In the city Blue,
today was different—Ember felt unusually light-hearted. A smile played on her lips as she moved through her morning routine, getting ready for college. Though she was running a little late, she made her way to the dining area, where her mother immediately took notice.
"Good morning! You're looking very happy today," her mother remarked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Thank you, Mom," Ember responded, her voice carrying a cheerful lilt as she settled down for breakfast. She ate quickly, then rushed outside, where her father was already waiting to drop her off at the bus stop.
"Morning," her father greeted, giving her a knowing glance.
Ember returned the greeting with a bright smile before boarding the bus. Waving goodbye, she called out, "See you both at dinner!"
"Be careful on the way," her father advised, watching her leave.
As she arrived at college, she spotted her best friend, Sofia. Ember beamed at her and greeted, "Good morning, Sofia!"
Sofia smirked, eyeing her suspiciously. "Oh, someone is glowing with happiness today. What's the occasion?"
Ember rolled her eyes. "Stop teasing me," she muttered, feeling slightly flustered.
The lecture began, but Sofia, never one to let things slide, continued her interrogation in hushed whispers. "Alright, spill it. Why are you so happy? Is there a special reason? Do you have a crush on someone?"
Ember sighed in exasperation. Sofia's curiosity was endless. Finally, she responded, "No, I'm in love."
Sofia's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
Realizing her slip, Ember quickly backtracked. "I mean... I was just kidding."
Sofia pouted in disappointment. "Ugh, you got my hopes up for nothing!"
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ember could barely concentrate in class—her heart and mind were elsewhere.
By evening, she returned home, calling out, "Mom! Dad! I'm back!"
"Welcome back, honey. Go wash up," her mother instructed from the kitchen.
"Okay," Ember said before heading to freshen up.
During dinner, her younger brother Zen grinned mischievously. "Hey, sis, you're smiling way too much. What's up?"
Ember narrowed her eyes at him. "Can you not tease me? I'm just happy. What's it to you?" she retorted playfully.
Zen leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Did you get a boyfriend?"
"Mom, Zen is teasing me again!" Ember huffed dramatically.
Their mother shot Zen a stern look. "Zen, stop bothering your sister. She's five years older than you. Show some respect for once."
Zen held up his hands in surrender, though his teasing grin remained. "Okay, okay. Sorry, sister."
After dinner, the family gathered for a movie, but soon their mother reminded them about unfinished homework—especially Zen. Grumbling, they both headed to their rooms, exchanging sleepy "Goodnights."
Once in her room, Ember focused on finishing her assignments, eager to sleep without any interruptions. But as she finally lay in bed, her heart fluttered with anticipation. The thought of seeing Emir again sent a thrill through her.
Closing her eyes, she slowly drifted into slumber.
Then—darkness.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself somewhere familiar. Emir's house.
A startled gasp escaped her lips. "Ah, Emir! You scared me!" she exclaimed, sitting up quickly. Her heartbeat raced as she realized he had been watching her sleep.
His intense gaze held her captive.
Frowning, she demanded, "Why were you staring at me while I was asleep? Again?"
This wasn't the first time. And something about the way he looked at her
made her heart pound even harder.
Ember glared at Emir, her eyes filled with frustration. He, however, avoided her gaze and scratched his head, clearly flustered.
"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," Ember muttered, exhaling sharply. She was about to stand from the bed when Emir suddenly grabbed her hand. His touch was firm, his gaze intense.
"Actually… I just wanted to see you before starting my day," he admitted. His deep brown eyes shimmered with sincerity, and the breathtaking look he gave her made Ember's heart skip a beat.
Flustered, she quickly turned away, her cheeks burning. The blush was impossible to hide.
"G-Get out," she stammered, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Why?" Emir asked, his voice laced with mischief as he suddenly jumped to his feet.
Ember turned around, crossing her arms over her chest. "Did you want to join me for a shower or something?" she challenged, raising an eyebrow.
A slow smirk spread across Emir's lips. "That's not a bad idea."
"What?!" Ember gasped, completely taken aback. But then, she caught the playful glint in his eyes. Realizing he was teasing, she sighed dramatically before forcing a sweet, exaggerated smile.
"Honey, aren't you going… please?" she said in a sickly sweet tone, batting her eyelashes.
Emir chuckled, clearly amused. "Baby… when you say things like that, it just makes me want to stay. But… I'll consider leaving." He took a few steps toward the door and added, "Hurry up and change into your uniform. We're heading to college after breakfast."
"Sure," Ember mumbled, watching him leave with a relieved sigh.
By the time she made her way downstairs, now dressed in her uniform, Emir was already waiting for her. The moment his eyes landed on her, a slow smile curved on his lips.
"You look stunning in that uniform. I can't take my eyes off you," he murmured, his gaze lingering.
Ember rolled her eyes. "Stop teasing me. It's too early for this," she huffed.
They finished breakfast, and after a short drive, they arrived at college.
Inside the car, Emir reached for her hand, lifting it to his lips. His kiss on her knuckles was soft yet electrifying.
Ember's reaction was immediate—her breath hitched, and she stiffened slightly. Emir, noticing her reaction, traced her movements carefully. When they stepped out of the car, he gently took her hand again.
"Hold it tight," he instructed, his voice quiet but firm.
Ember blinked at him in surprise, but before she could question him, he grinned.
"Let's go!" he exclaimed, suddenly taking off, pulling her along as he ran.
His bright, carefree smile made her heart flutter—it felt like a dream. But after a few seconds, the reality of the situation hit her.
