Attracting a Heart-Captured Dragon
Chapter 1
The sun is dim but still can feel a little warm, tucked in a cold wind in the morning today.. A sign of a change in early winter at the end of my second year in town.. Istanbul, a beautiful city with a view of the bosphorus strait that can make anyone fall in love to see it.. With half-consciousness, can be heard a noise and a very loud sound that is deliberately installed in order to wake anyone in this morning.. Although I tried to cover this ear with a pillow, it still sounded very loud.. I finally woke up and came out of my room with eyes and body that still felt heavy to open my eyes, especially to move my legs..
“ Tell me, who intentionally set the alarm??"
Mira said in Turkish, half-consciously standing at the door of her room)
“ Hazal tuu mirr.”
“ Sorry mira.. I need your help.. Very! Very this time.. Because I heard your thesis proposal was approved by Mr. Onur.. Please help me to prepare the data to easily face it”
Hazal spoke in Turkish while rubbing his hands up and down pleading
“ He failed again, already 2X mir.. Yesterday he seemed frustrated in front of the campus administration room.. ”
“ What is Prof. The onur you talk about often? It's hard, really?”
Lilian and Kirey were sitting on the sofa in the middle room drinking warm milk and bread
“ Yeah.. Mr. Onur is famous for being very firm and difficult to be approached by anyone.”.
“ Oooh so.. So it looks like you really should help her mir.”
“ NO. NO.”
Almira turned back into her bedroom
“ Please almira.”
Hazal chases after him and pulls almira's hand to keep her from entering the room
“ Serious Hazal?! Did you know I was able to fall asleep last night at what time?”
“ I know, I know very well.. But I beg you this time.. Only this time.. Please mir”
Hazal looks frustrated by not letting go of her hand from the pajamas worn by the almira
“It would be mir, if from 1 class only 4 people graduated.. Ahaha.. Almira, mirira.. I'm staying up late because of the side work, now overtime morning for the final thesis.”
“ Don't forget, he said later you have to go to the campus sendik loh.. Looks like they offer you additional courses as a lecturer assistant.”
Lilian and Kirey said again as they walked through Almira with ignorant gazes with the bread of her mouth
“ Suspicious you'll be here longer mir.”.
“ Ahahaha.. Just look for a soul mate here, Mir... Turks are rich in mixed arab bule people.”
Lillian and Kirey who were smiling ignorantly stood in front of the exit while putting on shoes
“ Lilian.. Kireys.. You guys are so annoying once”
“ Ahahaha.. Ohiya, Hazal.. Said you were gonna help Almira.. So?”
“ OH YES!! SURE, SURE!! Just so you promise to help me this time, I will introduce you to my cousin brother who owns the Restaurant.. How's mir?"
Hazal releases her hand and shows Almira the contact list
“ Hmm.. Are you trying to bribe me??”
Almira felt strange as she folded her hands
“ WHAT?? Tii.. No. gabe.. Of course not. Did you know the term sharing is beautiful?? ”
“ Ahahaha.. Hazal, Hazal.. Mir, help iih kasiann..”.
Yes.. I should have known and was ready that this would happen.. After getting an advanced scholarship program for my S2 psychologist master's degree program, papa arrived at early retirement due to his declining health.. Mama's cake business arrived had to be closed temporarily because the mother had to take care of papa, and even though the education fund was covered, the, but I still have to get an allowance or maybe I can send a little money to my family in Indonesia, especially for Andre my brother who will also go to college..
When stepping out of the room to help Hazal in the initial thesis proposal, the eyes of kirey and lilian were indeed able to make my blood boil, especially with their ignorant smiles, the eyes of kirey and Lilian were indeed able to make my blood boil, especially with their ignorant smiles, If I don't remember the three of us renting, I'd love to push out the apartment door.. Hazal who is the son of one of the richest people in this city was still able to beg me like this by pulling my pajamas like a child.. I lowered my head as I exhaled my long breath and walked towards the living room to help him.. Kirey and the ignorant Lilian deliberately delivered a glass of warm milk with a pile of some books I used to read to the living room's middle table.. Laptops are even designed by them.. Feeling annoyed I threw one of the pillows at those who laughed and ran towards the apartment exit..
