As he stepped closer, Emir's gaze softened when he noticed the glimmer of tears pooling in Ember's eyes. His brow furrowed in concern. " if it's nothing, Why do you have tears in your eyes?"
Caught off guard, Ember shook her head. "Oh, that... I got something in my eyes," she stammered, her words shaky as she tried to mask her emotions with a feeble excuse.
But Emir wasn't convinced. "Let me see," he said gently, his voice calm but firm as he closed the distance between them.
Ember instinctively stepped back, but Emir reached out, his hands steady as they rested on her arms. He pulled her closer with an air of authority that left no room for protest. "Don't move," he instructed firmly, his intense gaze locking onto hers.
Heart pounding, Ember nodded hesitantly, the vulnerability in her eyes making her feel exposed. Emir tilted her chin upward with a careful hand, his touch gentle yet steady. His voice softened, almost a whisper, "Don't close your eyes."
Ember obeyed, her breath hitching as Emir leaned closer. The world around her seemed to blur as he gently blew into her eyes, his proximity making her heart race uncontrollably. She could feel the warmth of his breath, the intimacy of the moment overwhelming her senses. The rapid thumping of a heartbeat echoed in her ears, and she couldn't tell if it was hers or his.
After what felt like an eternity, Emir leaned back, his gaze searching hers. "Now, do you feel any discomfort in your eyes?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Ember blinked a few times, the stinging sensation gone. "Yes... my eyes feel better now," she murmured, her voice soft and almost timid.
A faint smile tugged at Emir's lips as he stepped back slightly, giving her space but not entirely breaking the connection between them. "Okay, let's head back home," he said, his tone warm and reassuring.
For reasons she couldn't yet explain, Ember felt safer in his presence, as though the chaos of the moment had melted away, leaving only the unspoken bond between them.
The drive back was engulfed in silence. Ember sat with her arms crossed, staring out of the window, her mind replaying the incident in the restroom. Her thoughts were a chaotic swirl of confusion and unease, each moment from earlier pressing heavily on her chest.
Emir glanced at her several times, his concern growing with each passing second. Unable to take the silence any longer, he finally broke it. "So, tell me what happened," he said, his voice steady but tinged with worry.
Ember didn't turn to face him, her eyes still fixed on the passing scenery. "Nothing," she murmured, her tone flat.
Emir sighed softly, his patience waning. "Are you going to tell me, or should I go ask that group of girls?" he said, gesturing toward the group they had left behind outside the restroom.
Ember's head snapped toward him, panic flickering in her eyes. "No," she said quickly, her voice slightly raised.
"Then just tell me," Emir pressed, his tone firm but calm, encouraging her to open up.
Ember hesitated, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap. She inhaled deeply before finally confessing, her voice barely above a whisper, "They told me... they told me I need to stay away from you."
Emir's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening as her words sunk in. He stole a glance at her, his voice gentle yet steady. "So, what do you think? What are you going to do now? Stay away from me... or continue being my girlfriend?"
The word girlfriend hit Ember like a bolt of lightning. She blinked, stunned, her head snapping to look at him. "What did you just say?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Emir furrowed his brow, keeping his eyes on the road. "I asked what you want to do now," he repeated, his tone calm but edged with curiosity.
"About being your girlfriend?" Ember asked, her voice catching slightly as she spoke, unsure of what he meant.
A small, amused smile tugged at Emir's lips. "So what... you are," he said, his tone casual but the implication heavy with meaning.
Ember shook her head, her cheeks warming with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "No, I'm not. You don't even..."
"I don't even what?" Emir interrupted, his tone playful, though his eyes betrayed his deeper interest in her response.
This time, Ember found herself at a loss for words. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the right thing to say. Emir's smile widened, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "We've reached home, my girlfriend," he teased, putting extra emphasis on the word girlfriend, his grin spreading across his face.
"Hmm," Ember mumbled, unable to meet his gaze. The car came to a smooth stop at the gate, and before Emir could say another word, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door.
"Okay, bye. I'm going to my room," she blurted out, her words rushed as she stepped out of the car, her emotions swirling in a confusing mix of embarrassment, frustration, and something else she couldn't quite name. She didn't wait for his response, her only focus on escaping the moment so she could make sense of everything.
