ᴇᴅʜᴀ -The Glide Of His Life

14🥀

The Yeldiz mansion stood grand and inviting, a testament to old-world charm with its intricate architecture and lush gardens. Ryan Sikander arrived with his family, his demeanor composed and cold, the perfect mask for the turmoil that simmered beneath. After a decade away, the familiarity of the place stirred something in him, a connection to the past he had tried to bury.

As they entered, the air was thick with the scent of jasmine and the sound of soft laughter mingling with the distant clinking of glasses. Ryan's parents, Ayla and Raoof, moved ahead, engrossed in conversation with Ali Yeldiz and his family. Ryan lagged slightly behind, his mind elsewhere, scanning the room for a presence he both longed for and feared.

Amidst the celebration, Shifa Yeldiz, Edha’s cousin, was the reason for this visit. Raoof had insisted on formalizing the alliance between their families, and Ryan had reluctantly agreed. Yet, despite the engagement arrangements, his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

Then, from across the spacious living room, he saw her.

Edha stood by a grand window, her silhouette glowing softly in the late afternoon light. The way her laughter floated through the air caught his attention. She looked so carefree, yet he knew the truth that lay beneath her radiant exterior. The sight of her made his heart quicken, an unwelcome reminder of his unyielding obsession.

As if sensing someone’s gaze, Edha turned slightly, her eyes sweeping over the crowd. For a brief moment, their eyes locked. Ryan felt a rush of emotions as their gazes met. Her hazel eyes held a warmth that ignited something deep within him, but he also sensed a distance, an unfamiliarity that twisted his gut. She was still a light in the room, but to her, he was just another shadow among many.

Edha blinked, breaking the moment, and looked away, returning to her conversation, her laughter echoing but softened, as if the connection they had just shared had altered the atmosphere around them. For Ryan, time froze as he absorbed her smile, that flicker of recognition, and then her retreat back to normalcy. He longed to bridge the gap, to reclaim the bond that had once defined them.

"Ryan!" His mother’s voice cut through his reverie, and he turned, forcing himself to refocus on the present. Ayla and Raoof were deep in conversation with Ali Yeldiz, who was gesturing animatedly, seemingly oblivious to Ryan’s distraction.

“Let’s go meet Shifa,” Ayla said, pulling him gently toward the gathering. “You need to get to know her before the engagement is finalized.”

Ryan nodded, suppressing a grimace. The idea of this arrangement felt suffocating. He was not here to marry Shifa. In truth, he only wanted to ensure that Edha was safe, to understand her world better, all while hiding his true intentions beneath layers of indifference.

As they approached the group, Ryan’s gaze involuntarily found Edha again, her laughter ringing out like a chime. He noticed how her friends leaned closer, sharing in her joy, completely unaware of the shadows lingering behind Ryan’s cold facade. The way her eyes sparkled as she spoke filled him with a mix of admiration and longing, but he buried those feelings deep, unwilling to show any vulnerability.

“Ryan, meet Shifa!” Ayla’s voice broke through his thoughts once more, introducing him to Edha’s cousin. Shifa was charming and poised, her smile warm as she reached out to greet him, but Ryan's thoughts were elsewhere. His eyes darted back to Edha, who was now engaged in conversation, completely unaware of his internal battle.

“Ryan, it’s good to finally meet you,” Shifa said, her tone friendly, but Ryan could barely focus. Instead, he nodded, his attention still drawn to Edha’s radiant presence across the room.

“Are you excited for the engagement?” Shifa continued, trying to gauge his reaction.

“Sure,” he replied, his voice steady but his heart racing. Inside, he felt the weight of what this engagement truly meant. A plan was forming in his mind, one that involved more than just Shifa.

While the conversation with Shifa continued, Ryan couldn’t shake the feeling that Edha was the real prize in this charade. He studied her from afar, noting how she smiled, her eyes lighting up with genuine happiness.

And then it happened again. Their eyes met briefly, and Ryan felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him. The world faded as he lost himself in that gaze, but it was just a flicker before she turned away, returning to her friends, leaving him in an abyss of unfulfilled longing.

He felt frustration swell within him. This was not how it was supposed to be. Here he was, on the verge of becoming engaged to Shifa, and yet his heart had not strayed from Edha. The plan was simple but fraught with complexities: use this engagement to get closer to Edha, to force the world to acknowledge her, to make her his in the end.

“Ryan?” Raoof’s voice broke through his thoughts again, drawing him back to reality. “Are you even listening?”

“Of course,” Ryan replied, his tone flat. He forced himself to focus, nodding along as the conversation continued. The alliance was being discussed, but in his mind, only Edha existed.

As the evening wore on, Ryan's resolve hardened. He would not let Edha slip through his fingers again. The engagement with Shifa was merely a stepping stone, a means to an end. He would make sure Edha understood that they belonged together, despite the masquerade they had found themselves in.

But for now, he would play the part of the dutiful groom-to-be, all while keeping his eyes on the woman who would always hold his heart, even from afar.