The next day the weather was overcast. The neighborhood was quiet, but even in that silence, there was a restlessness. It was as if even the wind was blowing slowly.
Doğan went out early in the morning. While walking down the street, he saw the crowd gather. The young people of the neighborhood were whispering in a corner.
"Did you hear?"
"The Cobra Crew wandered around the neighborhood at night."
"They kicked someone's door."
Doğan's eyebrows furrowed again.
"Who?" He asked.
One of the young people pointed to Mira's apartment with his head.
Doğan's heart became like ice.
"Is it already..."
He cut the crowd and walked towards the apartment. When he arrived at the door, there was a broken piece of glass on the floor and a sign on the wall made of black spray paint: the symbol of the Cobra.
A total intimidation.
Doğan clenched his fists.
"So this is how we will play..."
Just as he was about to enter, Uncle Rauf came out from the side. He was wearing an old jacket, a slightly sleepy but careful expression on his face.
"Where to go so fast in the morning?" He said.
Doğan replied, trying to suppress his anger:
"Nuncle... someone marked this place last night."
Uncle Rauf looked at the wall and took a deep breath.
"I know."
"You know? Why didn't you say anything?" It was Doğan.
Uncle Rauf replied in a harsh but calm tone:
"Because you need to learn some things. The street is such a place. If you try to protect someone, they will probe you. Take a step on this knowingly."
Doğan gritted his teeth,
"I'm not afraid of anything," he said.
Uncle Rauf narrowed his eyes.
"I'm afraid for you, man. Don't make your brother's mistakes."
This word was heavy for Doğan. He was silent for a few seconds.
Then he blew up the question:
"This is Mira's family... who are they? Why is the cobra after them?"
Uncle Rauf did not break eye contact.
He seemed to know some things, but he didn't for now.
"I'll tell you when the time comes," he said.
"The only thing you have to do for now is: Don't act alone."
Doğan turned his head to the side.
"I've always acted alone."
Uncle Rauf smiled, but there was pain in that smile.
"And you've always been beaten."
Doğan couldn't answer. He was right.
⸻
At that time, the apartment door opened. Mira went out; she had a small backpack in her hand. When he saw the sign, his face instantly faded.
"What is this...?" He said in a shaky voice.
Doğan quickly stepped forward.
"There's nothing. It's something made to scare you."
Mira couldn't take her eyes off the wall.
"Isn't it because of my father? Again..."
Doğan got stuck when he heard the desperation in this sentence.
He approached her, his voice was soft:
"Look, this is not your fault. It has nothing to do with you either. I'm here. Okay?"
Mira shook her head slowly.
But his eyes were still nervous.
At that moment, a familiar sound of a motorcycle was heard along the street.
The famous matte black engine of the Kobra Crew...
The engine stopped. Someone wearing a black coat is right in front of Doğan. He had a mask on his face, but a recognizable arrogance was flowing from his eyes.
The biker looked at Doğan.
Then he touched the "cobra" symbol pointed to the wall.
Like,
"This is just the beginning,"
He was saying.
Then he started the engine and drove away quickly.
Mira shivered.
Uncle Rauf shook his head and went inside.
Doğan watched until the engine disappeared.
Finally, the following sentence spilled out of his lips:
"Okay... so that's it."
There was no more fear in his eyes.
There was only one decision:
I won't crush anyone in this neighborhood.
Especially you, Mira.
But there was something he didn't know:
The man on that engine would say to the Cobra Crew that night:
"The child is dangerous. Don't take your eyes off him."
And the issue would stop being a small neighborhood thing.