Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

59. Survival kit

"Are you feeling better?"

Sanem looks away from the water across the bay at Akif without answer. They were sitting at a cafe and she's just finished telling him what happened with Can. She was
as 'better' as she could be.

"Let me see if I understand this. You lied to Can but not on purpose?" She nods. "And then he broke up with you?" She nods, her eyes on her cup. "And now he doesn't even want to look into your eyes?"

"No," she swallows, pressing her lips together.

"Sanem," Akif says after a few minutes, "I don't want to offend you but this isn't going to be easy. It's going to be hard to get him to listen."

"I know."

"He doesn't forgive easily, if ever."

"I know," Sanem says again and shakes her head. "But that's just it. I don't expect him to forgive me. All I want to do is tell him everything that I've been through so he'll understand why I lied. I want him to look at me again and know how I feel. How sorry I am, but he refuses to do that."

"He's a stubborn man, he won't do anything until he feels like it."

Sanem plays with her fingers as she nods again, her lips turned down.

Akif mutters to himself, his eyes on the water. "I can talk to him, if you want?" he offers, looking at her.

"No, Akif," Sanem holds up her hands, "please don't. I don't want your relationship to be soured because of me...I don't know why I even told you all of this," she looks down, and frowns. "I shouldn't have."

"Sanem - "

"I really should go," Sanem says and stands up.

"I don't know what to say except I'm really sorry," Akif says, standing as well.

Sanem nods and puts her bag over her shoulder. "Thank you for the tea."

"I'll take you."

"It's not necessary. I'll get a taxi. See you."

"You sure?" Akif frowns.

"Yes, thank you."

"Alright. See you around Sanem."

She walks out of the small cafe and leaves Akif to wonder what was going on in Can's head.

**

"This entire neighborhood is in trouble!"

"Yes, we're surrounded by armed forces on the outside!"

"What are you saying?"

"The mafia won't be able to come in.

"I heard it with my own ears."

Ayhan and Osman are standing outside the butchery with the residents around them complaining about the rumors, including Muzaffer, Ihsan, Melihat and Aysun.

"Why would the mafia want to come here?"

"Will you all calm down?" Osman speaks louder than the rest to get their attention. "Listen, I called Sanem just now, there's no mafia!"

"There is," Melihat nods. "There is mafia. I heard it with my own ears, by God! Are you calling me a liar?"

"No one's calling you that."

"And besides, if they come, they'll come to us directly, not you," Ayhan lifts her shoulders and hands. "You don't have to exaggerate like this."

Muzaffer scoffs. "I left this neighborhood for three days to go to the army and on my return it's been nothing but problems and now mafiosos are taking over."