Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, the Cliffside Villa ~

Nala, Masika, and Oni are in Merve's room, helping Merve get ready for her prom-date with Corey.

Merve is sitting in front of a large mirror, wrapped in a white bathrobe with only underwear under it.

"Your hair soft and smooth… It takes me tons of products to get my hair close to this…" Masika said while braiding Merve's hair.

Merve will have two braids, one starting from each side, just above ears, and it will become one braid, like a crown around her head. The hair at the back will be slightly curled.

While Masika is working on the hairstyle, Oni is doing makeup, and Nala is doing a final check of the dress and accessories before putting them on Merve. The necklace with emeralds is one of the showpieces which come from Blanc jewelry design studio and it's absolutely stunning and it goes well with long beaded pieces that match the whole 1920-ies theme.

"You will look like a princess." Nala said while touching the silky turquoise material of the gown. "Corey did great by picking this dress for you."

"Stop smiling! How can I apply lipstick like this?" Oni grumbled at Merve.

"Ah, she is smiling every time you mention Corey." Masika teased and glanced at Merve's face through the mirror. "See? She is smiling again. Corey. Corey. Look, the smile is increasing. Corey. Handsome Corey..."

Nala laughed. "Of course, she is. It's the same how you are smiling when someone talks about Zack."

"I never said that her smiling is a bad thing." Masika defended herself. "I was only pointing out the fact that she is smiling when someone mentions the man she loves. It's normal."

"Hehehe…" Oni snickered. "Listen to Masika, talking like a seasonal dater. Who can tell that she has a boyfriend for less than a month? Or is this surge of experience coming from the fact that you are living together?"

Masika blinked. "Are you trying to tease me? You should be able to tell that it's not working. I am not ashamed of sharing an apartment with Zack. We are dating and enjoying each other's company. There is no room for shame because everything is filled with the pleasure of us being together."

"Yeah, pleasure…" Nala said in a singing voice. "I'm sure Zack is waiting for you to finish this hairstyle so that you can hop into his embrace. You never told me, how did you convince Zack to move to the Cliffside Villa? Did you use your newly-found feminine charms?"

"Girls, we need to change the topic because Merve is blushing through her foundation." Oni said through giggles.

Masika leaned to see Merve's face. "No one said anything about you and Corey. But this blushing might mean that you are having naughty thoughts. How far did you two go?"

Merve fidgeted. She is not used to this bold girl talk. "We kiss and hug."

"Clothes are on or off?" Oni asked bluntly.

"Uhm… on. Once, his hand was on my back, under my t-shirt." Merve said in a small voice.

Oni, Masika, and Nala exchanged knowing glances. Merve still has ways to go.

Oni looked at Merve mischievously. "Prepare for tonight."

Merve blinked. "What is tonight?"

"It's a prom. Don't you watch movies? That is the time when American kids do it for the first time." Oni responded seriously.

Merve's eyes widened. "Really?"

Masika shook her head in disapproval. "Don't listen to her. There is no such thing. She watched two movies of couples at the prom and now she thinks everyone is doing it. You will do it when you are ready."

Merve looked at Masika seriously. "How do I know if I'm ready?"

Masika puffed her cheeks, unsure how to answer this, and Nala used the opportunity to speak: "Did you think about doing it with Corey? Would you like that to happen? Do you love him? Do you trust him?"

Oni observed Merve's expression. "I would take that as four yes answers. Merve, I suggest that you relax, don't overthink it, and go with the flow."

"Uhm… we started dating recently." Merve half-mumbled.

Masika stifled a laugh. "I started dating Zack after you became official with Corey, but we are already sharing a bedroom. Some couples are together for years and they don't develop a strong bond."

Oni agreed. "You know Corey long enough to understand what kind of a person he is and to trust him. What else do you need? And tonight there will be a party and dancing... romance in the air."

"Are you saying that… he will… we will… tonight?" Merve asked while taking in choppy breaths.

Masika was amused by Merve's flustered expression. "No. But we are saying that it's a good idea to think about it in advance. In that way, when the right situation happens, you can relax and enjoy… and not have regrets later." 

"Did you think about you and Zack doing it beforehand?"

"Many times." Masika admitted.

"And when it happened… how was it?" Merve could not contain her curiosity and she had to ask.

Masika smiled dreamily. "Better than what I imagined."

"Waah! This became dirty talk." Nala reminded girls to focus on getting Merve ready and not to get distracted by a chat. "Corey will be here in a few minutes. His car entered the property… Finish hair and makeup so that she can put the dress on..."

…

Corey stood in front of Merve's door and nervously straightened the lapels of his suit before knocking on her door.

The door cracked open and Masika peeked. "Oh, you are here…" She pretended to be surprised. With Eve-lens, they are tracking Corey since he got out of the limousine.

"Hi, Masika. I am here to pick up Merve." Corey said in an official tone while reminding himself not to crush the roses in his hand.

"Hi… Are you ready to see your date?" Masika asked Corey mysteriously.

"Yes."

Masika glanced behind before pushing the door open slowly.

Corey stared at Merve, and he was confident that she is a fairy because there is no other explanation of how a girl can be so enchanting.

"Do you like what we did with your girlfriend?" Oni asked Corey.

Corey robotically walked to Merve, took her hand in his, and lifted it, making her twirl.

"You are beyond beautiful." Corey said under his breath and handed her the flowers.

Merve smiled. More than his words, his expression told her that he means it.

Merve told herself that the last few hours of facemasks, hair treatments, manicure, pedicure, waxing, and all the other torture Masika, Oni, and Nala put her through... were worth it.

"Waah! We are being ignored!" Nala whined and ushered Masika and Oni out of Merve's room. "Come girls, we are not needed anymore."

Merve snapped out of her daze. "Wait, wait! Thank you for helping me get ready."

Masika, Oni, and Nala laughed.

"Don't worry about us and focus on your date. Have fun!" Masika said from the door.

"Don't forget to see Sarah and Aiden before heading out!" Nala reminded them.

The door closed and Merve focused on Corey. "You are very handsome."

Merve felt Corey's arms wrap around her and he pulled her closer and suddenly she thought how it's not a good idea to be just the two of them in the room. Or maybe that was exactly right. Ah, she was confused.

"Thank you for being my date for the prom." Corey said under his breath.

"I am your date for much more than a prom." Merve reminded him.

Corey hummed in agreement and kissed Merve on the lips. Once, twice... and then Merve's arms wrapped around Corey's neck and she knew that she will need to fix her lipstick, but she didn't care.

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