When Ada stepped into the kitchen, Işıl had already rolled up her sleeves and was laying out the breakfast items on the counter.
The pleasure of preparing things together reflected the quiet harmony between them.
As Ada poured the tea, Işıl divided the olives into small bowls and placed the bread into the toaster.
"Smells amazing," Ada said, listening to the crackle of the bread as it toasted.
Işıl put down the knife and gave Ada a quick wink.
"This is how breakfast should be."
Ada smiled. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be curled up in bed."
As the table slowly filled, the steam rising from the teapot spread a gentle warmth through the house. They sat down at the same time and enjoyed a brief moment of calm.
After taking her first bite, Işıl spoke up.
"Shall we do something this weekend?"
Ada raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"I don't know, maybe we go down to the beach, maybe go out in the evening.
We can invite Ela and Eren too. It'll be crowded—nice."
Ada took a sip of her tea, pretending to think.
"Ela and Eren could be a good idea," she said, but her mind drifted involuntarily to Alp.
That closeness in the morning…
Alp taking her hand and leaning in…
Her heart was still beating to the rhythm of that moment.
Işıl immediately caught Ada's distant look.
"You're drifting off again," she said with a mischievous smile.
"I'm talking about Ela and Eren, but don't think I won't notice who's really on your mind."
Ada hurriedly spread cheese on her bread, trying to recover.
"Don't be ridiculous. Please focus on breakfast."
Işıl burst out laughing.
"I say we invite Ela and Eren… but without forgetting the other person on your mind…"
Ada frowned. "Işıl!" she warned.
But her inner voice whispered:
I wish Alp would come too…
After breakfast, the kitchen was tidied and the last cups of tea were finished.
As Işıl slung her bag over her shoulder, Ada walked her to the door.
"I'm heading out. I'll call Ela in a bit," Işıl said while putting on her shoes.
Ada hugged her and kissed her cheeks. "Okay, keep in touch. Be careful."
The moment they opened the door, they saw a small box on the doormat with a note attached to it. The box standing at the door was inviting enough to break the morning silence, yet unsettling at the same time. On the white paper, only two words were written:
"Your birthday gift."
There was no name, no signature. Just that. The simplicity of the message made it even more disturbing. As Ada stared at the box, her throat went dry; every beat of her heart echoed on the doorstep.
Işıl had already bent down. Curiosity drew her fingers to the edges of the tape, her face caught between excitement and unease.
"What is this?" she whispered, unable to hide her urge to open it.
The box wasn't heavy. As the lid opened with a faint cardboard rustle, a velvet pouch appeared inside. Işıl pulled it out, and a lipstick shimmered in the dim apartment light—a deep red.
Red… but not an ordinary red. A shade close to the warmth of blood.
At the bottom of the pouch lay another folded note. After a brief hesitation, Işıl handed it to Ada.
"This color is for your lips at their most beautiful. Happy birthday…"
The slant of the handwriting, the slightly smudged ink… everything was deliberate, yet anonymous. Ada's hands trembled as she held the paper. This wasn't just a gift; it was proof that someone knew her very well.
As the glossy surface of the lipstick gleamed, a cold knot formed in Ada's stomach.
Her favorite red.
Someone knew her.
Someone was watching her.
Işıl's breath broke Ada's silence.
"This can't be a coincidence," she whispered. "Someone is seriously obsessed with you, Ada."
Ada could only stare at the dim light reflecting off the lipstick. The red looked even more vivid in the chill of the doorway.
And for the first time, right in front of her own door, Ada felt a stalker's breath this close.
As Işıl handed the box back to her, she raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I think you should go to the police now, Ada. This feels like it's getting serious."
"Maybe you're right," Ada said thoughtfully.
Işıl hesitated for a moment. "I can stay with you a bit longer if you're uneasy."
"No, I'm fine. You should go," Ada said, taking a deep breath. She pulled the box onto her lap, her heart still racing. Inside her, curiosity and anxiety were tangled together; the lipstick… this small, red, striking gift… its boldness unsettled her as much as it thrilled her.
After closing the door and going inside, she placed the gift on the table and sat across from it, thinking. The package looked carefully chosen; the lipstick inside was the exact brand and shade Ada had been using for years.
"He even knows the brand and number of my lipstick," she murmured to herself.
At first, she had thought Alp might have left the notes, but this gift proved she was wrong. There was no way Alp could know this. So who was it? Could it be Melih—or someone else entirely?
"Whoever you are, I'll find you," Ada whispered. She opened her laptop and started researching motion-sensitive hidden cameras. Before long, she found a small motion-detecting camera and placed an order. As she shut the laptop, she smiled faintly and said to herself, "We'll see who you are."
****
A few days later, Ada installed the small motion-sensitive camera above her door, positioned to clearly capture the entrance. The camera covered both the apartment corridor and Alp's door; she could clearly see her own doorstep as well as the entrance to Alp's apartment. She carefully adjusted the angle, tested the motion sensors, and made sure everything was recording properly. Now, any note or gift left at her door—and Alp's comings and goings—would be recorded instantly.
Ada was sitting at her computer when the small window on the screen signaled motion. Her heart skipped a beat. She watched closely; in the recorded footage, she saw Alp standing in front of his door—and he wasn't alone. There was a girl with him.
The girl slipped her arm through Alp's as they walked inside together. Ada's mind went blank for a moment; she stared at the screen, shocked and curious. Their laughter and closeness as they entered his apartment filled Ada with a strange feeling. Her heart raced, her thoughts spiraling.
"Who is she? And why is she going to Alp's place?" she muttered to herself, sounding both irritated and faintly jealous.
Just then, she noticed the sugar bowl in the kitchen was empty.
"Great, the sugar's gone too—not even enough for coffee," she muttered, as if she had just found an excuse. That small pretext gave her the chance to go to Alp's door and see for herself.
She quickly pulled herself together, took off her pajamas, and slipped into a more eye-catching casual dress. Pakize followed her around, purring and watching her with curious eyes.
"Alright, sweetheart, I'm just going for sugar," Ada whispered, as if trying to convince herself.
Standing at Alp's door with a small bowl in her hand, only one question filled her mind:
"Who is this girl?"