MELODY MUSKETEERS (M911 & TTM)
022. RIDING TOGETHER

Melody just kept quiet with a tension. Not only because she was currently sitting on a horse but also because Niko was sitting behind her very close, even she could hear Niko's breath. Plus the position of Niko who holds the bridle like hugging him from behind.

"You want to take a walk to the yard there?" Niko's raucous voice that spoke softly to Melody sounded like a whisper in the girl's ear.

Melody nodded thinly answering him.

Niko immediately spurred her horse out of the fence and walked to the yard where Lion drove his horse to walk there. Seeing him, Lion immediately turned back and intended to end his horse riding session.

"Where are you going?" Ask Niko.

"Suddenly my stomach hurts." Lion replied away.

"I just wanted to challenge you." Niko cried with laughter.

Lion ignored him and continued to walk away. He wants to be alone right now.

Melody was surprised when Niko suddenly got off the horse. Niko smiled at her panic, and it made Melody embarrassed.

"I'll walk away so you can enjoy riding your own horse." Niko was still holding her harness and walking to lead her horse. "You kept getting tense earlier."

"Don't leave me." Melody said she was afraid that Niko would run and leave her on horseback.

"Never will." Answer Niko.

Melody became a little embarrassed due to Niko's reply. Niko replies as if Melody's request is for Niko to always be with her.

"How do you like me now?" Niko looked up to see Melody.

"I don't think so." Melody replied flatly without looking at Niko. The answer made Niko laugh. "I told you, to make me like you as a friend would be very difficult."

"really? Will two years not be enough?" Ask Niko again. "Then after how long can you finally like Lion?"

Melody was surprised by Niko's question, plus Niko stared fixedly at her by stopping her steps.

"I mean as a friend. You and Lion are friends, right?"

"No! We were never friends." Melody replied with a nervous tone. "I just used it."

Niko laughed again hearing Melody's reply.

"Then, is that why you are no longer as close as you used to be? Now you want to use me, right?"

"Right, I used you."

Niko suddenly pulled Melody down from the horse, and looked at Melody very fixedly.

"Yes, you can use me as you please." Niko.

Niko leaned her body to bring her face closer to Melody, about to kiss the girl. However Melody immediately covered her lips with both of her hands. Niko straightened her posture back with a smile of disbelief after Melody rejected her kiss.

"Even the way you turned it down made me like you even more, Melody." Niko looked at Melody who was still covering her lips with her hands. "Well, I'll make you love me first let you tell me to kiss you yourself."

Niko directly rode the horse, she stuck out her hand to help Melody ride as well.

"Get it." As Niko and Melody greeted her, Niko immediately pulled Melody up onto the horse sitting behind her.

Lion who was in the distance noticed Melody and Niko. Lion was still on his horse and had not left from there. He saw how Niko tried to kiss Melody. He didn't express anything just paying attention. But deep down she was relieved that Melody refused to let Niko kiss her.

...***...

Athos with Tasya is in the cafe branch because today the fifth cafe branch is officially opened. Tasya just sat alone at his desk while Athos was busy taking care of everything in the cafe. No other Musketeers helped him because Prothos was still confined to his room while Aramis was still finishing his paintings.

But not long after Melody was present with Niko after they returned from riding. The time has shown at seven o'clock in the evening, and the atmosphere of the cafe is very crowded.

"Melody, you're coming." Smile greeting Tasya.

Melody returned her smile.

"Your brother is busy." Answer Tasya.

"I went there first, brother." Said Melody directly walk to where a guitar is located and play it to entertain visitors at the cafe.

"Niko, come and accompany me." Pinta Tasya with a smile.

"By pleasure." Niko sat down in front of Tasya.

"Where are you guys from?"

"We're out riding, I took her because she's never been riding."

"I have never been either. Why not bring me too?"

Niko laughed at Tasya's words.

"Your boyfriend won't forgive me." Answer Niko.

Melody began singing by playing her guitar to entertain the visitors. Niko looked at him very seriously, and Tasya saw Niko's gaze which exuded a great sense of love for the girl.

"Melody has a very good voice. I understand why he rarely speaks. He kept his golden voice to sing." Tasya. "Ato can sing no huh? I've never asked you."

"Aren't you getting married any time soon? Why are you still with your girlfriend?"

"I'll just marry Ato, you understand?" Tasya squinted her eyes at Niko's annoyance. "And you're really serious about your intention to marry Melody?"

Niko smiled to answer.

"Why does Melody agree?"

Niko was silent with Tasya's question. He had never thought of it before because when Melody said she agreed it made her so happy that she never thought of it in the least. And now he's just thinking about it. Niko becomes curious because it is impossible for Melody to agree because the girl likes her. Melody plainly said that she did not like Niko yet, even as a friend.

"Because I'm handsome and rich." Niko answered with an answer that only came to her mind.

"I thought before that she would marry Lion later." Tasya Mumbles. "Yes even though the two of them always do not get along, but before you come it seems like their relationship is closer than ever. But it turns out I was wrong."

"Why are you saying that?" Look Niko.

"They were dating right before you came." Answer Tasya. "But I don't know, maybe I was the one who mistakenly thought because the two of them used to go together, but only that time they both went for a walk together. If before most Lion just picked up Melody, or helped her because asked by her family."

Niko was surprised to hear Tasya's words. He had never heard of the date. So he had never asked Melody or Lion.

"Tasya," Call Athos over. Athos looked at Niko sharply. "Why are you sitting here with him?"

"Ato, I asked him to keep me company." Tasya said he was afraid that Athos would be angry with Niko.

Niko stood up from her seat. He knew that Athos was disturbed by his presence.

"I'm sorry Tasya, it seems your boyfriend doesn't like me accompanying you." Niko. "Then I'll go home now."

Niko turned to Melody who looked at her and smiled at Melody who was singing and waved her right hand at Melody, after which walked away.

"Ato, what's wrong with you? Why are you still being so unkind to her?" Tanya Tasya stood up and approached Athos who was still shaking his waist with an annoyed face. "You should start liking her, Melody has already agreed to marry him. He's not a bad guy either, and I think he's really nice, he loves Melody so much."

Athos lowered his hand and looked at Tasya. Tasya's words were not wrong, even his lover was right.

"You should be nice to her from now on, Melody will be even sadder if you still act like that to Niko." Tasya held Athos' arm.

Athos begins to think about Tasya's words, and he finally feels that if he should start to like Niko, he does not want his sister to hate him more because Athos has been showing hostility to Niko.

"Yes, I think you're absolutely right." Athos replied softly.

...–NATZSIMO–...