,
he turned to me with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
"Melody, I'm heading back to our hometown tomorrow morning,"
he said softly. "I hope we can stay in touch."
I nodded, feeling a pang of sadness.
"Of course, Zake. Don't be a stranger, okay? I'll miss having you around."
Zake smiled, though there was a wistfulness in his gaze.
"I'll miss you too. Today was... exactly what I needed."
We stood there for a moment,
neither of us wanting to say goodbye, but knowing it was time.
"Take care of yourself, alright?
And don't work too hard," Zake said, his tone gentle.
"You too. And don't forget to visit when you can,"
I replied, giving him a lighthearted smile despite the lump in my throat.
Zake gave a small nod and pulled me into a quick,
warm hug. "I promise. Until next time, Melody."
"Until next time, Zake," I whispered back.
As he walked away, I watched him go, the city lights casting soft shadows around us,
and I couldn't help but hope that this wasn't the last of our moments together.
As I watched Zake walk away,
I caught a glimpse of a shadow near the lamppost and glanced back,
but saw nothing. "Hmm, maybe I'm just imagining things,"
I thought, brushing it off. I quickly headed back inside my apartment,
eager to unwind with Cyprus, my otome boyfriend.
The next morning, as I stepped into the office,
an uneasy vibe hung in the air.
My colleagues exchanged anxious glances,
whispering to each other as I passed.
It didn't take long for me to understand why—Leo was back,
and from the looks of it, he was in a foul mood.
"He's been asking about you,"
one of them muttered as I passed, trying to warn me.
I hurried to my desk,
trying to calm my nerves before heading to his office.
But as soon as I pushed open the door,
I felt like I'd stepped into the lion's den. Leo stood there,
his eyes cold and furious, his posture rigid with irritation.
"Why are you so late!" he snapped,
his voice like a whip cracking through the air.
I froze, taken aback by his sudden outburst.
"I wasn't late, sir. I got here before 8, and it's still only 7:30,"
I said, keeping my voice steady despite the tremor of nerves creeping in.
But Leo wasn't listening. He was pacing back and forth,
ranting about missed calls, files he couldn't find, and meetings
that hadn't been confirmed. His words came out in a torrent,
sharp and biting, and each one felt like a jab.
I tried to answer, to explain, but he kept cutting me off,
his frustration boiling over.
"Mr. Cyprus, please—"
"Don't 'Mr. Cyprus' me, Melody! You're supposed to handle these things!"
he roared, his anger scorching the space between us.
I could feel my own patience snapping,
the weight of his misplaced fury pushing me to the edge.
I'd never seen him like this—unhinged, almost. And I had enough.
"Fine! If you think I'm not doing my job,
maybe you should find someone else!"
I shot back, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.
I turned on my heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind me.
I could feel the stares of my colleagues as
I made my way back to my desk, but I didn't care.
I was too angry, too humiliated to even look back.
Leo's POV:
Leo watched Melody storm out of his office,
her defiant words echoing in his mind.
He sank heavily into his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration.
What the hell just happened?
Why did he lose control like that?
He replayed the scene in his head,
each word sharper and more regretful than the last.
He hadn't meant to snap at her—Melody didn't deserve that.
As he stared at the pile of papers on his desk,
Leo's mind drifted back to last night.
He had been looking forward to surprising her,
holding a bag of takeout chicken he'd picked up on his way over.
But when he got there,
standing under the dim glow of the lamppost,
he saw her—wrapped in someone else's arms.
The scene replayed in slow motion: Melody and that guy, laughing,
embracing, and walking away together.
Leo had stood there, stunned, his heart sinking.
He didn't even realize he had dropped the chicken bag on
the ground until it rolled away, forgotten.
Disappointment and jealousy twisted inside him,
fueling the rage that had exploded earlier.
He had been so excited to see her,
so eager to spend even a few moments together,
but seeing her with that guy had been like a punch to the gut.
It wasn't just annoyance—Leo felt something deeper,
something he hadn't acknowledged before. Jealousy.
Rubbing his forehead, Leo let out a deep, frustrated sigh.
He didn't want to admit it, but the sight of Melody with Zake had rattled
him more than he cared to admit.
He wasn't used to feeling this out of control,
especially not over someone like her.
But seeing her smile at another man,
seeing her happy in someone else's arms—it had triggered something he couldn't quite contain.
"Damn it," Leo muttered under his breath,
regretting every harsh word he had thrown at her.
He wanted to apologize, to explain, but he didn't know how.
All he could do was sit there, stewing in his own tangled emotions,
wondering how he'd managed to push away the one person he never wanted to lose.