Crashing Into You

The First Date

Cihangir was a man who had spent years racing against time and living by carefully calculated plans. The habits of his missions had settled deep into his body. Not even a single minute could go to waste. That was why even taking a shower was usually quick, efficient, and precise for him. But this time… This time, he was even faster.

For some reason, the sweet rush growing inside him refused to let him move calmly against time. The second he stepped out of the shower, he opened his wardrobe with military discipline. His eyes scanned over his shirts before pausing. This wasn’t an operation.

It was a date. There were no rules. After a moment, a black polo shirt caught his attention. Simple, but striking. He chose that one. Black jeans. Watch. Cologne. Everything came together quickly. He dried and styled his hair, grabbed his keys, phone, wallet… All set.

Just as he was about to leave, something felt missing. He turned back, grabbed a jacket from the closet, then paused once more to glance around the room. When his eyes landed on the towel he had left on the bed, he picked it up and hung it in the bathroom. Only then did he slip on his shoes.

Standing in front of the mirror in the hallway, he looked at his reflection and let out a quiet laugh. There was something reckless in his smile. But even more than that… Hope. For Hale, things were nowhere near as easy. Every outfit she touched immediately earned a label in her mind.

Too much. Too plain. Too formal. It was as if she were competing against herself. Eventually, she made up her mind. Loose trousers. nA thin-strapped black blouse. And a cream-colored sweater draped over her shoulders. Neither overdressed nor careless. Simple, but elegant.

She prepared her chain-strap bag and matched her accessories to its silver details. Soft eye makeup. Muted lipstick. A spray of her favorite perfume. When she looked into the mirror, her heart was beating wildly, but determination still showed clearly in her expression.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the elevator. The moment she walked outside, her eyes instinctively drifted toward the opposite side of the street. At first, she didn’t see anyone. Then she turned her head slightly to the right. And there he was. Cihangir.

As if he had been standing there waiting only for her. The moment their eyes met, the smile on his face deepened. His gaze slowly traveled over her. And for a second, he genuinely forgot how to breathe. Hale’s elegance wasn’t loud or extravagant. It was effortless. Natural.

And somehow, that made it even more dangerous. Cihangir walked toward her with a smile. “Looking for me?” Hale held his gaze without looking away. She didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. Her eyes, her presence, even her silence already said enough. “So,” she asked softly, “what’s the plan?”

Being a man of plans had become second nature to Cihangir. But tonight was different. “There is no plan,” he said. “Let’s just see where the night takes us. Sound good?” “Fine with me. You invited me, so the place is your responsibility.” That smile appeared on his face again. “Then first,” he said, gesturing ahead, “let’s get you out of here.” They started walking.

“The first question of the evening,” he added. “Are you hungry?” Hale was about to say no. But unfortunately, her stomach disagreed. “A little.” “A little?” Cihangir teased. “Okay, I’m starving. I barely ate anything today.” He motioned toward the car. As they walked, Hale kept asking questions. “So where are we going?”

“I thought tonight was my plan,” he replied. “You’re impatient.” “We call that curiosity. I’m having dinner with someone I barely know. What if you make me eat something I hate?” Cihangir laughed. “Relax. You’ll like where we’re going.” But another sentence passed silently through his mind. I already know you.

Once inside the car, Hale’s excitement showed clearly through her body language. She didn’t even know where to place her hands and instinctively tossed her purse into the back seat. Trying to ease her nervousness, Cihangir turned on the radio. An old nostalgic song began to play. Emotional. Simple. Familiar.

At that exact moment, Hale quietly murmured along with the lyrics. “Are you really denying me a love like this…” A smile slowly appeared on Cihangir’s face. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Something tightened softly inside his chest. Her voice. The lyrics. This moment.

It all carried far too much meaning. A car horn startled him, pulling his attention back to the green light ahead. “You like it, huh?” “The song?” Hale smiled faintly. “Yeah. Old songs feel more emotional.” “I agree. Old songs… old friendships… old love stories.” That sentence created a brief silence inside the car. But it wasn’t uncomfortable.

It was meaningful. They looked at each other. And in that moment, everything left unsaid echoed through their eyes. Neither of them knew how the evening would end. But the place where it began… It was exactly here.

With the voice of the heart. With courage. With longing. With a first step finally taken. When they arrived at the restaurant, Cihangir immediately stepped out and walked around to Hale’s side. Holding the car door open with one hand, he made an exaggerated gentlemanly gesture with the other.

There was a playful but sincere smile on his face. “After you, milady. Let’s see if you approve.” A soft light flickered in his eyes as he spoke. Hale laughed at the gesture. It didn’t feel serious. It felt like a sweet little game shared between them.

So she played along immediately, pretending to hold the edge of an imaginary dress as she curtsied dramatically. Their tiny performance ended in shared laughter. The moment they stepped inside, the bell above the entrance rang softly. The restaurant instantly revealed its atmosphere. A cozy seaside place.

Nothing flashy. Just warm. Tablecloths moving gently with the wind. The salty scent of the sea blending with freshly cooked fish. That familiar, comforting feeling. At the sound of the bell, a waiter approached them. Young. Friendly-looking. “Welcome, brother,” he said cheerfully. “I prepared your engagement invitations. Want me to bring them?”

