Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

38. Back up plan

Can felt restless as he waited, twirling a daisy between his fingers. He was sitting on a low wall in the park two blocks away. Sanem was a little late but he had no issues waiting for her - he spent his time thinking about her as couples pass him, smiling at each other and holding hands.

There was nothing like being in love. He could attest to that, so he waved at them when they saw him looking and they nodded back in return.

Two minutes after the couple pass, Can hears footsteps behind him. He listens carefully as they slow down. The smell of wild flowers reach his nostrils and he smiles, before he hears a suppressed giggle as Sanem attempts to jump on him.

"Ah ha!" she laughs as he grabs onto the back of her legs.

"Thought you could sneak up on me, did you?" he asks, running forward with her on his back a few steps.

She huffs, making a protesting noise.
"You have the ears of an elephant," she groans. "Put me down." He obliges, walking backward and letting her down on the wall he had been sitting on. "You always show up out of nowhere, I wanted to try it too."

"Ah, but see, I have eyes in the back of my head." Can puts the daisy behind her ear. "For you," he whispers and Sanem smiles up at him widely, touching the flower lightly. "Looks good."

"Thank you."

Pushing a few strands of hair out of her eyes, he stands back. "So, what happens now?" She shrugs in question. "We ran away to meet in secret like forbidden lovers in the park?" He leans closer, taking her hand. "What do you think about my plan by the way?" he jokes and she blushes.

"When you said you wanted to meet in the park, my heart almost jumped out of my chest with nerves."

"Yeah?" He grins and she nods against his nose.

"Yes."

"Your heart's safe with me, you have nothing to be nervous about." He links their fingers.

Sanem looks down at them and then back up. "I have a present for you," she says, turning her face slightly just before he can kiss her.

Ignoring this, Can stays in the same position with a smile on his face. "Yeah?"

"Hm hm." Sanem turns her back and he waits. "Is your eyes closed?" she asks.

He hums, closing his eyes.

Sanem peeks to make sure and then takes out the blue folded butterfly from her small bag, grinning. "Okay, open."

Can opens his eyes. "No," he shakes his head in disbelief and stares at it. "Don't tell me you made it yourself?" He takes it and she nods proudly.

"You said you like homemade surprises."

"I also said it depended on who made it." He looks at it. "I didn't know you could do origami."

"It's a hobby." A very recently acquired one, actually. She scratches under her hair awkwardly.

"Another one?"

"Yes."

"Why a butterfly?" he asks curiously, flapping the wings at her and she giggles when he touches her nose with it.

"Because," Sanem looks up at him once the giggling subsides, "a million butterflies all take flight inside of me when I see you."

Wow. A million? Holy shit. "You're just a little cheeseball aren't you?" She blushes and he chuckles, wrapping his arms around her, hugging her to him. Same Miss Sanem. Same.

Sanem's phone vibrates against his back in her hand then rings and she checks it over his shoulder. "Miss D - It's Miss Deren, Can - " She tries to say as he squeezes her tightly. "Can, let - I have to answer," she laughs and he sways her side to side.