Same, same but different!

Part 16

Ömer: (gritting) Neither was I.

Haluk cleared his throat, feigning innocence.

Haluk: Let's get back to the table.

They all went in. Ömer was red in the face because of embarrassment. When they all sat down, Kıvılcım shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Ömer saw the discomfort and all he could do was mouth sorry towards her.

Haluk: I think sometimes surprises are good for the appetite.

Ömer: (under his breath) Appetite’s gone.

But Kıvılcım caught it, her lips curving ever so slightly before she looked down at the menu, pretending not to notice his discomfort.

Zeynep hanım, meanwhile had already taken the seat beside Kıvılcım, leaning towards her with curiosity shining in her eyes.

Zeynep: I’ve heard so much about you. Mavi talks of you endlessly sleep overs, stories, pranks (she winks)… you’ve made quite the impression. She said you are very beautiful and I agree.

Kıvılcım glanced at Ömer, startled.

Kıvılcım: She… she talked about me?

Ömer shifted uncomfortably, his ears burning.

Ömer: Anne…

Zeynep: (teasing, smiling knowingly at her son) Don’t “anne” me. I think it’s lovely. Mavi doesn’t open up to just anyone.

Haluk: Canım, can we stop harassing Kıvılcım hanım now.

Zeynep hanım zipped her mouth closed. Twenty minutes passed and food arrived.

Haluk: So, you kept building the success of Veritas Gallery all on your own?

Kıvılcım: No, not at all on my own. I had my team. They helped more than they could imagine.

The table had just settled into a fragile rhythm of polite small talk, Haluk bey asking questions and Kıvılcım answering gracefully, when the door to the private dining room opened again.

A waiter stepped aside as Serdar, Ömer’s sofor, ushered in a small whirlwind in a dress, Mavi. Ömer told Mavi in the morning that they'll be having lunch with her grandfather, not telling her that Kıvılcım is joining them.

Mavi’s eyes scanned the room, curious, until they landed on the woman sitting beside her grandmother.

Her breath caught. Then...

Mavi: (squealing) KIVILCIM ABLA!

She bolted before anyone could react, little shoes pattering across the floor, and launched herself into Kıvılcım’s lap.

Mavi: (clutching her neck) I knew it! I knew baba was hiding you from me!

Ömer: Mavi, stop saying things like this. I wasn't hiding anyone, (whispering under his breath) the world should just swallow me whole.

The whole table froze for a beat. Kıvılcım instinctively caught her, laughing softly in surprise, brushing strands of hair from Mavi’s flushed face.

Kıvılcım: (gently) Merhaba, küçük hanım. How are you doing?

Mavi: (dramatically) a little okay, baba saw you yesterday and hid it from me, but I caught him because your scent was in his car.

Ömer buried his face in his hand, groaning. His mother chuckled behind her teacup.

Zeynep hanım: Out of the mouths of babes…

Haluk bey: Would you look at that...

Ömer shot his father a sharp look but Mavi was oblivious, still glued to Kıvılcım.

Mavi: (whispering loudly into Kıvılcım’s ear) I told baba, if he didn’t bring me to you, I’d get mad forever.

Kıvılcım hugged her a little closer, her heart squeezing at the fierce little declaration.

Kıvılcım: (soft, smiling) Well, I’m very glad you’re here now.

Ömer finally lowered his hand, meeting Kıvılcım’s gaze across their daughter’s curls, warming the air between them.

Zeynep hanım: (smirking at her son) Looks like fate decided to take over your lunch, Ömer.

Ömer exhaled sharply, half-defeated, half-relieved.

Ömer: (muttering) Fate… or a very determined little girl.

Everyone was listening to Mavi's stories and laughing at her big imagination. Just before they wanted to leave Kıvılcım asked to be excused, to go freshen up. She got up and when she made eye contact with Ömer, he was indicating if he should follow her to the bathroom but Kıvılcım raised her eyebrows indicating no.

Did Ömer listen? No, a minute later he went after her.

A few minutes later kıvılcım left the bathroom she felt a presence behind her. She froze, her heart skipping a beat, and slowly turned.

Ömer stood there, leaning casually against the wall, but there was a tension in his posture that made it clear he wasn’t just “casually” waiting.

Kıvılcım: (raising an eyebrow, a little exasperated) Ömer… really? Did you follow me? Making things look… suspicious?

Ömer said nothing. Instead, before she could protest further, he closed the distance and gently, but insistently, pulled her toward him. His lips met hers in a kiss that was sudden and heated.

Kıvılcım’s initial shock froze her for a heartbeat but then, instinctively, her arms wrapped around his neck. She tried to pull back, to scold him, but the intensity in his eyes and the way he held her made her forget words entirely.

Minutes passed or maybe only seconds but time seemed to disappear. The rest of the restaurant, the awkward family lunch, the world outside... all of it ceased to exist.

And then… a small voice broke through their bubble.

Mavi: (from the doorway, squealing) hehehehe sorry...

Both Ömer and Kıvılcım froze.

Kıvılcım: (jumping back, hands flying to cover her face) Mavi! I... uh…

Ömer: (equally embarrassed, pulling back, cheeks burning) Kızım… this isn’t… uh… what it looks like!

Mavi: (giggling uncontrollably, covering her face with her hands) I saw you! I saw you kissing! HeHeHe!

Kıvılcım: (mortified, whispering) Oh no… I feel like hurting you right now...

Ömer: (groaning, rubbing the back of his neck) Mavi… really, can we not…

Mavi peeked through her fingers, still laughing.

Mavi: Is it a secret baba?

Ömer: For now it is, Mavi.

Mavi: I will keep the secret but Kıvılcım abla has to read the book to me, tonight...

Mavi put out her hand as to make a deal with her father. Ömer looked to Kıvılcım, who was standing there mortified and looked like she can't breathe.

Ömer: Kıvılcım snap out of it, we're being blackmailed.

Kıvılcım: (she gave Ömer a sarcastic smile) And who's fault is that? (Kıvılcım bend down to Mavi's height and shook her hand) I can't believe I'm being blackmailed by a 4 year old. Mavi, no one can know. It's our little secret.

Mavi: (hugged her) I won't tell anyone, I promise.