Good morning! The sun rose over the city of Blue, painting its buildings with a golden glow. It was another beautiful day, but Ember, as always, was running late for college. Her mother entered the room, gently shaking Ember's shoulder to wake her.
"Ember, wake up! You're getting late for college," she urged softly.
"Coming…" Ember mumbled, her voice still heavy with sleep.
Dragging herself out of bed, Ember finally got ready and found herself seated at the dining table.
"Here's your breakfast," her mother said as she placed a plate before her. She paused, noticing the unusual brightness in Ember's eyes and the faint smile playing on her lips. "Why are you smiling so much today?"
"No, I'm not," Ember replied quickly, shaking her head.
"You are," her mother insisted, her curiosity piqued. "Is something special happening?"
Her mother's sly smile deepened, teasing her with the question. Ember's cheeks flushed as she looked down at her plate.
"Hey, stop teasing her," her father interjected with a warm laugh. "She's just in a good mood, that's all."
Grinning, Ember chimed in, "See, my dad is much better than you."
Her mother surrendered with a playful sigh. "Yeah, yeah, you both are ganging up on me now."
Once at college, Ember's cheerful energy caught her friend Sofia's attention.
"Ember, you seem to be in a good mood today," Sofia remarked, raising an eyebrow.
The day unfolded as usual, with lectures and assignments filling the hours. After class, the two friends headed to the computer lab to prepare for their presentation.
"Ugh, this is so tiring," Sofia groaned, stretching her arms high above her head.
"Yeah, let's take a break. How about the canteen?" Ember suggested with a smile, hoping to ward off their growing fatigue.
After their lunch break, the dreaded moment arrived—it was time to present. Their presentation went smoothly, but their lecturer gently advised, "You both need to work on your confidence. Don't let stage fright hold you back."
Both nodded sheepishly, knowing their first encounter with public speaking had left them nervous.
As they made their way to the bus stop after college, Sofia couldn't help but revisit the morning's mystery.
"Hey, Ember, can I ask you something?" she began with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Why were you smiling so much today?"
Caught off guard, Ember blinked, her cheeks warming as she stammered, "What do you mean?"
Sofia leaned in closer, grinning. "Are you dating someone? C'mon, you can tell me!"
Ember's eyes widened in shock. "Hey, what are you saying?" she exclaimed, flustered.
Sofia's grin grew even wider. "Your reaction tells me everything!"
Desperate to deflect, Ember shook her head. "Let me explain. I spend all my time with you. Think about it—do I even have time to date someone?"
Sofia tilted her head, considering. "Yeah, I guess you're right," she conceded with a shrug.
After bidding Sofia goodbye, Ember boarded the bus, letting out a small sigh of relief. Her thoughts drifted as she gazed out of the window.
'Finally, she believes me,' Ember mused, her smile softening. 'But the truth is…I'm really not dating anyone. It's just that I got a proposal yesterday. I can't even bring myself to say it out loud.'
The happiness radiating from Ember was unmistakable, but the real reason for it lay hidden deep within her heart.
When she returned home, she shared the events of her day with her mother. Laughter and chatter filled the house during dinner, but as the night deepened, Ember retreated to her room.
As she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind wandered to Emir's proposal. A warmth bloomed in her chest, the memory of his words replaying in her mind. Her heart couldn't deny it anymore—his confession had lit a spark within her that she couldn't ignore.
And as she closed her eyes, a small smile lingered on her lips, a secret she would keep close to her heart—for now.
In the city of Shine, the sun shone brightly, its golden rays sneaking through the curtains and falling gently on Ember's face. Still curled up in bed, she stirred slightly as Emir entered the room. His presence carried a warmth that matched the morning light.
"Wake up, it's morning, baby," Emir said softly, his voice laced with affection.
Ember replied with a sleepy murmur, "Hmm..." her eyes barely fluttering open.
