Page 34 of The Bittersweet Bond

Hannah and Milka exchanged a glance. Finally, Hannah gave a slow nod. "Yeah, Evin. Trust me, everyone here is under pressure."

Evin's gaze drifted to Bas, who was still standing with his friends, laughing without a care in the world.

"And after this weekend, is it any surprise you’re doubting yourself more?" Milka added.

Evin barely registered their words. Her thoughts began to drift, slipping away from the moment. Back to Bas. Back to a memory she couldn’t shake. Her mind had already started pulling her back—to a specific time, a different version of Bas.

A scene from years ago, when they were both fifteen.

__________

It had been one of those school events, a Christmas concert organized for the parents. Bas had been chosen as one of the main speakers to deliver the class speech. The auditorium was packed, buzzing with chatter. On his way to the stage, Bas had been joking around with Viktor and the others, his laughter echoing above the hum of the crowd.

When he finally stood on the stage, microphone in hand, he looked out over the sea of faces. He had never been the type to care for these kinds of events, but somehow, he always ended up in the spotlight. Bas grinned, spinning the microphone in his hand like he owned the room.

"Don’t strain yourself too much, Thomas," he quipped, glancing at the pianist fumbling with sheet music. "Otherwise, I’ll have to take over as the solo act."

His voice carried that signature Bas confidence—arrogant but magnetic. The boys in the audience laughed loudly, and even some of the kids in the crowd chuckled along.

But then, Bas’s gaze swept across the audience.

The stage lights made it hard to see past the first few rows, but something in his expression flickered—an almost imperceptible hesitation. A crack in the usual bravado that Evin only now, years later, recognized as significant.

The auditorium erupted into applause as Bas wrapped up his speech and stepped off the stage. His delivery had been flawless—confident, clear, and dripping with charisma.

Evin couldn’t help but admire him, albeit silently.

Later, she had perched herself on the desk in their classroom afterward, waiting. Nervously.

"Well, Mr. Keynote Speaker," Evin teased with a smirk as he entered, closing the door behind him. "Got yourself a fan club now?"

Bas chuckled, stepping closer, his gaze playful yet intense. "If you’re the president, then yeah."

She laughed, feeling her cheeks flush. Their eyes met, and the air between them thickened, buzzing with something new, something unspoken. It was the first time they’d truly been alone—without friends or teachers hovering nearby.

Bas moved even closer, so close that Evin could feel his breath, warm against her skin. Her heartbeat quickened, every second stretching into an eternity.

"Guess you’ve earned yourself an award for that performance," Evin joked, her voice softer now.

His fingers brushed against her cheek gently, and the lightest touch sent an electric tingle through her. "I’m about to collect it," he whispered, his voice low and unsteady.

Then, his lips met hers. The first kiss.

It was shy and tentative, yet the tension between them was palpable, like a spark waiting to ignite into flames.

Evin felt her knees weaken, her hands instinctively clutching Bass's shirt, gripping the fabric as though it was the only thing keeping her grounded in reality.

Heat coursed through her body, and though the kiss started tentative, it deepened, an unspoken bond igniting between them.

Everything around her blurred into insignificance.

As she recalled the moment, Evin pressed her fingers to her lips.

Then, suddenly, the door burst open. They broke apart, startled, and before Evin could process what was happening, a tall figure filled the doorway.

“Dad!”

It was Bas's father. His tanned, angular face caught the light for a second—just enough to reveal the sharp gaze and steady posture of a man used to being in control.

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