Chapter 64

Jealous 

August is a two-minded month. On one hand, vacation isn't ending, and on the other, you start preparing for another year of work or study. It's also the time of harvest on the Melekoglu farm. 

But there's a special day for someone who changed the definition of love. Yet, he doesn't know it as he is deeply sleeping in her arms. 

Her heart flutters when she remembers the nights of passions that had passed, since they met, in his arms. It alerts him to wake up, and when he opens his eyes, he sees her glowing. He pecks her lips, and she responds. Then, their lips meet, and she whispers, "İki doğdum aşkım!" 

His eyes well up with tears as he takes her hand, kisses it, and finds solace in her embrace. 

"Do you really wish for me like that?" he asks, raising his head. 

"If you were never born, I would never have Mert, nor would I feel the unconditional love you give me," she replies. She concludes her words with a passionate kiss, letting him know what will happen next. 

Yeah, in Oriental cultures, they don't just say "Happy birthday," they say "İki doğdum," which means "thank you for coming into life." It's such a lovely saying that makes anyone who hears it happy to be here, breathing with you and us.

"I want to find a job," Sibel said, adjusting her shirt's sleeve in front of the mirror as her man came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

"Why not work for me? I pay well, and the company covers your vacation expenses."

"Let me think about what kind of job you offer. Maybe something like keeping track of how many punches it takes to bring a man down. Or maybe dividing punishments based on their sins. Or perhaps predicting the number of bullets and C4 you'll need for war," she said, half-jokingly.

She seemed focused on her daily tasks, but she wasn't quite finished.

"Not to mention here that we're in a heat moment as our boy calls and we're going at it like rabbits. I don't want to meet your doomsday wall every day, as I fear that once I taste blood, I will always crave it."

He held onto her tightly, pulling her even closer, and nuzzled his head against her neck, which she welcomed.

Suddenly, he turned her around to face him, making her gasp.

"Firstly, I didn't mean to work for the criminal underworld, but for our company, SMS. I just want you to know that I don't keep track of my activities there. Hakan handles that; it's all in my head because I can't trust anyone in that world."

"But you're right about the second part. We're in the heat, and the entire office doesn't need to know how amazing my name sounds when it escapes your lips," he teased, lightly nibbling on her lower lip.

He was happy, something that he shouldn't feel, so he tried to control his smile and his heart, as he knows his happiness can bring destruction.

It was his birthday and also the harvest time, so Sibel decided to throw a party and invite all the workers not just from Melekoglu farm, but from other farms around as well.

She was ecstatic as she organized everything and her partner was by her side like a busy bee.

As the sun was setting and the moon appeared in the sky, the hostesses warmly welcomed the first guests.

"Finally, I get to meet you, my friend!" Hakan stepped forward, opening his arms to welcome Sibel. However, to his surprise, Sinbad was there instead.

"Still hasn't passed the moment when she claimed that you both passed sweet time together." he whispered to Hakan, hugging him. But Sibel pulled him away.

"I know you both have feelings for each other, but honey, let me meet my friend. It's been ages since we last saw each other." Sibel hugged Hakan while he made a funny face at his friend.

"Where are the rest of your band?" Sibel wondered, not seeing Sanem nearby.

"Here we are, just dealing with some difficulties with the princess here," Sanem smiled and approached Sibel.

As they met and hugged, Sibel felt her whole being tremble, but only the two of them could notice.

"Whatever you may feel or see, it doesn't matter anymore, Sanem. I am happy now with the man who loves me and whom I love." Sibel held her hand to comfort the shocked woman.

"So, my brother Sinbad finally won your heart," Sanem's voice came slower as she smiled at her old friend.

"It was a journey to remember, sis. I wish I could forget some of the obstacles..." Sinbad's voice came from behind as he hid himself on her shoulder.

Sibel held his head on her shoulder and added"But those obstacles are the foundation of our story, my love."

And so, still glued to each other, they welcomed the rest of the special guests, like family members and other farm owners.

As the party started, the music and the bar caught the attention of the younger crowd.

Sanem and Hakan stayed at their table as Hakan was still recovering.

But Sinbad was feeling youthful and pulled his partner to the dance floor, twirling and letting go, then bringing them back together, proving that they belonged to each other.

A girl was seen cheerfully talking to a man of her age, while someone with an evil eye watched them closely. She was unaware of the danger lurking just a few meters away.

