Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

71. The real reason speculation

Emre comes back out of using the restroom and finds his mother looking at a photo. He pushes his hands into his pockets and stops next to her, leaning against the wall.

"Your brother really needs a haircut and a stylist. A few small touches here and there couldn't hurt."

Emre comes to look at which picture she had and smiles. It was of him, Can and their father a year or two ago standing on the dock infront of Aziz's boat. "Try telling him that. I dare you," he chuckles.

Huma rolls her eyes and then puts the photo down. "Mother's don't say what they want their children to do, they just make them do it." She pats his chest and walks into the kitchen.

Emre follows her lazily, watching closely. "So? Are you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what dear?" Huma asks, looking around the dirty kitchen from the party.

"Why you're here?" He leans his hip against the kitchen counter.

"Why wouldn't I be here? I was worried. Or would you rather I keep finding out what's going on in my sons' lives in the news?" She finally finds what she's looking for - which is a cup and a teaspoon, and the decaffeinated coffee granules. She takes them and walks over to the kettle. "You're making mistake upon mistake, every day a new scandal and I have to watch..." She looks at him, a hurt expression on her pouting face. "Are you not happy to see me?"

"No, mom, how can I not be happy to see you?" Emre says quickly. "I just - If you called me before leaving I could have prepared Can."

"Honey, your brother is never ready to see me. No amount of preparation in the world could have made him ready if he doesn't care." She closes the coffee jar and shrugs. "He is convinced he hates me. But I have come just in time to save him despite his feelings about me."

"How so?" Emre frowns.

"Look at him! Is he really in love with that girl? What's her name, Semam?"

"Sanem mom."

"Yes her."

"Well, they love each other and they're in love with each other."

Huma scoffs and laughs bitterly. "Please," she pours water into her cup and shakes her head, "now I've heard everything. Incredible. You know, your father was the same. He had the same bad taste and apparently he's passed that infection on to his eldest child. How can he want Semam when he has someone like Ceyda right in front of him?" She clicks her tongue and takes a sip of her coffee while Emre stays quiet, just looking at her. "Ceyda is very interested in Can, that much is obvious." She walks past him and he sighs, following her back into the living room.

"Maybe, but Can doesn't care."

"For now," she sits down and sighs. "What are mothers for if not to lead our children on the right path?"

Emre sits down next to her and nods. She had no idea how infatuated Can was. "Hm, I'd think twice before getting involved with this, mom."

"Don't you worry. I know exactly what to do."

Emre shrugs. "Alright, if you say so." He clears his throat, not even wanting to think about the inevitable catastrophe. "So, tell me about you," he changes the subject and she gives him a knowing look, "how is our stepfather?"

Huma brings her cup to her lips and slurps, her eyes going up over his head. She lowers the cup and looks down at it. Emre tilts his head when she puts the cup on the table and sighs. "Erol and I are divorced."

Emre blinks. "Why?" It was the first he's heard of it.

"Let's just say that my smile was no longer bright for him." She gives Emre a smile. "But for my sons, it will always shine like the stars." She opens her arms and Emre chuckles, shaking his head and scooting over to hug her.