Chapter 1: one more lifetime
Eva Grey
I woke up feeling exhausted.
Which made absolutely no sense because Fridays were usually my favorite.
I squinted at my phone on the bedside table.
It was already 9:14 AM.
I dropped back onto my pillow.
Gosh.
I told Clara I couldn’t survive more than two shots yesterday.
That manipulative bully.
My phone vibrated again, it's was a text from Ryan.
I opened the message.
"I have something important to discuss with you." He texted.
A smile appeared before I could stop it.
"Is it a date?" I replied almost immediately.
"Yeah" Typical Ryan response.
One-word replies and unnecessary mystery.
Ryan , and I had been together for almost a year now, and somehow it still felt unreal sometimes.
Funny enough our first meeting was painfully embarrassing.
Six months before graduation.
I still lived in the dorm then.
And I had one terrible habit.
I never locked our dorm doors.
Clara had complained about it for months until she noticed no change and gave up .
That afternoon, I had just finished showering.
My hair was dripping wet.
I wrapped my body in nothing but a little towel.
Clara had forgotten to tell me she was expecting someone.
So naturally, I walked out dramatically singing,“All the single ladies…”and doing whatever dance my sleep-deprived brain created.
I reached for the fridge.
Then
I felt someone watching me from behind probably Clara.
She had weird sitting habits.
I ignored it.
Until I looked up.
And froze.
I saw light brown eyes, watching me while looking so amused.
Instantly I felt my brain had stopped working.
Because that was definitely not Clara.
He sat casually on our couch looking unfairly attractive.
He wore black jeans, and paired it with a yellow shirt. Leaving two buttons undone. Revealing a glimpse of the tattoos near his chest and another on his wrist
And his curly dark hair that looked accidentally perfect.
He looked unreal like someone who belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine instead of sitting on our tiny dorm sit.
And the worst part was he noticed I was checking him out .
The tiny smirk on his face confirmed it.
Oh my God.
I’m in a towel.
Immediately I straightened.
“Who are you?” I asked.
Before he could answer Clara appeared.
Her eyes widened in realisation of what she was looking at .
Then she burst into laughter.
“Oh wow.”
She pointed between us.
“Eva, meet my brother.”
Brother? I mouthed silently confused .
She turned dramatically.
“Big bro, meet my chaotic roommate.”
The stranger stood.
Held out his hand for a hand shake.
“nice to meet you Eva ” he said with a calm smile
I stared, and ignored him no way he was getting a handshake after what just happened.
On leaving I saw a smiling Clara staring at us while holding in her laughter
“Room. Now.” I said before closing the door behind them
Clara laughed harder, and followed some minutes later.
The second the door closed
I turned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?!”
She dropped onto the bed.
“At least now you'll start locking doors.”
I groaned.
Then, without thinking I said
" I never imagined he would look so"
“Hot?” Clara completed for me with a grin.
I shot her a look.
“This isn’t funny. I have an afternoon class at two, and Mr. Josh will definitely be there.”
I hurriedly searched through my wardrobe.
Clara folded her arms.
“Seriously? What have you been doing all morning?”
“Trying to get dressed in peace until certain people started inviting surprise guests.”
“Don’t make that face, Eva. It’s not my fault.”
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.
“Anyway, Eva I heard today’s class is important for the final defense project. I hope you know that. Look at the time, girl it’s almost two.”
“I know, nosy aunt,” I said while throwing clothes around.
She shook her head.
“I still wonder how you manage to pass your courses with your legendary late-coming skills.”
I placed my hand dramatically on my chest.
“I’m a natural genius.”
“Yeah. Right.”
I held up an outfit.
“Clara, is this okay?”
She looked at me for two seconds before immediately rejecting it.
“No, girl. Do you work as a waiter? Change. Wear that lemon-green flare gown instead. It looks better. And later we’re going shopping because your wardrobe is an actual crime scene.”
I saluted.
“Noted, Nosy Auntie.”
She laughed and kissed my cheek.
“Bye, bestie. See you later.”
As I hurried out, I felt someone’s eyes on me.
Ryan.
He mouthed silently "bye"
Still annoyed over earlier, I flashed him a dramatic middle-finger gesture and walked away.
His expression barely changed.
That should have warned me.
Because after that day. He kept visiting.
Again.
And again.
Until one day, just before graduation. he asked me to be his girlfriend. I refused naturally.
But when your best friend’s life mission is apparently to marry you into her family things rarely go according to plan
After weeks of shameless persuasion from both siblings.
I gave in.
And somehow.
it became one of the best decisions of my life.
I checked the time.
Past ten.
I got up from bed and headed to shower because Clara ,and I had planned to go shopping.
That was when my phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
Message:
Longest time, Red.
I froze.
Seriously?
That obsessed psychopath again.
Out of all the guys I’d talked to in the past, he was somehow the only one who refused to disappear.