"You are the most beautiful woman here."

"You say that because we're friends, otherwise, everyone here would be wondering how a charming man like you would be with someone like me." She laughed, holding her sadness deep inside. When her friend gently touched her scar on her face, the person who had been watching them angrily stood up and smashed his beer on the floor.

The loud music covered up his actions, but his aura promised trouble.

Sibel retreated to the bar when she noticed Gökhan there, smoking. She glanced at his parents, who were lost in their own world.

"I remember telling you to be careful with your voice because it's precious, and here you are ruining it," her teacher's voice said sternly. Gökhan immediately put his cigarette down.

"My life took a different turn last summer, Miss Siba. I wanted to impress someone with my voice, but she is not here anymore," his voice cracked as tears welled up in his eyes.

"I don't know your heart story, my son, but I know that your love story hasn't ended yet. Trust me, one day someone will wipe away your tears and fill your heart with love," Sibel tried to give hope to his saddened heart.

"Hey man, come with me. I want to show you something!" Mert came over and dragged Gökhan away from his misery.

Sibel wondered what happened to the cheerful guy she met years ago, the one who loved to sing and spread happiness to everyone around him. Just then, a woman approached and patted her shoulder. Sibel turned around immediately.

"I couldn't believe my ears when people said that Sibel Kara had returned home," the woman had the same look as 15 years ago, although a bit older now, but her smile remained unchanged.

"Halide, my friend! I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch with you all these years, but the circumstances were..."

"I understand, Sibel ma'am.," she playfully interrupted her explanation.

"Oh, please don't call me ma'am. We're the same age, and yet you make me feel old."

"Well, I couldn't defy Sir orders, ," Halide added with a smile.

As the two friends continued their conversation, Sibel had no idea that a pair of mysterious eyes were constantly watching over her. Halide's life wasn't a fairytale, as at the age of 34, she was a single mom to a newborn baby who didn't come from her womb.

Years at the hospital have made her beautiful eyes see shades of darkness. She had seen many Sibel's whose pride has led them to their demise.

But that's a story for another time.

Sibel suddenly felt alone in the middle of the crowd. Not that she was sad about it, she was just wondering how much she had lost. But the dream they shared confuses her. If things had gone as they did in the dream, or if she had let go of revenge, would they be happy and surrounded by family and friends?

"Finally, I have the honor to meet the great Sibel Kara. The one and only woman who captures Sinbad's heart. I thought you would be something extraordinary. More glorious. But you are just a pathetic woman who claimed to do things differently but ended up doing the same as others. Going back to their rapist," the obscure-eyed woman spits venom as she circles around like a snake.

"Do I know you?" Sibel keeps herself composed as memories rush in like a wild river at the touch of this woman.

"You don't know me, but Sinbad's lips do. What a delicious memory it was, that night of January 15th."

The woman speaks as Sibel tries to recall what could have happened on that date.

"Andrea is back," she told him that day, and he didn't call her for the next month, so...

Her mind buzzes as the woman proudly stands before her, watching Sibel crumble.

"Seher," comes the faint voice of Sinbad as he approaches to witness that the damage is already done.

Sibel, upon hearing him call her, any lingering doubts vanish at that moment.

Sinbad locks his eyes with hers and grabs her waist harshly.

"I don't know what she might have told you, but now, in this moment, you can choose to give power to her words or prove to her and the world who I am bound to. Who truly owns my heart? Who I truly love?"

His words come from the depths of his heart, as his eyes plead with pain.

She knows him.

She knows her man.

She looks at the woman who was waiting in the background like a snake, trying to snatch her man. She smiles at her, then looks back at him, tears visible in his eyes.

She surprises both him and herself by smashing her lips against his, going for a full French kiss in the middle of the crowd. Everyone cheers for them as Mert conveniently turns away, looking up at the stars, dreaming about his married life and how to tease his parents later.

He kisses her, but she dominates him, and he allows it. Even when she playfully bites his tongue and then gently sucks on it, relieving his pain.

They separate, making it seem like they still want more. She facetiously fixes his jacket, as if nothing happened. Seher is nowhere to be seen.

She playfully approaches, pretending to fix his jacket.

"You better get ready because if you think dodging punches and bullets is dangerous, you haven't seen my jealousy yet." Her fierce anger was evident on her face.