(Ps: This scene is exactly what happened to me in my dream)
DARK CHEMISTRY
Lizzie's Dream
The exam hall was silent.
Too silent.
Rows of wooden desks. Scratching pens. The heavy smell of old paper.
Lizzie scribbled the last answer of her English Literature exam and let out a tiny breath of relief.
Done.
She stood up to submit her paper.
But instead of the English teacher, Daniel Cegielski stood at the front of the room collecting answer sheets. His black shirt sleeves were rolled up, jaw sharp as ever, eyes following her with unreadable intensity.
Lizzie's heart jumped into her throat.
She walked up, placed her paper on the pile…
And suddenly—
Her memo pad slipped out of her pocket.
It hit the floor with a tiny thud.
Before she could snatch it, Daniel bent down and picked it up.
His eyes scanned the cover.
A slow smirk curled at his lips.
"This," he murmured, tapping the pad lightly, "is for writing… couple initials?"
Lizzie's whole dream-self flustered violently.
"N-No! It's not— it's just— I don't—"
She didn't even know what she was saying.
Daniel chuckled under his breath, stepping closer.
"What's wrong, Lizzie?"
His voice dipped dangerously soft.
"You look like you're hiding something."
"I—I'm not— I swear—"
He tilted his head, that piercing gaze locking onto hers.
"Come a little closer," he whispered.
Lizzie froze.
"…W-why?"
"Just come."
Unable to disobey even in her dream, she took the tiniest step forward.
Daniel's hand lifted.
Two fingers slid gently under her chin, tipping her face upward.
Her breath hitched.
Then—
He leaned in.
And pressed a kiss against her cheek.
Not soft.
Not quick.
A slow, lingering kiss — warm, almost burning — staying there longer than necessary. His lips moved just slightly, enough to make her knees weaken.
Lizzie felt wetness spread where he kissed.
Then he pulled away.
Her cheek still tingled.
Still damp.
Lizzie touched it—
And WOKE UP.
She shot upright in her bed, gasping, eyes wide.
Her cheek still felt wet.
She wiped it quickly, heart pounding.
She looked around her dark room.
Empty.
Silent.
Nobody was there.
Just her racing heartbeat…
and the fading warmth on her skin where dream-Daniel had kissed her.
Lizzie whispered into the darkness:
"…It… it felt real."
Moana was still fussing over Lizzie at her locker.
"Why do you keep touching your cheek? Are you okay? Did a mosquito bite you? Did you spill something? Did someone—"
Before she could finish, someone shouted from the other end of the hallway:
"Moanaaa!"
It was Lim, waving frantically.
Moana groaned. "Ugh, she needs me again. Lizzie, don't move. I'll be right back. Don't get kidnapped. Don't die. Don't faint. I'm watching you."
She pointed two fingers at her eyes, then at Lizzie, then ran off.
Lizzie sighed.
She turned—
And froze.
Daniel stood behind her.
Dark eyes. Black shirt. Hands in pockets. Silent. Still. Watching her.
She swallowed hard.
"H-hello, sir— I mean— Daniel."
He didn't speak.
He just motioned with his hand.
"Come."
Her heart skipped violently.
"But— class hasn't started yet—"
"I know."
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't touch her.
But something in his tone made her feet move automatically, following him down the empty hallway.
He opened the classroom door and stepped inside.
Lizzie hesitated.
"Inside," he said softly.
She obeyed.
Daniel closed the door behind them with a quiet click.
The room felt too quiet. Too still.
Like the air itself waited for what he would say.
Lizzie fiddled with her sleeves nervously.
"D-Daniel…? Did I do something? Am I in trouble? If it's about yesterday—"
"It's about last night."
Lizzie's breath caught.
Her cheeks flushed immediately.
She looked away, flustered.
"I— I don't know what you mean—"
"Yes, you do."
His footsteps approached. Slow. Deliberate.
He stopped right in front of her desk.
Lizzie's heart hammered so loud she was sure he could hear it.
Daniel looked down at her — gaze sharp, unreadable, too intense.
Then he said it.
"I had a dream."
Lizzie's eyes widened.
"A-about… what?"
His lips twitched like he was amused by how nervous she was.
"About you."
Her breath shattered.
Her fingers dug into the desk.
Daniel leaned down slightly, his face inches from hers — not touching, just close enough for her to feel the warmth of him.
"In the dream," he murmured, "we were in an exam hall."
Lizzie's stomach twisted.
Her voice came out trembling.
"T-that's… exactly where… m-my dream started."
Daniel studied her expression like he was reading her soul.
"You came to submit your paper," he continued quietly. "Your memo pad fell."
Lizzie's knees almost gave out.
She whispered, "Mine too…"
He nodded slowly, eyes darkening.
"And when I picked it up… you were scared. Flustered. Red."
Lizzie's breath caught.
She held the edge of the desk to stay upright.
"Y-yes," she whispered.
Daniel leaned closer — his mouth dangerously close to her ear.
"And then," he said softly, "I grabbed your chin…"
Lizzie's heart stopped.
"…and kissed your cheek."
Lizzie's eyes widened completely.
Her breath got stuck in her throat.
She whispered, barely audible:
"I woke up… and it felt real."
Daniel exhaled through his nose, slow and careful, as if controlling something inside him.
"I woke up," he said, "because I could still feel your skin under my lips."
Lizzie's entire world tilted.
He straightened up slightly, lifting her chin with two fingers — almost exactly as in the dream.
His voice dropped to a whisper:
"Lizzie… how did we see the same dream?"
She couldn't answer.
She was too overwhelmed.
Too dizzy.
Too close to him.
Daniel's thumb brushed her jaw gently — a touch more real than anything in her sleep.
"Tell me," he whispered, "did it scare you?"
Lizzie shook her head slowly.
"N-no… it didn't."
Daniel's eyes softened.
"…Good."
He lowered his face until their foreheads nearly touched.
"Because I don't think it was just a dream."