City Blue -
Ember woke up to the soft morning light filtering through her window. It was the weekend—her favorite time to lounge around the house and embrace her laziness. Well, she was always a little lazy, but weekends made it worse. With her parents at work, she and her brother, Zen, had the house to themselves.
She lay sprawled on the sofa, snacks in hand, flipping through TV channels. The warmth of the couch and the light hum of the television made her feel at ease. But suddenly, a thought struck her like lightning. She gasped, bolting upright.
Zen, who had been sitting beside her, flinched in surprise. "Are you mad?" he cried, rubbing his arm where she had bumped into him.
But Ember barely heard him. She was already dashing to her room, completely ignoring his protests.
Once inside, she grabbed her piggy bank, pried it open, and eagerly counted the money. "This should be enough, right?" she murmured to herself, her fingers fumbling over the money.
She needed to go to the market. But who could take her? She sat on the edge of her bed, deep in thought. Who can I ask? Zen is out of the question…
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Sofia:
"Hey Ember, you told me you have a neighbor who's a really handsome doctor. When I visit your place during the festival, can you call him too?"
Ember's eyes widened. And just like that, an idea sparked in her mind.
"Sure," she texted back before jumping to her feet, excitement buzzing in her veins.
She got ready quickly, slipping into a flowing cream-colored dress embroidered with delicate floral patterns. Her black hair was neatly tied into a sleek ponytail, and a soft scarf covered her face, leaving only her expressive eyes visible. She picked up her quilted pink handbag, the color complementing the warm hues of her outfit. To complete the look, she put on pointed, embellished heels, adding a touch of elegance to her aura.
Grabbing all the money from her piggy bank, she stuffed it into her bag before heading out.
"I'm going to meet Dr. Zayne," she told Zen casually. "Call me if anything happens."
Zen raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. "Are you going on a date with him? Is that why you're dressed up like this?" he teased.
"No, I am not!" Ember shot back, rolling her eyes. "I just made a new friend, and her birthday is coming up. I'm going with Zayne to buy a gift."
She hoped the excuse would make him drop the topic, but his grin told her he didn't believe a word of it.
"Okay," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "And… are you planning to tell Mom and Dad about this?"
"I'll figure out a way," Ember muttered.
Zen chuckled. "You're getting bold these days, sis."
"Stop teasing me, Zen!" she huffed before rushing out.
She soon found herself standing in front of Dr. Zayne's door, her heart pounding. She raised her hand to knock—but suddenly hesitated.
What if he refused? What if he thought she was being weird?
Before she could overthink any further, the door swung open.
Zayne stood there, looking at her with a surprised expression. His gaze swept over her before settling on her eyes—the only visible part of her face beneath the scarf. A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was gone before she could decipher it.
Ember cleared her throat. "Hello, Dr. Zayne," she greeted softly, looking up at him.
For a moment, he didn't respond. Their eyes met, a silent exchange passing between them. Then, as if snapping back to reality, he gave her a small smile.
"Hello. So, what brings you here?" he asked.
Ember shifted on her feet, gripping the strap of her bag. "Actually, I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?" He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"
"Can we talk inside, please?" she asked hesitantly.
Zayne studied her for a moment before stepping aside. "Okay," he said, holding the door open for her.
Ember took a deep breath and stepped in.
In Zayne's House -
"Come, sit. I'll get some water," Zayne said, gesturing toward the couch.
Ember removed her scarf, letting out a small sigh before taking the glass of water he handed her. She drank it all in one go, as if trying to steady herself for what she was about to say.
She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "Zayne, you're my friend, right?"
"Yes, I am," he replied with a genuine smile.
She tightened her grip on the empty glass. "So, you can do me a favor, right?"
Zayne leaned back slightly, studying her. "Right… but why are you hesitating so much?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Ember took a deep breath. "You know I like someone," she admitted.
Zayne's expression darkened slightly. "The one who hurt you, right?" His tone was noticeably colder now.
"No!" Ember shook her head. "I already told you before—it wasn't his fault."