With a tender smile, Emir leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. His tone grew playful as he asked, "So, do you accept, dear?"
Still half-asleep, Ember frowned slightly. "Accept what?" she asked, her voice groggy and confused.
Emir chuckled, his grin widening. "To be my girlfriend," he said, watching her face closely.
Suddenly jolted awake, Ember sat up quickly, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "No," she blurted out, her voice sharp with surprise.
Emir blinked, momentarily taken aback. He tilted his head, trying to hide the disappointment in his eyes. "Okay," he said calmly, "how much time do you need to reply?"
Ember, still flustered, glanced away. "Hey, let me think about it..." she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
Seeing her uncertainty, Emir decided not to push her. With a soft smile, he said, "I'm giving you one week."
Her eyes widened in shock. "That fast?" she exclaimed, finding his timeline unreasonably short.
"Go get changed; we're going out," he said, his tone decisive yet gentle.
Ember raised an eyebrow. "Is it for college?"
"No," Emir replied mysteriously, "I'll tell you at breakfast where I'm taking you."
she agreed. "Okay."
As Emir left the room, Ember sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing. She bit her lip, wondering aloud, "What should I wear? I don't even know where he's taking me..."
Before she could decide, there was a knock on her door.
"Ember, come eat breakfast," Nanna's familiar voice called from the other side.
"Coming," Ember replied, still debating her outfit.
Then, another knock.
"Who?" Ember asked, her brows furrowing.
Without waiting for permission, Emir walked back into the room.
She turned, glaring at him. "What are you doing here? Don't you know that when you knock, you're supposed to wait for a 'yes, come in' before entering?"
Unfazed by her irritation, Emir smirked. "What if i were changing?"
Emir reply ,"So what ? you are my girlfriend"
Crossing her arms, she shot back, " What! I am not ? Not now at least. You're such a pest. Don't you feel any shame saying things like this?"
Emir stepped closer, his expression playful. "You're my girl. Why would I?"
Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she snapped, "Why are you here, anyway?"
He held out a small package, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm here to give you this."
Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she took the package. "What is it?" she asked, inspecting it.
"Get changed and come downstairs," he instructed, stepping closer until his voice dropped to a whisper. "Do you mind if I help you get changed?"
Her jaw dropped, and she stammered, "What?!" Her face burned with embarrassment.
Chuckling, Emir leaned in and kissed her forehead again. "I'll be waiting," he said smoothly before turning to leave.
Ember stood frozen in place, her heart racing. She reached out to close the door behind him, muttering under her breath, "Oh, finally, he's gone. I don't know why he's acting so weird today. Is it because of last night? Ugh, I shouldn't think about it anymore."
Taking a deep breath, she opened the package Emir had given her. Inside was a cozy cream sweater paired with a ribbed midi skirt in a matching shade of soft pink. She complements the look with nude heels and a small white handbag, exuding a timeless and effortlessly chic style. She ran her fingers over the fabric, a small smile creeping onto her face.
"So, he knows what I like to wear..." she murmured. Her heart softened slightly. "I have to admit, his choice is pretty good."
With a lightness in her step, she got dressed and headed downstairs, her thoughts still tangled with Emir's unexpected words and gestures.
When Ember came downstairs, she looked stunning in the elegant dress Emir had chosen for her. The soft fabric flowed gracefully, accentuating her natural beauty. Emir froze in place, his eyes glued to her as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Emir, why are you just standing there? Aren't we eating breakfast?" Ember asked, waving her hand in front of his face to snap him out of his trance.
Startled, Emir blinked and quickly apologized. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just... you're so beautiful... I can't take my eyes off you." His voice carried a raw honesty that made Ember's cheeks flush a deep shade of pink.
Feeling embarrassed, she quickly tried to deflect. But before she could say anything, Emir grinned and announced, "We're going on a date today."
Her eyes widened in shock. "What? Who said anything about going on a date today?" she exclaimed, planting her hands firmly on her hips.
