Angels Favorite Dream

7

Berk woke up the next morning with indescribable excitement. As soon as he opened his eyes, his mind was filled only with thoughts of Zoe. He decided to have breakfast just to see her again and get to know her better. Normally, Berk didn’t eat breakfast—he would start his day with only coffee and a cigarette. But today was different—his excitement wouldn’t let him sit still.

He went to the bar, got behind the counter, and made his coffee. Seeing that Zoe hadn’t yet come to the restaurant for breakfast, he decided to head to the veranda to enjoy his coffee and cigarette. After days of rain, the sun had finally come out, and its warmth filled him with a sense of comfort. Taking a sip of his coffee, Berk thought about the previous night. The atmosphere that Zoe had created with her voice and guitar still lingered in his mind. Initially, he thought the weed made everything seem more magical. But once he sobered up, he realized the magic of that night had been real.

After finishing his coffee, he returned to the bar. While waiting for Zoe to arrive for breakfast, he decided to get an early start on organizing the bar. Once he was done, he made himself another coffee and began observing the surroundings. He was eagerly looking forward to Zoe’s arrival.

Just then, a former colleague of his boss nicknamed 'The Doctor,' Kaan the advertiser, came to the bar. Kaan’s arrival always made Berk uneasy. Kaan had a habit of observing Berk’s every move and seemed to report everything to the owners, which put Berk under pressure.

With his usual mysterious smile, Kaan looked around and said, “You started early today.”

Berk responded with a slight smile, “Yeah, I felt like today was going to be busy. I thought it’d be good to start early.”

Leaning against the counter, Kaan continued, “Last night’s performance was great. This Pakistani girl, Zoe, is really talented.”

Berk’s eyes lit up at the mention of Zoe’s name. “Yes, she was amazing. The guests really enjoyed it too.”

Kaan nodded slightly. “That’s why we’re thinking about having a special performance tonight. We’re considering going on stage with Zoe. Could you prepare the stage for us?”

Berk replied enthusiastically, “Really? Of course, I can get it ready.”

Seeing Berk’s excitement, Kaan smiled knowingly. “We also know you play bass guitar. Would you like to join us tonight?”

Berk’s heart started to race. The thought of sharing the stage with Zoe heightened his excitement even more. “I’m a bit rusty, but I think I can keep up with you.”

Kaan nodded with satisfaction. “Then it’s best you start preparing. Everything should be ready for tonight.”

After Kaan left, Berk got to work right away. He checked the stage equipment, prepared the instruments, and adjusted the sound system. With each passing minute, his excitement and happiness grew. Sharing the stage with Zoe, making music together, was beyond his wildest dreams.

As he prepared, memories from the past began to surface. He remembered the days when he first met his ex-wife, Yasemin. Back then, music was what had brought them together. Though they were amateurs, they enjoyed making music. On nights spent together, they sang songs and dreamed about the future. But over time, Yasemin’s busy work schedule and exhaustion diminished her interest in music, and their bond began to weaken.

During that time, Berk tried various ways to save their relationship. In an attempt to escape the chaos of Istanbul, he and Yasemin moved to Izmir and opened a small, charming restaurant. At first, everything seemed to be going well, but when things didn't go as planned, they faced financial difficulties and had to return to Istanbul. Upon returning, their relationship completely broke down, and they decided to divorce.

Berk tried to shake off the weight of the past and focus on enjoying the present moment. This new experience with Zoe gave him the opportunity to reconnect with music. After finishing his preparations, he stepped off the stage and went behind the bar to rest for a while. At that moment, Zoe came to the restaurant for breakfast.

After getting her breakfast, she approached Berk with a warm, energetic smile. “Good morning! Can I have a cup of coffee?” she asked.

Berk, hiding his excitement, responded calmly. “Good morning, Zoe. Go ahead and take a seat. I’ll bring your coffee,” he said.

Zoe winked at him. “Thank you, that's very kind of you,” she replied.

After preparing her coffee, Berk walked over to Zoe’s table, where she was sitting with Onur. As he set the cup on the table, Zoe looked at him with a hint of excitement in her eyes. “I heard we’re performing together tonight,” she said.

