Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

19. A hopeless situation

When Can gets home that night after driving around aimlessly and in thought for a few hours, he spots Emre sitting outside through the window and walks out to join him.

"Well, well, Mr Emre, it's starting to look like you enjoy this kind of thing huh?" Can grins. "Fireside drinking and all that."

Emre chuckles, looking at his older brother.

"We should put some snacks here, chocolates and strawberries, maybe a nut or two." Can picks up the fire poker and starts digging around the coals.

"Welcome home Superman." Emre turns in his chair, shifting forward. "You look like you're in a good mood."

"Superman?" Can winces, snorting and shaking his head as he sits down on a chair, facing his brother.

Emre nods. "You left the party in a tuxedo." Can grabs Emre's glass and takes a sip. "Did you go out to save the entire world?"

"What's it to you?" Can asks, and Emre's eyebrows shoot up. "I can go where I want." Can takes another sip. "And no, I didn't save the entire world, just mine."

Emre chuckles, shaking his head. "You're a strange man, big brother."

I am, Can shrugs and drinks again.

"We had to practically force you into a tuxedo for the 40th anniversary party with threats of a hair salon and a razor but on Saturday you went and willingly dressed up out of the blue then left? Where the hell did you go?"

"It's a long story." And Sanem's not here to give you the long winded version. "Spanning over some time, so very long."

"Then give me the cliff notes version," Emre groans impatiently.

Can grins again, the glass pausing halfway to his lips. "Did you talk to Polen?" he asks.

"I did," Emre sighs. "She got on the plane this afternoon."

"Ah," Can nods. That's good. "She did the right thing. That's awesome. I'm glad to hear it."

"Can?" Emre purses his lips as Can takes a sip again.

"Hm?" Can looks at him as he swallows and licks his lips.

"Why did you break up with her? I mean, this is Polen." Emre almost wants to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "What happened? And why won't you tell me about it?"

Can eyes him for a second, dramatically dragging out what he's been wanting to tell his brother. "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Just tell me already," Emre pushes and rolls his eyes.

Can leans forward conspiratively, then says in a calm voice, "I fell in love with someone else."

Emre stares at him with a confused expression for a moment. "What? Who is it?" Can just keeps drinking with a light shrug. Emre grabs his knee, sitting forward more to shake it. "Who is it damn you?!" he growls and chuckles playfully.

Can laughs too and pulls his leg away. "M-okay," he says after swallowing and then sighs. He looks at Emre, hesitating. Emre's eyes are wide and curious and Can finally lifts his shoulders in defeat and says, "Sanem."

Emre blinks at Can blankly, taking in what he just said. "Sanem?" he asks. "As in our Sanem?"

"Our Sanem," Can nods, smiling.

Wow. Is he - ? Emre breathes out a disbelieving scoff. He can't be serious...

"I fell hard Emre. For the first time in my life, I'm literally crazy about someone. I feel like a hormonal teenaged boy. Everything is confused inside of me - my legs don't seem to work, and my hands are sweaty." Can shakes his head. "It's insane."