when the gold glitters.

christian was in rough shape. anyone could see that with just one look, that's for sure. he didn't know whether his brother was dead or alive, and he hated the fact that he felt as thought there was nothing he could do. his tired eyes glanced up at nazli as she spoke. he really hadn't noticed her until this moment and he hadn't much been in the mood to talk. "yeah," he started, "how do you think i feel?" he huffed out, his jaw clenching in response, "he's my actual big brother and i can't- i don't know what i'd do without him."

Nazli’s chest tightened at the raw pain in Christian’s voice. She stepped a little closer, keeping her tone calm but firm. “I know… I can’t imagine what this must feel like for you,” she said gently, her eyes locking with his. “But I want you to know that you’re not alone in this." She hesitated for a moment, her voice softening. “Gavin’s strong… and so are you. I know it feels impossible right now, but I'm sure we’ll find him.” She knew Christian would definitely been feeling it tenfold compared to Nazli but she was still extremely worried about the other man and didn't even know how to cope without getting in the way somehow. "When did you last...hear from him?"

Nazli was more than a chapter in her life—she taught her the importance of unconditional love, patience and acceptance. It not only helped her move on, but it built the foundation of her relationship with Ezra. It taught her to love authentically from the heart and not from the mind where logistics come into play. What mattered is the connection between her and Ezra and what they meant to each other.

Nazlı chuckled softly, shaking her head. “It really was, wasn’t it? Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons we didn’t know we needed.” She glanced at Cynthia with a warm smile, her eyes reflecting genuine affection. “And honestly, I’m just glad you’re getting a piece of that too. You deserve to celebrate something real and meaningful with him.” Her grin turned teasing as she processed the payment and handed the card back to Cynthia. “Just don’t let him get too full of himself now—we wouldn’t want him thinking he’s cracked the code to keeping a good woman just yet.” Then, more introspectively, she added, “It’s kind of incredible seeing you embrace it all… the love, the trust, the patience. You’ve really come a long way, Cynthia.” She nudged her lightly with a playful wink. “Now all that’s left is for you to show up, let him see it, and maybe let fate do its thing.”

He wasn’t going to admit it, but he was a little stunned by the mix of amusement and sincerity in her voice. His face was beginning to hurt from how much he was sheepishly grinning. He ran a hand through his hair. “Wait… so you’re saying all this time, I’ve been auditioning for the ‘Embarrassing Myself’ Olympics for nothing?” A chuckle, though he wasn’t sure if he was nervous or relieved. “And Marisol’s… noticing me anyway?” What a foreign concept. It felt too good to be true. “Okay, okay… that’s… wow. That’s… really good to hear.”

“Auditioning for the Embarrassing Myself Olympics? Honestly… you’d probably take gold,” she teased, nudging him lightly with her elbow. “But yes, it turns out all that panicking and overthinking? It wasn’t wasted. You just needed someone to tell you that being present is worth a little chaos now and then.” She tilted her head, smirk playing on her lips. “And Marisol noticing you…yes, she has to be. That in itself is proof that you don’t have to choreograph every awkward gesture or rehearse every line like you’re performing a ballet. Some things just happen naturally when you stop trying so hard. Trust me, I’ve seen it.” Her tone softened a fraction as she added, “But yes, if you want my wise ways… you’ll need patience, a little self-trust, and the ability to let go of pretending everything has to be perfect. And maybe… maybe a little confidence sprinkled in, even on days you don’t feel it." She laughed again, lightly tapping his arm. “Now, come on. Let’s tackle those wedding colours before you start planning your next performance piece. I’ll guide you, I promise… as long as you actually listen this time.”

