Songs of the Sky

Chapter Nine

My head started hurting as I watch my math teacher did example on the board. I was never good at this subject no matter how much I focus my attention on it.

I took a glanI felt pain in my head as I watched my math teacher did example on the board. I was never good at this subject no matter how much I focus my attention on it.

I took a glance at Diana but she was busy doing doodle on her notebook. She's got a long face today so I guess it's about her brother.

I sighed and thought about how irresponsible his brother was, putting his girlfriend first before her sister.

I met his brother many times before, whenever I go to Diana's place. His brother was actually kind and always seemed to care about her so it was surprising that they're relationship would end up like this.

I even envied Diana at those times because she still has her brother with her. I would always crave for my brother's presence every time I see them together.

But now that I met my brother again after six years of thinking he's already gone really burst my heart in happiness. Yet everytime I remember Alto's situation, that short moment of happiness would be replaced by pain.

I needed to find that ring. I couldn't lose Alto again.

We ate our lunch in silence. Diana wasn't herself throughout the day. She doesn't bothered hiding her emotion anymore and stayed quiet most of the time. Every time I'd call her name, she'd just smile at me then sulk again. I didn't try opening the subject about her brother since she doesn't felt like talking right now.

After school, I headed straight to my work. I still got permission to keep living my normal life until the Formal Ceremony.

Ray greeted me right away as soon as I entered the restaurant.

"Hey, Medley. You feeling well now?"

"Yeah, I'm good now." I sighed.

He grinned at me then patted my back. "Good. Now back to work."

Since there's not much costumers today, I spent my idle time talking with my co worker. After a few minutes, I heard the sound of door opening and Ray cleared his throat and gave my shoulder a tap.

"I guess we have another important costumer."

My eyes and mouth widened when I saw the familiar and handsome faces of Apollo and Jazz.

As they took a seat, Apollo smiled and waved at me while Jazz has his usual lazy face. He just gave me a glance before he went busy with the book he was holding.

Apollo raised his hand to call for our attention. "Can I request for Medley to be the one serving our table?"

My blood rushed up to my face and I could feel the heavy stares of my coworkers on me.

What have you done, Apollo? Damn, why would he say something like that? He just put me on spotlight. Now they would all be wondering how these Songs know about me. I suddenly remembered what the King said, that me being a Major Key should be kept as secret for the meantime. Maybe it was changed?

Ray cleared his throat and I took a glance at him. "You heard him, Medley. Go and serve our dear customers."

"Y-yeah." I stuttered and eyed the floor.

"You have some explaining to do later." He grinned.

I coyly walked my way towards the table of the two Songs.

"Good day, Medley. How are you today?" Apollo greeted me with a gentle voice as soon as I approached them.

My face reddened even more so I tried to focus my eyes on the menu on their table instead. "What are you doing, Apollo? I thought my relation with you guys should be kept as a secret?" I whispered and Apollo just stared at me innocently with his ocean eyes.

"Screw secrets. Just blame Apollo for this." Jazz murmured without taking his eyes off the book.

"What?" I asked, confused.

Apollo sighed and I looked at him. "Don't mind that guy. He's being grumpy because I dragged him with me."

Right. I was actually surprised myself to see Jazz here. He seemed to be lazy guy who just read and sleep all the time. So he was also here because Apollo forced him. But what were they doing here? I thought they weren't allowed to go out the Sky Castle over personal interest. I remembered Banjo scolding Apollo about it once.

"Banjo will get mad." Jazz muttered under his breath and I nearly giggled.

Was this guy afraid of the hate prince? Seeing Jazz like this made me thought of a little kid being afraid of their parents when they know they did something inappropriate.

"Anyways, Medley, you don't have to worry about it. We just have to put that you are friends with us, okay?"

I nodded at him and we smiled at each other while Jazz was watching us out the corner of his eyes.

I broke our stare when Jazz suddenly grabbed the menu and looked at me. His lazy brown eyes boring into mine. "So what's the best seller here?"

