Hayri must had understood Allie's reaction since he no longer brought it up. They went to the bookstore right after the class. He just followed Allie as she went to the inspirational section.
"Hayri, this kind of books helped me in the past when I was so down. I am even reading one these days to help me in my.... personal struggles. "She smiled, trying to hide her sadness which suddenly surfaced as she was reminded of the reason why she was there .
She picked up one and opened it.
"This daily devotional is a one- year- commitment challenge to change your life. " She glanced up awkwardly while Hayri just nodded.
"We both have emotional struggles to overcome. Can we get one and go through this together? "
"As long as I'll be doing it with you. "
Hayri gazed at her lovingly, instead of the book she was holding.
"Hayri, I really want to help you to become someone you deserved to be. I want you to stay away from the ruins of wasting your life in anger and hatred. With or without me, please do this for your own good. "
She felt so frustrated at the thought that Hayri was only cooperating because ...he loved her? That another fact sent goosebumps into her body.
"I need you, Zheena. I don't want to go through this alone. " His eyes were begging and it drew out a sense of pity from her heart.
She sighed loudly and Hayri got amused. He picked up the book from her hand and clawed his arm over her shoulders as he gently pulled her towards the counter.
Their trip towards home was filled with silence except for the soft music in the background. Allie pretended to read the book to ease up the awkwardness between her and Hayri.
Minutes later, they were already inside their office home. He opened her room for her and held it up as she went inside.
"Zheena, we'll go out for dinner in thirty minutes. " He closed the door right away, leaving no chance for Allie to refuse.
She threw herself down into the bed in frustration. Dinner would only give another moment for Hayri to express his feelings.This would be another frustration for him in the future and as much as possible, he must stay away from this while it was still early. She didn't want him to undergo another pain of losing someone important again.
Hayri took her later to Pierre Loti, one of Istanbul's most vibrant tea gardens. Tea garden is an integral part of the Turkish's social lives. Though informal and the cost is high, it demonstrate their most enjoyable outdoor pleasures.
Pierre Loti is known both as a popular tea garden and as the dwelling place of the French novelist by the same name. Close to it's location above the panoramic view of the famous Golden Horns of Istanbul, is Eyüp Sultan Mosque. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Turkey, where a companion of the Prophet Muhammad is thought to have been buried after the unsuccessful Arab siege of Constantinople in the 7th century.
Pierre Loti, on the other hand, is most famous for his vividly descriptive writing epitomized in Ayizade, a pseudo-biographical novel featuring the French naval officer's love affair with a Circassian harem girl while stationed in Istanbul.
Nowadays, Pierre Loti is in itself a destination, a beautiful tea garden which offered the most spectacular historic and nature view on top of a hill studded by cypress trees.
Amazed by the magnificent beauty of the place, Allie got lost in her reverie as they waited for their order.
She wondered how wonderful it would feel to be with Ajie in this place. But each time she thought much about him, it would always end up in her imagination of him and Cherry in that bed. Nothing was more crushing than the thought of him indulging in a sexual pleasure with someone else. How could he say he loved her when there someone else in his bed and in his heart?
"Here's your order, sir! Have a wonderful time. " Allie was brought back to reality when the waiter came up with their crystal cups of rose hip tea and some other food.
"Can I borrow your time, Zheena? "
Allie chuckled out at his statement.
"Of course, who else is with me other than you? "
"But your mind is too faraway! "He looked at her with a sulking expression.
"I'm sorry, Hayri. I am a nature lover and such beautiful places like this, pull me always as if I am in a trance."
"Next time, I will bring you to a place where you can see nothing else but me. "
Zheeena burst up in laughter and her beautiful demeanor instantly erased the gloom inside his heart.
"I'm really sorry, Hayri. This won't happen again "
Hayri looked down and his brows creased, as if he was debating within himself.
"What is it, Hayri? " She put down her cup after taking a sip and reached one hand to lift up his chin.
"I'm turning 18 tonight. "
Allie stared at him in disbelief and regret why she didn't care to know more about him, even with just the very basic ones like his birthday. She stood up and hugged him tightly, like a big sister to a sulking little brother.
"Happy birthday, Hayri. Why didn't you tell me ahead? "
"What would be the difference? "He asked, his face was still a bit gloomy.
"I could have bought a cake for you to make a wish! " She said with bright glows in her eyes.
"I've said my wish already. " He smiled and fixed a gaze at her for a long while without blinking.
"Really? So, I can't let you make a wish anymore? "
"Just ask me what is it. " He chuckled while giving her a teasing look.
"What? "
"I wish that...that you will also learn to love me. "
Allie retreated into her seat as she felt a headache coming on.
"Hayri.." She softly said as she reached out for his hand.
"I don't want to hurt you in the end. You can't love me. You don't know who I am. While it is still early, stop this. " She explained, looking at him with begging eyes.
"I don't care who you are. All I know is I love you and I need you in my life. And that's what matters most."