Beyond the Dreaming

This is the story of a girl named Ember, a seemingly ordinary girl leading a quiet, uneventful life. Her days often blurred together—home to college, then back home again. But today was different. Today marked a monumental change in Ember's life—it was her first day of college and, more significantly, her first time traveling alone without her family.

The morning air felt heavy with anticipation. Ember stood at the bus stop, her heart pounding nervously as her father offered her words of encouragement. His presence brought her comfort, but as the bus pulled up, a wave of unease settled over her. She bid her father goodbye, stepping onto the bus with a hesitant smile.

As the vehicle rumbled to life, Ember's pulse quickened. She fumbled with her bag, deciding that music might help calm her restless nerves. The journey felt long and unfamiliar. Her university was situated far from home, nestled on the outskirts of the city. After an hour, the bus finally came to a halt, and Ember stepped out, greeted by the vast expanse of her new campus.

The university was enormous, sprawling with towering buildings, manicured lawns, and a hum of activity. Feeling both awed and overwhelmed, Ember eventually located her department—the Management Department. Entering the classroom, she found it eerily empty. She hesitated near the doorway, unsure if she had the right place. Slowly, other students began to arrive.

Ember's shy nature kept her seated silently, stealing glances at the unfamiliar faces around her. She wanted to start a conversation but couldn't muster the courage. Suddenly, a cheerful girl with an easy smile approached her.

"Hey, are you Ember?"

Startled but relieved, Ember nodded. "Yes, I am. And you?"

"I'm Sofia," the girl replied warmly. "We chatted on WeChat, remember?"

Recognition dawned on Ember's face. "Oh, yes! I remember. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise! So… want to be friends?"

Ember felt a spark of reassurance in Sofia's kindness. "Okay," she replied with a shy smile.

Sofia's eyes lit up. "Great! Since we don't have class right now, how about I give you a tour of the university?"

"Sure," Ember said, her nerves easing slightly.

Together, they explored the campus—the pool, library, gym, playground, and other areas that made the university feel like a small city of its own. With Sofia by her side, Ember's initial unease began to melt away, replaced by growing excitement.

When classes finally started, Ember found the professors approachable and engaging. By the time the first break arrived, she and Sofia had already bonded over shared interests. They headed to the library to borrow books, their conversations growing more lively with each passing moment.

As the day wound down, the two friends bid each other goodbye, boarding separate buses to head home. On the ride back, Ember stared out the window, replaying the events of the day in her mind. She had been so nervous that morning, yet here she was, ending her first day with a new friend and a heart full of hope. A small smile tugged at her lips.

When Ember reached home, she was bursting with excitement. She shared every detail of her day with her mom, her voice animated with joy. After freshening up, she joined her parents upstairs for dinner, where the warmth of her family wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.

Later that evening, exhausted but content, Ember retreated to her room downstairs. As she lay in bed, her thoughts drifted to her day—the bustling campus, Sofia's laughter, the sense of belonging she had started to feel. Slowly, her eyelids grew heavy, and she slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.

...

But when Ember woke up, something felt terribly wrong. The air was unfamiliar, carrying a scent she couldn't place. She rubbed her eyes groggily, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep. Blinking, her vision cleared—and a jolt of panic coursed through her.

She wasn't in her room.

The walls were strange, painted in a color she'd never seen before. The furniture was unfamiliar, the bed beneath her too soft. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she sat up, her voice trembling.

"Where am I? What is this place?"

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest as her mind raced for answers. But none came. She was utterly alone, in a room that wasn't hers, in a place she didn't recognize.

And that's when the fear truly set in.

 Chapter 2: A Girl in My Garden

The night had been peaceful for Ember, who lay asleep in her room, unaware that fate was preparing an unexpected twist.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the sky, a young boy stirred awake in his home, ready to start the day. When he opened his front door, he froze at the sight before him—a girl was fast asleep on a bench in his garden. He stood still, his mind racing to piece together how she had ended up there and why she was sleeping in his garden of all places.

