As Ember's eyes fluttered open, she squinted, trying to focus. She sat up in bed, confusion settling in like a dense fog.
"What am I doing here?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her gaze swept across the familiar room, and that's when she noticed him—Dylan, sleeping on the sofa beside her bed. The morning sunlight spilled through the window, casting a golden glow on his face. His hair, slightly tousled, framed his peaceful expression, and his lips, dry yet strangely inviting, parted slightly as he slept. For a fleeting moment, Ember was mesmerized.
She shook her head, snapping out of her thoughts. "Emir... what is he doing here? And why is he sleeping on the sofa?" she muttered in disbelief. Then, realization struck her like a jolt of lightning.
"Wait... why did I just call him Emir? His name is Dylan, isn't it?"
A wave of memories crashed over her, overwhelming her senses. Panic surged through her chest, and she scrambled to get out of bed, but just as she moved, something yanked her wrist back.
"Ouch!" she gasped, wincing in pain. Her eyes darted to her wrist, now trapped in a pair of metal cuffs attached to the bed frame.
"What the—seriously? Handcuffs?" she exclaimed, disbelief lacing her voice.
The sound of her distress stirred Dylan from his sleep. He groaned slightly, rubbing his eyes before blinking at her.
"You're awake," he said, his voice laced with both relief and exhaustion.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, an unspoken tension filled the room. But Ember quickly turned away, pouting in frustration as she faced the other side.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Dylan asked, his brows knitting together in concern.
He had wanted to pull her into his arms the moment she woke up, but her reaction held him back. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, watching her intently.
"I don't want to talk to you," Ember muttered, her tone sharp.
Dylan frowned. "Why not?" he asked, his voice softer this time.
With an exaggerated sigh, Ember lifted her hand, jingling the handcuffs. "Oh! I almost forgot about these!" she huffed before fixing her gaze on Dylan.
Then, her expression shifted. Her eyes softened, lips curving into an innocent pout as she blinked up at him with an almost mischievous glimmer.
"Can you please open these for me?" she pleaded sweetly. "Actually... I really need to go to the washroom."
Dylan sighed, unable to resist her request.
"Okay, I'm opening it, but don't try to ru—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, Ember bolted the moment the handcuffs clicked open. She dashed toward the door, her heart pounding with excitement. Just before opening it, she glanced over her shoulder, stuck her tongue out at Dylan, and made a playful face to tease him.
With a triumphant grin, she reached for the doorknob and pulled—only to find it wouldn't budge.
Her smile faltered. She yanked it again. Still locked.
Confusion flickered in her eyes as she turned around, only to find Dylan watching her with the same mischievous glint in his gaze. His smirk deepened as he crossed his arms.
"I knew you'd try to run, so I was prepared," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "See how thoughtful I am?"
Ember groaned, frustration bubbling inside her.
"Stop it! Emir, just open the door!" she huffed. But then, realization struck, and she rolled her eyes at herself. "Oh! I almost forgot. Why am I calling you Emir? Aren't you the superstar, Mr. Dylan?" she added with a teasing smirk.
Dylan took a step forward. Then another. Each movement deliberate. The playful glimmer in his eyes was still there, but there was something else too—something softer, something unreadable.
Ember instinctively stepped back, her breath hitching as her back met the wall. Trapped.
Dylan closed the remaining distance between them, leaning in ever so slightly. His smile, though teasing, held a tinge of sadness. His voice was quiet, almost vulnerable when he spoke.
"You can call me whatever you want."
"Is it really that easy for you to say? I can't take it," Ember choked out, her voice thick with emotion, tears welling in her eyes.
Dylan's chest tightened at the sight of her tears. Something inside him snapped, and before he could stop himself, he closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a deep, forceful kiss.
Ember's eyes widened in shock. She struggled against him, pushing at his chest, but he held firm.
"I can't breathe!" she gasped against his lips, but Dylan didn't let go.
Panic surged through her, and she fought harder, her hands weakly pressing against him. After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away. Ember stumbled back, her breath ragged as she glared at him, fury burning in her tear-filled eyes.
