Chapter 7: The Argument

As Ida walked back to her classroom, a heavy feeling weighed on her heart. Atilla's words not only confused her but also shook her trust in her friendship with Batuhan. When she entered the classroom, she couldn't ignore the scene of her classmates laughing and having fun. Her mind was fixated on one thought: talking to Batuhan.

Throughout the lesson, she struggled to focus. The teacher's voice sounded like a melody, but she couldn't grasp the words. Time seemed to drag on. When the bell finally rang, her eyes immediately darted to the door. As everyone else left the classroom, she remained, battling the swirling thoughts in her mind.

She hurried to the park to meet Batuhan, feeling a mix of hopelessness and anxiety. She wanted to find out why Atilla had said such a thing. Upon reaching the park, she spotted Batuhan sitting among the green grass. His warm smile brought a slight sense of relief to her.

Batuhan stood up as soon as he saw Ida approaching. "Ida, you're here!" he said, his voice echoing naturally and warmly.

"Batuhan, Atilla told me something," Ida began, diving straight into the topic. "He said I should stay away from you. What's going on? Why did he say that?"

Batuhan's face suddenly turned serious. "Atilla? What did he say?" he asked, though the concern in his eyes showed he wasn't taking this lightly.

"I don't know, he just told me to stay away. It seemed like he knows something about you. Why are you hiding things from me?" Ida struggled to suppress the anger and frustration within her. "I've always wanted to share everything with you, but now it feels like you're keeping things from me."

Batuhan took a deep breath, placing his hand on his waist to ease the tension in the air. "Ida, you know you mean a lot to me. But there are things I don't want to tell you, for your own good. Atilla and others like him... you can't trust them."

Ida was taken aback by Batuhan's words. "Why? Why are you so distant from me?" she exclaimed, her eyes filling with tears. "Am I nothing to you? I can't live with these secrets anymore."

Batuhan gave Ida a deep look into her eyes. "Ida, I'm doing this to protect you. Sometimes, people know things about you, and that can be dangerous. Atilla's warning isn't for nothing. He's always been connected to the dark side. Knowing me, he might suspect something between us."

Ida was shaken by Batuhan's words. "The dark side? What do you mean? I've always felt safe with you!" she said.

"I know," Batuhan replied, "but things are changing. I'm still struggling with my own thoughts. Sometimes I feel the darkness pulling me in," he said. "Atilla's words were to keep you away from this world. He thinks I might be dangerous for you."

As Ida tried to process Batuhan's words, more turmoil stirred within her. "Do you have to push me away to protect me? I want to be part of this fight, I don't want to be alone!" she said.

Batuhan tried to convey his love through his gaze. "Sometimes being alone is the right choice. But I don't want you by my side. You know me well enough. You just need to protect yourself."

At that moment, Ida felt lost. Her friend's concerns were causing anxiety for her. She was experiencing an internal conflict. Batuhan was trying to protect her, but he was actually putting her in more danger.

"You can't stop talking to me, Batuhan!" Ida said, her voice filled with determination. "If you don't tell me everything, I'll ask Atilla myself!"

Batuhan suddenly retorted, "You're going to ask someone who tried to hit you?! Good luck(!)" he said mockingly. He stood up, leaving behind a confused girl.