I, Lilian, and Kirey together from Indonesia who are also the same to get scholarships with different majors.. We have been like a family while we have been here.. Hazal and Ozge were one of my best friends on campus. They introduced how life here, culture, and sometimes leisure time we were invited to travel in this city with them.. Even when I got the darkest news about my family, due to the requirements of the scholarship institution I received, I could not go home directly to see them and could only hear their news through online media.. And for that reason it also requires me to find a side job here, so Hazal and Ozgelah helped me to one of their acquaintances here..
“ Understand? In this proposition, we should explore the relationship between self-efficacy and anxiety"
Almira directed her pen to the thesis data Hazal was going to submit using Turkish
“ Yeah.. Now I get it.. No wonder you graduated this class"
Hazal said as she tidied up the paper and put it in her Map bag
“ Thank you back. So, are we leaving now? I think it's not too late to meet Mr. Onur”
“ Okay, you get ready and take a shower first, I will also edit this data. After that we go straight to campus”
“ Okey.”
As soon as I finished preparing, Hazal and I drove in the car that Hazal was using.. On the way to campus, we stopped at a store that gave off a fragrance that made our stomachs feel hungry.. Cerkezkoy Delicatessen is a place to eat that we used to pass, and it is impossible for us to miss just for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.. If I go back to Indonesia, I will definitely miss my favorite place to eat.. When it's done, we drove straight to campus and Hazal ran to meet Onur Bay while I said kirey required me to go to the campus to meet with Karem Bay one of the famous campus professors in each the seminar.. And it is true as they say, that the campus wants additional courses for me as a temporary teaching assistant..
At the end I also explained to them that it seemed like I could not and had to return to Indonesia immediately.. Grateful they understood my reason but deeply regretted my decision.. I also smiled while lowering my head.. When it was over, Hazal was waiting for me with her happy face.. It seems like this time he succeeded, Hazal immediately hugged me and thanked me.. Then as promised, he asked me to do an initial interview for my side job at his cousin's restaurant.. As soon as I arrived, I was shocked by Hazal because the place I worked at was a five-star restaurant..
“ Hazal wait a minute.. Are you kidding me? Am I going to work here?"
Almira spoke in Turkish, drawing Hazal's hand with a surprised look
“Ya.. don't worry, I've explained that you still don't speak Turkish"
Hazal tries to calm almira by patting her on the shoulder
“What's right is okay"
“Cute me"
Hazal then pulls Almira's hand and takes her inside the restaurant
“ Hey brother Ozcan.."
“ Hey hazal.. Aahh, are you almira? You came in time.. How are you today?”
“ My news is good.. Thank you.."
“ Alright, Almira... This is a contract, read it first"
Ozcan handed over some paper and a pen to Almira
“ Alright, Thank you ma'am.."
"Don't hesitate.. From now on call me by the same name as Hazal to me"
Said Ozcan's brother who approached the Almira and grasped the hand of the almira
" All right, brother ozcan, thank you very much"
While smiling I also walked carried by hazal room in a special employee while introducing myself to other employees.. They were very polite and accepted me openly, and some even offered to help if I found it difficult to work here.. The owner of this luxury restaurant is a couple whose husband and wife Ozcan Hanim (Kak Ozcan) wife of the owner of this place is a cousin hazal.. And her husband's name is Mete Dersen .. They were very kind and polite, they were very different from what I was thinking before..
When I was talking with other employees, the restaurant arrived the arrival of VIP guest customers who brought their office employees to conduct meetings.. All employees look panicked but immediately alert to this situation, while I am still trying to look at what to do.. Hazal then said goodbye and encouraged me before he came home.. In the midst of busyness, suddenly one of the pregnant female employees was in pain so they could not continue to work, they finally looked at me and pulled me towards the back of the staff changing room.. Inevitably, I must be prepared to be ready to replace the shift of my fellow workers who are sick at this time..
