ON THE CALL -
Dylan answered the call, his voice calm. "Hello."
The voice on the other end replied, "Hey, it's me, Emir."
Dylan's tone shifted slightly, "Stop, I can't hear you. Ember, I'm going into my room. Call me if you need anything." He flashed a quick smile at Ember, his gaze warm yet fleeting.
Ember returned his smile with an understanding nod. "Okay."
Seconds later… Bang! The sound of Dylan's room door shutting echoed down the hall.
"Hey, how are you?" Dylan greeted over the call, his voice lowering.
"I'm good, and you, Dylan?" came Emir's reply.
"I told you, you're Dylan, and I'm Emir. Don't you get it?" Dylan's voice carried a tinge of irritation.
"I get it, but…" Emir hesitated.
"I've already told you—I need some time to reveal things to her. So don't mention it, alright? From now on, you're Dylan, and I'm Emir. Understood?" Dylan's tone dropped, firm and resolute.
"Why aren't you telling her about yourself?" Emir pressed.
"Mm! I'll explain when we meet."
"Okay," Emir finally agreed.
"Meet me at our usual spot," Dylan suggested.
"Consider it done."
The conversation ended abruptly, leaving Dylan staring at the ceiling in thought.
Downstairs, Ember was tidying up when Emir's voice called out to her. "Hey, Ember."
She glanced over her shoulder and responded softly, "Hm."
"Are you done?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, her voice carrying a slight edge of detachment.
"I'm going to meet my friend. Can you stay at home?" Emir's tone was casual, but the weight of his words sank deep in Ember's chest.
She forced a smile, masking her emotions. "Okay, you go and enjoy." But inside, her thoughts churned: 'I know he's not obligated to me. He has his own life, and I can't force him to take me with him.'
As she turned toward the stairs, her voice faltered, "Oh, right! You didn't have breakfast. Eat something before you leave, okay?" She avoided his gaze, the effort to smile feeling too heavy to bear. 'I don't want to pretend to smile in front of him,' she thought, her heart aching.
Emir replied simply, "Okay."
"Okay... so, I'm heading to my room," she said, her voice soft.
As she took a step, Emir's hand suddenly grasped hers. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Let's go together," he said, his voice low yet filled with an undeniable pull.
Ember turned to face him, and before she could respond, he pulled her closer. Her hand instinctively rested on his shoulder, her breath hitching. He leaned in, whispering, "Go get ready…" Then, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, he murmured in her ear, "Are you happy?" His hand rested lightly on her waist, guiding her back toward the step.
Her cheeks flushed, her voice barely audible as she stammered, "yes." She avoided his gaze, feeling the heat rise in her face.
"Okay," he echoed with a soft smile, his eyes fixed on her.
Once in her room, Ember's gaze fell on a white dress she had bought the previous day. 'I can wear it... I know it's short, but it's his choice. I want to wear what he likes, so he can see how I look in his choice,' she thought with a flutter of nervous excitement.
When she came downstairs, she found Emir talking to Nana. His conversation paused as his eyes met Ember's. Clearing his throat, he said, "We're going out to meet Emir." He hesitated, glancing at Nana before continuing, "Okay, come back on time. Don't be late."
Outside, the honk of a car horn signaled it was time to leave. Ember replied, "Okay," before following Emir out. The horn beeped twice more, urging them along.
"Come," Emir said, gesturing toward the car.
As they sat in the back seat, Ember glanced at him. She found Emir already looking at her, his expression unreadable. "What happened? Do I not look good? Do I look weird?" she asked hesitantly.
Emir coughed, his cheeks turning a faint pink. "Cough! Cough! You look good," he said, quickly turning his face toward the window.
His reaction charmed Ember, a small smile tugging at her lips. But his next question caught her off guard. "Aren't you feeling uncomfortable in that dress? So, why did you choose to wear it?"
Her thoughts raced. 'He's right, but I can't tell him the real reason. I wore this for him.' Gathering her composure, she replied, "Actually, I wanted to push past my discomfort and try the style of this new place."
He nodded thoughtfully. "If you're uncomfortable, you can change."
"No! It's okay. I'm actually quite liking it," she said, surprising even herself with her confidence.
"Okay. If you like it… let's go," Emir said, his tone softer now. But in his mind, the conflict raged: 'If you go out wearing this, all the men in the restaurant won't be able to take their eyes off you. I need to be cautious at the restaurant. Yes, Dylan, you need to protect your girl—no, no, not my girl. She's my friend. Ugh, Dylan, what are you thinking?'
After a short drive, they arrived at the restaurant. Ember's gaze swept over the elegant exterior, her brows furrowing slightly. "Why are we at the restaurant? Didn't we already have breakfast?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
Emir smiled softly, gesturing toward the entrance. "Actually, my friend is coming here."
"Ah, I see," Ember murmured, nodding in understanding.
As they exited the car, Ember instinctively reached for the door handle and stepped out before Emir could make his way around to open it for her. Just as she stood, she noticed Emir standing there, his hand halfway extended toward the door. Realizing she had interrupted his gesture, she felt a pang of awkwardness.
But Emir, ever composed, took her hand gently and patted it with warmth. "Next time, wait for me to open it for you, okay?" His voice was soft, but his words carried a quiet authority that made Ember's heart flutter.