"Emir! Slow down!" she gasped, her legs aching from the sudden sprint.
When they finally stopped, Ember bent forward, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "Oh… ho! Emir, why are you always like this whenever we enter class?" she complained between breaths.
Emir tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"
Ember groaned. She didn't feel like explaining. Her throat was dry, and she could barely speak. "Just… get me some water. I'm so thirsty," she mumbled.
Emir chuckled. "Alright, just take a seat. I'll get some," he said before leaving the classroom.
Sighing, Ember sat down, massaging her sore legs to relieve the ache. Once done, she rested her head on the table, peeking between her arms. That's when she noticed someone approaching her.
A boy.
He was taller than her, and she immediately took in his striking features—golden hair, shining green eyes, and fair skin. His bright, easygoing smile was nothing short of stunning.
"Hello," he greeted, his voice smooth.
Ember straightened in her seat, caught off guard.
"Hello… May I know who you are?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. After all, besides Dylan and Emir, no one ever really spoke to her.
"No, you don't. My name is Adrien. I'm a transfer student—actually, today is my first day," he explained, nervously running a hand through his hair.
Ember offered a soft smile. "Oh, nice to meet you. My name is Ember, and I'm new here too."
Adrien's face lit up slightly. "Can I sit next to you?" he asked.
Ember shook her head gently. "You can sit in the next one; this seat is already occupied."
Adrien nodded, settling into the chair beside her. "Okay… Can I ask who that person is?"
Before Ember could respond, a deep, cold voice cut through the air.
"That person is me."
Emir stood there, his sharp gaze locked onto Adrien, unreadable and intense.
Ember's heart skipped a beat. "Emir!" she exclaimed, trying to divert his attention. But his icy stare sent chills down her spine.
Ignoring Adrien completely, Emir turned to Ember, his expression shifting to concern. "Why are you talking so much when you're not even feeling well?" He held out a water bottle. "Drink some water first."
Ember hesitated, sensing the tension thickening around them. In that moment, neither of them noticed that Adrien had quietly left his seat.
As the class began, the lecturer stepped in and addressed the students.
"Good morning, everyone. I would like to introduce your new classmate, Adrien."
The moment Adrien entered, whispers spread through the room. The girls swooned openly, murmuring about how handsome he was.
"Adrien, introduce yourself," the teacher instructed.
Adrien flashed a polite smile. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Adrien. I'm from Lumière, and I'm here to explore new culture. I hope we can all be good friends from now on."
As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Ember—a detail that did not go unnoticed by Emir.
The teacher nodded. "Alright, Adrien, take your seat so we can start the class."
Adrien walked back to his seat, and with each step closer, Ember felt the atmosphere grow heavier.
He sat beside her once again and leaned slightly closer. "Hey, Ember. I'm back," he said with a soft smile.
The moment his words left his lips, his gaze met Emir's—two pairs of eyes locked in an unspoken challenge.
The tension around Ember became suffocating. Her heartbeat quickened, caught between the weight of their silent battle. She exhaled sharply before snapping, "Hey, both of you, focus on the class."
But it was too late. The entire class had taken notice, eyes flickering between her, Emir, and Adrien with curiosity and amusement.
Sandwiched between two strikingly handsome guys, Ember felt trapped under the weight of everyone's attention.
"God, please help me," she thought desperately, resisting the urge to groan aloud.
Ugh!
As soon as the class ended, two voices called out to Ember at the same time.
"Baby!" Emir's deep voice rang through the room.
"Ember!" Adrien's voice followed right after.
Startled, Ember turned toward both of them, blinking in confusion. "What?" she asked, but her words trailed off when she noticed the intense stare-down between Emir and Adrien. The tension between them was suffocating, and she could already sense trouble brewing.
Wanting to diffuse the situation, she took a deep breath and spoke with a calm smile. "Emir, this is Adrien. Adrien, this is Emir. I met him while you were getting me some water," she explained, making sure to clarify the situation before things escalated.
Then, with deliberate emphasis, she added, "Adrien, Emir is my boyfriend."
At that moment, Emir casually wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. Adrien's expression faltered for a split second, and he fell into silence.
Emir smirked. "Baby, let's go. Class is over now."
Ember nodded. "Okay! Bye, Adrien. See you tomorrow."
"Bye," Adrien replied, his voice colder than before.
As they walked through the corridor, Emir suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Did you see his face?" he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.
Ember frowned. "Why are you laughing so hard?"
Emir wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning. "Did you notice his face when you told him I'm your boyfriend? Priceless!"
Ember sighed, shaking her head. "Emir, stop it. That's not nice."
Before she could take another step, Emir gently pressed her against the wall, his gaze darkening with playful mischief.
"Tell me… why did you let him sit next to you?" he asked, tilting his head slightly as he studied her.
Ember hesitated, suddenly feeling trapped under his intense stare. "Well… I thought—"
A sly grin played on Emir's lips. "I think you need to be punished."
He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin.
Ember's eyes widened as she pushed him away in panic. "Emir! What are you doing? We're in college! Everyone can see us!"
She quickly stepped aside, putting some distance between them. "I'm going to the library."
Emir chuckled. "Ember, Ember," he called after her. "I'll see you at the end of the day."
Ember glanced over her shoulder. "I'll come with you," he offered, but Ember shook her head.
"No need. Go do your work. I'll see you later. Bye-bye."
Ember hesitated for a moment before nodding. Without another word, she turned and headed toward the library, her heart still racing from their earlier interaction.