Can Yaman International Presents: Aşk ve Gurur~ Love and Pride

Chapter 8: Her Şey Bitti (It's All Over)

At the end of Chapter 7:  When I was finally wide awake, the curtains at my windows were fluttering in the morning breeze and Can was gone. But unlike all the other times he had left me, this time carried the feeling of finality. I thought of my future yawning before me, dark and empty without him in it. The ensuing panic propelled me to action. I called the few hotels in the area until I found what I was looking for. I changed and dressed quickly, left a brief note for my sister, and ran out of the house. Ready to claim my love and embrace my future.

(Author's Note: Your comments are welcome. Please read to the end of the chapter and don't forget to vote too. Thank you!)

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Can's POV:

I originally planned to get away from the city and its haunting memories by taking a few days to ride my motorcycle through the countryside. But after what happened last night, the old familiar urge to flee again gripped me hard. I wanted to get the hell away from here. I would need to come back to finish this damn campaign for the Fikri Harika advertising agency, and then I could put an entire continent between me and Sanem.

On my way through town, I ran into Metin who said he was here on business. We first met years ago when he was traveling through France. I was just a young photographer then and trying to find my way in the world. Metin's connections had been invaluable in helping me build a portfolio and I would always be grateful to him for that. So instead of getting the hell out of town right away, I waited for him at a small café near the hotel I was staying in, to let him know I was taking off for a few days.

"You look like hell brother," he said taking the seat across from me. I made a "tell me more" motion with my hands. Metin laughed and said, "I never thought I'd see the day when the great Can Divit would be laid low by a woman. I gotta say I'm really enjoying it."

I downed my tea and said morosely, "I'm glad one of us is." I told him about my imminent departure and he guessed why.

"Women have always come easy for you. But I take it this one is giving you a run for your money?" he asked, still delighted with my predicament.

"What do you know about this Yiğit?" I asked but couldn't even think of his name without wanting to break something.

"Not much. Our families are distantly related, but mine is at the lower end of the social scale so they pretty much ignore us. I was pretty surprised to get a phone call from him last night."

The waiter came by to deliver the menus. I threw mine aside. "What did he want?" I asked, but my battered heart was already bracing for an unseen blow.

"I'm not sure exactly. It was a very bizarre, one-sided conversation. He went on about Sanem's older sister, Leyla. I'm acquainted with her but just barely."

I sat up straight in my chair. A deep suspicion began to grow. "What about her?"

"I guess Sanem recently saved her from making a huge mistake. She fell in love with someone the family didn't approve of and Sanem separated them."

"Did she give the reason for her interference?" I asked through numb lips.

"I guess there were some strong objections to the man and his family. They thought he was after Leyla for her money. So, they sent her off to Italy."

Metin looked up from his menu and whatever he saw in my face made him blanch. "Wait," he began slowly, "he didn't call to tell me that out of the blue, did he?"

I shook my head trying to control my rioting emotions.

Metin swore. " I knew that asshole was up to something. I'm sorry, man. I don't know what's going on exactly but..."