"You brute!" she spat, her voice shaking.
Dylan exhaled, his eyes dark with something unreadable. "Calm down," he said, his voice low, strained. "If you don't, I think I might lose control again."
Before Ember could react, he seized her lips once more, his dominance overpowering.
"Stop! Stop! I can't breathe!" Ember whimpered between the relentless kisses. She fought him at first, her body rigid with resistance. But after a few seconds, something inside her gave up. Her body slackened, her resistance fading.
That was when Dylan snapped back to reality.
His grip loosened. His heart pounded as realization crashed over him like a tidal wave. What had he done?
He released Ember abruptly, and she collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, coughing.
Dylan reached out instinctively, but when his eyes met hers, all he saw was fear.
The same face that had always been full of warmth and mischief was now drenched in tears, her eyes wide with terror. The sight made his stomach churn with guilt.
He took a hesitant step closer, his hand reaching out to offer comfort.
But Ember recoiled instantly, her entire body trembling. She slapped his hand away, her voice sharp, laced with betrayal.
"You are an animal! How dare you kiss me or treat me like this?"
Dylan flinched at her words, but the worst part wasn't what she said—it was the way she looked at him. As if he were a monster.
As if she no longer recognized him.
And that realization made his heart ache more than anything else.
Ember's heart pounded as she made a desperate dash toward the bathroom door, her only chance to escape. But before she could reach it, Dylan caught her wrist, pulling her back toward him.
She stumbled, and in an instant, they were closer than ever—faces just inches apart.
Heat rushed to Ember's cheeks as her eyes, against her will, flickered to his lips.
Dylan noticed. A teasing smile played on his lips.
"Are you blushing?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"No, I am not," Ember huffed, quickly turning her face away, trying to hide her flustered expression.
Dylan chuckled softly. "Why don't we sit and talk properly?" he suggested, his voice gentle.
But Ember shook her head, her expression clouded with sadness.
"No, we can't."
Dylan's smile faded. His gaze searched hers, filled with unspoken emotions. "If we don't talk, how are we supposed to clear the misunderstanding between us?" he asked, his voice laced with quiet desperation.
Ember clenched her fists. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her chest.
"There is no misunderstanding between us," she said coldly. "And after what you did today? There's nothing left to clear."
Dylan's grip on her wrist loosened, guilt flashing across his face. Ember seized the moment, yanking her hand free and making another run for the bathroom.
But this time, he was faster.
Before she could escape, his fingers caught the fabric of her sleeve.
There was a sharp tearing sound.
Ember froze. Dylan's breath hitched. His fingers unclenched instantly, as if burned, but the damage had already been done.
A deep, suffocating silence filled the space between them.
Dylan stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock and regret.
Ember didn't wait.
She spun around, bolted into the washroom, and slammed the door shut.
Her back slid down against the cold wood as she crumpled to the floor, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
And then, the tears came—hot, uncontrollable, and endless.
She buried her face in her hands, her body trembling as silent sobs wracked through her.
Outside the door, Dylan stood still, staring at his empty hands.
And for the first time, he truly hated himself.
Dylan sat near the bathroom door, his heart aching as he listened to Ember's muffled sobs.
He ran a hand through his hair, guilt weighing heavily on his chest. Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke, his voice laced with regret.
"Ember, I'm really sorry for everything I've done to you until now. I know I've been selfish from the start… not telling you the truth about who I really am. This is all my fault, and I don't expect you to forgive me." His voice wavered, his eyes filled with sadness.
From the other side of the door, Ember's broken voice reached him.
"Sob… sob… why didn't you tell me your real name and identity?" she cried.
Dylan leaned his head against the door, exhaling deeply.
"I had my reasons for it," he admitted.
"What reason could possibly justify you hiding your true self from me?" Ember demanded, her voice still thick with tears.
Dylan hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I was going to tell you everything when we got back," he confessed. "But you looked so exhausted, and I wanted you to rest first. I thought it would be better to talk when you were refreshed, with a clear mind. I never meant to keep it from you for this long."
