A Deal

I was talking with Yaprak almost every day. She was talking about the places, about Rüzgar and the school. She was very happy when she heard about the decision I made about Arslan. She wanted me to stay away from him. She was afraid he would hurt me.

Speaking of damage; Things at home were not good at all. Derya was treating me very badly. She treated me like I was her dog. She made me do all her work. Of course, not a request; she was commanding.

When we reached the school, we found Berke's car. He was waiting for us.

- Hi girls.

We returned and got in his car. Peri was seated in the front.

- I hope it's fun.

Said Peri, when she is tidying her hair.

We went to the picnic area and immediately found a place and sat down. It was a green, grassy area. And of course, there were many trees.

After we had our meals, Berke took us on a tour around the area. After half an hour of sightseeing, I left them to return to the picnic area. While on the way, Arslan, sitting under an old tree, caught my eye. He was sitting alone, staring into the distance. Even if I wanted to talk, I wouldn't. I turned my gaze forward and continued walking.

-Aren't you tired of this?

He was. Arslan's cold voice...

I turned towards him.

- No.

-I want to know why.

- You know why.

He rolled his eyes.

- I just want to know the facts, that's all.

- This won't happen.

- All right. Good day to you.

One week later

I woke up and washed my face. I was tired of these dreams. I was tired of seeing him; Arslan. From thinking about him all the time... I couldn't even think of Rüzgar, as much as him.

I got ready. I was about to go downstairs when I opened the door and found Derya in front of me.

- Yeah?

- We have very important guests this evening. Clean up, set the dinner table, and don't come home tonight.

- What?

- Don't come home tonight.

- Why?

- Because that's what I want.

- Enough is enough, you're getting too much.

- Yeah?

- Yeah. Enough!

- You won't be here tonight. If I find you here...

- If you find me?

- I'm going. Don't be here when I get back.

The woman seemed mad. I was going to do all that work and not come home in the evening?! What was the purpose of this woman?

It got on my nerves, at this time of the morning.

I saw her driving away when I went out. My father went to work earlier than she did.

While walking to school, I saw Yıldız in front of Arslan's house. I approached and said hello. She was walking her child in the garden.

- How are you, Deniz?

- I am good. You?

- We are fine too.

I squeezed the kid's cheek and kissed him.

- Very sweet.

- Thanks.

He was smiling. At that moment, the door opened and Arslan came out.

-Come, Arslan. Deniz is here.

I spoke quietly:

- I'd better go. I will be late for school.

- Stop, dear. You go together.

Arslan never spoke. He placed a kiss on his sister's cheek and squeezed Uğur's cheek. Then he came to me. We started walking.

- It's scary that you're quiet.

I did not answer.

-Your curiosity must make it difficult.

Again I did not answer.

I looked at him, without him noticing. He still looked very handsome. His hair had grown a few inches longer.

I turned my gaze to the road.

- Well. You know. But you could have at least celebrated my birthday.

Birthday?

- Happy Birthday.

I said simply. There was even some lack of emotion.

-Thanks. I will not celebrate. Otherwise, I would have called.

- There was no need.

- Deniz. You're pushing yourself.

His brown eyes were changing colors in the sun, turning a yellowish-brown.

- I'm not forcing. I told you.

- Then get ready because I have no intention of telling you anything.

- Beautiful.

I quickened my steps.

…

When I got home, it took me hours to finish all the work. The door opened with a loud noise and came to the kitchen, Derya.

- Are you still here?

- Yes. And I have no intention of going anywhere.

- You will go. I don't want you, next to my friends.

- I don't want you either, what about it?

- Talk to me straight!

- It is enough.! All this time I've been silent for my father, but enough is enough. You're losing my patience!

I went into the living room and looked around.

- Don't call him. He is not here.

- Where?

- He won't come home because he attended an emergency conference. He won't be here for a few days.

- There is such a thing as a telephone.

I immediately called my father.

- Dad, you're so...

Someone interrupted me, but not him; it was Derya. She hit my arm. My phone fell to the ground and shattered.

- What do you think you're doing?!

- You can't tell him.

- You will see!

-Get out!

- You can't kick me out of my house!

- Yeah?! That's what I'll do!

