Winter Hearts

Hongbin Plays Devil's Advocate

They left the shop and Siana walked with them the rest of the way home.

It was very quiet now, and they walked at a gentle silent pace as they approached their building. Siana asked them if she should show them how to do the coffee now, or would they prefer to rest?

"Rest?" said Hongbin. He looked at Leo and they chortled together. Siana smiled. They mustn't be used to anything but a hectic pace. They insisted she get in the lift and both of them took the stairs. She got out at the top just before they arrived, and used her key to open their penthouse. She stood by the door, waiting for them to go in first, as it was their place now. They all paused to take off their shoes. She saw Hongbin go into the far right room and Leo into the master on the left.

She realised that he was staying directly above her, and it was probably him who had said hello the night before. Then she realised, more likely he was the one she had noticed above her father and her, who had stayed in the shadows. She turned to go to the kitchen.

She loved this penthouse. Unlike many older homes in Greece, it was airy and bright and had lots of open space. She saw that whilst it was all very neat, there was a rumble of bedding on the sofa where someone had spent the night.

In the kitchen, she saw the beautiful vista of the mountain range and the white-capped mountain of Parnassos. She slid open one of the kitchen windows to let in some of the breeze.

She heard the boys come round into the kitchen as she reached up to a shelf to get what looked like an ornamental pot with a handle. It was a briki, a coffee pot in which to make greek coffee, the size of a coffee mug, only with a long handle to hold it over a fire.

She fished around for a long-handled teaspoon in the drawer, then looked around for the small camping-sized gas cooker, which seemed to be a must for all greek kitchens to make their coffees with.

She saw it stacked up high on a shelf and went over to get it. Leo, who was standing nearby, reached over to get it for her, but before he could reach it, she had sprung up and neatly plucked it from the shelf, using her hand on the counter for extra leverage. She smiled up at him before turning to set it up on the counter by the kitchen sink.

Hongbin let out a sigh. "Ah, hyung, what use is all that height of yours? You need to be faster than that."

Leo smiled over Siana's head at Hongbin. He answered in that quiet voice of his, "She's like those little players that take you by surprise on the courts."

Siana listened to them chatting, pleased they were feeling at ease, which in turn made her feel at ease. She unwrapped the packet of coffee and found an airtight jar to pour it into.

"That reminds me, I found someone to play basketball with, hyung. I'm meeting them in a couple of hours, if you want to join me."

Siana's ears perked up at that. She looked up at Hongbin, interested.

"Do you mean Panos?"

"How did you know?"

"No one else would give up their siesta for basketball. It has to be Panos."

Leo listened intently to Hongbin and Siana chatting, as he kept his eyes on her moving hands. Was this the guy he had seen her with this morning and on the courts the night before? He remembered his arm around her waist, holding her tight in what he felt was an intimate embrace. It must be her boyfriend, he thought, which made him feel a little despondent.

Hongbin nodded.

"Yes, he was very friendly."

"Oh yes, he is. He helps us a lot with our guests, actually. His father owns a hotel by the beach, not far from here."