love in other world

Episode 10

Midnight on the Ship

A cool breeze swept across the ship as it sailed under a vast, star-studded sky. Ena and Alex lay on the deck, gazing at the countless stars twinkling above them. The silence of the night was broken by Oliver’s voice as he stood at the helm, steering the ship.

"I feel lonely," Oliver admitted, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. "Once you both fall asleep, I'll be the only one awake."

Ena sat up, brushing her long hair behind her ear. "Well, we aren’t sleepy yet. Let’s play a game!" she suggested with a bright smile.

Oliver raised a curious brow. "What game?"

"Antakshari!" Ena clapped her hands. "It’ll be fun!"

Alex, who had been lying quietly, sat up and stretched. "Yeah, let’s do it!"

For a while, laughter filled the air as they took turns singing songs, their voices blending with the gentle sound of the waves. But as the night deepened, Ena’s eyelids grew heavy, and she unknowingly drifted into sleep mid-game. Just as she began to sway, Alex caught her in time, preventing her from falling. Carefully, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to her room, tucking her in before returning to the deck.

When he got back, Oliver was still at the helm. Alex walked up to him. "You should rest now. Your hands must be hurting from steering all night. I’ll take over."

Oliver hesitated, but Alex’s firm yet understanding gaze convinced him. With a small nod, he sighed, "Alright, Prince. But if your hands start aching, wake me up."

With that, Oliver left, and Alex took his place, gripping the wheel and staring at the endless horizon ahead.

Morning on the Ship

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Ena stirred in her bed. A soft golden glow seeped through the cabin window, warming her face. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, still feeling the slight sway of the ship beneath her. A thought suddenly struck her—where were Alex and Oliver?

Curious, she got out of bed and stepped onto the deck. A cool morning breeze brushed against her skin as she looked around. Then, her eyes widened in surprise. Alex was still at the helm, his posture rigid, his hands gripping the wheel tightly.

He was sailing the ship.

A pang of guilt hit her—she had no idea that he had stayed up all night. She walked up to him, her voice soft with concern. "Alex, you’ve been steering all night?"

He turned slightly, his tired yet gentle eyes meeting hers. "Yeah… someone had to," he replied with a faint smile.

Ena glanced at his hands, noticing how tense his fingers were around the wheel. "Teach me how to sail," she said suddenly.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You want to learn now?"

She nodded. "If you can do it all night, I can at least help in the morning."

A small chuckle escaped Alex’s lips. "Alright then, come here." He moved aside slightly, allowing Ena to step forward. Placing his hands over hers, he guided her movements, explaining how to feel the wind and adjust the wheel accordingly.

Meanwhile, Oliver finally woke up. Stretching his arms, he walked onto the deck and froze when he saw the scene in front of him—Ena at the wheel, and Alex, still awake, teaching her how to sail.

Realizing how long Alex had been awake, Oliver felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He quickly walked over. "Alex… you haven’t slept at all?"

Alex shook his head, exhaustion evident in his features.

Oliver sighed. "I should have woken up earlier. You go rest now, I’ll take over."

Alex gave him a tired nod, stepping back from the wheel. As he turned to leave, Ena watched him, feeling a strange warmth in her heart. She had never seen him this tired before, yet he had stayed awake all night without a single complaint.

As Alex disappeared into his cabin, Ena turned back to Oliver, who was now at the helm. She smiled slightly. "Looks like it’s our turn now."

Oliver chuckled. "Yeah, let’s not let him do all the work next time."

And as the ship sailed forward, Ena felt a newfound sense of admiration for Alex—something deep and unspoken, yet undeniably there.

Ena glanced at Oliver, her eyes shimmering with an unfamiliar excitement—like she was dreaming of something new. Standing amidst the gentle waves, the wind played with her hair, carrying the scent of the sea.

"Oliver," she paused for a moment before speaking, "will you teach me how to sail?"

Oliver, who had been gazing into the endless horizon, turned to her with a slight smile. His eyes searched hers, as if trying to understand the depth of her request. "Do you really want to learn?" he asked, a teasing note in his voice.

Ena clasped her hands together, a flicker of nervousness passing through her, but her voice held a quiet determination. "Yes," she said firmly. "I don’t just want to watch the ocean from afar—I want to feel it."