Afternoon light spilled softly into the bedroom, warm and quiet compared to the storm outside.
Mellody closed the door behind them and sighed, dropping onto the bed dramatically.
"Finally. Rest," she murmured, stretching like a cat.
Ezra sat beside her, leaning back on his palms.
For a few hours, they stayed there —
talking lazily about the trip,
arguing over who packed better,
debating which beaches to visit,
and joking about Mellody drowning him during scuba training.
It felt normal.
It felt almost real.
Eventually, Mellody clapped her hands.
"Alright, mister husband. Up. We pack now or we'll forget half the things tomorrow."
They stood and began sorting clothes across the bed.
Her soft gowns, summer hat, travel slippers.
His joggers, shirts, hoodies, camera bag.
Essentials scattered everywhere — chargers, medicines, sunscreen, hairbrush, Mellody's makeup kits.
Ezra folded clothes mechanically, hands working on autopilot.
Then—
A chill stabbed through the locket on his chest.
Sharp.
Cold.
Instant.
He froze.
For a heartbeat, he recognized the sensation —
something familiar, something from somewhere he couldn't place.
But the moment he reached for the thread of memory—
It slipped.
Gone.
Just a cold echo inside him.
Mellody glanced over.
"You okay? You paused like someone unplugged your brain."
Ezra blinked, forcing a slow breath.
"Yeah… just spaced out. Thinking."
"Thinking of me?" she teased, nudging him.
He smirked faintly.
"Always."
They packed in comfortable silence for a while.
Mellody held up one of her gowns.
"You think this will look good on the beach at Mijgor?"
Ezra shrugged.
"It'll look good anywhere. You make everything look expensive."
She laughed softly and kissed his cheek.
"Careful, you keep flirting like that and we won't finish packing."
"Maybe that's my plan."
"Ezra."
"…Fine."
After an hour, the bags were zipped, neatly arranged at the corner of the room.
Mellody stretched her arms up, exhaling.
"That's done. Finally."
Then her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh! I forgot my laptop."
She pointed to the desk.
"Put it in your bag, please. I need it for meetings after the honeymoon."
Ezra picked it up, slipping it carefully into his backpack.
When he turned back, Mellody was at her dresser —
opening the small wooden jewelry drawer.
She took out a delicate gold locket.
Designed like a four-leaf clover,
each petal holding fine engravings,
and at its center —
a small emerald-green diamond that glowed faintly under the light.
Ezra paused.
The green light shimmered differently —
soft, calm, healing almost.
Opposite in color.
Opposite in aura.
His own diamond, the Silent Star, pulsed cold against his chest.
Mellody held hers up proudly.
"I'm taking this. It's traditional for the women in my family."
Then, with a playful smile,
"Besides — your locket looks lonely. It needs a partner."
Ezra swallowed, unable to explain why the sight unsettled him.
The two diamonds felt like two opposite poles of some unseen force.
He forced a nod.
"It… suits you. Very much."
She clipped it around her neck, the green gem resting above her heart.
"Perfect," she said with a satisfied grin.
Ezra tried to smile back.
But something in his chest tightened —
a quiet ache he couldn't define.
Two lockets.
Two diamonds.
Two forces.
And he had no idea what they meant.
For now, Mellody wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Tomorrow is going to be beautiful," she whispered against his chest.
Ezra closed his eyes.
God, he hoped so.