Flipped

Grin and Bear It

Can tried to make the general feel of the small gathering lighter, "Oh yes, we go way back, right Aziz Bey?"  Aziz took Can's cue and gave a small laugh, "Haha- yes, all the way back to Friday!"  The men chuckled as they ended the hand-shake and both Yigit and Sanem looked a little perplexed.  Then Sanem put it together in her head-  They must have met the night of the anniversary party.  Hmmm...  Why didn't we?  Or did we?

Yigit was still lost, but tried to play along.  "Wai!  That is a long time."  Aziz took the hint from Yigit and offered the explanation.  "Yes yes, we were all up in the office, preparing for the party later that evening and Can had come up to his sister's office with his exciting news, announcing he'd secured a position with your publishing house."  Yigit looked from Aziz to Can, "Ah-ah!  What a small world!  I hadn't realized you two had time together...  So, you must have met our lovely Sanem as well?"  He reached a hand between Can and Aziz toward Sanem.  Can started, "We-" but Sanem cut in, "Yes-  we've met." She looked at Can briefly, trying to convey that she didn't want to go into greater detail of the when or how they'd met.  He read her clearly and simply nodded, with a close-lipped smile toward her, and turning that smile, with slightly raised eyebrows to Yigit.  Ironically, both Can and Sanem were still not 100% sure when/how their first meeting occurred, but both were desperate to find out.  

Yigit didn't quite know what to make of anything but he offered to move past it, "Very good- we all know each other...   shall we all sit?" He gestured behind Aziz and Sanem toward the little cafe area they'd just left.  Aziz gave a side glance to Sanem to see what she wanted to do.  Can also looked to her.  He couldn't help but be a little hopeful she'd elect to stay, but he didn't truly expect her to.  Nor did he particularly want Yigit present for a possible continued conversation with her.  He could just sense her uneasiness, so he offered an out.  "Although, it looks like you two were just on your way out?"  Sanem's heart was torn between wanting to speak with Yigit to end it once and for all, and going with her father to talk through things she knew there was more to.  She considered for a beat, then, offering a small smile-  "We were actually...  and it appears the two of you are in the middle of something as well so, Baba and I will leave you to it."

She placed her hand on her father's shoulder, slightly pushing and Aziz made a nod to Yigit as he turned to move past them.  Yigit went to protest but Can helped her out again.  "Evet! I'm really very excited about getting started.  You two have a good talk- görüşürüz!"  He gave a wave to Sanem and her father and took half a step in their opposite direction, encouraging Yigit to come with him towards his office.  Aziz and Sanem echoed Can's 'see you' as they walked on, which somewhat forced Yigit to follow suit- "Görüşürüz."  Then he called back again after a few steps over his shoulder to them, "We'll catch up later, I promise!"

Can took the opening, "Catch up?  Sounds like you haven't seen them in a while then?" He wasn't certain he wanted to prod the subject much, not knowing the nature of Yigit's relationship with Sanem.  She had mentioned the two of them being 'pushed together' a bit, due to their respective families having had some connection but, beyond that, he could only guess.  He just wasn't sure he wanted to hear more detail on it from Yigit.  Well, he knew he'd prefer to hear it from Sanem but, he didn't know if she would feel comfortable in talking to him about it, so he took his chances, giving Yigit an opening to share.

Yigit didn't give much away, only answering with, "No- I've only gotten in from Canada a few days ago myself, and then, most of that time was spent in finalizing this office space and setting it up.  Plus, Sanem only just arrived in Istanbul as well..."  They had reached Can's work area and paused there at his entryway.  "I think it was the day of the anniversary party as a matter of fact...  it could have been late the night before, I don't recall."  Can still couldn't glean much from Yigit's response as to the nature of his relationship with Sanem but he was a bit relieved that he hadn't referred to her as his girlfriend first thing.  Granted, that wasn't what he'd asked, but he still considered it promising.  He just knew that, if Sanem was his girlfriend, he'd tell everybody-  as soon as they met anyone!