-Present Day-
I tried to handle as much of the café's work as possible before Ümran arrived. Even if it was only for a few hours, I didn't want to leave too much on her shoulders. It wasn't even 11 o'clock when Ümran arrived. She hurriedly chased me out of the café, insisting I go home and get ready properly. I listened to her and went home. As I put on the clothes I had prepared the day before, I kept wondering if they were a good choice.
The weather was lovely today. Summer was slowly approaching. I thought dressing lightly wouldn't be a problem for me. I wore a black skirt that reached my knees and paired it with black opaque tights. I also put on a gray sweater. My outfit would be complete with my seasonal gray trench coat. I didn't go heavy on the makeup, but I spent at least half an hour on my eyeliner. I told myself that if I didn't get it right this time, I wouldn't bother trying again. Perhaps this threat helped, as I managed to do it well.
I parted my hair in the middle, used a blow dryer to give it waves, and let it fall over my shoulders. It had been a long time since I styled my hair. I was a bit excited for the meeting. This was the first time I would be meeting someone in such a high position. I would be meeting a successful businessman. Should I approach him respectfully or warmly?
I shook my head. "No!" This wasn't a job interview. Just being myself would be enough. I put on my delicate, long earrings and realized I was ready to go. It was almost one o'clock, and I was always the one who ended up late for first dates. This habit had persisted over the years. Annoyed with myself, I put on my trench coat, grabbed my bag, and checked if I had forgotten anything before heading out. There was less than half an hour left for the meeting, and I was just leaving the house. Without thinking, I hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address.
The taxi moved without delay. I kept checking my phone repeatedly. Time was running out, and traffic was heavy. As we slowly made our way, I started questioning why we chose such a fancy café. We could have met at a simpler, smaller café. Or why didn't he come to my café?
By the time I got out of the taxi, it was already past one. I entered the café and looked around. I didn't know if he had arrived before me. I wished I had asked Ümran for his number. Or maybe not asking was the right choice. If this was our first and last meeting, there would be no need for my number. Yes, that was the best decision.
There was no one sitting alone at the tables. I guess he hadn't arrived yet. I settled at an empty table and waited. It was nearing half-past one. A waiter approached, and I told him I was waiting for someone. Alone again, I opened my phone and started scrolling through social media. There were new pictures in the feed. As I saw a new post from the Van Gogh account I had been following for a long time, the Photographer involuntarily came to mind.
I knew him for a month. That one month had made me wait for him for six years. And during those six years, I never once gave up on waiting. But now, I couldn't think like that. I was getting older. I was sure my family would start pushing me to get married to someone once they returned. I was the only daughter, and I had been waiting for a man who might never come for years. My parents weren't worried about my being single. Especially my father, who would be happier the later I got married, but even he must have thought about me starting a family.
Ah! I waited for you for years, Photographer... I hoped for your return for years. I've stayed in the same place for six years, never changing my location. I hoped you would find me somehow because you knew which city I was in. Even though I studied in the city you lived in, during that one month when we got close, you learned almost everything about me. And just like you, I had learned a lot about you. But I guess this was the end of the road. Because years had passed. Years had changed me. During the time that passed, the part of me that wanted you had created a personality in me that could be yours, but at the same time, a very protective and fierce side had grown.
Lost in my thoughts, I heard a deep voice. "Sorry, I'm a bit late. The traffic was pretty bad." I looked up to see the man from the picture sitting across from me. In fact, he looked even better than in the picture. He was wearing a dark gray suit. His hair was neatly done, and his fair skin was glowing. The man was really quite flawless. Even his eyebrows were perfectly groomed.
I smiled. "Don't worry, I just got here myself." He smiled back, showing his teeth. He was incredibly well-groomed. The man was growing on me.
"Please, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Hakan Köksoy, the general manager at a cosmetics company." It was so obvious he worked in cosmetics. Remembering that there could be men as well-groomed as him in Turkey made me smile. He deserved a big round of applause just for his appearance.
"Hello. I'm Derin Aksel. I run a café." Before the second part of our conversation began, he made a suggestion. "First, let's order something. What would you like to eat?" He asked as he called the waiter. I was a bit hungry. The waiter handed us the menus. As I looked through it, I thought I could have spaghetti. "I haven't eaten anything yet. I think I'll have spaghetti," I said. He nodded. "I was planning on having spaghetti too."
After quickly placing the order, we continued where we left off. "So, a café... That's lovely. I've always wanted to own a café, but life never gave me that opportunity." I nodded. My café was small, but it was big enough for me. "I think everyone dreams of opening a café. I fulfilled my dream."
Our conversation ended with my slight smile, and there was no sign of continuing.
"Do you live with your family?"
