First Date
I
t takes some time for things to calm down and go back to the way they were. Halis is no longer ignoring them, so Kaya and Suna don't have to tiptoe around him anymore. Ferit is walking around the mansion like a ghost of his old self, barely eating, barely talking. Part of her thinks he deserves it, but a much smaller part feels sorry for him. Kaya, to her surprise, seems to feel the same way. More than once, she's caught him throwing worried looks at his cousin.
Suna spends her days feeling adrift, and she loves it. There's no one to tell her what to do, no one to shout at her, or hit her. She doesn't have to live in constant fear anymore, and she truly doesn't know what to do with that type of security when she's never experienced it in her entire life.
There's a good chance she'll never be able to get used to it, and an even better chance that something will ruin it, but for now, she'll do her best to enjoy ever single moment of peace.
Suna wakes up slowly, takes her time to stretch in the bed. She sits up, her eyes automatically going to the couch, where her husband sleeps. She watches the slow rise and fall of his chest, his face soft in sleep, and contemplates the past week with him. Their fist night together, she'd been terrified. What if he wanted to have sex right away? What if he became someone else entirely when she said no? What if she got so scared she couldn't say no, and her first time became her own nightmare?
But Kaya exceeded her expectations. He simply, without a word, took a spare comforter and his pillow and placed them on the couch. He didn't make a big deal of it, didn't make her feel like she needed to thank him. And when she tried, he didn't let her, waving her off as if it wasn't a big deal.
In front of everyone else, they're a perfectly happy couple. They hold hands, they smile at each other. At one point, Kaya kissed her cheek and her heart nearly burst out of her chest, because all she could think about is his lips somewhere else.
They're not happy, but they are content. For now, that's enough.
Kaya stirs, and she hastily gets back into bed, feigning sleep. She hears the rustle of his blanket as he sits up, hears his groan as he most likely stretches, and feels a little guilty for not offering the bed. The bathroom door opens, then closes with a soft click, and she breathes out in relief, sitting back up. She checks her phone for messages from Seyran, but finds nothing. She tries not to worry, knowing her sister is strong and capable of taking care of herself, but can't help it. Her baby sister is out there, all alone, and Suna can't even talk to her.
She's so lost in her thoughts she doesn't notice the bathroom door opening.
"Good morning," his voice is soft, but it still startles her.
He apologizes, crossing the distance between them. "Are you okay?"
She gives him a small smile and nods. "Fine. Just lost in thought." He nods. "Good morning."
Kaya just smiles back at her. He turns, about to walk away, but then turns back. "Hey, Suna?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you go on a date with me tonight?" She's so stunned it must show on her face, because he continues hastily. "It doesn't have to be a big thing, but we are married and married people go out and we've been cooped up in this house for this whole week-"
"Okay," she cuts off his rambling, can't help but smile because she never thought she'd see Kaya Sonmez nervous. "Okay, we'll go out tonight."
"Good. Is six okay?"
