Flawed Hearts

Chapter XXVII: Wondrous Hearts

Lale huffed for the umpteenth time, throwing the bouquet into the bin. Rereading the card, she tore it into two then mete out the same treatment she gave the flowers. Adjusting the lapels of her hijab, Lale gripped the edge of the oak desk as a wave of nausea hit her. Her eyes became hazy as she tried to regain consciousness of her environment. Focusing on her breathing pattern, she counted from ten to one inwardly.

She stood up straighter when she felt okay again, making a mental note to grab a bugger on her way back home. She stepped out of the confines of her office and made a beeline to the studio where dozens of mannequins were wrapped in different colors and sizes overflowing gowns. She gave her team a nod of acknowledgement for a job well done before giving them a week off to make up for the long hours of work she had them run through.

She grabbed a cup of coffee from a vending machine in the hallway then went into the relaxation room where her models were lounging at. Some were sprawled out on the sofas while some were already fast asleep no doubt tired from all the excessive walking on the ramp.

With a faint smile, she dismissed them with a promise of a one month vacation to any country of their choice once the show was over. Seeing the grins of excitement on their faces, she knew that she hadn't made a wrong choice.

Lale stepped out of the room, heading towards her office to sign off for the day. It had been a long stressful week and she was ready for a lovely weekend.

She picked her MacBook, dumped it into a messenger bag then pulled her phone and car keys before stepping out of the office. She locked the door behind her then strolled towards the elevator, punching the button for the last floor.

She threw the security guard a good night when he opened the door for her, stepping into the cold night. A hit of dizziness washed over her as she made way to her car but before she could get in, the key slipped from her grasp and hit the floor. She squinted at the ground, trying to find the fallen key but couldn't and the last thing she remembered was a smooth voice asking if she was okay. Darkness enveloped her whole being and the sound became a distant memory as she gave into the beckoning of the dark.

{••}

Her eyes snapped open but she quickly regretted the action as her head began to pound violently. Tentatively, she pried her eyes open as they adjusted to the bright lights of the room. The headache had reduced to a slow ache and with a palm pressed to her forehead, she gingerly sat up in bed. Her eyes surveyed the environment, a crease forming on her forehead.

The bright lights and beeping monitors were an indication that she was in a hospital but she was doing there and that too on a hospital bed had her confused. She dragged the cover off her body then swung her legs off the bed, gripping the edge to steady her footing. Frowning at the hospital gown she was wearing, she eyed the IV tube stuck in her hand with an even deeper frown before tugging it off wincing at the pain. Staring at the drops of blood trickling down her arm, she sighed then head into the bathroom to freshen up.

Lale scoured the room for a change of clothes, feeling utterly ridiculous in the hospital gown. Finding a red coat folded on an armchair tucked at the far end of the room, she picked it up together with a fresh set of tee and jeans. She eyed them warily before heading back into the bathroom, showered then donned on the clothes afterwards feeling more energised and fresh. She adjusted the cap on her head then stepped out, stopping dead in her tracks when she caught sight of him holding a tray by the bed she had woken up.

"How are you feeling?" Asil questioned with tenderness, placing the tray on a table.

"Better," she replied walking towards him. "You brought me here?"

He nodded, handing her a cup of tea. She accepted the cup and took a sip before returning her gaze back to him, sitting down on the bed.

"What happened?"

"When I got there, I found you passed out by the side of your car."

"Thank you." 

He gazed at her without uttering a word then passed her a plate of sucuk with börek on the side. She accepted the plate and dug in, feeling very hungry at the moment. He watched her eat in silence with an unreadable expression.

Feeling his gaze on her, she halted mid-bite and gazed at him."Aren't you eating?"

Asil shook his head, tearing his gaze away from her. A moment passed before she resumed eating.

"Why are you doing this?" she questioned, setting the plate aside.

He returned his gaze back to her with an expression that made her feel self-conscious. He gave her no answer in return, only staring at her with those piercing grey eyes of his.

"I thought you didn't like me," she prodded, crossing her legs on the bed.

"I never said so."

"You sure did show it." He offered no comment to that, making it hard for her to read him. Lale groaned in frustration inwardly, wondering why she was talking to him in the first place. She fainted, he brought her to the hospital, brought new clothes for her, brought brunch for her and now here he was, sitting like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Asil, she thought was a man with mixed signals. Wasn't he the one sending roses and notes to her everyday since she turned him down when he asked her out on a date.

"Uhm...where's my phone?"

"It's in my car. I'll go get the discharge papers then drop you off at home." She closed her eyes, feeling the erratic beating of her heart. She willed for her heartbeat to return back to normal, telling herself that it had nothing to do with the playboy who had saved her life.

'Dear heart, please don't fall in love with him.'

Lale stood up from the bed when Asil returned with a doctor. After a few series of questions and a disapproving shake of the head when she told him she removed the IV tube herself, Lale was discharged from the hospital.

Asil opened the car door for her and she slid in, picking up her messenger bag which was residing on the seat. She took out her phone and powered it on, seeing tons of voicemail and text messages from her family. Seeing a message from Najmah had her confused for a while. Although she liked her sister in law, it wasn't often the lady showed any emotions, she was always aloof and detached.

She marked off their contacts then sent a general 'I'm on my way back' before locking her phone and relaxing back into her seat, falling asleep instantly.

She felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and she pried her eyes open, stifling a yawn. She looked outside to see the gate of their house and she eased out, punched in the code for the gate then slide back in as the gates swung open and Asil eased into the driveway.

Lale alighted from the car then stuck her head back, gazing at him."Aren't you coming in?" Seeing the dumbfounded expression on his face, she giggled feeling like a teenager once again. "We don't bite. I just want to thank you for coming at the time you did and taking me to the hospital. I want you to have lunch with us."

"Does that mean I get to take you out for dinner?" he questioned with a lopsided grin.

"We'll see about that," she matched his grin before heading into the house. Asil alighted from the car, tucking his keys into his coat then followed behind her.

She showed him to the living room where Aslan and Najmah were cuddled on a loveseat with Hilal playing with her dolls at the edge.

"Well if this isn't refreshing," Lale smirked, announcing their presence. Aslan's brow creased at the sight of the two together while Najmah stirred in her sleep, snuggling more into his body.

"Blackmail material," Lale grinned, whipping out her phone and snapping a picture of the two. Before Aslan could stop her, she was already up the stairs grinning like a maniac. Aslan eased out of Najmah's hold, careful not to wake her then steered Asil into another living room.

{••}

Lunch was eventful with Lale teasing Najmah about the picture she took, knowing that she could use the image to get Najmah to do anything she wanted. Hilal was a chatterbox for the whole duration of lunch while Afet was uncharacteristically quiet. Asil and Aslan were deep into a conversation about business deals while Ferah ate in happiness.

Ferah caught sight of Asil and Lale stealing glances at each other and for the first time in a year, she was glad at the turn out of events in her family. She excused herself from the table, playing matchmaker in her head. Knowing that with a few push and pull here and there, the Sadek family would be planning another wedding.

_____________________________________________