Berk tried to suppress his excitement as he replied. “Yes, I’ve already started preparing. I’m really looking forward to sharing the stage with you.”

Zoe smiled brightly. “It’ll be much more exciting than serenading on the terrace,” she said.

Onur, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, couldn’t hold back any longer. “Zoe is actually a well-known pop star in Pakistan,” he said, revealing what Zoe had modestly kept hidden.

Berk and Zoe exchanged glances. Zoe lowered her head a little, looking slightly embarrassed, and then explained in a calm tone, “Yes, it’s not something I usually talk about.”

Berk couldn’t hide his surprise at this revelation; it was the first time in his life that he would share the stage with someone like her. He was about to respond to what Onur had said, but Zoe quickly changed the subject to lighten the mood. “How about we head down to the beach and enjoy the sun for a bit?” she suggested.

Onur accepted the suggestion happily. The two of them got up from the table before finishing their breakfast and headed to the beach.

Berk, meanwhile, spent the entire day running around with excitement. Those who saw Berk, more energetic than ever, thought, “Berk must have lost his mind.” Despite working all day and making preparations, he didn’t feel tired at all. Finally, evening came, and Zoe returned from the beach with Onur.

Zoe came to the bar and asked Berk for a glass of water. Seeing her again filled Berk with indescribable happiness. Zoe curiously asked, “Is the stage ready for tonight?”

Berk, with pride, answered, “Yes, everything is ready for tonight.” As he handed her the water, he smiled, happy to be falling in love with someone again through music.

“Great. I’m really excited,” Zoe said, taking the water. After drinking it, she said she needed to work until dinner and went back to her room. Berk, meanwhile, waited eagerly for dinner.

When Osman rang the dinner bell, Zoe and Onur came to the restaurant. After getting their food from the buffet, they chose to sit at the bar instead of at a table. Berk took the opportunity to chat with them. “How did a Pakistani end up meeting a Turk?” he asked curiously.

Zoe smiled as she began to explain. “I came to Istanbul for the wedding of a Pakistani friend who married a Turkish guy. After the wedding, I had some free time, so I decided to explore Turkey. I met Onur through Couchsurfing.org, and we became friends. Later, I went to his hotel in Bodrum. After spending some time there, I wanted to explore other places, and that’s how I found out about Kabak Bay. Onur decided to join me.”

As Berk listened to Zoe’s story, he could no longer contain his excitement. For a moment, he wanted to be by her side every step of the way.

After finishing his meal, Berk began the final preparations for the stage. Meanwhile, Zoe chatted with another couple who were also interested in music. A short while later, Zoe came to the stage and started recording Berk as he completed the setup. Kaan and Onur joined in, adjusting their equipment. Kaan would play percussion, Onur the drums, Berk the bass guitar, and Zoe would play guitar and sing vocals. Before starting the concert, they discussed which songs to play and decided to improvise. None of them wanted to play cover songs. The quartet, playing together for the first time, smoked some weed to gain courage before getting on stage. They were curious about what kind of music would come out of this high.

Finally, everything was ready for the concert. As they took their places with their instruments, the music began with Zoe’s vocals, quickly transforming into an impressive melody that showed their harmony with one another. The audience seemed to enjoy the music. Berk, especially excited to share the stage with Zoe, was playing better than ever, despite not having performed in a long time. Berk’s performance impressed Zoe so much that, halfway through the concert, she put down her guitar and began harmonizing with his solos. They kept exchanging glances on stage, hinting at a long night that would bring them even closer.

The entire valley had heard the music. Guests from other camps, drawn by the music, started to gather at the concert area. However, as the crowd grew, they had to end the concert early because of noise complaints from neighboring camps. Berk thought, “In a way, it’s actually good.” He would finally get a chance to talk to Zoe alone and get to know her better.

As they stepped off the stage and walked toward the bar, Onur yawned and said, “It’s been a really long and exhausting day. I’m going to head to my room now. I want to get up early tomorrow.”

