Aylin Bozkurt
"I know. Kerem told me…" I said. "Don't exaggerate, Duru. It's just two weeks! Anyone who hears you would think he kidnapped you and locked you in a castle or something. Stop watching those shows. You're dramatic enough without them. Besides, the person who can protect you best is Kerem. If I didn't truly believe it was necessary for your safety, I'd be the first one to object to you living in the same house with a man. Honestly, I'm more worried about Kerem's honor than yours…"
Laughing, I pulled the phone away from my ear and waited for her screeching to die down.
"Anyway, anyway, if there's nothing else, I'm hanging up… No, Duru! For the last time. I'm not angry or tense… Yes, I can go two hours without slitting Demir's throat, but if you ask me that one more time, I can't say the same for you!.. Wait a second."
I lowered the phone, checked the other call, sighed, and brought it back to my ear.
"I really have to hang up now. Demir is calling for the third time… If anything happens, I'll let you know… Okay. I promise… Oh my God, enough! Even if I'm not angry, I'm going to lose my mind because of you, Duru!.. Bye."
I ended Duru's call and answered the waiting one.
"Hello?"
"May your jaw lock, Aylin! Is now the time to tell your life story? I've been waiting here for half an hour!"
"Stop whining already. Wait two more minutes. I'm coming down."
Without waiting for an answer, I hung up in his face. I threw the bag on the floor over my shoulder and put on my shoes.
When I got into the car waiting outside the building, I fastened my seatbelt without even looking at the useless thing sitting next to me.
"Thank God you could finally grace us with your presence, Ms. Aylin!"
I frowned and pointed at the steering wheel.
"Less talking, more driving, Demir. I promised Duru I'd come home tonight without killing you."
"Lucky for us, I didn't promise anyone anything."
He started the car with a grin. I leaned back and fixed my attention on the road.
As much as I wanted to swing my eight-kilo shoulder bag at his head and crush that peanut brain of his, for our friends' sake I had to keep my calm for one night.
'Hang in there, Aylin. Just two hours. You can do it.'
For a long time, neither of us made a sound except for the music playing on the radio. Without meaning to, I turned and sized him up. Unlike his usual laid-back attitude, he looked thoughtful. Including last night's meeting, this was only the second time I'd seen him this serious since we met.
And oddly enough, I liked this side of him.
Not in the "attracted to the opposite sex" way. I just thought a man built like him looked better like this, serious, rather than acting like a sleazy flirt.
Despite all the girls' hints, I didn't have any romantic feelings for Demir. Of course I wasn't blind or stupid enough to deny he was handsome, but I'd hated men like him my whole life.
It didn't matter whether it was with words, looks, or actions. In my book, someone who already had a relationship had no right to give anyone else a green light.
"If you want, take a photo. It'll be more permanent, even if it's not 3D."
Rest in peace, serious and decent Demir!
I turned forward in irritation.
"May your ego sink, Demir!"
He grinned and shook his head.
"I can't blame you for not being able to take your eyes off me, Unit Circle. You're not the first girl who couldn't resist my unmatched charm."
"Unfortunately for you, I'm the only girl who can't see a man when she looks at you."
"Want me to prove how much of a man I am?"
"You're disgusting. Can't you go two minutes without getting vulgar?"
When we stopped at a red light, he looked at me and shrugged, still wearing that grin that reached his ears.
"What can I do if you're the pervert one?"
To avoid starting a new argument, I didn't answer. I stared at the road and watched pedestrians crossing, trying to distract myself. Like every Saturday, all of Izmir's young people were out in the streets, meeting friends and having fun.
That was what I loved most about this city. No matter the weather or the time of day, it was always bright, alive, and full of energy.
When the light turned green, we were about to move when three girls tried to cross at the last second, then hesitated and stepped back desperately. Demir laughed and motioned for them to go ahead. The girls smiled at him and hurried across.
And of course, I couldn't ignore the detail that all three were wearing sexy outfits designed to emphasize their attractiveness.
"Why am I not surprised you let the girls go first?" I said.
He rolled his eyes and drove on.
"You women are impossible. If we're polite and let you pass, we're creeps. If we don't, we're jerks."
Grinning, I patted his shoulder lightly.
"Don't tire yourself out, Demir. No matter what you do, you're still a jerk."
This time it was his turn to shut up. With a sharp look and a few muttered words under his breath, he turned back to the road with a sulk.
Half an hour later, we finally arrived. He turned into one of the streets behind the police headquarters and parked by the curb.