Zayne sighed, his gaze softening just a little. "So, what happened?"
Ember hesitated again before finally saying, "Actually… I was thinking of getting him a gift, you know, to celebrate us becoming official. So… can you come with me to the mall for shopping?"
Zayne's eyes widened in shock. "You're official?"
Ember's cheeks turned pink as she smiled sweetly. "Yeah, we are! He told me he likes me, and I told him I like him too."
Zayne narrowed his eyes. "Did he propose to you?"
Ember blinked, a question forming in her own mind. "He told me he likes me, but… he didn't exactly propose." A small frown appeared on her lips. Why hasn't he proposed yet?
Zayne scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "He didn't even propose, and you're already buying him a gift?"
Ember huffed, crossing her arms. "Why should boys always be the first to propose? If he forgets, I'll do it myself!" she declared with a proud smile.
Zayne exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Does your family know about this?"
"Nope, they don't," Ember admitted. "But I'll tell them after the proposal. So… are you coming with me or not?" She turned to him with big, pleading eyes, knowing he wouldn't be able to refuse.
Zayne sighed in defeat. "Fine… okay, I'll go."
Ember clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay!"
Zayne stood up, stretching his arms. "Wait here. I'll just get ready, okay?"
"Okay! I'll wait," Ember said, her excitement bubbling over.
While waiting for Zayne, Ember decided to look around. The last time she was here, the place had been filled with unpacked boxes, a chaotic mess. But now, everything was neatly arranged—each item in its place, making the house feel warm and lived-in.
Just as she was admiring the transformation, Zayne returned.
"Let's go," he said.
Ember smiled at him. "Okay," she replied, her voice light with excitement.
They both settled into the car, but just as Zayne was about to start the engine, Ember suddenly remembered something.
"Wait!" she blurted out.
Zayne paused, his hand still on the key. "What happened?" he asked, glancing at her.
"I have to make a call first," Ember said, quickly reaching for her phone.
"Alright," Zayne replied, leaning back in his seat as she dialed.
She called her mother, carefully choosing her words. "Mom, Dr. Zayne asked me to help him pick out a few things for his house. We'll be back by evening. Can I go?"
Her mother hesitated. "Is Zayne with you?"
"Yes," Ember answered quickly.
"Put him on the line," her mother said.
Ember gulped and immediately put the phone on speaker.
"Hello, Aunty Rose," Zayne greeted politely.
"Hello, Zayne. Ember told me you're taking her out to shop for your house. It's fine by me, I'll inform her father too, but make sure she's home by evening."
"Okay, Aunty. I'll bring her back safely," Zayne assured her.
"Have a great time," Ember's mother said before ending the call.
The moment the call disconnected, Zayne turned to Ember with a knowing look.
"You lied to her," he stated flatly.
Ember lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry… I'll tell her soon. I just need some time."
Zayne sighed, shaking his head. "This is the first and last time I'm helping you with this."
Ember bit her lip but nodded. With that, Zayne started the car, and they drove toward the shopping mall.
At the Mall -
As they entered, Zayne turned to her. "So, what exactly are we looking for?"
Ember smiled. "I want to get him a black shirt. He doesn't have any in his closet."
Zayne raised an eyebrow. "Wow. That's… oddly specific."
They walked through the mall, scanning different stores, when Zayne suddenly stopped.
"Wait a minute. How do you know he doesn't own a black shirt? Did you… go to his house?"
Without thinking, Ember nodded. "Yes."
Zayne's expression turned sharp. "What? When?"
Ember blinked, realizing what she had just admitted. She quickly tried to cover it up. "I mean, I saw his closet during a video call," she said, brushing past him.
Zayne froze for a moment, staring at her. Meanwhile, Ember continued walking ahead, not realizing he had stopped. When she finally noticed, she turned back.
"Dr. Zayne, why did you stop?" she called.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Zayne quickly caught up. "Oh! I'm coming," he said, shaking off the thoughts swirling in his head. He reminded himself that this wasn't about him—Ember was here, with him, and that's what mattered right now.
