After the long kiss, I had to pull back, breathless, even though I didn't want to. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. When I smiled at the man studying my face with shock because this time the kiss had come from me, he rested his forehead against mine and returned it with a smile of his own. His eyes slid back to my lips, and he murmured slowly in a low voice.
"If this is my reward every time I get into a fight, I should probably make more enemies."
"Don't push your luck, Hotshot."
Laughing, I leaned back and hit his shoulder. He let out a pained groan, his face twisting as he grabbed it, and I panicked, placing my hand over his.
"Kerem! Are you okay? Did you hurt your shoulder again? I'm sorry, I didn't notice. Does it hurt a lot?"
He opened one eye, exhaled sharply, and nodded.
"It hurts a lot. How about you heal it with another kiss?"
When a grin he couldn't hide pulled one corner of his mouth up, I frowned and punched the exact same spot again.
"This is my fault for taking a Hotshot like you seriously. Jerk!"
"You're so cute when you're mad, Sunshine."
"Ugh!"
I stood up in frustration, tossed his cardigan onto his lap, and headed for the door. He was still laughing as he tried to get up.
The second I opened the door, I froze. I couldn't even step out, because bodies scattered in different directions like startled chicks.
On the left, Mete was studying the sign on the supply closet next to the restroom with dramatic seriousness. Beside him, Feyza and Aylin were trying to take photos with the cleaning products stacked behind them. On the right, Demir was standing there with one hand on his chin, listening with a thoughtful face to someone I wasn't even sure existed through the phone pressed to his ear. And finally, a step or two behind him, Rüzgar was leaning one side against the wall, arms folded over his chest, one foot crossed in front of the other, watching the others with a look that clearly said he was enjoying this humiliation.
"Come on, Sunshine. It was just a jo…"
Kerem came up behind me, saw the absurd scene at the door, and cut himself off. He rolled his eyes at our friends, who were all carefully avoiding looking at us from their ridiculous positions, then put on his cardigan and leaned down to my ear.
"Keep the scolding short. We have things to talk about."
When I nodded briefly, he smiled and walked over to Demir, stopping right in front of him. Without a word, he snatched the phone from Demir's hand and smacked the back of his neck. I barely managed to swallow the laugh that was about to ruin my angry pose.
"Hey!"
Demir rubbed his neck, ready to protest, but the moment he saw the seriousness on Kerem's face, he stopped. Pouting, he turned away and walked down the corridor toward the cafeteria. Kerem shook his head like he was tired of him and followed. After a quick, understanding look at me, Rüzgar went after them too.
My friends, who had been watching them leave with delighted smirks, suddenly remembered I existed. They scrambled to look serious again like they were terrified the same thing might happen to them. I scanned the three of them one by one, keeping my face calm, then crossed my arms over my chest.
"I'm sure listening at the door was exhausting. If there's anything you couldn't hear, just ask. I can explain."
"Actually, there is. After Kerem said he knows…"
Feyza didn't even get to finish before Mete darted over and clapped a hand over her mouth. Then, with a sweet smile, he shook his head.
"No. No questions. We don't know what you talked about in there anyway. We were just standing here, waiting for you to come out so we could make sure you were okay, right Aylin?"
Aylin nodded fast enough to sprain something.
"Exactly. Definitely. We didn't hear a single word."
When Mete pulled his hand off Feyza's mouth, she shot him a murderous glare with narrowed eyes. I frowned and pointed my index finger at them.
"You're not embarrassed at all, are you? Spying at the door at your age."
They looked away shyly like guilty kids. I closed my eyes and muttered in a defeated tone.
"Whatever. I'm letting it go this time."
I opened my eyes and continued, serious and threatening, stressing every word.
"But if I catch you doing it again, you're done. Got it?"
They all nodded with stupid little smiles and rushed inside. I watched them go with a helpless look, shaking my head as I sighed.
"I swear there isn't a single sane person around me."
I was about to follow when a phone rang inside the restroom. I slapped my hand to my forehead and went back. The call was about to end. Without checking the number, I answered and brought it to my ear.
"Yes?"
When there was no sound, I tried again.
"Hello? I can't hear you. Hello?"
Suddenly, a low, mocking laugh echoed right against my ear.
My brows knit. I pulled the phone away and stared at the screen. It was an unknown number.
"I don't know who you are, but these jokes are outdated. Find another victim who gets scared by this nonsense."
I hung up and blocked the number.
I shoved the phone into my pocket, still fuming, and opened the door to leave. Then a heavy thud sounded behind me. I turned quickly and looked around.
Where had that come from?
There was no one in here but me… right?
I stepped back inside and stared suspiciously at the closed stall doors. Had I not been careful enough when I first came in? Could I have missed someone still being inside? With the state I'd been in, it wasn't impossible.
What if someone had heard everything we said?
We'd be in huge trouble. I'd not only told my entire humiliating story from start to finish, I'd also casually mentioned that Kerem and I weren't actually dating.
Heart pounding, I walked up to the stalls and pushed each door open one by one. When I reached the last one, I took a deep breath. It not being locked was a good sign.
I was just about to push it open when the same thud happened again, and I jerked sideways in fear.
Searching for the source, my gaze landed on the small window near the ceiling where the wall met it. A bird was perched there, banging something shiny at the tip of its beak against the glass. I exhaled in relief and stepped back.
Curious, I turned to open the stall door again, but this time a louder thud sounded behind me. I jumped and spun.