Hale’s steps slowed instantly. She turned her head slightly toward Cihangir. There was the faintest trace of amusement on his face, but his tone remained perfectly serious. “Sure, Yiğit. May God bless the happy couple.” As if sensing the slight tension rising inside Hale, the waiter wisely chose not to continue the joke.

Instead, he winked and stepped away. “Go ahead and sit at the corner table, brother. I’ll be right there.” As they walked toward the table, Cihangir’s hand rested gently against Hale’s waist. The soft, sudden contact sent a tiny shiver across her back. But she didn’t protest. Maybe because there was nothing to protest.

The touch didn’t feel inappropriate. It felt… familiar. They had barely sat down when a voice from the neighboring table shattered the atmosphere. “Cihangirrrr, darling!” Hale instinctively turned her head. That tone instantly tightened something inside her chest. Especially the darling.

It sounded less like affection and more like a challenge thrown directly at her. “Darling?” she repeated quietly, her tone calm but sharp. Cihangir turned toward the source of the voice. A very polished, overly confident woman stood there. There was something possessive in her posture. Something that suggested unfinished history.

“Hello, Jale.” Every trace of warmth vanished from Cihangir’s voice. “Hi, sweetheart. It’s been forever since we last saw each other.” Cihangir’s expression hardened. “That’s usually what happens after certain things. Don’t keep us standing. Looks like they’re waiting for you.”

The woman visibly disliked the response. But her ego was too large to let it show openly. With a small shrug, she walked away. Hale opened the menu. She didn’t ask questions. But questions danced clearly in her eyes. Cihangir noticed immediately. Without wasting time, he placed their order.

No alcohol. Just a simple but carefully prepared table between them. When the food arrived, Cihangir gently pulled Hale’s plate toward himself. “If you don’t mind.” Then he carefully began removing the fish bones for her. While doing so, he started speaking.

“That woman earlier… Jale. She’s the cousin of my friend Salih’s ex-fiancée.” His tone stayed calm. “Salih was deeply in love with her. They got engaged. Then we left for a mission. By the time we came back… she was already engaged to someone else.”

Hale’s eyes softened. “Salih was destroyed.” He paused briefly.

“The story itself is complicated. But Jale was one of the side characters in that mess.” Even though Hale hadn’t asked, he had explained everything before doubt could settle into her mind. And although she secretly liked that very much… she chose not to show it.

There was already emotion gathering quietly in her eyes. Because stories like that touched the deepest parts of hearts familiar with pain. Cihangir finished cleaning the fish and slid the plate back toward her. “Enjoy your meal.” “Thank you,” Hale said softly. “For the fish too.” “Always.”

A quiet silence followed. This time, Hale broke it. “You’re a police officer. Which division?” Cihangir narrowed his eyes slightly, looking almost amused. “Guess.” Hale studied him. The build. The careful gaze. The long missions. “Counterterrorism?”

Cihangir laughed. “Special Operations.” Hale’s eyes widened. “Wow… I’ve never met someone from Special Ops before.” She smiled, and there was unmistakable admiration in it. “And you?” he asked. “I work in logistics. I deal with people like you a lot actually. Documents, deliveries, borders… sometimes crises too.” The conversation flowed effortlessly after that.

Desserts arrived. Coffee filled the air with warmth. They drifted into old vacation memories. Cihangir’s stories from the Black Sea region—especially his dramatic attempts to “rescue” escaping fish—had Hale laughing so hard she nearly cried.

Meanwhile, Hale’s story about ending up in the hospital after a mussel-eating competition in Göcek completely destroyed Cihangir. By the time dinner ended and they stepped outside, the night air had grown cooler. When Hale shivered slightly, Cihangir immediately removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

“You didn’t have to,” she murmured. But she still wrapped herself in its warmth without hesitation. As they walked along the shore, it felt as if time itself had slowed down. Every few steps, another laugh escaped them. The weight of the past felt lighter somehow. Even on the drive back, the magic remained. There was no awkward silence in the car. Conversation came easily now.

One sentence after another. And finally, they arrived in front of Hale’s apartment building. That was when silence finally settled between them. Neither of them wanted the night to end. “That was a really beautiful evening,” Hale said quietly. “Thank you.” Cihangir looked directly into her eyes.

“No,” he answered softly. “I should be thanking you. Tonight was supposed to be an apology dinner.” Hale smiled faintly. “I’ll forgive you this time.” “It won’t happen again.” They stood there near the entrance. Cihangir took one step closer, his hands sliding into his pockets.

Hale leaned lightly against the wall behind her. Silence ruled once again between them. Then Hale tilted her head slightly. “What makes you so sure we’ll see each other again?” Cihangir answered without lowering his gaze. “A feeling.”

“Don’t trust that feeling too much,” she teased softly. “It might disappoint you.” “It hasn’t yet.” Hale laughed quietly and shook her head. Then she stepped away from the wall. “I should go now. Thank you again.” “Good night, Hale.” “Good night, Cihangir.”

Hale walked through the garden gate. But before opening the building door, she turned around one last time. Cihangir was still there. Still watching her. She smiled. And he smiled back. Then she disappeared inside.

As the door closed behind her, Cihangir whispered quietly into the night— “I’m sorry… milady.” And somewhere above them, the stars kept another secret hidden.