The morning sun streamed through Layla's curtains as she scrolled lazily through her phone. Just as expected, there was already a message from Liam waiting for her.
Liam: Good morning, Miss Attitude. Did you sleep, or did you spend the whole night thinking about me?
She smirked, shaking her head as she typed back.
Layla: Good morning, Mr. Confident. I slept very well, thank you. And no, you weren't in my dreams.
Liam: That's strange, because I clearly remember visiting you in mine.
Layla rolled her eyes at the screen, but her smile betrayed her.
Layla: Oh really? Doing what?
Liam: You were working at your desk. Except, in my dream, your office had the best coffee machine in the city. Now I need to confirm—does your real office also serve good coffee, or was that dream-exclusive?
Layla narrowed her eyes, catching on immediately.
Layla: Smooth. You're trying to find out where I work, aren't you?
Liam: Who, me? Never. I'm just a curious man who appreciates fine coffee… and maybe wants to know what kind of view you get when you look up from your desk.
Layla: Mhm. Sounds like a detective to me. Should I be worried?
Liam: Only if your office is somewhere boring. Then I'll be disappointed.
She laughed, shaking her head.
Layla: You really think I'd just give up where I work that easily?
Liam: Not easily. But eventually. Because I'm persistent. And because one day, I'm going to walk in there and take you to lunch without warning.
Layla's fingers paused on the screen. For a moment, she pictured it—him showing up, everyone at her office wondering who the tall, confident man was. The thought made her heart race in a way she wasn't ready to admit.
Layla: Keep dreaming, Liam.
Liam: I will. And maybe… I'll make it real sooner than you think.
Layla bit her lip, unsure whether to be annoyed or secretly thrilled. With Liam, it always seemed to be both.
Liam: Okay fine, no office address yet. But at least tell me this—do you wear heels to work or flats?
Layla raised an eyebrow at the message.
Layla: Why do you want to know? Planning to send shoes as a gift?
Liam: Maybe. Or maybe I'm just trying to imagine the sound of you walking down a hallway—click, click, click. I'd recognize it anywhere.
Layla burst out laughing. "This guy…" she muttered to herself.
Layla: That's creepy, Liam. You don't even know me like that.
Liam: Correction: I'm getting to know you like that. And honestly? It's my favorite part of the day.
Her chest warmed, but she quickly typed back to cover it.
Layla: So smooth. Tell me, do you use the same lines on all your "WhatsApp girlfriends"?
Liam: Ah, you wound me. There's only one name that lights up my phone in the morning, and it starts with "L."
Layla: Lucky guess.
Liam: No guess. Just facts. Now tell me—do you work in one of those glass buildings with AC blasting too cold? Or more like a cozy little office with noisy fans?
Layla smirked, realizing how persistent he was.
Layla: You really are desperate to know where I work. What's next, you'll ask what color my office chair is?
Liam: Don't tempt me. But since you mentioned it… black or brown?
She sent a laughing emoji.
Layla: You're ridiculous. Do you ever give up?
Liam: Not when it comes to you. Never.
Layla stared at the message longer than she meant to. For all his jokes and flirty persistence, there was a steadiness in his words that tugged at her walls. She shook her head, tossed her phone aside for a moment, then picked it up again.
Layla: Persistent men usually have hidden agendas.
Liam: Or maybe they just know when something—or someone—is worth chasing.
Her heart skipped, but she quickly replied:
Layla: Dream on, Liam.
Liam: Gladly. But remember, dreams sometimes come true.
Later that morning, Layla's phone buzzed again while she was at her desk. She glanced around to make sure no one was looking before unlocking it.
Liam: Don't tell me you're too busy to think about me right now.
Layla: I actually am busy. Unlike you, I work for a living.
Liam: Ouch. And here I was, considering sending you lunch. Guess I'll eat it alone.
She bit her lip, holding back a smile.
Layla: Sending me lunch? You don't even know where I work, remember?
Liam: Details, details… I would've figured it out somehow. I'm resourceful.
Layla: Persistent and resourceful? Dangerous combination.
Liam: Only dangerous if you're trying to resist me.
Layla shook her head, hiding the blush creeping up her cheeks.
By noon, as she stepped out for her lunch break, her phone buzzed again.
Liam: So, Miss Mystery, what's on your lunch menu today?
Layla: Rice and stew. Simple.
Liam: That's it? No grilled chicken, no salad? You're starving yourself.
Layla: Excuse me? Not all of us eat five-star hotel meals.
Liam: True… but one day, I'll drag you to a place where rice and stew come with names you can't pronounce.
She laughed softly, typing back.
Layla: We'll see about that.
Liam: We will. Promise.
By evening, as Layla sat on her couch scrolling through Instagram, another message came in.
Liam: So, how did Miss Hard-to-Impress survive her day?
