Chapter 14: Chapter 12

New Beginnings and Shared Secrets

The next day, the sun filtered through the large windows of the apartment shared by Y/N, Rosé, and Duru. The place was quieter than usual, with Rosé still asleep in her room and Duru humming softly in the kitchen. Y/N sat on the couch, flipping through her notebook, jotting down ideas for an upcoming performance.

Her thoughts wandered briefly to the previous night—Kenan’s words, the way his steady presence seemed to ground her, and the warmth in his voice when he complimented her. She shook her head, focusing back on her notes.

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In the Kitchen

Duru: "Morning, dreamer." She placed a plate of toast and fruit on the table. "You’ve been zoning out since you woke up."

Y/N: "Just thinking about the concert... and everything else."

Duru raised an eyebrow, sliding into the seat across from her.

Duru: "Everything else, huh? Does ‘everything else’ include a certain someone with a charming smile and a habit of teasing you?"

Y/N: groaning "Duru, don’t start."

Duru smirked, leaning her chin on her hand.

Duru: "What? I’m just saying, Kenan seems... interested."

Y/N: "He’s just being nice. We’re friends."

Duru: "Friends don’t look at each other like that, Y/N. Trust me, I know." She smiled, thinking of Arda. "Speaking of, Arda’s picking me up later. We’re going to grab lunch."

Y/N: "How are things going with you two?"

Duru’s expression softened.

Duru: "Really good. He’s patient, sweet, and... he gets me, you know? I feel like I can just be myself around him."

Y/N nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

Y/N: "I’m happy for you, Duru. You deserve that."

Duru: tilting her head "And so do you. Maybe it’s time to stop overthinking and let yourself feel something."

Y/N: "It’s not that easy."

Duru: "It never is. But it’s worth it."

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At Kenan’s Apartment

Meanwhile, across the city, Kenan sat on his couch, kicking a soccer ball lightly against the wall. Arda and Barış were lounging nearby, snacking and scrolling through their phones.

Barış: "So, last night was fun. Karaoke chaos and all. But let’s talk about the real highlight—Kenan’s soft spot for Y/N."

Kenan: glaring "Barış, don’t."

Arda: raising an eyebrow "You’ve been unusually quiet since last night. He’s not wrong."

Kenan sighed, tossing the ball aside.

Kenan: "Fine. I like her. Happy now?"

Barış: grinning "Very. Finally, some honesty."

Arda: "Have you told her?"

Kenan: "No. She’s got enough on her plate without me complicating things."

Arda: "You’re not complicating anything. You’re just being honest about how you feel."

Barış: "Exactly. And honestly, it’s obvious to everyone except her."

Kenan leaned back, running a hand through his hair.

Kenan: "What if she doesn’t feel the same way?"

Arda: "You won’t know until you ask. But judging by how she looks at you, I don’t think you have anything to worry about."

Kenan stayed quiet, his thoughts racing. He’d always been confident on the field, but this was a different kind of vulnerability—one he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

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Y/N and Rosé’s Conversation

Later that afternoon, Y/N found herself in the living room with Rosé, who was sipping tea and scrolling through her phone.

Rosé: "You’ve been quiet today. What’s on your mind?"

Y/N hesitated before setting her notebook aside.

Y/N: "Do you ever feel like... you’re afraid of letting someone in? Like, what if it doesn’t work, and you end up getting hurt?"

Rosé: setting her phone down "All the time. It’s scary to be vulnerable, but it’s also part of life. If you never take the chance, you’ll never know what could’ve been."

Y/N: "What if I’m not ready?"

Rosé: "Then take your time. But don’t let fear be the only reason you hold back."

Y/N: "It’s not just fear. It’s... everything. The pressure, the expectations. I don’t want to drag someone else into all of that."

Rosé reached out, placing a comforting hand on Y/N’s arm.

Rosé: "Kenan’s not just ‘someone else.’ He’s been by your side through so much already. Maybe he can handle more than you think."

Y/N nodded, her thoughts swirling. Rosé had a way of simplifying things, but her words always hit home.

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The Group Meets Again

That evening, the group reunited at a quiet café near the city center. Duru and Arda arrived hand-in-hand, their easy chemistry apparent to everyone. Rosé and Barış were already arguing over the dessert menu, while Y/N and Kenan lingered near the entrance.

Kenan: "You’ve been quiet today."

Y/N: "Just... thinking."

Kenan: smirking "Dangerous habit."

Y/N: rolling her eyes "You’re one to talk."

They exchanged a small smile before joining the others at the table. The night was filled with laughter, teasing, and shared stories. But amid the noise, Y/N couldn’t help but steal glances at Kenan, her thoughts drifting back to Rosé and Duru’s advice.

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Ending Note

The evening ended with the group feeling closer than ever. For Y/N, the fear of vulnerability lingered, but so did the quiet assurance that Kenan might be worth the risk. For Kenan, the night solidified his resolve—he wouldn’t wait forever, but he’d be there for her when she was ready.