"What do you see when you look at me, Aylin?"
As his question echoed in my mind, the only word that escaped my lips was "Nothing." There, the masks had fallen. The darkness behind that night's passionate kiss seemed to dance in the depths of his eyes. Murat Aslan was not just a handsome professor, but also a complex puzzle I had to solve.
"Nothing?" A mocking expression spread across his face as he leaned back in his chair. "I wish I could believe that."
I tried to suppress the anger rising within me. I shouldn't play his game. "You see what you want to see, Dr. Aslan."
"Murat," he corrected me, his voice unexpectedly soft. "I don't like formalities when it's just the two of us here."
"Okay, Murat," I said, a strange feeling stirring within me as I used his name for the first time. "What do you want to see?"
His eyes roamed my face, as if examining every detail. It was as if he was trying to read my soul. "Curiosity. Doubt. Maybe a little fear…"
As my heart rate quickened, I tried to remain calm. "You're wrong."
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you look so nervous?"
"I'm not nervous," I lied.
"You're lying," he replied. "And lying gives you away, Aylin. Just like your mother…"
My mother's name... It was as if an ice arrow had pierced my heart. My lips parted, words catching in my throat as I stared at him in shock. "How do you know my mother?"
The expression on his face changed instantly. His mocking smile disappeared, replaced by a blank mask. "Your mother? She was just a student who graduated from this faculty in the past, that's all."
The ease in his voice didn't convince me. He was hiding something, I was sure of it. "You're lying," I whispered.
"Aylin, why are you always looking for something? Sometimes there are just coincidences," he said, his voice trying to be soothing.
"A coincidence?" I laughed mockingly. "Is it also a coincidence that the doctor who caused my mother's death is also in this school?"
The air in the room suddenly became heavy. Silence fell, only our breaths could be heard. His eyes darkened, his gaze piercing. "I don't understand what you mean."
"You understand," I said, with determination in my voice. "I examined my mother's file. I know the name of the doctor who misdiagnosed her and caused her death."
There was no sign of emotion on his face. It was as if he was wearing a mask. "And who was that doctor?"
I took a deep breath. The moment I had been waiting for for years had arrived. "You," I whispered. "Dr. Murat Aslan."
The silence in the room was deafening. His gaze did not change, it was icy. We stared at each other for a moment, as if time had stopped. Then, a slight curve appeared on his lips.
"Interesting," he said, his voice like a whisper. "So, what are you going to do now, Aylin?"
***
My head was throbbing. Murat's accusations, what he said about my mother, were spinning in my head. Everything had become even more complicated since this man had entered my life. While burning with revenge, I shouldn't let my emotions take over me.
When I returned to my room, I knew I had to pull myself together as soon as possible. I took a shower, trying to relax with the effect of the water on my skin. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The determination I saw in my eyes was the only thing keeping me going.
After drying and dressing, I sat at my desk. I decided to review my mother's file again. Maybe there was a detail I missed. Maybe I could find a clue that would prove Murat's innocence.
After hours of studying, my eyes were tired. Just as I was about to close the file, something caught my attention. In my mother's death report, there was the name of a drug used. I researched the name of the drug on the internet, and the results that came up shocked me. This drug was a substance used in illegal organ transplant operations.
My heart started beating fast. What did this mean? Was my mother's death not just a medical error, but part of something much bigger?
At that moment, there was a knock on my door. Without looking to see who it was, I opened the door. Standing in front of me was Ayşe, looking at me with surprised eyes.
"Aylin, are you okay? Your face has turned white," she said anxiously.
"Ayşe, I need to ask you something," I said, my voice trembling. "Do you think there's something illegal going on in this faculty?"
Ayşe's face paled. "What... What do you mean?"
"You heard what I said," I insisted. "Tell me the truth. There are strange things happening here, aren't there?"
Ayşe hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Aylin, this topic is very dangerous. You shouldn't get involved."
"Tell me what's going on, Ayşe," I pleaded. "Please."
Ayşe looked around, then pulled me inside and closed the door. "What I'm about to tell you, let it stay here. Don't tell anyone. Otherwise, we'll all be in danger."
She took a deep breath and started talking. "Strange things have been happening in this faculty, especially in the anatomy department, for a long time. There are rumors circulating that students are disappearing, corpses are disappearing. No one knows exactly what's going on, but everyone is aware that something is wrong."
"What about Murat Aslan?" I asked. "Does he have anything to do with this?"
Ayşe hesitated. "Murat Hoca... He's a very powerful person. It's dangerous to even talk about him."
"Ayşe, please," I begged. "Help me."
Ayşe took a deep breath. "According to rumors, Murat Hoca is involved in illegal organ trafficking. The missing corpses are used for their organs."
I took a step back in shock. This… This was unbelievable. Was Murat Aslan not only the doctor who caused my mother's death, but also a monster?
"Aylin, please listen to me," Ayşe said. "Don't get involved in this. They could kill you too."
"It's too late," I said. "I'm already involved."
At that moment, the door knocked again. Ayşe's face paled. "Who is it?" I whispered.
Without Ayşe answering, she opened the door. Standing in front of us was Murat Aslan. His eyes were dark and threatening.
"Aylin, I need to talk to you," he said, his voice icy.