Enşah | Oneshots

in another life

A/N: Don't ask. My sudden motivation for these is just my way of coping with exam anxiety 😭

~ In which Kaya doesn't exist and they meet under different circumstances. A parallel universe, if you will. ~

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The first time they had met at a local cafe, the first thought running through Şahika's mind had oddly enough been whether they had met before. When Ender held out her hand, introducing herself to Şahika with that warm and familiar smile of hers, Şahika had done a double take.

"We've met before, haven't we?" was the first thing she had asked when she had reached out to grasp onto that soft, extended hand of hers. The touch alone was enough to send tingles down her spine, and she remembers wondering if she was touch deprived or something, because there was no rhyme or reason with the way her body had reacted to that non-intimate gesture.

"You're going to have to try harder with the pick up lines," Ender had responded, her amused, slightly intrigued smile remaining, though her voice had bordered playful sarcasm.

Despite that, it was all it took for Şahika get hooked — little by little — into the comforts of Ender's arms.

And now that they are here in their favorite island, years later, Şahika finds herself pondering over that question once again while sitting on the pristine beaches of the island, a pleasant breeze blowing into her face. It lifts the loose strands of her hair up, her hair clip unable to keep them in place. The air smells of sea salt and warm sunset, and she kind of wishes she had come here earlier with Ender.

"Ender..." she mumbles, palms flat against the soft sand as she leans back to stare up at the warm tones in the sky. The name feels so nice on her tongue and she likes the the way it rolls off of it so smoothly, but there's also a slight weight to it, in which she never figured out the reason to, and has given up on trying to figure out the reason to.

She frowns when the view in front of her changes to a figure looming over her, blocking the scenery of the sunset.

She looks up, and there she was, standing in front of her, with two mojitos in her hands and that same smile on her face, and Şahika wonders aloud in the softest of voices, "I had met you before, hadn't I?"

Ender's smile turns into an unexpected snort as she sits down next to Şahika, handing over one of the glasses. "Why are you using that pickup line on me again?" she asks, tone teasing but no ill intent behind it, bumping her shoulder lightly against Şahika's.

"It was never meant to be a pickup line," Şahika answers with a huff. "If it was then I would have followed it up with something clever, to which I didn't."

Ender leans her head on her shoulder, taking a sip of her drink. "Then what was it meant to be?"

"A genuine question, to sate my own curiosity."

Ender sighs. "Look at you," she says, drawing her head away from Şahika's shoulder and lightly running her fingers against the tips of Şahika's hair. "You're worrying your head over something that doesn't matter." She is careful not to spill their cocktails when giving Şahika a gentle kiss on the shoulder. She resists the urge to bite down, though she would love to see the reaction from the younger woman. She finds comfort in the knowledge that she can try that later, in the comfort of their bed and under the glow of the moon. "Let's say we've met before, Şahika, a long, long time ago, like you said. Why does it matter?"

"It doesn't." Şahika sighs. "But I feel like it would explain the affinity I feel with you. From the very start, it just felt like I knew you, from a long time ago. Which was weird, because I've never felt like this with other people before. It's like we have this unexplainable connection."

Ender stays silent, contemplating.

Şahika sighs, wrapping an arm around her partner's waist — one that stands somewhere between protective and possessive — reeling her in just a tad bit closer. "Hey, am I ruining our trip? I'll stop."

"No, it's not that. I'm just thinking, because now that you mention it, I do feel like you're right about that whole affinity and connection thing. It is a bit weird, isn't it?" She chuckles, sliding her hand into Şahika's. "And you're not ruining anything, but I do want you to enjoy yourself, okay? I think you deserve this short vacation."

"Just as much as you deserve it," Şahika replies, turning her head slightly to plant a kiss on Ender's lips.

And when Ender turns to fully face her, she grins and happily obliges to her silent request by kissing her back.

"I love you," Şahika says, with a genuine smile as she separates from Ender.

She doesn't know what causes her to say what she says next, but it's nothing she would take back either if given the chance.

Perhaps it's the way Ender is looking at her, like she's the only one who matters, like she's the only one who has mattered all along.

"And I think I'll always somehow end up finding my way back to you — in every single life I may have lived, and may have yet to live. Maybe not always as lovers, but you get my point."

The gentle squeeze she feels around her hand is enough of an indication that the feelings and thoughts are reciprocal.

"How about this? If, say, this isn't the only life we've lived, or are going to live, and we have more lives to be living down the line, why don't we meet and fall in love right on this island in our next life? Me with two cocktails and my heart in my hands; you with your past life talk."

"Hm," Şahika hums, amused, staring up at the darkening sky as the sun slowly sinks lower behind the horizon. "I like the sound of that. And maybe, the life after that we could be coworkers! Highly ambitious work rivals, or a boss and secretary duo who get caught having scandalous make out sessions!"

When Ender pulls her hand away and the warmth dissipates from her hand, Şahika frowns a little and looks over at the other. "Was that not—"

Ender raises an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly as her pinky remains extended towards Şahika. Her eyes are gleaming at the idea and the mischievous smirk across her face makes Şahika feel hot all of a sudden. "Promise?"

"Promise that we meet like the lead characters in a cheesy turkish drama or that we fall in love on this island?" Şahika laughs incredulously, because she had expected a negative reaction to her absurd idea, but she hooks her pinky with Ender nonetheless, pressing their thumbs together as a way of sealing the promise.

If there were promises she wasn't able to keep back then, this one was one she'd make sure she'd keep at any and all costs.

"Both," Ender shrugs, "Just in case."

"Fine," Şahika confirms, her eyes softening. "You have my word."

"Even if the universe ends up getting in the way?" Ender teases.

Şahika nods. "Yes." She takes a sip of her drink. "Unless one of us dies tragically, which would be awfully unfortunate, but the universe wouldn't dare do that, right? I believe we deserve a happy start, and a happy ending to pair with that. I could write a whole essay about it, with referencing, if you'd like."

Ender laughs delightfully at that, slapping her lightly on the shoulder. "You could very well write a cheesy turkish drama too, Şahika," she says in between laughter.

As their conversation turns into them bickering over ways to meet and fall in love, laughter and teasing filling the air, Şahika is certain about one thing.

She's glad to be here, with Ender — and for now, in this moment, that's all that really matters.