"Okay, deal," Sahana said, squeezing Nazli's hand back as they walked toward the massage rooms. "You don't have to be difficult for wanting to stay with me, you realize that, right?" She felt her shoulders relax just hearing her friend acknowledge all the unspoken stuff between them, because honestly it had been eating at her too. The husband remark made her laugh even though it twisted her stomach a little—there was so much Nazli didn't know about Sterling and everything that came with loving someone from the other side of this war, but maybe today could just be about them without all those secrets hanging over everything. "You're right though, let's just let it all go for once. I've been overthinking everything lately and it's exhausting." She pushed open the door to the massage area, already feeling lighter just being here with someone who got her completely. "I'm claiming the room with the best music and if our masseuse can survive our commentary about literally everything, she deserves a medal and the biggest tip we can manage." The afternoon stretched ahead of them full of eucalyptus steam and terrible jokes and the kind of friendship that didn't need explanations, just presence—exactly what she needed to remember that some things in her life were still solid and uncomplicated.

Nazli let herself laugh, the kind that started soft but lingered in her chest, easing something heavy she hadn’t even noticed she’d been carrying. “If there’s one thing I’ll never apologize for, it’s wanting to spend time with you. So, no—‘difficult’ doesn’t apply here.” She squeezed Sahana’s hand again, almost absently, because she needed the reassurance as much as she was offering it. The truth was, she had been afraid of taking up space, of asking too much from people ever since her parents died, as though grief had made her more of a burden than a person. But with Sahana, that fear softened.

at least her friend understood where she was coming from. hannah didn't want to stay at the diner any longer than she had to today, especially not after everything she'd been through. "i think you're probably right. thank you, you know, for understanding where i'm coming from." she breathed out and shifted toward her car, glancing toward the woman as she spoke. she posed a valid question and honestly, she didn't want to settle at the diner but she wasn't sure where else she could go. "i have a savings. i want to do something with my life, with my money but i don't know what..."

"You do not need to thank me Han, I'm glad I was around today." It did prompt her though to ask the question she'd posed to her friend. There was so much more she felt like Hannah could do and achieve and Nazli wanted to help see her there. "Do you see yourself being your own boss?" Because truthfully, Nazli had never seen herself as an owner of the jewelry store but now that she was--she realized she did enjoy it. And maybe that could be true for Hannah as well. "If the diner is getting to be a lot--you can always come work at the Atelier? Your skills in customer service would transfer well."

"A few months and you're already talking about not being scared of where it goes? That's huge for you," Hayat said, grinning as she settled back into her chair. She could see how different Nazli looked when she talked about this guy—like she'd found something she didn't even know she was looking for. The part about not having to prove herself every day really hit home because wasn't that what everyone wanted? Someone who just let you exist without having to constantly earn your place in their life. "And yes, I absolutely want you to spill everything because this is the best news I've heard in forever," she continued, taking another sip of her drink. After all she'd experienced, it made perfect sense that Nazli wouldn't want to rely on someone else. But it sounded like Desmond was proving himself worthy of that trust, which was exactly what her cousin deserved after everything she'd been through.

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly as a blush rose to her cheeks. “I know, it feels… almost unreal, honestly,” she admitted, tracing the rim of her glass with a finger. “I’ve spent so long bracing myself for disappointment, or expecting that any moment I’d have to prove I deserved someone’s time, their attention… their trust. And then he just… shows up. Consistently. Quietly. Without making me feel like I owe him something for existing.” She paused, taking a slow breath, letting the thought settle. “It’s not that I haven’t wanted it before—hell, I’ve wanted it my whole life—but I didn’t think it was possible for someone to make space for me without me constantly questioning it.” Her smile softened, almost wistful. “And the fact that a few months in, I’m not terrified of what this could be… that’s a lot for me to process. But it also feels like maybe, finally, I’m allowed to let myself feel safe. And happy.” Looking at Hayat, she shrugged with a sheepish grin. “So yes, I’ll spill everything. It’s not just news—it’s like finding a part of myself I didn’t realize was missing, and I swear, I’ve never felt more… understood.”

Now he was amused by the challenge presented as he looked forward to seeing how she could prove him wrong. “I bet you are.” he replied with a tiny smirk. “And I look forward to when that day comes.” Rolling his eyes at the crimes against humanity comment, he shook his head and placed the popcorn on his lap towards her and held onto their drink. “Add drama queen on your long list of accolades,” he teased. “And I also better be the only one, sweetheart.” When Nazli answered his question, Desmond nodded in understanding and till this day he was still amazed by her travel stories. “You practically saw the world and you’re saying this moment tops it? I’m flattered.” He then kissed the top of her head and chuckled while urging her to snack on the popcorn and lemonade. “Thank you for spending time with me. These moments matter and I’m grateful to even have a chance to experience it with you.” 