For a long moment, his gaze lingered on her. She was beautiful, almost ethereal in the soft morning light. But her delicate frame trembled, a sign of the morning chill creeping through the air. Without overthinking, he stepped closer, carefully lifting her into his arms in a bridal hold. She felt light as a feather, and he carried her inside with a strange sense of protectiveness. Gently, he laid her down on his bed and tucked a warm quilt around her.

Seated beside her, he couldn't help but study her face. She looked young—eighteen, maybe younger. Her long black hair was a tangled cascade across her face. Almost instinctively, he reached out to brush a stray strand behind her ear. When he did, a faint smile played on her lips, softening her expression. He found himself smiling too, though he didn't understand why.

As minutes turned into an hour, he realized she might be hungry when she woke. Rising quietly, he headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, leaving the door to his room ajar in case she stirred.

Sometime later, Ember's eyelids fluttered open. Grogginess clouded her thoughts as she blinked and rubbed her eyes. Slowly, the unfamiliar surroundings came into focus, and panic set in. This wasn't her room. Nothing about the space felt familiar.

Her breath quickened as unease gripped her. Sitting up abruptly, she glanced around the room, murmuring to herself, "Where am I? Is this a dream?" Her voice wavered as she clutched the quilt tightly around her shoulders.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside the door, and her stomach flipped. The door had been left ajar, and now, with trembling hands, she hurriedly closed it. Pressing her back against the wood, she tried to steady her breathing.

A knock came, soft yet firm, sending her heart racing again. Ember opened her mouth to speak but found no words. The boy's voice broke through the tense silence, calm and reassuring.

"Please open the door. I promise I'll explain everything," he said gently.

Her voice finally emerged, though shaky. "Who are you? Where am I?" she asked, panic laced in her words.

"Just open the door," he urged, his tone steady but kind. "It'll be easier if we talk face to face. I'm sure we both have a lot of questions."

There was something about his voice—a mix of warmth and sincerity—that made her feel a sliver of safety, even in her confusion. Gathering all the courage she could muster, Ember slowly stepped forward and cracked the door open.

As her eyes met his, her heartbeat quickened. He stood tall, dressed casually in black joggers and a white long-sleeved hoodie. His presence felt steady, yet there was a softness in his expression that eased her nerves.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Ember took an uncertain step backward, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, and stumbled slightly. His hand shot out instinctively, gripping her waist to steady her.

Her wide, dark eyes locked onto his warm brown ones, and for what felt like eternity, time stood still. 

 Chapter 3: "A Dream, A Kiss, A Beginning"

Emir extended his hand to help Ember up. "My name is Emir," he said with a warm smile. "What's yours?"

"I'm Ember," she replied, her voice soft as she broke eye contact, feeling the weight of the moment. Both turned their gazes in opposite directions, trying to ease the awkwardness that hung between them.

"Are you all right?" Emir asked with a hint of concern.

"Ahem! Yes, I'm all right," Ember responded quickly, trying to mask her unease.

"Let's sit and talk," he suggested. She nodded, and as they sat down, she hesitated before asking, "Where am I?"

"Actually, you're in my house right now," he admitted.

"Why did you bring me here?" Ember's voice carried suspicion, though she tried to stay calm.

"You were sleeping on the bench in my garden," Emir explained. "I saw you when I went out for a jog and thought I should help you."

"What bench in your garden?" Ember asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"The bench right outside," Emir said gently. "You were shivering, so I carried you inside."

Ember's mind raced as she tried to make sense of his words. "That's not possible," she muttered, more to herself than to him. "I was sleeping in my bedroom. How did I end up here?"

"Do you think someone brought you here?" Emir asked curiously, leaning slightly forward.

Ember didn't respond immediately. Instead, she whispered, "Maybe this is all just a dream. You're not real. None of this is real. When I wake up, it will all disappear."

Emir frowned, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. "What are you saying? I'm real, Ember. I'm right here in front of you," he said, his voice steady.

But Ember continued, trying to convince herself. "Wake up, Ember. You're dreaming. Just wake up," she murmured under her breath, her hands gripping the edge of the bed tightly.

"Hey," Emir said firmly, reaching out to hold her hands. "Stop doing that. You can't just run from the situation like this."

His touch startled her, and she looked up, only to realize how close they were. The heat rose to her cheeks, turning them a soft shade of pink.

