Ilker arrived at his apartment Wednesday morning around 11 o'clock. He found his house clean and neat but quiet. “Ylang, I am home. Where are you?”
No answer.
Quiet
He did not find Ylang. ‘Where is she?’ hissed Ilker. Ilker Shouted, but there was no answer.Ilker was expecting Ylang at home when he gets home. “Where is she? Didn't she promise me that she would be home when I am back?” said Ilker irritably.
Ilker took out his cell phone from his pocket and immediately sent a text message to Ylang. “Where are you? I am home, and you are not here!” he wrote irritably.
The message was delivered but was not read.
Ilker, still in the pilot's uniform, then went to his room, He put his cell phone on the nightstand, then he changed into a white T-shirt and knee-length boxers. While his eyes still staring at his cell phone waiting for a reply message from Ylang. But until he finished changing his clothes, there was no reply from Ylang.
Ilker then took his cell phone from the nightstand and immediately called the girl. “tuut, tuut, tuut.” a dial tone.
“Hello,” a girl's voice inside the phone.
“Where are you, Ylang? And what are you doing?”
“Hm... I am sorry Bey Ilker, I have to go home, I need to change, and I have a meeting for faculty social activities on my campus. “
“at least you can tell me via text.” Said Ilker. He continued, “until what time you will be in the meeting.?”
“I don’t know maybe around 4 pm,” Ylang answered.
“What? so long?”
“I just don’t know. maybe earlier.”
“Okay, I am going to sleep now, but soon you finished the meeting, you have to go back here. I don't want you to roam out there.”
“What? I'm not roaming out I take care of my campus social activities which will take place on the Syrian border. This is a big event!”
“What? Syrian border? No way. you won't go, right?”
“definitely, I am going Bey.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Well, we will discuss it when you back here. And I am waiting for you.”
Ilker cut offthe phone.
Why is he so fussy? Who does he think he is? My father? Even my father isn't that fussy, Ylang grumbled irritably. She was with her friends, and all the friends sitting with her were astonished. “Who is that Ylang? Your dad? Or your boyfriend?” Asked one of her friends. “Why is he so fussy?”
“No, he is not both,” Ylang answered.
--**--
At 5 pm, Ylang back to Ilker’s apartment. When she opened the apartment door, she saw Ilker sitting waiting for him in the living room.
“Assalamu alaikum, I am back.” Said Ylang.
The man did not look angry, even he smiled and said, “here Ylang, sit with me,” Ylang came near where Ilker sat. She was wearing blue jeans, and a navy-blue top and blue veil. With a little thin makeup, and nude lipstick. She looks very charming. “Come sit with me Ylang.”
Ylang sat beside Ilker. Ilker looked at her, and he wanted to touch her hand, but he didn’t do it because he knew Ylang wouldn't like it. Instead off that he asked Ylang, “Have you eaten your lunch?” Ilker asked with a smile.
“Yes, Bey,” Ylang answered. ‘Hmm... why he looks so nice to me?’ Ylang wondered in her heart.
“Will you stay here again tonight?”
“Hmm… I ‘ll think about it.”
“I really like you to stay here.” Said Ilker.
Ylang smiled but didn't say a word. Instead, she asked, "what do you want me to cook?"
“No need, I know you are tired. let's eat outside.” Said Ilker
“Actually, I'm still full, and I don't think I need dinner. But I will accompany you or cook for you.”
“You don’t like to go out with me?”
“That's not what I mean. I love going out with you.”
“Then we will go at 7 pm. You can take a rest first. I will wake you up if you overslept.”
“Okay, thank you, Bey.” Ylang then stood up and left Ilker and entered her room.
Ilker watched the girl go to her room with wistful eyes. ‘Why do I feel so close to this girl? I feel very familiar with her. Is it possible he's a person from my old life? And now I don’t want to stay away from her. The worst thing is that she always makes me hot. I hope I can handle myself when I am in front of her. Even though I always want to hug her, I feel I want to make love with her, but how? She gave me terms and conditions; s**t, I hate that. She is my date, but I cannot touch her!! How stupid I am.’
--**--
At 6.30 pm, Ilker knocked on Ylang's door. He did not dare directly open the door to Ylang's room. He was afraid Ylang was angry because of not wearing her full clothes. ‘s**t this girl really makes me sick! Holy ass!’Ilker cursed in his heart. ‘I will get her one day’.
