The Lie

I got up early in the morning and got ready for school. My father and Derya were not in sight. I left a note that I went to school. First, I stopped by a bakery, bought hot pita bread, and started walking towards the school. I stopped at a park I had seen before and sat on a bench. People were rushing to work in a hurry. After a while, I got up from there and continued walking. Arslan came out of the white house across the park. He was in black as usual. I wanted to go and talk to him, but I couldn't get out of my mind for a moment what Peri said. What should I do? Yes, I wanted very much to know why, but I was also starting to get scared. He crossed the sidewalk I was on. But he didn't seem to see me. He continued walking. Undeterred, I continued walking.

He was taller than me, big, but not overweight. He was just muscular.

He suddenly turned around.

- Are you after me again?

- Well, I... No. I'm not after you.

-What's up? I guess today is not your day?

- What?

- Won't I be insulted?

His facial expression was serious. However, his eyes seemed to show that he was calm this time. But maybe I could be making it up. I handed him the pita bread.

- No.

He nodded, and I accepted it as a thank you.

I passed by him. As much as I wanted to talk to him, get to know him, it didn't seem wise to do so.

He caught up with me and continued walking beside me.

He was staring at my neck when I turned to him. He said:

- Why do you always show up at the wrong time?

- Did you ever have the right time?

He didn't answer. His eyes, which I now saw were dark brown, turned to the road.

- Sorry.

I was surprised.

- What?

- For your neck.

My neck? I took my mirror out of the bag and looked. I forgot to apply concealer and all those bruises were there.

- So you can apologize?

He did not say anything. I looked at his face. He had removed the band-aid on his brow, and the bruise in his eye was more evident during the day.

- So are you okay? I asked yesterday, but...

He hastily cut me off.

- Yes. I'm fine.

-So why didn't you talk to me yesterday?

- I... I'm just surprised.

- Why?

- You asked if I was okay. I... I couldn't understand why you were asking.

- Could it be because of the look on your face?

- No, I mean... Why...

- I cared that a psychopath like you got hurt?

He turned his eyes to me.

- Exactly.

- No reason. I am a curious person and, unlike you, I care about the people around me.

- We'd better go to school separately. Your presence with me might worry your friends.

- Even I'm worried about you, here(!)

Surprise showed on his face. His brown eyes scanned my face. There was only calm in those eyes as if nothing else could be read.

- You are right. You have good reasons for this. After what Peri told you about me yesterday.

- Did you hear us?

He shook his head slightly. I was nervous.

- Anyway, I'm leaving.

And so he went.

He was walking so fast. I couldn't catch up with him, even if I did, I didn't know what to say.

The first thing I did when I got to school was to close the bruises.

Everyone at school was talking about a basketball game. According to what I learned from Peri, the final of the basketball game between the classes was going to be played, today.

We went to the gym after school. Peri was scanning the field with curious eyes. When I saw Umut, I understood why. He was also among the players.

- Peri. What's wrong, you seem worried?

- I'm thinking about Umut. I hope he gets through without injury.

- Why is that?

- Ahh. Of course, you don't know. There is Arslan on the opposing team. He is annoyed with Umut, he is.

I prayed that nothing would happen.

The match was very exciting. And there was no discussion between the players. Arslan was the only player that caught my attention. Because he was playing well. He brought the most points to his team. They were ahead.

And all of a sudden it happened. When Umut hit him, he fell to the ground, Arslan. Even though this seemed deliberate to me, I was not sure. Umut wasn't like that, after all.

With Arslan falling to the ground, Umut has taken the lead.

I could see he was upset. During the rest of the match, his anger never went away and Umut's team won. Arslan embarrassed me (!) because he hadn't done anything to Umut. He even shook his hand at the end of the match and congratulated him.

Upon Peri's insistence, we waited for Umut in front of the dressing room. This seemed childish to me, but I could not break her. Although many people came out, Umut wasn't there. While talking about the match with Peri, Arslan came to our place. And went straight to the dressing room. The voices from inside stopped abruptly. And a worry came over me. Peri was in the same situation. We couldn't stand it, we went inside. And we encountered that view. Arslan grasped Umut's throat. The other players on the team, of whom only two remained; looked like they were nailed in place.

I jumped forward and grabbed Arslan's arm.