They were very understanding of my condition which was still not fluent in Turkish, which they finally told me to only be a support team when the food companion, tableware, dessert and others ran out then it was my responsibility.. I soon adapted to the current situation.. Before long I saw that the dessert table was running out, and I went back to pick up some Waffles, Croissants and a bottle of orange juice.. While walking, there was a guest who accidentally hit me so that my balance was shaky.. I managed to secure the waffle and craoissant in my hand, but I forgot that there was a bottle of glass juice about to fall off and it would break into the floor.. Arriving from behind was a hand reaching for the glass bottle and putting it back on the tray I was carrying.. I turned my body to look at the figure of the hand that helped me.. However, it was not the apology or gratitude I said, that I stood like a statue stunned to see this figure of the man who helped me..
“Are you okay?"
The man spoke Turkish
Somehow seeing and hearing his voice, I immediately lowered my head and nodded to him while telling me I was fine and begging for permission to leave.. What the hell am I doing? I could be stunned like this after seeing so many handsome Turkish men.. I must have lost my mind.. Focus almira! You're at work! I also tried to return to work until it did not feel time passed and today's work ended smoothly and there was no problem.. Mete Bay and ozcan hanim came to me and praised me for what I did today.. Other officers congratulated me.. I'm so grateful, it looks like I'll feel at home and comfortable while working here..
Guests this afternoon were not as crowded as last day, but did not rule out the possibility of being crowded again at night.. I have to be prepared if visitors arrive as crowded come back as it was this afternoon.. When it was finished serving the guests who came in this afternoon, suddenly my gaze was diverted towards the flow of the bosphorus strait and unwitting footsteps stepped out of the restaurant terrace.. It feels like a piercing cold wind blows in the afternoon today, perhaps because this is also the beginning of winter this year.. I immediately hugged myself trying to warm myself but I still could not move my eyes away from this beautiful strait..
It dawned on me to see the figure of a bespectacled man sitting alone who looked pitiful.. From the clothes he was wearing it was seen that he was from the upper class, impressed elegant with great dignity.. The man lowered his body while feeling heavy by the burden he was carrying, even occasionally seen his hands pointing to the back of his head as indicating the anxiety and confusion he was thinking about at this time.. Who's the guy? Doesn't he feel cold in this weather? Before long the man stood up and fell silent facing the stream of the bosphorus strait.. My eyes were fixed on him when I realized that the man was the one who had helped me when I almost made a mess by dropping a glass bottle of juice.. What is he doing alone like that? Soon ozcan hanim came calling and needed my help..
When I finished my job and my shift ended today, suddenly, Mete Bey (Pak Mete) asked for my help to send a coffee to someone who was waiting outside the restaurant and because it was in the direction of the road to my apartment.. Without saying much I helped send the coffee.. On the way home I turned my head to the right and left to see, who exactly ordered this coffee? Why doesn't he just go in and enjoy this coffee in the restaurant? But prefer to drink it in the middle of this cold weather.. I walked around looking for who ordered this coffee, then at the end of the streetlight tonight I saw a man walking towards me..
“ What is this coffee from Pescheria restaurant?”
“ Evet. I mean Yeah…. PARDON YOU?? DO YOU SPEAK INDONESIAN??”
“ Thank you”
“ Sa.. Same same.”
This man immediately left me.. The aura of this man was extremely gripping.. It was as if all the darkness was surrounding him at this moment.. What's wrong with her? If noticed from the posture of his body that contains and height I'm sure his face was certainly not too bad to be proud..why did he cover it with a scarf that he used? Was she afraid that if I saw her face, then I would fall in love immediately? It's funny that your argument is Almira... But somehow the fragrance of the perfume that stuck to her made me feel familiar to her.. How does he know I'm not from here? Did Uncle Ozcan tell him? Or Mr Mete? If true, does that mean he's a VIP guest at the restaurant? Why is it that my mind is filled with this man. There's still so much to think about! Better get home soon..
..........................
“ MIIRRR... ALMIRAAA!!”
Lilian knocked on the door of Almira's room until it finally opened
“ Why don't you ever let me calm down for at least 1 day? Can't just talk from the outside? I was lazy to open the door.”
“ Basarrr you! Nihh, just now brother ozcan called, he said call you a few times but you didn't pick up.. Is your phone dead?”
