The Absolute and those who can rule it

Chapter 3 [Dinner and plan]

Don't underestimate the insidious nature of a 'misunderstanding'. It's a subtle beast that, when ignored, can grow into a monstrous regret that haunts you relentlessly. At least, that's the bitter lesson I'm learning right now, as I stand here, drowning in a sea of my own making.

My mind races back to this morning, to that fateful phone call with Kai. If only I hadn't changed the subject, if only I'd taken a moment to explain... But no, here I am, reaping the consequences of my thoughtless actions.

Rishia, perched behind the cashier desk like a mischievous cat, has been wearing a knowing smirk since the moment we walked in. Her eyes dance with poorly concealed amusement, and I can practically see the cogs turning in her head, spinning wild tales about my supposed love life.

Noarin, sweet, oblivious Noarin, stands beside me, her brow furrowed in confusion. Her eyes dart between Rishia and me, trying to decipher the silent conversation happening right under her nose. The air is thick with unspoken words and misplaced assumptions.

And here I am, caught in the middle of this circus, desperately trying to convince Rishia that there's a colossal misunderstanding between us. My words feel clumsy and ineffective, like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands.

Before we delve deeper into this mess, let's rewind to earlier, when Noarin and I were still walking home, blissfully unaware of the comedic disaster waiting to unfold.

"What will you eat for dinner?" Noarin's question cut through the comfortable silence, her tone tinged with genuine curiosity and a hint of concern.

"Maybe another instant ramen," I replied flatly, my voice as bland as the meal I was proposing. The words hung in the air between us, heavy with the weight of months of nutritional neglect.

Noarin's reaction was as swift as it was dramatic. Her eyes widened in horror, and she stopped dead in her tracks, causing me to nearly collide with her. "Do you have a death wish?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.

I blinked at her, genuinely confused by her intense reaction. "No... Is it really that bad?" I asked, my mind racing through the past six months of my ramen-centric diet. Sure, it wasn't gourmet cuisine, but I was still standing, wasn't I? A fleeting thought crossed my mind – had I unconsciously been healing my abused metabolism all this time?

Noarin's response was a sigh so deep and long-suffering that it seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. She pinched the bridge of her nose, as if warding off an oncoming headache. Then, with a determined glint in her eye, she declared, "I'll cook you dinner. Let's eat together."

"Eh? No, I can't-"

"I insist!" Noarin's shout echoed off the nearby buildings, startling a flock of pigeons into flight. Her sudden outburst left me momentarily stunned.

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled, effectively silenced by her unexpected vehemence. As we resumed walking, a nagging thought wormed its way into my mind. Did I really need to fix my eating habits? Those instant noodles and I had developed quite the bond over the past months.

Noarin increased her pace, her determined strides forcing me to lengthen my own to keep up. Saria, who had been quietly observing our exchange, took this opportunity to gracefully leap onto Noarin's shoulder, settling there like a furry epaulette. I couldn't help but sigh, resigned to my fate, as I followed my self-appointed nutritional guardian.

As we approached the local grocery store, its automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh, welcoming us into a world of fresh produce and culinary possibilities. The familiar scent of apples and bread wafted towards us, a stark contrast to the artificial aroma of my beloved instant noodles.