BLACK ROSE (COMPLETED)

41 - Bonus Chapter

As the golden sun of Saturday crept higher into the sky, I found myself lounging lazily in my room, stretched out on my bed with a well-worn Stephen King novel in hand. The silence was interrupted by a gentle knock on my door. My eyes lifted from the page, my gaze shifting towards the source of the sound.

"May I come in, my dear?" came the voice of my uncle from behind the door.

"Of course, Uncle."

The door slowly creaked open, revealing my uncle in his familiar gray tracksuit. He approached me with measured steps, his voice soft as he said, "Ece, I believe I made you a promise, if you recall."

"And what was that about, Uncle?" I asked, sitting up from my laid-back position, the yellow-and-white pajamas I wore rustling slightly. I set my book down on the bed, leaving it open where I had stopped reading.

He sat at the foot of my bed, his weight causing the mattress to dip slightly. "I promised that if you managed to adjust to the atmosphere at Freedom College, if you socialized with your peers, then I would transfer you back to the Imam Hatip (Religious College) you love so much by the middle of the year. And you, my dear, have done your part—you've integrated well, even dating Fatih and adapting to the norms with your behavior and attire. Now, it's my turn to fulfill my side of the agreement."

I smiled politely at my uncle but shook my head. "Uncle, if you're offering to transfer me back to my old school, I must thank you. But I've decided that I want to stay at Freedom College."

His brows furrowed in surprise, and he adjusted his thick glasses with a practiced motion. "Are you sure, dear?" he asked, a hand coming to rest on my shoulder, offering comfort. "I thought you disliked this school. And I keep my promises, you know that. If you wish, I can still arrange for your transfer."

"My decision is final, Uncle. I want to stay here."

In my old school, everyone was devout, and almost every student possessed an impressive level of Islamic knowledge. In such an environment, where could I hope to gain any reward by sharing something someone didn't already know about the faith? But Freedom College... it was different. There were many students here with gaps in their religious understanding, and I could gain so much by offering them little nuggets of knowledge. Just like when I explained the harms of smoking to Fatih, convincing him to give up that reprehensible habit, which bordered on haram. I even managed to get him to start praying! He began with a single rakah a day, but now, mashaAllah, he prays five times daily. Only the other day, we observed a voluntary fast together, breaking our fast in the evening. Though, I must admit, his digestive system didn't appreciate the entire bowl of Russian salad he devoured alone.

Still, staying firm in my faith at Freedom College was no easy task—it was certainly more challenging than it had been in my old school. I had to tread carefully, lest I lose myself while trying to guide others. But over time, I had come to realize the wisdom behind my uncle's decision to send me here. What at first seemed like a curse now revealed itself to be a blessing in disguise. I wouldn't leave Freedom College, not until I convinced Derin to go on Hajj with me, and gave her a sip of Zamzam with my own hands. I knew it was a lofty goal, but I aimed high.

"If you've made up your mind to stay, then so be it, dear," my uncle said as he stood, his movements slow and deliberate. "The offer remains, but I won't press further. Now, enjoy your book." With that, he slipped out of my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

About an hour later, Fatih would be arriving to pick me up. Today, after a little stroll, we planned to visit a house my uncle was renting out—furnished, but unoccupied. What we would do there as husband and wife... well, you can imagine. And no, we wouldn't be gossiping about our relatives! Nor would we be figuring out how to make it to the end of the month financially. No, it was something far more intimate... what couples do when they're alone in bed, if you catch my drift. Yes, that kind of thing—what we would do, married and all.

When it was almost time for Fatih to arrive, I decided to get dressed. I pulled on a pair of navy blue jeans and a beige short-sleeved shirt. Just as I finished getting ready, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" I called out as I hurried to the door. Oh, how wonderful it was to live without a curse hanging over me! If Sinan were still alive, I would've tripped on my way to the door for sure. But thankfully, his death had lifted the curse from me.

I opened the door and—much to my dismay—there stood Sinan. I rolled my eyes.

"Welcome, Sinan," I said in a mocking tone.

From the living room, my uncle called out, "Sinan? Do I know this friend of yours, Ece?"

"Yes, Uncle, you do. He's an old friend, though he's playing a new role now. It's actually Fatih—he's just pulling one of his pranks. Again..."

"Alright, dear."

"Fatih," I muttered under my breath, "I admit you caught me off guard the first time you did this, but you really need to stop now. I get it, you've recently gained this shape-shifting ability and it's fun for you. But instead of seeing a dead psychopath, I'd prefer to see my boyfriend. Can you please transform back from this... rodent of a man?"

Fatih had been using his new ability to change shape quite frequently these days. And he enjoyed teasing me by shapeshifting into my arch enemy Sinan. Ex enemy lets say...

Sinan grinned, and before my very eyes, his form began to shift. Seconds later, standing before me was a completely different figure: an old singer. Ciguli...

"Fatih!" I said, my lips curling into a smile. "Please, just return to your normal self. Where did Ciguli even come from? I don't want to be your 'Binnaz,' please."

At long last, Fatih shifted back to his real self, and with a sigh of relief, I leaned in, meeting his lips with mine.

"I'll never forget the look on your face the first time I transformed into Sinan," Fatih said with a mischievous grin.

"Well, don't make a habit of it, love. Otherwise, I'll give you a look you'll never forget—the look of a woman who refuses to cuddle with you for two whole weeks."

"Message received," Fatih replied with a laugh. "No more turning into Sinan."

"And no more Ciguli, either."

"Got it."

As I slipped on my shoes, I mused aloud, "By the way, if I could shape-shift, and I offered to turn into your ex, Eda, would you take me up on it?"

"Never!" Fatih said emphatically, cutting me off before I could finish my sentence. "When I married you, I promised to love you in this life and the next. No exceptions, my love."

"Since you answered that so quickly and without hesitation, tonight I'll be just as eager to do whatever you want in bed."

I stood, taking his hand in mine. "See you later, Uncle!"

"Take care, kids."

We stepped out and into the elevator. "I had the strangest, most vivid dream last night," I told Fatih as we descended.

"What was it about?"

"Sinan and Kerem... both of them were alive. It felt so real. And there was a blonde girl with them, talking to them. Her name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't quite remember. It was something Islamic, I think. Something starting with a 'K.' Oh well..."

"Sounds like a strange dream," Fatih murmured as his eyes lingered on my face. His fingers wove into my hair, and when his lips pressed against mine, his touch sent warm sparks coursing through me.

"Should we play out a Hulk fantasy today?" I teased, my voice playful. "You can transform into your huge form in bed, but try to be gentle."

"Hulk be gentle. Hulk love you."

"Hulk doesn't talk like a caveman, love. What's with that? Haven't you watched any Marvel movies?"

"Hulk angry! You teasing! Green Hulk break bed!" He scooped me up in his arms, and I felt like green hearts were floating above my head...