After bidding goodbye to my coworkers, I exited the restaurant and found Apollo and Jazz waiting for me. They actually insisted, or rather, Apollo insisted they wait for me since it's just an hour before my shift ended when they arrived at the restaurant.

The cold night breeze greeted my skin and I shivered. Apollo put his jacket around me and I stiffened. I glanced at him and he smiled.

"It's rude for a man to let a lady freeze."

"Thanks." I said sheepishly. While we're walking, I broke the silence by asking them the question that had been in bothering me ever since.

"So, how's Ma–Alto?"

"The same. Rhap able to make him eat his meals." Apollo answered quietly.

Somehow I glad for Rhap for. Jazz mentioned once that they're good friends and I know he cared for my brother considering the way he acted the other day. He was also the reason why I found out that Alto was my long lost brother. But I couldn't deny that I still feel uncomfortable around Rhap for some reason. Maybe it's because he seemed like a teaser.

"So how's the search for the ring going? Apollo asked and suddenly a thought came in my mind.

"Oh right. Now that you mentioned it, can I ask you for a favor, Apollo?"

We stopped walking as I faced Apollo and Jazz just watched us but his face seemed uninterested.

"Yeah, sure. What could be it?" Apollo asked, confused.

I took out my phone and opened the camera. "Well, I will have to take a picture of your ring so it would be easy for me to ask someone about it."

His eyes widened in and held out his hand to me where his ring was resting on his finger.

I held his hand and hovered my phone on the ring on his finger as I took a picture of it.

"Done. Thank you so much for the cooperation." I said and let go of his hand but he grabbed mine, making me I stare at him in surprise.

His eyes were on our linked hands and the surrounding felt like gotten even more quiet.

"Your hands are pretty, but cold." He said quietly and his eyes met mine. "Are you still feeling cold despite that you're wearing my jacket?"

My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my face burning. I couldn't even find words to say to this handsome guy who's suddenly blurting out things that weren't good for a lady's heart.

Apollo seemed to be unaware of what he just did to me so I did my best to sound calm and cool. "I'm good, really. You don't have to worry yourself about it.".

Apollo opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off by Jazz.

"What are you two doing?" His brows furrowed and I quickly took my hands from Apollo.

"Nothing." I muttered.

Jazz raised his eyebrow at us.

"Then don't just stand there. It's getting late. We have to get back to the castle and you have to get home, you." He said as he shoot me a glare.

We followed after him and I stared on the ground. "I'm sorry. I just took a picture of the ring." I said quietly, stealing a glance at Apollo but his eyes were on the road ahead.

"I know." Jazz sighed and patted my head.

I was surprised at his action that I took a sudden step backwards but he was wearing a straight face. He returned his attention on the road ahead us so I decided to just ignore what happened and kept up with them. I eyed my phone instead to check the picture of the ring I just took. The glint of jade stone from the screen reflected on my eyes.

As I entered the classroom, Diana hurried over to me before I could even go to my seat.

Our english teacher hasn't arrived yet and we still have eight minutes before the class starts. Diana held out her phone to me as she showed me the text she received from his brother.

The text said "Just stop bothering me" and I frowned.

When Diana saw the expression on my face, she clenched her teeth. "I knew it. I know you know it too. Brother would never send me a text like that."

I took a seat and Diana was still staring at her phone, her hands shaking in anger.

"He's at that Cherry's house. I knew it. And this text was sent by her. How dare she?" Diana hissed.

"Did you sent a reply yet?" I asked her and her face changed.

"No, I can't. I don't know." she said quietly then buried her face on her arms against her desk.

I took out my phone and looked at the picture of the ring. I've been wanting to tell Diana everything but I couldn't since I should keep everything a secret for a while. Besides, Diana was also having her own problem with her brother.

I yawned as I stared at the sky through the window beside me and our English teacher soon arrived.

ce at Diana and she was busy doing doodle on her notebook. She's wearing a gloomy face that told me the situation between her and her brother haven't settled yet.

