My Turkish Heart

Chapter 8

She slept like a log that night as the jet lag wore off slowly. Even the morning rays could not wake her up this time, but the 5 vibrating calls on her phone finally did.

"Hi, who's this?" her voice was still so sleepy as she answered.

"Gunaydin, are you still sleeping?"

"Hmmm mmmm.."

"Get ready, I'm picking you up soon"

"Huh?! What do you mean?"

"I took off from work to show you around. So go shower and get ready! And don't have breakfast, I have a surprise for you"

As he put the phone down Izzy felt even more in a trance. She wiped her eyes out and got out of bed.

"What a strange guy.. Even here he makes me more tired"

Burak pitched up just as she got dressed. He was extra chirpy and Izzy looked at him like he had a third head or something.

"Look what I brought you! He leaned to the backseat and gave her a fresh and hot simit"

Food definitely was the way to her heart as her smile grew.

"Thank you Burak!"

He watched her happily eat it and he was amused by her love of food.

"Wow..you were more excited for the simit than me" He joked.

"Food is life!" She giggled as she took another bite.

"Sorry..I didn't even ask if you wanted a bite?"

" No thanks and I think I know by now that you and food are inseparable"

She gave him a childish pout then continued eating.

"Where are you taking me?"

"I want to show you the beauty of Istanbul. Who better than a local to show you around?"

"Hmm.. why are you being so nice to me?" She shot up a brow as she looked his way.

"Why can't I be nice to you?"

"Hmm.. Well.. can I ask you something?"

"Tabiki"

"Why did you pay for my hospital bill that night?"

His body tensed a bit as he reminisced about that night and how he had to leave her behind.

"Was just helping out a friend." He lied.

"A friend? You barely knew me then and we argued more than anything. So what's the truth?"

"What's the big deal? You've fine and it's all in the past"

"Where I come from, it is a big deal.. Please allow me to pay you back"

"Pay me back? Olamaz! Just drop it now"

" If you don't I won't speak for the rest of the trip to you!"

"Offf!..You're really stubborn!"

"Yeah, I know!" She said, sounding quite cocky.

He glared at her for her reply, but she sat happily watching the views as they drove into the city.

They were in the heart of Istanbul, when Burak stopped by a small cafe. It looked like it had been there for years as it had a more older traditional look than the new cafes around it.

"We're here!"

It was a cafe that a family friend of Burak's family ran for many generations.

"I used to come work in the cafe in my free time. The smell of Turkish coffee is always one of my favorite scents and at that time the owner was running it alone as his son was studying abroad, so I offered to help him out. I have so many good memories here"

Izzy looked at Burak, trying to figure out what kind of man he really was, but there were so many sides to him that she did not know which was the real Burak.

The owner let Burak prepare the coffees whilst he sat down and got to know Izzy.

"You're the first friend Burak has brought here"

Izzy blushed as she wasn't sure why he felt so comfortable sharing it with her.

"We're just friends, Sir"

" Hmm..Take care of him. He's a good man, but very misunderstood sometimes" He said as he patted Izzy's hand.

She stared at him whilst he made the coffee, he looked so happy and in his element talking to the older gentleman at the nearby tables. Izzy wondered what Burak's story was, but was afraid to ask. Burak walked back to the table with the warmest smile on his face. She had never guessed someone like him that always sounded so certain of himself would be labelled misunderstood.

"What are the two of you talking about?"

"Hic! Afiyet olsun!"

The owner winked at Izzy as he left the table.

"Oh wow! This tastes really good! I'm impressed" she pretended to give him a round of applause jokingly.

"Cok Komik! I love making coffee and also experimenting with coffees from around the world"

"Well good hobby if you know coffee lovers who can be your guinea pigs"

"You're a coffee lover?"

"Yeah, mostly when I'm working or on the go. At home I'm more of a tea kind of girl"

"I'll make you coffee whenever you want"

"I might take you up on that offer, she joked.'

As they finished their coffees Burak took her on a walking tour of the city. Izzy loved everything and he had to drag her away as she wanted to pet all the stray animals and feed them. He enjoyed watching the city through her eyes. To her everything was beautiful and even the smallest things made her excited.

"I love it! All of it! The culture,food, people, music"

"Oha! Fell in love so quickly?"

"Joke all you want, but I have loved every moment of it. The culture here especially interests me. The way people can say "Kolay gelsin" or "ellerinize sağlık" is such a tongue twister, but it's really a sweet gesture even if you don't know the person personally. Very respectable culture and the small gestures I love!"

"That's what made you fall in love? Thought it was your handsome tour guide" He smirked.

"Who's cok komik now?" she teased back.