Nazli popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, eyes glinting as she studied him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. How is he still managing to make me feel this calm in the middle of an actual circus? she thought, shaking her head with a tiny smirk. “You know,” she murmured, nudging him with her knee, “if being soft is your secret weapon, congratulations. It’s working. But don’t let it go to your head.” She grabbed the lemonade, taking a sip, pretending to ponder seriously. “This moment? Way better than any crazy trip I’ve had. Morocco, Europe… none of it compares.” And truly now that she was thinking about it Nazli knew that the next crazy trip she went on--she wanted this very man by her side.

Open starter for everyone (0/3) Location: The Farmer's Market Time: 11:24 AM 

Nazli had been wandering through the various stalls, her basket nearly filled to the brim with all her goods. Except she needed some mushrooms and so she was just going through them when she heard someone trying to haggle for carrots. It had her discretely rolling her eyes before turning to the vendor. "Some peope don't easily realize that if they want to save a few bucks they should go to the grocery store. The farmer's market sells the freshest most organic produce which is why it costs a little more," she turned to the man now, her eyes instantly being drawn to his hair. She was unfairly judging him now, thinking someone like him didn't seem like he frequented farmer's markets often. "Do you make it a point to haggle at the stores too?"

Nate blinked, unable to hide his surprise with a tinge of guilt. He expected more teasing from her, just like Desmond had earlier. He thought, at first, that they'd share that streak of mischief, but now, he knew that it wasn't a fair assumption. “Wow. Okay,” he said, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He scratched the back of his neck. A nervous tick. “That’s… actually really nice to hear…” Another sheepish smile. As grateful as he was, he felt embarrassment bubbling in his guts. “I guess I never thought of it like that. Usually, I just think I’m embarrassing myself, you know?” He chuckled. “Thanks, Naz… For not making me feel like a complete idiot.” He shrugged before nudging her lightly with an elbow. “But seriously, I want to get this right with Marisol. So, if you’ve got any tips on how to not totally mess this up, I’m all ears… especially since I… she’s well… a client?”

She tilted her head, studying him with a mix of amusement and sincerity. “Nate, you do realize you’re probably the only one in this entire situation who thinks you’re embarrassing yourself, right?” Her tone was light, but there was truth beneath it. “Marisol probably doesn’t think so, otherwise you wouldn’t still be in the picture. You’re reading every little thing you do like it’s some big misstep, when really… it’s probably what’s making her notice you in the first place.” She leaned back, letting a faint smile tug at her lips. “And for the record, I’m not in the business of making people I care about feel like idiots. I’ll leave the merciless teasing for when you actually deserve it.” Her gaze flicked to his, steady and encouraging. Although if Nazli knew her boyfriend had been the one teasing Nate earlier, she probably would've piggy-backed off of it just to tease the man in front of her for a bit. “If you want to get it right with her, stop trying to choreograph every move. Just be present."

Seeing Nazli on board with his future plans had Desmond excited for what their time together would be like. Her acknowledgement though, that’s where it got him as he couldn’t help but lean down to kiss her softly, a testament that he appreciated her support and understanding. As he pulled away, he smiled and nodded in agreement, “Well said, beautiful.” He then sighed as he gently squeezed her waist, she would make him cave in public, but he was doing his best to maintain a composed demeanour. “Is that so? Cause I thought I had a pretty good idea. Don’t tell me you’re holding back on me now?” he curiously asked while taking another step forward in the queue. 

It was at this moment that Cynthia realized how much of an influence Nazli had on her. She taught her how to really love and showed her what she was missing out on. As her first love, she was grateful that out of all the people in the world, it was her and to still be able to maintain a relationship after their breakup was not only rewarding, but a gift that she wouldn’t take for granted. This was the closure that they needed and she was happy that they were both able to give love another chance. Now they’re in their respective relationships, being valued and seeing the worth that it brings to the table. 

