Familiar Strangers

Strange Mood

Antonio's POV

It was another morning, and after getting ready, I headed downstairs for breakfast, a routine that had quietly become part of my days. But something was off.

The usual aroma that greeted me halfway down the stairs was missing. The house felt oddly still. That was the first sign.

The second was Marissa.

She normally greeted me with a soft smile or a casual good morning. Today, she looked pale, withdrawn, her eyes distant as if her mind was somewhere far away. No greeting. No warmth.

Whatever weighed on her had followed her into the kitchen, and the silence that surrounded her was heavier than any words she could have spoken.

I took my seat, and she placed a plate of sliced bread with scrambled eggs and a glass of orange juice in front of me. Then she sat across from me and said quietly, “I felt like eating bread today.”

For someone satisfying a craving, she did not look pleased at all. That alone stood out. Normally, Marissa enjoyed her food, but this time she only picked up a slice of bread, holding it loosely as she stared ahead, lost in thought.

That was when Marcel walked in.

“Good morning, sir. Good morning, Miss Marissa,” he greeted.

She barely responded with a soft “hi,” and even Marcel seemed surprised by it.

“I’m sorry, Marcel,” she said after a moment. “You can go into the kitchen and pick your breakfast.”

“Oh no, I’ve already eaten,” he replied, gave a small bow, and quickly excused himself, clearly sensing the strange atmosphere.

The mood at the table felt off. On other days she tried to talk, make small attempts at conversation, even though I barely responded. Strangely enough, I realized that I have come to not dislike it. That thought itself was a shock to me.

I also noticed her outfit. She looked like she had been to the gym.

We continued eating in silence until her phone rang. She dropped the bread she had been nibbling on since we started eating, picked up her phone, took a quick sip of her juice, and stood up to leave and then it was just me at the dining table.

Left alone at the table, I poured myself a glass of water and gulped it down before leaving.

At the office, no matter how hard I tried, I could not get Marissa out of my head. The image of her sitting there, distant and sad, lingered longer than it should have. It bothered me, though I could not explain why. Still, I took pride in my ability to focus and move on, so I buried myself in work until the thoughts faded into the background.

By six thirty, Marcel stepped into my office and reminded me it was time to go home. After the day I forgot our dinner plans, I had instructed him to make sure I left early. His words stirred the memory of that morning again, and without thinking much about it, I closed the document in my hand. A strange urgency settled in me, an eagerness to get home, to see Marissa.

But when I arrived, the house was dark and quiet.

There was no movement in the kitchen, no laughter from the living room, no humming or dancing while cooking. Nothing. The silence hit harder than I expected, and a dull ache formed in my chest. It lingered just long enough for me to notice.

What was that?

I made a mental note to get a checkup soon.

Marcel had already left. And if you are wondering, he usually drives his own car to the house, parks it, then drives me in mine. Once he drops me off, he returns with his car.

Anyways I had started getting used to the new routine and Marissa's presence and the sudden emptiness felt… wrong.

Before heading upstairs, I turned around, walked back out, got into the car, and drove off to meet my friend.

It was a club, one Sebastian had only just opened. With his background, people were already scrambling to get in, eager to socialise and be seen.

I pulled up to the entrance and stepped out of the car just as Sebastian came rushing out to welcome me.

Despite being friends, my only friend, I might add, I had never once visited this place since he opened it. He had been relentless with calls and invitations, insisting I come see it. Sebastian was a lot to handle. Too energetic. Too loud. Honestly, I think he and Marissa would get along far too well.

Marissa...she's in my head again.

Sebastian dragged me around the club like I cared. Before Marissa showed up in my life, he was the only person who called me by my name and acted freely around me without fear.

My patience thinned with every word that spilled out of his mouth. Eventually, I stopped walking and looked at him.

“Can I have a room now?”

For once, he took the hint. Without questioning it, he led me to a soundproof room and instructed his staff to bring in food. After a pause, I added, “And alcohol.”

That earned me a sharp look of surprise. I hardly drank.

But tonight, I could not get Marissa out of my head, and I did not understand why.

Without touching the meal laid out before me, I poured myself a glass of alcohol and downed it in one go.

This was not like me.

Sebastian frowned. “Are you okay? Is something wrong at the company?”

I barely heard him. All I could see was Marissa’s face from that morning, pale, distant, and weighed down by something she was not saying.

And for the first time, I realised it was bothering me more than it should.

And so I poured myself another shot. Then another.