"Yes, but they're currently on a Black Sea tour. I've been alone for almost a week." Silence fell again, and I wondered how long this would continue. I continued observing him. His skin was incredibly smooth. How could a man have better skin than me? As I placed my phone at the edge of the table, he spoke up. "Your skin is very dry. Do you not take care of it?"
His eyes were fixed on my hand, and my mind went through my skincare routine. I had very dry, unstable skin. Creams were an essential product for me. I raised my hands and started speaking.
"No matter how much moisturizer I apply, my skin always dries out and starts peeling at certain times. I'm going through that phase again; it should get better in a week or two."
This was especially common during seasonal transitions. Not just on my hands, but my face too. "Your skin is probably very sensitive. Have you used special products for it?" I nodded. "I do. But maybe I haven't been taking proper care of myself for the past week. When I help the cook in the kitchen, my hands are in water for an hour, and it makes it worse." He nodded understandingly.
"Your job must be tough, but remember, you're more important than anything. And please, allow me to show you a few products we produce. I've already picked out a few pieces in my mind."
Even though I loved taking care of myself, I didn't know much about skincare sets. My daily life left me with very little time for myself, let alone for cosmetics. I responded politely with a slight nod and a smile. "I'd love to hear your recommendations. As a general manager, you must be very knowledgeable."
Our conversation was interrupted by the waiter bringing our food. After serving, he wished us a good meal and left. As we started eating, he continued speaking.
"I know that not only women but also men need to take care of themselves. I've been in this business for years, and I've taken better care of myself than most. That's why my face and body are flawless. I love taking care of myself."
I listened to him talk about himself with such praise. Even his tone showed how much he loved himself. It was a good thing for a man to take care of himself and love himself. And I was sure he was proud of his current position.
"In the early years, I was only interested in my mother's hand cream. But then I realized this was much more than just that. So, I started looking for better products for myself. I was 17 at the time, and I was very different from my peers. After school, I would go to cosmetic stores and do research. Then I decided to study this in university. Everything fell into place from there. Many products were developed under my guidance, and now most women have them in their makeup bags."
His food was getting cold while I had almost finished mine. "You had this vision at a very young age. Being a man in this field is a bold move. You seem to have broken the stereotypes and achieved great things," I said, trying to finish his bite quickly.
"I'm glad you understand. The judgment against men interested in cosmetics is really ridiculous... I had to go through the same thing with my friends in high school. But if you have
a dream, you never turn back from that path."
We had started talking about dreams now. Our conversation was going much better than with the other men I had been set up with. I could see a spark reaching out to me from him. I thought this man might not be a waste of time. Of course, it was still too early to say, but it was enough for me to think a bit more. I could easily have dismissed it.
He smiled nervously. "I'm sorry. But once you start talking about something you love, especially when you're talking to someone who understands, it's hard to stop." I understood him. I could only talk about things special to me with people who could understand me. I guess that's why he could talk so much with me because I could empathize with most people.
"That's true. Finding people who understand us is rare, and talking to them is invaluable."
There was a sparkle in his hazel eyes. I realized he was pleased with this situation. I pushed my empty plate away a bit. I continued drinking the rest of my beverage. "We've talked a lot about me. What do you do? What do you enjoy doing?"
I thought for a moment. "When I was in university, I joined a charity organization. We went to many places with the charity, but I had to quit when I opened my café. However, I still contribute financially."
He looked at me with surprise and admiration. "That's really great. You have such a wonderful experience in life. Did you travel anywhere?" I nodded. Somali silently reminded me of itself from the shelves of my mind.
"The first place I went to was Somalia."
His surprise grew even more. He lightly clapped his hands and pointed at me. "Somalia? You're truly an exemplary person. Going to such a distant place, knowing the conditions there, takes courage. I wholeheartedly commend you."
I blushed as he praised me. "Oh no, that's not necessary," I laughed more. But unlike me, he continued speaking. "It really is... I wouldn't have the courage to go there. And I probably wouldn't go." As he confessed, the Photographer's smiling face appeared in my mind, waving at me. Thinking about a 24-year-old going there for charity and his love for photography made me smile. And it wasn't even his first time. I remembered the time he told me he loved Somalia when we got lost together. This made me smile, and I wondered if I could see the beauty of his heart in someone else.
"It was an impulsive decision at the time. But I never regretted going. Have you ever traveled abroad?"
"Yes, quite a lot. Almost five or six times a year, but for work. I've never traveled on my own accord."
He must have had a very demanding job. Seeing someone who went on business trips surprised me. So there really were people who did that. We continued talking about various things. As time passed, he glanced at his phone briefly, and I realized it was time to leave. Unlike the other men I had been forced to meet, I didn't regret spending time with Hakan.
