Binded Strings

Chapter 7

        “If I beg?”.
        “No”.
        “I will be in my room”. Jacob announced and without any reply disappeared into his room.
         Mom dragged me outside and I could feel air tingling my skin.
        “Well”.She said.
        “Well?”, I responded.
        “Anything going on between you two?”.
        “Two?”.
        “You and Jacob”.Mom sounded irritated.
        “Jacob?”.
Mom frowns at my little game, “Have you guys had time to yourselves, you know chat together and have fun together”.
        “Together?”.
        “Kathy! What's with this game of repeating what I said and throwing the question to me”.
         “Question?”.
Mom's face reddened,“Stop it Kathy!Just give it up”.
I placed my hands over my mouth and burst to laughter, “Sorry mom, was only trying to pull your legs”.I smiled.

       “And it worked pretty fine”.
I stared at her, “Mom, Jacob is just being friendly nothing more”.
       “I like him”.
       “Why?”.I sounded desperate.
       “I don't know, he's already family and I would trust him to take really good care of you.
       “Mom, please like I said before Jacob is trying to make up for what he did back in high school”.
       “And how would you know that huh?”.
       “Because…”.
       “Don't you see the way he looks at you during family dinner”.
        “Probably because he was bored and had no way to look at”I snapped.
        “No”.
        “Yeah”.
        “Dad and I talked about it and we gave you both our blessings to date and get married”.Mom winked.
         “How about you guys give your blessing to someone else?”.
         “End of discussion Kathy”.

         ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We all stepped into a classic Greek restaurant in the heart of Athens, we were greeted by the sights and sounds of a bustling kitchen. The restaurant is warm and cozy, with brick walls and dim lighting. We are  shown to a table near the window, where we can see the Acropolis lit up in the distance. I could hear the sound of Greek music playing softly in the background, and I could smell the delicious aroma of gyros and spanakopita wafting from the kitchen. Nearby, a couple are romantically sharing a bottle of wine and chatting animatedly.I took a moment to take in the surroundings and admire the ambiance of the restaurant. We look over the menu, which is filled with classic Greek dishes like moussaka, souvlaki, and baklava.Mom and dad held their hands lovingly as they contemplated on what to order when a waiter came over and took our orders, shortly after he arrived carrying a tray of food , which he gently sets down in front of us. As he does so, he offers us a warm smile and a few words in Greek which in didn't know the meaning to but we decided it was a friendly greeting. We returned the smile and I nodded, I caught him staring at me and then he winked and walked away. I stared at the food in front of us, a feast of Greek delicacies, and felt a sense of excitement and anticipation.Mom and dad fed themselves, enjoying the rich flavors and savoring every bite. The restaurant is filled with the sound of chatter and laughter, not like the serious one where everyone seems to be pretty annoyed and you have to be pretty careful not to get on their bad side.
  We took our time, savoring every mouthful of food and every sip of wine. I watched as the other patrons around us chat and laugh, and felt a sense of warmth and contentment. As we finished our meal, the server brought us a dessert of Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts. We took a moment to admire the presentation when Dad frowned at us.
     “It's not a statue but for eating, I didn't waste my money on some fancy ice cream, just for us to stare at it”.Taking my spoon and digging in, I let the sweet flavors dance on my tongue.                               
    “Wait still I tell my girls what I have been up to”.Hilly smiles.
     
     “It's a really lovely place”.Peter scoops a large mouthful of ice cream and we all stare at him in amazement, probably waiting for him to say ‘brain freeze!’.
       “I would go use the bathroom”.I announced walking into the ladies.When I came out, I powdered my face and headed for the table when I stopped, I could see a family figure like that of Mitch's.
       “Mitch!”.I called out but he didn't look back, “Mitch!”.He walked out of the restaurant and headed for the street, “Mitch!”.I caught up with him, “How could you?”, Not like it's my business but why did you leave without saying goodbye”.The man turned towards me quickly, looking really confused.
        “Huh?”.
        “I'm so sorry”.
He beams widely, “There is nothing to be sorry about. It happens every time, running into someone and thinking it is another”.
         “Yeah”.I frowned.
         “Lover's argument?”.
How about you just mind your  business!, “Not at all”.

       “My first love”.He smiled, “She was a tourist who came to Greece and we clicked, she was really fun and really lovely”.
       I stared at him wondering how we got to this, “I really should be heading in, my family would be looking for me”.
       “She comes over to my house regularly when she's free from her sister's nagging”.He continued, “She made me know what life is really made up of”.
        “What's her name?”.I couldn't help but feel curious.
         “Terra”.He said, “Short, dyed her hair to red, but that doesn't matter, what mattered was the love we had for one another”.
         I frowned, “Sorry to distract you but I really think I should be going back to the family lunch now”.
He stares at me intensely, “Whosoever Mitch is, never give up on him, show him you both exist in the world together”.
       “We aren't lovers, stranger he is just my friend, someone who helped me whenever I needed the help”.

       “Ohhh am sorry, but from the way you called the name you look at it".He said just then I could see Jacob strolling towards us.
       “Kathy, oh my what's gotten into you, you could get lost or something”.
       “I just needed a bit of air”.I smiled.
       Jacob turned to the stranger, “And you are?”.He said, raising his eyebrows.
        “Doesn't matter”.The stranger turned to me, “Have a great time and I will be going. I wouldn't want your boyfriend here to strangle me.
        “But he isn't”.I frowned but he was already gone, I turned towards Jacob.
       “Let's go inside”.He held out his hands for me and I took it.