Captured in His Embrace

After the Exams

One morning, Ember woke up in Dylan's house, only to find him sitting beside her, watching her with quiet intensity. The familiar tension between them hung in the air, but today, it felt different. Today, something had to change.

Ember woke up and saw him sitting next to her. For a moment, she thought it was a dream. She smiled softly, feeling the warmth of the sun kiss his cheeks. His eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and as she reached out to touch his cheek, she whispered, "I missed you so much." A gentle smile spread across her face.

But then, after a few moments, reality settled in—this wasn't a dream. Ember's eyes widened, and she quickly scrambled to get out of bed. In her rush, their heads clashed together. "Ouch!" she yelped, holding her forehead.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Ember rolled her eyes playfully, meeting his gaze. "Yes, I am. But we need to do it again," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Again—" He didn't get to finish as she placed her hand on his forehead, pulling him toward her and playfully bumping their heads once more. "Ouch," he muttered this time.

She couldn't hold back her laughter as a smile bloomed across her face. He chuckled softly and said, "It's been a while since I've seen you smile."

The words hung in the air between them, the silence thick with emotions. They stared at each other, locked in a quiet moment, their eyes saying more than words ever could.

Finally, he broke the silence, "We should get up. We're leaving soon."

"Where are we going?" Ember asked, still feeling the warmth of the moment lingering.

"I have some work to do at college, and we need to go shopping after that," he said casually.

"Shopping? Why?" Ember furrowed her brows in confusion.

"You'll find out soon enough," he replied with a knowing smile before leaving the room.

Ember was left alone, her thoughts swirling as she reflected on the brief moment they had just shared. It had been a month since they'd last spent any real time together, and something about him now felt... different. More mature, perhaps.

Downstairs, Ember found Nana bustling about. "Good morning, dear," Nana greeted her warmly.

"Good morning to you too," Ember replied, still caught in her thoughts.

"Come have breakfast," Nana offered, and Ember nodded, agreeing to join her.

After finishing breakfast, Ember stood up to wash her hands when Dylan came down the stairs, carrying several handbags. Her curiosity piqued, she asked, "What's in the bags?"

"You'll find out soon enough," he said cryptically, his usual playfulness laced with mystery.

Ember couldn't help but wonder why Dylan had been acting so secretive lately. After a moment, she decided to let it go for now. Moments later, the driver announced that the car was ready. Stepping outside, Ember was surprised to see Dylan taking the driver's seat. He usually never drove, preferring to let the chauffeur handle it.

As she climbed into the car, Ember forgot to buckle her seatbelt. Dylan leaned in toward her, and she instinctively pulled back, confused. "What do you want?" she asked.

"I'm just helping you with your seatbelt," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

"Oh…" Ember felt a little flustered. "Thank you," she murmured as he helped her buckle up.

After settling in, Dylan gave her a brief smile and said, "Let's go." And just like that, they were off, speeding toward college. He drove faster than usual, the air between them charged with an unspoken tension.

Once they arrived, Dylan turned to Ember. "You can head to the library or the cafeteria—wherever you want. I'll find you when I'm done."

Ember nodded, watching as he walked away, still carrying those mysterious bags. She made her way to the library, hoping to clear her mind. As she browsed through the shelves, looking for a new novel to dive into, she heard a familiar voice.

"Long time no see," Adrien greeted her with a friendly smile.

Ember turned and returned the smile. "Yeah, it's been almost a month."

"Yeah…" Adrien's voice trailed off. "Do you have time to talk? Maybe we could walk around?"

"Sure," Ember agreed, a little unsure. "Where should we go?"

"How about the back lawn?" he suggested.

They both spoke at the same time, sharing a laugh at the coincidence. As they walked, Adrien glanced over at her and said, "You look good when you smile."

The compliment caught Ember off guard, and for a fleeting moment, she saw Dylan's face flash in her mind—he had said something similar not too long ago. "Are you okay, Ember?" Adrien asked, noticing her hesitation.

She shook herself from the memory, offering a small smile. "I'm fine."

They continued their walk, the gentle rustling of leaves filling the silence. Eventually, Adrien asked, "So, why haven't you been coming to college lately?"

