Constantinople's Cherry

I - 6. Elin benim elimde

Early August 1914, province of Mardin.

Naïri had taken a few days to heal, and Serkan had understood how serious the context of the hate towards them was for the first time.

In most intellectual circles he frequented, his armenian identity never caused any problem. He was always welcomed with respect.

But seeing his sister wince with each movements these past few days had caused a cognitive dig in his mind that was deeper than he had expected.

Still, Serkan tried to go on, he still met Eda, two days after what happened to Naïri and everyday after that. Eda was very naive, a child almost, Serkan realised how younger she was next to him with the event, before, her headstrong nature and deep intellectual understanding made her almost seem his age, but now he realised, she was just a sixteen years old.

Still, she was his friend. Serkan appreciated her too much to just cut his ties with her, and he knew Naïri wouldn't want that. She thanked Eda a few times and even told him not to ever blame her for what happened.

Serkan didn't. He just liked being with Eda, getting lost in books, in her endless talking, her smile, her presence, it made hil forget and feel better too.

"Thank you for the translated book, I don't think I can learn Russian anyday soon." Eda said on the way back from their reading time, shivering a bit.

The wind was picking up, summer storms came and went fast but they could be intense. One wouldn't want to be under the rain so Serkan and Eda headed back.

Serkan gave her a small smile. "I figured, you're great at French, your grammar needs work but you're good at it."

"Thank you, I think I have been learning French since forever, I had to be good at this point." Eda let out a small laugh but he could see her shiver again.

She never learned her lesson and still dressed in her dresses, layered and heavy but way too thin of a fabric to keep warm.

Serkan stopped, looking at her. "Are you cold ?"

Eda shook her head. "No, we're almost there." She shrugged.

Serkan saw her shiver again and internally smiled, he removed his coat, and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Here." He fixed it correctly with so much care.

"Thanks." Eda felt herself melt, his scent from his jacket overwhelmed her senses and the care touched something deep in her heart.

She looked into his eyes and Serkan froze at her gaze. It was getting hard to ignore the buzz between them now. The attraction and care that spanned between both.

They both could feel it. Serkan's eyes watched her lips, she was so beautiful and adorably endearing, Eda was lost in his eyes. His touch felt like warm honey, it touched her heart, making it ache deliciously. She had never felt that before.

The first drops of rain started falling, interrupting their moment.

Serkan startled and they both started walking again fast, but they'd never reach so they sheltered under a tree as thunder sounded in the distance.

Eda's wet hair made her feel even more cold and she shivered, pulling his jacket closer to herself. She looked at Serkan, his wet shirt transparent and clinging to his abs. He was beautiful, she blinked, looking back up at his face.

"You saved me from the rain, gentleman." Eda quipped.

"I am nothing but a man at your service my lady." Serkan quipped back, running a hand in his wet hair, he looked so good doing that Eda felt goosebumps on her body but it wasn't the cold this time.