"Are you running a fever?" Emir asked, noticing the blush. "Your cheeks are so red."

"No, I'm not," she stammered, stepping back slightly to maintain some distance.

"I think you are," he insisted, his eyes narrowing with concern. "You were outside in the cold. I'll call a doctor."

"No!" Ember exclaimed, shaking her head. "You don't need to call anyone. I'm fine, really."

Emir didn't seem convinced. He reached out again, this time gently placing his hand on her forehead to check for a fever. His touch was warm, and for a moment, Ember froze.

"You seem fine," he said, his voice softening. "But just in case, you should eat something warm. Porridge, maybe."

"Where are we, really?" Ember asked, her voice quieter now.

Emir smiled faintly. "Let's have breakfast first, then we can talk about everything. Deal?"

"Okay," she agreed with a nod. She was about to stand when Emir stopped her.

"You sit here," he said firmly. "I'll bring breakfast to you."

Ember stayed seated, her gaze wandering around the room. It was spacious, painted in a soothing peach tone with white curtains that allowed soft light to filter through. The bed beneath her was large and impossibly soft. She couldn't resist testing it, bouncing lightly and murmuring to herself, "The bed is really soft."

"Yeah, it is," Emir commented from the doorway, startling her.

Ember turned quickly, her face flushing as she saw him smiling. She immediately sat up straight, trying to compose herself.

Emir chuckled at her reaction. "Relax," he said, placing a tray of food on the bedside table. "Here's breakfast—for both of us."

"For us?" she asked, surprised.

"Unless you want me to go hungry," he teased, sitting down beside her.

"No, that's not what I meant," Ember said, flustered.

"Let's eat," she said quickly, taking a bowl of porridge from the tray. But in her haste, she didn't notice how hot it was. The first sip burned her lips.

"Ouch! It's so hot!" she exclaimed, her eyes watering.

"Are you serious?" Emir said, grabbing the bowl from her hands. "You should have waited! You could've burned yourself." His voice was stern, but his concern was evident.

Ember pouted slightly, blowing on her lips to cool them.

Without thinking, Emir leaned closer, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. The warmth of the moment melted away the sting, leaving her stunned.

"There," he said with a small smile as he pulled back. "Now it's not hot anymore."

Ember's eyes widened in shock, her cheeks turning crimson. Before she could say anything, Emir blinked and shook his head.

"Wait... Did that just happen?" he murmured to himself. It took a moment for both of them to realize—it had been a fleeting dream.

"Here, drink some water," Emir said, handing her a glass.

Ember nodded, sipping the water quietly.

"I'm sorry," Emir said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I didn't mean to yell earlier."

"It's okay," Ember replied with a small smile. "You were right. It was my fault for rushing."

They shared a lighthearted laugh, and though the situation remained strange, a newfound comfort seemed to settle between them.

 Chapter 4

 Stolen Glances, Unspoken Thoughts

"Let's talk while the soup cools. Can you tell me what you were doing in my garden early this morning? Were you stalking me?" Emir teased with a smirk.

Ember burst out laughing. "Stalking you? Who do you think you are? I mean, you are handsome, but stalking? Ha! Don't flatter yourself!"

Emir raised an eyebrow, pretending to look offended. "Wait, wait, hold on. Did you just say I'm handsome?" He smirked again, his excitement palpable.

"You're getting off topic, Mr. Emir," Ember replied, her tone dripping with mock indifference, as if she hadn't just complimented him.

"Mr. Emir? Who's Mr. Emir?" He looked at her with feigned disbelief.

"You," Ember retorted, narrowing her eyes. "That's your name, isn't it?"

"Oh!" Emir scratched the back of his head as if he'd just remembered. "Right, that's me. I was just kidding. My name is Emir. But hey, I'm not famous or anything. Why would you even know me?" He pressed, emphasizing his words playfully.

"Okay, okay! I believe you. Let's drop it," Ember said, raising both hands in surrender. A playful tension hung between them, lighthearted but electric.

Emir leaned forward, his curiosity returning. "So… back to the real question. How did you end up in my garden?"

