HalSer - Cursed Lovers

Chapter 4

When the cab that took Halide home finally pulled in front of the house, she almost sighed with relief. She still couldn't believe that Serhat had managed to put her in this state. Again. She knew she might be okay, but she wasn't fine at all. She had been so stupid to fall into his trap ! She should have just kept ignoring him and keep walking, or pretending that nickname had no power over her. But damn it, it had !

Since the first time he had called her like that, right after the first time they had made love, he had actually started calling her like that all the time. And the way he spoke that simple, seemingly unremarkable little word, never failed to send an electric current up her spine. That was the power he had always had over her. And that he still had, obviously. And it was that reaction of her, even after all these years, that really pissed her off. Much more than the arrogance and sass he showed in daring to use it.

She entered her room before removing her shoes with a movement of her foot while throwing her bag on her bed. When her gaze fell on her own reflection in the mirror of her dressing table, she rolled her eyes at her own weakness. She wasn't crying anymore but the traces of her tears remained, having smeared her makeup and made her look like a panda.

She proceeded to remove her makeup completely, then put on her pajamas which, these days, consisted of cotton yoga pants and a loose t-shirt and, when she was cold, she added a cotton sports jacket. Anyone who saw her dressed like this would actually think she was about to do a yoga session, or even a jog, rather than going to bed.

Halide was just getting settled on her bed when Ayse, their employee - since so long she became like a member of their family for her -, came knocking on her door.

"What is it, Ayse ? You don't sleep, it's late ?" Halide wondered.

"Halide Hanim, I was wondering if you were aware that Serhat Bey is in front of the house ?"

"Ne ?!"

"He arrived almost when you came in and he's been waiting on the bench ever since. At first, I thought he brought you back and was waiting for you but, not seeing you come out, I thought maybe you didn't know."

"Thank you, Ayse." Halide sighed, exasperated.

Ayse gave her a sorry yet sympathetic smile, noticing that the news didn't seem to please her, then she left. Halide stood up and walked to her window, pulling the curtain lightly. Indeed, he was there. Sitting on the bench, staring into space, seeming to shiver with cold in his thin jacket compared to the weather. And a bottle in his hand...

Well, at least thanks to the cold he won't stay. Halide thought as she got back into bed.

An hour later, she couldn't resist going to check the window and suppressed a small sarcastic laugh when she discovered him. Serhat was still there, lying on his stomach on the wooden bench, one arm and one leg dangling, his fingers brushing the floor and his foot resting on it. The bottle was now lying empty on the floor. What a picture !

God, he must be frozen... She thought with concern.

She shook her head, driving away that thought and her worry, trying to convince herself that it was none of her business, that it was his problem. But her conscience kept playing tricks on her, reminding her how cold it was outside when he was wearing only a small jacket. That she was a doctor, after all, and that as a doctor, she couldn't let him die of hypothermia – or an alcoholic coma – on that bench. After ten minutes of dithering, she surrendered to her conscience with a heartbreaking sigh.

She didn't bother to change because, after all, her pajamas were actually gym clothes. She simply put on a coat and a pair of sneakers, stuffed her cell phone in one pocket and her wallet in the other, and walked out of the house.