Everyone stared at us with wide eyes when they saw Demir's jacket on my shoulders. Had they heard everything that had just happened?
"Now that everyone's here, we can begin. Enjoy your meal, everyone." My eyebrows shot up in surprise as everyone began to eat at Demir's voice. From the oldest to the youngest, everyone bowed respectfully before Demir.
"Surprising."
He swallowed the food in his mouth and winked charismatically.
"What's surprising?"
"Even those older than you show you such respect and obedience."
"Everyone treats my brother like that. Anything otherwise would be against a man's principles; he wouldn't be able to stay in this neighborhood."
Now it had caught my attention. I should be leaving this neighborhood right now. I had never obeyed Demir.
"Why am I still in this neighborhood then?" My eyes climbed curiously to Demir's blue eyes.
"You should ask yourself that, Deniz."
She just wouldn't tell me. Her mysterious way of speaking was getting on my nerves. I was about to turn back to face forward, grumbling, when my eyes met those of a blonde girl. She glared at me with anger and jealousy, and my shoulders involuntarily straightened. I raised one eyebrow and looked at her. Why was she looking at me like that?
"Oh, that witch Aygül."
I turned to Aslı at the sound of her displeased voice. She was looking at the girl I had just been staring at with the same anger.
"Who is this Aygül?"
"She's a girl obsessed with my brother. She probably got jealous when she saw his jacket on her shoulders."
My eyes found the girl again. My empty gaze was fixed on her angry eyes. So what if she's jealous? It's not like I told Demir to come and put his jacket on my shoulders.
"But seriously, who made the stuffed grape leaves? They're delicious!"
As Aslı instantly grinned at Özgür's words, playfully playing with her hair and giggling, making my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Wow.
"We made them, honey."
"Well done, my beautiful girl."
I watched them with a small smile on my face as Özgür planted a kiss on Aslı's forehead.
I turned to my right, feeling his warm breath on my ear. Just like the other day, Demir leaned his cheek against mine and whispered,
"I specifically asked for your stuffed grape leaves on my plate. My mother cooked them separately."
I grinned, pulled back, and deliberately took a stuffed grape leaf from his plate and put it in my mouth.
"Well done, I made it very well. What happened, Mr. Demir? You said you wouldn't eat it?"
"I changed my mind, I just wanted to see if he managed it."
I angrily raised my hand and clenched it into a fist, and he grinned, looking at my hand.
"I really want to punch you."
"Go ahead," he said, extending his face. I rolled my eyes, exhaling sharply at his relaxed demeanor.
"Back off, young man." He frowned, clearly annoyed that I'd called him that.
My eyes narrowed when he snapped at me, "Don't ever call me that again." He could be rude sometimes and nice sometimes, couldn't he?
"Why, young man?" I said, emphasizing my words defiantly, which made him clench his teeth tightly.
"Deniz, I'll cut your tongue out!"
"Oh really? Now I'm really scared. Come on, cut it."
"Brother, for God's sake, we're at the table, can you please calm down?"
Özgür looked at Demir with frightened eyes, while Demir silently nodded, his eyes never leaving me.
"Brother!"
Arif arrived breathless, and Demir frowned at him.
"What happened, son? What's all this fuss?"
"They're coming, brother, Aslan is coming." Özgür instantly jumped to his feet while Aslı looked at him anxiously. My eyes instantly turned to Demir. His bright blue eyes turned dark blue, and the terrifying look on his face frightened me too. As he stood up and faced Arif, the vein in his forehead was once again prominent.
"What do you mean he's coming?!"
Everyone fell silent, staring at Demir in fear as he roared, then turned their gazes to his mother.
"Mother, go home. Everyone go home! Arif, go stay with my mother and father."
If I didn't go, I might learn something. I shouldn't go. My mother rushed to my side, taking my hand.
"Deniz, come on, my daughter."
"Mom, Aunt Ahu must be scared now. You stay with her, I'll be right back."
Although my mother hesitated, she took Aunt Ahu's hand and left, but Demir's sharp eyes instantly found me.
But what interrupted his speech at that moment were the sounds of gunfire.