Layla: Long and tiring. Meetings, deadlines… I'm drained.
Liam: You need a proper distraction. Should I apply for the role?
Layla: You already distract me enough. Don't get promoted to full-time.
Liam: Too late. I'm overqualified for that role anyway.
She rolled her eyes, smiling.
Layla: You're something else, Liam.
Liam: And you love it. Admit it.
Layla: Keep dreaming.
Liam: I told you before—dreams come true.
Layla sighed as she set her phone down. The truth was, he was distracting her. More than she wanted to admit. And though she had promised herself never to fall too easily again, Liam's persistence made it hard to keep that wall up.
As she curled under her blanket that night, another text popped up.
Liam: Goodnight, Layla. Rest well. I'll be in your dreams again, so wear something nice.
She let out a laugh in the quiet of her room, shaking her head. Then she typed back one last message before turning off the lights.
Layla: Goodnight, dreamer.
Her smile lingered long after the screen went dark.
The next morning, before Layla had even poured her first cup of coffee, her phone vibrated. She glanced down, and of course, it was Liam.
Liam: Morning, Sunshine ☀️ Did you dream of me like I told you?
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
Layla: Nope. I had better things to dream about.
Liam: Lies. I'm everyone's dream. Yours especially.
Layla: Your ego should come with a warning label.
Liam: Maybe. But you wouldn't ignore it.
She laughed under her breath, setting her mug down before replying.
Layla: You're unbelievable.
Liam: Yet somehow irresistible.
Later, during her lunch break, he popped up again.
Liam: Still hiding from me, Layla?
Layla: Not hiding. Just being careful. There's a difference.
Liam: Careful with me?
Layla: Yes. You know how many promises I've heard from guys? How many "I'm different" speeches I've listened to?
A pause, then his reply came in—short, steady.
Liam: Then don't listen. Watch me prove it instead.
Her fingers hovered over the screen. He sounded so sure, but wasn't that how they all started?
Layla: Easy to say. Harder to do.
Liam: Good thing I like challenges. And you're my favorite one yet.
That night, when the world was quiet and the city lights spilled across Layla's curtains, he texted again.
Liam: If I asked you right now to let me see you tomorrow, would you say yes?
Her heart skipped, but she typed carefully.
Layla: I might say maybe.
Liam: Maybe is progress. But I want more than maybe.
Layla: You don't always get what you want, Liam.
Liam: Except this time. Because what I want is you, Layla. And I'm not the type to stop until I get what's mine.
She froze, the intensity of his words pulling at something deep inside her.
Layla: What if I'm not ready to be "yours"?
Liam: Then I'll wait until you are. But don't fool yourself—I already see you as mine.
Layla shut her eyes, clutching her phone. She hated how much his confidence made her weak. She hated even more that a part of her liked it.
Layla: You're dangerous.
Liam: Only to your walls. And sooner or later, those walls will fall.
Her lips curved into a reluctant smile as she typed back.
Layla: Goodnight, Liam.
Liam: Sweet dreams, my almost-girlfriend.
She laughed softly into her pillow, but sleep didn't come easily. His words lingered, echoing in her mind long after the screen went dark.
The next evening, as Layla scrolled through her phone after dinner, Liam's name popped up again.
Liam: So, Layla… when do I get to see the real you, not just through a screen?
Her fingers froze. She had known this question would come eventually, but she wasn't ready for it to arrive so soon.
Layla: What do you mean? You already see me on video calls.
Liam: That's not enough. I want to know what it feels like to sit across from you, to hear your laugh without a speaker in between us.
Her heart thudded, but she forced a light reply.
Layla: You make it sound like some fairytale.
Liam: Maybe it is. But I'd like to find out. Don't you?
Layla stared at the message, chewing on her bottom lip. Memories of past disappointments flashed across her mind—the empty promises, the guys who turned out to be nothing like they appeared. She couldn't bear to be fooled again.
Layla: What if meeting ruins everything? What if you're not who you say you are?
A few seconds passed before his reply came in.
Liam: And what if it proves everything? What if I am exactly who I say I am?
She sighed, typing slowly.
Layla: I'm just… not sure I'm ready.
Liam: That's okay. I'll wait. But know this—I'm not here to waste time, Layla. I want something real.
Her pulse quickened at the words. She hadn't expected him to be so direct.
Layla: Something real?
Liam: Yes. And when you're ready to see me, I'll make sure you don't regret it.
Layla dropped her phone on her lap, staring at the ceiling. For the first time, the thought of meeting him didn't feel like a risk—it felt like a door she was afraid to walk through, but desperately wanted to.
She picked up her phone again, typing softly.
Layla: We'll see…
Liam: I'll take that as a "soon."
Layla shook her head with a smile, but her heart was restless long into the night.