Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

50. Nihat's poem

"Hi, I'm looking for JJ?"

Sanem turns around from talking to Yila and looks at the girl with the big box, no older than 13. She was in a pair of plaid pants, suspenders and a white long sleeved shirt. Wow, a mini female version of Ayhan. How funny. "Hello. Uhm, JJ? He was around here somewhere." The girl nods and continues walking in. Sanem couldn't help her curiosity and follows her, walking beside her. "How do you know JJ?"

"I'm a close friend of the family. I'm from his hometown."

"Oh! Where is that exactly?" Sanem asks, hoping that she might finally find out because JJ usually clams up.

"Why are we talking about this?" the girl asks in the same way JJ would shoot down any questions about his hometown.

Sanem blinks, staring at her as she shakes her head and turns away, continuing over the bridge. "Clearly it's a state secret, huh," Sanem mutters and follows her.

They spot JJ telling Ahmet that he needed to be more creative and when he sees the girl approaching, his face opens up into a smile.

"Zhuzhu?" He runs over. "Zhuzhu!"

"JJ!" The girl pushes the box into Sanem's hands and jumps into JJ's arms.

Sanem buckles under the weight of the box. Jeez! How did she make it look so light?

"What are you doing here?" JJ puts the girl down and Sanem stumbles over with the box, huffing.

"I came because Aina saw you in a dream. They sent you this box."

JJ looks at the box like it's a bomb, his throat moving from the gulp.

"Mom's waiting, see you again, JJ," Zhuzhu gives him a sad smile.

"Zhuzhu," JJ says quietly and puts his hands on her shoulders. She waits, her lip trembling. "See you later."

JJ watches the girl walk away, wiping at her eyes and then he stands up straight.

"Uhm, didn't you say your town was far away? Where is she going now? How did she get here?" Sanem asks, still trying to hold up the box.

"What's in it?" "Who sent it?" "Can you open it?" "Yeah, we want to see."

"What's wrong with you people?" Sanem shifts to keep the nosy employees surrounding her and JJ at bay.

"Leave it alone," JJ pipes up. "Don't touch it."

"Just a peek."

"Let me go!" Sanem snaps when they start pulling and prodding her to hand it over and she kicks her leg out blindly, holding it away and turning first to one side and then the other. "You're a pack of hyeas!" she yells and runs.

"Run Sanem!" JJ calls after her and pushes through to follow but stops and turns on the group. "Stop!"

"What's inside JJ?"

They wait, watching him in anticipation. He glares at them and then clears his throat, fixing his shirt before he turns away. It was anti-climactic and they protested as he joins Sanem, who had stopped a few feet on to wait for him.

"Monsters," she mutters.

"I'll take it," JJ says and takes the box with ease in one arm. She stares in disblief. "Let's go and have a look together." He leans closer. "What's inside of it, can only be shown to you," he says. "Because you're my closest friend."

Aw. That's so sweet. And very mysterious. "Open it now." She reaches for the top.

"Not here. Come on." He nods to the right and starts walking.