Zeynep's throat tightened, making it difficult to breathe. Each word that fell from Aras's lips was like a hammer blow echoing in her mind. Murder... Aras... How could the two even be in the same sentence?
"You... how could you?" Zeynep whispered, her voice like a flickering candle flame. The regret and helplessness in Aras's eyes only fueled the fire within Zeynep.
Aras straightened in his chair, his gaze fixed on Zeynep. "Zeynep, I swear, what happened isn't what it seems. I had to defend myself."
"Defend yourself? By killing someone?" Zeynep's voice was as sharp as a knife. A single tear ran down her cheek, leaving a trail. "What... what did you do?"
Aras made a move to approach Zeynep, but she took a step back. "Don't come near me! Tell me! What happened?"
Aras took a deep breath and began to recount that night. A scuffle in a bar, the instinct to protect himself, and then that terrible moment... As Zeynep listened to Aras's story, the fire of revenge within her burned even brighter. Alp... Alp knew about this. Was he planning to stain her hands with blood as well, by including her in his dark game?
"What about Alp?" Zeynep asked, her voice icy. "Did he know?"
Aras nodded. "Yes. He helped me after the incident. He helped us destroy the evidence."
Lightning flashed in Zeynep's mind. Alp... What kind of picture had emerged when his devilish intelligence combined with Aras's helplessness? Zeynep now understood better how dangerous the alliance she had formed with Alp was. This wasn't just a game of revenge, she was being dragged into a swamp.
After leaving Aras, Zeynep retreated to a secluded corner of the campus, away from the crowd. She sank onto one of the benches and tried to take deep breaths. When she closed her eyes, Alp's icy blue eyes appeared in her mind. The darkness she saw in those eyes was now pulling Zeynep into it as well.
*
Alp was pacing in the courtyard of the law faculty, with his usual nonchalant demeanor. He took a deep drag from the cigarette in his hand and exhaled the smoke into the air. He was waiting for Zeynep. There were important things he needed to talk to her about. The Aras issue... What Zeynep had learned... Alp's plans were running like clockwork, but Zeynep's reaction could change everything.
He saw Zeynep from a distance. The expression on her face worried Alp. Anger, disappointment, and revenge... These complex emotions were making Zeynep even more dangerous. Alp had to tread carefully. Zeynep was much smarter and braver than he thought.
"Alp," Zeynep said as soon as she approached him. Her voice was so harsh that Alp paused for a moment. "You knew everything about Aras, didn't you?"
Alp took another drag from his cigarette. "Yes, I knew."
"And you didn't tell me anything. You used me in your game." Zeynep's eyes were blazing.
"Zeynep, calm down. I did this for your own good." Alp's voice was calm, but internally, storms were raging.
"For my own good? You're trying to make me an accomplice to murder! My father went to prison unfairly, your friend killed someone, and you're acting like it's normal!" Zeynep's voice rose.
Alp grabbed Zeynep's arm. "You can't get anywhere by shouting. Listen to me."
Zeynep pulled her arm away sharply. "I don't want to hear anything from you. You... you're a disgusting person."
The expression on Alp's face changed. Those icy blue eyes were now even colder and darker. "You can't treat me like that, Zeynep. Don't forget, we both have secrets. And my secret is much more dangerous than yours."
Zeynep didn't care about Alp's threat. "I'm not afraid of you, Alp. No matter what you do, I'm going to get revenge for my father. And you can be sure that you'll pay the price for this."
Alp smirked mockingly. "Do you think so? We'll see, Zeynep. We'll see..."
Zeynep turned and walked away quickly. As Alp watched her go, the darkness within him grew even larger. Zeynep being so brave could upset Alp's plans. He had to keep her under control.
*
When Zeynep returned to her dorm, she was met with a surprise waiting for her in her room. On her bed, there was a red rose and a small note. The note had only one sentence written on it: "I know your secret."
Zeynep's heart nearly stopped. Who knew? Alp? Or someone else? And most importantly, how did they know they knew her secret?