Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

87. Getting locked in

Osman was on his fourteenth tray of vegetarian cutlets already. He may have gone a little overboard if he was being honest - he had even more waiting in the freezer.

"What's up big brother? What are you doing?" Ayhan asks from the door, smiling at him as she walks in.

"Making cutlets, Ayhan," he sighs.

"Cutlets?" She eyes them, wrinkling her nose. "Why are they so yellow? What meat are you using, or is it just the spices that are different?"

"No meat. They're vegetarian."

She stares from him to the cutlets and back, the wheels in her head clearly working overtime.

"This is my last chance Ayhan," he explains with a defeated huff, looking at her and praying she won't be difficult about it. "My last hope really. Here take this," he hands her the filled tray. "Put this in the fridge with the others. Hurry."

Ayhan rolls her eyes but walks to the freezer on the other side with the tray. "Holy moly," she breathes when she sees the rest of them squeezed in. "This is crazy..." She puts the tray inside, finding a spot by some miracle then turns to Osman. "You are such a handsome man, I don't get it..." she sighs and walks back over to him. "I just don't..."

"Ayhan, now isn't the right time, okay? I'm busy. I'll tell you later."
I've got to get them all finished before Leyla gets back and talking to you won't make that a reality.

"Look at me, Osman," Ayhan leans on the counter. He just glances up fleetingly before he goes on rolling. "Do you really think I need you to explain all of this?" She snorts. "It's obvious what's going on - you're making them for Leyla. Right?" She nods without waiting for his answer. "And that's all great and thoughtful but you're always doing this."

"Doing what?" Osman asks, pausing and lifting his head.

"Trying to win the Ice Queen's affection and making a fool of yourself doing it. You have to stop." He just looks at her, stunned. "Look," she sighs, "come by my office tonight and I'll give you a lesson or two on charm and willpower - which you have plenty of by the way - you're just too blind to see it when it comes to Leyla. You don't need all of this." 

"Your office is our backyard, Ayhan," he says dryly.

"So? It's helped everyone else in the neighborhood, why can't it help you too?"

"I don't know," he purses his lips, absentmindedly rolling the same cutlet over and over.

"You're the Marlon Brando of Istanbul! Why can't you see that? Is it because you think you're unworthy of her? Is that why?"

Osman shakes his head and looks down to drop the cutlet on a tray. "Why don't you let me worry about how I approach this, okay? I'd prefer you help me finish these."

"And I prefer helping you over making that," she points at the cutlets. "I hate vegetarian food, it might turn me into a potato." She shivers and turns away. "I think I'll go and find something else to do... Take care big brother, love you!" She blows him a kiss from the door and waves with a smile as she hurries outside. 

Just like that?! "Ayhan? Ayhan! Come back here!" Osman yells as she runs down the street. "First mention of work and she's gone with the wind. Typical." He slaps the cutlet onto a tray and shakes his head at his sister before he picks up another one.

-

"This one is 3 lira! Ladies, great quality for 3 lira only!" Mevkhibe cups her mouth and calls her neighbors passing curiously over.

Nihat stands next to her at the table she had set up outside the store with underwear on it, signs on the windows behind them.

"One free for every 5 pieces! Nihat, change, 2 lira." She stuffs a note at him and he hands her the change. "There you go dear," she smiles at one of the ladies then goes on yelling. "3 lira! 3 lira!"