“ HP? ahhhh.. Yes.. Last night I forgot to charge, it just filled up.. What's the matter?”
Almira ran to the desk in her room and unplugged the charging cable trying to check her phone
“ He said you should not forget that today there is an event at the restaurant and asked you to come.”
“ Events??..... Wait, Jam brpa now?? AARRGH!! Why just tell me now Lii.”
“ Lahh?? This what..? Ckckckk.. Hence on Hp make a reminder note!”
Lilian turned her back and walked out of Almira's room
“ Yayayaa.. Onion.. Thank you, sister... You're best!!”
“ BAWEL”
“ Ahahahaa.. I love you, sister.. Ahahahaa”
Why did I forget it! Even until Mete Bay himself came to talk to me directly yesterday the day after to ask for help on my day off.. Today's event is said to be very important because it is based on the stories of other employees, The CEO who hired the restourant today is one of the biggest funders I work with right now and is notoriously cold with a sharp word in treating others.. But I think, if he is like that for what he makes the best karwayan award show in his company by using his own personal funds and coming directly? I hear it is usually for people who are already in a high position, to attend events that are not so important, they are represented by his assistant..
When I arrived at the restaurant there was no time to lecture my delay because there was still much work to be done.. Mr. Cashew immediately told me to help prepare for tonight and what I should do.. They all know that I still haven't mastered the Turkish language very well, because of her I'm just as a support team back for tonight's event.. Everyone is working very hard at the moment, they look very tired.. What I really like about working here is the family nature they give not just to me, but to everyone who works here.. Therefore we also become like a family with each other so that there is no competition while working here..
“ Event will start soon.. Almira, can you see the croissant stock? If possible, take it directly to the back porch"
Said Mr. Mete while tidying up the main buffet table and folding b
“ Good Mr. Cashew.."
I walked down the street of the restaurant side door, because I knew it was already impossible to pass through all the invited guests who had come at this time.. By rushing half run I went to the back porch to see the situation there, but when going inside, the door of the terrace could not open and I had trouble making it.. I looked around the door was rusty and needed a little lift in order to open, but I was not strong at all to lift this iron door.. There was no other way I had to go back and was forced to pass through the middle room, but when I turned my body, it arrived before me there was a man so that my face accidentally hit the man's chest..
“ Sorry.. I didn't mean it that way and I didn't see you there"
Almira said frantically by bending her body towards the man
“ You again. Do you often look like you're losing your way or looking for something?”
“ what?”
Who is this guy with glasses? Does he know me? Hold still.. If I look at his stature, isn't this man who I've noticed sitting alone in the bosphorus strait and who helped me? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's him.. But, judging from the looks of the luxurious winter suit she was wearing now, I was like I had seen her.. Where's my.... Ahhhh!! Mr. ordered a coffee that night.... Was SHE?? Why do they seem so different? And at that time it seemed like he was not wearing glasses as well..... Something is different about this guy..
“ Looking at me with that gaze seems a little impolite, miss kopi” introduction
Yep.. It turned out to be him.. So this is how his face looks? It turned out to be true my guess, with his face it was very unfortunate to be covered by his devil at that time.. Even I think he can be very proud of it.. With the fragrance of perfume attached to him and his posture looks perfect for a man who is a target of the hearts of women.. He must have easily just pointed at one of them.. Didn't she?? But, why did he look so pitiful at that time? And the other biggest question I have is where he can speak Indonesian, even very fluently.. Because judging from his appearance, he's not from the country I was born in..
“ Step over I'll open this door. You can't possibly open it”
Said the man who was forcefully pushing the door open
“ Yes, Thank you.”
After the door opened he also walked straight ahead with his strapping, seen the invited guests especially the women who were here directed at him and did not turn their eyes.. He also walked towards the main table which was devoted to the company leader or specifically the main directors.. Does he work as an assistant to any of them? However, suddenly there was a man coming to follow him from behind and as if whispering something to him.. Is that his assistant? When he arrived, he shook the hands of the chairman of the board of directors and important people in the company.. Even PAk Mete was shaking hands with great respect to him.. Before long he stood toast with a glass to toast and they clapped at him and said, #Thank you Sir Serkan# Who is this man?