Chapter 1
They were never officially together, yet everyone who saw them felt there was something deep
between them. They spent time together almost every day - long walks, movies, hugs, stolen
kisses, and silent moments that felt warmer than words. The girl lived in a rented flat with her
mother and younger brother. One evening, after spending the day together, the boy came to drop
her home. As they reached the building, she smiled softly and said, "Come upstairs." The boy
hesitated. "You go first... I'll come." She walked ahead while he stayed back for a few moments.
When he finally entered the building, the landlady noticed him immediately. Her eyes narrowed
with suspicion. "Who are you?" she asked sharply. Before he could answer properly, she began
speaking badly about the girl's character. The boy felt anger rising inside him. He defended the girl
without thinking twice. Then, while walking toward the rooms, he suddenly saw a handsome,
well-built young man standing nearby. For a moment the boy froze. He could not understand
whether the man belonged to the girl's room or the neighboring flat. But the damage was already
done. Insecurity flooded his mind. The unknown man looked everything the boy believed he was
not - fit, confident, attractive. Compared to him, the boy felt ordinary. Without meeting the girl, he
quietly turned around and began walking away. The girl rushed out after him. "Hey!" she called.
The boy only looked at her once with cold, distant eyes and continued walking downstairs. But she
ran toward him, held his hand tightly, rested her head softly on his shoulder, and asked in a
trembling voice, "What happened?" He said nothing. Even when he tried to move ahead, she
continued walking beside him, refusing to leave him alone. They walked far away from her home
in complete silence. After some time, the girl softly said, "I'm hungry." The boy smiled faintly. "Me
too... but I don't have money." Nearby, a wedding banquet was taking place. Trying to lighten the
heavy silence between them, the boy joked, "Then let's eat there." To his surprise, the girl smiled
and walked with him. Inside the banquet hall, they shared a single plate of food. The girl fed him
with her own hands while quietly watching him eat. She barely touched the food herself. Then her
phone rang. It was her mother calling. The boy whispered, "Pick up the call." But the girl shook her
head gently. "You eat first." The boy finally answered the call himself and held the phone near her
ear. From the other side, her mother's worried voice came quickly: "You changed clothes and
disappeared again. Where are you?" The girl glanced at the boy and replied softly, "I'm coming...
someone is upset." The call ended. The boy looked at her and said quietly, "Now you eat too." She
finally took a few bites. After some time, it was late enough that she had to return home. As she
turned toward her building, she suddenly looked back and asked softly, "Won't you walk me
home?" So they walked together once again. The silence between them felt heavier now. Finally,the girl asked, "Tell me... what happened?" The boy stopped walking for a moment. "That guy...
who was he?" The girl became quiet. After a few seconds, she answered honestly. "He lives next
door... he's my ex." The boy's chest tightened. Then she added softly, "We were together for four
years." The boy felt shattered inside. The fears and comparisons in his mind suddenly felt real.
After a long silence, only one painful question escaped his lips. "Did you ever... get physically
close?" Tears filled the girl's eyes immediately. But even then, she did not lie. "Yes," she
whispered. The boy went completely silent after hearing the answer. No anger. No shouting. No
more questions. They finally reached her home. The boy quietly turned around and started
walking away. The girl stood there silently, watching him disappear into the darkness of the street.
She kept looking at him... until he was completely out of sight.
