After the call ended, Mary stared at her phone for a while. Her mind drifted like a wave between hope and doubt. Getting to know Nicholas better? It was a tempting idea, but would this path lead her away from her dreams?
Deniz, sensing Mary's mood, said bluntly:
"If you avoid him, you'll just fantasize more, Mary. You're past thirty now. If you keep running from every guy around you, you might even forget what it's like to fall in love."
Mary sighed and said in a calm but firm tone:
"But right now, I just want all my focus on my dream. I don't want anything to distract me. If I don't reach it in this decade, it'll be really hard later."
Deniz gave a faint smile:
"Maybe this guy is part of your dream too. You didn't meet Nicholas at the office, you met him at a gallery. On the path you love."
Mary frowned:
"Please don't talk like I'm in love with him!"
Deniz shrugged:
"Alright, I didn't mean it that way. I'm just saying—don't be one-dimensional. As you chase your dream, keep your eyes open to other things too."
Mary smirked:
"Well, I am trying to see everything right now."
Deniz replied with a mock-philosophical tone:
"Good. These small steps slowly lead you to your ultimate goal."
Mary squinted at her playfully:
"Oh please… Just because you've landed someone, you think you're a family therapist now? Listen to yourself talk!"
Deniz laughed:
"I tried to be serious for a minute, and you ruined it. Come on, let's go back to work. Lunch break's over."
Hours at the office passed, and Mary buried herself in work. But the thought of Nicholas and the upcoming weekend gallery lingered like a quiet shadow in her mind.
Saturday finally arrived. Mary picked up her phone hesitantly and called Helen.
"Hi Helen, how are you?"
"Thanks, darling, how about you? I was just about to call you. I'm going to my friend's boutique opening today. You and your friends should come!"
Mary paused.
"I thought we were going to the gallery today?"
Helen, confused:
"Gallery? What gallery?"
"After the trip, Nicholas called and said I should help you decorate the pottery gallery."
"I don't know anything about a pottery gallery… Let me talk to Nicholas and I'll call you right back."
After the call, a seed of doubt took root in Mary's heart. She told herself:
"Maybe there's no gallery at all... Forget it… don't ask, just let it go."
But soon the phone rang again.
"Mary? I spoke to Nicholas. Yeah, there's a pottery gallery next week. He just forgot to tell me—scatterbrained as always."
Mary smiled in relief.
"So it's real after all… we're going to the gallery!"
When she arrived, beautifully patterned pottery was arranged around the hall. Nicholas greeted her with a smile:
"Hey. Thanks for not letting me down."
Mary returned a soft smile:
"My pleasure. I was curious to see these pieces myself."
Nicholas said:
"Helen's not here yet. Come give me your opinion on decorating that section."
Mary quickly realized the current decor didn't match the vibe of the pottery. Her experience from building exhibitions now came in handy. But she said:
"I have a few ideas, but I'll wait until Helen arrives to discuss them."
A few hours later, with Helen's arrival, their teamwork began. By sunset, they were both tired but satisfied with the work.
Helen groaned:
"Ugh, so much in one day… And Nicholas always disappears during the hard parts."
Mary laughed:
"We didn't even have lunch. Let's go grab some dinner."
Just then, the door opened and Nicholas walked in with three food bags.
"Dinner's here!"
Helen smirked:
"Well, look who decided to show up—right after all the hard work, as usual."
Nicholas:
"Again with the complaints? Give it a rest."
Turning to one of the staff, he said:
"I got food for everyone. Go hand it out."
During dinner, Nicholas's glances at Mary were more frequent than usual. Helen, with a heavy gaze, picked up on it. After the meal, Nicholas said:
"I'll drive you home."
Helen quickly added:
"I brought my car. You take Mary."
Mary whispered anxiously:
"I could've come with you… Why'd you say that?"
Helen replied with a mysterious smile:
"You worked so hard for his gallery—let him at least give you a ride."
In the car, Mary stayed quiet. When they arrived, Nicholas asked:
"Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Thanks for the ride."
Nicholas laughed:
"That's not what I meant… You're honestly kinda cute sometimes."
"Then what did you mean?"
"Like, maybe you could say—'Let's grab coffee after the gallery tomorrow.'"
Mary laughed:
"Why would I say that?"
"Because I want to make it up to you. But I'm waiting for you to say how."
"I wanted to help. No need to make anything up to me."
Nicholas said gently:
"But I want to see you outside the gallery too."
Mary smiled.
Nicholas:
"How about we go to a restaurant after the gallery tomorrow?"
"Alright… since you're insisting. Helen will be happy too."
"Helen? Why?"
"Isn't she coming?"
"I doubt it. Helen doesn't work two days in a row."
Mary gave a faint smile:
"Okay then. I'm going in. Goodnight."
When she got home, it was silent.
"Ava? Are you home?"
No answer. The living room lights were on. But suddenly, she saw something behind the curtain. Her heart sank. She stepped forward.
"Ava? Is that you? …Who's behind the curtain?"
A soft voice whispered:
"He hasn't left yet… See? Told you he'd drive her home."
A second voice added:
"Good-looking, sure, but he didn't even get out to open the door. Not impressed."
"Wait, give it time… He'll open the door eventually."
Mary, furious, yanked the curtain aside. Deniz and Ava were sitting there!
"What are you two doing here?!"
Deniz whispered, giggling:
"Get down, he might see us!"
Mary looked out the window. Nicholas was still in the car, looking at his phone...
Mary (sits angrily): "Are you kidding me? Now you've embarrassed me too! Move over!"
Ava (excited): "Deniz, he's leaving!"
"Ugh, he left! We didn't even get a good look… This is all your fault, Mary!"
"Aren't you two ashamed? Now you're spying on me?"
Ava:
"Why are you upset? I should be the one upset! I'm the only one left out here—Deniz bagged the university president's son, and you have your sweet Nicholas..."
"Sweet Nicholas?! What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Anyone who managed to melt your heart must be special…"
Mary (unbothered, tosses her bag on the couch):
"Don't make up stories. Nicholas and I are just regular friends."
"But Deniz said your relationship is serious!"
Mary (to Deniz, annoyed): "Deniz!"
Deniz (nervously from the corner): "Uh… I think I should head home. Ava, I'll call you later."
Deniz quickly put on her shoes and left.
Ava (to Mary, curiously):
"Be honest. Is nothing going on between you two?"
"I said no!"
"And you don't want something to happen? Come on, Mary, be real with me."
Mary paused.
"I'm just going with the flow for now… Let's see what fate decides."
"Well, I got my answer. Time to get back to my stuff."
"You're so shameless… Deniz has totally corrupted you too!"