Holding On To A Promise

Chapter Twenty Seven

Leyla hated to argue with her sister, so she finally agreed with her, " You are right Sanem, we don't know what your plans are for your lives, I just want your happiness. If Can is what makes you happy, and you are sure of his commitment, then that's all that matters." Sanem took a deep breath, " Abla, I'm sure of his love for me, he made a promise to me that he would never leave again unless we left together and that's what I'm holding on too." She replied, feeling that calmness wash over her. She didn't have any doubt of his love for her, she just wished that everyone else would see it also. The sisters said their goodbyes with Leyla assuring her that she and Emre would be there for the engagement proposal the next evening. She wondered if Emre had already known about the proposal and just hadn't told her. Her feelings for Can after Sanems accident had soured, he had devastated her sister by running away without listening to her. She knew she would have to come to terms with the way she felt about him before it damaged her relationship with Sanem.

Metin leaned against the wall behind the door of his office, listening to the whole conversation, at least Sanems side of it. He couldn't believe what he heard, Can had made plans to propose. Was he still stringing her along, making her think he would remain her in Istanbul. But that didn't make any sense, he thought, why would he do that. He looked around the door at Sanem, seeing that she was still upset by the phone call so he decided not to go to her. He hated seeing her like that, but he wouldn't interfere just yet. This made him even more anxious to meet with his old friend Can Divit tonight. He would find out what he was up to, and then he would go to Sanem, armed with everything he would need to let her see the real Can. The bitterness of what Can had done to him that day, in front of everyone, had stuck in his head since it happened. Can was one of his oldest friends, and he thought, one of his dearest. But as he sat at his desk reliving that day at Can's home when he dismissed him like a low level employee, the hurt from it all was still there, as fresh as the day it happened. He knew then that Can had never considered him a brother, but to take revenge against him hadn't occur to him until he walked away from Sanem, leaving her weak and broken.

Can arrived at 5:00 sharp to pick up Sanem. He would make sure she got home safe and sound then it would be time for that long awaited meeting with Metin. He wasn't sure how he was going to handle it yet, but he knew he would let him know that he was aware of the feelings he had for Sanem. The conversation with Leyla was still present in her mind as they drove towards her neighborhood. She didn't understand why they couldn't see that Can had changed, well not really changed, but returned to the person he was before Fabri had came into their lives. She was deep in thought, looking out the window, when Can touched her hand, " Sanem, you're very quiet, is there something wrong. Did something happen at the office." He asked, bringing her hand to his lips to kiss them gently. She smiled, " No, just thinking about what is about to happen, and how happy I am." She replied, caressing his face with her hand. He too had the same feelings as they stopped in front of her door. He watched her as she opened the door and went in, wishing the engagement would have been tonight. Each minute that he wasn't with her was like a waste of his time, like nothing else mattered but those precious moments with her.

Metin closed and locked the office door, then made his way down the street to the bar where they were to meet. He was nervous and he wasn't sure why, he had been waiting for this day for a while now. If Can hadn't already told Sanem he was leaving for a new job then he would make sure he was the one to tell her. He found a table and sat down, looking at his watch he knew that Can would be there any time. He ordered their drinks and waited. At 6:00 on the dot, the door opened and Can walked in, he looked around for a second until he spotted Metin at the table near the back. Metin watched as he made his way to the table, all heads seem to turn to watch him as he did. He always had that effect on people, that air of confidence, even a touch of cockiness, that way of carrying himself that made people envy him. And Metin did, he had enived him since their early years of boarding school. He always got the best grades, was the best at sports, and inevitably he had all the girls falling at his feet. He hated to say he was jealous, but always being compared to a person that made you feel less than equal, he thought it was probably the proper assessment.

" You already ordered my drink, thank you." Can said as he sat down across the table from this man that he had always thought of as family. There seemed to be more tension between them than he thought, as that look from Metin seem to bore inside him. Can was the first to speak, "So, I will start by saying that the separation of our friendship was totally my fault and for that I apologize. I let a meaningless issue come between me and a person I considered to be my brother. My relationship with Huma should never had been the reason for what I did." Can spoke, as he tried to connect with him. Metin stared at his drink, not looking at Cans face, but quietly he replied, " That day still relives itself in my mind, but the hurt is not as great as it was that day. You could not have hurt me more than if you had stabbed me in the heart." Metin replied, taking a sip of his whiskey. " I have come to terms with what has happened, knowing you, I'm sure that you haven't lost a lot of sleep over it either." He continued, finally looking directly into Cans eyes.

Can was sure by the look on his face, that Metin wasn't there to rekindle their old friendship, he was there to make sure that would never happen. Can nodded, " You're wrong Metin, that day still haunts me. I'm embarrassed to tell you that. If I could take it back I would. But I think we both know that's not the reason we are here today."

Metin looked up quickly, shocked that Can was ready to dive right into that subject that was more important than anything else.....Sanem.

Can's eyes didn't shift away from Metins. He held that stare, letting him know that this conversation was about to change. Metin smiled, " You're right Can, it's not about what happened between us. That is over and done as far as I'm concerned. But what you did to Sanem was unthinkable, and for that I will never be able to forgive you."

Ok there it was, Can thought, the real reason they were there......

" Sanem?" Can replied. " Why is Sanem any of your business. Unless there's more to this than meets the eye.".....