Onur’s early departure sparked slight jealousy in Berk. He worried that Zoe might want to go with him, and he silently resented Onur for it.

But Zoe, in a cheerful tone, said, “Alright, you go rest. I want to hang out at the bar a little longer.”

Hearing this filled Berk with a mix of relief and curiosity. “Maybe she wants to spend time with me,” he thought.

Onur said, “Have fun, you two. See you tomorrow,” and headed to his room. The fact that Zoe didn’t go with him caused a hint of unease for Onur, as her choosing to stay was contrary to his expectations.

Zoe and Berk spent the rest of the night enjoying a conversation with Osman. Osman praised their performance on stage, saying, “The concert was amazing. Especially Zoe’s vocals... they were incredible.”

Zoe smiled modestly and replied, “Thank you, Osman. We all had great chemistry. Sometimes living in the moment on stage is more important than anything else.”

Berk, trying to hide his excitement, said, “I haven’t felt like this in a long time. Being on stage with you... it was incredible.”

At that moment, a few guests approached them with a small bag of weed. One of the guests said, “We’re grateful for tonight’s performance. We wanted to make a small gesture. If you’d like, we’d love to share this weed with you.”

Osman winked and said, “Why not? Thanks, friends.”

After Berk rolled the joint, they all smoked together. The night continued with laughter and relaxed conversation. For Berk, these moments were magical; the woman he had dreamed of for years was right there in front of him. They had made music together, and now they were unwinding at the bar. Zoe had everything he was looking for—talented, witty, and adaptable. Berk thought that these moments spent with Zoe were more valuable than anything because her presence filled the missing pieces within him.

Berk was very selective about the women he chose to be with. Whenever he started a relationship, he would think about whether he could introduce his girlfriend to his friends, and he often wondered how she would represent him in front of others. In the past, some of the women he had dated had repeatedly embarrassed him in social situations. But Zoe was a woman he could walk beside with pride. Berk thought Zoe’s impeccable character would make them look like a perfect couple, deeply in love wherever they went.

After chatting at the bar for hours, Osman noticed the increasing closeness between Berk and Zoe. This made Osman uncomfortable, and he began looking for opportunities to sabotage their budding connection. Eventually, he brought up their planned trip to India.

Not wanting to disturb the calm atmosphere at the bar, Osman said, “By the way, Berk and I are planning to go to India at the end of the season. We’re thinking of taking a road trip to make it more exciting.”

Berk, sensing where the conversation was heading, shot a nervous glance at Osman. “Yeah, but I’m still not entirely sure,” he replied.

Surprised, Osman asked, “What do you mean? Didn’t you decide to go because of your feelings for Nil?”

Zoe, with a slight smile, chimed in. “Some men want to embark on big adventures like that, but over time, more realistic goals replace their ambitions. Especially when love is involved…”

Then, as if to change the subject, she added, “Since you’re planning to go to India by road, you’ll be passing through Pakistan. Stop by Karachi, and we can hang out for a while. If I can sort out my work, I might even join you on the trip to India.”

Hearing this made Berk’s excitement grow. He looked at Osman, curious about his reaction. Berk realized that Osman understood where this trip might lead. Because Berk had decided to go to India only if Zoe was coming along. But he couldn’t tell Osman that, since if Osman backed out of the whole travel plan, it would be very difficult for Berk to make the journey to Pakistan by road alone.

After thinking for a while, Osman said, “We could take a train from Iran to Karachi. We could stay there for three or four days, then head to India.”

Zoe’s casual attitude toward Berk being in love with someone named Nil, and her suggestion to visit her in Karachi, bothered Osman. He hadn’t managed to steer the situation the way he wanted, and he couldn’t stop the growing closeness between Berk and Zoe.

So, Osman brought up the excuse of visiting the woman he was flirting with. With a hint of unease on his face, he said, “I haven’t seen Ebru in a while. I think it’d be good to visit her,” and tried to end the night.

