Chapter ten

Irem printed the documents she’s been asked to, and she replied to the piling emails in her inbox before the clock finally hit for her lunch break. Things were working out like Soran promised her, like everyone else she did often get tired from work but she was content and she’s been getting used to her work. She made friends with most her co-workers, Laura, in particular, became a close friend.

Irem sat on her desk, temporarily shutting down the computer to eat her food. Soran approached her as he decided to spend his lunch with her again, Irem’s heart beamed with happiness as she saw him walking towards her. He pulled a chair to sit beside her, “Hey Ire, someone seems happy to see me,” he smirked.

Irem couldn't hide the slight smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. “Maybe a little,” she admitted.

“A little? Oh don’t hurt my feelings Ire, tell me it’s more than a little,” he playfully nudged her shoulder.

“Focus on eating your food,” she ignored his comment, hiding her amusement.

“How are things going with you and Miran?” He inquired, sounding genuinely interested in being updated on what’s new in her life.

“More recently, I’ve paid to get the walls fixed. Miran keeps whining about that TV but I’ll get to that soon. Work is not that easy, but I still like working here. I hate going over everyone’s schedules and rechecking to make time slots for meetings and events. But you know, I’ve memorised your schedule by heart.”

“Is that so? Maybe your new position should be my assistant then.”

“Is that a promotion or a demotion?”

“That’s for you to decide. Me personally, having you as my pretty assistant might make me work harder.”

Irem laughed at Soran's playful suggestion, her eyes remained avoiding him as his words left her heart racing.

Soran smirked, leaning in closer to whisper in her ear “Think about it for me, will you?” He kept teasing.

Irem playfully shoved him away by pushing her hand against his chest. She chuckled, desperate to hide the butterflies he stirred in her stomach.

“About that TV, I’ll take care of it -”

“But Soran!-”

“Shh, I said I’ll take care of it.” Soran hushed Irem by placing his finger against her lips. “Might as well try and make Miran hate me less.”

“I hate to break to you but I don’t think it's as easy as buying him a TV, he’s hardheaded.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I’m not changing my mind. We’re getting him a TV right after he’s done with school.”

Irem sighed in defeat, knowing Soran was determined. “Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you.”

Soran grinned, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “I can handle a challenge.”

Once their workshifts were over, Irem asked Soran to drive her to Miran’s school to pick him up before going straight to the store.

Miran rushed to his mother once he saw her waiting at the schoolgate, “You came to get me today! You know I don’t like the kids on the bus.” He exclaimed, his little arms wrapping around her leg.

Irem crouched down to his level to give her son a tight hug. “Surprise! How was your day at school, sweetie?”

“Why is he doing here again?” Miran ignored her question, his finger pointing at Soran.

“Miran, that's not how you greet an adult!” Irem widened her eyes towards him and put down his finger.

“It’s okay, Ire.” Soran crouched down next to her as his hand rubbed her back. “Hey Miran, I thought I'd come to take you shopping for a TV today. What do you usually like to watch?” He tried to talk to him.

Miran's eyes darted between Soran and his mother, “Will you leave my mother alone after you get the TV?”

“Miran!” Irem scolded him as her hands pressed on his shoulders.

“But mum, you know I don't like him.”

“I'm going to refuse for him to get the TV then, you're being ungrateful and you’re being rude.” Irem warned him, her voice increasing in frustration. She felt embarrassed in front of Soran by the way Miran was acting, she worried if he’d think of her less as mother or her inability to control Miran’s behaviour around him.

Miran started to cry, sensing his mother’s anger at him. The fact that his mother was angry at him for Soran’s sake made him hate Soran further, he couldn’t help but feel jealous over his mother’s love and threatened by Soran’s involvement in her life.

“Oh no no, I don’t want him to cry,” Soran panicked, he felt guilty about his presence making Miran tense and causing an argument between Irem and her son, “it's okay. We're still getting the TV, Miran.” Soran assured him.

Miran looked at his mother for confirmation, but she turned to Soran to object. “Don't spoil him. He doesn't deserve it, not when he’s behaving like this and not listening to me!”

“Irem you warned me, I still intend to keep my promise,” Soran insisted.

Irem sighed, her eyes darting back to her son. “If you're not gonna be nice, be quiet. Get in the backseat.”

Miran pouted but obeyed his mother's instructions, he sulked as he climbed into the backseat of the car.

Irem and Soran stood outside the car, not entering yet.

“He's a little kid Irem, I know you're the mother and you don't want to spoil him but he's been through a lot. I suppose we can excuse his behaviour, I understand why he doesn't want me. I mean I'm his dad's brother and he probably thinks I'm taking you away from him or something. I suppose allowing him to be more spoiled won’t hurt,” Soran spoke in a gentle tone, trying to reason with Irem to be less harsh on Miran.

“I mean maybe, I’ve always been a little hard on him I think. I’m just worried that if I give in and spoil and excuse him, then I might be too lenient and maybe he won’t stop at simple misbehaviour, maybe I’ll enable him to do more wrong acts and it’ll develop to be more severe over time. I feel like I have to control my love for him, but he has to fix his attitude. Maybe I’m panicking, I don’t know.” Irem's voice softened as she spoke. She thought maybe she shouldn’t have scolded him, he’s a sensitive child. Maybe she was wrong and Soran was right, she’s been increasingly losing confidence in her ways and she felt a little doubted by Soran’s presence.

“Hey, hey, Ire. It’s alright. I won’t do anything against your wishes, I trust you and you know what you’re doing. I think you should have some trust in yourself as well. But I want you to allow me to do this one thing and buy him the TV, can I do that?” Soran placed his hands on her shoulders, attempting to reassure her while also wanting to persuade her.

