Ayumi was floating among the clouds, a sense of lightness and freedom washing over her. The sky around her was a brilliant blue, with soft, fluffy clouds cushioning her every move. She giggled, twirling and spinning in the air. It felt so real, yet so fantastical. Suddenly, a figure appeared before her, descending gracefully from the heavens.
It was an angel, and as he came closer, she realized he looked exactly like the man she had seen at the bar. His dark hair framed his chiseled face, and his piercing blue eyes sparkled with warmth and mischief. He wore a flowing white robe that accentuated his strong, muscular frame, and ethereal wings sprouted from his back, shimmering in the sunlight.
"Beautiful," Ayumi whispered, just as she had the night before.
The angel smiled, and before she knew it, she was kissing him. This time, it wasn't a light, fleeting kiss but a deep, passionate one. She felt a rush of emotions—desire, excitement, a sense of belonging. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close, making her feel safe and cherished.
But as she leaned in closer, the world tilted. Ayumi felt herself losing balance. Panic surged through her as she slipped from his grasp and began to fall. The sky rushed past her, the ground coming up fast. She screamed, bracing for the impact.
With a thud, Ayumi jolted awake. She was on the floor, tangled in the blankets. Her heart raced, and for a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. The room was unfamiliar, luxurious yet strange. She sat up, panic setting in.
"Where am I?" she muttered to herself, trying to piece together the events of the night before. She remembered the bar, the drinks, and... falling into a stranger's lap.
A scream bubbled up from her throat, and she couldn't hold it back.
The door burst open, and in ran the man from her dream—the stranger from the bar. He was fresh from the shower, his bathrobe loosely tied, revealing glimpses of his toned body. His hair was still wet, droplets of water trickling down his neck and chest.
Ayumi's eyes widened, her face turning a deep shade of crimson. She quickly looked away, trying to gather her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" the man asked, concern evident in his voice as he approached her.
"I... I..." Ayumi stammered, stealing a quick glance at his exposed skin before looking back at the floor. "Where am I? What happened? Did we... did we sleep together?"
Alexander chuckled softly, the sound both reassuring and teasing. "No, we didn't. You were very drunk last night and accidentally wandered into the VIP area. You stumbled and fell on me, and then you fell asleep." He chuckled a bit as he remembered the amusing encounter. "I didn't know where you lived, so I brought you here."
Ayumi's blush deepened, but she felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Oh, thank goodness. I mean, not that... I just... thank you for taking care of me."
He smiled mischievously, leaning against the doorframe. "You know, you did cause quite a scene. Maybe you should take responsibility."
Ayumi's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—"
He laughed, cutting her off gently. "Relax, I'm just teasing you. But seriously, you should drink some water and eat something."
Ayumi managed a small smile, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. "Thank you... um, I don't even know your name."
He extended his hand, his blue eyes twinkling. "I'm Alexander Sato. And you are?"
"Ayumi Harada," she replied, shaking his hand. "Thank you again, Mr. Sato. I'm really sorry for all the trouble."
"Don't worry about it," Alexander said, his smile softening. "It was... interesting. I'll get you some water and breakfast. Just stay here and relax and please, call me Alexander."
"Alexander." Ayumi shyly repeated.
As Alexander left the room, Ayumi took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment. Despite the strange circumstances, there was something about Alexander that made her feel safe.
While waiting, curiosity and the need to freshen up got the better of her. Ayumi spotted the bathroom door ajar and headed inside. The sight that greeted her in the mirror made her gasp. Her hair was a tangled mess, her makeup smudged all over her face, giving her a panda-like appearance. She looked like a complete trainwreck.
"Oh no," she muttered, her cheeks flushing with a new wave of embarrassment. "I can't believe I looked like this in front of him."
Desperately, Ayumi tried to tame her wild hair and wipe away the remnants of her smeared makeup. She splashed cold water on her face, hoping to feel more awake and less mortified. As she stared at her reflection, she couldn't help but cringe at the memory of the dream and her real-life blunders.
"This can't be happening," she whispered to herself. "Why does everything have to be so embarrassing?"
Trying to compose herself, Ayumi took a few deep breaths. She knew she had to face Alexander again, but the thought of him seeing her like this made her want to crawl under a rock. She straightened her clothes as best as she could and reluctantly made her way back to the bedroom.
When she returned, she found a beautiful dress laid out on the bed—a simple yet elegant piece in a soft pastel color. A note was placed next to it: "Thought you might want something clean to wear. - A."
Ayumi's eyes welled up with unexpected tears. She had always struggled to find cute and pretty clothes in her size, often resorting to plain, shapeless outfits that hid her figure. The dress Alexander had chosen was not only her size, but it was also beautiful. She thought back to the many times she had wanted to buy a cute dress, only for Kenji, her now ex-boyfriend to discourage her, saying they didn't have her size or that she should save her money. Kenji had never gifted her anything other than impersonal birthday gift cards and flowers he obviously picked from a park. She used to think it was cute, but now, with the pink-tinted glasses shattered, she saw it for what it was—careless and thoughtless.
Touched by Alexander's thoughtfulness, Ayumi quickly changed into the dress. It fit her perfectly, making her feel slightly more confident. As she finished, Alexander returned, carrying a tray with a glass of water and a plate of breakfast. His smile was warm and genuine, and Ayumi felt a small sense of relief wash over her.
"Feeling better?" he asked, setting the tray down on the bedside table.
"Yes, thank you," Ayumi replied, avoiding his gaze. "I'm really sorry for all the trouble."
"Don't worry about it," Alexander said, waving off her apology. "Everyone has those nights. Here, drink some water and eat something. You'll feel much better."
Ayumi nodded, grateful for his kindness. As she sipped the water, she couldn't help but sneak glances at Alexander. Despite the embarrassment, there was something undeniably charming about him.
As she ate, Ayumi found herself staring at Alexander, her eyes drifting to his lips. A brief flashback flickered in her mind—an image of her kissing him at the bar. The memory was hazy, but the sensation of his lips against hers felt vivid and real.
Startled, she choked on her water, coughing violently. Alexander quickly moved to her side, patting her back gently.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"I'm fine," Ayumi managed to say between coughs, her face burning with embarrassment. She couldn't believe she had just remembered that. "Just went down the wrong pipe."
Alexander's eyes twinkled with amusement, but he didn't say anything. Ayumi couldn't shake the feeling that he knew exactly what she had remembered. As she regained her composure, she decided to ask the question that had been nagging at her since she woke up.
"So... um, did I do anything... stupid last night? Besides me literally sleeping on… you?"
Alexander shook his head, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Nope, nothing happened."
Ayumi felt relieved. She still has a lingering sense of suspicion but chose to not pry further. Ignorance is bliss. "Oh, okay. Thank you again, Alexander. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime," he replied, his smile softening. "Now, finish your breakfast. You need to get your strength back."
As Ayumi continued eating, she couldn't help but steal glances at Alexander, wondering about the mysterious man who had taken care of her. Little did she know, this was just the beginning of their story.