BLACK ROSE (COMPLETED)

18 -

When I fell into the pool, Sinem and Alya were so engrossed in their fierce struggle, tangled in each other's hair, that they didn't even notice my distress. While they battled each other, I had already begun to thrash about in the water.

As I tried to call for help, I slipped under the water, swallowing a considerable amount. I couldn't swim, and the weight of my clothes and high heels only made it harder to stay afloat.

Through my frantic splashing, I caught a glimpse of someone sprinting towards me from the distant corners of the garden. It wasn't just running—it was a full-on charge, with such force that their shirt nearly tore off in the process—perhaps ripping off several buttons in the frenzy. It looked like Fatih. For a fleeting moment, I saw him dimly, and then I sank beneath the water again.

***
Minutes later...

I heard a girl crying...

"This wasn't supposed to happen! It's all my fault. Please, Fatih, save her!"

It was Sinem's voice.

Then I heard Fatih's voice. "You won't die! Not this time! I won't let you!"

Someone was applying force to my chest, with hands pressing down rhythmically. It felt as if they were about to break my ribs. The intense pressure on my chest made me wince in pain, and I let out a faint groan. Sensing the faint flicker of life returning, and hearing my weak cries, Fatih stopped performing CPR.

I coughed violently, having swallowed too much water. I was lying on my back on the grass, realizing that Fatih had saved me from drowning and then brought me back to life with chest compressions. I had joked with my aunt about giving Fatih a massage, but it turned out that fate had reversed our roles.

Fatih, his sky-blue eyes now damp, looked deeply into mine as he knelt beside me. "You scared us, Ece," he said, breathless. His trousers were soaked, and he was shirtless. His hair and entire body were wet. "Are you okay?" he murmured.

I coughed again. "I'm fine." As I tried to sit up from where I lay, Sinem helped me into a sitting position by taking my arm. Then she sat next to me, hugging me tightly. My tearful friend, Sinem, was still crying. "I'm fine, Sinem," I repeated, trying to calm her down.

"I'm so sorry, Ece," Sinem said sorrowfully. "You fell into the water because of me."

"It wasn't your fault." The real culprit was Alya, but I couldn't see her anywhere. Instead, a curious crowd had gathered around me. Most of them were Derin's friends, people I didn't know.

Fatih stood up and called out loudly to the group encircling us, "Can you all step back a bit? Give the girl some space to breathe!"

Upon hearing this, people slowly dispersed, leaving only Sinem and Fatih by my side. Derin, too, was standing a few meters away, covering her cheeks with her hands, looking at me with a sad expression.

I was shivering from the cold, my wet clothes making me tremble. Sinem continued to hold me, trying to warm me, but it wasn't very effective. Noticing my state, Fatih tried to drape his shirt, which he had just torn off earlier, over my shoulders.

Despite sitting there shivering on the grass, I rejected Fatih's offer, saying, "I don't want your shirt. Sinem is taking care of me. You can go back to your friends if you'd like. I wouldn't want to hold you back, Fatih."

A Turkish girl, even when freshly pulled from the clutches of death, must never compromise on her ability to give the cold shoulder to the boy she likes. It's our tradition, and we wear it proudly!

I didn't need Fatih. In fact, he needn't have rushed to my rescue when I fell into the water. I was just about to save myself. Almost there. Am I wrong?