Emir gently held Ember's hand, bringing their steps to a halt. His fingers moved delicately as he began untying the blindfold over her eyes. "Let me open it," he whispered softly, his voice tinged with anticipation.
As the blindfold slipped away, a cascade of sunlight greeted Ember's vision. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness. When her sight cleared, her lips parted in awe. "Wow! Such a beautiful place... Where are we?" she gasped, her voice laced with wonder.
Emir smiled warmly, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Do you like it?" he asked.
Ember nodded, her gaze still wandering over the lush greenery and vibrant blooms around her. "Yes, it's incredible," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"This is a terrace garden," Emir explained, his tone filled with pride. "Completely covered with plants and natural beauty. I thought you might like it."
He gestured toward a table adorned with delicate flowers and a soft linen cloth. "Come, have a seat," he said, pulling out a chair for her.
"Thank you," Ember replied graciously, settling into the chair.
Emir leaned closer, a playful glint in his eyes. "What would you like to eat?" he asked.
Ember glanced at the menu in front of her, scanning it quickly. "Let me see... Hmm, I think I'll have Manchurian," she decided with a confident nod.
"Manchurian for breakfast?" Emir repeated, his brows lifting in surprise.
Ember laughed, a light, melodic sound that warmed the atmosphere. "Yeah! What's the harm? I really want to eat it. So what if it's meant for brunch or dinner? But if you don't like it, I can pick something else."
Emir's eyes softened with concern as he responded, "It's not about liking it... I'm just thinking about your health."
Ember smiled warmly at him. "Okay, then let's order the Manchurian," he said, his tone reassuring.
When their order arrived, Emir picked up a forkful and offered it to Ember. "Can I?" he asked, his brown eyes glinting with affection.
Ember felt her cheeks warm, her heart fluttering in response. "Okay," she murmured, leaning forward to take the bite he offered. Then, gathering courage, she picked up a bite and extended it toward him. Their eyes met as Emir accepted her offer, a moment of quiet connection blooming between them. Flustered, Ember looked away, her blush deepening.
"Actually," she began, trying to fill the silence, "when you said this might not be healthy, it reminded me of my mom. She used to say the same thing and never let me eat it. But whenever I made a sad face, she would eventually agree, letting me have it once a month." A blissful smile lit up her face as she reminisced.
Emir moved closer, lowering his voice as he whispered, "You're too cute. Can I kiss you?"
Ember's cheeks turned crimson, her breath catching. "N-no," she stammered, her words barely coherent.
Emir tilted his head, his tone playful but persistent. "But it's our first date. Shouldn't we at least share a kiss?"
Ember's expression shifted, her determination shining through. "No. This is just a trial, so no kisses," she declared firmly.
Emir sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Okay, okay. I'll behave," he said, backing off.
Sensing her own discomfort, Ember quickly changed the topic. "Let's take a walk," she suggested, hoping to shift the mood.
Emir's face brightened instantly. "Hmm," he agreed. As they began strolling through the garden, Ember reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his.
To distract herself from his lingering gaze, Ember asked, "What would you like to eat? You know, just generally."
Emir thought for a moment, then said, "Well, I live in China, so I've grown to love Chinese food."
"Anything specific?" Ember pressed, her interest piqued.
Emir grinned. "Let me think... Oh yes, I love momos."
Ember's eyes lit up. "That's nice! You know, momos are my favorite among all Chinese dishes," she shared, her excitement genuine.
Their easy conversation was interrupted by the sudden ringing of Emir's phone. "Ring! Ring!" He excused himself politely, stepping a few paces away to answer.
Ember watched as his expression shifted while he spoke, her curiosity aroused. "Hey, I'm coming... Take care of everything, and make sure the arrangements are complete. I'm leaving now, so do it fast... Check my dress; it's going for alterations. Okay, bye. See you there..."
As he ended the call, Ember couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was brewing, but she decided to hold her questions—for now.
After ending his call, Emir noticed Ember peeking at him from behind the plants. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he announced in a loud voice, "It's done!"
Ember hesitated for a moment before timidly stepping out of her hiding spot. Her face revealed a mixture of curiosity and unease. "Who were you talking to?" she asked softly, her voice betraying her hesitation.
Emir leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "Are you getting jealous?" he teased, his tone playful and knowing.
"Why should I be?" Ember shot back, trying to sound indifferent, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
With a chuckle, Emir affectionately patted her head. "Okay, I won't tease you anymore. Let's go."
Ember tilted her head, her curiosity only growing. "Where are we going?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion.
Emir gave her a mysterious smile, the kind that always left her both intrigued and frustrated. "You'll find out. Just come with me," he replied, as enigmatic as ever.
They began descending the stairs, and it was only then that Ember realized something strange. They were in Emir's house. Her steps faltered, and she stopped abruptly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Emir, you...," she began, a frown creasing her delicate brow.
Emir turned to her, his expression shifting to one of guilt. "What is it?" he asked cautiously.
Ember's voice was firm, her eyes narrowing in mock accusation. "You didn't tell me this was on your house terrace."
His cheeks flushed with guilt as he scratched the back of his neck. "Actually, I can explain..."
"What can you explain?" Ember pressed, her tone sharp but her lips twitching as if fighting a smile.
Emir took a deep breath, clearly trying to compose himself. "Well... when I remembered that I confessed my feelings to you yesterday, I felt like I needed to do something special," he admitted, his voice softening.
Ember raised an eyebrow. "But we could have just taken the stairs to get up there, right?" she asked, her frown deepening as she gestured back toward the terrace.
Emir sighed, his shoulders slumping in surrender. "Yes, you're right. But I wanted our first date to be memorable, and I didn't have time to book a restaurant on such short notice, so... I decided to do this."
