Full Moon | Dolunay (pt.1)

25. The right track

*FERIT*

I tried to nuzzle against Nazli's warm body but she was gone. I blinked my eyes open to find her pillow next to me. Where was she?

I headed downstairs to the kitchen and found her setting the table,
when did she run away from my arms?

"Good morning" She smiled at me, "How are you feeling now?" "I'm better, thanks to you" I replied with a smile. Her phone interrupted us and I sighed as she answered Murat's call, "I'm on my way... Yeah, bye" She hung up and I stared at her curiously. "I must go now" She looked nervous, "What will you do?" "I'm also leaving for the company in an hour" I replied.

"I can leave you if you want" I offered and she agreed immediately. We were on the right track since last night and I was happy.

*NAZLI*

It was one of the busiest days at the restaurant and nearly everyone was panicking. We didn't have a clue of what we would serve Chef Alex but Ferit believed that things would turn out fine.

Even Bulut and Zeynep came around the restaurant. The little boy was brimming with excitement as usual and I laughed at his antics. I was glad that they visited, the duo helped to relieve my stress. Zeynep told me that Demir and Ferit were busy with a hotel project, no wonder why he didn't call me today.

It was really late when I closed the restaurant and I was surprised to find Ferit waiting for me. "I would've hired a cab... Weren't you busy?" "How can I let you go alone?" He pulled me in a hug and I felt butterflies again. A million times stronger.

But Ferit was a strange person. Whenever he got close, he would ruin it the next moment. I didn't want him to ruin this now. It felt too good to be true.

Even the next day, my crew and I worked the entire morning. I couldn't have been more proud of myself. Even Fatosh and Engin came in the afternoon to see how I was doing.

Chef Alex arrived a few hours later and his smile of satisfaction on tasting my food was priceless. He praised us a lot and promised to come again soon. Fatosh squealed and pulled me in an embrace.

Our hard work had finally paid off.

Demir, Zeynep and Bulut came in the evening on reading the review that the chef had posted online. They congratulated me and I hugged them. Even Asuman and dad came to Sakura, "I am so proud of you" He whispered as I squeezed him tightly. God, I missed them all.

"Do you know where Ferit is?" Dad asked me and I shrugged, "He isn't answering my calls" I replied with a sigh. "He's probably on his way" Engin told me and I nodded. Hopefully.

I noticed that Asuman was also trying to call someone urgently. I nudged her and recognized the name that flashed on her screen before she could hide it, "Are you calling Deniz?" I whispered and she took a deep breath.

"I have no clue where the crazy idiot is. I've been calling him since yesterday, he isn't picking up. Even his apartment is locked" She groaned. "Is he okay?" "Yeah... Probably... But he has gone somewhere... Uff Deniz!" She sighed. It wasn't hard to figure out that my sister loved Deniz. I wasn't bothered about it as long as she was happy.

A familiar black car halted outside my restaurant, and my heart skipped a beat when Ferit got out. His expression turned to one of shock on seeing the crowd of familiar faces next to me. But when his eyes wandered back to my face, his lips curled into one of the warmest smiles that I had ever seen. I was caught in his gaze again, the one where his eyes glowed.

He pulled me in a side hug and I reciprocated, "Uncle!" Bulut jumped into Ferit's arms. "How are you little monster?" He tickled the little ball of energy. "Mom said you were sick... Are you okay now?" Bulut's round eyes grew worried. "I'm alright now buddy" Ferit replied with a grin, "Yay!" The boy hugged him again.

When Bulut ran back to his parents, Ferit slipped his hand around my waist. "I read Chef Alex's review. He thinks your food is wonderful, are you happy now?" He whispered, gazing at my eyes. "You have no idea" I chuckled.

"When are you going to Sapanca?" Demir turned to Ferit. "Tonight" He replied and my eyes widened, "You're going to Sapanca?" "You're coming with me too" He grinned. "There is a hotel inauguration tomorrow morning. Mr. and Mrs.Nakatani will also be there, I promised them that I'll bring you" He told me. "But... How will we get there tonight? My things?" "Our flight is around midnight. Your things are in my car, Mrs.Ikbal took care of it" He replied calmly. 

"You already booked the flight?" My jaw dropped, "Yes. It will take a really long time by car" He glanced at his watch. "You're right" Dad agreed with him, "You knew about this?" I turned to my father and he smiled. I couldn't believe these men. "You could've told me about it before" I narrowed my eyes on  Ferit who grinned at me. "Can we go too?" Bulut turned to his parents, "No son, we need to take care of things here" Demir ruffled his hair and the boy groaned.

"Can we leave now?" Ferit turned to me, "There are more customers left" I glanced at the occupied tables and Ferit nodded. "We'll leave in an hour then" "Okay" I agreed and returned back inside with Fatosh tagging along.

"Would you look at Ferit? He's doing a business trip and honeymoon combo!" She laughed as I glared at her. "He could've told me... At least dad could've! What's with this father-son relationship?" I sighed, "At least they aren't fighting all the time" "Plotting against me is far worse" I replied and she chuckled. 

"Do you talk to Ferit's mother? Ah... What was her name?" "Mrs Leman? Not really... Ferit never even mentions about her" I replied. "You still don't know why they're like this?" "He never talks about it, Fatosh. Dad told me that he'll tell me things soon enough but Ferit I don't think he will" I sighed. 

***

"You could've told me before" I mumbled again and he turned to me with a sigh, "Are we really going to have that conversation after you made us late?" "What did I do? It isn't my fault that the people took a long time to leave" I shrugged. "It isn't my fault that everyone loves my food so much" I mumbled again and a smile played on his lips this time.

"You're just..." Ferit turned back to look at the road. "What? Complete it" I nudged him and he shook his head at me while biting his lower lip. His faint dimples and the gleam in his eyes added to his handsomeness.

We got settled in the first class cabin and the flight took off a few minutes into midnight. I was sleepy and tired after the long day but the thought of Mrs.Leman still lingered in my mind. "Did you tell your mother?" Ferit glanced at me from the book in his hand, "Huh?" "Did you tell Mrs.Leman that we are leaving?" I asked him again. 

"No, but Mrs.Iqbal will tell her. Anyway, it's not like she is curious" He tone was dripping with disgust as he mumbled the last few words, "But wouldn't it be better if you told her yourself?" "Why are you asking me about my mother now? Did she call you or something?" His face turned stern and cold. "No... I just..." "Then don't bring her up. I don't want to hear anything about her Nazli" He retorted before turning back to his book.

I took a deep breath and stared at the night sky from the glass pane. Why was Ferit so sensitive towards this topic? Why wouldn't he tell me?

*FERIT*

I looked up from my book when Nazli's small head collided with my shoulder, she was sleeping soundly and I couldn't help smiling at her. The memories of the night when we slept together flooded my head. No matter how annoyed or angry I was, Nazli always managed to put a smile on my face.

But I wondered why she brought up my mother. Leman Aslan was the last person I wanted to think about right now and even if Nazli or anyone tried, my relationship with her wasn't getting any better. The things that she's said and done will always stay a scar.

I took a deep breath as I intertwined my hand in Nazli's as she nuzzled closer to me in her sleep.
This was the only healing I required right now.

A/N- Thanks for the 3K reads and lit comments. It's pumpin me to do frequent updates yay. 

The stuff in the next few chapters are gonna be so damn 'kaboom' that u won't even realize how the story turned from this to that lmao.

Ain't exactly my fav song but suits this chap.