Nazli smiled softly, her eyes warm with gratitude as she squeezed Cynthia’s hand back. “Thank you, Cyn. It means a lot to hear you say that, especially coming from you.” She took a moment, letting the weight of their shared history settle between them—not as a burden, but as something that shaped who they both were today. “You were an important part of my journey, and I’m proud of the woman you’ve become. We both had to find our own paths before we were ready to love fully—and maybe that was the lesson we needed.”

"I'm sorry for making you feel like you're on the outside," Sahana said, squeezing back when Nazli's fingers found hers. "That's not what I meant, and it's not fair to you either." She could see the hurt in her friend's eyes, and it made her stomach twist because this wasn't what she wanted at all. But that's adulthood, isn't it? You can't tell me you've told me everything going on in your life either. "I'm not trying to leave you out of things on purpose, it just happens when life gets exhausting. I'd hope you'd understand that everything in my world is complicated right now." Maybe that was exactly what she needed to remember, that some relationships didn't have to be analyzed and dissected until they fell apart. Some things could just exist without all the heavy stuff attached. "I know you're here for me, I've always known that. And yes, we absolutely are a beautiful mess." She felt herself relax a little, like finally admitting she was tired took some of the pressure off trying to explain herself all the time. "I don't want to get lost in the complicated stuff either, honestly. I've been doing that too much lately with everything else going on." Life was tiring, and maybe they both needed to cut each other some slack instead of picking apart every word. "So yeah, let's just be us today. No heavy stuff, just spa time and being ridiculous together. Deal?"

Nazli’s fingers tightened around Sahana’s for a moment before she spoke, her voice quieter, more thoughtful. “I know you don’t mean to leave me out… and I know life’s been a lot for you lately. I feel it too, more than I say. Sometimes I carry all this weight—things I don’t share because it feels easier to keep it locked inside.” She paused, eyes tracing the little details of Sahana’s face, searching for the words she didn’t often say. “Maybe it’s that stubborn part of me, wanting to be more than just ‘like family,’ wanting to be right there with you, not watching from the edges. Maybe I’m scared that if I don’t push, I’ll keep feeling distant.” Nazli exhaled slowly, a small, tired smile forming. “But you’re right. Sometimes the hardest thing is just to let go of trying to figure it all out. To just be here, without all the questions or the weight. So… yeah. Let’s do that. No overthinking. No pressure. Just us, a little chaos, and maybe some peace—even if it’s just for a moment.” She led Sahana over to the massage rooms. "Okay this is where we let it all go, deal? Just enjoy yourself and don't think about...absolutely anything. Except maybe your husband, that's allowed." She said these words with a teasing smile.

Laughing at her comment, he gently pulled her in to kiss the side of her head and found her absolutely adorable throughout this whole interaction. “I agree. She’s a baddie and he definitely needs to spice up his life. It's perfect fit. In fact, I feel like they owe us big time if they turn out to be end game.” He then paused and stroked his chin as a thought came to mind, “Maybe we’ll become certified match makers as a side hustle when we grow old together.” Implying that they would have a future together. He was determined at that, but he knew that with his current lifestyle it wouldn't be easy to escape it. He could only hope that he could make it out of all this and alive at that.

She laughed softly, resting her head against his chest for a moment before looking up at him with a teasing sparkle in her eyes. “Certified matchmakers, huh? I can definitely see us pulling that off—two old baddies scheming to fix up the next generation while refusing to grow up ourselves.” She smiled warmly at the thought, but the hint of reality in his words didn’t escape her. “I know it’s not easy with everything you’re juggling, but if anyone can make it through the chaos and still come out smiling, it’s us.” Her smirk deepened as he called out her ‘innocence.’ “Innocent? Me?” she teased, fingers tracing lazy circles on his waist. “You have no idea.” It was certainly the image she gave off, she knew that but when people really got to know her--they knew just how depraved she could be; in a good way of course.