A bitter laugh escaped Ember's lips.
"You didn't want to hide it for long?" she repeated, her tone laced with disbelief. "From the second day, I started getting clues that you were keeping something from me. I heard people calling you Dylan instead of Emir so many times… but I ignored it. I pretended not to notice, hoping you would tell me yourself. But yesterday… I couldn't take it anymore. My patience broke."
Her voice trembled, and suddenly, a harsh cough escaped her lips.
"Cough! Cough!"
Dylan tensed. Concern shot through him.
"Ember? Are you okay?" he asked, pressing his palm against the door, his heart pounding.
But inside, Ember sat on the floor, hugging her knees, feeling utterly exhausted—both physically and emotionally.
And for the first time, she wondered if she even had the strength left to listen to him anymore.
He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. If she wouldn't speak, then he would. She deserved to know everything.
His voice was quiet at first, laced with hesitation. But as he continued, his emotions poured out like an unstoppable tide.
"You know… the first time I saw you, the sunlight hit your face just right, and in that moment, my heart fluttered. I knew—" he paused, his throat tightening. "I knew I was in love with you."
He closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
"When you asked me about myself, I hesitated. I didn't know how to answer because, deep down, I was scared. If I told you I was an actor from the very beginning, what kind of image would you have formed of me?"
His voice grew heavier, filled with an ache he had long kept buried.
"Being an actor… everyone judges me based on my roles, my looks, my fame. They don't see me. I meet so many girls every day, and all they care about is my acting, my money—never the person behind the screen. No one tries to know who I really am."
Dylan let out a bitter chuckle.
"In the eyes of the world, I'm public property. Every part of my life becomes news, twisted to fit whatever narrative sells. Some see me as a hero, others as a villain. But none of it is real. None of it is me."
His voice softened, filled with quiet longing.
"All I ever wanted was to experience love… ordinary love. The kind that isn't tainted by fame or expectations. That's why I didn't tell you the truth right away. I wanted you to see me—not Dylan, the superstar, but just… Dylan. I wanted you to believe in who I am, not in the image the world has painted of me."
He sighed, the guilt in his voice unmistakable.
"That's why I used my friend's name that day. It wasn't to deceive you—it was because I was afraid. Afraid that once you knew who I really was, everything would change."
Silence hung between them like a fragile thread.
Dylan swallowed hard, his heart pounding as he waited—praying that, somehow, she would understand.
Ember wiped the lingering tears from her cheeks and took a shaky breath before finally speaking.
"So… your friend's name is Emir? The one I met on the first day at college and at the restaurant too?"
Dylan nodded. "Yes, he's my friend." His voice softened with hope. "Can you forgive me now? I just want you to be happy… with me. Knowing my true self."
A heavy silence followed. Then, slowly, Ember reached for the door handle and pulled it open.
The moment Dylan saw the door crack open, he didn't hesitate.
He pulled Ember into his arms, holding her as if he never wanted to let go. His grip was firm, desperate, as if afraid she might disappear.
"I will never lie to you again," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "And I won't let you leave my side. Ever."
Before he could stop himself, tears spilled from his eyes.
Ember buried her face in his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt as her own tears fell freely.
"Hmm… I will never leave you," she murmured through her sobs. "And don't you ever leave me alone."
They held each other, crying until exhaustion took over. The weight of everything—the pain, the misunderstandings, the longing—was finally lifting.
As the quiet settled between them, Dylan glanced at the window and realized the sun was beginning to set.
"It's almost evening," he said softly, shifting slightly.
Ember moved to stand, but the moment she did, her legs wobbled. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she nearly fell.
Dylan caught her just in time, his strong arms steadying her. Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
Heat rushed to Ember's cheeks. She averted her gaze, flustered.
Dylan smirked, amused by her reaction. "Blushing again?" he teased.
Embarrassed, Ember pushed against his chest, but he didn't budge. Instead, he tightened his hold, effortlessly lifting her into his arms.
"W-What are you doing?" she stammered, wide-eyed.
Dylan carried her bridal style, his grip gentle yet firm, and placed her carefully onto the bed.
