Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

11. The Red File

Can couldn't get his mind to calm down enough for him to try and sleep that night. He decided to do the next best thing - he would go for a run. He liked running.
As he slowed down near the pier, he walked over to a bench and sat down, leaning back, his chest heaving.

All he could see in front of him was the night he kissed the mystery woman. All he could feel was her lips. All he could smell was her smell.
It's been driving him crazy since it happened. He's never felt anything like it - it was drowning him in confusion because he felt more alive than he ever has. He found himself in a daze so strong, his ears were filled with cottonballs.

He blinks at the water and then turns to look around him, the stars up in the sky. He needed to know who this woman was and how she managed to captivate him like this.

At the same time that night, just across the bay, Sanem is also looking at the stars, thinking about her bearded albatross. She would give anything to know who he was. To meet him again. To be with him. His arms around her, in her mind, made her smile.

She's never been in love and it was a shock to her system. Because what happens if she never finds him? How will she move on?

***

The next morning at the office, after finally getting to sleep after her eventful evening, lulled by thoughts of her albatross, Sanem busied herself by rearranging the files in one of the shelves with JJ telling her what to do while he drinks his morning coffee.

"Don't put the colored ones with the black ones," he points out and she changes it up again.

"Can anyone show me to a Mr Emre's office?" A courier with a parcel is looking around behind JJ when they turn to see who spoke.

"Excuse me? Can we help you?"

"Yes, the girl in the lobby sent me here. I'm looking for Mr Emre."

"You can hand it to me. I'll take it to him," Sanem says, holding out her hand.

"Can you sign here please?"

The courier leaves after thanking her and Sanem opens the parcel to remove the red file inside just as Guliz comes to join them.

"How are you?"

"Very well thank you," Sanem smiles. She was finally getting the hang of things and it was a relief. Third day was the charm. "And you?"

"I'm good too."

Sanem places the last of the files she was busy with and then groans. "I'm so hungry," she whines. She always forgets to eat enough and finds herself starving by 8 o'clock.

"How about a salad chia seeds?" Guliz wiggles her brows and JJ nods in agreement.

"What's that?" Sanem shakes her head. "I'm actually in the mood for real food, you know? Toasted bread, roasted meat and cheese." She salivated just thinking about it.

"Gross," JJ shudders, "you're making me want to throw up right now."

Sanem frowns. She just said meat and cheese. What was wrong with it?

"You really are very interesting Sanem," Guliz chuckles. "How do you digest all of that? All I can eat are salads or light foods, otherwise I blow up."

Sanem laughs lightly and shrugs, not sure how to comment on this. She smiles to herself and picks up more files to stack on the shelf. As she does, she looks over it and sees Can walking in from the lobby.

She stares at him, and he walks slower. And slower. It was like he was floating towards them...His limbs were so fluid in motion...He smiled in slow motion too. How was that even possible? And has he always been this good looking? Why does it feel like she's seeing him for the first time...