#kerem

...belki de benim hikâyemin başlangıcıydı.

I hope I interpreted this correctly!

From left to right we have:

Zip (oc)

Darling (oc)

Mordu (oc)

Scooby-Dee (belongs to Scooby doo franchise)

Kerem (oc)

Lauren (oc)

AND FREE PALESTINE

Date: December 21st, 2024

@keremdogulu

Pieces of shattered porcelain lay beneath Viktoriya's feet. They were jagged and dotted with something wet, though she couldn't tell if it was water or alcohol. More likely the latter given the premise. All she could think was thank God she had rented out this apartment for the event inside of hosting at her father's or god forbid, her own place.

It would have come as a shock to many that she actually enjoyed hosting a yearly Christmas party. In fact, the blonde enjoyed it enough that she requested some of her own personal stores of vodka and rum to be brought from her office.

Earlier in the night, Viktoriya had stuck strictly to the clear liquid but it was well past midnight and she was craving something a bit darker, a bit more substantial. She walked by a couple making out in one of the recesses along the hallway and more than one passed out body, a small smile on her face. Enjoy it while you can. Her generosity would only last until sunlight.

The faces were vaguely familiar; something Viktoriya had made sure of. The open house invitation was only open so wide. Apparently, however, she hadn't been clear enough with the men at the door. Standing on the other side of the kitchen, back to her, was a man with her favorite bottle of rum in his hands.

"I'd put that down if I were you. It costs more than you've ever had in your bank account."

@keremdogulu​

“So, what do you say?”

Nevra sat across from a dark-haired man. A fair bit older than herself though his face only belied that fact slightly. This was their fourth meeting in six months, each one in a different place but always with the same man. He called himself Adrian. Not having any way to confirm it other than his word and a business card, Nevra had been rightfully wary when he’d first approached her. Her suspicions had only grown when he told her what he wanted from her. Or rather, what he was offering her.

A job. Not just any job though. A job with the Rutherford family. 

Of course the brunette had heard of them. They had spent years cutting away parts of Haringey to add to their empire, scooping up stray Turks along the way. They were always on the peripheral though. Her own day to day life was inconsequential and she was little more than a means to an end when the situation demanded it. Never would Nevra have guessed the head of the Rutherford’s security would ask her to join them. She had learned at the third encounter that his actual role was akin to what she did for Kerem and their gang. 

Adrian was looking at her expectantly, kindly in its own way. He remained patient with her through each meeting, explaining to her exactly what would be expected of her and what she would get in return and oh, there would be a huge fucking return. 

Her mouth opened and then closed. His offer was unthinkable. The thought of leaving her friends to work for the people who sought to destroy her community made her sick to her stomach. She’d be branded a traitor. Adrian said he would make similar offers to them if she agreed and oddly enough, Nevra believed him. Kerem would never though. Azra already hated anyone associated with the last name, and Berat had a whole life planned with Ayda. If she said yes, she would be saying it alone. 

How could she say yes? 

The only way possible. Nevra felt wretched but the thought of saying no also made her feel sick to her stomach. Turning this down would be turning down the opportunity to make something of herself. People would say it was for the money or the notoriety. They’d say she was a weak lap dog scrounging for scraps. 

They would be wrong. Saying yes would be the strongest thing Nevra had done in her entire life. 

There was no contract to sign. Only a handshake and a promise to contact her in a few days with details for a new house and work schedule. They would take care of everything from here on out, Adrian assured her. 

Yeah, everything except telling the person I love most in this world I’m leaving.

The walk back to her and Kerem’s apartment felt like hours. Maybe it was. She’d lost track of time. Everything after the word yes felt like a dream. No, a nightmare. Somewhere buried in it was hope but that was shielded from the brunette at the moment. 

She slipped a key into their front door and was greeted by some delicious smell. It made her stomach turn over. 

“Kerem?” His name dissolved on her tongue like ash. He wouldn’t want to hear her call his name soon. Unless...it was almost impossible to hope for. One step at a time. That’s how they were going to get through this. 

“Babe?”