"Are you still standing there!?" Melody shrieked, her voice slicing through the morning air as she hurled another pillow at his head.
Maverick didn't duck or flinch; instead, he let the soft cushion hit him squarely. He was absolutely amused by her reaction.
"Why the hell did you come in here!?" she pressed again, her eyes set ablaze.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am," Maverick replied, his tone apologetic as he directed his gaze toward the small table beside her. It was adorned with a neatly arranged breakfast of golden, toast, and a steaming cup of tea that sent wisps of fragrant steam swirling into the air.
"I didn't ask for breakfast," Melody retorted, pressing her fingers against her temples, desperately trying to stop the headache that throbbed behind her eyes.
She had jolted awake too abruptly, her body reacting to his unexpected intrusion without consent.
Noticing the frown etched across her face and the way she rubbed her temples in distress, Maverick felt a surge of concern wash over him.
"Please don't have a headache because of me," he murmured, his brow furrowing deeper. "I only wanted to make sure you had something to eat."
Annoyance flickered within Melody as she suppressed the wish to snap back at him, "You wish," she thought inwardly.
Yet, as she lowered her hands, a brief, reluctant smile broke free on her lips. "Thank you for the breakfast. Please, just go," she said softly, the words holding a mixture of appreciation and a plea for solitude.
Maverick nodded, the understanding evident in his eyes, although she couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't take her request seriously.
"You don't need to serve me breakfast anymore. Don't come into my room for whatever reasons," she asserted, pushing the words through clenched teeth.
He nodded again, seemingly oblivious to her rising frustration.
"That's it. Please, go," she reiterated, the annoyance bubbling just beneath the surface, causing her to wonder why he lingered.
Eventually, he took a step toward the door, and as Melody turned her back to him, her hands found their place on her hips.
Like an ominous bell ringing in her mind, panic surged through her as she simultaneously scanned her body, her eyes widening with worry. She couldn't shake the feeling that something might have occurred while she slept.
How could she trust him? He had forcefully stolen her first kiss; what else might he have done?
Fortunately, upon checking, nothing seemed out of place.
When she turned around, she was taken aback by the sight of him lingering. He held her pillows, as he had gathered them from the ground.
Frowning, she parted her lips to unleash a stream of curses when he surprised her by gliding toward her bed, placing the pillow neatly and smoothening her bed sheet.
Then, with an unexpected bow, he turned in the direction of the door.
Taking a deep breath, Melody sat on the edge of her bed, holding the tray and bringing the toast to her lips.
Maverick made a move toward the door, his gaze still scanning her room until something shiny on the table caught his eye.
Amongst her collection of jewelry, a silver chain glinted in the morning light, drawing his attention like a moth to a flame.
With a curious frown etching deeper into his features, Maverick stepped closer to inspect it. He had recognized it; he had seen it before around her neck.
Reaching out, he caressed the round pendant hanging from the chain. As he continued observing the chain, he caught sight of an opening. 'A locket actually' He thought inwardly as he pried it open.
Maverick's eyes widened in shock.
"Where did you get this?" he blurted, pivoting to face her, astonishment painting his features.
Melody shifted her gaze, irritation immediately flooding her countenance. "Why haven't you left yet?" she demanded sharply, her patience wearing thin. She thought he had walked out, not knowing he stood there, searching through her most personal belongings.
Cursing herself for allowing this trouble to invade her morning, she felt annoyance coursing through her veins. "Even if he cooked good breakfast," she mused bitterly, glancing down at the toast, "I wish I had never met him."
"Is this chain yours?" Maverick pressed, pushing her frustration to the forefront.
"Of course! Who else could own it?" she fired back, rising from her bed and striding toward him, her body language exuding defiance.
His lips parted in surprise, shock layering his expression. "You're Melody," he whispered, realization dawning upon him.
"Obviously," she sighed, rolling her eyes in irritation.
"My melody," he continued, the words soft as they fell from his lips.
Melody's eyes widened with disbelief, her glare sharpening. "Have you lost it completely?" she demanded, fury bubbling over.
"I've changed my mind. I'm calling the police. I can't deal with you anymore. Get out of my life!" She spun around, determined to snatch her phone from the table and call for help. She unceremoniously cast aside thoughts of his face or whatever tricks he had up his sleeve; maintaining her safety felt far more important.
He reached out, gently grasping her wrist, spinning her to face him. "Hey," he called.
"What!?" Melody snapped, barely containing her fury.
"Relax, would you?" he demanded, his voice dripping with an icy chill that sent a shiver racing down her spine. She arched an eyebrow in response, intrigued yet uneasy, as the menacing undertone of his words loomed between them like a storm cloud.
Gradually, she felt her tension ease, the air between them softening ever so slightly. "Sorry about that," he muttered, his tone shifting to something almost apologetic.
Melody rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling beneath her calm facade. "What is it that you want, Maverick?" she asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.
In response, Maverick extended his hand, revealing a delicate silver chain that glinted against the light. Melody tilted her head, her brows knitting together in confusion as she watched him intently.
With slow, deliberate movements, he unclasped a locket that hung around his neck, the metal cool and smooth under his fingers. She leaned in closer, her interest deepening as she wondered what he was about to unveil.
When he opened the lockets, her breath caught in her throat. Inside, were two identical pictures.
They featured young Maverick and young Melody, radiant smiles lighting up their faces, their cheeks pressed together in a pose of pure, innocent joy.
Melody frowned, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her as she took the locket from him, examining the images closely.
The shared spark of happiness twinkled in their youthful eyes, a memory so vibrant that it felt surreal. Her lips parted in astonishment, disbelief mingling with a sense of nostalgia.
Maverick observed her intently, his own heart racing with anticipation as he searched her face for any sign of recognition.
Finally, she glanced up at him, her expression wide with wonder. "Are you the same Maverick?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded. "Unbelievable," she thought, turning her gaze back to the lockets, emotions stirring in her chest, mirroring the rapid beat of his heart.
It struck Maverick too—how strange and extraordinary it was.
Of course, it made sense now why thoughts of her lingered in his mind like a stubborn melody he couldn't shake.
They had met a long, long time ago. Way before now.
And they had been childhood friends. Very close friends.