Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

21. You'll run after me

"Walking this fast won't help, I'll tell you that much," Ayhan heaves as she struggles to keep up with Sanem walking to the pierside park.

Sanem slows down and sighs. "Sorry, it's just, he fired one of his oldest and best friends in front of me. I was going to tell him the truth, but Mr Emre might be right Ayhan. No matter how much I hate to admit it."

"What are you going to do?"

"How should I know?" Sanem sits down at an empty table, her lip jutting out. "That's what I came to you for."

"Right," Ayhan blinks. "No, yes, you're right...uhm...okay, let's do this, we'll come up with a lie. A huge one, like, 'I can't be with you because I'm moving to India', something like that."

"Are you kidding me?" Ayhan shrugs. "That's not helping! And by the way, last time you told me to tell him I don't like him, that I don't want to be around him, but then I went to his house and - Why didn't you stop me Ayhan?"

"Oh no, you can't turn this on me! I did try to stop you, remember?" Ayhan looks over to the tea vendor. "Can we have two teas?!" she  calls and then turns back to Sanem. "Listen, Sanem - "

"Is now really the time for tea?"

"Osman and I both told you to stay away, but did you listen?" Ayhan clicks her tongue and looks away, ignoring Sanem's question.

"I told him I don't like him before, even though I was already in love...What am I going to tell him now that he'll believe Ayhan? I don't want to lie anymore."

"We'll think of something," Ayhan says after seeing Sanem's saddened face. "We'll come up with a plan."

"Come up with it fast. Think. Think faster."

Ayhan looks out at the water, chewing on her lip as she ponders.

"Maybe I should say I'm moving to the Galapagos Islands?" Sanem snaps her fingers and then drops her hand when she sees Ayhan's wrinkled nose. "Oh, you're right, it's a bad idea."

"A very bad idea."

"My mother got me a job as an au pair - No," Sanem groans and drops her head in her hand, shaking her head. "Maybe I should say I'm sick or - Ayhan, this is pointless."

"Just, shh, okay? Let's think some more." Ayhan looks around them. "Where's the tea?"

"Will you bring her tea already?! She can't think over here!" Sanem yells and the vendor lifts a hand. They sit quietly for a few minutes and then Sanem grabs Ayhan's shoulders and shakes her. "Ayhan, come on! You're a life coach! You help people! Think faster. This is life or death!"

"You're stressing me out!"

Sanem groans and lets her go, dropping her head again. I'm doomed.

**

Can stares at the stones in his hands, rolling them from one palm to the other, a deep frown on his face.

Metin walks up finally, with two glasses of whiskey in his hands and holds one out.

Can takes it but puts it down on the table next to the fireplace right away, his lips pursed in irritation.

Metin steps away, taking a sip from his glass before he leans his shoulder against a pillar, looking at the backyard. "Have you calmed down?"

"No Metin, I haven't." Can shakes his head. "I'm actually getting more and more pissed off." Can squeezes the stones in his left hand. "You know how much I despise lies, but you go behind my back anyway and tell that woman everything." Can scoffs darkly.