Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

61. I don't see that Sanem

"Can, I think that's enough, man, you're on your fifth glass already."

"Bullshit, I'm fine," Can says, ignoring Akif and pouring more whiskey.

"Why are we drinking again?" Akif had a feeling he knew but he didn't want to bring it up first.

"Sanem, work, dad," Can takes a sip and winces. "Sanem... and our breakup...and for my own stupidity..." He looks up at Akif.

"So it's because of Sanem?"

Can gives him a dry look but then nods, drinking again.

"If you haven't forgiven her, why are you allowing her to keep working? You're looking for ways to not lose sight of her, just admit it. You're still in love with this girl."

Of course I am. "She owes the agency money. She's working it off."

"Oh come on, don't talk like you're someone who attaches importance to money, you couldn't care less. 40 000 liras? I don't see why it should matter." Akif shrugs. "Did you ask her why she needed it?"

"I don't need to ask, Akif, I know. Her father needed money to keep their store."

"So? What's the problem then? It was obviously for a good reason that she lied...Dude, if all Semra ever did was tell a little lie, maybe I'd still have a girlfriend."

"Why do you have to act like you don't know me? She had more than enough chances to tell me but she kept lying to my face, lie after lie. That's the big issue here Akif. She had the chance to tell me. I even asked her, I told her she could tell me anything, I could see she was hiding something. I would have forgiven her if she told me then," Can shakes his head, looking at his glass.

"That's it? You're not even going to try and forgive her now?"

"No. It's over."

"Then leave, let her go. Stop torturing the poor girl."

Can swallows his drink, rolling his stones in his hand, not saying anything.

"Can - "

Can drinks again.

"Can - "

He glances at Akif. "What?"

"When you see Sanem again, look into her eyes. Even if it's just for a few minutes. If you can still say you feel nothing after that, then I won't bring it up anymore."

Can scoffs and dumps the rest of his drink on the grass behind him, before standing up.

Akif stares up at him. "Where are you going?"

"I'm tired. You can stay if you want but I'm leaving."

"Bro, this is your house! Why would I be staying if you're not here?"

Do what you want Akif, Can purses his lips, ignoring Akif's protesting behind him.

**

"I got closer to the girl in front of me...I was hit with the most wonderdul fragrance... something wild, like a field of forest flowers mixed with summer rain...I was so taken with it, I haven't been able to get that smell out of my head...It was the most amazing aroma I've ever encountered...It was dark of course, and her back was to me so I couldn't see her face. I was frozen with both excitement and nerves when she turned her head just slightly...I looked at her and there she was again...my Sanem."

Sanem blinks at the memory of Can describing her smell to Fabri and Mine at the restaurant and then closes the window. I can't do it...
She clears her throat and turns to Fabri, who had kept his word for the past fifteen minutes and hadn't said a word.