Episode 10: Sharing Dreams

Episode 10: Sharing Dreams

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the campus, making the sidewalks shimmer as students shuffled between classes. Ivy had just finished her last lecture of the day, her mind still buzzing with information she wasn’t sure she’d even remember by tomorrow.

She sighed, stretching her arms above her head as she stepped outside the building, only to be met with a familiar, confident voice.

"There you are, Little One."

Ivy turned, her lips already forming a slight pout at the nickname. Elena stood a few feet away, hands casually stuffed into the pockets of her leather jacket, her usual smirk firmly in place.

"Elena." Ivy narrowed her eyes. "Why do you sound like you're up to something?"

Elena grinned, stepping closer. "Because I am."

Before Ivy could protest, Elena grabbed her wrist, tugging her along.

"Wait—where are we going?" Ivy asked, half-stumbling behind her.

"Relax. I'm not kidnapping you… yet."

Ivy shot her a glare. "That’s not funny."

"But you’re still laughing."

Ivy huffed, but Elena’s grip was warm, firm, and strangely reassuring. She let herself be pulled along as they left campus, winding through quieter streets until they stopped in front of a small café tucked between two bookstores.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries drifted through the air as Elena pushed open the door. The inside was cozy—warm wooden furniture, walls lined with books, and a dim glow of fairy lights strung along the ceiling. It felt private, intimate, as if time moved slower here.

"This is my spot," Elena said as she guided Ivy to a corner table by the window.

Ivy raised an eyebrow as she sat down. "Your spot?"

"Mhm." Elena waved at the barista, who nodded in acknowledgment. "This is where I come when I need to escape from everyone and everything."

Ivy glanced around, noticing how peaceful it felt compared to the chaos of campus. "And you’re sharing it with me?"

Elena smirked. "Don’t get used to it, Little One."

Ivy rolled her eyes, but her chest felt oddly warm.

A few minutes later, the barista brought their drinks—an iced caramel latte for Ivy and a black coffee for Elena.

Ivy blinked at her drink. "You… already knew what I’d want?"

Elena took a sip of her coffee, shrugging. "I pay attention."

Ivy's heart did a weird little flip. She quickly took a sip of her latte to distract herself.

Elena leaned back in her chair, eyes thoughtful as she gazed out the window. "I come here when I need to think about the future."

Ivy tilted her head. "And what exactly do you think about?"

A rare, almost vulnerable look crossed Elena’s face. "What I want to do after I graduate."

Ivy leaned forward, intrigued. "And what do you want to do?"

Elena exhaled, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. "I want to travel."

Ivy blinked. "Really?"

Elena nodded. "I don’t want to be stuck in one place. I want to see the world, experience different cultures, disappear for a while before life forces me into a routine."

Ivy absorbed her words, watching the way Elena’s expression softened, like she was lost in a dream.

"That sounds amazing," Ivy admitted. "Have you always wanted to travel?"

Elena smiled slightly. "Yeah. My dad always had my future mapped out for me—what I should study, what career I should have. But that’s his dream, not mine."

Ivy hesitated before asking, "Does he know how you feel?"

Elena let out a dry laugh. "He has… expectations. And I’ve always been the one who’s supposed to meet them." She glanced at Ivy. "But I’m tired of living for someone else."

Ivy felt a pang of understanding. "I get that."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Ivy nodded, stirring her drink absently. "My parents… they always see me as their little girl. They want me to be safe, to follow the right path. But sometimes, I feel like I don’t even know what that path is."

Elena hummed. "You don’t have to know yet, Ivy."

Ivy sighed. "That’s easy for you to say. You have this big, exciting dream. Meanwhile, I don’t even know what I want."

Elena smirked, tapping Ivy’s forehead lightly. "You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep moving forward. The rest will come."

Ivy scrunched her nose. "That was oddly wise."

"I have my moments."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the quiet hum of the café surrounding them. Then Elena, with her signature smirk, leaned forward.

"You should come with me."

Ivy nearly choked on her latte. "What?"

Elena grinned. "When I travel. You should come."

Ivy stared. "You barely tolerate me most days."

Elena shrugged. "Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy dragging you across the world."

Ivy felt her face heat up. "You just want a travel assistant."

Elena’s smirk widened. "That too."

Ivy rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at her lips. The idea of traveling, of experiencing the world outside of the expectations placed on her… it was tempting.

For the first time, Ivy let herself imagine it.

Maybe, just maybe, she could dream a little bigger too.