- How are you going to explain it to my father?!

- I'll tell him you ran off with your boyfriend!

- What?!

She was crossing the line now!

- Slander huh?!

- I'll find something anyway. Now get out of here!

She pushed me. This woman must have gone mad?!

-What do you think you're doing?! This is my father's house too!

- Yeah? You think so. I bought this place!

- No! You got half!

- So that's what he told you?

She went to one of the cabinets and pointed to a piece of paper.

This was the title deed of the house and its payments. The name of this woman was written on all of them.

- I want you to leave my house, now!

- I'm not going! When you married my father, you knew I was living with my father! Why are you acting like this now?!

- That's my stupid head. I thought that he would enroll you in a dormitory or something! I even convinced him. But when I saw you here, I realized that I was not successful.

She grabbed my arm.

- I do not want you! Just because I love your father doesn't mean I love you. I don't understand this man at all. He brought the big girl with him!

She went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. She took a sip and continued talking.

-Why did you come?! You destroyed my life!

- What have I done to you, even though you used me as your servant?!

- The breath you take is enough for me to hate you!

It was as if the devil had escaped into her. She messed up her hair. She even pulled left and right. She threw the glass on the dining table. The glass shattered into pieces. Blood was flowing from the cuts made by the splashes of glass on my face. I couldn't take it anymore. I quickly left the house and she didn't even try to stop me.

When I got out, the darkness of night surrounded me. The rain was accelerating and I had nowhere to go.

I kept walking by the side of the road while my tears mixed with the rain and blood. I was just walking without knowing what to do...

The deserted road was illuminated by the headlights of an oncoming car. He stopped as he approached me. He came towards me and ran his hand over my face.

- Who did this to you?!

He was almost roaring.

I could not answer. I just kept crying. I couldn't tell.

- I'm going to blow his brains out whoever he is!

After saying these things, he did something that I did not expect; He hugged me like he was breaking my bones.

Then he put me in the car.

When we arrived at the hospital, necessary interventions were made immediately. They carefully cleaned a few small pieces of glass hidden in the wounds.

I dismissed the questions about the incident by saying it was an accident.

When I came out of the emergency room, I saw Arslan. It came right up to me.

- How are you? Everything is OK?

I nodded. I still couldn't get over the shock of what had happened.

He was supportive and we went to the car.

- Where did this car come from?

- Are you asking this despite your situation?

A slightly sarcastic look appeared on his worried face.

He looked at me.

- I borrowed it from a friend. I was even going to deliver when I ran into you. Look, you're glossing over what I said, don't think I don't notice. Who did this to you?

I turned my head to the window.

- Deniz?

He held my chin, lightly.

- Please tell me?

He sighed and started the car.

- Where are we going?

-I'm taking you to your home.

I was alarmed.

- I don't have a key! There is no one in the house.

- Then we're going to my home. My sister is there.

I nodded. I thought of going to Peri, but how would I explain this to her and her family?

When we entered the house, Yıldız rushed to us in a hurry. She asked many questions about what had happened, but Arslan said that I was tired and we would talk about it later. Then he took me to the room his sister had prepared for me. I lay on the bed. He covered me up and sat down in a small blue armchair next to the bed.

- Deniz...

I cut her off.

- I do not want to talk.

My voice cracked. My eyes are filled with tears. What would happen now? What would my father do? What should I… What should I do?

- Deniz, I'm leaving the car and coming.

I nodded and soon fell asleep.

I woke up with the voice of Yıldız. She brought painkillers. I drank and sat up in bed.

- Get some rest, Deniz.

- Thanks, but I'm not sleepy.

- Well, I'm going to put Uğur to sleep. I'll be back soon, okay?

- It does not matter. I'm fine.

She ruffled my hair and placed a kiss on my forehead.

While she was leaving the room, Arslan came in.

He sat in the blue chair and looked at me.

- How are you?

- I am good.

Was it the sadness I saw in those eyes?

He extended his hand towards me. He tucked the strands of hair that fell on my face behind my ear.

- Deniz. I want to know what happened.

- I won't tell.

He leaned back.

- All right. I'll tell you what you want to know then you will tell me what I want to know. Okay?

-A deal?

- Yeah. A deal.