Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

33. Going to a 'movie'

Sanem puts down her mascara that evening in front of her mirror. As she smiles at her reflection, her door opens and Leyla's head pops in.

"Sanem," Sanem looks at her grinning sister, "my darling baby sister, my only darling baby sister." She comes in and closes the door when Sanem mirrors her smile.

"Wow, darling and only darling... What happened?"

"Congratulations," Leyla beams.

"Congratulations for what? Two things happened to me in the past two days. I have a boyfriend again and I'm a writer."

"For both," Leyla chuckles. "But more for the writing promotion." She squeals and jumps on Sanem's bed. "Now, about your boyfriend," she wiggles her eyebrows. "How's it going?"

"I was with him for most of the day," Sanem turns to face Leyla in her chair. "And we're spending the night together tonight." 

"What?" Leyla blinks, frowning a little.

"Nothing like that," Sanem says quickly. "We're just going to look at the stars."

"Aw," Leyla smiles again. "That's so cute. What about mom?"

"I'm going to tell mom that Ayhan and I are going to the movies." Leyla nods. "I can't tell her Can and I are together, she'll be like a leech on my neck."

"Yeah..." Leyla sighs. "She'll go on and tell daddy and everything is just going to snowball."

"And three days later, she'll ask about the wedding and when we're planning on having it."

"I'd stay quiet if I were you," Leyla scrunches her face up. "But we have to tell them at some point. We can't be the kind of daughters who keep secrets from their parents, they trust us too much...And I don't like lying. You know that."

"I'll think about when and how, but I will tell them. I promised Can I will too, I don't want to keep it secret for long, just until I feel the time is right."

"Alright," Leyla nods and then takes a deep breath, looking Sanem over worriedly. "And the employees at the agency? What are you going to say to them?" She had ulterior motives for all these questions that Sanem didn't know about yet. If Sanem handled it, she could handle it as well.

"The agency is a different story. But I don't know what to say to them either, how do I even begin?"

"Sanem, everyone noticed your absence. First Mr Can, then you... They're already starting to gossip."

"JJ covered for me."

Leyla snorts. "Oh yeah," she laughs and touches Sanem's arm. "How do you feel now?"

Sanem blinks in confusion. "Huh?"

"Nevermind." Leyla chuckles and then looks at her hands, playing with her fingers in thought. It was funny how easily one thing could occupy one's thoughts.

Sanem gets up and joins Leyla on her bed. "What's wrong?"

Leyla shakes her head and smiles. "Nothing." She shrugs. "Just...me and Mr Emre, we - we spoke about last night..."

"And?" Sanem asks when Leyla stops talking.

"Girls! Dinner's ready!" their mother's voice comes from the dining room, interrupting their conversation.

"Come on, we don't want to make her upset. Not if you want to go to the movies." Leyla grabs Sanem's hand and pulls her up.

"But - "

"I'll tell you everything later, I promise. You have to get permission first."

"But just give me a hint," Sanem whines as Leyla pushes her out the door.