Ylang opened the door. “Yes, Bey, I am ready to go.” She had dressed already, with a long black dress with black hijab, with light makeup, she looked stunning. Ilker was fascinated, he tried to hold himself not to kiss and hug Ylang.
“Wait for me Ylang, I ‘ll be ready in a minute.”
They both went to a lovely restaurant, Ilker treated her very well and gently. They were like lovers. The way he looked at Ylang, truly like someone who longed and filled with love. While Ylang herself seems like a cold girl with no feelings. But actually, she really liked this man. And this was the reasons why she obeyed Ilker. She just didn’t show how much she wanted Ilker. She felt that she was bound by many rules to her religion that made her cannot show her feeling to a man.
The waiter welcomed them at the door, “Good evening Mr Olmer, this way, sir.” The waiter greeted them at the door, then directed them to a table in the middle of the room where every guest who came could see their presence.
“Why did you take me to this restaurant. I think it’s costly. It’s a seafood restaurant, it must be expensive.” Said Ylang, about this Turkish restaurant who served seafood.
“No Ylang, nothing expensive for you.”
A waiter came and asked what they would like to order.
While waiting for the food, Ilker said, “Ylang, are you really going to the Syrian border?”
“Yes, definitely dear.”
Ilker took a deep breath.he didn’t want Ylang to go to the border. “Why do you have to go?” asked Ilker.
“Because I had to. I have a big responsibility in the program. after all, this activity will hone the social sensitivity that is needed to become a doctor.”
“I worry about you, isn't it a war zone?”.
“No, it is not. We will work in the refugee area. It’s all safe Bey, If that what you afraid of.”
“And how you sleep there?”
“What are you afraid of? We will sleep in a big tent.”
“Boys and girls?”
“What you worry about won't happen. You know me, right? I am very strict about that. I will not allow any man to touch me.”
“what if you are raped.”
“It will not happen. We are medical students, will be doctors, we are the people with a good attitude, in sha Allah they will all respect us.”
“Ylang, I'm now in full charge of you, I have the right to worry.”
Ylang frowned, she felt some of her freedom was disturbed. But on the other hand, she was happy because there was a man who cares for her. Finally, she smiled and said “Thanks Bey, but I have to go there.” and her face turned pathetic again.
“But I don’t want you to go. and I have the right to stop you from going.”
“Where did that rule come from?” Ylang asked in surprise.
“You must not carefully read our agreement.” Said Ilker
“What?!! Is this written in our agreement?”
“Yes,very clear!” said Ilker. “Remember that I am your date during the agreement period.”
Ylang immediately went limp. Since this agreement, her feelings are uncertain, sometimes happy and sometimes annoyed. She was pleased, there was someone who really cared about her, but for that, part of her freedom was disturbed. “But I need to go, this is for my future career.” Said Ylang.
Suddenly a woman approached their table. both Ilker and Ylang were unaware of the woman's presence. “hi Captain Ilker, How are you?”
Ilker and Ylang turned to the woman, “Hi Melike, what are you doing here?” Asked Ilker with a slightly surprised face.
“Just like you, I am having dinner with my friend,” Melike answered while pointing at a woman sitting not far from the Ilker and Ylang table.
“And who is this Captain?” Asked Melike.
“This is Ylang, she is a Medical student.”
“Medical student? What are you doing with a medical student?”
“I have a business with her.” Said Ilker.
“Okay, Nice to meet you, Ylang.” Said Melike
“And Ylang, this is Melike, she was one of my flight crew.”
“Nice to meet you, Melike.” Said Ylang. Ylang then stood up and extended her hand to shake hand. ‘Such a beautiful girl and she is one of Ilker’s crew. Why is Bey Ilker not married yet, even though there are many beautiful girls around him?’
“And Melike, will excuse us, we have a business to talk, catch you later okay?” Said Ilker to Melike.
The look on Melike's dislike, she felt pushed aside. And what a medical student doing with a pilot captain? Strange! What kind of business.
Melike's face still looked confused. But then she said, “Okay, see you tomorrow, Captain, I will be on your flight again.” And she winked at Ilker.
Ilker just smiled. And the girl left both of them.
“Are you going to work tonight?”
“Yes. That’s why I was expecting to find you at home. So next time I back home, I hope to see you at my apartment.”
“Okay, but who is that girl, she looks very close to you.”
“She just a friend, nothing special.” Ilker's heart was beating fast, he was afraid Ylang knew of his secret relationship with Melike. Ilker really liked Ylang, and he hoped his relationship with Ylang could become closer, and even he hoped something more serious. But he was still filled with doubts because he had never once had a serious relationship. And this time when he met Ylang, he felt, this was the moment he had to start a serious relationship.
