I Knew I Loved You

Chapter 1

Burcu studies the blackboard in the entrance hall of the high school, reaching out and straightening one of the papers haphazardly pinned to it. The school year started two months ago and it's her second term at this place, but it still feels new and daunting sometimes. Like an eternal struggle full of challenges she couldn't have foreseen, but also rewarding and interesting.

She turns to walk toward the staff room when murmurs and a small commotion draw her attention. Curious why some students have stopped whatever they were doing to stare at the courtyard, she walks to the front entrance. A group of students she's very familiar with - troublemakers in everyone else's eyes - is talking in hushed voices too, nudging, pointing, staring. She follows their line of sight and her heart legit skips a beat before stuttering back to a galloping pace.

A man new to the school is walking from the gate at the beginning of the private road leading to the entrance. No, walking is the wrong word. In fact, maybe a new word should be invented for the way the newcomer moves. He saunters, but it's less macho bravado and more natural confidence. He struts, but not in an aggressive or showy way. Not like a peacock boasting its colors, more like a panther full of lethal grace. He walks as if he owns the world, and for the moment he does seem to - or at least he owns everyone's attention, including hers.

A few of the older girls are giggling and swooning, and Burcu can relate all too well. She's pretty sure her mouth is gaping open and she has hearts and flames in her eyes like a comic figure. It's not just the way he makes his grand entrance without even seeming to care about it; it's his unfairly good looks too.

Dressed in faded dark gray jeans and a darker gray shirt with the first button undone and the sleeves rolled up, he'd look way better in a movie or on the cover of a romance novel than in their school courtyard. His hair is a little longer than is the norm, careless and lush waves of dark brown that look artfully tousled with a bit of gel. And ooohhh that beard, more than a stubble but not too scruffy. It accentuates his chiseled jawline. He has unfairly luscious lips that somehow add a hint of vulnerability to the picture of masculinity. A character nose and a light tan complete his stunning features along with dark eyes that don't seem to notice anyone or anything. There's a sports bag carelessly slung over one shoulder, his grip making the veins on his bare and hair-dusted forearm pop.

When the man comes closer to the entrance, a few people try to catch his eye with a smile or nod or even a "merhaba hocam". No response at all. He looks deep in thought but at the same time also as if he couldn't care less. There's this brooding, almost mysterious air about him that only adds to his rugged appeal.

Burcu shuts her mouth with a snap, hoping she isn't drooling. And also hoping that nobody heard her gasp - because even though he's a stranger to everyone else, he isn't to her. Correction, he is now, but he wasn't before. She sways on the spot for a moment, feeling her world tilt on its axis as he passes her by without so much as a glance.

Ahead of her, one of the older students steps into the newcomer's path and greets him. The man gives him a terse, almost hostile "konuşma benimle", veers to the left and strides on.

Shock overwritten by indignation because she HATES rude adults and because this isn't a good role model for the kids, Burcu feels her feet move of their own accord. Before she knows it, she's hastily trying to catch up with the man, having to scurry because of his long legs and fast pace.

"Excuse me? Hello?"

All she gets is a cool "don't bother, I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone" thrown over his shoulder, and wow, now she's furious and hurt at the same time.

"Stop. Kemal."

Oops, oh no. A hand over her mouth, she watches as the man freezes mid-step because she called him by his name. One second ticks by. Another, seemingly endless and so laden with tension that surely everyone else must have noticed.