The door suddenly opened. Alp appeared in front of me, his hair messy as if he had just woken up. His eyes first moved to my face, then to the box I was clutching tightly in my hands. An involuntary smile curved the corner of his lips.
"Well, well…" he said mockingly. "A neighbor standing at my door in her pajamas at the crack of dawn… I definitely wasn't expecting this surprise."
I felt my cheeks burn, but I didn't step back. I shook the box angrily.
"What were you thinking when you bought this for me, Alp? Have you completely lost your mind?"
Alp leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. That familiar mischievous glint was in his eyes.
"So you didn't like my gift," he said casually. "I thought it would suit you perfectly…"
My heart was pounding. Anger and curiosity were tangled together inside me.
I shoved the box toward his chest.
"Take this back. Now. I don't want a gift like this!" I snapped.
Alp raised his eyebrows in surprise, then yawned and ran a hand through his hair.
"You woke me up, Ada," he said, half joking, half serious. "How am I supposed to fall back asleep now?"
I rolled my eyes. "I don't know. Drink coffee, drink milk, count sheep!"
Alp shook his head, then placed that smug smile back on his face.
"No… it's not that easy. If you help me fall asleep again, maybe… just maybe, I'll take the box back."
I froze. "What? Are you kidding me?"
"Not at all," Alp said. "Get used to it, Ada. I can't live without bargaining with you."
My heart started racing wildly. The way he balanced between seriousness and teasing both irritated me and—strangely—amused me.
Alp looked at me with a sly smile.
"If you don't come in and put me to sleep…" he began, narrowing his eyes,
"What?" I asked suspiciously.
"I'll scream."
"Scream about what?"
His grin widened.
"I'll scream so the whole building hears: 'Help! Neighbors! Ada is harassing me!'"
My eyes widened in shock. "What?!" My voice nearly turned into a scream.
Alp chuckled with pleasure. "I swear I'll do it."
"You've lost your mind!" I said, planting my hands on my hips. "The neighbors will lynch me because of you!"
"So? Then come put me to sleep and no one hears a thing."
I shook my head. "You're a complete psychopath."
Alp barely held back his laughter. "Thank you. That was a lovely compliment."
"Final warning, Ada. If you don't come now—"
Suddenly he raised his voice:
"Helppp, neighbors, Ada—"
"Shut up!" I lunged forward in panic, trying to cover his mouth. "Are you stupid? Everyone will wake up!"
He was barely holding in his laughter. The mischievous sparkle in his eyes said it all.
"So you're scared, huh? Then accept my conditions."
"What kind of lunatic are you?" I hissed. My heart was pounding—terrified that the neighbors would open their doors any second.
"Crazy, but fun," he said softly. "And deep down, you're enjoying this too. Admit it."
My eyes widened. "Enjoying it?! You're humiliating me at dawn!"
Alp laughed and opened the door a little wider.
"Come on, Ada… Come in, sit down, put me to sleep. Otherwise I'll wake up the entire building. Besides, I'm getting more awake by the second…"
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
"What exactly do you expect from me? Rock you with my foot? Sing you a lullaby?" I said sarcastically.
Alp didn't even flinch, that arrogant smile still on his lips.
"Both could work," he murmured, then winked. "But sleeping with my head on your lap sounds much more appealing."
My cheeks burned. "You're insane! Completely insane!"
"If I were sane, would you be standing at my door in your pajamas, waving a box at me and yelling at sunrise?" he said, barely holding back his laughter.
I took a deep breath and pressed the box against my chest.
"Fine! Five minutes only. Then I'll shove this box over your head and leave," I said firmly.
A victorious smile appeared on Alp's lips. He opened the door wide and gestured inside.
"What an honor… Welcome to my home, miss. Especially in your pajamas."
I clenched my teeth when I saw him grinning. "Drop the sarcasm or I'm leaving."
"No, no—don't go," he said, closing the door. "I've already planned to spend my entire day arguing with you."
The moment I stepped inside, the scent of flowers filled my nose. The place was spotless—clearly, Alp was obsessed with order. But instead of thinking about that, my eyes stayed fixed on the box in my hands.
"This isn't a joke, Alp. You can't mess around with gifts like this," I said, narrowing my eyes.
Alp sat down on the couch, clasped his hands behind his head, and leaned back. That relaxed, confident attitude—it really got under my skin.
"I'm completely serious. You don't like it, you don't accept it? Instead of thanking me, you're throwing a tantrum."
"Thank you?" I repeated in disbelief.
"Of course. After all… I imagined you exactly the way I wanted and bought it accordingly."
It felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. A voice inside me whispered, So this is how he imagines me?
I didn't know what to say; the words knotted in my throat. But there was no way I was going to accept this.
"I'm only still standing here because if I don't shut you up, you'll wake the whole building. Otherwise, I couldn't care less whether you sleep or not!"
"I think you do," he said, locking eyes with me. "Otherwise you wouldn't be this angry."
"God, give me patience…" I muttered to myself and stomped my foot.
Hands on my hips, I snapped:
"Listen, Alp, my friend is waiting at home. Hurry up! Sleep however you want—I'm leaving."
Alp looked at me with narrowed eyes, that teasing smile still on his face.
"Alright," he said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I'll lie on your lap, you play with my hair. I'll fall asleep instantly."
My brain short-circuited. "What?!" my voice cracked.
"What's wrong with that?" he said calmly. "Our mothers used to do that when we were kids. Show a little motherly affection, I'll be out in seconds."
"You've completely lost it!" I said, waving my hands. "You are the last person who's ever going to lie on my lap!"
Alp laughed and clasped his hands behind his head again.
"I think your lap looks very comfortable. I can imagine it—soft… warm… smells nice…"
My face turned bright red. "Alp, enough! I swear I'll scream!"
The mischievous sparkle in his eyes only grew stronger.
"If you scream, the neighbors will wonder again who the harasser is, Ada. But don't worry—I'll explain."
"You are the biggest trouble on earth!" I snapped, my heart racing.
He only smiled.
"Yes. And I'm your trouble."