“Okay,” Ylang replied shortly.
Meanwhile, the food they ordered came. The waiter put the food they order on the table.
But in Ilker mind still many questions about Ylang going to the Syrian Border. “Hmm… when will you go to the border?” Ilker asked with a worried face
“Don’t be worried Bey, in sya Allah I ‘ll be alright. I am going next month.” Ylang smile, she knew this man was very concerned about her.
“Where will you fly this time, Bey?” Asked Ylang.
“Same, I am going to Los Angeles again. I will back the next day. And Ylang I want you to stay in my apartment. I am in the apartment or not, you have to stay in my apartment.”
Ylang pouted.
“Why you don’t like to stay with me?” asked Ilker.
“It is not like that; I do like to stay with you.” She felt so shy, and her face turned red, she then looked down. “You keep me like I am your wife, everything has to be on your permission. And you give me so many rules, and you forbid me a lot.” She said that with her eyes pointing down, he dared not look into Ilker's eyes
“Wife? no way, you are not my wife, but I do have responsibilities to you.”
“Okay,” said Ylang, and she continued “so what am I to you?”
“You are my date !”
“What date means to you?”
“Ylang please…”
“No, I want to be clear. Can I have a boyfriend? Lover or someone close to me other than you?”
“Of course not! I don’t allow it; remember I am your date! If you want to go out, then you have to go out with me, no boys around you.”
“you have colonized me and hampered my freedom.”
“Not that Ylang, first I do like you, second I do care about you.”
“Okay, another question, do you have any s****l interest in me?”
“Wow, very openly, you are!”
“answer my question.”
“Hmm… I am not going to answer it right now. Later, when we are in my apartment. For now, let’s eat. I am starving.”
--**--
When they arrived at Ilker’s apartment. After locked the door, he pushed Ylang to the wall, he kissed Ylang passionately. He kissed her mouth and clasped Ylang's head with both his hands. Ylang rebelled, she even tried to push Ilker, but he had locked her against the wall, the man was powerful. She finally gave up and resignedly accept the kiss. They kissed until they run out of breath, Ilker releases his kiss.
“I am sorry I cannot stand it anymore.”
Ylang's face turned into boiled shrimp. Her veil was a mess. She was angry because her lips betrayed her. She tried to catch her breath, she said, “you must marry me. Otherwise, I will not stay here. I am going back to my apartment tonight, and I am waiting for your decision in my place.”
Ylang headed for the door, going out, but the door had been locked by Ilker. “Ilker, open the door. I am going home.”
“No, you are not, you will stay here with me.”
Ylang started to get scared. “What are you doing?” you want to rape me?” she asked in a trembling voice.
“No! I am not that kind of guy; I want you to give yourself willingly.”
“It’s not going to happen. Unless you take it Islamic legally. Let me go home Bey Ilker, anyway I am thinking to return your money. I will look for a loan from my friends. This agreement is wrong. I can't stay alone with you in this apartment. It’s forbidden.”
“Come on Ylang, I know you like the kiss, and I am sure you like me.”
“You know it, but I don’t want to stay here with sin.”
“Hey, we have an agreement, you cannot cut it just like that.”
“No, I can. You only trap me with this agreement, you are cruel. Bad people.”
Because Ilker still didn’t open the main apartment door, Ylang finally chose to go to her room and locked herself there. Until Ilker went to the airport, Ylang didn’t go out of her bedroom.
--**--
In Los Angeles.
Ilker opened his hotel room door. There was Melike who was standing in front of his door. Melike smiled to Ilker. “May I come in?”
“Yes sure, Melike come in”. But this time Ilker look very cold. His eyes did not emit in the slightest desire to make love.
Melike, who had changed into a T-shirt and leggings, came in and sat on the edge of Ilker's bed. “Is it because of that girl?”
“You can say that” Ilker is telling the truth.
“What makes her so special?” asked Melike.
“I don’t know, she just so special to me. I don’t know, maybe because she got her principles.”
“So this is the end?” Ask Melike.
Ilker shrugged his shoulders. Melike began to shed tears.
“Don't cry Melike. We already know that our relationship indeed without commitment, didn't we agree from the beginning?” Ilker then hugs Melike. But this time it was just a hug of a comforting friend.
Melike left Ilker’s room.
Melike was indeed his partner in bed, but their relationship was confidential, both Ilker and Melike didn't want anyone to know about their relationship.