It was an incredibly beautiful waterfall, spreading music in every direction. Raindrops falling from the clouds adorned its surface like jewels. Colorful birds perched on the branches of trees seemed to be singing in celebration of its joy. A magical enchantment enveloped everything, and she, free of all worries, fluttered around like a playful butterfly in that mystical realm.

But she was not alone—someone was with her, whose presence infused the air with beauty, someone whose companionship made her happy. The feeling of being with him lifted her like a breeze carrying a delicate feather.

And suddenly, a wave of pain awakened her, and she opened her eyes.

Perhaps she had fallen asleep while reading, resting against the headboard of her bed. The discomfort sent a faint wave of pain from her neck to her back, pulling her out of deep sleep.

Once again, she had the same dream she had been seeing for years. After a brief pause, she sat upright, running both hands over her face, trying to awaken her senses completely. It was a beautiful dream—neither frightening nor unsettling—yet she still felt confused.

She never pondered over those dreams, but whenever she had one like this, not only did it break her sleep, but no matter how hard she tried afterward, sleep would refuse to return. These recurring dreams over the years had left her feeling lost, as though they lacked a foundation.

Although the circumstances in these dreams varied, her feelings always remained the same. Different places and different people appeared, but only one face was constant. And that face… A sharp pain pricked her throat. She reached for the jug, but it was empty. Helpless, she had no choice but to get out of bed. Slipping on her slippers, she made her way to the kitchen.

She had just taken out a bottle and was pouring herself a glass when Samin arrived. Her gaze instinctively flicked toward the kitchen clock—the hands indicated it was already 2 AM, and he was just returning home.

“Well, at least you’re awake. Otherwise, I’d have to get my own food. And you know how much I hate eating cold food. Plus, you know I find it incredibly difficult to take food out and heat it up myself,” he said in his usual effortless manner. “And now, I’m seriously craving a great cup of coffee.”

His smooth words flowed easily, oblivious to the growing irritation on her face. After dinner, he always had coffee, no matter how late it got. And now, the mere thought of making coffee annoyed her.

’ll go change—heat up the food in the meantime," he said before walking away.

He seemed like the prince of some kingdom, expecting her to obey his command, even at this hour. Her temper flared. She often found herself following his orders.

Because her mother had told her to comply with his requests, she usually did. But at this moment, her mood was off simply because she had an exam in the morning.

Still, she heated up the food and set it on the table. While Samin ate, she prepared his coffee as well.