My heart was pounding. I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying to suppress the rising feeling of panic. *I know your secret*. Who could know? My father's case, my revenge plan... Was everything exposed? With trembling hands, I read the note again. The paper was torn from a cheap school notebook, with hurried, threatening writing on it.
"Who are you?" I whispered into the empty room. There was no answer. Only the walls of my room and the sound of my heart beating like crazy.
I sat on my bed. I looked around. Everything seemed normal in my room. My books, my notes, my clothes... But that note was a sign that everything had changed. I felt vulnerable. As if someone was watching me, following my every step.
The first name that came to my mind was Alp. He knew so much, the thought that he might be behind this note, while frightening, didn't surprise me. But why would he do such a thing? Did he want to scare me? Or... Was he warning me to protect me? Don't be ridiculous, Zeynep, I thought. Alp Koraş and the words protection couldn't even be used in the same sentence.
I picked up my phone and called Aras. Maybe he knew something. Maybe... Maybe the killer had also learned my secret.
"Zeynep? Is there a problem? Calling at this hour..." I flinched at Aras' sleepy voice.
"Aras, I'm going to ask you something. Last night... After you told me everything, did you mention it to anyone?"
Aras paused for a moment. "No, Zeynep. What are you talking about? Who could I tell?"
"I don't know. But... Someone knows my secret." My voice trembled. I wanted to tell him about the note, but I stopped. What if he wrote it? Or, what if he was the real killer?
"What secret? Zeynep, are you okay? You're talking nonsense."
"I'm fine. I'm just... A little nervous. Forget it. Good night." I hung up the phone. I wanted to trust Aras, but there was suspicion inside me. Against everyone.
Just then, there was a knock on my door.
I jumped up. Who could it be at this hour? Or... Was it the person who wrote the note?
"Who is it?" I called out in a trembling voice.
"It's me, Alp."
My breath caught in my throat. Alp? What was he doing here? Should I let him in? Or was it a trap?
I slowly opened the door. Alp was standing in the dark corridor. His eyes scanned me with concern.
"Are you okay? Your face is as white as a sheet. I thought something had happened."
Should I show him the note? Could I trust him? Maybe... Maybe he didn't write the note and he could help me.
"Alp... I need to show you something."
I handed him the note. Alp frowned as he read it. Then he fixed his eyes on me.
"What does this mean? Who wrote this?"
"I don't know. I found it in my bed this morning."
Alp thought for a moment. Then he took his phone out of his pocket.
"I'm going to find out who wrote this. Don't worry."
"What do you mean? Are you going to the police?"
"No need to go to the police. I have my own methods." Alp's eyes darkened. At that moment, I remembered again how dangerous he was.
"Alp, we should go to the police. This is a threat. Maybe my life is in danger."
"Nothing will happen to you. I'm here." Alp reached out and stroked my cheek. At that moment, his closeness both comforted and frightened me.
"Alp... I..." I didn't know what to say. I wanted to trust him, but I couldn't.
"Shhh... Calm down. Everything will be alright." Alp pulled me close and hugged me tightly. At that moment, I wanted to feel safe. Even if only for a moment.
Alp stayed in my room that night. I didn't sleep until morning. I was constantly on alert. I felt like something was going to happen at any moment. Alp was sleeping next to me. His presence wasn't enough to comfort me.
When morning came, Alp was getting ready to leave.
"I have to go. But I'm not going to leave you alone. I'm going to send some of my men here. They will protect you."
"Protection? Alp, this is too much. There's no need."
"There is. I can't let anything happen to you." The expression in Alp's eyes surprised me. It was as if... He was really worried about me.
After Alp left, I was alone in my room. But this time I wasn't alone. There were men outside protecting me. But the person who really needed to protect me was the secrets I had accumulated inside me.
I had a hard time going to classes all day. My mind was constantly on that note. Who wrote it? Why did they write it? And most importantly, what did they know?
When I returned to the dorm in the evening, I found an envelope in front of my room door. My name was written on the envelope. My heart started pounding again. What was this now?
I opened the envelope and read the note inside. This time it was even more frightening.
"Don't trust him. He's just a player like you."