Ember hurried toward the house, her heart racing. Whatever just happened between them left her shaken, and she desperately needed space to process it all.
Ember rushed into her room and shut the door behind her with a quiet thud, creating a barrier between herself and the chaos swirling in her mind. She let out a deep breath and slumped onto her bed, burying her face into the pillow. Her thoughts tumbled over one another in a restless storm.
"How could he just say I'm his girlfriend without even asking?" she thought, her heart racing. "It was so sudden. What does he even mean by that? Should I go see him? No... no, I shouldn't. Wait, maybe I should? He said he has something to tell me. Ugh, Ember, get it together! Just go and see what he wants."
Her inner debate was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. Emir's voice came from the other side, steady and calm. "Ember, get fresh and come to my room. I have something to tell you."
Her chest tightened at his words. "What does he have to say to me now?" she wondered, her thoughts speeding up.
Before she could fully collect herself, Emir called out again, "Are you coming?"
Ember took a deep breath, resigning herself to the inevitable. "I'm coming," she called back, though in her mind, she was still wavering. "I can't escape from this."
She hurried to the bathroom, splashing cool water on her face in a desperate attempt to steady her nerves. After changing into her nightdress, she opened the door and stepped out, only to bump straight into Emir. Their heads collided gently, and she winced in surprise.
"Oops! Sorry, I didn't see you," Ember apologized quickly, taking a step back.
But Emir didn't seem to register her words. His eyes didn't meet hers; instead, he reached for her hand, his grip firm but not forceful. Without a word, he led her into his room.
Once inside, Emir shut the door behind them and raised his voice slightly, calling out to whoever might be nearby. "We're studying, so don't disturb us."
The declaration left Ember standing frozen beside the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced around the room, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her.
Her mind swirled with questions, a mix of fear, confusion, and anticipation building as she tried to guess what Emir was about to say.
Ember tried to steady her racing heart as she asked, "What happened, Emir?"
"There's something I need to tell you… Come, sit. Let's talk," Emir said, his tone calm yet laced with hesitation.
Ember perched on the edge of the bed, her nerves buzzing with anticipation. Emir turned toward the door for a moment, seemingly gathering his thoughts, before finally facing her again.
"Tell me?" Ember prompted, her voice soft but tinged with unease.
Emir slowly walked toward her, his expression unusually shy. His eyes locked onto hers as he sat down beside her, his movements deliberate. Gently, he took her hands in his, his touch warm and steady.
"I like you, Ember," he confessed, his voice sincere but trembling slightly.
The words hit Ember like a bolt of lightning. She jolted upright, her hands slipping from his as she stared at him in disbelief. "What?" she blurted out, her voice filled with shock. Her mind scrambled to make sense of the moment.
"Don't panic," Emir said quickly, his voice calm but laced with concern.
But Ember couldn't quiet the storm inside her. "Why… why are you saying this now?" she asked, her thoughts a tangled mess.
Emir exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I wanted to tell you about my feelings… by making it special for you, but…" He hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
Ember interrupted, her voice shaky. "When did you start feeling this way about me?" Her eyes searched his, desperate for clarity.
"Since the moment I saw you in my garden," Emir admitted, his gaze never leaving hers.
Her heart skipped a beat as realization dawned on her. "Isn't that the first day we met?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, you're right," Emir confirmed, his tone steady and unwavering.
The weight of his confession overwhelmed Ember. Her legs felt like jelly, and she collapsed back onto the bed, trying to process what she'd just heard.
Emir leaned forward, concern etched across his face. "Are you alright?" he asked gently.
"Yes, I am," Ember replied, though her heart was pounding, and her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and emotion.
Seeing her silence, Emir took a deep breath and continued, "I know this is sudden. But after what happened today in the restroom, I was scared—scared that you might leave me. I didn't want to wait any longer, so I'm telling you now. I like you, Ember."
Ember met his eyes, her own filled with uncertainty. "What happened in the restroom today was shocking for me too, but I don't plan to leave you just because of what they said."
Emir's eyes softened as he asked, "So… what do you think of me?"
