Stuck with the enemy

Deniz's Story

"He kissed me!"

I exclaimed, my voice filled with a mix of disbelief and frustration as I leaned across the table towards Alya, who was sitting across from me in the hospital café.

"What?!" she shouted, nearly choking on her coffee. "And what did you do?"

"I slapped him," I replied, my tone defensive. "Who does he think he is, kissing me like that? Like, like I belong to him..." The indignation rolled off my tongue, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at the thought of standing my ground.

Alya burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "What's wrong, dear? Isn't he your 'mate'? You should belong to him." she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The laughter felt sharp, reminding me of the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Mate? Just because I was there for him, trying to make him feel better doesn't mean I have feelings for him! I'm just a nice person! And I don't belong to nobody" I shot back, irritation creeping into my voice. The last thing I needed was Alya turning my life into a soap opera.

"Sure, sure," Alya continued, her tone mocking. "It's not like you're attracted to him or anything." She leaned closer, smirking. "And come on, admit it. You didn't even like the kiss, did you?"

"Shut up!" I said, exasperated by her relentless teasing. "This isn't funny! I am so angry with him, I..."

Just then, my phone buzzed violently on the table, cutting through our conversation like a knife. I glanced at the screen and felt my heart drop: another anonymous message had just arrived. My fingers trembled as I opened it, dread washing over me.

"I thought I told you to stay away from Derek. Or am I mistaken? Did I say to console him in the hospital halls or kiss him in the street? By the way, wishing your friend a speedy recovery..."

Panic surged through me, coiling tightly around my chest. I felt my breath quicken as I read the message again, each word piercing through my thoughts like an arrow. Who the hell is this?

Alya's voice faded into the background as I sat frozen, unable to process the reality of what I had just read. The message echoed in my head, and I felt like the walls were closing in around me. "He is following me!" I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper, the weight of those words crashing over me.

"Who? Deniz, are you okay?" Alya asked, her brow furrowing with concern. But I barely registered her words. I was trapped in a whirlwind of confusion and dread, my heart racing.

"Him, the one sending me messages." I stammered, my voice shaky. "He was here. He was following me!"

Alya's expression shifted from confusion to alarm as she processed my words. "What do you mean he's following you?"

I tried to show Alya the message, my fingers trembling as I handed her my phone. "Look," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"No," she said, her eyes widening. Panic surged through me as her words sank in. "What if he's still here?" I said, my heart racing. What if I was being watched right now?

I glanced around, turning this way and that, searching for anyone suspicious. But all I saw were ordinary people going about their day, oblivious to the turmoil swirling inside me. Yet, the sense of dread clung to me, amplifying every little sound—the hum of conversations, the clattering of dishes, the distant beeping of machines echoing through the hospital.

"I can't let this go," I muttered, my mind racing. "This message is more than just words; it is a threat that can put Tommy in danger too. I have to do something, and fast."

Alya leaned closer, her voice low and urgent. "Deniz, please think this through. This could be dangerous. You don't know who you're dealing with."

"I know," I snapped, a hint of desperation creeping into my voice. "But I can't just sit here and do nothing. I refuse to let anyone threaten my family."

I grabbed my phone, hands shaking as I typed furiously. "Listen to me," I wrote. "If you dare come near anyone I care about or just talk about it, I'll go to that Derek, you are clearly afraid of. I'll tell him everything, and I don't care if he's the bad guy in your story. But I swear after that I'll find you, and you'll regret all these threats."

I hit send, the weight of my words hanging heavy in the air. I felt a rush of adrenaline, as if I had taken back a piece of my power. It was a small victory, but it felt good.

A few moments later, my phone buzzed with a reply, and my heart dropped. "It's your choice."

I took a deep breath, the reality of the situation settling over me like a thick fog. I had stepped into a dangerous game, one that could easily spiral out of control. But I wasn't about to back down. Not now, not ever.

"Deniz," Alya said softly, concern etched on her face. "What are you going to do?"

I looked at her, determination flaring in my chest. "I'm going to protect Tommy. No one gets to threaten the people I care about and walk away unscathed."

"Are you seriously not going to tell Derek, then?" Alya asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. She leaned closer, as if trying to gauge my resolve.

"Not yet," I replied, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "I need to find that person first. I can't drag Derek into this until I know what I'm dealing with."

A surge of confidence swept over me. The anger that had ignited inside me was now fueling my every thought. "Nobody threatens my family and gets away with it," I declared, my fists clenching around my phone. "I won't let that happen."

Alya studied me, concern mingling with admiration. I could see the conflict in her eyes; she was worried for me but also impressed by my resolve.

"And," I continued, "I don't want to drag him into this anymore. He has enough on his plate with his dad. It's not a good time. Right now, he needs to focus on his father's recovery."

Alya sighed, her expression softening as she realized the truth in my words. "Okay, I get that. But promise me you'll be careful. This is serious, Deniz. You don't know what this person is capable of."

"I know," I said, my voice firm. "But he also doesn't know what I am capable of. I won't back down."

Alya nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of pride and worry. "Just... promise me you'll keep me in the loop. I want to help."

"Of course," I replied, squeezing her hand. "But right now, I need to focus. I have to figure out who this dude is and stop him."

As we sat there in the bustling café, surrounded by the sounds of people chatting and laughter echoing off the walls, I felt a newfound resolve settle within me. The chaos around me faded into the background as I focused on what lay ahead. I was ready to take on whatever came next. No one was going to threaten my family. I would protect Tommy, no matter what it took.