Chapter 52

In the quiet moments, you can almost hear the distant thunder of approaching troubles.

-Unknown.

|A L E E Z A|

The ambient hum of the restaurant created a backdrop for our lunch gathering as Lev, Anna, and I settled into our seats. The polished cutlery on the tables clinked sporadically, and a symphony of distant conversations mingled with the soft melodies playing in the background. The menu, a parchment of culinary possibilities, rested before us, its pages filled with tempting descriptions.

Despite the vibrant atmosphere, my focus wavered between the written words on the menu and the lingering thoughts of Kirill's last message. The anticipation of our lunch outing had initially filled me with excitement, but now an unspoken weight hung in the air.

Lev, with his usual flair for humor, remarked, "Zee, if you stare at that menu any longer, it might start feeling self-conscious."

I chuckled, a playful facade masking the distraction within. "I