"Isn't it normal for me to take my girlfriend on a date?" Emir asked, a slight tinge of disappointment coloring his tone.
Ember raised a brow and corrected him. "Trial."
A triumphant smile spread across Emir's face. "So, that means you agreed... Let's go," he said enthusiastically, ignoring her attempt to remain noncommittal.
Before she could protest further, Emir stepped forward and, without warning, swept her up into his arms in a bridal style.
"Hey, are you crazy? Put me down right now!" Ember's voice rose in frustration, but he only laughed, carrying her effortlessly toward the car.
When they reached the car, he gently set her down. His eyes twinkled with playful mischief as he asked, "Are you sitting on your own, or should I help you?"
Letting out a resigned sigh, Ember glared at him and muttered, "I'm sitting... okay." She climbed into the car, her cheeks still burning from the whirlwind of emotions he had stirred up.
As they settled into the car, Emir leaned closer to Ember, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ember immediately stiffened and asked, "What are you doing?"
Emir smirked. "Do you want to do something exciting?" he asked, his tone playful yet intriguing.
Ember narrowed her eyes at him, curiosity winning over caution. "What are you planning?"
"Today, just trust me and do what I say," Emir replied confidently. Hesitant but intrigued, Ember nodded.
Before she could process what was happening, he gently covered her eyes with a silk cloth. "What?" she gasped, panic bubbling in her chest.
Emir placed a calming hand on hers. "Relax. I'm here," he said, his voice soft and reassuring.
Her breathing steadied slightly. "Okay, but this feels strange," she muttered.
"Put your seatbelt on," he instructed. Ember fumbled around, but with her vision blocked, she struggled. "I can't find it, Emir," she admitted, a touch of embarrassment in her tone.
"Let me help you," he said, leaning closer. His hand guided hers to the seatbelt, the proximity making Ember acutely aware of how close they were.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice quieter now.
Emir blushed faintly and cleared his throat. "You're welcome," he said before rolling down the window for a breath of fresh air.
"Let's just get this over with," Ember said, attempting to mask her unease.
As the car began moving, Emir couldn't resist teasing her. "You seem pretty excited to be on a date with me."
"No!" Ember protested, her panic evident. Then, realizing how flustered she sounded, she groaned. "I mean… Yes? Oh my gosh, what am I even saying?" She covered her face with her hands, regretting every word.
Emir chuckled softly. "Baby, we'll be there soon."
Ember immediately retorted, "Hey, no 'baby.' Can't you just call me Ember?"
"That's too simple," Emir said, his grin widening.
"Just stop saying 'baby,' okay?" she pleaded.
"Fine. I'll think of something even better," he promised, amusement lacing his words.
After a few moments of silence, Ember shifted uncomfortably. "Emir, I'm feeling kind of dizzy… The car feels like it's moving in circles."
Concern flashed across Emir's face. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I think so. It's probably just because my eyes are closed," Ember reasoned.
"Exactly. We're almost there, so hold on a bit longer," Emir reassured her.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Emir announced, "We've arrived."
Ember perked up. "Can I open my eyes now?" she asked eagerly.
"Not yet," he said, leaving her teetering between anticipation and frustration.
Gently, he helped her out of the car. To her utter surprise, he suddenly scooped her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style. "What are you doing?" Ember exclaimed, her cheeks heating up. "This is too sudden!"
"Relax. I'm just helping you cross the stairs," Emir explained, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Why are there so many stairs?" Ember grumbled as she felt the ascent stretch on.
"Just a few more," Emir said, his tone light and teasing.
Finally, he came to a stop. "We're here," he announced with a hint of excitement.
Ember's heart raced as she asked, "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Not yet," Emir replied quickly. Her hands froze on the cloth, her anticipation building.
"Hold on," he added, his voice low, almost a whisper. Ember's breath caught as she waited, her heart pounding in her chest.