Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

19. Getting caught spying

"He he he," JJ laughs quietly as he holds his camera up over the menu, looking at the filter app he had on Emre, little hearts and kisses flying around his head on camera. When Sanem looks at him, he says, "I put a filter on Mr Emre's face, his eyes are hearts now."

"Very funny," Sanem rolls her eyes.

JJ moves on to one of the other patrons, sitting back. He laughs some more, looking at the woman with dogear and a snout. "Sanem," he gasps through his laughter, "this woman's a dog, look," he turns his phone.

"Is that what we're telling Mr Can? That this woman turned into a dog?"
JJ keeps laughing, and Sanem looks away, frowning. She couldn't exactly see the bright side at the moment. "JJ, I can't see or hear anything from here." She keeps the menu up, staying crouched when she stands. She drops it at the paypoint and walks fast to the other side, getting closer to Emre, JJ hurrying to keep up behind her. "We have to keep out of sight okay?"

"Okay," JJ whispers back. He clears his throat when they pass a waiter and Sanem puts her phone to her ear. "Is the restroom this way?" JJ asks, and the waiter nods. They go around the corner.

"We have to pretend we're taking a selfie," Sanem whispers.

"Good idea." She opens the camera app and lifts the phone, angling it so Emre and Aylin were in frame.

"Anyway, how have you been doing?" Emre asks with a smile as he eats.

Sanem squints at the photo she just took, then enlarges it. What the - She blinks at it. Oh my God...no...no...no! That's not - She and JJ both look at one another and then over their shoulders behind the winerack, staring at the woman who was clearly not the Aylin they expected.

"Do you like it?"

"Very much."

"That is not Miss Aylin," Sanem says with wide eyes.

"But he said so on the phone, he said Miss Aylin's name, I heard him."

"JJ," Sanem narrows her eyes and glares at him, "I'm going to slap you," she hisses, her hand raised already.

"Sanem, don't be so harsh okay?" JJ begs, standing back a step. "Let's just leave."

Sanem nods and they start moving.

"What are they doing?"

They stop when they hear Aylin ask this and Emre turn in his seat. Peeking through the gaps, they're frozen at his surprised gaze.

"Sanem?" Emre looks from her to JJ. "JJ? What are you two doing here?"

"Oh! Mr Emre!" Sanem grins at him stiffly. "Is that you?"

"We came to have lunch with you and Miss Aylin, but it turns out - "

Sanem elbows JJ to shut up and he does. "Er...We decided to have some lunch here too...We heard this place has some great salad options. This is - Wow, what a coincidence huh?" she chuckles nervously.

"Hm," Emre nods at them knowingly. "What a coincidence." He sighs and points at Aylin. "This is Miss Aylin."

"Hello."

"Hi, Miss Aylin."

"She's an executive with a bank."

"Yeah? You're so young and you're in charge?" JJ asks, his brows shooting up. "Well done! You won't be fired..."

"Because that's our biggest problem right now," Sanem grinds out. The four of them look at each other for a few awkward seconds and then Sanem clears her throat. "Well, we'll let you finish your food. Come on JJ, let's go...Er, JJ?"