I traveled to Salonika with my parents, where we stayed at my grandmother's house—my mother's mother. It was my first time meeting her, and fortunately, my fluency in Greek allowed us to converse effortlessly. She was overjoyed to see me for the first time, showering me with warmth.
Throughout the week, Sansula and I stayed in touch through a messaging app on our smartphones. His messages always carried an unmistakable affection, and he had taken to calling me Mandanetje, a pet name using the Dutch diminutive -tje, a clear indication of fondness.
"I'm infatuated with you."
"I'm really fond of you."
"I like you so much," he would write.
I couldn't help but feel as though I were floating on air. No one had ever appreciated me or shown me this much affection before. It was a feeling so unfamiliar, yet so exhilarating.
A week later, I received a message from Sansula saying he had arrived in Salonika. A strange flutter stirred in my stomach—butterflies in my belly, I realized. I was in the Ladadika District, waiting for him, anticipation coursing through me.
"Mandane!" I heard his voice call out. Turning around, I saw him walking toward me, his familiar smile brightening the air between us. But he wasn't alone—his older sister, Benesha, was with him. She walked beside another man, a tall, dark-complexioned boy I hadn't seen before.
"Hey!" Sansula greeted me warmly.
"Hello," I replied, matching his smile. My gaze shifted to Benesha, and for a moment, our eyes met. Neither of us spoke, though the connection between us was undeniable.
"Ah!" Sansula suddenly exclaimed, noticing my glance. "I forgot to mention I wouldn't be coming alone. Sorry about that."
"It's okay," I said, genuinely unbothered.
"This is my older sister, Benesha, and her fiancé, Tshikuta," he said, introducing the two.
"It's nice to meet you, Mandane!" Tshikuta greeted me with a friendly smile. "I heard you're Greek. Do you know any good places where we could grab lunch?"
"Of course," I said with a slight smile. "Follow me."
For reasons I couldn't quite explain, I had taken the time to look up good places to eat or spend time in Salonika before meeting up with Sansula. It wasn't something I'd ever done before, but he brought out feelings in me I hadn't realized I was capable of experiencing.
We arrived at a cozy restaurant, where we were promptly assigned a table. After settling in, we opened the menus.
"So," Benesha said, looking at me with interest. "What do you recommend we eat?"
"I'd suggest starting with a salad," I replied. "You could go for a classic Greek salad—made with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, feta cheese, and a simple vinaigrette. It's refreshing, healthy, and full of flavor."
"What about Horiatiki Salata?" Sansula asked.
"It's similar to the Greek salad but includes capers, bell peppers, and sometimes artichoke hearts," I explained.
"And Santorini Fava Salad?" Tshikuta inquired.
"That's a creamy and flavorful option made with split yellow peas, red onion, dill, and capers," I said.
"I'll go with the Santorini Fava Salad," Benesha decided.
"Same here," Tshikuta chimed in.
"Hmmm, I'll try the Horiatiki Salata," Sansula said, his tone thoughtful. "What about you, Mandane?"
"I'll stick with the classic Greek salad," I replied.
"That's just like you," Benesha chuckled, drawing confused looks from both her brother and fiancé. "I see you haven't changed one bit," she added as the waiter brought our salads.
"You two know each other already?" Sansula asked, his surprise evident.
"Yeah," she answered simply.
"Since when and from where?" he pressed.
"Since kindergarten," she replied. Her statement was technically true. The laboratory where we'd been raised could be considered a sort of "kindergarten."
"We haven't seen each other in ten years," she said, turning her gaze to me. "Don't you think it's time we caught up?"
"There's nothing worthwhile to share," I said flatly. "My life has been... uneventful since we were separated. But I see you've grown into a big sister and are about to become someone's wife. You're still so young, though."
"Tshikuta is a Badilite of noble stock," she said, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "It was decided at my birth that I'd marry him." Then she glanced between me and her brother. "Anyway, it seems like you get along well with my little brother."
"Well, yeah. I do," I said, a hint of warmth slipping into my tone.
"It's wonderful that you two crossed paths again after an entire decade," Tshikuta remarked with a kind smile. "Now, let's talk about our main dishes. What do you recommend, Mandane? How about Souvlaki?"
"Souvlaki consists of marinated meat—chicken, pork, or lamb—grilled on skewers and served in pita bread with tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce," I explained.
"Hmmm, and what about Gyros?" Benesha asked.
"Gyros are similar to Souvlaki, but the meat is cooked on a rotating spit and thinly sliced. It's typically served in pita bread with tomato, onion, tzatziki sauce, and sometimes french fries," I replied.
"Moussaka sounds interesting," Sansula remarked, skimming the menu.
"Moussaka is a layered casserole made with eggplant, ground meat, potatoes, and a creamy béchamel sauce. It's hearty and flavorful—a great choice for a special occasion," I said.
"I'll go with Moussaka then," he said, smiling. "Since this is a special occasion, after all."
"Why is this a special occasion?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Because I met someone special," he replied, looking at me with a bright, sincere smile. His words caught me off guard, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks. His kindness and openness were disarming.
Benesha decided on Souvlaki with lamb, while Tshikuta chose Gyros with lamb as well. As mentioned, Sansula went for the Moussaka, and I opted for Spanakopita—a savory pastry filled with spinach, feta cheese, and herbs. It's versatile, served either hot or cold, as an appetizer or a main course.
The meal was delicious, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the company and the warm atmosphere of the restaurant.
I also ordered Dolmades for the table—grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes meat. They're a light, flavorful appetizer or side dish, perfect for sharing.
"Ah! The food was amazing!" Sansula exclaimed. "Great recommendation, Mandane. Thank you!"
"You're welcome," I said with a small smile.
"He's right," Tshikuta chimed in. "This was delicious. Great choice!"
"I've never seen you smile before, Mandane," Benesha said, her tone teasing. "This is a sight all the other girls would envy."
"Isn't it obvious?" Tshikuta chuckled, glancing between me and Sansula.
"What is?" Benesha asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Clearly, she's smiling and blushing because..." Tshikuta trailed off, smirking as he continued switching glances between me and Sansula.
I frowned slightly, unsure of his implication. "What are you trying to say?" I asked.
Benesha sighed, shaking her head. "Ain't no way," she muttered under her breath.
"We'll see about that," Tshikuta said with a sly grin.
Trying to shift the attention, I asked, "What are we going to do now?"
"Shouldn't you show us around, madame?" Tshikuta teased. "Isn't this your land?"
"I was born and raised in the Netherlands," I replied.
"This is your ancestral homeland," he countered, grinning.
"Well, yeah," I admitted, "but I wasn't raised here, so I don't know what to do. Sorry."
Breaking the tension, Sansula pulled out his phone. "I just asked my AI chatbot what we should do next," he announced with a grin. "It recommended we check out Sealand."
"Sealand? Sounds fun!" Tshikuta likes that idea. Benesha doesn't seem to be excited about it. And I feel indifferent, as usual.
"Let's have some fun, Mandane!" Sansula smiled at me. His smile is truly irresistible...