Constantinople's Cherry

II - 16. Sırlar

This chapter has some revealings (finally) and some much needed historical context. And, we see Kiraz again, it had been a while.

I have finally settled on an ending, and without spoiler, it will be the happy one, or at least, the less tragic one. The tragic one will be written out too as alternative and incorporated into the plot.

I have written out a bit of the new ending I have decided upon, and it's turned out to inspire me more than the total tragic one (althought EdSer do die in both eventually, just in different ways), so my ending also feels less abrupt and more complete.

Until then thought, there is a long long journey for our flashback EdSer and for Kiraz. And a lot of heartbreak and sadness too.

Also, because you guys made me change the ending, Selin (Lussine) will have a bigger role than I initially planned ;)

Happy reading !

....

Early August 1921, Constantinople.

Eda stared at her left hand's ring finger, where her flower ring shone under the sun.

"Eda ? Are you listening ? You've been wearing that ring for two months, it won't disapear overnight." Figen shook Eda out of her thoughts.

"Uh, effendim ?" Eda looked at her.

Ceren laughed and put a hand on Eda's back. "You're daydreaming like a silly teenager, it's not like Serkan will die tomorrow." She chuckled.

Eda's smile felt and she frowned. "Allah korsun, don't even joke like that. What kind of friends are you ?"

"I'm kidding, Allah-Allah, you're so sensitive about Serkan, relax." Ceren smiled and looked over at Figen who sighed.

"She has reasons to be though. The wind is turning. Not only have Armenians lost everything in this country, but it seems that the greek Orthodox communities will face the same." Figen cynically expressed, drinking her coffee.

"Anyone not Turk and Sunni is a target at this point." Eda sighed, playing with her fingers. "I love him so much kizlar, but I am scared."

"Eda, merak etme. He's smart enough to have a double identity, he knows to be careful." Ceren promisew with a hand on her arm.

In the sun, looking as ravishing as ever, Eda saw Serkan walking their way as they sat on the terrasse of a greek café. The greek community of Constantinople was influent, well established and intellectual. It wasn't rare for students to hang in their cafés and libraries.

She had given Serkan the address for him to meet them between his work hours. He reached them and smiled softly at her and bent to kiss her forehead.

"Merhaba, girls." He greeted and Ceren smiled at him, full tooth, while Figen gave him a polite smile.

It wasn't that she individually disliked him, but Figen found Serkan Baltayan to be trouble. He was a distraction to Eda. She was way too gone for him.

"How was your day ?" He softly addressed Eda, sitting next to her.

"Good, it's very hot thought today." Eda conversely anwsered, reaching for his hand under the table and holding it.

"It is, our kitchen was a hamam at the restaurant. I showered before coming." Serkan agreed, ordering a coffee of his own.

He could sustain himself and was steadily saving money, it was good. His only pain was that despite contacting all the orthodox religious associations he could, he got no news of Naïri.