BLACK ROSE (COMPLETED)

32 -

"So, your power is to be... lucky?" I marveled, my voice a mix of disbelief and awe. "And not just any luck—absurd, exaggerated luck. I bet if the skies darkened and the wind began to howl, before a single raindrop even kissed the ground, an umbrella would descend from the heavens just for you. You wouldn't even get wet. No, I take that back! Not just an umbrella. Barbara Palvin herself would land a mere 15-20 meters away in a private helicopter, stride over to you, and hold the umbrella above your head. And of course, dear Mr. Lucky, you'd stay bone dry."

Kerem smiled, the corners of his lips curling with amusement. "Yeah, I suppose you could say I'm lucky," he said, leaning back in his seat beside me. "I mean, I wouldn't have someone as wonderful as Derin for a girlfriend otherwise."

"Well, she's lucky too. You two suit each other, more so than Barbara ever would." I thought for a moment, then added, "But now that you're practically an angel of luck, couldn't you have used that power to save those two girls from the curse? I mean, shouldn't your luck be able to counterbalance it?"

"You think I haven't thought of that, Ece? I tried. But the curse was stronger than my luck."

"I don't know..." I muttered, deep in thought. "Maybe if you stayed close enough to the girl, your luck could keep anything bad from happening to her."

Kerem slung his arm around me, his smile a bittersweet curve. "If that were the case, you wouldn't have sliced your leg on the desk just by standing next to me earlier. And in the infirmary, disaster followed you around even though I was just a few steps away."

"Hmm, you're right..." I sighed, exasperated. "I'm just trying to find a way out of this mess, but I can't. If only we knew what this curse was, who cast it."

Kerem gently stroked my shoulder, his hand resting behind me. "I have a few theories," he said, his voice thoughtful. "Here's the first: I'm an incredibly lucky person, right? What if the universe, in an attempt to balance itself, radiates bad luck—this curse—around me as a counterweight?"

I shook my head firmly. "The universe isn't a sentient being, Kerem. It doesn't think, it doesn't will, and it holds no power. That power belongs to Allah alone, and I don't believe He would punish others because of your luck. Allah opens doors, gives chances even to His most rebellious servants. He wouldn't inflict such swift and merciless destruction on the innocent because of you."

Kerem nodded, conceding to my point. "You're right. Which brings me to my second theory: What if someone has found a way to reverse my luck, turning it into misfortune? After all, we are surrounded by students with extraordinary powers. Couldn't someone absorb my luck and twist it, turning it into a curse?"

I paused, the wildness of the idea settling into my mind. Could it be? It was an outlandish theory, but not impossible. "I don't know... But if someone could do that, and if they've targeted Fatih's girlfriends with it, then whoever is doing this must hate him. Who could it be, do you think?"

Kerem fell silent in thought. "I can't think of anyone right now."

***

We spent the day in conversation, my eyes ever watchful of Kerem, wondering if he would lose control and do something he wouldn't remember. But he never did. When night fell, I decided to stay and keep an eye on him.

Kerem, ever the gentleman, offered me his room, while he himself would sleep on the couch in the living room. As the clock approached 11 p.m. and Kerem retired, I found myself in his luxurious yet disheveled room, closing the door behind me.

Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.

When Kerem's voice reached my ears from outside the room, my eyes fluttered open. It was still dark; dawn had not yet broken. Groggily, I reached for my phone on the nightstand and checked the time. It was only one in the morning.