Her cheeks warmed at his thoughtfulness. It was the first time someone had shown such care, as if her comfort was their responsibility. Feeling a little bashful, she lowered her gaze and hummed softly, unable to find the right words to express the emotions swirling in her chest.
They entered the restaurant and settled into their seats at a table near the window. The morning sunlight filtered through, casting a soft glow over the room.
Moments later, Dylan walked into the restaurant, waving enthusiastically. "Hey, Dylan… Hey, Ember," he greeted, his voice filled with energy.
Ember's head tilted slightly in confusion. Her eyes darted toward Emir, who happened to be looking at her at that exact moment. Their eyes locked, and for a brief second, their shared bewilderment lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable.
Breaking the silence, Ember turned back to Dylan. "What did you just say, Dylan?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and suspicion.
Dylan blinked, seemingly caught off guard. "Yes, he called you Dylan," she continued, her confusion deepening. She turned to Emir, her brows knitting together. Emir ask,"Why did you call me by your name?"
Dylan quickly waved his hands in defense, his tone slightly panicked. "Oh, sorry, sorry. What you heard is wrong. I said, 'Hey, it's me, Dylan,' and 'Hey, Ember.' I was just surprised to see you here…"
Ember narrowed her eyes slightly, still unsure. "Oh, I see," she said slowly, though doubt lingered in her voice.
"Let's forget about that. It was just a mishearing," Dylan suggested, his tone light and casual, as if trying to dispel the tension.
Ember glanced at Emir, searching his face for confirmation. Emir offered a small smile and nodded. "Oh yes, he's right," he said, his tone steady but his eyes betraying a hint of something unspoken.
Deciding to let the matter drop, Ember took a deep breath, thinking to herself, 'Let's forget about this.' She exhaled slowly, trying to clear her mind of the lingering unease.
Dylan's voice cut through her thoughts. "So, how are you?" he asked, his attention fully on her.
"I'm good, and you?" Ember replied politely, her tone soft but guarded.
"I'm good too," Dylan answered, flashing a bright smile.
The conversation drifted into lighthearted topics, and though Ember participated, her mind occasionally wandered back to the strange moment earlier. After some time, she decided to excuse herself, her voice calm but resolute. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. You two can continue talking."
Emir glanced up at her, his expression as composed as ever. "Sure, take your time," he said, his voice kind and understanding.
Ember gave a small nod and rose from her seat. As she walked toward the restroom, she couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of curiosity. 'What just happened back there? Why did it feel like something was being hidden from me?' The thought lingered as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving Emir and Dylan to their own conversation.
AT THE TABLE
"I told you not to reveal that you're Emir. If you're my friend, don't let her know I'm 'Dylan,' not 'Emir,'" Dylan instructed firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned closer to emphasize his point.
Emir tilted his head, curiosity etched on his face. "Okay, but… why are you keeping this a secret?" he asked, his voice softer but insistent.
Dylan exhaled deeply, his gaze drifting to the table. "When I saw her in my garden, I couldn't take my eyes off her. As I got closer, my heart raced, and the sunlight on her face…" His voice faltered briefly, his expression softening as he recalled the moment. "It made her look like a heavenly goddess. I fell for her right then and there. You could call it love at first sight."
He leaned forward, resting his face on his hands as his thoughts carried him back to that day. A wistful sigh escaped his lips, the weight of his emotions evident.
Emir's eyes lit up with intrigue, his excitement bubbling to the surface. "I want to know more about my friend's first love!" he urged, leaning in eagerly.
Dylan's lips curled into a faint smile, and he began to share more of his story. "Alright… when she woke up and locked eyes with me, she asked, 'Who are you?' At first, I thought she was lost. But then, when she opened the door and looked at me with such curiosity and innocence…" He paused, his smile growing as the memory unfolded in his mind. "She was captivating. When I spoke to her in Chinese and saw her scratch her head in confusion…" He chuckled softly, his voice filled with warmth. "She looked so incredibly cute. It felt like a dream, experiencing all this."
Emir raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly teasing. "Hey, you only spent one day with her, yet you talk as if you know everything about her."
Dylan straightened up, his expression turning serious. "You're correct. That one day was the most beautiful day of my life." His voice softened, filled with conviction. "When she asked about my identity, I hesitated. I thought… if she knew who I was, it would change the way she sees me, and I didn't want that."
Emir leaned back, crossing his arms. "If you were to tell her that you're a famous actor, she'd probably fall for you instantly."
Dylan shook his head, his gaze steady. "You know I don't want that. I want her to love me for who I am, not my status. I want her to appreciate me, not my title as a famous actor."
Emir nodded slowly, his expression softening with understanding. "Alright, I'll support your decision. But when are you planning to reveal your true identity?"
Dylan's eyes flickered with determination. "I'll tell her when the time is right."
Emir leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "Make sure to do it soon because your identity is something that's widely known. You don't want her finding out from someone else."
Just as Dylan was about to respond, his gaze shifted past Emir. Ember was walking back toward their table, her steps light but deliberate. Dylan quickly straightened in his seat, his expression changing as he said in a hushed tone, "She's coming back. Let's change the topic."
Emir nodded, his posture relaxing as the conversation shifted, leaving their earlier discussion behind just as Ember rejoined them.