If Only

Chapter 3 : The Picture Perfect

In the middle of the night, Kerem screams one word: "Ayse, no!" and he wakes up immediately.
It was a nightmare that gave him fear goosebumps and sweat. He did not love the twist of actions that were taking place in his dreams. He takes a glass of water to recover and think about it.

He has this feeling, this intuition that something bad was coming and he is sure everything was linked.
His nightmare, his sleep losses were arriving since Ayse had received that ring from Omer. It was a sign, even if Kerem never believe in tales and augury, this time his guts were sure about it.
Why couldn't he sleep since that night in the hut, since Ayse accepted Omer's family ring? Could his subconscious be cursing him for not stopping this engagement?

He tried to go back to bed but the last image of Ayse in his arms unconscious was haunting him. So he straightens up and he takes his sports clothes and goes for a run. It will wake him up and he will clean his thoughts at least.

He arrived back at the house, everyone was still sleeping. So he decided to go to the office at an early time so that way he would follow the principles of his new mentor and he is sure he would not encounter Ceyda.
She was following him like his shadow everywhere, if she could he was sure she would accompany him in the toilet. She was a bit creepy in personal matters but very professional in the company, that what he thoughts. But day after day, she was becoming a strolling nightmare. She was acting like she is his official person and like she owns the place, that had the gift of irritating him.

Arriving in Modamu's hallway, the vigils were looking at him with surprise and they were whispering things. Kerem is circumspect and says to himself "Why are they shocked I am already here, I am the boss and I can come whenever I want. It is never to early to be here for the pleasure of work".

When the doors of the lift open, he starts to list all the things he has to do today. But he was interrupted by a scent that he knew so much and that he could always recognize in any place and at any moment. Ayse's perfume, how was it possible? 10 hours have passed and her fragrance was still present in the air, his nose and his brain were going insane. It was not scientifically possible.
During the time of going upstairs, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. this smell had the gift of soothing him, of putting him in condition for a new day. at the same time, it saddened him because once again he was far from her.

In fact, Ayse was already there at her office and she was working non-stop to be ready on time at her presentation. She had new ideas during her sleep and she wanted to make them into action when there was no one to interrupt her.

Kerem heads to his office and he sees her at her office. How happy he was to see her and that she was still part of his company, plus he was not crazy or losing his mind, the smell in the lift was very recent. So he stops at the beginning of the room and he looks at her, Ayse was mumbling and he knew it might be about him.
Kerem assists at her effervescence while being at her desk, she was moving her legs continually and plays with her hairs. She is irresistible when she does that because it is his weakness.. his heart was beating fast, just by seeing her here alone he was falling in love all over again... They were connected for sure. He remarks that when he comes in advance, she is there too.

He was going to say hello to her, to be around her but he never expected to see Omer coming in front of him from the other hallway. Kerem starts to think he was cursed, and asks himself "What did I expect, not seeing him around her? She is too smart, beautiful, funny, special so he won't leave her alone. He loves her from their childhood, so he won't stop like that."

Omer sees Kerem in front of him and greets him. Ayse is surprised because she was so focused she did not hear any noise from behind.

Kerem gave a quick smile and leaves, he didn't want to be the third wheel of the carriage. His mood was now down. Just seeing a single hair from that man, could kill any mood.
Kerem whispers "He is going to pay for coming here again, and she would too" because every day he sees them together, every time his heart could not endure it.

Kerem arrives at his office, takes his folders from the pannier while looking at them. He was so angry that he could kill any living soul. The staff was lucky, he has some time to cool off before they arrive.

After working one hour on a folder, he takes another one and something fell off from that file. "What could it be?" questions Kerem. He remembers it is from last night's conversation with his father. This is the picture where all the answers will be given and could allow him to come closer to his beloved.

He looks at it again and one silhouette seems familiar. "How do I know this man?" says Kerem. At the same time, Ayse was laughing so loudly so Kerem looked up and stared at her. She seems to listen to Omer's sentence and she was shaking her head and putting her hand on her mouth. Kerem hates that this man could be that funny, Ayse has always loved his sense of humor. Interiorly, he could not bear the competition on one of his favorite fields.

Then he looks down and his eyes are riveted on that picture. "Wait a minute!" adds Kerem. He could not believe it while standing up at the same time. He was sure this man looks like Omer. He puts the picture at the same height as Omer's figure from afar and they were matching. That was not a coincidence! His guts were right, there was something about that Omer he could not stand. It wasn't the fact he is engaged to Ayse, it was another point he was missing.

Now, this Omer was going to pass under the scan of Kerem Yiğiter. Nothing will be spared him, he will be merciless to know the truth. Ayse deserves to know everything. Kerem will unmask him and reveal all in broad daylight in front of his Ayse, that will be his best revenge.

Kerem has to discover the truth about Omer and his family, he needs to know more about Omer's childhood and how they met. So he had a silly plan, he could separate them and ask them the same question to see what he could glean information. That way he will be able to see the extent of the links between Omer and Ayse. The other time, she was saying that she would have preferred meeting Omer before him; but she had in their childhood.

He recalls that ring, Ayse doesn't seem to remember this precise memory with Erkut, Omer and herself. Like a fairy tale believer, he is sure she would have saved this memory and would have told him about it when they were stuck alone in this other hut. In fact, she described their first interaction with the swan as her first love story.

The more Kerem wondered, the more that ring's story, which Omer keeps as a memory of Ayse, makes him suspicious. By adding this additional mistrust on the resemblance to the photo, Kerem was sure that he was hiding something, a secret. That mystery and that excitement were giving him enough confidence to talk to Omer and to discover the truth for his father of course.