Berk felt a surge of anger at Osman’s sudden decision. He had noticed that whenever he began getting close to someone, Osman would become uncomfortable. In similar situations before, Osman would end the conversation by saying, “Everyone’s drunk, so it’s time to call it a night,” and then send everyone to their rooms. Now, with the excuse of visiting Ebru, he was trying to send Zoe to her room.

However, Berk and Zoe were both content in the moment and weren’t ready to sleep yet. Berk turned to Osman and said, “Why don’t we all go together? We could show Zoe around a bit, too.”

Although Osman didn’t like the suggestion, he couldn’t come up with a better alternative. “Fine,” he said, reluctantly. After Berk closed the bar, they all set off toward the camp where Ebru was staying.

When they arrived at the camp, they saw that the lights were off. Everyone was probably asleep. Osman stepped back from the door and, with a slight look of disappointment, said, “Let’s head back without waking anyone up.”

When they returned to their camp, Osman said he was going to bed and parted ways with Berk and Zoe. Finally alone, Berk turned to Zoe and asked, “Want to hang out a bit longer? If you’re not too sleepy yet.”

With a soft smile, Zoe replied, “I’m not sleepy yet.”

With that, Berk took Zoe to the hammock where he always went to relax. They sat side by side on the hammock, listened to the songs they had played at the concert, and talked a lot about music. At one point, Berk voiced his curiosity. “Why did you hide the fact that you’re a well-known musician in your country?”

Taking a deep breath, Zoe said, “When I go somewhere else, I just want to be known for my music, not for who I am. Sometimes, being a pop star feels like a burden.”

Admiring her words, Berk said, “I can’t believe I played on the same stage with a Pakistani pop star. It was an amazing experience for me.”

Zoe smiled slightly. “Sharing the stage with you was unforgettable for me too,” she replied.

As they listened to the songs they had played, they noticed that the guests staying in the bungalow above the hammock had woken up. Thinking they might be disturbing the guests, they got up and moved to another hammock. Lying side by side, they delved into a deep conversation while listening to music. Berk still couldn’t believe the reality of this moment. Turning to Zoe with curiosity, he asked, “What is Pakistan like? What’s life there like?”

Zoe let out a slight sigh before answering. “Pakistan is a very challenging and complex place to live. It’s a conservative culture, which makes life even harder at times. But I’m lucky that my friends and I live in an isolated environment, away from the conservative part. This allows us to live more freely.”

Berk nodded thoughtfully before asking, “So, what is it like to be a female musician in a country like that? Isn’t it tough?”

A serious expression appeared on Zoe’s face. “Yes, it’s quite difficult. Conservatives usually have a hostile attitude towards artists. But the elite class protects us, and that’s what keeps Pakistan from falling completely into darkness. We artists are like a bridge, maintaining this cultural balance.”

Berk listened attentively to Zoe’s words, looking at her with admiration. “You’re really maintaining a difficult balance,” he said.

After chatting in the hammock for a while longer, Zoe said, “I’m starting to get sleepy. I think it’s time for bed,” as her eyes grew heavy.

Berk realized he was getting tired too. “Yeah, I think some rest would be good,” he agreed.

After getting out of the hammock, Zoe hugged Berk warmly. “Good night, see you tomorrow,” she said.

Berk smiled warmly from the embrace. “Good night, sweet dreams,” he replied.

For the first time, Berk didn’t want to bring a girl he was interested in to his tent at the end of the night. It felt strange to him because, when he was usually in love, he wanted to experience everything in a special way—the first hug, the first kiss, even the first time they slept together. Now, the fact that he didn’t even want to touch Zoe made him realize that what he felt wasn’t just a fleeting infatuation, but real love.

As Zoe walked to her room, Berk returned to his tent, hoping everything he had experienced was real. He lay down and lit a cigarette. Even though it was already five in the morning, he still wasn’t sleepy. He was afraid to close his eyes, scared that he would wake up from this dream. The next day would be Zoe’s last night in Kabak Bay, so Berk decided he would confess his feelings to her and tell her he was planning to come to Pakistan at the end of the season because of those feelings. Wondering how Zoe would react to his confession, he finally fell asleep.