Placing a finger on her lips, he silenced her.
"Just stay here and rest. I'll get us something to eat," he said, his voice soft yet commanding.
Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the room.
Now alone, Ember let out a small sigh, her heart still racing from their closeness. As she shifted, she suddenly remembered—her dress was torn.
Her face burned with embarrassment.
She quickly stood up and made her way to the washroom, deciding to take a bath before Dylan returned.
After some time, Dylan returned to the room, carrying the food. But the moment he stepped inside and didn't see Ember, panic gripped his chest.
His eyes darted around frantically. Where is she?
His heart pounded as he searched the room. Then his gaze landed on the closed washroom door. Without thinking, he rushed toward it and tried to open it.
A loud shriek filled the air.
"Aaaaah! Dylan, get out!" Ember's startled voice rang from inside.
Dylan froze, realizing his mistake. His face turned crimson as he spun around, shutting his eyes tightly.
"S-Sorry! I just panicked when I didn't see you in the room!" he stammered. "I wasn't thinking—sorry!" He quickly shut the door, mentally cursing himself for his impulsiveness.
Moments later, Ember emerged, dressed in fresh clothes. Her damp hair cascaded over her shoulders as she used a towel to dry it.
Dylan, who had been sitting on the bed, lifted his gaze—and instantly, he was captivated.
The way the soft lighting reflected in her wet strands, the delicate droplets trailing down her skin… He couldn't look away.
When Ember met his gaze, she noticed the way he was staring. Her heartbeat quickened, but she found herself stepping closer instead of pulling away.
Dylan felt his breath hitch as she approached.
She sat beside him, the warmth of her presence making his pulse race.
Gently, she patted his head.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking?" she asked softly.
Dylan reached for her hand, his touch gentle yet firm. His eyes held a depth of admiration as he whispered,
"Just mesmerized by your beauty."
A soft blush crept onto Ember's cheeks.
"You're flattering me," she mumbled, looking away.
Dylan chuckled and handed her the bowl of soup.
"Finish this," he instructed.
Ember noticed only one bowl in his hands.
She frowned slightly. "Aren't you going to eat?" she asked.
"I will, but you finish first," Dylan said, handing Ember the bowl.
Ember pouted. "No, come on, let's eat together."
Dylan couldn't refuse her earnest gaze, so he agreed. They sat side by side, sharing their meal in a peaceful silence.
As they finished, Dylan studied Ember's face with concern. "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Do you have a headache?"
Ember gave him a small smile. "A little... but after eating, I feel much better."
Dylan's brows furrowed. "Should I call a doctor?"
Before he could move, Ember reached out and held his hand. "No, you don't have to."
He searched her eyes. "Are you really okay?"
"Yes," she reassured him softly.
Dylan let out a deep breath. "I'm really sorry for everything—what happened before and today. I just… I lost control." His voice carried a trace of guilt as he gazed into her eyes.
Ember crossed her arms and pouted. "I'll only forgive you if you prove to me that you really love me."
Dylan smirked, the weight on his chest lifting slightly. "Alright, alright. I'll prove it—so I can regain my position as your boyfriend."
Before Ember could react, he ruffled her damp hair playfully, sending tiny droplets of water sprinkling onto his face.
Ember gasped. "Stop it! If you don't, I'll end up with another headache!" she warned, grabbing his hand.
Dylan chuckled and let go. "Okay, okay. Let me dry your hair."
He fetched a hairdryer and sat behind her, carefully running his fingers through her locks as he dried them. The warmth of the air and his gentle touch made Ember relax.
"Hey, Ember, where do you want to go after this?" he asked, trying to start a conversation.
Silence.
Dylan waited a few seconds, then glanced at her reflection in the mirror—only to find her fast asleep.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. He carefully placed the dryer aside and lifted Ember into his arms, gently laying her down on the bed. Pulling the quilt over her, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and whispered,
"You had a long day… You cried so much. I'm so sorry, Ember. I promise this won't happen again. I'll be more gentle with you."
Pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, he turned off the light and quietly left the room.