Lev followed his finger to the spot, then back to his intense face. She looked at his tall body, his strong jawline, and especially his impossible gold brown eyes. Oh, my god, she thought, her smile widening. I did not wish for a handsome man, but thank you, Dream God! This is a bonus!
She winked at him. "How did I do that? It's my dream, honey. I can do anything! I'm Lev, by the way. And you are 'Mysteriously Handsome Guy,' right?" She held out a hand, but then pulled it back. "Oh, wait. I shouldn't touch the dream people. That's how you wake up!"
She looked around the amazing room again, then back at Ken. "And I really don't want to wake up from this one. It's so much better than my reality. So, if you could just let me enjoy the purple sky and your... presence? That would be great."
Ken's gold eyes narrowed. His face, usually set in a polite, work-weary mask, now held a tiny hint of confusion, mixed with deep curiosity and a flicker of fear. He took a sharp breath, like a man trying to regain control before a difficult board meeting. This is not a dream. And you," he said, taking a step towards her, "are not supposed to exist here. You materialized from an unknown energy signature into a secured zone."
Lev giggled again. "Unknown energy signature? You really commit to the dream storyline, don't you? It's okay, I get it. You're trying to make it feel real. But," she declared, puffing out her chest slightly, "I'm smarter than my subconscious. I will not be fooled!" She tried to pinch herself, but her hand fumbled. "See? Even in my dream, I can't even pinch myself correctly!"
Ken watched her, a strange flicker in his eyes. It wasn't anger. He knelt down slowly, his eyes now on level with hers.
'Hey', he said, his voice surprisingly soft for a moment, then it hardened. "I just saw you appear out of nothing. You smell like a storm on a clear day. And you are in my apartment. This is not a dream. He reached out took her frantic hand and gently placed it on his chest.the contact was a shock .the reality of the pressure short-circuited her brain.she looked at his intense golden eyes the fear she should have felt hours ago finally hit her.
he was real not a dream.
The shock of the heartbeat—solid, human, and wildly fast beneath her palm—finally shattered Lev's denial. She stared at Ken's gold eyes.
He is a normal human being, the thought echoed in her mind. Not a dream, just a man.
She removed the hand , stumbling backward, her head sideways as she looked up at the ceiling like she was pleading with a god. "I know I wished for an escape, but this is ridiculous! What about my exam? I'm completely doomed!"
She drew a slow, shaky breath. Stop. I need to think straight, everything has a solution. She raised her head and looked at Ken. He had a small, almost imperceptible smile on his face. The purple light hitting his face made him look both handsome and tired at the same time.
Lev's focus immediately locked onto his face. Oh, God, he really is handsome.
She quickly shook her head, whispering fiercely to herself: Stop! Focus!
"Everything has a solution," Lev said out loud, speaking the words calmly to try and convince herself. "I need to find a way to go back. That's it."
Ken looked at her, his gold eyes assessing her frantic energy. "This arrangement is temporary. You may remain here until you define a route home, but that time is measured in days, not weeks. The longer you stay, the more risk you represent to my established order."
Lev agreed immediately with a frantic nod. Her eyes went straight to the vast glass wall. It was so beautiful. The purple sky was melting into a breathtaking golden sunset, and she could see the sun dipping slowly behind a massive mountain range.
"That looks like it came out of a dream," she whispered. "People must enjoy being outside a lot. It looks magical."
Ken simply watched her. He walked to a different panel, which slid open to reveal a neatly organized closet. He pulled out a pair of dark, soft pants and a blue cotton shirt. "These are my sleep clothes. They will be more comfortable than your attire."
He showed her a nearby room. It was simple, elegant, and had another large window with a view of the sunset. The bed looked impossibly soft and comforting. "The washing unit is through there. Take a bath and rest."
Lev felt the pull of the soft, luxurious bed like a physical force. She stumbled toward the bathroom, but paused, leaning her forehead against the cool, sleek wall of the washing unit.
Wait.
The intense, pure relief that she wasn't actually dead or dying finally allowed the other emotion to surface:delayed embarrassment.
Oh, God. I called him 'Mysteriously Handsome Guy.'
She groaned, imagining the playback. She had winked at him. She had giggled like a lunatic. She had tried to pinch herself, failed miserably, and then told him about it. And the worst part? She had grabbed the quiet, serious man who owns the amazing apartment and shoved his beating heart for proof! He probably thinks I'm a total psyco.
Okay, Lev. Get it together. You are a law student. You do not behave like a viral TikTok freakout.
Lev finally allowed herself to sink into the luxurious softness of the bed, her exhaustion a physical ache. She lay staring at the ceiling, her mind running a final, desperate diagnostic.
But how is this even possible?
She looked around the surreal room, the purple light bleeding in from the window. It has to be the exhaustion. I was so incredibly stressed about the Administrative Law final, and I always wanted to travel. She reasoned it away: This is just my mind giving me the most vivid, customized stress dream ever—perfect sky, no bills, and a very complicated hallucination.
But then the image of Ken's face returned. She touched her palm. Why did I feel his heartbeat?
"It felt too real for a dream".