"Your place isn't in here; it's in the streets. Do you understand that?" Taya's voice rang out, sharp and full of disdain. Her tone was unyielding, and the sheer volume of her words was enough for Orig to hear from outside. He was alarmed, though he tried to keep calm as he rushed out of the bathroom, barely able to grasp what was happening.
"Taya, what are you doing here?" Orig's voice cracked, betraying his nervousness. His heart raced with each step he took toward her. He felt a pain he couldn't ignore, an ache deep inside him, knowing he had let Meral—his secret temptation—get so close.
But before he could say anything further, Taya had already raised her hand to slap Meral. Orig acted on instinct, grabbing Taya's wrist before she could strike. "That's enough, Taya. What are you doing?" he said firmly, as he forced her hand away. He pushed her back with a controlled strength that sent her staggering, her head lightly striking the wall.