A soft giggle escaped Ember's lips. She reached up, her hands aiming for his cheeks. "You're too cute," she teased, attempting to pinch them playfully.
Emir stood still, amused by her attempt, but her height worked against her. Frustrated, Ember stood on her tiptoes, determined to succeed. But in her effort, she lost her balance, stumbling forward and landing against Emir's chest.
Emir instinctively caught her, his hands steadying her. For a moment, the world seemed to pause as they looked at each other, their laughter slowly dying down. Clearing his throat, Emir stepped back slightly, trying to regain his composure. "Ahem! Let's get in the car," he said, his voice tinged with awkwardness.
"Okay," Ember agreed, though a quiet thought crept into her mind. 'Why do I always become so clumsy when I'm around him?'
As they settled into the car, the silence hung between them for a moment before Ember broke it. "Whose idea was it to take us to the terrace?" she asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.
Emir shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel. "You know, I wanted something special," he admitted, glancing at her briefly. "So Butler Fang suggested we do it on the terrace."
Ember tilted her head, her curiosity deepening. "And what about the blindfold and the car ride?" she pressed, her tone laced with playful suspicion.
Emir let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Actually, that was my idea," he confessed. "I thought you wouldn't figure it out, but... I kind of forgot we'd have to come downstairs afterward."
A burst of laughter escaped Ember as she leaned back in her seat, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I knew this silly idea was yours," she teased, her voice full of mirth as her laughter echoed in the car.
Before Emir could respond, he cleared his throat and interrupted her. "We've arrived," he announced, his tone suddenly serious.
Ember glanced out the window, her brows furrowing in confusion. "College?" she asked, turning to look at him.
"Didn't you say today is a holiday?" Ember wondered aloud, her eyes scanning the unusually large crowd that filled the campus. It was strange—it seemed to consist entirely of girls. "Why are there so many girls here today?" she asked, leaning closer to Emir, her curiosity piqued.
Emir leaned in and whispered, his voice calm but firm, "Stay inside for a while and put this mask on ."
"Okay," Ember replied, her curiosity deepening but trusting his guidance.
As they navigated through the crowd, the noise around them intensified. Suddenly, they heard a loud chorus of voices shouting, "Dylan, Dylan, Dylan... we love you!" The crowd was overwhelming, a sea of faces, and Emir extended his hand to Ember, his grip firm and reassuring. "Don't let go of my hand," he instructed.
The throng seemed endless, with bodyguards surrounding them on all sides. As they carefully made their way through, Ember couldn't help but overhear some of the girls cheering excitedly. "We love you! He's so cute! Look at the girl next to him!" Their words made Ember feel exposed, her cheeks warming with a mixture of embarrassment and uncertainty.
When they reached the center of the crowd, Emir grabbed the microphone with confidence, his voice echoing through the space. "I love you guys, and thank you for your support," he said, his words warm and sincere. Then, glancing at Ember with a soft smile, he added, "Please give her some space; my girl isn't used to crowds."
Ember's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her face flush at his words. 'Oh, what is he saying in front of all these girls?' she thought, feeling suddenly self-conscious.
Emir leaned in close, his lips brushing near her ear as he whispered, "You're blushing."
"No, I'm not," Ember protested quickly, trying to hide her embarrassment, though it was clear she couldn't fool him.
"Yes, you are, I can feel that with your mask on " he teased, his tone light and playful, enjoying the effect he had on her.
"Let's go," Ember said, eager to change the subject and escape the attention.
As they took a few steps forward, a voice rang out from the crowd. "Is she your real girlfriend?"
Emir turned toward the voice, his expression unwavering, and replied with a confident smile, "I'm pursuing her, but... I don't think she's as interested in me as I am in her, but I want to make one thing clear—don't bully her or make her uncomfortable. I won't let you off the hook."
Ember glanced at Emir, noticing that his eyes were fixed on a group of girls at the edge of the crowd. She realized with a start that they were the same girls she had encountered earlier in the restroom.
"Now, let's continue," Emir said, his voice firm as he waved goodbye to the crowd. With that, they finally made their way out of the chaotic scene, Ember feeling a mix of relief and lingering curiosity.
As they entered, the entire place looked like a bustling shooting location. The air buzzed with activity, and the sound of distant conversations and cameras clicking filled the space.
Dylan greeted them warmly, his smile wide and genuine. "Hey, Dylan... No, no, Emir. How are you? Good to see you too, Ember."
"So good to see you too, Dylan," Ember replied with a polite smile, though her eyes wandered around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Dylan gestured toward a nearby door and said, "Here's your changing room, Ember. You can sit here for a while. I need to discuss something with Emir."
"Okay," Ember agreed, her curiosity tugging at her as she stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind her, and outside, Dylan and Emir began their conversation.
Emir's tone turned serious as he asked, "When are you going to tell her about your real identity?"
Dylan let out a heavy sigh, his usual confidence replaced with hesitation. "I know you're concerned about this. I will tell her," he said, his voice quiet.
"Don't you think what happened today is already giving her hints?" Emir pressed, his expression filled with worry. "If you keep delaying, it'll only hurt both of you."
Dylan's face fell, a shadow of sadness crossing his features. "I know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Emir stepped closer, resting a hand on Dylan's shoulder. His voice softened, though the urgency remained. "Tell her soon. If she finds out from someone else, you might lose her."
Dylan nodded, the weight of the words sinking in.
With a pat on Dylan's shoulder, Emir added, "Go get ready. I'll handle the arrangements." And with that, Emir turned and left, leaving Dylan standing there, lost in thought.
After a moment, Dylan composed himself and made his way to the changing room where Ember was waiting, completely unaware of the conversation that had just unfolded.