Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

15. Mevkhibe's shut down

Can gets to his feet, one eyebrow lifting as he unfolds the paper and reads it. "Possible Albatross Candidates," he reads out loud.

Sanem clenches her eyes shut behind him, puffing out her cheeks.
"Can I...Can I have that?" she asks, putting the first aid kit down and starting to follow behind him as he moves away, reading the list.

"Hold on," he says and lifts it in the air. "If you don't tell me what this is I'm not giving it to you."

"It's just - " She tries to jump. He is a good deal taller than her. "It's just a list of bearded men that came to the party your father held the other night," she says, trying to grab it again. "That's all."

"Hm," he says and pushes her off him, never stopping moving around the office.

"May I have it now?" She all but jumps on his back.

"Are you looking for someone specific?" he asks, turning around. She bumps into him, staring up at him, his arm still in the air.

They are inches away from each other, their noses nearly touching. She jumps for the paper once more but he's faster. He switches it to the other hand, and keeps doing it.

"Will you...will you just give it...?"

"Mm mm," he shakes his head, still wanting an answer. He was enjoying this game with her.

"Give it back please..."

"Tell you what, I'll give it back if you answer one question," he looks down at her eyes, her arms hooked over his oddly while his are around her back.

"Fine," she huffs.

"Why aren't I on the list? I was there too you know."

Sanem stares up at him. She didn't have an answer for that one. She blinks. She remembers his clothing then. After all, she wasn't looking for only the beard.

"You were dressed in jeans and boots," she says, frowning as he turns to the side with the list. He held it behind his back while she struggles to get it again. "There, I answered. Please give it to me now."

His arms go over her shoulders. She was getting tired of the game he was clearly enjoying. He wanted to mock her and she wasn't having it.

As he stares down at her and she glares up at him, something changes and the air gets thick. Sanem's mind clears of everything but her hands dropping onto his biceps, and the feeling of his going down to her sides.

For a second Can leans in, getting closer, before she suddenly turns her face away. He blinks furiously and then clears his throat.

"You can take it," he says and she holds her hand out, stepping back.
He frowns at her avoidance of his eyes and then looks down at her hand. "Where's your ring?"

Sanem wanted a hole to appear and swallow her. She forgot she was supposed to wear it around him.
She looks at her own finger as he waits. "Oh," she chuckles nervously then takes the box from the small bag strapped around her waist.

Can's heart gave an uneven beat as she takes it out and shows him. He nods, grinding his teeth.

"I forgot to put it back on." She slips the ring onto her finger.

"Right," he sniffs and looks away before looking into her eyes again. "It was so important that you came all the way to my house to get it yesterday and today you forget to wear it? Amazing," he stares her down, sure he caught her in the lie. She wasn't engaged. She couldn't be. He refused to believe it.

"My parents!" she says suddenly and he blinks. "My parents don't know we're engaged... we fell for each other and we got engaged... we'll tell them soon..." She smiles at him.