Don't Touch Me

Chapter 2

As I waited, a sense of helplessness began to wash over me. For a moment, I thought I might be stuck at the airport forever. Anxiety grew within me, and I had no choice but to buy a SIM card for my phone, which cost 50 euros. The high price only added to my apprehension, but I needed communication.

As soon as I inserted the SIM card into my phone, I tried to make a call, but no one answered. With my heart racing, I decided to call my dad's friend, who had also become my friend. He spoke Turkish fluently and could help me.

"Hello, it's Mario!" he replied, his warm voice a relief amid the chaos.

"Mario, I need help! I'm at the airport and need to take a taxi to the terminal, but I can't communicate with anyone here. It's extremely cold, about -12 degrees!"

He immediately understood my situation and began to reassure me.

"Don't worry, Etelca! I'll help you. Just wait a moment; pass the phone to the taxi driver, and I'll talk to him."

While he spoke, I looked around, feeling the cold air outside the airport. The chill was biting, and I was already dreaming of the warmth of a cozy place. After a few minutes that felt like an eternity, the taxi driver returned my phone, and Mario said:

"Okay, the taxi driver charged 50 euros and will take you to the terminal. When you arrive, call me, and I'll help you buy a ticket to your city."

I felt a weight lift from my chest, but the unease still lingered. I looked at the passengers passing by, each with their own story, and realized that even though I was alone, I wasn't the only one facing challenges. The thought that I would soon be on my way to the city where I would start a new life gave me a glimmer of hope.

As I dragged my suitcase to place it in the taxi's trunk, I suddenly noticed two dark-haired guys standing next to me. I hadn't even noticed when they approached. My first impression was that they were laid-back, with a casual vibe reminiscent of indie film characters. They were laughing among themselves, their messy hair and casual clothes seeming to tell stories of spontaneous adventures.

One of them, with bright eyes and a broad smile, waved at me.

"Are you Etelca?" he asked, his cheerful voice contrasting with his relaxed appearance.

"Yes, that's me!" I replied, a mix of relief and caution flooding over me.

The other one, a bit more reserved but with a look that seemed to assess the situation, introduced himself.

"I'm Adul, and this is Omar. We came to pick you up! How was your trip?"

As they spoke, a small voice in my head started to alert me. They seemed friendly, but something in their demeanor made me uneasy.

"It was good, full of emotions," I replied, trying to stay calm but feeling a slight chill in my stomach.

Determined to move forward, I asked, "Could you take me to the first bus going to the city where I'm going to study?"

Adul looked at Omar, who frowned for a moment as if considering what more to say.

"Sure, sure! But you know, traffic can be tricky..." Adul began, clearly stalling.

"There's a stop right here," Omar added, winking casually.

The alarm bells in my brain started to ring more loudly. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were hesitating, which only increased my suspicion.

"No problem, I really just need to catch the bus as quickly as possible," I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady.

They exchanged knowing glances again but said nothing. The sensation that they were pushing me toward some sort of strange situation began to grow.