The Hate Game

Chapter 9

"Eda!" Eda heard a distant voice calling her. She still felt dizzy.

"Eda! Open your eyes." The voice was familiar, and she could hear the worry in it. Eda slowly opened her eyes and looked straight into hazel green eyes.

Such nice eyes.

Eda reached her hand to stroke his cheek and murmured dreamily. "So beautiful eyes."

She ignored that the expression changed in these eyes from worry to amusement as she closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into strong arms holding her tight. She inhaled the intoxicating smell that hit her nostrils and waited for sleep to come to her again. She was sure she was dreaming.

"Are you really going to sleep now?" The owner of the eyes asked in an amused tone.

"Shh, Serkan, don't disturb my dream." She whispered to his chest.

"Maybe I should pinch you or tickle. This is not a dream." Serkan's body shook from a small chuckle.

"Shh." Eda shushed him again, and when she felt his hand wandering to her side to tickle her, she suddenly realized that it wasn't a dream. She was in Serkan's embrace, holding him tight, and she had no idea how she got there. Eda jumped from his arms immediately.

"What happened? Why were you holding me?!" She shouted at him, and he laughed.

"You were holding me too." Serkan teased but looked at her suspiciously. "You don't remember what happen?"

"I'm not sure." Eda rubbed her eyes. She was trying to remember, but she always felt so confused after awakening.

"You fainted, if I wouldn't catch you, you would fall to the lake. Are you ok?" Serkan came closer to her, observing her intently.

"I didn't faint. I fell asleep. It happened when I suddenly get stressed out."

"What was so stressful to make you black out?" He asked her softly, and Eda looked at him, trying to focus. She still wasn't entirely awake.

"I'm not sure. What did I do before I lost consciousness?"

"You've got a call." Serkan answered, and Eda's eyes widened in horror. She remembered the message she received.

"Eda, are you all right?" Serkan gently grabbed her by her arms when he saw tears, gathering in her eyes. "Eda, what happened?"

"My grandmother..." Eda uttered with difficulty. She felt tears choking her. "She has cancer, but now she has metastases."

Eda started sobbing, not even realizing when Serkan pulled her into his embrace. She pressed her face to his chest, wetting his jumper with her tears as he was stroking her hair gently.

"She doesn't want me to come to her, and she has only months or weeks left."

"Why doesn't she want to see you?"

"She thinks that will be for the best. That I will cope better with her being gone if I won't see her weak and sick. She is from the old generation. She always was reserved, but I always knew she loved me and wanted the best for me. She just couldn't express her feelings to me. She always had this no-nonsense attitude and never wanted to fuss about her."

"Do you want to see her?" Serkan asked straightway.

"I do, but how can I manage to go to her? If I'll send a request for a jet or even buy a plane ticket, she will be informed, and she might send me away, telling me it's nothing."

"I can put you on a plane in two hours. The driver will wait for you in thirty minutes. You just need to pack and give me your passport number."

"Would you really do that for me?" Eda looked at him with surprise and saw something strange in his eyes mixed with softness. They still held to each other.