- Please!

-Don't get involved!

- What happened again? I'm fed up!

-No one is keeping you here by force!

Umut grabbed Arslan's collar.

- I told you it wasn't on purpose!

- Yeah?! I know you did it on purpose. Why did you cheat? You're afraid you'll be beaten, aren't you?!

After saying this, he turned his back to leave when he turned back to Umut. And punched him in the face. Blood started coming out of his nose.

-It is enough!

I couldn't even believe I was yelling.

- Enough! Get out of here now. Or I'll call the police. I swear!

- I'm not going! You can't threaten me!

Peri said with a hurry:

- Okay. Let's cut it out here. The coach will come soon. Come on Umut.

She grabbed Umut by the arm and pulled him out. The two boys sitting on the sidelines also went out with them.

Only we remained there. He started walking towards me. So I walked backward until I was leaning against the wall. He grabbed my wrists. He looked into my eyes.

- I told you I'd never had mercy on you again.

- What are you going to do? Are you going to mess up my face?

His eyes shone with a demonic light.

- I hate you! I said.

-I don't need anyone's love anyway.

We stood in silence for a while.

-Nobody likes someone like you anyway. Don't worry!

His hands began to squeeze my wrists. And he suddenly relaxed.

He sat on the ground and leaned his head against the wall.

- Go.

- I was expecting you to choke me!

I said sarcastically.

- Go.

This time it was a whisper.

At that time, a message came to my phone. When I looked at the screen, I saw my reflection before the message. When I brought my hand to my cheek, I realized that tears were flowing from my eyes. What is it? Did I cry? And without realizing it?

I immediately wiped my tears. I looked at Arslan. He was sitting in the same position.

-I do not understand you. You apologize in the morning. Then you come and walk on me?! How unstable are you?

- Stop it and go!

- It is? Am I your slave?

- Deniz! I say go!

He knew my name. It was strange to hear my name from his mouth.

There was no point in staying any longer.

When I got home, I texted a little Peri. The message I got while I was there was from her, anyway. She was asking if I was okay. Just as I was sending the answer, I heard Derya is calling me. I went down.

- Yes?

- Would you mind helping me out a little bit?

This way of speaking was a bit sarcastic to me.

-Of course.

-Wipe those here a little bit.

She marked the floors.

I wiped the floors of all the rooms. Finally, the kitchen was left. When I got there, I found her sipping her coffee and reading a magazine. I got angry but didn't show it. I wiped the floor. I was about to leave when she called out, again.

- Hey! Look, you didn't clean it well.

I was surprised.

- Pardon me?

She pointed with her foot.

-You didn't clean it well.

I cleaned the place she pointed to again, telling myself to calm down.

- Make dinner, too.

- Sorry?

- I only have one day off a week. Let me get some rest, right?

- Well, I don't know how to cook.

- How come you don't know? You've reached this age?!

- My father usually cooked dinner or we ate out.

- But look, your father is not here.

- Yes! Obviously, he is not!

I said, glaring.

- Don't let your father see those eyes of yours. Then he gets very upset.

- I think so too. He'll be very upset when he hears that you did this.

- No, he won't be upset; because he will not hear.

- You say so?

- It is.

- You did a good job at hiding the original character you have. You're truly an Oscar winner!

- Thank you, sweetie. Here you go. Finish your job.

Then she got ready and left.

I was still in shock at what had happened.

In the evening she came a few minutes before my father. When my father came, we went to the table.

Derya started to speak.

- My life, I was very busy today. So I couldn't do much.

- What does it matter, my dear? Did you meet your friends?

- Yes.

- Dad, can we talk about something?

- You'll talk later. First, you have to eat your pasta. Deniz. Can you help me a little?

What kind of faceless woman was this?

She came to me as soon as I entered the kitchen.

- Do not!

- It's none of your business!

- Can't you see how happy your father is? Are you going to destroy his happiness in an instant?

She had caught me at my most vulnerable spot; my father...

- Do you think you can be happy again if he breaks up with me?

- Of course, he forgets.

- Is that so? Can you do such selfishness to your father?

Second blow.

I took the plates and went inside.

According to my father, we had a meal in peace(!) It felt like death to me. I didn't even want to see that woman's face.

My poor father and I...we were so deceived...