Melody's POV

Snow had settled on Dorian's shoulders, and he was holding a large bag of items in his hands.

"Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, I heard you're heading to your hometown, so I prepared some things for you."

My parents smiled and instinctively tried to refuse, but they relented under his insistence.

Before leaving, Mom's eyes reddened as she turned to Dorian, "Since we're not going to be around for a while, if Mel runs into anything difficult, could you please help her out a bit, Dorian?"

Dorian agreed without hesitation, but when he turned around, he saw Ayanna standing there, and his smile instantly stiffened.

Ayanna's expression was dark, and she seemed angry again. But she didn't say anything and simply walked off.

All day, I felt uneasy.

Finally, PE class came. It was my turn to return the equipment, and it took me a long time to finish storing everything away. Just as I was about to head out, someone slammed the equipment room door shut.

Then, I heard Ayanna and Dorian's voices from somewhere close to the door.

"What is it now, Your Highness? You haven't paid any attention to your humble servant all day."

Dorian sounded like he was complaining, but his tone was indulgent and amused.

"Didn't you say you were cutting ties with that childhood bestie of yours? Then why did I see the two of you coming to school together this morning? You're my boyfriend now, Dorian!" she snapped, stomping her feet.

"Her parents are going back to their hometown today. I was just seeing them off, and then we just so happened to come to school together," Dorian explained. "I told you before—her father saved my life. Some interaction between us is unavoidable."

Ayanna's mood gradually improved. "That's more like it.

"But Dorian, I heard you used to be quite the playboy and dated around a lot. Why didn't you ever consider dating your childhood bestie? Is it because you like her too much? Can't bear to touch her?"

Dorian didn't reply right away, and a silence fell over the equipment room. I held my breath too, terrified of making a sound.

After thinking it over for a second, Dorian laughed dismissively.

"I already told you—there's nothing except gratitude between us. And people in a relationship have to kiss, right?"

He leaned down and kissed the corner of Ayanna's lips.

"Could you actually bring yourself to kiss a mute?"

Ayanna burst out laughing, successfully placated. "Good. You know what's good for you."

Seeing that she wasn't upset anymore, Dorian smiled as he continued, "Honestly, every time I'm around her and remember that she can't speak, I'm taken back to that moment when someone tried to kill me. It was utterly bloody and terrifying. Maybe that's why it scared her so badly that she still can't speak even now.

"I could never like her."

As they spoke, the two ended up hugging each other. Ayanna even patted his shoulder sympathetically, comforting him.

Only I stood frozen in place, my fingertips digging deep into my palms, my eyes stinging with pain.

How strange. I'd already decided to leave, so why did it still hurt so much?

But it was fine. Once the transfer application was approved, I'd never have to see him again.

The two hugged for a long time.

Before leaving the room, Dorian told Ayanna, "Melody is just a geek. Don't mess with her in the future. If she tattles to her dad, it'll make things awkward for me."

Ayanna huffed. "That depends on your behavior!"

As their voices gradually faded away, I stood up from the floor and rubbed my numb, swollen calves.

I then brought the transfer application I had written the day before to the academic affairs office. The teacher was easygoing and quickly stamped it for me.

When I walked out of the office holding the transfer application, I was filled with a sense of acceptance for the new life I was about to start, so much so that I didn't even notice when Dorian suddenly appeared in front of me.

"What are you holding in your hand? Why does it feel like you're hiding something from me lately?" he asked with a frown as he blocked my path.

I tightened my grip on the transfer application, unwilling to tell him.

As the two of us stood in a stalemate, he resorted to using his height advantage to see what was written on the paper.

"Something… Application?"