Nurin POV
The Jeep
He was driving me back to my hotel. He already knew the way—he’d followed me there once before, so there was no need to ask for directions.
As I sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window, my mind wandered. The truth is, I’ve never really been close to anyone. I don’t have many friends. Most of my life, I’ve had to stop school midway through and switch to online learning or homeschooling. Constant change meant constant distance.
I used to envy Nuha. She was always top of her class, top of her batch. She had it all—beauty and brains. Everyone admired her. She was the golden girl, and I always felt like the shadow trailing behind. This trip… this is the first real chance I’ve had to see the world beyond the screen, beyond the pages of textbooks.
I know medical school weighs heavily on her—more than people realize. The pressure from others, from our parents, the crushing expectations, the relentless subjects, the impossible deadlines, and the sleepless nights just to keep up. I know that pressure. I’ve seen how it dims even the brightest lights.
And yet, here I am—meeting a guy for the first time, riding in his car, trusting him more than I probably should. I know it’s not ideal. I know how reckless that might seem. My inner voice is whispering, "Stay guarded." Be alert. I have my pepper spray with me—just in case. I’m not naïve. If anything goes wrong, I’m prepared.
This is my first time out of the country. My first time even trying to make a real friend.
I remember meeting Mia—someone from a different part of the world, now living nearby. She’s soon to become a permanent resident here. I envy her too. She has the freedom to stay longer, to explore more, to belong in ways I’m only just starting to dream about.
Hamze gently broke the silence between us. “I’m just one call away if you decide to join me on my side trip.”
“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll call you once I’ve made up my mind.”
He laughed lightly. “Actually, I’m expecting you will.”
I smiled at him. “Only God knows what will happen.”
The quiet returned, wrapping around us once more. A few long minutes passed, and then we arrived at my hotel.
“Thank you for the ride, Hamze,” I said softly. “And for letting me use your kitchen… for the clothes… and especially for the book.”
“You’re welcome,” he said with a gentle nod.
He pulled into the parking area, and just as I reached to open the door, I noticed him getting out of the car too. It looked like he intended to walk me in, so I paused and gave him a curious look.
“Hamze, you don’t have to walk me in,” I said, half-smiling.
“Alright,” he replied. “Then I’ll just watch you from here.”
He leaned casually against the front of his car, arms crossed, eyes quietly following me as I walked toward the entrance. And for some reason, the gesture—simple as it was—left me with a strange, unexplained feeling in my chest.
I entered the hotel and made my way back to my room. The day had drained me—I definitely needed to rest before dinner. Whether Emir showed up or not didn’t really matter anymore. I wasn’t expecting anything grand; I just wanted things between us to feel fair, to feel... balanced.
AYAZ (HAMZE) POV
As I watched her walk toward the hotel entrance, I turned back to my car and opened the back door to grab the paper bag I’d brought earlier—for Emir.
I dialed his number, and sure enough, his voice came through, full of energy. “Ayaz, you’re here! It’s quarter to two.”
“I’m on my way in. Just stay at the restaurant—I’ll be there in five,” I replied.
We hung up, and I headed inside.
While walking through the lobby, I caught a glimpse of Nurin stepping into the elevator. I made sure not to let her see me—I didn’t want her to know I had come here for Emir.
A moment later, I spotted him at a table, halfway through his late lunch. I approached from behind and tapped his right shoulder.
“Emir, enjoying your lunch? ”
He looked up, grinning, as I placed the paper bag on the chair beside him and took the seat on his left.
“Emir, make sure you win her heart after this,” I said, nodding toward the bag.
“I picked that outfit myself—my best shot at helping you impress her.”
“Thanks, man,” he replied. “Do you want anything to eat? Or a drink? ”
“No, I’m good. I had an amazing lunch earlier—and honestly, I want to savor that taste for the rest of the day.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So… does that mean you haven’t brushed your teeth yet? ”
We both burst out laughing. It was a solid joke—even if I had brushed my teeth.
After a few minutes, we stepped out of the restaurant together. Emir was heading to his room, and I was on my way out.
“Thanks again for this,” Emir said, glancing at the paper bag. “Let me pay you back if you want.”
I laughed. “No need. Just win her heart already so you can stop messing around.”
He grinned, and we exchanged a quick nod before parting ways.
“I’ll go ahead,” I added. “I’ve got to head to school.”
He walked toward the elevator while I made my way to the exit.
I needed to get to the university. There were still things I had to sort out—especially after the way I handled that conversation earlier. Not my finest moment. It was time to fix it.
As I walked, I caught myself smiling. I hadn’t even realized it was there on my face.
Nurin’s image still lingered in my mind—her face, her voice, the soft way she spoke, the scent that stayed with me even after she was gone. It was like a quiet echo in my space, and suddenly, I wanted that space to be hers too.
She might be friendly and kind, but she carried her values with quiet strength. That’s what made her different. The kind of girl worth keeping close. The kind of girl who could drive a man crazy—in the best way.