chapter 2

I gently washed my face with cold water, tying my hair up before brushing my teeth. As I rinsed the toothpaste foam from my mouth, I muttered to myself, "I'm not young anymore, so it's not wrong to have a guy at home, right?" Suddenly, my mother's words echoed in my mind, "Take good care of him, he'll be staying for a couple of months. Don't embarrass me in front of my longtime friend." It all began to make sense now—the vague recollections of last night's drunkenness triggered by my friend's fifth breakup of the year , and returning home to find a handsome young man waiting at my door.

As I contemplated the events of the previous night, a knock on the bathroom door startled me. Taner's voice followed, “ Khadija?” gently checking up on me. I quickly composed myself, ready to face whatever the day had in store.

I cautiously opened the door, stealing a glance into the room before fully facing him. The embarrassment of revealing a less polished side to my mother's guest weighed on me. As I stepped into the living room, I couldn't help but notice Taner—a tall and handsome figure in track pants, shirtless. His tanned skin and well-defined muscles caught her eye, and I took a lingering gaze before pretending to look away. Clearing my throat, I made my presence known, ready to address the aftermath of the previous night.

Taner turned around, presenting a plate filled with delicious morning food, its aroma tantalising my senses. However, before I could indulge, my gaze fell upon some luggage and some tourist bags, prompting a sudden urge to apologise.

"I am so sorry for yesterday," I blurted out, bowing my head reflexively.

"Sorry? For what exactly?" Tanner's voice carried a hint of coldness, his dark eyes reflecting a sense of displeasure that sent chills down my spine.

My words stumbled out in a rush of guilt and regret. "Did I make any mistakes yesterday? I have strange drunken habits. I should have welcomed my mother's guest with a better scenario." I felt the weight of my actions pressing down on me, not wanting to tarnish my image within my mother's social circle or become the subject of gossip.

"So you don't remember anything?" Taner's words held a sense of intrigue and mystery as he approached me with deliberate, measured steps, his demeanour a blend of curiosity and strength.

"Did... Did something happen?" I questioned, my voice laced with uncertainty as I attempted to conceal my apprehension behind an awkward smile and furrowed eyebrows.

"What do you think about this?" Taner asked, turning his neck to reveal marks on his neck and shoulders, along with bruises on his chest.

My eyes widened in terror. "Did I cause those?" I gasped, taking a step back from him, my expression filled with remorse.

Approaching me again, Taner reassured, "I don't need an apology but..." His sentence was cut short by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

With a mixture of surprise and anticipation, my fox eyes transformed into doe-like ones. Expecting my mother's arrival, I hastily threw a bathrobe over Taner and moved his luggage aside before rushing to open the door to greet the unexpected visitor.

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