I was scrolling through TikTok and watched a short edit of a fictional couple saying goodbye. He's begging her to stay—let me repeat that— HE'S the one begging her to stay!
Which led me to watching the first season of Midnight at the Pera Palace. Why had I never heard of it before? I adore that it's set during the 20s; I've always loved that era. But anyway, I've got to vent about the main couple, so this is gonna contain spoilers for those who haven't watched it.
The way Halit looked at Esra from across the room in the first episode, I was gone. I was a complete goner. That look was perfection. It wasn't just awe, it was "I know you. I've known you forever, and I want you, only you." SOMEONE LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!
He is madly, passionately, and obsessively in love with her. And it drives me nuts. These two have altered my brain chemistry.
And I know he just killed another man, but the way Halit is holding her, his grip on her hand is even tight like he's desperate to keep her there.
The absolute yearning that is coming from him is so gut-wrenching in the best way possible.
And he said this, when he first met Esra in 1917:
Halit had me kicking my feet, giggling, and squealing like a little girl. Had me falling in love, too, damn. "You were made for me, weren't you?" WHAT?! That is insane behavior, good sir, and yet I melted like butter. And excuse me, but you don't need to look at her like that.
Prime example number 2:
They look at each other like they've been in love for years. And he doesn't even know her name! She never even told him. THEY MAKE ME SICK!!
But this, THIS RIGHT HERE:
For fuck's sake, kill me now!! How he grabs Esra to pull her close, leaving no space between them, is absolutely divine!! And then it gets so much better with his speech:
"I've been waiting for so long to see you again. I can't wait any more. Whoever you are, I don't care. Because the thing is we... we are meant to be with each other. You know it, too. I can see it in your eyes. I need you. And I'll do whatever I can to have you. And I can see that you need me, too. Destiny has brought us together."
I NEED THAT INJECTED INTO MY VEINS, TATTOOED ON MY SKIN!!
The soft caress of her cheek, how he tilts her chin up when he says "I need you. And I'll do whatever I can to have you." See, no, that's not... he's driving me absolutely wild!!
Halit: "But I'm in love with you."
Esra: "But I'm not in love with you."
She's stronger than me, cause girl why the fuck are you lying?!
And it's also insane behavior that Halit followed Esra through time when all he had to hang on to were fleeting moments. He even had a child on the way, but that didn't stop him. Nothing felt right without her. LUCKY FUCKING HER!!
His hand placement here:
IT MAKES ME WEAK IN THE FUCKING KNEES!!
"Don't leave me, then." "No. No. If you leave, my life will not be worth living, my love."
Who chooses to go back to their own time over him?!
