Free Web NovelChapter 23: Bowl Fright
The duo’s stride didn’t last long before they reached a rather small hall, or a room, standing independently within the huge facility.
There was a small sign to the right side of the door:
[Staff Eatery]
Moon saw it but didn’t ask. Asking too much was bound to bring opposite results... some things were bound to be known in time without him acting over-curious about every little thing.
As they walked through the door, a small room with only two tables, each with four chairs, unfolded before them.
At the end of the hall, a man in an apron stood in front of a few steaming pots. He had a long headwear that Moon had never seen before.
The man was somewhat taller than Teacher Samuel, who was taller than Moon himself. He had a strong build that was evidently visible through his clothes.
Wide shoulders and wrists. Thick arms.
His face was cleanly shaved, and his hair, or what little was visible under the long headwear, was light brown.
"Brat Uon, you are late... are you going to pay me overtime?" The man in the kitchen scolded.
"Sorry, Chef Ed, things didn’t go as planned," Uon said, clasping his hands together apologetically.
"Speaking of which, I heard that stupid woman’s voice all the way from here. Let’s pray she never comes here again... her voice might give me nightmares." Chef Ed said, placing a hand on his forehead. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Uon laughed dryly, unable to find words to respond to that, but regardless... He most certainly felt the same now.
"So, that’s the new guy?" he took a long look at Moon, studying him slowly.
"Yes, Chef, he’s one who will be eating with us for the next few days till the students’ eatery reopens," Uon answered, showing that he had arranged for everything previously.
Chef Ed nodded. "Not bad."
Before Moon could figure out what he saw to be not bad in his opinion—
Thud~
Thud~
"Here’s your food, now eat and piss off as fast as possible," he placed two platters of food on the counter and advised them nicely with a smile.
’Will he beat us up if we misbehave?’ Moon thought. ’He’s not a teacher, so the rules don’t apply... gotta be careful.’
"Thanks, Chef," Uon spoke happily, his sense of danger as dead as ever.
Moon followed suit. "Thanks, Chef, sorry for troubling you," he said with a thankful, gentle smile... his gentle features helped.
As if taken off guard, the chef’s smile softened. "Eat well, kids," he said dismissively.
""Yes"" they both answered at the same time.
Moon was unsure about the sudden change of attitude. ’Was he not used to people being grateful?’
His mind could only come to such a conclusion.
Uon extended his hand, oblivious to the changes on both sides, taking both platters and slowly walking toward one of the two tables.
He placed them down. "Let’s eat," signaling to Moon to sit down and eat.
On the centre of the table was a wooden cup full of utensils, and next to it was a flask of water with four cups surrounding it.
Moon, though he had never eaten using these tools, had seen them many times. He had seen soldiers and ranked officers use them.
So when Uon brought him a spoon from the cup, Moon stood, filling two cups of water for himself and Uon.
"Thank you," Uon said with a smile.
"No, I’ve troubled you. It was a very long day," Moon spoke sincerely. It was a very long day... or days.
Days running without a break, without a pause, without giving him a chance to count them.
Uon shook his head, starting to eat a spoonful... his eyes brightened.
"Chef, you did awesome again," Uon raised his thumb to Chef Ed in the background.
"Shut up and eat," Ed scolded.
A light dry laugh escaped Uon before his gaze returned to Moon again.
"Little Moon, the food will get cold," urged Uon.
Moon was, for a moment, unable to decide where to start.
In front of him was a platter full of rice with some vegetables and red sauce... there also seemed like there was some meat.
He had never eaten proper food.
In his life, he had never sat at a dining table once.
It smelled incredible to the point that he was frozen, even fearful.
’Can I eat this?’ he questioned his own capability to ingest such food.
He, who was not afraid of getting cut, betrayed, jumped by monsters, crushed, or bleeding slowly till with a small room of survival—
He who stood in front of someone much stronger than he was, unflinching—
Was now afraid.
Of a rice bowl.
"Hey, brat, is the food not to your liking?" Chef Ed’s patience was running thin.
"Uh?" Moon snapped back to reality. "Um, of course not, I was just lost in thought for a moment."
"Then eat and leave already," Chef Ed scolded again.
"Y-yes," Moon replied, passing his spoon within the rice, filling it to the brim.
He placed it inside his mouth.
And for a moment, he couldn’t tell what he was feeling, tasting...
It was salty, soft, with a bit of crunch, also fatty...
There were countless new tastes that he was experiencing for the first time.
He started chewing slowly, his eyes closed shut.
A tear slipped by silently.
Amidst Uon’s chewing, the kitchen cleaning and closing preparations—
A taste of normal food, and a tear that broke through Moon’s defenses.
A second spoon followed, then another.
His speed increased, more than Uon’s. More than he, himself, thought he could eat.
He appreciated every single bite, every texture, taste, and experience.
Chef Ed took a look at them amidst his work. "Is it his first time seeing food?" he exclaimed quietly.
"Oh, little Moon, you sure can eat for your size," Uon, astonished by Moon’s eating speed, "Chew we—" he was about to say.
But Moon was already in a different realm with his food.
And before long—
Ting
The sound of the spoon falling into the platter rang.
"Do you want a second?" Chef Ed asked. "Or rather half?" he corrected himself. "There isn’t much left, but there is some left if you want."
"Please," he rose from his seat along with his platter.