The question stirred up memories Ember would rather forget. Her mind flashed back to painful moments, and the silence between them grew heavy. To break the awkwardness, she quickly said, "Let's not talk about that."

Adrien nodded understandingly. "Of course. We don't have to talk about it if you're not comfortable."

Grateful, Ember smiled at him. "Thank you."

But after a few more steps, Adrien's curiosity got the better of him. "What's going on with you and Dylan?"

Ember tensed. "Nothing special," she replied quickly, her voice tight.

Adrien didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push. They walked in silence for a while before Ember finally stopped and took a deep breath. "Adrien, I need to say something," she began. "I think… it's better if we don't see each other anymore."

Adrien's face fell. "What? Why?"

"I'm sorry," Ember said, her voice soft but firm. "I don't have answers for you right now. I just need space." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Adrien standing there, confused and full of questions. Ember didn't have the answers—not for him, not even for herself.

She rushed back to the library, her heart racing, desperate for some peace and quiet to clear her mind.

DYLAN'S SIDE...

As I was coming back after delivering the bags, I saw Adrien talking to his friend about Ember. Normally, I wouldn't eavesdrop, but since they were talking about my girlfriend, I couldn't help but listen in.

"I don't know what's happened to her," Adrien said, concern lacing his voice. "But I don't think she's feeling well."

His friend responded, "If you can see she's not feeling well, maybe you should talk to her about it."

Adrien sighed. "She doesn't want to talk to me. She said we won't speak anymore—whether at college or anywhere else. At first, I thought maybe it's best to give her some space, but it hurts... Every time she walks away, making excuses, it hurts."

His friend's tone became more serious. "If you both stop talking, how are things supposed to get better? How are things going to change?"

Adrien paused. "I think... I need to give her some time alone, but she's acting strange. She looks… off."

His friend replied, "Okay, give her time if that's what she needs. But don't forget, you've got competition. You're not the only one who's in love with her."

Adrien's response was quick, "I know, I know! I'm aware of it."

As they moved on, I stood there, rooted in place, replaying their conversation in my head. The only thing that really stuck with me was that Ember looked strange, like something was bothering her.

I knew exactly where she would be. When I reached the library, I headed straight to the top floor. It's usually deserted up there since it's full of dusty, old books that hardly anyone reads. There's a small terrace up there too, and as I approached, I spotted her. She was sitting on a bench, lost in her thoughts.

I stepped closer, careful not to startle her, and then I heard her whispering to herself, her voice filled with emotion.

"I don't even have an answer to his question... 'Why?' But I don't want Dylan to be the way he was before. I want to start fresh, forget the past. Today was the first day he's acted like himself again, and I don't want to ruin this."

She let out a long, deep breath, almost as if she was trying to let go of the weight she was carrying.

"Let's forget about today's conversation," she continued quietly. "I won't let this make him angry again. Yes... yes…"

She trailed off, her words fading into the silence of the empty library.

I stood there, feeling conflicted, wanting so badly to approach her, but not sure if I should. Ember was struggling, and hearing her say she didn't want to ruin things between us tore at me.

"Hufff…" she sighed again, sounding exhausted, emotionally drained.

I took a deep breath of my own, trying to steady my thoughts.

"Let's forget about today's conversation," I promised myself. "I won't let my love be overshadowed by these doubts again."

I couldn't wait any longer. I had to make sure Ember knew that whatever was happening, we would face it together.

"So..."

Ember heard a familiar sound and immediately knew who it was. "You're back. And you found me so fast..."

"Impressive," she said, turning around with a smile, only to find Dylan standing there with a troubled look on his face. Concern washed over her as she asked, "Hey, what's wrong? Did something happen? You look upset." His silence weighed heavily between them, and Ember could sense that something was off.

Gently, she placed her hands on his cheeks, tilting his face down so she could look into his dull, distant eyes. "What's going on? Are you not going to tell me?"

He finally spoke, his voice low and heavy, "You can't make friends if you stay with me."

His words hit Ember like a shockwave, leaving her momentarily stunned. She stood there frozen, trying to process what he had just said. But after a few seconds, a soft smile spread across her face. He's worried about me, she thought.

