When I opened my eyes in the morning, the first thing I did was turn my head to the side. The top of the nightstand looked completely empty, but I knew very well that the night before—my mind in total chaos—I had hastily shoved that box into the drawer.
And yet, it was as if it was calling out to me from there. A closed drawer wasn't enough to silence the thoughts inside it. I rubbed my eyes, an involuntary, shy smile forming on my face.
"Alp… what kind of mind do you even have?" I whispered.
As soon as I remembered what was inside the box, a warmth spread through me—only to be quickly replaced by embarrassment. I was angry, yet at the same time I couldn't stop my heart from racing this fast.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Pakize shot up and ran to the door, scratching at it with her paw, meowing nonstop.
I quickly threw on a cardigan and opened the door. Standing there was Işıl, her eyes sparkling with morning energy.
"What are you doing here this early?" I asked in surprise.
Grinning, Işıl crossed her arms.
"What do you think? Last night you showed every single gift—except Alp's. I couldn't sleep all night out of curiosity! I'm dying here, Ada. Dying."
I froze for a moment. My eyes drifted involuntarily toward my room, toward the drawer. Of course, Işıl noticed immediately. Raising her eyebrows with a sly smile, she said,
"A-ha! That's exactly the reaction I was looking for!"
I tried to pull myself together.
"Işıl, sometimes you're way too curious," I said, forcing a shaky seriousness into my voice.
But the panic inside me was already written all over my face. Işıl narrowed her eyes, studying me as if she could read my thoughts.
"Come on, Ada. Whatever you're hiding is obviously special. Otherwise, you wouldn't be avoiding eye contact."
I swallowed. My hand reflexively went to the collar of my cardigan, as if I were trying to hide something.
"It's nothing like that. It's just… a stupid gift."
"Stupid?" Işıl's voice grew even more curious, even a little suspicious. "Whenever you say 'stupid,' I expect something explosive. Come on, bring the box."
I shook my head quickly.
"No. No way. I'm never showing it."
"Why?"
"Because it's very… I mean… it's just…"
The sentence knotted in my throat.
Işıl stood there with her arms still crossed, her eyes gleaming.
"Wait… is it something sexy?"
My eyes widened as I froze. I felt my face burn instantly. The word that came out of her mouth exploded right where my heart was pounding.
"No way, Ada!" she continued, bursting into laughter. "Did Alp really get you something like that? Or am I guessing wrong?"
It felt like the air in the room shifted. The box in the drawer sat there with all its weight; the more I tried to hide it, the more present it became.
I took a deep breath and looked down.
"Işıl… I think this is the one gift I can't share with you."
She raised her eyebrows, arms still folded.
"Look, Ada, you know me. When I get curious, I can't rest. If you don't show me that box, I swear I'll go through your drawers one by one."
My eyes flew open.
"What? Don't you dare!"
"Oh, I will," she insisted, winking. "Besides, if I don't see it, I'll imagine something ten times worse. It's better if I know the truth."
Ugh! The tightness inside me grew unbearable. There was no escape. I was stuck in the middle of something both ridiculous and mortifying. I bit my lip and stood up.
"Fine—but on one condition."
Işıl grinned slyly.
"A condition? Alright, I'm listening."
"The moment you see it, you stay quiet. No teasing. And you won't tell a single soul."
She placed a hand over her heart like she was taking an oath.
"Scout's honor."
I took a deep breath and grabbed the drawer handle. My fingers were trembling. I pulled out the box and placed it on the table. Işıl's eyes practically sparkled.
"Well? Open it already!" she said excitedly.
"You open it," I said without thinking.
She looked surprised for a second, then immediately lunged for the box. The moment she opened the lid… her eyes widened. She covered her mouth, then turned to me with a giggle.
"Ada… are you serious? This… this is lingerie? Lace lingerie! And look at that satin nightgown!"
My face burned.
"I showed it to you, okay? That's enough!" I said quickly, trying to shut the box.
But Işıl lifted her hands to stop me.
"Wait, wait! Alp bought you this? He's literally… literally trying to drive you crazy!"
My heart jumped into my throat.
"Işıl! Stop!"
She put her hands on her hips, studying me with narrowed eyes.
"So… by putting it in the drawer, does that mean you accepted it?"
"Accepted what?" I snapped in a whisper. My cheek felt like it was on fire.
"Well, you didn't throw it at his head in front of everyone," she said, the corner of her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
I shook my head.
"I was embarrassed, okay? I didn't know what to do in that moment."
Işıl burst out laughing.
"Look at this guy… the audacity! Who buys a gift like that for a birthday? He straight-up challenged you."
"Yeah, totally shameless," I said, even though my lips were trembling as I spoke.
She rolled her eyes and leaned closer.
"He's not shameless—he's fearless. And you're still thinking about him. At least admit it to yourself."
I swallowed and looked away. My heart felt like it was echoing through the entire room.
Işıl kept giggling, while I was on the verge of sinking into the floor from embarrassment.
She was right. Why didn't I say anything right there, in front of everyone? Why didn't I just grab the box and throw it in Alp's face? Or at least say, "Are you out of your mind?"
I could have done that. Maybe I should have.
But instead, I chose to close the lid and stay silent.
Because there was something else inside me. Something I was afraid to name, something I tried to suppress… Maybe curiosity, maybe excitement, maybe the attraction that kept me from rejecting the gift outright.
"I was just shocked," I said to Işıl, my voice trembling like a confession. "I was embarrassed, confused… I didn't know what to do."
She squinted at me, then shook her head with a chuckle.
"Alright, Ada. But know this—if a man dares to make you think like this, he's definitely not ordinary."
Her words echoed in my ears.
Under the table, Pakize swished her tail, looking at me as if to say, Just admit it already.
I picked up the box.
"You're right… What kind of nerve does he have to buy me this? I'm going to go smash it over his head right now," I said, my eyes wide.
Işıl stared at me in shock.
"Wait—right now?"
I stormed out of the apartment with the box in my hand.
"How dare he give me something like this? I'll show him now!" I said.
Işıl seemed to be enjoying this way too much. Giggling, she called after me,
"Go get him, girl! Who's stopping you?"
And there I was—completely serious, still in my pajamas, hair a mess, early in the morning—standing in front of Alp's door with the box in my hands.