He paid the bill, and we walked out of the café. He headed towards his car. This man was indeed wealthy and deserving of respect. "Please, let's go to the cosmetics store I mentioned. I don't want to end the day just yet," he expressed his desire to stay with me, and I didn't want to refuse him out of courtesy. Accepting his request, he opened the car door for me to get in, and then he joined me as we drove to the store.
It didn't take long to arrive, and we entered the store. The store screamed "I'm expensive!" just from the outside. And I definitely wouldn't have set foot here otherwise. As soon as we entered, the staff started attending to us.
A woman, who I assumed was in charge, quickly approached us. She greeted us respectfully before speaking. "Welcome, Mr. Hakan. We hadn't received any news of your visit." I saw him straighten his shoulders as he stood beside me. Then he took his hand out of his pocket and raised it slightly. "Don't worry, we're just going to look at a few products and then leave. Please continue with your work."
Mr. Hakan's cool demeanor as he spoke to the staff made me realize how impressive he was. This store must have been one of the outlets connected to the company he worked for. As I looked around, he said, "Please follow me," and led me to the skincare section, guiding me to move.
He kept showing me products and explaining their benefits. At first, I found it quite pleasant, but after half an hour, the small basket he held was filled with several products. As he added new items, their prices increasingly intimidated me. Unable to hold back any longer, I stopped him.
"Mr. Hakan, thank you, but these are too much for me. Just two or three products will be enough. I'm sure I'll have the chance to get more products another time." He nodded understandingly. "But promise me that in the future, I can still help you choose your products."
He wanted something related to the future from me. I smiled shyly and lowered my head. "I promise. We'll do as you say in the future." I felt my cheeks heat up. I didn't want to look at him. But he spoke gently. "You've promised me... There's no going back."
I looked up at him. He had slightly leaned toward me. I nodded and smiled while he suddenly reached out and touched my cheek. This gesture left my thoughts frozen. I couldn't hide my widening eyes. Why did he suddenly do this? Why? As I internally questioned myself, he realized what he had done and pulled back. "Sorry, I was just curious about your skin," he said.
I retreated, trying to smile, but my lips resisted. To dispel the awkward atmosphere, I continued looking around. I noticed the staff's noticeable gazes on us, making me feel even more pressured. I took the basket from his hand and headed to the register. As I waited to hear the total for the products he chose for me, I heard him say, "From our establishment." I turned to him.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Hakan. We've only known each other for a few hours, and it's not right for me to accept such a gesture. Please allow me to do what's appropriate for me."
For a moment, he looked at me with an unreadable expression. Just as he was about to say something, I insisted, "Please." He nodded and smiled approvingly. After paying the high amount, we left the store with good wishes. I prepared to give my farewell speech as I needed to go to work.
"Mr. Hakan, thank you for today, but I need to attend to the café, so I must leave."
"I should be the one thanking you, Ms. Derin. Please allow me to take you to the café and complete my final task."
"Final task?"
"The tasks required to be a good partner."
I couldn't hold back my laughter. This situation showed that I was influenced by him, but it also made me more anxious. I would give anything to escape this moment. It was so embarrassing.
After sharing a laugh, he opened the car door for me to get in, then took the driver's seat and started driving to the café. We didn't talk much on the way, exchanging just a few words. When we arrived, he handed me his business card before I got out, and I did the same. Without wasting time, these words slipped from his mouth.
"Actually, I didn't have high expectations when I came to meet you. I thought I'd sit briefly at the café and leave. But you, Ms. Derin, are the first woman I've met who has intrigued me and made me want to get closer to you out of curiosity. Or maybe I'm just starting to think this way because I'm getting older."
As he spoke to me, I wondered what was going through his mind. These were the typical words of a man. I was very used to them. Even though many men tried to get close to me by saying I was different, most of them wanted a stable life. But there was no love or affection in it; they just wanted a happy marriage. They didn't want to marry me or be in a relationship with me. And this was what I hated the most.
"Don't get me wrong, but given my work, I spend a lot of time around women. However, I must say I'm starting to take an interest in you. Would that be too hasty of me?"
I didn't know how to respond. As I watched his face, I said, "No, it's not about misunderstanding; I'm just trying to make sense of it. I don't know what kind of women you've encountered, but I wanted to just be myself around you." His emotions were mixed; I could see the curiosity behind his smile and a different kind of excitement in his eyes.
"If you'd like, we could meet a few more times to understand each other better. I'd like to take you out for dinner. Would you be available?"
I looked at him in surprise, only responding with a smile. In my mind, the angelic side of me and the practical side of me were arguing, but they reached a common decision within seconds. "Yes... I mean, sure, whenever you'd like."
He looked out the front window for a moment and then turned back to me, suggesting a date. "How about tomorrow evening?" Tomorrow? Wasn't that a bit too soon? But I could adjust to such an early date. I nodded calmly, wished him a good day, and got out of the car, waiting for him to leave.