Completely confused, I looked between Efe and Mete, then frowned and nudged Efe's arm.
"What is Mete talking about? What are you?"
"That's it, isn't it? There's no other explanation. Everything makes sense now."
Efe remained silent, never once taking his blazing eyes off Mete. Feyza finally snapped.
"What is going on here? Is someone going to explain already?"
Mete's shock gave way to the smug arrogance reflected in his crooked smile. A bad feeling settled in my gut. The usual warmth in his gaze was gone—replaced by a contempt I didn't understand. Crossing his arms again, he stepped into Efe's personal space and locked eyes with him.
"I don't think there's anything to apologize for. If anything, you should thank us for helping you see the true face of the people you call family."
Efe let out a terrifying growl and lunged forward with a punch. At the same moment we screamed, Mete dodged it with the fastest reflex I'd ever seen, his smile widening.
"Oh. Did I upset you, Big Guy? Sorry about that…"
Efe tried to go for him again, but our renewed screams brought Kerem and Rüzgar between them. Even with both of them gripping his arms, Efe was nearly impossible to hold back—his eyes wild with rage.
"What's going on, Duru?" Kerem asked.
"I have no idea."
"Didn't like hearing the truth from someone else, huh? But we both know I'm not what really pissed you off. It's that lovely family of yours—the ones who kicked you out at the first opportunity, despite everything you did for them. Am I wrong, Big Guy?"
"You don't know anything!"
Aylin stood on one side of Mete, Feyza on the other, while I was trapped between Mete and Efe. None of us understood what was happening. Feyza finally lost her patience and slapped a hand against Mete's chest.
"Get a grip, Mete! What's your problem? Why are you provoking him when he hasn't done anything to you?"
Mete answered with the same disdainful look he gave Efe.
"Simple. I don't like cowards like him."
"What's going on, Sugarflake?"
I jumped at the whisper in my ear and turned to see Bora looking at me curiously.
"If one more person sneaks up on me today, I swear I'm going to lose my soul!"
Despite his cute smile, I sighed, rubbing my forehead, and pointed at Mete and Efe.
"Mete refuses to shut that big mouth of his and drove Efe crazy. Now Efe—rightfully—wants to kill him."
Bora shoved his hands into his pockets and examined Efe with an amused grin.
"I don't know who the kid is, but I like him already. Think he'd give me his number?.. Maybe later. He looks busy right now."
I rolled my eyes and turned back just as Efe made another move toward Mete. Thank God Rüzgar and Kerem didn't give him a chance to break free.
"I don't know what's going on, but calm down before someone calls security!"
"Let me go! You got lucky last time, but you won't get away this time!"
Mete ignored Rüzgar just as much as Efe did. Examining the perfectly manicured nails of the hand he held up, he muttered casually.
"I don't blame you for wanting to touch me, but I can't say the feeling's mutual, Big Guy. You're really not my type. Honestly, I'd choose the curly one over there."
He jerked his thumb back toward Bora. Bora grimaced and leaned closer to Kerem, whispering,
"I say let the kid go, Adonis. Looks like he's here for a divine purpose. We shouldn't interfere with God's work."
Kerem shot Bora a deadly look. Bora just shrugged innocently.
"Then take Mete and get out of here before I punch you myself."
Bora protested like a child, throwing his hands up.
"Come on, Adonis! You know I don't like being around that guy without my Daisy!"
"Bora!"
"Ugh! Fine, I'm going. But if my honor is compromised, you'll explain it to Nil!"
In that moment, Efe took advantage of Kerem's and Rüzgar's distraction, wrenching his arm free and lunging at Mete. Mete slipped out of his grasp with ease, which only enraged Efe further as he roared and attacked again.
Mete caught the incoming arm, twisted it behind Efe's back, and wrapped his other arm around Efe's throat. We all froze, shocked cries spilling from our mouths.
Efe grabbed at the arm around his neck, trying to loosen Mete's hold. Even without making a sound, the clenched jaw, tightly pressed lips, and narrowed eyes showed how much pain he was in.
Though they were close in height, Efe was bigger—yet Mete subdued him effortlessly, shutting down every attempt to break free. It was shocking. I'd never imagined that my carefree, party-loving friend would be this skilled at defending himself.
Mete's smug expression hardened into something cold. He leaned close to Efe's ear and whispered something none of us could hear. My brows knit together as I watched Efe's expression shift—pain giving way to shock, then anger, and finally confusion.
When Mete finished, he released him calmly. Efe stood there, seemingly stunned, rubbing his neck as if he couldn't fully process what he'd just heard. Mete grabbed his phone from the table, exchanged a few brief words with Kerem and Rüzgar, then said he'd be in touch once he found what he was looking for. He kissed the girls and me lightly on the cheek and left the café.
Seeing Feyza and Aylin rush to Efe snapped me out of my daze, and I followed.
"Are you okay, Efe?"
"I'm fine."
The answer wasn't convincing, but Feyza didn't push him. She just nodded. We stood there awkwardly, unsure what to say, until Efe turned to Feyza and murmured tiredly,
"I know you wanted to talk to me, but if it's not urgent… can we talk later?"
Feyza hesitated, glancing at us before looking back at him.
"I wanted to talk about where you'll stay, but—"
"That's solved. Efe will stay with me."
As Rüzgar, Kerem, and Bora joined us, Efe looked at them uneasily.
"Thanks for the offer, Rüzgar, but it's not necessary. I've arranged a place for now."
"I don't remember offering you a choice."
Rüzgar's confidence caught Efe off guard. After a moment of hesitation, he finally gave in with a small smile.
"So… I guess I have a new roommate?"
Rüzgar nodded once. Relieved that at least one problem was solved, all of us smiled.
Feyza checked a notification on her phone and turned to Kerem.
"The message I was waiting for came in. I'll go meet the guys. You should take Duru home now." She shot me a knowing glance and winked at Kerem. "She looks like she could use a morale boost."
Rolling my eyes, fully aware of the implication, I turned to gather my things. I glanced at my half-finished cake and sighed sadly. Clearly, luck wasn't on my side today when it came to food.
"Wait—where did Demir disappear to?" Aylin asked.
I looked around too, but there was no sign of him. After a few knowing looks exchanged between Rüzgar, Kerem, and Bora, Kerem answered flatly,
"Girlfriend problems."
No one was surprised.
We left the café, ready to end the chaotic day. After brief goodbyes, we went our separate ways. Once in the car, Kerem said he needed to talk to Bora, turned on the AC, and left me alone. I exhaled deeply and sank into the comfortable seat.
Emotionally, it had been an exhausting day—but my thoughts were stuck on Mete. His behavior toward Efe, the things he'd said, and the fact that he'd nearly broken the guy's arm all left me uneasy.
There was something else going on—something we didn't know, something Mete clearly wasn't eager to share. He'd acted just as strangely earlier, when I went to him with the plan to save Feyza before the party.
This time, I wasn't going to let it go. I made a mental note to talk to him at the first opportunity, then closed my eyes to rest—if only briefly—until Kerem came back.