Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

52. A doll and a man

Can stretches his arms behind his back and walks outside to have breakfast before he has to get ready. He stops just in the door when he sees Aylin sitting already and eating.

Great, just how I want to start my day. "Good morning." He walks out and she looks up.

"Good morning," she smiles, putting down her knife and fork. "Orange juice?"

"Sure," he sighs. "Where's Emre?"

"Emre's changing." She pours him a glass. "He's still in his room."

Can looks at the glass she's holding out, his eyes on the ring for a second before he takes it. Is she trying to irritate me? He takes it, making sure not to touch her and turns away, looking at the grass on the other side of the pool.

"What's wrong? Did something happen? You look like you're in a bad mood."

He frowns and swallows the juice "I'm just a little - seeing Sanem's ring on your finger rubs me wrong, is all."

"I'm only wearing it at home. You know, before the official announcement. To get used to it so I don't bump it later."

Right, because that's important.
"You, Emre, Sanem, Osman..." He shakes his head and grimaces. "You were all talking about this and I had no idea what any of you were up to. It bothers me."

"Sanem is a very interesting girl, isn't she?" Aylin muses, leaning her chin on her hand. "She always looks like she's hiding something."

Emre steps out as she says this and clears his throat. Can nods at him in greeting. "Aylin," he gives her a look, "what are you talking about? You don't know Sanem. You can't say that." Aylin lifts a brow and he gives her a pointed look.

"She is interesting, yes," Can purses his lips. He needed to get away from Aylin. He looks inside the house and excuses himself. "Excuse me."

"See you later," Aylin smiles and picks up her fork again as he goes in, his jaw clenching.

-

Emre waits until he no longer sees or hears Can before he sits down. "What are you doing Aylin?" he whispers. "Why are you talking about Sanem? If any of this comes out we're screwed."

"He's already worked up, this is going to be very easy," she whispers back. "We just need to come up with a plan to blame it all on Sanem if it does come out," she shrugs. "But, if I'm being honest, there won't be any need to think of something. As soon as Can finds out Sanem lied about being engaged, he'll drop her. If I know anything about Can Divit, it's that even the smallest lie pushes him over the edge." She smirks. "He has questions floating around in his head about the ring already." She pops a raspberry in her mouth.

"Aylin, you need to stop. Don't bring it up again. If it happens, it happens. Don't push it." He looks at the ring. "And take that thing off."

"But Emre - " She frowns and pulls her hand to herself protectively. "I wad having such a nice breakfast and now you're ruining it." She clicks her tongue. "Eat something."

He shakes his head, and picks up a piece of toast, looking at Aylin with the ring still on her finger.

**

Sanem grabs her bag and checks her hair in the hallway mirror before she opens the front door.

"Ah!"

"Ayhan?!" she gasps when Ayhan falls backward into the doorway. She had been sitting against the door. Sanem laughs and helps her back up. "What are you doing here?"

"I was waiting for you, Sanem," Ayhan gets to her feet and Sanem closes the door. "I have something to tell you," Ayhan rambles, looking anxious.

"Huh?" Sanem asks in confusion.