The Ranch

Lunch (2)

After Major Jax escaped, Kai and Tih was left alone with the strict-looking person in front of them. The lean man's eyes followed after the major, he shook his head,"That man..." before turning to the two burdens he was left with. He said,"Hurry up and get your food, then follow me."

Noticing that they were now the cause of the line not moving, Kai quickly took out his ID, followed by Tih. They picked up their trays and followed the man. The man led them to a more desolate and quiet spot and sat down at one side of the lunch table. Tih and Kai took spots on the opposite side.

Kai placed the fragrant food down, drooling and wanting to eat, but held back to wait for further instructions from the man in front of him. Kai has met people like this before, a stickler for the rules, who more often than not have a stick up their butt.

The man noticed Kai's behavior and nodded in approval. He liked these kinds of kids that knew how to act depending on the person. Feeling satisfied with the newbie, he turned his head only to see the child next to him slouched over, stuffing food into his mouth.

Kai also saw Tih's behavior and the odd expression on the man's face and tried very hard to hold his laughter in. Tih, who was oblivious to the situation around him, was happily filling his empty stomach that has shrunken over the past month. His pace quickened as the new tastes and textures filled his mouth.

Seeing the child ignore basic etiquette, the man slammed his hands down in angers. His palms hit the table, creating a loud smacking sound and attracting the surrounding people's attention.

Seeing the face of the angry man, the observers start to whisper.

"Isn't that Instructor Maddox?"

"Woah, he looks furious!?"

"Who provoked him this time?"

"Look, that kid. Must be a newbie."

"Oof, he's in for a painful lesson. I feel kinda bad for him."

"Eating like that in front of Instructor Maddox? I say he's getting what's comin to him."

The observers watch as the Instructor freezes in place before pushing up his glasses and calmly sitting back down.

"Oh? He managed to hold it back this time."

"Lucky! The kid caught a second chance."

"To see with my own eyes one of the rare chances Instructor Maddox reins in his anger..."

"Sigh, and the one to get it was an ignorant newbie."

The child, who is being considered lucky by the onlookers, is completely unaware to why the man in front of him slammed the table, but it was timed perfectly to when Tih finished his last bite of food. Swallowing the last delicious morsel, Tih licked his lips in satisfaction and looked at the man in front of him with curiosity.

Kai finally coughed to cover up his laughter,"I'm sorry sir...Instructor Maddox, my friend isn't really used to proper etiquette, please forgive him." It was Kai's first time seeing Tih eat as well. He didn't know if this was how he always ate or if this was a one time thing, but to save the inaudible Tih, he started making stuff up.

With deeply scrunched eyebrows, the instructor spoke with an incredibly icy voice,"No matter. All can be forgiven with a simple apology."

"..." Kai's eye twitched, he knew they were screwed. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but not know what to say.

The instructor's narrowed eyes peered through his glasses to lock eyes with the naive looking child.

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