SerCem: Unrequited

SerCem: Old Friends

Where is she?

Serap Kutlu paced the bathroom floor while she waited for her mother to return. She would have gone herself, but wandering the grounds of the mansion on her wedding day would have certainly drawn attention.

"I just need to know he's okay," she mumbled to herself, running a hand down her face. 

The last time she saw him was two hours ago; he was giving new meaning to the phrase 'if looks could kill,' while she said, "I do." Then he just disappeared.

Although he vowed to prevent her marriage to Faruk Gencer, a part of her was hoping that the thought of witnessing her marrying another would have been too much for him to bear. But when the official asked the all-important question, he was there, prowling recklessly towards her with the intention of making good on his threat.

It took all she had within her to remain seated and execute the plan, as his mom, Hayriye Öztürk, led him away. And because their future had become dependent on her marriage to Faruk in the last twelve hours, even if Cem was clueless about this fact, Serap declined to meet his eyes for the rest of the ceremony. Yet, she could feel his piercing gaze directed at her heart, threatening to rip her apart at her core. She didn't mind it, however. Couldn't afford to mind it, in all honesty. Not while he was free. To remain sane, Serap was choosing to be grateful.

She heard footsteps approaching and rushed to open the bathroom door. It was her mother. She pulled Mürvet Kutlu inside impatiently.

"Anne?" she prompted. "Say something."

"Kiz'im." Mürvet hesitated.

"Anne..." Serap pressed.

All she needed to do was confirm that he was in his room pouting or went for a drive. What was so difficult in that?

"Kiz'im, he's gone."

"Gone where? With Nisan?" Serap was reluctant to voice the latter, but she had managed to notice the absence of her new stepdaughter earlier in the day.

"No. 'Gone' gone."

"Where, Anne? Where?"

"How should I know?"

If Mürvet had been less obnoxious these last few days, maybe she could have asked his mom. "A person could have asked Hayriye, no Anne?"

"The woman is in the kitchen weeping, Serap, her 'only' son is gone! Such a drama queen."

Serap lost her balance, and staggered backwards, only catching herself on the sink. Cem Öztürk finally left her, the thought resonated in her mind. He left before she had the chance to tell him that she'd finally had the moment he had faith she would experience when, despite her fear, doubt and uncertainty, she'd choose him. That even here, standing in white, with another's ring on her finger, she did, in fact, choose him. And he was free and safe like he deserved because of it. Her Cem.

~~

Serap kept looking up from her portfolio to her apartment door. Agitated, she picked up her phone from the table to check the time. It was well past midnight... and he hadn't stopped by. I hope he's fine, she thought.

By this time, eighteen months had passed since she returned to that cursed mansion for the first time in two years. That also meant eighteen months had passed since she first saw Cem Öztürk with a stubble. The stubble did something to him, though. Or maybe it was her whom the stubble affected. The point was that he looked different. A grown-up kind of handsome. And if she chose to be honest, she'd be caught saying that he looked very handsome. Still, she was surprised he tried flirting with her. For one thing: he was two years her junior, and two: they grew up calling each other 'Kardeş'.