I sighed and cursed his brother inwardly. How irresponsible of him, putting his girlfriend first before her sister.

I met his brother many times already, whenever I go to Diana's place. His brother was actually kind and just let us be in the house. He always show that he really cared about Diana that when I watch them two, I would always feel my heart twisting inside me. I always envied Diana at those times because she still has her brother with her. I would always crave for my brother's presence every time I see her brother.

But now that I met my brother again after 6 years of thinking he's already gone really burst my heart in happiness. But every time I remember Alto's situation, the short moment of happiness would be replaced by pain.

I need to find that ring. I couldn't lose my brother again.

We ate our lunch in silence. Diana wasn't herself throughout the day. She doesn't bothered hiding her emotion anymore and stayed quiet most of the time. Every time I'd call her name, she'd just smile at me then sulk again. I didn't try opening the subject about her brother since she seems doesn't felt like talking about it for a now.

I was on my way right now to the restaurant since I still got permission to keep living my normal life until the Formal Ceremony.

Ray greeted me right away as soon as I entered the restaurant.

"Hey, Medley. You feeling well now? He asked, his eyes frowning at me.

"Yeah, I'm good now." I sighed.

He grinned at me and patted me on the back. "Good. Now back to work." He beamed and I rolled my eyes.

We don't have much costumers today so I spent my free time writing the list of Jewelry shops I could find on Google map. Since the missing instrument was a valuable and genuine jade ring, it's possible that it could fall onto jewelry shops. Even if it's already been sold, any seller should have information on the buyer.

I heard the sound of door opening but I was too preoccupied with what I was doing that Ray cleared his throat and gave my shoulder a tap.

"I guess we have another important costumer."

I looked up from what I was doing and my eyes and mouth widened as I saw the familiar and handsome faces of Apollo and Jazz.

As they took a seat , Apollo smiled and waved at me when he saw me. Jazz has his usual lazy face. He gave me a glance before he went busy with the book he was carrying.

Apollo raised his hand to call for our attention. "Can I request for Medley to be the one serving our table?"

My blood rushed to my face and felt the heavy stares of my coworkers on me.

What have you done, Apollo? Damn, why would he say something like that? He just put me on spotlight. Now they would all be wondering how these Songs know about me. I suddenly remembered what the King said, that me being a Major Key should be kept as secret for the meantime. Maybe it was changed?

Ray cleared his throat and I took a glance at him. "You heard him, Medley. Go and serve our dear customers."

"Y-yeah." I stuttered and eyed the floor.

"You have some explaining to do later." He said, grinning.

I coyly walked my way towards the table of the two Songs.

"Good day, Medley. How are you today?" Apollo greeted me with a gentle voice as soon as I approached them.

My face reddened even more and I tried to focus my eyes on the menu on their table. "What are you doing, Apollo? I thought my relation with you guys should be kept as a secret?" I whispered and Apollo just stared at me innocently with his ocean eyes.

"Screw secrets. I blame Apollo with everything." Jazz murmured without taking his eyes off the book.

"What?" I asked, confused.

Apollo sighed and my eyes met his. "Don't mind that guy. He's being grumpy because I dragged him with me."

Right. I was actually surprised myself to see Jazz here. He was a lazy guy who just read and sleep all the time. So he was also here because Apollo forced him. But what were they doing here? I thought they weren't allowed to go out the Sky Castle over personal interest. I remembered Banjo scolding Apollo about it once.

"Banjo will get mad." Jazz muttered under his breath and I nearly giggled.

Was this guy afraid of the hate prince? Seeing Jazz like this made me thought of a little kid being afraid of their parents when they know they did something inappropriate.

"Anyways, Medley, you don't have to worry about it. We just have to put that you are friends with us, okay?"

I stared at him with my face red and nodded. He smiled at me and I smiled back and Jazz was watching us out the corner of his eyes.

I broke our stare when Jazz suddenly grabbed the menu and looked at me. His lazy brown eyes boring into mine. "So what's the best seller here?"

