We finally arrived.

Currently we are standing at the front of the school canteen, looking at the entrance. A lot of students were roaming around, and most of the seats were already taken. But the most important thing is…

That I want to eat, because I’m hungry as hell!

“Whoa, it’s actually big in here.” Ari whispered.

Well, it’s a school canteen, it’s supposed to be big, and it’s a normal thing.

As we head in, Ari is still looking around the canteen, turning her head side to side.

What is she looking at? It’s not like it’s her first time. “What are you looking around at?” I asked.

“Ah.” Startled, she responded, “Nothing, nothing.”

I looked at her. “You sure?”

“I said it’s nothing, I’m just looking around.”

“Hm…” I muttered, suspicious about her action. “Well, let’s get something to eat first.”

She nodded in response. “What are you getting?”

“Soup.” I answered immediately.

“A soup!? In this hot weather? You’re crazy, but I respect it.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, I’m hungry so who cares about whether it’s hot or not.”

“I…” She paused, “I guess that makes sense.”

We looked around for a bit and managed to find an empty seat. “Let’s head over there before getting anything.” I said, pointing at the table.

“Okay.” She nodded.

We both sat at the table. It’s a table for four people, but we only needed two seats. We then sat in front of each other.

“So, we both are going to get soup?” She asked.

“Both? Are you not going to pick anything else?”

“It’s our first time together. We should be getting the same.” She fiddled with her fingers, acting as if she were blushing. “Right?”

“Hah… Got it, got it. Just don’t blame me if you don’t like the soup.”

“I won’t!” She protested. “I’m not a picky eater.”

“Okay, if you say so.” I said as I stood up from the seat. “I’m going to buy the soup, wait for me.”

She nodded in response. “Got it, thanks.”

After three minutes of waiting in line, I finally managed to get the soup. I returned back to our seat where Ari was leaning in the chair and looking up.

“Oh, thanks again.” She said, smiling, as she noticed me.

I placed both the trays on the table and took a seat in front of Ari.

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“Let’s eat, I’m starved.” I said as I picked up the spoon, and took a bite of soup. The heat spread from my mouth and to my stomach. “Damn… this is really hot.” I said, tugging at my uniform repeatedly to create an airflow.

“I told you.” She said as she took a bite of the soup. “Oh, this one is good.”

“There’s nothing to say to the soup other than it’s good.” I said, smugly.

“Oh really?”

“Yes.”

“But you’re missing something.” She said, as she put down the spoon.

I paused mid-sip, confused. “…Huh? What are you talking about?”

“The soup. You’re eating it wrong.”

I set the spoon down. “How am I eating it wrong? There’s only one way to eat the soup.”

“Exactly. And you’re not doing it.”

I sighed. “I’m holding the spoon. I’m putting it in the soup. I’m scoping it and bringing it to my mouth. What else is there?”

She looked at me with a serious expression. “You didn’t swirl it.”

“Swirl it?” I asked, confused.

She nodded slowly, as if it was serious. “Yeah, you’ve got to swirl the soup. It’s like… you know, activating the flavor molecules. Otherwise, you’re just drinking bland liquid.”

“… What are you talking about? Soup doesn’t have flavor molecules.”

“Huh? Are you seriously saying that?”

“Because it is the truth.”

“Wait wait…” She chuckled. “Your expression caught me off guard.” She laughed, and continued, “But do you seriously think flavor molecules don’t exist?”

“What… What am I missing?” I asked, unsure of my answer anymore.

“Everything.” She said, as she leaned closer to me. “Why do you think soup tastes good in the first place?”

“Because of the seasonings?”

“And you don’t think those are flavor molecules?”

“Ah.” I paused. I guess I was thinking about something else then. “You’re right.”

“That’s it.” She nodded repeatedly. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re eating the soup the wrong way.”

“Haah… Alright, fine.” I swirled the soup slowly with the spoon. “Happy now?”

“No.” She frowned. “Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“What!?”

“You swirled clockwise. You’re supposed to swirl it counterclockwise.”

I stared at her. “That doesn’t even make any-”

“The flavor of the soup flows with the natural energy of the universe. Swirling it clockwise disrupts the harmony, therefore ruining the ability of the soup to taste good.” She said in a powerful voice, interrupting me.

Speechless, I stared at her. “Did I hear you right?”

“So you’re not proud of your hearing then?”

“Why are you spouting nonsense about natural energy and the universe? This is just a soup!”

“That’s exactly what someone who doesn’t understand soup would say.”

I sighed deeply and tried to eat again. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll eat the soup however I want.”

She gasped dramatically. “You’re not going to stir the soup???”

“Ari… Just let me eat please…”

She grinned mischievously. “Sorry about that.” She said immediately returning back to her usual self as she took another bite of the soup. “Still, this soup really tastes good.”

I didn’t respond.

“Are you always eating this?” She asked.

I still didn’t respond and just continued eating the soup.

“Don’t leave me please.” She said, her voice was shaky like she was about to cry.

“Yeah.” I answered.

“So, what is this soup called?”

“I didn’t know. All I know is that it’s a soup.” I responded, clueless about the name of the soup.

“Oh… I guess I’ll ask the person at the front later.”

“They’re not gonna to answer you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I already tried asking it last time.”

Curious, she asked, “You did? and what happened?”

I smiled. “Go ask them yourself.”

“Just tell me what happened.”

I stood up from the seat and got my tray. “Let’s go, let’s bring this back.”

“Wait!” She stood up and tried to catch up. “You didn’t tell me about what happened yet.”

Not answering her, I placed the tray and the soup bowl at the canteen counter. Following me, she did the same thing.

I looked at her. “Now do the thing.” I said.

“Uh…” She muttered, hesitantly. “You could just tell me about it.”

I shook my head. “None can do it.”

She sighed in defeat. “Got it, I’ll ask for it.”

She walked in front of the female worker and asked her. “Good afternoon. Just a question about the menu.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“I just finished eating the soup, it was really good. And I was actually wondering if there’s a name for the soup?” Ari asked.

“A name for the soup? There’s none. It’s a soup.”

“Uh… Is there no name for the soup?” Ari asked again.

“It’s called soup and nothing else.”

“Oh…” She paused, then nodded at the female worker. “Thanks.” Shen then turned around and immediately walked towards me.

“Hahahaha.” I laughed, seeing Ari’s face as she looked at me. “I told you, it was a soup.”

She didn’t answer, instead her facial expression stayed the same, it looked like a poker face.