The last time I heard from him had been a year ago. And It was only because, I threatened to report him to the police for harassment.
Why is he back?
I typed:
What do you want, creep?
His reply came instantly.
Still naughty, Red. Are you free this weekend?
Absolutely not.
Fuck off, I muttered before blocking blocking him for the eleventh time.
The annoying thing was he always returned with new numbers.
God forbid a man can't learn how to accept a rejection.
I tossed my phone aside and continued getting ready.
After showering and washing my hair, I changed into a loose T-shirt and bubble skirt before heading to meet Clara at the mall.
We moved through different Section shoes, Jewelry, clothes, until she suddenly stopped at the Lingerie section.
She looked at me.
Then grinned.
“Babe… don’t you need a new set for Sunday?”
I stared.
“It’s a date, Clara. Not a honeymoon.”
She shrugged.
“You never know.”
Then she waved her hand dramatically.
“Don’t worry. My treat.”
I laughed.
“If you insist.”
Shopping went surprisingly well.
By the time I got home I was exhausted.
Sunday arrived too quickly.
Standing in front of my mirror, I stared at my reflection.
Then my hair.
Why does he like this hair so much?
I remembered asking him once during our first date.
"What was the first thing you noticed about me?"
Ryan smiled.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at me as though he was seeing me all over again.
"Your eyes," he said quietly.
His gaze drifted over my face.
"Then your voice."
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"The way you laugh."
His fingers brushed lightly against the back of my hand.
"Your skin."
His eyes met mine again, softer this time.
"Your heart."
Heat crept into my cheeks.
"And..." I prompted.
His gaze slowly traveled upward until it settled on my curls.
"My favorite..."
He reached out and gently tucked a loose strand behind my ear.
"...is your hair."
"My hair?" I laughed.
He nodded.
"I've always been drawn to blondes and brunettes."
His fingers lingered in my curls for a brief second.
"But then I met you."
A smile spread across his face.
"I never imagined red could suit someone this perfectly."
He leaned closer.
"Whenever the sunlight touches it..." he whispered, "it reminds me of glowing embers."
I blinked.
"So that's why you call me Ember?"
He smiled but shook his head.
"No."
"Then why?"
His thumb brushed against my cheek.
"I'll tell you when the time is right."
I laughed that day.
But secretly, I never forgot. That's Ryan always honest, and straightforward. Out of everyone I had ever met . he felt safe, like someone I could trust.
Even when we argued. he always found a way back to me.
I showered and opened my wardrobe. The first clothing piece I saw was the red, and black lingerie Clara bought for me I stared at it blankly there's no way I am wearing this today.
I immediately shut the drawer.
Instead, I wore one of my favourites, and chose a dark brown simple elegant dress.
The open back made me hesitate for a second.
Then I smiled.
Why not?
After makeup, I let my red curls fall freely.
Clara video-called instantly.
Her eyes widened with excitement.
“Girl turn around.”
I laughed.
She pointed dramatically.
“You finally decided to show off that body of yours. He is SO finished.”
“ funny" Clara cleanse those perverted thoughts of yours
She narrowed her eyes.
“No seriously. Tell me everything tomorrow.”
“I’m coming back today.”
She smirked.
“With that face? I doubt he’ll let you leave.”
“CLARA.”
“What?”
I ended the call before she embarrassed me further.
As I headed downstairs my phone vibrated . Another text from a new unknown number.
You look good today.
My blood ran cold.
Wait.
What?
I looked around.
Was I being watched?
I knew he was annoying but stalking?
No.
I refused to let him ruin my day. I ignored the text and opened the door.
Ryan stood outside my apartment, one hand tucked into his pocket.
He wore a charcoal-black suit that fit him so perfectly it looked tailored just for him. The crisp white shirt beneath it contrasted beautifully against his warm skin, while the sleeves, rolled just enough to reveal the tattoo on his wrist, somehow made him look both elegant and dangerously attractive.
For a moment, I simply stared.
His gaze found mine almost immediately. It lingered for a while.
Not in an uncomfortable way. but as though he was seeing me for the first time all over again.
A slow smile curved onto his lips.
The very same smile that had unsettled me the day we first met.
He walked toward me and stopped only a step away.
"My Ember," he said softly, reaching for my hand as though it belonged in his.
Heat crept into my cheeks.
"You still haven't told me why you insist on calling me that."
His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles.
"I know."
A teasing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"But you'll find out tonight."
He lifted my hand and pressed a gentle kiss against my fingers before opening the passenger door for me.
As I got into the car, an uneasy feeling settled over me.
It was faint...
But unmistakable.
Like someone was watching us.
I glanced toward the apartment windows.
Nothing.
Just as I convinced myself I was imagining things, my phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number.
I unlocked the screen.
"Have a pleasant evening, Red."
The smile vanished from my face.