"So what?" Ember replied, her voice gentle but firm. "I have you by my side. That's all that matters to me. That's all I want." She searched his eyes for a response, and before she could finish her sentence, Dylan pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice filled with urgency.

"Don't leave me. Stay by my side."

Ember wrapped her arms around him, reassuring him softly, "I'm not going to leave you, unless you want me to."

"I won't let you go," he whispered into her ear.

She pulled back just enough to see his face and smiled warmly. "Okay, okay, so... we're not going shopping, right?"

Dylan blinked as if he'd forgotten for a moment, then laughed. "Oh! I almost forgot! Let's go."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close as they both laughed and made their way to the car, their earlier tension melting away with each step.

As we settled into the car and Dylan began driving, Ember turned to him and asked, "Why are we going shopping again?"

With a soft smile, Dylan replied, "We're going on that trip to Turkey for Emir's birthday, remember? We need to get you some clothes for it."

"Oh, right!" Ember nodded, but hesitated before adding, "But..."

"But what?" Dylan glanced at her briefly, sensing something on her mind.

Pressing her lips together, Ember sighed, "Don't get me wrong. It's just that... you're doing so much for me, and I feel like I have nothing to give you in return."

Suddenly, Dylan slammed on the brakes. "Ouch!" Ember yelped as the car jerked, but before she could say anything else, Dylan leaned toward her.

"You're the one I want, Ember," he said softly, his breath warm against her face before he kissed her.

She couldn't help but melt into the moment, kissing him back. Dylan held her tight, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

"Mmm..." escaped Ember's lips when he finally pulled back, leaving her breathless. "Huff... Huff..." She gasped for air, eyes wide.

"Are you okay?" Dylan asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she managed between breaths. "When we get home, I'll teach you how to kiss without knocking the wind out of me," she teased with a grin.

"What?" Dylan's face turned serious for a second.

"Yeah," Ember laughed. "I don't want you to die because you forgot to breathe while we kiss." She shook her head, giggling.

Dylan raised an eyebrow but smiled back. "Alright, alright, let's just get back on the road." He chuckled and returned his focus to driving.

When they arrived at the mall, Dylan covered himself up like he was on a secret mission. "Okay, let's go," he said, sounding as though he was sneaking out.

Ember raised an eyebrow and playfully teased, "Hey! Are you seriously going in like this?"

"Is something missing?" Dylan asked, pretending not to notice.

"Nothing's missing... except you are!" Ember burst out laughing, unable to control herself.

He grinned and said, "Okay, okay, I'll take it off. But promise me you won't leave my side for even a second, alright?"

"Deal," Ember smiled. "I'll stick to you like glue."

As they exited the car, Dylan took her hand, giving it a firm squeeze. "Let's see how strong that grip is."

"Hm," she nodded with a playful smile, squeezing back.

As they entered the mall, Ember's eyes widened when she noticed a huge banner of Dylan welcoming people to the mall. Every shop seemed to have his face plastered on the walls. "Wow, I had no idea you were this famous," Ember said, stunned.

"Yeah, I don't believe it sometimes either," Dylan replied, slightly embarrassed.

Suddenly, a girl behind them squealed, "Did you say Dylan?!"

Ember turned around just in time to see the girl recognize him. She shrieked, "Ahhh! It's Dylan! Dylan's in the mall!" Within seconds, they were surrounded by a crowd of girls, all clamoring for his attention.

Dylan grabbed Ember's hand tightly. "See? This is why I told you I needed to cover myself," he whispered with a grin.

Ember nodded. "Yep, you were right." The girls started taking pictures and screaming for autographs. Amidst the chaos, someone accidentally stepped on Ember's foot. "Ouch!" she winced, losing her grip on Dylan's hand.

Before she knew it, she was separated from him in the crowd. "Dylan!" she shouted, but her voice was lost in the sea of fans. She decided to move away from the mob, feeling a little overwhelmed.

A few seconds later, she heard Dylan's voice rise above the noise, "Hey, you guys look over here!" He was making his way through the crowd, parting them like the sea to reach her.

When he got closer, he noticed her limping. His face filled with concern as he asked, "Is your foot hurting?"

