Ivy had a dream where she was kissing a man whose face remained hidden behind a thick haze.

The feeling was strange—intense and aching, like a longing buried deep inside her chest. No matter how hard she tried to see him clearly, the fog only thickened around them. Yet her body slowly surrendered to the pleasure he brought her.

Their lips moved together perfectly, breathless and desperate, as if they had done this countless times before.

Every kiss stole the air from her lungs.

Every touch burned against her skin.

A soft moan escaped her lips before she could stop it.

His silky hair brushed against her fingers while those sinful lips drove her completely insane. The warmth surrounding her felt addictive, pulling her deeper into the dream until exhaustion suddenly consumed her whole body.

Her thoughts faded. Her strength disappeared. And just as darkness swallowed her whole, the warmth lingering around her heart turned dangerously hot.

"Ah..."

Ivy hissed softly when a sharp pain shot through her neck.

Her brows furrowed in discomfort.

Why does my body hurt so much?

She felt sore as though she had spent the entire night exercising instead of sleeping.

Even the kiss in her dream felt painfully real.

"I don’t remember doing anything crazy in that dream," she grumbled internally. "Then why does my neck feel sprained?"

Still half asleep, Ivy tried to move, only to realize something was restricting her.

Her body instantly stiffened, and slowly, her eyes fluttered open.

WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING IN MY ROOM?!

The moment she saw the face inches away from hers, her soul nearly left her body.

Ivy’s eyes widened in absolute horror. Xander was asleep right beneath her. And if that wasn’t shocking enough, she had wrapped herself around him like a clingy koala. One leg was tangled with his while both her arms shamelessly rested around his waist.

For a moment, Ivy completely stopped breathing.

Her brain short-circuited, and she didn’t dare move even an inch, terrified that waking him up would be the beginning of her funeral.

Last night, she remembered falling asleep in the car. But instead of waking her up like a normal human being, this man had carried her all the way here.

Shameless devil, she cursed inwardly.

The first time she accidentally woke up in his room, she convinced herself she must have sleepwalked there unknowingly.

But now? Now she had no excuse.

Not only had she ended up beside him again, but she was practically using him as a body pillow.

Embarrassment flooded through her whole body. I need to escape before he wakes up and starts mocking me.

Ivy had already been processing through all the unexpected things they did in the amusement park, with both of them claiming each other as their partner in public, and if that was not itself an embarrassment, she ended up sleeping with him again.

’Just when did I develop sleepwalking’

Carefully, Ivy tried to loosen her grip around him. But just as she shifted slightly, her gaze landed on the room around her.

She froze. "Huh?"

Her eyes narrowed in confusion. Why did this room feel familiar?

Slowly, she turned her head.

The curtains. The lamp beside the bed. The stack of books she abandoned two days ago.

Even the plush banana sitting near the window.

Her jaw slowly dropped.

Wait... This was her room. Not his.

Ivy blinked repeatedly as realization hit her like lightning.

Then why the hell was he here?!

As if sensing her panic, the man beneath her suddenly stirred, and Ivy’s entire body went rigid the next moment.

"No no no no—" Before she could escape, a strong arm tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.

A deep sleepy groan left Xander’s throat. His face buried slightly against her neck while his warm breath brushed against her skin. Ivy almost died on the spot.

"Mr. E-Emerson..." she whispered nervously, but the man didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, his brows furrowed slightly as though he disliked being disturbed.

Ivy carefully tried prying his arm away. but it didn’t budge.

’What does this man eat?’ she wondered, but then quickly shook her head and tried harder.

Still nothing.

"Why are you so strong this early in the morning?!" she complained internally.

Finally, as if hearing her thoughts, Xander slowly opened his eyes, and the moment those dark, sleepy eyes met hers, neither of them moved.

Xander took in the look on her face before his gaze lazily traveled downward to her arm wrapped around him and then to her leg tangled with his. And finally, back to her face.

A dangerous smirk slowly appeared on his lips.

’Why is he smiling like that?’ Ivy instantly felt alarm bells ringing in her head, but then embarrassment hit her once again.

"Oh..." Xander’s voice came out low and hoarse from sleep. "So this is how you greet people in the morning?"

"I-I can explain!" Ivy blurted out immediately as she scrambled down the bed.

"Can you?"

"Yes!"

Xander raised a brow as he slowly got up "Then explain why you were drooling on me while hugging me like your lifeline."

"I WAS NOT DROOLING!"

He looked completely unconvinced.

Ivy’s face turned red in humiliation. "You’re the one who climbed into my bed!" she accused quickly.

Xander stared at her for a long moment before letting out a quiet chuckle.

"My bed?"

Ivy immediately looked around again. Right. This was her room. Which meant...

Her eyes slowly widened.

Xander watched her realization with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"You dragged me here last night. Remember someone fell asleep in the car," he said calmly.

"..."

"You wouldn’t let go of me," he said. Ivy refused him.

"That’s impossible!"

"Mhm."

You’re lying!" She tried to keep her cool, but she knew her pulse was throbbing hard.

"Am I?"

Ivy opened her mouth to argue but immediately paused. Fragments of last night suddenly flashed through her mind. Her clinging onto his arm. Mumbling nonsense while half asleep.

And then kissing him, thinking she was dreaming.

Her face instantly turned scarlet.

No way. No. Way.

Xander’s smirk deepened the second he noticed her reaction.

"Oh? Looks like someone remembered."

"I..." Ivy looked away immediately. "I was sleepy!"

"You kissed me."

"...!" Her soul ascended.

Xander leaned slightly closer, his eyes locking onto hers with dangerous amusement.

"And now," he murmured softly, " you should take responsibility for it."