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e i g h t e e n

Kenans return from Germany is marked on my calendar with a big red circle. Even though Türkiye lost the tournament. It's the day I have been counting down to, the moment that feels like it will bring a semblance of normalcy back into our lives. Despite the turmoil of the past few weeks — the media frenzy, the hate comments, the job stress — I have been holding onto the hope that seeing Kenan again will make everything feel right. The day finally arrives, and I head to the airport to meet him. My heart races as I wait in the arrivals area, surrounded by families eagerly awaiting their loved ones. When I finally spot Kenan, looking exhausted but smiling, a wave of relief washes over me. As he walks towards me, I feel like I can finally breathe again. Sounds cheesy, but it's true. He immediately pulls me into a tight hug, and for a moment, everything else melts away. The noise of the airport, the curious stares from bystanders —  all of it fades as I bury my face in his chest, savoring the warmth and familiarity of his embrace. He smells so good.

"I missed you so much," I whisper, my voice muffled against his jacket.
"I missed you too," he replies, his voice equally soft. "You have no idea." We linger there for a moment longer, neither of us wanting to break the embrace. But the world around us doesn't pause, and soon we are heading out of the airport, hand in hand.

As we drive back to my apartment, Kenan fills me in on the tournament, the highs and lows of the games, and the camaraderie with his teammates. He talks animatedly about the experience, but I can sense an underlying tension. Obviously, idiot. They lost, even though they played amazing. It's as if he is trying to focus on the positive and avoid the reality we have to face now that he is back. When we reach my apartment, I make us some tea, and we settle on the couch. The silence between us is comfortable, but there is a palpable weight in the air, the unspoken tension of everything we have been through while we were apart.

"So," Kenan finally starts to speak, breaking the silence. "How are things here? How is the job hunt going?"
I sigh, stirring my tea absentmindedly. "It's been rough. I had a few interviews, but nothing promising yet. And the media...they have been relentless."

Kenan frowns, reaching out to take my hand. "I am so sorry. I wish I could make it all go away."
"It's not your fault," I immediately interrupt, squeezing his hand. "I knew what I was getting into. It's just...hard. And you know that. It feels like I am repeating myself over and over."

He nods, looking down at our intertwined hands. "I hate that this is happening because of me, because of my stupid status. You shouldn't have to deal with it."

"We will get through it," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "We just need to keep our heads down and focus on what matters." Kenan looks up, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of determination and concern. "You are right. We have to stay strong, for us." The conversation turns lighter as we catch up on the little things we missed during our time apart. But just as we start to relax, my phone buzzes with a notification. I glance at it and see another article headline about us. For gods sake! My heart sinks, but I quickly put the phone down, not wanting to let it ruin our evening.

Kenan notices and frowns. "More nonsense?" I nod, forcing a smile. "It's just noise. I don't want to think about it right now." He reaches over and pulls me close, kissing my forehead. Still my favourite thing. "Let's forget about them. Lets just enjoy tonight." We spend the rest of the evening trying to do just that. We order takeout from our favourite Turkish restaurant — we both obviously miss our own dish from time to time — , play a few rounds of a silly card game, and binge- watch a comedy show that has both laughing so hard that we forget about the world outside. As the night grows late, we find ourselves back on the couch, the television muted in the background. Kenan looks at me, his expression serious.

"How do I even deserve you?," he murmurs. "I will always be here for you."

"I don't know," I reply shy. He still made me feel shy. "And I am here for you too."

We fall into a comfortable silence, but it is clear that the reality of our situation is still looming large. The media scrutiny, the public judgment, the uncertainties of my career — it's all still there, waiting to be dealt with. Even though I don't even want to spend a single thought on them. But for tonight, we choose to focus on the simple joy of being together.

The next morning, I wake up to find Kenan already awake, sitting by the window with a cup of tea. He looks deep in thought, staring out at the city below. I quietly walk over and sit beside him, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"Hey," I murmur. "What are you thinking about?"

He turns to me, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Actually, I was thinking...we need a break. A real break, away from all the chaos."

I look at him, intrigued. "What do you mean?" Kenan sets down his tea cup and takes my hands in his. "I have got some time off before the season starts, and I was thinking... why don't we go on a vacation? Just you and me, somewhere far away from all the media and the stress. We could use a getaway to clear our heads and focus on just us"
A thrill runs through me at the thought. "That sounds amazing. Where were you thinking?"
He grins, clearly excited by the idea. He looked so adorable. "Maybe somewhere warm and quiet? A beach, maybe? Or a cozy cabin in the mountains? Anywhere that's away from prying eyes. I would say Türkiye, but you also know there will be the most eyes."

I laugh, it was true. "I know. But I love the sound of your idea. But...I still have to figure out the job situation. And there is the money..." He immediately shakes his head, expression firm. "Do not worry about that. We need this, Mine. It is an investment in our sanity. Besides, I have enough money, the good side of being a footballer, let me take care of it."

I hesitate for a moment, the practical side of me worrying about responsibilities. But then I think about how much we both need this break, how much we deserve a moment to just be together without the constant pressure of the outside world.
"Okay," I finally agree, a smile spreading across my face. "Let's do it. Let's get away from everything for a while." Kenans grin widens, and he pulls me into a tight hug I almost couldn't breathe. "Perfect. I will start looking at places and get everything sorted."

We spend the rest of the morning planing, looking up potential destinations, and imagining the peaceful days ahead. For the first tine in what feels like ages, I feel a genuine sense of excitement and hope. This vacation could be exactly what we need to reconnect and recharge. As the day progresses, we both feel lighter, buoyed by the prospect of an escape. The world might be chaotic, and the media might be relentless, but for now, we have something to look forward to — a chance to be ourselves , away from scrutiny, just enjoying each other's company. Its a little reminder that amidst all the noise, we still have each other, and that's worth everything.

Hi! Here a longer chapter because I am not being really active lately. Hope you liked it!
(Also should I slowly get to an end with this fan fiction? Feels too long now lol)