Ember hesitated, lowering her gaze. "I see you as a friend, but this is too sudden for me," she admitted, her voice quiet and conflicted.
A faint, bittersweet smile tugged at Emir's lips. "It's okay. You have time to decide. I'm not forcing you to answer now," he said, though his voice carried a hint of sadness.
Ember stood, her mind spinning. "So… I'm going to my room," she mumbled, ready to escape the intensity of the moment.
But before she could take a step, Emir reached out and gently pushed her back onto the bed. Her breath hitched as he leaned over her, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and tenderness.
"I like you," he whispered, his words brushing against her cheek like a soft breeze. Before Ember could respond, he leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her cheek, followed by a fleeting, gentle kiss on her lips.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Ember felt her heart skip a beat, her entire world tilting on its axis.
When Emir pulled away, he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. "When you feel ready, you can give me an answer," he murmured, his voice steady but tinged with vulnerability.
Ember was frozen in shock, her mind reeling from the unexpected kiss and the raw emotions swirling around her. The moment his arms released her, she bolted from the bed. Without a word or a glance back, she rushed toward the door and slipped out of the room.
Back in the safety of her own room, Ember shut the door behind her and leaned against it, her heart still racing. She clutched her chest, trying to calm the storm of emotions Emir's confession had unleashed. But no matter how hard she tried, the memory of his kiss lingered, leaving her breathless and unsure of what to do next.
After spending some time alone in her room, Ember was startled by Emir's voice calling out from the hallway, "Baby, it's time for dinner."
She froze for a moment, processing the term he had just used. "Coming... Wait, what did you just call me?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of disbelief.
Emir responded with a playful tone, "Baby, what's wrong with that?"
She furrowed her brows and questioned, "Why do you call me that?"
With a soft chuckle, Emir gently said, "Baby, if you don't like it, we can talk about new nickname after dinner. Come on."
Still feeling conflicted, Ember take a deep breath to control herself and agreed, "Okay," though her thoughts betrayed her calm response. 'I haven't even agreed to be his girlfriend yet, and he's already teasing me.'
As they entered the dining room, Emir pulled out a chair close to his and gestured for her to sit. Ember, however, ignored his invitation and deliberately chose a chair on the opposite side of the table.
Not one to give up easily, Emir grinned and, once dinner was served, moved to sit beside her.
Ember took a small sip of water and set her glass down, trying to maintain her composure. Emir, with an encouraging smile, nudged her, "Taste it. How is it?"
She raised a brow and replied coolly, "I can eat by myself."
Emir, undeterred, leaned slightly closer, his expression shifting into what he likely thought was a seductive look. "Aren't you going to eating?"
Instead of blushing as he might have hoped, Ember found his attempt more amusing than anything else. She stifled a giggle, her lips twitching into a smile.
She nodded and replied with a soft hum, "Hm," her inner thoughts betraying her calm demeanor. 'He thinks he's making me blush with those eyes, but I can't control my laughter.'
Emir noticed her smirk and asked, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Ember replied, her playful smile still lingering.
"Alright, but eat quickly," Emir urged, his tone shifting to something more practical. "It's getting late, and you can go to bed after this."
As they ate, the conversation drifted back to their earlier exchange. The sudden shift made Ember's cheeks flush a delicate pink. She avoided his gaze, mumbling softly, "Give me some time."
Emir nodded in understanding but didn't push further.
Once she finished eating, Ember quickly got up from her seat and said, "I'm done. Good night," before hurrying back to the sanctuary of her room.
Later that night, as she lay on her bed pretending to sleep, she heard a soft knock on the door. She held her breath, unwilling to respond.
The door creaked open, and she felt the soft pad of footsteps approaching her bed. She resisted the urge to peek, her heart pounding in her chest.
Emir sat beside her, his presence warm and calming. He gazed at her sleeping form and whispered softly, "You're too cute when you sleep."
Leaning forward, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. His voice was low but filled with emotion as he murmured, "I like you. You can take your time. It's your decision to choose your partner. I can't force you to like me… Good night."
With that, he quietly stood and left the room, closing the door behind him with care. Ember, still pretending to sleep, felt her heart ache with a strange mix of emotions—confusion, warmth, and the faint stirrings of something she wasn't ready to name.