“I don’t blame him, you always give great advice.” complimented Desmond with a grin. He’s a man who strictly gave credit, where credit was due and honestly, Nate made the better choice in confiding in his girlfriend. “He’s getting the best of both worlds babe, you’re providing him genuine advice from the female gaze. As for me, I’m simply here to build his confidence…” However, his girlfriend was quick to humble him as she pointed out what he had already said, “Damn, clocking me on date night?...You love it though, but you’re right…He needs that balance to stay grounded. He’s a great guy and I only want what’s best for him.” 

"Look at you, buttering me up like I'm your own personal tub of popcorn or something." She was very aware her statement sounded ridiculous but truly she was giddy. She was with the man she loved, enjoying a seemingly normal evening and that was enough for her. "That's true though." she grinned at him when he realized she had gotten it exactly right. "I think Marisol is perfect for him, woman is feisty in the best ways. She can keep him on his toes, don't you think?"

Nate let out a soft groan, as if she’d just diagnosed him with a terminal case of being a loser. "Yeah, well, I used to flirt. I was good at it once," he said, lying. He always claimed he was too busy for romance, that he had obligations.  “Now I can’t hide the blushing and the way I make too much eye contact when someone hot laughs at my joke.” He popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth and sighed like a man burdened by too many feelings and not enough game.

Nazli chuckled softly, her eyes warm as she watched Nate unravel himself with such honest awkwardness. “You know, it’s kind of refreshing to hear you admit to being a blushing mess,” she said, her voice gentler now. “Most people hide that side, like it’s a weakness or something to be ashamed of. But it’s real, and it means you’re alive to the possibility of something genuine.” She paused, thinking about her own moments of vulnerability and how rare it felt to just let down the walls. “Marisol sounds like someone who doesn’t just skim the surface. She sounds fierce, unafraid to be herself, and that kind of honesty... it’s scary and magnetic at the same time. No wonder you’re tangled up in her.” Nazli’s gaze softened as she added, “It’s funny—sometimes the people who shake us up the most are the ones who see all our cracks and still decide to stay. That’s rare, too.” She looked away for a moment, caught in her own thoughts before meeting Nate’s eyes again. “And about your ‘pathetic’ self? I think what you’re really showing is courage—the kind it takes to admit you’re falling for someone who might just knock you off balance. That’s not pathetic. That’s brave.”

"I promise not to make fun of you for being soft," Hayat said, grinning as she settled back into her chair. "But I'm definitely going to need way more details because this sounds incredible." She took another sip of her drink, already loving how Nazli's face lit up when she talked about this guy. A bodyguard who was stoic but soft and knew exactly when to show up without being pushy? Yeah, that sounded like exactly what her cousin needed after everything she'd been through. "So he just kept appearing until you stopped waiting for him to leave, that's actually perfect timing on his part," she continued, nudging Nazli back with her foot. The part about not having to earn his love really hit her because wasn't that what everyone wanted? Someone who just let you exist without having to constantly prove you deserved their attention. "And you're my closest thing to home too, which is why I need to know everything about this relationship that's making you glow like that," she said with a laugh. "Start with how long you've been seeing each other properly because I have about twenty more questions lined up after that."

She laughed softly, a warmth spreading through her chest at Hayat’s teasing and genuine curiosity. “Soft isn’t such a bad thing, is it? I think it’s something I’m still learning to let myself be,” she admitted, the words feeling honest and a little vulnerable. “As for Desmond... yeah, he just kept showing up, steady and sure, even when I wasn’t ready to stop waiting for him to leave. It’s not always easy for me to let someone in, but with him, it feels like I’m allowed to just be. No games, no proving myself every day. Just... accepted.” She glanced over at Hayat, a smile tugging at her lips. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months now — it’s still new, but it’s real. And for the first time in a long time, I’m not scared of where it might go.” Nazli’s tone grew softer, more introspective. “I guess what’s different is that I don’t feel like I have to carry everything alone anymore. It’s a relief, but it also makes me wonder if I’m ready to fully trust that feeling.” She shook her head with a laugh. “So yeah, I’ve got plenty of answers for your twenty questions — and maybe some doubts, too. But if you want to know everything, I’m ready to spill.”