Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

19. Tell it like it is

Standing in front of Can like naughty schoolchildren in the principal's office, Deren, JJ and Guliz avoided his glare, as he paced, looking at each of their terrified faces.

"I don't buy these innocent faces you have going on. You're explaining whether you want to or not."

"Mr Can," he looks at Guliz, "I'm sorry. I really wasn't even there, I don't know what happened but I'm sorry."

"Two minutes and you throw us to the wolves," JJ hisses under his breath and Can looks at him now. "You're angry we didn't take you. Sorry we didn't ask but we were at full capacity. Someone had to stay."

"I didn't say I was angry."

"Shhh," JJ shushes her. "You know what you did. You threw us to the - "

"JJ!" Can raises his voice over JJ's rambling and he stops, looking up quickly then back down.

"Yes, Mr Can, I'm listening?" JJ gulps.

"You all know what you've done, yes?"

"Can, uhm, we just...Sanem and I - "

"Deren, you are the creative director of this agency, not my life. You can't lock someone in a freezer for over an hour."

"Mr Can, we thought it might create a warm atmosphere, and also," JJ perks up, "the cold would have killed any germs, so there's that."

"What right do any of you have to interfere in my personal life? Huh?! Or Sanem's for that matter? What gives you that right?!"

"This is our personal life too!" JJ yells in Can's face. His eyes widen dangerously and JJ's lift slowly, his face paling instantly while Deren and Guliz both gasp.

"What are you doing?" Deren asks a frozen JJ, his hand still half raised to slap Can. Shakily he lowers it to his side.

"You better drop that hand," Can growls lowly.

It takes only a second before JJ comes back in full force, yelling, "This might be your personal life, but we will interfere all we want! This is an open office! The walls are windows! We know everything! We see everything! Emotions! Hugging! Fighting! Kissing around corners!"

"What?" Guliz and Deren ask at the same time in confusion.

"I've been watching this love story for months! What should I have done?! I'm just a man! I have feelings too! I am an emotional wreck because of this!"

"JJ," Can starts, "listen - "

"I'm always listening! Where are you going?! Who were you talking to on the phone?! Why are you leaving?! Why pick Polen?!"

"Will you shut up already!" Deren growls at JJ seeing Can crack his neck to the side, his jaw clenching.

"You're going to the Balkans! It's cold there! Do you know that?! Don't you watch the weather?! You couldn't survive an hour in the fridge without throwing a tantrum! How are you going to survive living in a place where it snows all the time?! Your fingers will freeze like this and stay in the shape of a claw! How - "

"Okay, okay." "JJ, calm down." Guliz and Deren grab his arms. He was like a lapdog yapping at its master.

"I will not let this love be destroyed!" JJ yells as they drag him away. "I won't let you do this! You will not kill it! I'll follow you and haunt you!"

"Take him out of here!" Deren hisses and Guliz nods, pulling JJ out with her.

"I'll haunt you! Killer of love!"

"JJ stop!" Guliz begs, sending Can an apologetic look.

Deren turns to him staring after JJ, stunned by JJ's outburst. "Can, he loves you very much, that's why he's behaving like this. He went a bit overboard, but..." She trails off, remorse all over her pleading face.