Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

44. Muzaffer's return

"Leave one for Osman too, please Rahmi," Sanem says tiredly and Rahmi nods, putting another glass of tea with Sanem's outside the butchery.

"Morning Sanem."

"Good morning, Mrs Emel," Sanem greets the older woman with a droopy wave and looks at her tea. Osman comes out, having just helped Emel and her sister inside. Seeing Sanem still pouting on one of the chairs, he sighs and sits down next to her.

"Sanem - " She looks at him, her lip between her teeth, her eyes teary but no longer wet. "It's enough, don't be upset okay? You were caught up in this lie by force. You didn't choose it so it's not your fault. What else could you have done but agree?" Sanem frowns. "Look, if he comes here and asks me if it's true, I'll lie for you, don't worry, I have your back."

"That's not the problem Osman. I said that I'd never lie to Can again," Sanem sniffs, "you remember?" He nods. "I've been lying from day one. I'm trying to move on but everything I did in the past just keeps pulling me back like a swamp. I'm treading mud and I keep sinking." Sanem's voice breaks, close to tears. "I want to tell him so bad, I want to be honest but I can't. I'm too selfish. I can't give him up and I can't hurt him."

"How can you say you're selfish if you're thinking about him? I mean, what happens if he finds out the truth? He'll hate his brother and he'll hate you...he'll leave you all behind and his life will become a dark pit, right?" Sanem doesn't comment. "That's more selfish than anything you've done to keep him." Osman shakes his head as her tears fall and she wipes at them. "Listen to me, if you want to move on and clear your conscience of all the guilt, you have to let him get upset."

"But if he knows who I really am - "

"If he knows who you really are, he will love you. If he doesn't, he never did Sanem." She gives Osman a small smile. "He loves you now with the little he knows. In time he will get to know you more and you him. Sanem, stop torturing yourself like this and let the man love you while he can, he deserves it! He ran after you like a damn puppy for a long time, don't ruin the time you have."

Sanem nods after a minute and wipes her eyes again, they were much drier. "I won't think about it anymore." He nods, taking a deep breath in relief. "I can't believe Mr Emre," she shakes her head, "how can he do these things to his brother?"

Osman groans and stands up. "Sanem, don't mention that bastard Emre in front of me, okay? It makes me want to beat the shit out of him."

"Okay," Sanem stares at him and he walks in, clicking his tongue in irritation. "Everyone is so angry," she mutters, "except me. I'm just here..." She huffs and picks up her tea.

-

"Hello."

Aysun looks up from folding the underwear in her shop. "Ah, hello Ihsan, welcome."

"Thank you, Aysun, thank you." He leans against the counter with a grin. "I have a surprise for you," he says and takes out an envelope from his back pocket, "I didn't come here for nothing."

"What's this?" Aysun asks, taking it and looking inside.

"The for all your shops in the street."

"That was fast Ihsan!" she chuckles. "Oh, you made me so happy."

"Happiness is a beautiful thing," he nods and pushes off the counter. "I wish I could be happy," he sighs and walks to the window.

"But of course you will be, my life," she says as she counts. "What's wrong?" she asks when she looks up and sees him shrug. "What happened?" She walks round the counter to him and he grins to himself before he sets his face in a pout again, turning to her. "What's the problem, tell me?"