What was in her mind as she took a seat across mine, where there was only a not so big and simple wooden table, which only the separation between me and her. Like, really I couldn’t comprehend it at all, especially the gaze that she was showing early, and yet it was still continuing even by now. Perhaps you might be wondering, what was that problem to me? Well, to be honest, it wasn’t. It didn’t bother me the slightest bit. Perhaps, even if she were about to shoot a laser from those very eyes, it still couldn’t be a bother to me. Or, maybe it should be able. No, the chance of that was happening were pretty low, or rather it was something that I needed to experience it first myself, so I could guess my reaction would be.

Still, from what I said was completely true, it wasn’t just a petty claim, but I had a basis for that. Perhaps, you might have heard it before, but I often called as a freak. Whether, I should be happy or not, perhaps it wasn’t necessary to think. So, when did one hold such a title, what does the other thought? Of course, they want to see what kind of person who could hold such a ‘wondrous’ title, no? And, it wouldn’t be exaggerated if I said I often garnered a gaze whenever I went. To the point, where I could feel full from those alone as if I have a supper, yes.

Well, perhaps, you might also think. Was those gazes were actually directed to me, right? A fair question, if I would to say. But, of course, it wasn’t something that I could answer it easily, except I could ask them the question myself. Although, I could say, the chance of that was actually being true was higher than probably fifty percent. It wasn’t exaggerated for me to claim that my other companions were much stand out, much lively, and much better in all kinds of speaking manner.

Or perhaps, it was just a fractured vision of mine, a hallucination to be exact, which made me to think that such a thing were actually happening in the first place. A young man’s ego such as myself at that time was often inflated, after all. It wasn’t a surprise, really. However, still, I insist, as I’d made my point right. And, I could say it once again, it was something that I used.

Anyway, why we were talking about something as boring as my not so good experience which could kill the undead from their endless night. When there was something much better, and appropriate, to talk about. And, yes, it was none other than the thing that was not so long been bought in front of me. One that looked very tempting, and alluring. Since, the first time it came out from its prison, the scent that it’d been doing nothing but wreaking havoc mercilessly as if it was trying to enjoy its newly freedom to the fullest.

And, of course, as a living man such as myself, such a temptation couldn’t be fully ignored. Every tick of seconds passed, I could feel every single senses of mine was wanting nothing but to eliminate it immediately. To devour it as whole, to make a mess of it. Curse, me! I could feel my mind was beginning to clouding, and probably it wasn’t exaggeration to say that I was gritting my teeth hard, trying to overcome the challenge bestowed upon me. Well, probably it was.

However, no, I said to myself. I was calm. Calm, as flowing water on a tranquil forest, no ripples, no conjunction at all. There was nothing but calmness inside my mind. But, I knew once again, deep inside my mind, it wasn’t something that a living being could resist. Even though, my mind was calm, but my body wasn’t. As a result, before I could have any chance to stop it, my stomach let out a growl; it was something called borborygmi if my memory was correct, it happened due to the moving gas inside the bowel. What made it a problem was because it was terribly loud. And, that was exactly what it was trying to tell; it carved of something. And that something was literally in front of me.

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As soon as she heard it, the girl in front of me asked.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, “Why are you only staring at it. Does it not suit your palate?”

“No, it’s perfectly fine. I’m about to dig in… I was only praying, yes,” I said to her, while did not forget to give her the best smile that I could offer. It was a meant to ensure, that my lie needed to go through. But, was I smiling. I did not know, I couldn’t see myself after all.

“Ah, I see. My apologies, then. When I saw you were crunching your face, I thought that was the case. It was a yesterday dinner, after all. Perhaps, you might not be liking it. But, thank god, you do.” She smiled, though as she talked, her eyes were never mine.

This was the yesterday dinner? This was? From what I saw, this one didn’t look like that at all. Perhaps, this might be better than my last week’s supper. Well, I couldn’t even in the first place what did I eat that day. Maybe that was my impression of it, so little. However, I knew it immediately, the dish that was in front of me would be ingrained in my memory, and lasted much longer than my last week’s supper.

I think, this is called a beef stew, I said in my mind, as I was poking at the tender meat with the spoon in my left hand. My movement with the spoon was left too much to be desired, but if you were looking how injured I was, perhaps, it wasn’t that much obvious. It ought to be.

“Please, take a bite!”

Even without, she needed to ask, I was about already to. However, should I pray, like I was saying before. But, to whom? Which ones? I didn’t know, maybe I shouldn’t in the first place. Or perhaps, I should to pray to myself like a sane person ought to be? No? Well, maybe…

“Thank you for the food.”

With a little awkward movement of my spoon skill, I managed to scoop one chunk bite size of brown meat with a full dark brown of broth. And, slowly, bought it close to my mouth. The nice fragrant that it weaved around close to me, as if it was the charm of the succubus, slowly poisoning the inside of the mind of the victim. And, for that reason, before I realized, I already bought the meat to my mouth. The moment, the meat touched my teeth, the juice inside of it exploded to every side of my mouth. One chew, second, and the third one.

How should I describe it? Perhaps, the right word would be, it was extravagant. It was a bit sweet, but definitely a pleasant one. Maybe because the dish was being re-heated, the meat had absorbed its surrounding taste, made it rich of flavor. If I would like to describe it, It was like a fireball, yes. When it hit the object, it exploded outward. However, instead of the fire that it spew, it was an explosion of flavor. It was sweet, and there was some kind of freshness like a sour taste yes, and perhaps there was a bit salty. All of those were combined perfectly, which made them could harmonize with each other, without ruining the flavor. Of course, there was this dark brown broth, and all kinds of vegetable adored. Perhaps, a word couldn’t do any justice anymore.

It’s delicious.

There was something that I remembered, the words people often talked about. The joy of eating, perhaps. Whenever, I came back from my adventure days. I would visit a tavern. And, sometimes, I heard people would say out loud, ‘how glad, they are coming back, so they could eat’. And, this time, I felt like I was agreed on to that. Perhaps, eating was the privilege of a living, the benefit, the most crucial thing of what made a living is a living.

As I ruminated through my mind, I never once stopped to dig in to the dish in front of me. As well, to dip the bread in the thick sauce of it. However, to my surprise, Elaine never once said anything since then. She was only looking. And, perhaps, also did a little hum of something. A song, perhaps. It was so quiet. But, for me, all things were the most tranquil one that I could hope. With warm orange glow on the wall, and the clattering of the wooden utensil, I enjoyed my dinner.