Silent Eyes

7, Moving Day

"Do you need a hand?" Andreas paused, his arms straining as he held a large box. He looked down at Monica, who was crouched before a pile of belongings. She frowned, contemplating her situation. "Nah, I think I got it." However, before she could make a move to pick up the items, Andreas shook his head. "Just leave it there. I'll take care of it in a moment." Monica pouted up at him, but his stern glare made her lower her gaze. "Okay..." she muttered.

Andreas was helping Monica move into her new apartment. The place was decent, boasting modern architecture and beautiful lighting. Monica stepped inside and marveled at the spacious living room. Though it was empty, she could already envision where she would hang her pictures and place the couch. "Wow," she gasped. "I never expected Mrs. Antoni to put me in a place like this!"

Moving closer to the window, Monica peered down at the world below. The people looked like tiny ants, and she watched the cars move about obliviously. She was enamored with her new home and couldn't resist snapping multiple photos of each room to share with her friends and family.

Everything seemed to be falling into place. Monica had secured a comfortable, well-paying job, found an affordable yet remarkable apartment, and had a handsome boyfriend gazing affectionately at her. It felt like she was trapped in an everlasting dream.

Andreas set down the large boxes and stood up, leaning against the wall. He crossed his arms and smiled at Monica's awe-filled expression. "How do you like it so far?" he asked. "Do you feel safe here? We can look at other places if you're not satisfied." Monica hurried over, barely able to contain her excitement. "Do I like it?" she gasped. "Andreas, I absolutely love it!" With that, she flung herself into his arms, and he lovingly embraced her.

He kissed her lips and chuckled softly. "That's great. If you ever have any issues, remember that you can always call me. I have the spare key to come to your rescue." Andreas playfully jingled the key, and Monica laughed. "Hopefully, I'll never need to rely on that. But you're welcome here anytime. You're practically the only person I have right now." She smiled, but beneath her tone lurked a hint of sadness.

Monica had confided in her father, sharing everything with him. However, being the stubborn man he was, he became suspicious of everything, particularly Andreas' overprotectiveness. He saw it as an unhealthy obsession and believed there were inconsistencies in Mrs. Antoni's story. He bombarded Monica with questions, driving her to the brink of frustration.

Their argument escalated until her father angrily hung up. Monica, consumed by anger, tears, and frustration, could only hope that her father would reach out to her again. She knew he would, but he needed time to calm down and gather his thoughts. Monica imagined her mother massaging his shoulders, attempting to reason with him and dissolve his stubbornness.

"He'll come around," Andreas said suddenly. Monica lifted her head, and Andreas reached out, gently caressing her cheek. "Just give him some space, and eventually, he'll be willing to listen." Without a word, Monica squeezed his hand and swallowed hard. "God, I really hope so..."

As Monica and Andreas sorted through the boxes, Monica stumbled upon the PlayStation that Marcus had given her. Alongside it, she found a stack of games and a notebook filled with cheat codes. Andreas noticed the items and furrowed his brow. "What's all this?" Peering over her shoulder, Monica lifted up a game, her eyes shimmering. "Do you want to play?"

Andreas, his large frame now settled in a rickety chair, watched as Monica set everything up. As she did, she spoke aloud. "I'm surprised you've never played video games before. When I was growing up, video games were essential for kids. My brother and I were really competitive, but I would always lose to him." Suddenly, she paused and turned to face him. "What did you do as a kid?"

Andreas averted his gaze, as if the question delved into a personal realm he was hesitant to explore. Biting her lip, Monica felt a pang of guilt. "You don't have to share if you don't want to," she softly shrugged. However, Andreas opened his mouth, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "I used to hunt, exercise, and shoot stuff." Monica's lashes fluttered. "Wow, it seems like you had a different upbringing. My dad used to say my brother and I were the laziest kids on the planet."

The comment elicited a smile from Andreas, and Monica chuckled. But she sensed there was more to his story, something she shouldn't press too hard on.

Eventually, Monica set up the console and handed Andreas a controller. He stared at it, perplexed, while she settled into the chair beside him. They didn't have a couch yet, so two metal chairs from the downstairs office would have to do. "Hold this to punch," she explained, pointing at the buttons. "And press down on this to jump." Monica patiently taught Andreas how to use the controller, all the while he couldn't help but focus on her-her soft-spoken words, her attentive eyes, and her dimples.

"Hey, are you listening?" she asked, snapping him out of his trance. Andreas straightened up, realizing he hadn't absorbed a single word she had said. Hastily, he nodded. "Uh, yeah," Andreas fibbed. "Can we start now?" Monica smiled cutely and settled back in her seat. "Absolutely!"

Before long, they were engrossed in the game, and Monica was winning every round. Andreas grumbled, growing increasingly frustrated with each blow. Yet, as he noticed her wide grin and contagious laughter, his frustration melted away. Seeing her happy and laughing was all he needed.

After Andreas' character died for what felt like the hundredth time, he tossed aside his controller and leaned in to steal a kiss from Monica's lips. Surprised, she leaned back but couldn't contain her beaming smile. "I should teach you how to play this game," she said. "That way, I won't have to feel bad every time I defeat you." Andreas grimaced, and she giggled.

"I don't need your pity," he rolled his eyes. "But there is something else I need from you." Monica paused, intrigued. "And what would that be?" Rising from his chair, Andreas loomed over her, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "You."

The man's lips tickled Monica's neck as he lowered himself to her level, igniting laughter within her. Despite her attempts to push him away, his big arms wrapped around her, effortlessly lifting her off the seat. He peppered her face with kisses, and Monica's beaming expression displayed sheer happiness. However, their passionate moment was rudely interrupted by the obnoxious ringing of Andreas' phone. The loud noise made Monica cringe, and she couldn't resist commenting, "Hey, are you going to answer that?"

Andreas' frustration reached its boiling point, causing him to abruptly pull away. He swiftly whipped around, retrieving the phone from his pocket and hissing in Greek. "What!" Monica watched in silence as Andreas engaged in a conversation with the person on the other end. After a while, he lowered the device and let out a sigh. Concerned about leaving Monica alone, he addressed her with a touch of worry in his voice. "Princess, I have to go," he said. "Do you think you'll be alright?"

A slight squirm escaped Monica as she nodded. Andreas approached her, gripping the back of her head, and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Their eyes locked as he spoke with a firm yet caring tone. "Call me if anything happens or if you need something." With those words, the man departed, leaving Monica in an empty apartment with swirling emotions.