I constantly wanted to look at Elif, but at the same time, I was very scared. If they realized we had a prior connection, it wouldn't be good at all. I had to be careful. Even worse, did Elif notice the situation? If she mentioned that we had talked before, I wouldn't be able to deny it. As I walked, these thoughts raced through my mind. We reached the room with the TV. There was a low table in the middle and couches around it. Hasan and Melis sat on one of the couches. Damla, Mehmet, and Elif sat on the couch opposite them. There were a total of three couches, arranged to face each other. I was left standing. Should I sit alone on the empty couch or go over to those two awful people? The situation was becoming increasingly awkward. Elif and her family were sitting on the couch, looking at me. I decided to head towards the empty couch, thinking whatever happens, happens. Just then, Hasan spoke.

"My lovely boy, why don't you come sit with us? Why are you just standing there?" He then turned to Elif's family. "I'm sorry, he does this whenever we have guests. He's very shy."

I had no choice but to sit between them. When I lifted my head, I made eye contact with Elif. She was smiling and waving at me.

Damla noticed this first.

"The children seem bored. Maybe they should play while we talk. There's nothing for them to do here anyway."

It hadn't turned out as I feared. I wanted to be alone with Elif. But I didn't know what Elif's father and Hasan would say to this. Elif's father, Mehmet, was the first to speak.

"Good, good, let them do whatever as long as they don't disturb us."

I hadn't warmed up to this man from the moment I saw him. At least he didn't object to this.

Then Hasan spoke.

"Yes, children get bored when adults talk. Let them go play and get to know each other. But somehow, I get the feeling they've met before."

He laughed a bit after saying this. My blood ran cold. I started to sweat coldly. Did he know everything from the beginning? But how? It's impossible he noticed when they arrived, I kept avoiding looking at Elif. Maybe Elif kept looking at me, and Hasan understood from that. Or maybe he was just joking. Yes, yes, he didn't know anything. He was just testing me. All I had to do was stay calm. I was about to say something, but then I saw Elif's father. He seemed to take the comment very seriously and was looking at Elif sternly. Elif hadn't noticed this because she was looking at me. When I realized I was looking at her father, he and I made eye contact. Damla immediately hugged Elif with her right arm. It was clear Elif was extremely afraid of her father. After making eye contact with her father for a very short time, her eyes filled with tears. Then she lowered her head.

At that moment, I felt an emotion I had never felt before. It was as if a warmth rose to my brain. I started to plan in my head. Could I slit Elif's father's throat with the small piece of glass I used to cut my own arms? Or should I find a knife and cut off his fingers one by one? But I was too weak. In my condition, even if he bumped into me accidentally while walking, I wouldn't be able to get up. I barely had the strength to walk. And I had no chance against a large man many years older than me. But seeing Elif in that state consumed me. Finally, I spoke up.

"No, Eli- cough, cough, we've never met before. I don't have any friends. I would love to be friends with her." I almost said Elif's name and ruined everything. I recovered so quickly that no one noticed. Since I spoke in a very low voice and already looked sickly, my sudden cough didn't arouse suspicion. Then they turned their attention to Elif. She didn't say anything, just nodded her head. Her mother, Damla, immediately spoke up.

"Alright then, kids, go play!" Damla didn't want Elif to stay near her father either. She wanted to get her away somehow. This game and getting-to-know-each-other excuse worked for her. I jumped off the couch and went over to the couch where Elif was sitting. She got down too, and we left the room and stepped into the hallway. Even though my back was turned, I could feel them watching us until we left the room. Despite everything that had happened, I was finally alone with Elif.