Eren didn't have a very clear picture of Kurdistan, the country his parents came from. He hasn't ever been there before. But during such tough times, he must care to see what's going on in Southern Kurdistan. After all, his parents always told him about his family "back home" as they called it. It was strange to him to consider he has family whom he's never seen or met before but that didn't stop him from going right into danger to investigate for their safety and circumstances. His parents were old and not particularly fit to visit the torn by war home they used to live in. Eren wondered about them, how would they have felt to see the place they once lived and grew up in destroyed? To see the people whom they lived with struggle and die due to the civil war between the PUK and KDP parties .
He knows who to go to, he met his auntie Viyan before due to her always visiting him and his parents in Bremen, Germany. In fact, she'd spend hours teaching him Kurdish.
She embraced him once he arrived at her door, "Eren! You've grown so much, did you find it difficult to get your way here?"
"I know, I missed you, you haven't been visiting since this war started." He responded, hugging her back. "And yes a little, I'm unfamiliar with these roads. Everything looks very different from what I'm used to, it's nothing like Germany. My mother's been asking about you and everyone else and I've also been worried too."
The place wasn't very nice, the small house was barely holding up amidst all the ruins. Eren made his way with caution, he witnessed the ground littered with dark blood splatters. He could smell the smoke in the air, the explosions aftermath and its destruction. He was relieved that Auntie Viyan's alive, the scenes on his way made him worry about the possibility that she might not be.
"I'm alive, I can't say things are good but it's a relief to see you and I can't wait till this war's over .. Americans and European forces were all over Ebril and here too."
He nodded, not quite knowing what to say, a slight feeling of guilt was present within him.
"Anyways, my best friend's been missing for a while now. I'd rather not think about the possibilities surrounding what happened, please. But, I thought I'd mention that because her daughter's inside, she's around your age and please be gentle towards her. Also, try and help her around because her father's been injured and he can't depend on himself anymore." Viyan added. She looked over, examining the look on her nephew's face. She sighed before talking again "What I've just told you about the girl and her father, I know I told you that you'll have a private room in my house when you come to stay. But, it's a small house and after taking them two in, I think you might have to share the room with her dad."
Eren's eyebrows furrowed at his aunt, shock and outrage were etched on his face. "What? I don't care! I'm not sharing a room with some old man! And a disabled one too!" His voice rose in intensity.
"Look, can you be a little bit nice, for once? Help around, you've come here to help out during the war! Then do what you claimed to be here for!" Auntie Viyan said in a disappointed tone, trying to convince Eren. Her eyes searched his face for any sign of understanding.
Eren placed his hands on his sides, as he exhaled "I'll be helpful, I promise to be gentle with this so-called girl and her deadbeat father." He said, his voice carried his reluctant acceptance and lingering annoyance. He did initially feel bad about what happened to the girl, but his Auntie's changing arrangements at his expense did bother him.
"Oh come on! Can you not?" Auntie Viyan scolded him, her voice a persistent nag as he stepped inside the house.
The small house in which Auntie Viyan resides wasn't any nicer on the inside. It stood as a reflection of the poverty-stricken area in Kurdistan. The peeling wallpaper clung precariously to the walls, exposing patches of the decaying plaster beneath. It was like the house itself had given up, its tired facade mirroring the weariness and struggles of its inhabitants.
The familiar smell of Kurdish food that was often cooked by Eren's mother invaded the atmosphere, driving him into the kitchen. He was starving after his long journey. He took a momentary pause, his breath catching in surprise at the sight before him. Amidst his humble surroundings, there was a woman of extraordinary beauty. Her dark hair fell in lustrous waves, framing her face that glowed with a natural radiance. Her figure was wrapped in an apron, she seemed too occupied with the cooking process, she gracefully moved around the kitchen to fetch her ingredients. She was too busy to notice Eren's presence. Oblivious to his proximity, she moved without looking and accidentally collided with him, spilling sauce all over his shirt.
Eren took a step back from the woman, his eyes narrowed in disgust as he inspected the sauce-splattered shirt. "Fucking hell! You wanna watch where you're going, woman!" He said, irritation evident in his voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm really sorry, I'll try and wipe it off your shirt." The woman exclaimed, feeling intimidated by his intense glare. She quickly grabbed some wipes and moved to close proximity to Eren, dabbing his chest trying to get rid of the stain. This gave Eren a better look at her, he found her to be an attractive woman, maybe a little clumsy but her appearance was enough to compensate for that. He contemplated taking advantage of the momentary intimacy. He questioned her intelligence for trying to wipe off the stubborn stain she caused, but she was trying to apologise and make amends for him.
Eren was getting impatient, he used his hand to grip her wrist firmly, stopping her from making a fool of herself any longer "Right, that's not gonna work. What's your name?"
Her eyes nervously looked up to make contact with his intense gaze, "Oh, it's Irem, I think Viyan told me you're Eren."
"Irem, you do the laundry?" He asked, still holding her wrist.
"Yes, I -"
"Ah, how convenient! then you could wash this shirt for me." Eren words conveyed a sense of mockery, like he was challenging her to prove her sincerity. His hand released her wrist as he took his shirt off and handed it to Irem. Her eyes quickly took notice of his build, trying not to show her amusement with his appearance or demeanour. She shifted her attention to the task on hand, she took his shirt in her hands and placed it aside, knowing she was going to do the laundry later.