As Ember woke up in her house, she let out a soft huff, her lips curling into a smile. "Good morning, Ember. I'm eagerly waiting for the night," she murmured to herself, her heart dancing with quiet excitement.
Getting out of bed, she began her morning routine, preparing herself for the day ahead. Entering the kitchen, she called out, "Mom, is breakfast ready?"
Her mother, busy arranging the plates, smiled and replied, "Yep! You're up early today—without me having to call you."
"Yes, I did," Ember said with a small grin as she took her seat.
Just then, her father walked in, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh! Dear, you're up early today," he remarked.
"Yes, good morning, Papa," Ember responded cheerfully.
After finishing breakfast, she headed out to the bus stop. The cool morning air brushed against her cheeks as she waited. Within minutes, the bus arrived, and Ember took her seat by the window. The scenery passed by in a blur, but her mind was elsewhere—lost in thoughts of Emir.
"What is he doing now?" she mused, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the foggy glass. "I think he's sleeping at this hour. When I arrived there, it was morning, and when I left, it was nighttime. So, he must be asleep now."
Her chest tightened with a strange longing, and a small smile crept onto her face as she whispered to herself, "When he kissed me, it felt so real. He's not just a thought… He's real."
The bus ride passed quickly, and soon Ember found herself stepping into the college campus. Classes began, but her thoughts refused to let go of Emir. The memory of his smile, the warmth of his touch—it all lingered, filling her heart with a mix of yearning and joy.
By the time the lunch break arrived, Ember decided to visit the library. She was scanning the shelves when she noticed Sofia standing nearby. "Hey, what are you doing here?" Ember asked curiously.
Sofia turned, a sheepish expression on her face. "I was late to the bus stop and missed the bus."
Ember offered her a kind smile. "It's okay. The library's always a good place to be." Then, as an afterthought, she added, "By the way, can you share the notes from the business lecture with me?"
"Sure," Sofia agreed, pulling out her notebook.
Time seemed to fly as they chatted and worked, but soon it was time to leave. As they walked out, Sofia hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Hey, wait! Can we be friends?"
Ember stopped, turning back with a playful smile. "We're already friends, don't you know?"
Sofia laughed softly, and they waved goodbye as Ember headed to her bus.
When she reached home, her mother greeted her warmly. "Welcome back," she said, her voice filled with affection.
"How was your day, Mom?" Ember asked, setting her bag down.
"It was good. And yours?"
"It was good too," Ember replied, her thoughts momentarily drifting back to Emir.
After freshening up, she joined her family for dinner. The aroma of spices filled the air as her mom served the food. "What's for dinner?" Ember asked eagerly.
"Biryani," her mom replied.
Ember's eyes lit up. "Great! It's my favorite!" she exclaimed, her excitement evident.
Dinner was followed by a cozy family time in front of the TV, but soon her mother ushered them off to bed. "It's quite late now. Both of you should get some rest," she said firmly.
"Okay," Ember and her brother replied in unison, darting off to their rooms.
As Ember lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her heart fluttered with anticipation. "I'm really excited to see Emir again," she thought, a soft smile playing on her lips. With that, she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep,
After some time, Ember's eyes fluttered open, and she was startled to find Emir sitting beside her, his warm smile greeting her.
"Good morning," Emir said gently.
"Morning," Ember replied, her voice soft but tinged with surprise. Her smile faltered as she blinked at him. "Wait... You?"
"Yes, it's me," he replied, his tone calm yet amused. He paused briefly before asking, "What were you expecting?"
Ember sat up on the bed, brushing her hair away from her face. "I wasn't really expecting anything… It's just… surprising," she admitted, still trying to process the situation.
Emir chuckled softly, his gaze steady on her. "Don't be surprised by this. You're going to see me every day when you wake up," he said, his hand nervously running through his hair. A faint blush crept onto his face, betraying his shyness.
Ember's mind raced with thoughts about him, and her heart softened. 'He's shy about saying this, yet he doesn't hesitate to walk into a girl's room. It's so endearing,' she thought, her lips curling into an involuntary smile.
Noticing her reaction, Emir's expression relaxed, and he reached out to gently pat her head. "Go get ready. We're going out."
"Where to?" Ember asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"To college," he said with a grin. "Oh, and I've prepared a uniform for you. You can wear it today."
"Okay," she replied simply, her tone light but touched with anticipation.
After getting ready, Ember made her way downstairs to the dining area. Spotting her nana, she greeted warmly, "Morning, Nana."
Her nana looked up with a smile. "Good morning, dear. Come, eat breakfast."
"Okay," Ember said as she approached the dining table. Emir stood as she arrived and announced, "No need to pack it. We're running late."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You look beautiful today in that uniform."
His words sent a wave of warmth rushing to Ember's cheeks. She blushed, lowering her gaze.
Suddenly, her nana called out, her tone firm but loving. "Hey, you, stop there! Eat here."