After bidding goodbye to my coworkers, I exited the restaurant and found Apollo and Jazz waiting for me. They actually insisted, or rather, Apollo insisted they wait for me since it's just an hour before my shift ended when they arrived at the restaurant.

The cold night breeze greeted my skin and I shivered. Apollo put his jacket om me and I stiffened. I glanced at him and he smiled.

"It's rude for a man to let a lady freeze."

I said my thanks to him sheepishly. While we walk, I broke the silence by asking them the question that's been on my mind ever since.

"So, how's M-Alto?"

"The same. Rhap able to make him eat his meals." Apollo answered quietly.

I thanked Rhap inwardly. Jazz mentioned once that they're good friends and I know he cared for my brother the way he acted the other day. He was also the reason why I found out that Alto was my long lost brother. Though I couldn't deny that I still felt uncomfortable around Rhap for some reason. Maybe it's because he seemed like a teaser.

"So how's the search for the ring going? Apollo asked and suddenly a thought came in my mind.

"Oh right. Now that you mentioned it, can I ask you for a favor, Apollo?"

We stopped walking as I faced Apollo and Jazz just watched us but his face seemed uninterested.

"Yeah, sure. What could be it?" Apollo asked, confused.

I took out my phone and opened the camera. "Well, I will have to take a picture of your ring so it would be easy for me to ask about it on someone."

His eyes widened in understanding and he hold out his hand to me where his ring was was resting on his finger.

I held his hand and hovered my phone on the ring on his finger as I took a picture of it.

"Done. Thank you so much for the cooperation." I exclaimed and let go of his hand but he grabbed my hand and I stared at him, surprised.

His eyes were looking at our linked hands and the surrounding felt like gotten even more quiet.

"Your hands are pretty, but cold." He said quietly and his eyes met mine. "Is my jacket not giving you enough warmth?"

My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my face burning. I felt frozen on my place. I couldn't even find words to say to this handsome guy who suddenly said a heart stealing lines.

Looking at him, he seemed to be unaware of what he just did to me so I tried hard to sound calm and cool. "I'm good, really. You don't have to worry yourself about it.".

Apollo opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off by Jazz.

"What are you two doing?" He was frowning at us and I quickly took my hands from Apollo and straighten, as if nothing happened.

"Nothing." I muttered.

Jazz stared at us for a while then started walking. "Then don't just stand there. It's getting late we have to get back at the castle and you have to get home, you." He said as he shoot me a glare.

We followed after him and I stared on the ground. "I'm sorry. I just took a picture of the ring." I said quietly, stealing a glance at Apollo but his eyes was staring ahead.

"I know." Jazz sighed and patted my head.

I was surprised at his action that I took sudden step backwards but Jazz was wearing a straight face and he was looking ahead while he just keep walking.

I decided to just ignore it and kept up with them. I opened the gallery on my phone and looked at the picture of the ring I just took. The glint of jade stone from the screen reflected on my eyes.

As I entered the classroom, Diana hurried over to me before I could even go to my seat.

Our english teacher hasn't arrived yet and we still have 8 minutes before the class starts. Diana held out her phone to me as she showed me the text she received from his brother.

The text said "Just stop bothering me" and I frowned.

When Diana saw my face she clenched her teeth. "I knew it. I know you knew it too. Brother would never send me a text like that."

I took a seat and Diana was still staring on her phone, her hands shaking in anger.

"He's at that Cherry's house. I knew it. And this text was sent by her. How dare she?" Diana whispered angrily.

"Did you sent a reply yet?" I asked her and her face changed.

"No, I can't. I don't know." she said quietly, her voice filled sadness and uneasiness.

Diana returned to her solemn demeanor. She buried her face on her arms against her desk. I took out my phone and looked at the picture of the ring.

I've been wanting to tell Diana everything but since I should keep everything a secret for a while, I couldn't. And Diana was still having her own problem with her brother.

I yawned as I stared at the sky through the window beside me and our English teacher soon arrived.