Irem sighed, nodding her head. “Fine. Yeah, you can do that.”

Miran started to loudly bang the window from the backseat, annoyed and worried by the fact that Soran was speaking to his mother in private. He felt excluded whenever they were talking to each other like that or when his mum was making decisions with Soran. He didn’t like Soran’s involvement or his impact on their family.

Irem took the front seat next to Soran who started the engine, his hand reached to rest on her thigh as he drove. She found the sensation of his touch to be pleasing as her mind raced with thoughts. His focus remained on the road, but she noticed a small smile on his lips. It made her wonder if he knew the effect he had on her or whether he was smiling because he managed to persuade her.

Miran's eyes fixated on Soran's hand that was on his mother’s thigh. His young mind couldn't comprehend his complex emotions but he knew he didn't like seeing someone else getting close to his mother, especially Soran. “STOP THE CAR!” Miran's loud voice pierced through the silence, echoing in the car.

Startled by the shouting, Soran slammed on the brakes, pulling to the side of the road. His hand swiftly left Irem’s leg to grip the steering wheel. His eyes darted to the rearview mirror, his heart racing with concern for Miran as he wondered what was wrong.

“What, what is it, Miran?” His mother turns around concerned.

Miran didn't waste time climbing into the front seat and settling into his mother's lap, his face showing distress.“Can I sit here?” He asked.

“Of course you can! Maybe don’t shout next time, you almost gave me a heart attack!” Irem laughed as she kissed his cheek and held him close. She was worried once he shouted, she couldn’t be mad at him now. She was glad that it was nothing and that her son’s alright. She let him rest his head against her chest, he was feeling much more assured in her arms.

Miran’s excitement kept him racing around the store like an eager explorer, he stopped in front of each TV to examine their sizes and features. He treated the outing like a crucial mission to select the most precious device.

Irem and Soran followed behind him as they laughed to each other about Miran’s antics. Soran’s hand reached out to hold Irem’s, their hands fitting perfectly together.

Soran leaned in closer, his voice whispering in her ear. “See, I told you let him have it. Look at how happy he is.”

“Hmm, maybe. He’s going to use that TV to waste his time watching Spongebob and his football games that he keeps talking about,” Irem chuckled, exchanging affectionate glances with Soran.

Miran interrupted their hand-holding by grabbing his mother's hand from Soran’s hold, he shot him a pointed look before tugging Irem towards the TV he had set his heart on.

Soran watched from a distance as Irem crouched down to listen attentively to her son going on about that television, giving the young boy some space with his mother. Irem nodded at her son before approaching Soran again, “Can you take a look at that TV, to make sure it’s ok with you? I’m going to find the salesperson for some questions.” She told him as she left him with Miran alone for a short while.

Soran moved to where Miran was standing as he inspected the TV, “What made you choose this one?” He tried to ask the little kid.

“I asked you a question earlier and you made my mother shout at me. Will you leave my mother alone after getting the TV?” Miran asked again with an angry expression taking over his features.

Soran hesitated before answering, “I can’t promise you that.”

“I don’t understand! Why can’t you just go away? My mother loves me and I love her. We're better off alone without you, without anyone else! There’s no space for you.”

Soran didn’t know what to say or how to respond to that, he wondered if he lacked good skills with children or if Miran was just more complicated and difficult. He sighed as his eyes avoided Miran’s intense stare.

“And stop touching her too, I can see you.” Miran tried to sound threatening, wanting to be protective over his mother.

Soran felt embarrassed by Miran’s straightforwardness, his cheeks slightly heated as he thought he ought to be more careful with his closeness to Irem in front of her son.

“I have something else to say.” Miran blurted, tugging at Soran’s clothes to bring his eyes back to him.

“What?” Soran asked.

Miran looked unsure before he spoke, “you’re a - you’re a stuck up asshole!” He blurted out, his furious eyes looking up to Soran’s height.

Soran was taken back by Miran's sharp words. His eyes widened as he registered what the young boy had just said, he recognised that insult. Eren would often throw it at him or whenever he was talking about him. Eren basically referred to him as ‘the stuck up asshole’ ever since he learned how to swear.

“Where did you learn that from? Who taught you?” Soran demanded while trying to keep his temper down.

Miran's gaze remained fixated on the floor, his small frame slumped with guilt and shame for repeating his dad's hurtful words. He refused to look up to Soran, he knew he was wrong.

“Do you even know what that means?” Soran crouched down to ask him.

Miran shook his head, he didn’t know what it meant but he could figure out it was an insult or a swear word.

“Do you want me to tell your mum that you said that?” Soran gave an empty warning, he wasn’t going to say this to Irem. He knew it would break her heart that Miran was repeating his father’s words or picking up anything from him. She had moved on from him, he didn’t want to bring her back to that.

Miran's eyes widened in fear as he looked up at Soran, “No, please don't tell her!” He pleaded, his voice trembling with worry.

Irem returned at that moment, her hand touching Soran’s shoulder.

“Are you sure about buying this TV?” She wanted to make sure.

“Yeah, yeah Irem. I’m sure, the price is not even bad.” He replied absent minded, still distracted about what happened with Miran.

“Okay, I’ll go ask the workers for a hand in getting it to the reception, it’s quite a big one. I appreciate you, Soran.” Irem said before going to call an employee for assistance. Soran couldn't help but smile as he thought about how she said she appreciated him, he replayed her words in his head, ‘I appreciate you, Soran’.

He was brought back to reality by Miran’s voice interrupting his thoughts, “you’re my dad’s brother, I can never trust you even if she does. Thanks for the TV, I like it but I don’t like you and I never will.”