BLACK ROSE

3 -

2 days later...

During the break before the last class, I had stopped by the restroom. When I entered the girls' bathroom, no one was inside. The marble floor was obviously freshly washed, still wet. The toilets were so hygienic, as if my mother, who poured bleach three times a day, had touched them. I mean, this school could be a den of immorality, but its packaging and presentation were good, for God's sake. Isn't that how the devil always works anyway? If sins weren't dressed up in fancy packages, who would go through fire for them...

After using the last of the five stalls lined up, I unlocked the door and stepped out. I tidied myself up a bit. Meanwhile, I heard sounds coming from somewhere near the exit door of the girls' restroom. The sounds of lovebirds making out...

"Do you love me, Kerem?" asked a familiar-sounding girl's voice. This girl was none other than Derin.

"Yes."

"Liar?"

"Girl, if I didn't love you, would I be making out with you in the girls' restroom?"

I frowned as I listened to the love chatter of the lovebirds. I wasn't going to stand here and wait for them to finish their fooling around. I decided to go over and tell them not to do this in a public space.

I started walking towards them with firm and swift steps. Derin and her boyfriend, entwined while standing at a corner, turned to face me, pausing their lovemaking like they were on a break from a matchmaking show. I stopped and washed my hands in the sink.

Kerem, whose name I had just heard, had most of his shirt buttons undone. If I hadn't intervened in time, Derin probably would have unzipped his pants too. Kerem was about 10 centimeters taller than me, and judging by his built body, he was interested in sports or bodybuilding besides fooling around in the restroom. Derin, with her languid hazel eyes, small upturned nose, slim figure, and long messy hair, was actually a pretty girl. They looked good together. Like in that Netflix series, Elite... Which was about students making out like there is no tomorrow.

After flipping my long hair back, I stood in front of them, placing my hands on my hips. Glaring at them as if I was about to bite, I scolded them in a harsh voice, "What do you think you're doing here!"

"Making love," Kerem said in a husky voice, running his fingers through his dark brown, chin-length hair. "What are you doing, beautiful?" I felt uncomfortable as he eyed me up and down.

"I think she was doing poo poo," Derin interjected, answering for me. I couldn't deny, she guessed correctly... And this made my face flush with embarrassment. The couple laughed. "I hope you didn't forget to flush, Ece," Derin added. "Freedom College isn't like the school you came from. We live civilized here, my dear spider." Her voice was quite mocking and annoying.

"I noticed, your civilized life is obvious," I said, pointing at them with my hand. "But I think you're overly civilized. Mating in the girls' restroom, really?"

"If you're uncomfortable, you can leave," Derin said nonchalantly. "Kerem and I will stay a bit longer. Because once you leave the restroom, we need to spray perfume to freshen the place, you know..."

At that moment, a blonde girl with a complexion like a Russian, but shorter, giggled as she touched up her makeup near the exit door. "Spraying perfume won't save this place after Ece leaves, Derin," she said. "We should go straight for demolition. That's the only way."

I was thinking what a terrible elementary school-level joke that was when Derin responded, "You're right, Alya," to the urban renewal enthusiast. They must have been friends. Alya's face was familiar. After a bit of thought, I remembered she was the girl who sat right behind me in class. Although we didn't have any conversations.