Turning to Ember, ember say with a kind smile. "She's right. She made this breakfast for us. We should respect that. Besides, it will get cold if you wait. Come on, let's sit and eat. We won't be late if we eat now. Please."
Ember nodded at nana. And she smile back at ember, and when she looked at Emir, he relented with a small smile. They sat down and enjoyed their meal together.
As they finished, her nana couldn't help but tease Emir. "You listen to her, but not to your nana," she muttered with mock indignation.
Getting ready to leave, Emir called out with a playful grin, "Hey, Nana, I love you!"
Her nana's face softened as she smiled back at him. "I love you too, dear."
They left the house and headed to the car waiting in the driveway. The driver stepped forward and informed Emir, "The car is ready, sir."
Emir held out his hand. "Give me the key. I'll drive."
The driver hesitated. "But you're not allowed—"
"Please," Emir interrupted, his tone insistent but polite. The driver sighed and handed over the keys without further argument.
"Let's go, Ember," Emir said, gesturing toward the car.
They both climbed in, and as Ember buckled her seatbelt, she glanced at him. "Put your seatbelt on, please," she requested.
"Sure thing," he replied with a smile, fastening it.
Emir started the car and pulled out of the driveway, the engine purring softly. However, his pace was brisk, and the scenery blurred past them.
"Slow down, Emir. You're driving too fast," Ember said, concern lacing her voice.
He glanced at her apologetically. "We're getting late… So, sorry, not now."
Ember huffed quietly but didn't push further. True to his word, Emir managed to get them to the college in just a few minutes.
"We've reached," Emir announced as the car came to a stop.
Ember exhaled sharply, catching her breath. "Oh, finally! The ride has stopped."
Emir shot her a quick glance and urged, "Let's go. We're getting late."
As they stepped out of the car, Emir reached for her hand and instructed firmly, "Hold my hand, Ember. Tight."
She hesitated for a moment but followed his lead, gripping his hand securely. Before she could question why, Emir exclaimed, "Run!" and took off, pulling her along.
"What?!" Ember gasped, completely taken aback by his sudden burst of energy.
Hand in hand, they sprinted across the campus toward the classroom. Despite the rush, Ember managed to protest, "Can you please slow down?"
Emir glanced back at her mid-stride, his eyes locking with hers. A soft, carefree smile played on his lips, and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to stop.
Ember's heart skipped a beat, and her thoughts spiraled. 'My mind is on cloud nine. I forgot we were running. I just want to hold his hand tight and never let go. It feels like something out of a drama, unfolding right here in my life. And his smile… his smile is so unforgettable.'
They finally reached the classroom, coming to a halt just outside the door. Ember caught her breath, exclaiming, "Oh! We're not late."
"Yes, we're not late," Emir confirmed, his grin widening.
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter. "Ha ha ha ha..." Their voices echoed down the hallway, light and full of unspoken joy.
Once they settled into their seats, the class began within minutes.
Toward the end of the lecture, the instructor turned to the class. "Tell us about the homework you were supposed to complete," he asked.
Ember froze, realization dawning on her. "Oh! I forgot to do my homework," she blurted out, her voice filled with regret.
Emir leaned closer, frowning slightly. "What homework are you talking about?"
"It's a task for my college," Ember explained hurriedly.
Emir's expression softened, and he offered, "Let me help you with that after class. We can head to the library."
Ember's lips curved into a grateful smile. "Okay," she agreed.
After the lecture, they walked to the library together. Ember's eyes widened as she took in the massive room lined with towering shelves and rows of books. "Wow, your library is so big. Even my college library isn't this impressive," she remarked, her voice tinged with awe.
Emir turned to her, running a hand through his hair as if embarrassed. "Sometimes, you're just too cute," he muttered under his breath.
"Did you say something?" Ember asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"No," Emir replied quickly, gesturing toward a table. "Let's sit here."
Ember nodded, taking her seat. "You know, I love spending time in libraries, even back at college. There's always something new to learn from books," she shared, her smile radiant.
Emir leaned forward, his expression attentive. "So, what's the topic of your homework?"
"I have to make a presentation on management accounting," Ember replied.
"Got it. You sit here. I'll find the books you need," Emir offered, and Ember nodded appreciatively.
As Emir wandered off into the aisles, Ember tried to keep herself occupied but soon grew restless. She decided to take a stroll through the library and noticed Emir speaking to a girl near one of the shelves. Curiosity piqued, Ember discreetly moved closer, hiding behind a bookshelf to eavesdrop.
The girl's voice was sharp and filled with frustration. "Dylan, why haven't you been coming to college? You know yesterday was crucial. You had an important shoot for our college. You're representing us!" she scolded, her words laced with disappointment.
Emir stood silently, his face unreadable.
"Are you even listening to me?" the girl raised her voice, clearly irritated by his lack of response.
Finally, Emir broke his silence, his voice calm but firm. "I know."