I pulled back instantly, cupped his face with both hands, and wiped the tears from his cheeks.
Even though I knew I'd hate myself later for thinking this, the first thing that crossed my mind was how beautiful he looked. Maybe it was because this was the first time he'd let me see him so raw, so unguarded.
Keeping my voice soft but firm, I spoke while still holding his face.
"You have to stop punishing yourself like this, Kerem. No one can know the answer to that question. And you can't ignore the fact that if you hadn't gone to that party, you might not have been able to save anyone either. From what you've told me, your parents loved you deeply. I'm sure they would've wanted you to move forward and be happy—not trapped in the past. Put yourself in their place. Would they have wanted you to be home that night and get hurt too? Or live your life blaming yourself for surviving? And especially when one of them was a woman who overcame her fear of the sea and dove meters underwater—just for you."
I didn't know how much of what I said reached him, but my last words clearly had an effect.
He turned his gaze from the wall to me, a faint, fragile smile on his lips.
I'd always found his eyes captivating, but this time something felt different.
As I tried to understand what was going through his mind, his lips suddenly pressed against mine.
The kiss was feather-light and lasted only seconds, but the emotions it stirred were overwhelming.
With Kerem, everything he did and said affected me deeply.
He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. When our eyes met, there was a sincere smile on his face.
"Thank you, Sunshine."
"For what?"
"For everything."
Unsure of what to say, I pulled back slightly.
There couldn't be anything romantic between us anymore. That chapter was already closed.
Changing the subject was best.
I withdrew my hands and sat back on the rug.
"So… what does the man you want to meet have to do with all this?"
Though the sudden shift and the distance between us surprised him, he didn't object. He sighed and leaned back.
"When the police explained what happened, neither Rüzgar nor I were exactly in the best state of mind. I don't remember all the details. All I know is that they said the fire was an accident.
For years, we all believed it was.
But a few months ago, a man called me. He said nothing that happened that night was an accident. And that he was the only one who could tell me the truth.
At first, I thought it was some sick joke by someone who knew me and didn't like me. I told him to leave me alone."
But he called again. This time, with details that proved he wasn't joking."
I frowned and interrupted.
"You mean someone deliberately set your house on fire and made it look like an accident?"
"That's what he claims. The problem is—he says he'll only explain everything face to face. The fire, what happened before it, and who was responsible."
"Why can't he explain it over the phone?"
"I asked the same thing. But he was adamant. He wouldn't talk unless he saw me."
"I don't know what his motive is, or why he decided to speak after all these years. But once I heard there was a chance my family was deliberately harmed, I couldn't just keep living like nothing happened.
I finally agreed to meet him. And then he disappeared.
If something went wrong and I couldn't reach him at the number he used, he gave me the name of the woman at the bar. You already know the rest."
I sat quietly for a while, processing everything and connecting it with what had happened later. Still, one thing bothered me.
"There's something I don't understand. Rüzgar shares the same past as you. Why did you hide something this important from him?"
He ran his hands over his face and sighed deeply.
"Rüzgar and I have been inseparable since we learned how to walk. He's more than a brother to me.
After everything that happened, he's the only family I have left."
We never talked about that night after the funeral. But even without words, I knew he blamed himself.
I didn't tell him because I didn't want him to get hurt more. Or give him hope only to come back empty-handed.
I couldn't be sure how he'd handle that disappointment."
I nodded with understanding.
I still believed Rüzgar had the right to know and decide for himself. But I could also see Kerem's reasoning.
In his own way, he was trying to protect the only family he had left.
There was only one question left.
"So what happens now?"
"First, tonight we tell our friends everything." Then he winked with a mischievous grin. "After that… surprise."
I rolled my eyes at his smug tone, but couldn't hide my smile. I was glad—deep down—that he was starting to sound like himself again.
Then I imagined our friends' reactions once we told them the truth.
I sighed hopelessly.
Great.
Another very eventful night was waiting for us.