SerCem: Unrequited

SerCem: Still Pretending

For all the ways Cem thought he'd eventually come face to face with Serap again, lying beneath the broiling sun with the familiar weight of her head on his chest certainly wasn't one of them. The sudden noise from behind had startled him. And by the time he registered the voice a second later, he was already on his way down, taking her with him. Although the moment arrived sooner than expected, it was time to put himself to the test. Could he feign indifference?

When Serap made no move to put herself upright, he seized the moment. "Ahem," he called her attention.

He watched as she rose gingerly to her feet. She wasn't moving like her usual graceful self. It must be from the fall. Had he done that? Crap. When she was stable enough, she turned to offer her hand to help him up. He almost extended his in response, but niceties weren't in the plan. So, he ignored her. He gave himself a mental pat on the back. Good start. 

 After finding his own way, he stood there, dusting the grass from his shirt, as nonchalantly as he could manage. He made it a point not to look in her direction. He could smell the light scent of the Body Glide she applied before her runs. He was standing too close. For the first time, he noticed her Hydro Flask discarded on the ground still. Morning runs, Body Glides and Hydro Flasks. If he hadn't witnessed her marriage to Faruk a few hours ago, he might have mistaken the woman standing in front of him for the one he'd woken up next to on countless occasions.

Cem took a chance to peek up at her from under his lashes. Her cheeks were flushed, and her skin lightly perspired. He saw her mouth open and then closed once more. Her brows were knitted in thought. It seemed like an eternity passed before Serap shattered the silence. 

"How are you here?" His head shot up to meet her searching gaze. 

The question cleared up any doubt whether her mom had passed on that he left. She'd already succeeded in marrying Faruk. So what if he came back? She must have thought he still had plans of revealing their past relationship to her new husband. The thought irritated him. 

"Am I no longer allowed on the premises?" Something flashed in her eyes, he wasn't sure what. But he was thankful his voice didn't betray him. 

 "You do have the power now," he continued. "But since it's only been a few hours since your climb up the social ladder, I'll take instructions concerning the Gencer mansion from Mr. Gencer, if you don't mind." 

She staggered backwards as if he'd pushed her. "I'd never--" 

"I don't care," he lied. 

Serap squared her shoulders. She hated having to explain herself, even more when her efforts to do so were anything less than well-received. "Then why are you here?" 

Good question. Cem shoved his hands in his pockets. "Because my life and the decisions I make all revolve around you?" 

"Not anymore." She seemed disappointed. Did she marry another man with the expectation that he'd sit around pining after her? The gall of this woman! 

**

When Serap noticed Cem was watching her from the corner of his eye, she made to inquire after the information her heart so yearned. To know how he was doing. Instead, she could only demand what the situation at hand required. To know why he returned. All the selfish longing she felt since her mom told her he had left, vanished when she realized that his presence was like dangling a carrot in front of that old bat. 

When his eyes finally met hers, she searched what was once her home—the only place she'd ever felt safe, seen, loved—for even the slightest warmth; confirmation he didn't hate her. But for the first time since their embrace at half past midnight in her city apartment many years ago, she could not read Cem Öztürk. It was usually so easy to know what he was thinking, whether he was in love with her or in spite. But now, a poker face she had not known he possessed was firmly in place.