Ember sighed, her brows furrowing. "I really don't know. One moment, I was asleep in my room, and the next… I woke up here." She paused, hesitating. "Can I ask you something? Promise you won't get mad?"

"Of course. Go ahead," Emir said, tilting his head curiously.

"Do you think I was sleepwalking?" she asked, biting her lip nervously.

Emir considered it for a moment. "It's possible. People do things unconsciously in their sleep sometimes."

"I don't think so," Ember said, her voice quiet. The thought embarrassed her, and she looked away, avoiding his gaze.

Noticing her discomfort, Emir stood up. "Well, I guess we'll never know. Anyway, get ready. We're going to my college."

"Your college? Why?" she asked, surprised.

"You don't know how you got here, and until we figure it out, you're my responsibility. I can't just leave you here alone. Besides, I have something important to do there." His tone was firm but gentle, his gaze meeting hers.

Ember felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. She blinked away the tears threatening to surface and smiled softly. "Okay… I'll come with you."

"Good. I'm going to change now," Emir said as he left the room.

Once alone, Ember relaxed, sinking into the bed. Her eyes fell on the bowl of soup he'd made earlier. She picked it up, testing the temperature, and took a small sip. "Mmm… tasty. Did he make this himself?" she wondered aloud.

After finishing the soup, Ember stood and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her nightclothes were wrinkled, and she realized she couldn't go to his college dressed like this. She knocked on his door. "Knock, knock. Emir, are you there?"

The door opened, and she froze. There stood Emir, fresh out of the shower, wearing nothing but a bathrobe. His hair was damp, water droplets sliding down his face and onto his chest.

Ember's mouth went dry as her eyes betrayed her, tracing the path of the droplets. She quickly snapped out of it, turning around in embarrassment. "Uh… uh… what are you wearing?!" she stammered.

Emir blinked, realizing his state. He adjusted his robe and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about that. So, what did you want to say?"

"I… I can't come with you," Ember muttered, still facing away from him.

"Why not?"

"I can't go to your college in my nightclothes," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emir chuckled. "Fair enough. Wait here. I'll find something for you to wear."

Moments later, he returned with an old uniform. "Here, you can wear this. It might be a bit big, though."

Ember grabbed the uniform and rushed back into her room. She closed the door and leaned against it, her heart racing. "What did I just see? Oh my… his abs… no! Stop it, Ember!" She buried her face in her hands, trying to shake off the image.

When she finally changed, the uniform was comically oversized. The sleeves covered her hands, and the pants dragged on the floor. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "Even his old uniform is too big for me."

A knock at the door startled her. "Ember, are you done?"

She opened the door hesitantly. Emir took one look at her and burst into laughter.

"Hey! Stop laughing!" she pouted, crossing her arms.

"You're adorable," he said, stepping into the room. He grabbed the hem of the shirt and adjusted it, rolling up the sleeves and tying the waistband of the pants. "There. That's better."

"Thanks…" Ember mumbled, her cheeks flushed.

"Now, your hair."

"I can do it myself," she protested.

"Be quiet. I'll handle it," Emir insisted. He struggled with her unruly locks, muttering under his breath.

A small smile tugged at Ember's lips. "Let me do it. You're hopeless," she teased.

Before he could respond, his phone rang. He excused himself, leaving her to finish getting ready.

A few minutes later, Emir returned with a pair of shoes. He knelt in front of her, helping her put them on.

"You really didn't have to," Ember said softly, touched by the gesture.

"Now you're ready," he said, standing up.

As they both straightened, their heads accidentally bumped.

"Are you okay?" Emir asked, concerned.

"Yeah… but we have to do it again," Ember said with a playful grin.

"What? Why?"

"One time is bad luck."

"Are you serious?"

Without waiting for his permission, she leaned forward and bumped her head against his again.

"Ouch! Ember!" he groaned.

"Did I do it too hard?" she asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yes! But let's go. We're getting late," he said, shaking his head.

Ember followed him, unable to hide her smile.

"Come on, get in the car," Emir said, opening the door for her.

"Okay," she replied, sliding into the seat.

As they drove away, Ember glanced at him, her heart fluttering at the thought of what the day might hold.