Ember could feel it, the gentle caress of someone touching her. It wasn't the first time. It's been happening for years now. Not every day, but often enough that she started to notice. At first, the touches were light, almost as if they weren't there. She would wake up and wonder if she was only caught in a dream. But they became more frequent and lasted longer.
This time, she could feel it. The way whatever it was caressed her face. Touching her waist, stroking her hair, and for some reason, she can't wake up. Or maybe she doesn't want to wake up. Because something about it, whatever it is, is comforting to her.
By the time she finally got up, she pretended for the umpteenth time that it never happened. Chalking it up to her overactive imagination. Being too lonely can sometimes have that effect on you.
Opening her eyes, the sun peeked in through the curtain, casting a faint glow on her face. I need darker curtains, thought Ember as she stretched and got out of bed. As any normal bathroom routine goes, she did the necessary routine and went straight back to bed.
"Hmm, back to bed", she muttered. Today was her first day of vacation. She didn't have to care about anything or anyone for the next two weeks.
Almost as soon as her head touched the pillow, there came a loud bang. Someone was violently knocking on the door. Throwing the covers over her head, Ember tried her best to ignore it. Today was her first rest day, and unless the apocalypse came, she didn't intend to talk to anyone today.
Not long after, the knocking stopped. Ember sighed, trying to go back to sleep. It wasn't even a minute later that she heard someone coming into the house. Listening to the steady footsteps make their way to her bedroom, she groaned a little.
No matter what time or where she was, she would know those footsteps anywhere. It was Ailon. This man, whom she has known for so long, but still can't see through. His contrasting temperament always sends her for a loop.
At first glance, he seems like the kind of person who would always have his nose to a book. With his shoulder-length curly hair that always seems to be tousled just right, and looks like bed head at the same time. He doesn't have a striking jawline; his features are a bit softer. Instead of looking like a bodybuilder, he seemed small, but in fact had lean muscle.
But looking into his eyes, you can see a wildness you wouldn't expect. When his eyes focus on you, it's as if they see directly into your soul.
"Go away, Ailon", Ember shouted, lifting the covers just enough so she could make sure he heard. Unfortunately, the footsteps continued until they paused slightly at the door of Ember's bedroom before opening the door.
Ember groaned and cocooned herself in the blanket. Knowing she didn't have any way to stop Ailon from doing whatever it was he wanted to do.
She listened as he put down whatever he was holding and came closer to the bed. She had already expected him to scoop her up off the bed. After more than ten years of knowing each other, Ember knew what to expect from Ailon and vice versa.
As he unwrapped her head from her blanket cocoon, his deep voice sounded, "Option one, you get up and go out with me. Option two, I soak you in the bathtub for a while, and you still get up and go out with me. Pick."
"How about option three? We both stay in bed. Nobody has to go anywhere," replied Ember. Her eyes, still closed despite being fully awake now.
Ailon rolled his eyes. He knew Ember would refuse to get up. But that didn't matter; he would dress her himself if he had to. And more than once, he's had to. He sighed and walked to the shower, ready to endure the "freezing" temperatures of the shower.
As soon as he got up and started walking towards the shower, Ember opened her eyes. She started wiggling in his arms. She knew he would do what he said, but she really didn't want to get up. Now she had to suffer. Once he started walking, he wouldn't stop. They would both end up wet.
"I'm up! I'm up! Can you not? I've already had a shower." Ember continued wiggling, trying to get out of Ailon's arms.
"You knew this would happen. Don't act like you didn't know." He said as he entered the bathroom. "I am a man of my word."
No sooner had he said that than he turned on the shower. Now, people, clothes and the blanket are wet.
"We both know that doesn't work on me," Ailon said as he saw Ember shoot him a glare while stepping out of the bathroom. "I've been immune to that stare since the second time you tried it. "
Dragging her feet, Ember made her way to her closet. She knew she wouldn't have a chance to go back to bed again, so despite herself, she decided to get ready. Luckily, it wasn't anywhere fancy, or she would have really had to fight for her life with Ailon. He knew she hated stuff like that, but that didn't stop him from making her go.
She decided to wear something casual, just a regular t-shirt and jeans. If Ailon decided he wanted to go out later, which he most likely would, she didn't need to think about what to wear. She had her own space at his place, just like he had space at her apartment. If she didn't insist on living on her own, they would probably live together.
"Let's go, kid," said Ailon, who had already changed.
"Kid my ass, you're a few months older than me, calm down...old man." Ember rolled her eyes so hard you would think they would fall out.
She heard Ailon scoff before he muttered kid under his breath.
In the car, Ember made sure to complain about what Ailon wanted her to do. She was never the kind of person who kept her thoughts to herself when it came to Ailon.
"I still can't believe you're making me do this. If she starts stalking me, I blame you."
"Em, she's already stalking you. She sent you a headless doll, in case you forgot."
Turning away from the scenery outside, she looked at Ailon and narrowed her eyes, trying to remember the headless doll package. Tilting her head to the side, she finally remembered.
"Oh! She sent a nice little note inside, too. Apparently, she wants to make me like the doll if I don't stay away from you. You could have done better, Lele. Don't you know you don't need to put the thing in your pants in everything you see?"
An exasperated groan left Ailon. Firstly, because she called him Lele, his baby nickname, which he hates to no end. Secondly, because...
"My thing didn't go anywhere near her. It kept itself tucked away. I'm lucky it didn't shrivel up and fall off from her last attempt. Anyway, all you need to do is use your scary stare and get her to leave me alone."
A chuckle left her when she heard him talk about the scary stare. Ever since she could remember, all she had to do was look someone in the eye, muster up some authority in her voice, and it scared people away. Ailon likes to call it her superpower, as if he doesn't have one himself.
The man could charm anyone he wanted. It was both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes it happened when he didn't want it to. Sometimes, it ends up causing more trouble than it is worth. Which is what is going on now with his stalker.
Sometimes she wondered if he used that smile to charm her the first time they met. But according to him, he would never do such a thing.
"Fine, "Mr I smile at everyone I see". It's your own fault." Ember rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"How is that my fault? I shouldn't be polite?"
Turning slowly to look at him, one eyebrow raised, she said, "Sure, polite, that's definitely your middle name. Like, I don't know, you met her at some club."
It took them an hour to get to their destination. Ailon tried to ensure they met at a place that wasn't too close to either hers or his place. Although the crazy lady knew where they lived, that didn't mean they wanted to meet nearby.
Walking into the cafe, the place was packed. It wasn't a place either of them had been before. Almost immediately, they spotted the person they came to see. The constant neck turning and the way she craned to look around the cafe, almost falling out of her seat, was comical.
She would be a pretty girl if it weren't for the look in her eye. When she spotted Ailon, her eyes lit up. She licked her lips like a hungry tiger staring down a gazelle. She honed in on him. Her eyes stared unblinkingly.
Even until they sat down, the only person she seemed to see was Ailon. But Ember was used to it. This isn't the first time this has happened.