"What do you think? Where should we go to buy one? Help me, I've never bought anything for a guy before," Ember admitted, looking at him expectantly.
Zayne suggested a shop, and after searching for what felt like forever, Ember finally found the perfect black shirt. She ran her fingers over the fabric, feeling its softness. Holding it up, she carefully measured the size with her hands—just as she had done when helping Dylan pack his things before.
"I like this one. The size is perfect too. Let's check out with this—I'll go pay," Ember said, her voice filled with excitement as she walked to the billing counter.
Zayne watched her, his jaw tightening. Every little action of hers was making him jealous—the way she carefully measured the size, the way her eyes sparkled when she thought about him. He had so many questions, but he couldn't ask her.
Not yet.
After finishing the payment, Ember noticed that Zayne's mood seemed off. His usual liveliness was missing, and he looked lost in thought. Just then, her gaze fell on a nearby flower shop.
"Wait here! I'll be right back," she said cheerfully.
Zayne simply nodded, assuming she was going to buy flowers for her boyfriend. He sighed, looking away. But when Ember returned, she wasn't holding a bouquet. Instead, she carried a beautiful mini orchid planter wrapped in a transparent bag.
"Is this for your...?" Zayne started to ask, but his words trailed off in surprise when Ember handed it to him.
"This is for you, Dr. Zayne. Thank you for being there for me as a friend and helping me out today." Her warm smile made her look so breathtakingly radiant, like the sun shining at dawn.
For a moment, Zayne forgot everything—his frustration, his jealousy, his doubts. He simply stared at her, captivated.
"Thank you for this," he finally said, his voice softer than before.
"You're welcome," Ember replied with a shy grin. But just then, her stomach growled loudly, breaking the moment.
Zayne chuckled. "Looks like someone's hungry. Let's grab something to eat—it's on me."
Ember, feeling embarrassed, quickly nodded without a word.
Time passed slowly as they enjoyed their meal together, followed by ice cream. There was no rush—just an unspoken comfort between them. When they finally finished, they headed back to the car.
In the Car -
As they drove home, Zayne glanced at Ember and asked, "So ,have you read the book yet?"
Ember blinked, realizing she had completely forgotten about it.
"Not yet... I planned to read it today, but I got busy. I promise I'll finish it soon and return it to you," she assured him.
"Take your time. I was just curious," Zayne said. "But how did you even hear about that book? Not many people know about it."
"A friend of mine told me a little about it, and I got curious," Ember replied.
Zayne's eyes lit up. "Yeah, that book is something else. I told you before—I believe in miracles too. It all started when I read it. At first, I thought it was impossible for someone to travel from one country to another in just a blink of an eye. But the man in the book did it. You know, a comet fell to Earth a long time ago, and the man who could teleport was wearing a jewel from that very comet."
Ember listened intently, completely drawn in.
"It was written that the star, which helped him teleport, had the same components as the jewel he wore," Zayne continued.
Hearing this, Ember became even more eager to read the book.
"I'll start reading it tonight before bed," she decided.
Neither of them realized when they had reached home. As Ember stepped out of the car, she turned back to Zayne and smiled.
"Thank you again, Dr. Zayne."
"Anytime," he replied, watching her as she walked away.
Back Home -
As soon as Ember entered her room, she quickly hid the shirt she had bought inside her closet. She had barely settled in when she heard her mother's voice from dining room.
"What did you buy?" her mother asked.
Ember forced a smile and lifted the small potted plant. "Oh, he just bought some plants... and look, I got one for us too!"
Her mother's face softened. "Aww, how cute!"
Ember exhaled in relief. Good thing I bought this. It worked as the perfect cover, she thought.
Dinner passed in a blur. After watching a TV show together, everyone headed to their rooms.
In the quiet of the night, Ember sat at her desk, writing in her diary about everything that had happened today. Her eyes drifted to the book she had borrowed from Zayne, but exhaustion weighed heavy on her.
She turned off the lights, climbed into bed, and hugged the gift she had bought for Dylan.
As thoughts of the day swirled in her mind, sleep slowly pulled her under.