The next morning, Anisa arrived at the studio still feeling the weight of everything that had happened the previous night. Sleepless eyes, a slight headache, and a heart constricted by tension,she faced work hiding it all from everyone. đŁ
Drawings, sketches, designsâeverything flowed normally, yet Anisa's mind didn't settle anywhere. When she thought of Hasan, anger and pain rose together. However, when she thought of Yugh, what she felt was an unspoken sense of safety and quiet composure.
By midday, the lunch break at the studio began. As Anisa picked up her tray to sit, it was Yugh who sat opposite her. đ
"You look really tired today," he said softly, just by looking at her.
Anisa gave a faint smile.
"A bit less sleep,"she said, but it was clear to him that it wasn't the full answer. đ
Yugh silently watched her for a while, then lowered his voice and asked,
"Last nightâŠwhen you called me, you sounded really scared. What actually happened?"
The spoon in Anisa's hand trembled slightly. Taking a moment, she took a deep breath and recounted everything from the previous night, Hasan's drinking, the police checkpoint, being left alone on the deserted road, one by one to Yugh. đŻ
"I was really scared at that time, YughâŠ," she finally said, lowering her eyes.
The slight ease on Yugh's face disappeared at that moment. He said nothing, thinking for a while. đ€
"Anisa," he said in a calm but firm voice,
"I'm not telling you this as a judgment.But you need to think more about Hasan."
She looked at him. đ
"A life partner isn't someone who makes you feel unsafe,"
he continued.
"You're always trying to justify his mistakes. That's not good for you." đ
Something inside Anisa's heart felt as if it were breaking. Though his words were the truth, they were the very truth she had been afraid to hear.
"I'm not saying I need to protect you,"
Yugh said,adding a slight smile. đ
"I want you to protect yourself."
Though Anisa said nothing, the tremor in her eyes told Yugh everything.
By the time the lunch break ended, Anisa knew,
she could no longer avoid thinking about Hasan. đ