Phoenix
Part 58: Secret Jealousy
Morning at the company
Phoenix enters the studio with quick steps, avoiding every gaze.
Zeynep notices immediately and walks up to her.
ZEYNEP:
“Good morning… something’s wrong. Tell me.”
PHOENIX (sighing):
“I’ll tell you… but it’s a secret.
Albatross and I… we were together.
And then it turned out… he lied.
He’s the owner of the company—and I was the last one to find out.”
ZEYNEP:
“Phoenix… maybe he had a reason.
Not everyone dares to say what they want.
But you love him, don’t you?”
PHOENIX (weak smile):
“Yes… I do.”
ZEYNEP:
“Then give it time.
Time heals.”
During work
Albatross adjusts the camera. Phoenix does makeup.
Both avoid each other’s eyes.
ALBATROSS:
“Phoenix, the model’s makeup smudged… please fix it.”
PHOENIX (with a sharp smile):
“I’m glad you’re talking.
I thought you’d put me on mute.”
ALBATROSS:
“I’m just avoiding unnecessary conversation.”
PHOENIX:
“Same here.
At least we’re in harmony on that.”
While working, their hands touch a few times.
Neither pulls away—but both are visibly trembling inside.
An elegant woman enters—Mina, with dark brown hair and confident steps.
MINA:
“Albatross! Long time no see.”
Phoenix stiffens.
Zeynep steps closer.
ZEYNEP:
“Who’s that?”
PHOENIX (through clenched teeth):
“My guess? A storm is coming.”
Mina walks over and hugs Albatross.
She doesn’t step back.
Phoenix’s face darkens.
ZEYNEP (quietly):
“That hurts, doesn’t it?”
PHOENIX:
“No!
It’s just… her perfume is terribly irritating.”
Mina playfully strokes Albatross’s arm.
MINA (deliberately loud):
“I never gave up.
What matters always finds its way back.”
Phoenix’s eyes flash.
PHOENIX (to Zeynep):
“Ah.
So she’s the returning ex type.
Wonderful.”
Zeynep suppresses a smile.
The meeting room
Albatross escorts Mina into a conference room.
The door is about to close—but Phoenix steps on the edge.
It stays open.
Inside, Mina speaks provocatively.
MINA:
“We’re still good, you know.
You feel it too, don’t you?”
ALBATROSS:
“Mina… that’s the past. Please.”
MINA:
“The past comes back—if it mattered.”
Outside, Phoenix scoffs.
PHOENIX:
“If she is the important past…
then what am I?
An anonymous makeup kit?”
ZEYNEP:
“No.
You’re the one he hides—because you matter too much.”
Hurt flickers in Phoenix’s eyes.
Then she turns away, pretending not to care—while every nerve in her body listens.
Late evening
Everyone has gone home.
Only Phoenix and Albatross enter the elevator together.
Suddenly, the elevator stops.
PHOENIX:
“Perfect.
Trapped with you.
Exactly what I wished for.”
ALBATROSS:
“I know… you’re always this enthusiastic when we have to work together.”
PHOENIX:
“If you didn’t drag your ex’s shadow along,
maybe I’d be more enthusiastic.”
ALBATROSS (raising an eyebrow):
“Are you jealous?”
PHOENIX:
“Of course not.
I’m just allergic to ghosts that keep returning from the past.”
Silence.
The air vibrates.
ALBATROSS:
“You could’ve said it bothered you.”
PHOENIX:
“Why?
You always know everything better anyway.”
Albatross steps closer.
ALBATROSS:
“I never knew you.
And that’s what drives me crazy.”
Phoenix steps back—hits the wall.
PHOENIX:
“That’s because you only look…
but you don’t see.”
Albatross leans closer.
ALBATROSS (quietly):
“I always see you.”
The elevator starts moving again—the moment breaks.
PHOENIX (with a cold half-smile):
“Well then… go.
Mina’s probably waiting.”
ALBATROSS:
“And you?”
PHOENIX:
“I finally get to run away from you again.”
The elevator doors open.
They step out—but their eyes cling to each other,
as if instead of the elevator, they were the ones still trapped.
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