"Who is that?" Alp hissed, his jaw clenched. His eyes, which had just been arguing hotly with me, had left me and were now locked on the familiar face appearing at the door. My heart skipped a beat. Defne's arrival here was not planned.
"Alp, this is Defne, my best friend," I stammered. I hoped he didn't notice the tremor in my voice. As Defne and Aras glided in arm in arm, Alp's gaze turned to ice. The warmth in his ocean eyes instantly evaporated, replaced by a dark expression. His sharp features became even more pronounced, as if hardened by a sculptor's hand.
Defne ran to my side cheerfully, "Zeynep! Can you believe it, Aras and I are in the same faculty now! Fate has brought us together!"
As Aras grinned at me from behind Defne, I cursed inwardly. This man was a complete pain. When I turned to Alp, I saw that the expression on his face was unreadable. He had become dangerously silent.
"Alp, let me introduce you, this is Aras," I said nervously. "Aras, this is Alp."
Alp took a step towards Aras. When their eyes met, there was electricity in the air. That intense energy that can be sensed before the battle of two alpha males begins... I expected Alp to extend his hand, but he just scanned Aras from head to toe.
"Pleased to meet you," Alp said in an icy voice. He didn't offer his hand.
Aras, without breaking his grin, said, "I'm pleased to meet you too." He didn't offer his hand either. They were bickering. They were like children.
"Anyway," I said, trying to change the subject. "Defne, how did you get here? I had no idea."
Defne began to explain excitedly, "Aras called me. He said he was at the faculty and wanted to study with me. So I packed my bags and came! Can you believe it? We'll be taking the same classes, sharing the same notes..."
Defne's rosy dreams were interrupted by Alp's sarcastic laugh. "How romantic," Alp said. His eyes were on me. "How open you are to coincidences, Zeynep."
These suggestive words pierced my heart like a dagger. Alp was questioning my connection with Aras. He was right too. But bringing up this subject in front of Defne... That was outright cruelty.
"Alp, don't be ridiculous," I said. "Defne's arrival was a complete surprise."
"Is it?" Alp asked, raising one eyebrow. His gaze was piercing. He seemed to be trying to read my mind. "What about Aras?"
"Is there a problem with Aras?" I blurted out. I couldn't stop the defensive tone in my voice.
Alp shrugged. "I'm just curious. After all, you said his father was the man who put your father in jail, right?"
Defne turned to me in surprise. "What? Zeynep, are you serious?"
I bowed my head. There was no escape now. Everything was being revealed. My plans were falling apart.
"Yes," I said in a whisper. "Aras's father is the judge who put my father in jail."
Defne's eyes filled with tears. "Zeynep, why didn't you tell me anything?"
"I was going to tell you," I said desperately. "I was just... waiting for the right time."
Alp crossed his arms and began to watch us with a grin. He was like a complete devil. He was enjoying this situation.
"Well, Zeynep," Alp said, his voice filled with a mocking tone. "Why don't you tell us more about your plans. For example, how were you planning to trap Aras?"
How was I going to explain to Defne's bewildered gaze that Alp knew this much? That we had made a deal, that we were helping each other... I realized at that moment how big a mistake I had made in trusting him. Alp was not an ally for me, just a dangerous game.
"Alp, this is not a subject to be discussed here," I said. "Please..."
"Why not?" Alp insisted. "After all, we're all friends, aren't we?" His eyes shifted to Aras. "Maybe Aras has a right to know, what do you say?"
Aras looked at me in surprise. "Zeynep, what's going on?"
"Nothing," I said in a panic. "Alp is just... joking."
Alp laughed. "Joking? I've never been more serious."
The air around us was icy. The tension was so intense that it could be cut with a knife. Defne and Aras were looking at us in amazement. Alp, on the other hand, was enjoying this mess.
"Zeynep," Aras said, his voice trembling. "Tell me the truth. Are you hiding something from me?"
I looked away. I couldn't lie. It was too late now.
"Yes," I said. "I'm hiding..."
Alp grinned triumphantly. The next act of the game was about to begin, and I, unfortunately, was in the lead role. When I saw the dark glint in Alp's eyes, I realized that I was about to get lost in the depths of an even bigger secret. This secret was much more dangerous and darker than my revenge plan. And Alp was holding the key to this secret.