Can and Sanem, a love story

"It's all over the Internet, right?"

Summary : When the paparazzi decide to harass Sanem... 

Sanem tried her best to hide her relationship with Can from her mother and the agency, but she couldn't do it anymore. When she saw her picture on that magazine, she couldn't believe it. It was like a punch in her body. She didn't want her parents to learn in that way, and she didn't want to be in the middle of every gossip in the company. But there was nothing she could do anymore. She talked to her mother, trying to convince her that Can was not just having fun with her and that he was serious about her. Mevkibe was not happy. She was not happy that the whole neighborhood was talking about her daughter and she was not happy to know that her girl had lied to her. But she also loved Can and even if she didn't want to admit it now, she knew he was in love with Sanem and that he would never break her heart. There was still some palpable tension at home, but Sanem was relieved to see that her mother was open to talk to her. But that morning, when she woke up and went to the kitchen, she found a very annoyed Mevkibe. She couldn't even say a word, she immediately understood what was the problem. Outside their home, in that very traditional neighborhood, dozens of paparazzi were waiting for her, screaming at her door. 

"Care to explain?", said her mom. 

"I don't know what is happening!", she screamed. 

"I didn't know you were dating Brad Pitt sister", joked Leyla, kissing her cheek, trying to soothe the mood. 

"What?", asked Sanem, still unsure of what was happening. 

"Now that you are on the magazines, you'll have to get used to it", Leyla answered, amused by the situation. But Sanem really didn't find it funny. She never wanted to be the center of every conversations. She was just Sanem, young and naive Sanem, hard working Sanem. She didn't understand how the fact that being in love with Can would make people talk about her. They didn't even knew her. But here she was, hiding under her sweatshirt's hood, her head hitting the kitchen table, not knowing what to do. All she wanted was now to protect her family from the gossip, to make the journalists go far from them all, and to go to work like every normal morning. 

When she finally decided to open the door, her bag on her shoulder, her left hand grabbing her sister's one and the other one covering her eyes from the flashes, she immediately felt harassed. 

"Sanem!" "Miss Aydin" "Are you getting married with Can?" "When did you meet him?" "Did he break up with his ex-girlfriend to be with you?" "How does it feel to date your boss?" "Are you going to leave Istanbul with him?" 

Sanem couldn't even find a way in the street, she was pushed and touched everywhere. She decided not to say a word, knowing it would make everything even worse. But when she heard one journalist talking about her parents, she changed her mind. "Your dad is only a grocer and we've heard he drives a taxi, he must be so proud to see his daughter dating a millionaire". Not only was this man calling her a gold digger, but he was also implying that she was raised that way. She was also shocked to see that they had already investigated on her family. "Don't talk about my family, get out of here", she finally screamed, on the verge of tears. Leyla, still next to her, tried to comfort her. But it made the situation even worse. "Is that your sister?" "We've heard she is also very close to the other Divit, we get it, this neighborhood in no place for girls like you". In tears, and visibly panicked, Sanem screamed one more time : "Stop, let us go now". 

++++++++++++

When she finally arrived at work, she could feel all the eyes on her. She was still shocked by what had just happened and didn't want everyone to look at her, or judge, or stare. She passed by them, without a word, put her bag on her desk, removed her coat, and walked directly to the bathroom, where she locked the door and started to cry. How could this happen to her. Why would they all care so much about her love life, Can was not even a superstar, he was just a photographer. Yeah, ok, he was a very rich and single photographer, but still. She had never asked for this, her only wrong was to be in love with him.

After a few minutes alone, she heard a bang on the door. Of course it was him. Who else ? 

"Sanem", he said. "Let me enter"

"It's the ladies room, you can't come", she said, her voice still shaken. 

"I won't go anywhere, also, if you want to be discreet, you should know that everyone is staring at me right now. Do you want our first domestic scene to be in public too?".

When she opened the door, Can found her, tears in her eyes, her face so disturbed and sad. He locked the door behind him and hugged her, strongly, his nose hiding in her neck. "I'm sorry", he whispered in her ear. "You shouldn't have to go through this this morning". 

"How did you know?"

"You mean, beside the fact that you are hiding in the bathroom?", he joked, fondly. 

"It's all over the Internet right?" she asked. He answered with a comforting smile, saying : "It's going to be ok, canim. They'll be bored of us soon and we'll go back to our normal life". 

"Can I see what they wrote?"

"It's better you don't read it", Can answered but Sanem had already grabbed his phone, typing her name on Google to find the articles. "Can Divit's girlfriend in tears!" "Who is the girl who stole Can Divit's heart (and money?)" "Golden Sisters" "How did Can fall for HER?"

"I should have known better", Sanem said, giving him his phone back, her voice shaking again and her eyes already wet. "But when they talked about my dad, or my sister... They said I was raised to find a rich man, they investigated on my parents, they were on our neighborhood. I mean, my mom was already not happy about us, but what is she going to say now. Can, I don't know how to do this". 

It broke Can's heart to see Sanem in this situation. He knew it was because of him. He was used to it. Even if his dad protected him from this when he was younger, he was used to see his face on the magazines, whether it was to talk about his love life or his family business. He didn't like the attention either and that's why he felt so good when he was far from his country. When he came back, because the only thing he was doing was working, he even forgot that he could be in the front page of the magazines. And he never thought his love for Sanem would raise any interest in the medias. She was not a celebrity, she didn't care about how many followers she had on Instagram, she grew up in a loving family. He thought that there was nothing they could find on her. But oh he was so wrong. 

"Come with me", he finally said, wiping her tears and taking her hand. And, without a word, he lead her through the corridor, to the elevator. "Where are we going?" she asked. "Don't worry", he answered, kissing her fingers. Then, he stopped outside, in front of the agency, where the same journalists, those who disturbed Sanem a few hours before, were waiting, mics on, and cameras in their hands. Still not letting her hand go, he started breathing, looking at each one of them in the eyes. Both Can and Samen could hear the sound of the flashes and the paparazzi screaming their names. 

"Ok", Can started talking. "Now that you have your picture of both of us together, I'll give you my statement. Don't try to cut me off", he started. "I am here today, with my beautiful girlfriend Sanem Aydin, to make sure that what happened this morning never happens again. If one of you ever disturb the woman I love again, or her family, or go to the place she lives in, I will personally take care of it. As you said in your articles, I am very rich, I don't mind spending all my money to sue you. And if I have to spend my last piece of money on this, I'll do it. I'll do it because I will never allow anyone to insult this woman, or to make her cry. And even if I lose my fortune, she'll still be by my side. Now let me very clear about something else. Sanem is the most talented, beautiful, and creative woman I've ever met. She saved the company, my dad's company, with some of her brilliant ideas. I owe her our last success. She is down to hearth, she got that from her father, and passionate, she got that from her mother. I shouldn't even have to explain it, but since you hurt her, you hurt me too. And you should fear this, I swear. Thank you." 

With this last words, he went back inside, still holding Sanem's shaking hand. 

"Can, I..." he cut her with a kiss. 

"I'll always have your back. Also, that means I now can officially take pictures of you and post it on my Instagram. Then, they'll all understand why I am very much in love with Sanem Aydin".