Ember smiled weakly, trying to shrug it off. "It's fine," she said.

"If it's fine, then why are there tears in your eyes?" Dylan gently cupped her cheek before lifting her up into his arms. "We're leaving," he declared.

"But we just got here..." she protested softly.

"So what? You're hurt. Do you really want to go shopping on a broken foot?"

Ember fell silent, knowing he was right. She wrapped her arms around him as he carried her through the crowd, ignoring the stares from everyone around them.

People were in awe, watching as he held her so protectively. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Dylan helped her into the car and started driving toward the hospital. "Wait, why are we going to the hospital? Are you hurt?" Ember asked, confused.

"Look at your foot and then ask me that again," he said, his tone serious.

"Oh... What? We're going to the hospital for this?" Ember laughed in disbelief.

"Yep," Dylan replied, not missing a beat.

"But it's not necessary," she started to argue, but before she could finish, they had already arrived. Dylan parked the car and looked at her. "Okay, if you can walk two steps on your own, we won't go in."

Ember nodded. "Alright, deal." She carefully got out of the car, determined to prove him wrong, but as soon as she took a step, her foot gave way and she stumbled. Without hesitation, Dylan caught her in his arms.

"See? You can't even take a single step," he teased softly, lifting her back up.

"Let's go," he said, carrying her inside as she nestled into his arms.

At the doctor's office, Ember lay on the patient bed, feeling a bit uneasy. The doctor was about to check her ankle when Dylan suddenly stepped forward, his voice firm but polite. "Hello, Doctor, can you call a female doctor for her?"

The doctor seemed surprised but responded, "Sir, we don't have a female doctor available at this time."

Dylan's expression tightened. "Then we'll change the hospital."

"No, no... that won't be necessary," the doctor stammered. "I'll call a female doctor right away."

"Thank you," Dylan replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

After a few moments, a female doctor entered the room, her presence bringing Ember a sense of calm. "Sir, let me check on the patient," she said kindly.

When the doctor gently touched Ember's ankle, she winced in pain. "Ouch!" she gasped, her ankle throbbing. Dylan immediately reached for her hand, squeezing it gently to comfort her. As the doctor carefully twisted her ankle to assess the injury, Ember bit down on her lip to hold back the pain, her grip on Dylan's hand tightening.

"It's just a minor ankle twist," the doctor reassured. "There's nothing to be too worried about, but she needs to rest for a day to help it recover. I'll write a prescription for some ointment to apply to the area."

"Thank you, doctor," Ember managed to say with a small smile as the doctor left the room.

Dylan turned to her, his face filled with concern. "Does it still hurt?" he asked softly.

Ember shook her head. "Not as much anymore."

But then Dylan's expression shifted. "Hey, what happened to your lip? It's bleeding."

"Oh," Ember touched her lip, realizing it was sore. "I guess I bit it when the pain got too much."

Dylan frowned, his voice softening. "Don't say anything." He leaned closer, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Let me help you."

Before Ember could protest, Dylan closed the gap between them, pressing a soft, gentle kiss against her lips. The warmth of his touch melted away the sting, and for a moment, the pain was forgotten.

When he pulled back, his voice was tender. "If you're feeling better, let's go home."

Ember nodded, still a little breathless. "Yes," she whispered.

Without hesitation, Dylan lifted her into his arms, carrying her out of the doctor's office and towards the car. His strong arms made her feel safe, protected.

On the way home, Dylan stopped by a pharmacy to pick up the prescribed ointment. He returned quickly, and soon they were back on the road, heading to his place.

When they arrived, Dylan carried Ember into his room. Confused, she asked, "Why are you taking me to your room?"

He looked at her with a softness in his eyes and said, "I want you to stay by my side."

Ember felt her heart skip a beat. His words left her speechless, and she simply nodded.

A little while later, Dylan made a few phone calls. Ember listened, but the language he spoke was Chinese, making it hard for her to follow the conversation. She watched him, curious but trusting, as he finished up his calls.

Once he hung up, Dylan smiled and said, "I'm going to get us some lunch. I'll be right back."

And with that, he left the room, leaving Ember alone with her thoughts, her heart still fluttering from everything that had happened.