Okay, it was a terrible idea.
Footnote: unless you've suddenly turned into a world-famous supermodel, or, more simply, you're a hundred percent sure the guy who hurt you still has feelings for you… don't use the classic methods to make him regret what he did.
Hiring two big guys to beat him up until he can't talk anymore would probably be more effective and at least yield visible results.
My plan?
It was a huge failure. The kind you write in ALL CAPS.
On Wednesday morning, everything had started exactly the way it was supposed to.
I'd woken Aylin up at the crack of dawn and finished her hair and makeup before she could even open her eyes properly. Then, ignoring all her protests, I'd made her put on the carefully chosen pants and blouse, along with a matching pair of black heels.
By the time we got to campus, the compliments from everyone we knew and the stares from people who didn't even know her had only strengthened my belief that our plan would work.
When lunch break finally came, we went to the cafeteria as usual and sat at the most visible table. Shortly after, Feyza joined us. While she was showering Aylin with compliments, I was texting Özgür "Don't you dare be late," and, in full avenging-angel mode, I turned all my attention to the main guy—Giray.
Just like I'd expected, his eyes kept drifting back to Aylin.
The moment I saw Özgür walk in, the sly smile on my face turned into a satisfied grin. I had explained to him what to do down to the last detail. Just as I'd told him, Özgür gave us a small nod, then, with a perfect "I've been in love with you for years" smile, kissed Aylin on the cheek, sat beside her, and draped his arm over her shoulders.
And of course, while all this was happening, Giray was watching them in utter shock.
I wasn't just praising him because he was my friend, but Özgür being stupidly good-looking definitely played a solid role in this scene. I mean, about one eighty tall, fair skin, black hair, green eyes, and a body very easy on the eyes… He definitely belonged in the "highly desirable guy" category.
Thinking my plan had worked, I was cheerfully chatting with everyone at the table. Right up until Giray's girlfriend walked in, grabbed him, and declared her love by practically gluing herself to his lips in front of the entire cafeteria.
She seemed very determined to make the most of her second chance.
This time, it was our turn to be stunned.
While I looked at Aylin with a defeated, almost apologetic expression, it was like flames were shooting out of Feyza's eyes.
Before we could fully process what was happening, Feyza shot up from her chair. She grabbed a huge cup from a nearby table, planted herself in front of Giray, and dumped the entire thing straight into his face. His girlfriend tried to make a scene, but since Giray clearly knew he was the guilty one, he calmed her down and left the cafeteria with her.
In the end, Feyza was at least a little relieved, Aylin got through it by being more amused than heartbroken, and I retired my avenging-angel career at its peak.
As for Özgür, he had, strangely enough, started to take a real interest in Aylin.
The truly unexpected part was the girls using my failed plan to guilt-trip me into going to the infamous party. Feyza had even gone on a special shopping trip just for the party and bought outfits not only for herself but for Aylin and me as well. While stuffing our hands with shopping bags, she'd told us we had no chance of wearing anything else.
It was less of a suggestion and more of a threat, really.
Standing in the middle of my room in my bathrobe, staring at the things Feyza had bought, I was silently swearing never to come up with "brilliant ideas" after doing homework again.
Just then, my phone started ringing on the bed, so I jumped onto it and checked who was calling. If I didn't pick up, did I still have a chance? After a brief moment of hesitation, I answered.
"I called to check if you're getting ready,"
'"Think, Duru!"'
"My dear Sapphire, you won't believe this—my dad just called, he's coming over tonight. Of course I couldn't exactly say 'Well, I'm going to a party.' You and Aylin should go without me. Have fun for me too."
"You're right, I don't believe you. You have one hour to be ready."
"Oh come on, why don't you believe me? Am I some kind of monster or what! Maybe the man just missed his child?"
"Duru, we practically have to drag you there. For you to invite your parents over any earlier than three months, there'd have to be a war or something."
Did I say having close friends who know you too well was a good thing?
Someone throw a slipper at my mouth. It was absolutely cursed.
"This is so unfair! Just because some random girl decided to do 'reconciliation sex' in front of everyone, why am I the one going to that show-off's party?" My eyes drifted back to the clothes on the bed. "And in these 'she-devil' themed outfits, on top of it all."
"Weren't you the one who wanted to be an avenging angel? There's your chance. You've got fifty minutes. I'll call when I'm there."
She hung up before I could open my mouth again.
I let out another groan and buried my face in the pillow. It was painfully obvious that luck hadn't been on my side lately.
When I finally finished getting ready, I stood in front of the mirror, trying to figure out what had been going through Feyza's mind when she bought all this. It wasn't bad—in fact, it was sexy. A little too sexy.
A tight black leather skirt, high-waisted, asymmetrical, with a zipper running diagonally all the way down, ending a handspan above my knee… On top, a short-sleeved, elegant white blouse, loose enough that one shoulder slipped slightly down… On my feet, black wedge-heeled ankle boots… And the final stage of Feyza's threat: loose waves in my hair accompanied by dark-toned makeup.
I looked nothing like my usual self.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had a feeling this was not going to end well.
When another bossy text came through on my phone, I grabbed my leather jacket and bag and headed downstairs.
One look at the girls waiting for me was all it took to make my anger spike. Unlike me, they were dressed completely casually.
Feyza had on black leather leggings, a black T-shirt, a burgundy leather jacket, and burgundy suede heels; Aylin wore dark blue skinny jeans, a white T-shirt with a black print, a matte dark green leather jacket, and black Converse.
I turned to Feyza in annoyance, pointing at Aylin.
"Why does she look like she's going to a derby match while I look like 'I'm out hunting for a wild one-night stand with the first guy I see?'"
She grinned at me with a wicked expression. "Being an avenging angel requires sacrifices, baby."
"Forget Freud! You're definitely related to Hitler."
I gave us all another once-over. She had to be joking!
"Why do we look like a rock band whose debut album just blew up, all 'we wear leather because we're so hardcore, dude'?"
My friend's giggle made it clear she was thoroughly enjoying this. "I was waiting for you to say that. Come on, admit it—you like it too."
I narrowed my eyes and spoke in a threatening tone. "Just so you know, I'm seriously considering writing your dad a very long email about why he should cancel that unlimited credit card."
Aylin, who had been enjoying our bickering, waved her hands between us. "Come on, you can continue this fight in the car. We're running late."
Dragging my feet, I followed them. When I saw a very familiar car and Feyza getting behind the wheel, I turned to her in surprise.
"Didn't you get your license suspended for drunk driving?"
"It'll be fine. If anything happens, Aylin has a license."
Aylin asked the other important question.
"Okay, but whose car is this?"
"I borrowed it from Atlas."
Once we hit the road, the car filled with ear-shattering music, and Aylin and I covered our ears at the same time. Whose brilliant, psychopathic idea was it to record a guy being strangled and call it a song? Laughing at our reaction, Feyza turned the volume down.
Making small talk along the way hadn't really helped ease my nerves, and getting out of the car to see the mini-palace clearly built to compete with the Queen of England's place only made things worse.
There was something about this place I couldn't quite name. It was unsettling.