Winter Hearts

While Siana Gets Food

The landlord, a Mr Mikhalis, was already talking to Joonie in the lobby. Joon asked them if they could go up ahead on their own. Hyuk took the key and pushed for the lift. There was a glass panel in the door which was illuminated by the light within. They opened the heavy door to find that it was barely bigger than an airplane toilet cubicle, and about as tall as they were. 

Hyuk got in, followed by Binnie. Ken tried to get in too, but N held him back by the scruff of his neck.

"Let the rabble go on ahead to prepare the way, young Ken."

Hyuk and Hongbin stared impassively at Ken as N let the door swing shut and they started their gentle journey up to the fourth floor. 

Ken turned to smile at N. Leo looked around and saw they were right next to the staircase. Without a word, he turned and took the stairs, three at a time. He reached their floor before the lift arrived, and was happy to see the surprised look on Hongbin's face when he exited the lift and saw him there. 

It still gave him a thrill to surprise people, mostly because winning anything with Hyuk and N around was almost impossible nowadays. They outstripped him physically and mentally, and made him miss the straightforward team games where people just had to be good at playing by the rules.

Hyuk, on the other hand, could see Leo's chest heaving under that cool demeanour. When he caught Leo's eye, he smiled a tight-lipped smile that promised future ribbing and teasing. Leo sharpened his gaze at Hyuk as he came forward to open the door.

He opened it and let Hongbin walk through, then sidestepped Leo's foot which was intended to trip him, smoothly entering their new abode. Leo gave up on trying, and walked in behind Hyuk.

They all stood for a moment, in awe.

They had the perfect view of all the bay of Itea and the Pelopponese mountain range beyond.

The place was simple, all white walls and white marble flooring, completely open plan except for the tiny vestibule to their left into which all the rooms opened. To their right, the living area spread towards the three sets of balcony doors, whose shutters had been opened to let in the evening sun.

They could see sky, peachy and dewy in the fading sunlight, the still waters of the bay and the esplanade in the distance towards the right. Hyuk and Hongbin immediately went to open the doors and were exclaiming with delight. Leo let them go while he walked through the living area, only to find that beyond to the right, there was an even larger more casual living area with a huge stone fireplace and more large windows and doors that looked out towards the mountain range they had just journeyed down.

The mountain face was now a dusky pink and he could see the white snowcap of Mount Parnassus, tinged a pinky orange under a now darkening sky. Soft twinkling stars were emerging even while there was still a faint light from the sun, and the whole vista had a magical quality he couldn't have imagined.

If he kept going right, he would walk into a large kitchen with an ensuite laundry room tucked into the back. There was a tiny breakfast table in the middle of it which he knew wouldn't fit even two of them. He walked into the kitchen and found the pristine white marble countertops to be taller than he expected, and a perfect fit for him, although he hoped he wouldn't be expected to be responsible for all their meals.

He came back out of the kitchen, retracing his steps, to see Hyuk and Hongbin hanging over the narrow balcony's railing, looking straight down.

They were calling out to Min Seok, who was parked directly below and unloading the bus.

Leo walked by and into the vestibule to check out the rooms. He heard the lift coming up as he peered into the open doors of each bedroom. To the right were two rooms facing the street below, each with two single beds, built-ins and their own doors or windows which opened onto the single long and narrow balcony.

In the middle, a bathroom with a shower, which he supposed would be for the two bedrooms to share. To the left, the master with a massive double bed and a private ensuite.

My room, he thought decisively, wishing he wouldn't have to share.

This room had a window and one set of doors opening out onto a small private balcony. There was enough extra space for an extra bed, but he was hoping against hope that the decision would be made to rent another apartment so that they would all get a modicum of individual privacy.

He opened the doors and went out onto the balcony. The mountain view was magnificent, and he wished he could just step off the ledge and soar into the sky towards the wild mountains. He looked below to see their building had a small yard that backed onto other small yards that were either used for businesses or orchards. 

He could see the olive groves, so close by, that extended deep into the crevices at the foot of the mountains several kilometres away. To the left, he saw a small byzantine church, and further towards the centre of town, the much larger main church which they had passed on the way. To the right, he saw a few buildings making up the end of the town, and the bare rock-face of another smaller mountain range which seemed to curve round the town like the arms of a giant buried chest-deep in the earth.

He heard N come into the room, calling for him. When he came out onto the balcony, he gasped in wonderment at the view.

"We need another apartment," Leo said quietly. N looked at him in surprise.

"It will be cosier if we all stay together."

"I want this room alone."

"Me too and Me and ME," said N, turning to face Leo, their eyes taking on a serious gaze. Leo could see N didn't like the idea of changing anything. He wondered for a moment what could change N's mind.

"You and I would have to share one bathroom with at least two of the others. Either Ravi, or Ken, or Hyuk or Hongbin. Or Joonie or Min Seok," he said, slowly, deliberately.

N's gaze wavered.

"We need another apartment." N said, matter-of-factly. "I'll speak to Joonie." He turned immediately to call for Joon.

"I want this room."

"Don't push your luck."

"I want this room."

"Alright."