[•Nuri's POV•]
It was an early Wednesday morning. I was peacefully drinking tea in the kitchen until I glanced over to the calendar hanging in the living room. Three months were almost done and Fatoş wasn't back, another thing came to my mind. My rent only lasted for three months so at the beginning of the fourth month I would have to pay the rest. I started getting anxious again till Yeşim came to the kitchen with her toothbrush in one hand and yawning, "Good Morning dear" She said, "Good Morning " I replied smiling and I forgot about my rent.
I was eating my breakfast in a hurry as there was an early demonstration on baking. Yeşim was sitting opposite to me, "Mmm! Mmm! Your cooking is just so good. I am so lucky that you chose our place!" I laughed. "I am leaving, bye" said Deren as she got out of the door, "Bye" we replied and I got up with my plate and at that time, I again noticed the calendar, which made me pause. "Ay!" I cried staring at it, "What happened?" Asked Yeşim, "I need money to pay the rent next month, what will I do now?" "Well that's easy, you just have to get a job, you know like me. That magazine to which I send my book, pays me well, even my photographs help me" and she sipped her tea.
"Hmm... Where will I find a job? I can't sing or write or do anything, just cook" "Then try being a chef" "Huh? but who will hire me?" I was confused. "Okay, let's do it like this, first you go to school and then when we meet in the evening, I will collect enough newspapers and we'll search for a job, alright?" I nodded and grabbed my bag and rushed out saying bye as I was already late.
After the demonstration, while in class, I thought about what Yeşim said for a long time until my professor asked my neighbor to wake me up from my daydream. After class, I went to him and apologized, then an idea clicked in my mind. "Sir, I was actually thinking about getting a new job" and he gave me a look, "Why, is there any need for money?" I nodded, "I ..... I don't have much left to pay the rent next month. Sir, do you think you could find me anything? At a restaurant maybe?" "Well, I am not promising... But I will try asking, but on one condition" I was curious, "Sir?" "Don't ever be late for any of my classes or demonstrations, also I will not catch you daydreaming again, understood?" I nodded, hopefully...
When I got home, I found Yeşim shuffling through the magazines. "Welcome home" She said smiling, "Well found" I replied, "It's such a pity you know... I searched through all the newspapers and I found nothing. They usually have pretty good offers in this" she said, I went and sat near her. "Uff ya! Let's go somewhere to get our minds straightened up. I know, let's go to Deren's bar" I sighed, "I am very tired... I also have tons of homework and a lot more tasks... You go on, I can't come" "You know I don't take no for an answer" well, I was never able to refuse her till now, I sighed leaning back on the couch, and she was proud as she made me agree.
"But at least tonight you will wear a dress" "I am not coming" I replied swiftly and tried getting up, then she grabbed my jacket sleeve, "Fine fine, wear what you like" she said, I grinned and went to my room.
I got out wearing my black pants with a white top and my blue jacket. When I got out of my room, I saw Yeşim standing near the door wearing a pink gown, "You look really good" I said, "I know dear... And if you just cut your hair, then I can call you my boyfriend" I laughed. It's not my fault I don't like to show much skin.
The last time I went to the bar was almost a few days back. I go there just to hear the music, I love every song they play and sing. I was also making progress by not causing trouble often while visiting that place.
We went inside and as always a great English song was playing, a rap song or something. We went and sat at the parlor and Deren came to greet us, "Oo! My most favorite audience is here!" She said and smiled vibrantly at us, "Of course dear! Can you give us two strong glasses" and she gave me a wicked smile. "Yeşim..." I warned, half yelling, "Come on now, what will happen? You should have the joy of drinking at least once in your life" "No Thank you I will have the joy later" I replied coolly. "You will stay an alcohol virgin for the rest of your life then... Is it?" She asked mocking me, I ignored her. "Eh? So what will you take?" Asked Deren "Hot water, my throat's been hurting" I replied and happily drank my fill.
"So, any luck on the job?" Asked Deren, "Not yet..." Said Yeşim, "Uh... Why don't you work here, huh?" "My parents will kill me" I replied, "I need a decent job... Something meant for me" I said and sipped my water again. "Nuri?" Came a voice from behind me, I turned to see who it was, "Ah! Ezgi?" I was surprised to see her, "How are you?" She asked hugging me, "I am fine, I never expected to see you here" I said, then realized I forgot to introduce her. I turned to Yeşim and Deren "Girls, this is my good friend Ezgi. She is my senior at the university. I happened to meet her to ask her the recipe of her famous lemon cake" the girls smiled at Ezgi and Yeşim hugged and kissed her, I told her that these are my roommates.
"I haven't seen you at the university for a week" said Ezgi, "Yeah... They decided to change our schedule a bit so even I couldn't come to meet you" I replied. "Hmm... So did you try out my recipe?" I nodded, "She made it the day you told her. It was very good" said Yeşim. "Well, I believe there's magic in her hands too" I blushed at the compliment. "Well it was your recipe, so the magic is originally yours" I replied. "Hmm... It's a pity nothing comes out of it..." She mumbled, "Sorry?" "Yok yok... It's nothing... I just said that as I am having a bad time choosing" she said and smiled, "Huh?" I asked not understanding. "Ezgi, are you okay?" "What can I say, I am stuck between sides" she said. "Is there something bothering you? You know I will listen" I said and held her hand, I hated to see people upset.
"Well... Actually, I got a very great proposal to work at that famous restaurant near our university, you know it right?" I nodded, "Yes, I have been there once... The food there is so delicious but expensive" I said. "Yeah and I badly wanna go there but my mother... She wants me to work at the house of this businessman" and she sighed. "I still didn't get it" I said, "Look, I wanna work at the restaurant and not at that guy's house, but you know, my mother is actually his assistant and she has to urgently find a chef for him and she wants me to go there. I don't wanna upset her like my sisters did" and she sighed again.
"Why don't you do it?" Asked Yeşim looking at me, "Me?" I asked pointing at myself, "Evet, You can work at the house and she can go to the restaurant, after all, you did want a job, right? This is the perfect opportunity!" She said. I stood silently thinking, "Will you really do that for me?" I stared at Yeşim, who was nodding violently and then Deren Who smiled brightly and then at Ezgi, after all, I owed her the recipe.
Then I nodded softly, "Alright!" I said and smiled, "Really?" asked Ezgi and I nodded. She jumped and hugged me tightly, "Thank you so much Nuri! You are a great friend!" "Uh... But when do I start?" I asked, "Tomorrow morning! At the earliest!" "But what about school?" I asked, "Don't worry about that, you can cook and leave in the afternoon and after having lunch, can attend the course with the second batch and be back home by 6" she said, well I couldn't resist this girl.
"Then, I will go home now and tell my mom the good news and I will send you the house address tonight. My mother will talk with you there tomorrow. I know you will do well, so bye for now. Good Night" she said and left happily. "Let's toast!" Said Yeşim and raised her glass and Deren supported her by raising a glass of her own, but I poured water from the jug nearby and raised it as my toast, Deren laughed.