Zephyr | Lee Felix

Chapter 18

SATURDAY, WEEK 5

Morning grocery time has always been a relaxing time for Eugene. The way the sun shines while she takes the tram, the chitter chatter around her once she gets into the grocery store and the chill sound of the cooling system by the fresh produce area.

"That's done... and that's it." She ticks off the last bit of groceries she needs on her phone and walks towards the self-checkout area to scan her items.

As she leaves the store, the sun hits her face again, with a brighter intensity. She places her hand over her head, staring at the bright sky, admiring the kind of weather perfect for walking and taking her mind off some things.

I wonder if I teased Felix too much yesterday? She ponders, watching a flock of birds flying in the sky. Eugene wonders if her joke went a bit too far, but a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she remembers the adorable look of frustration on his face.

Pfft. That redness on his face. Eugene chuckles softly at the memory. There's something endearing about the way Felix, who is usually so cheerful and collected, can be reduced to a blushing mess. As she continues walking, she can't help but wonder why it's so entertaining to see him flustered.

"Oh?"

Eugene's thought is disrupted as she hears a familiar figure stopping his tracks in front of her.

"Hm? Christopher?" She mirrors his reaction, chuckling in surprise to see him coming down all the way to the grocery store. He doesn't live anywhere near here, so it is honestly surprising to stumble upon him in this branch of the grocery store.

"Hey, Eugene. What a coincidence running into you here." He says, his soft voice making her smile.

"I should be the one saying that." She raises her brows, "Don't you have a closer grocery store to your house?"

"Yeah uh. I do, but..." Christopher scratches his head in embarrassment, "The... you know. Cup noodles I want... they're out of stock."

Eugene smirks at his answer, shaking her head in amusement. "Ah, of course. Your cup noodles obsession strikes again." She teases, the familiar banter flowing effortlessly between them. "I always tell you to eat proper meals."

"Right right. I know. It has always been like that but you know me." Christopher shrugs his shoulders, a helpless smile on his face, "Ain't nobody got time to have proper meals."

Eugene shakes her head in disapproval, "Time, time. That's always your excuse." She lightly bumps his shoulder with hers. "You know you can't survive on cup noodles alone."

"I know but it's literally peak assignment week. And I have to grade my students' assignments too." He sighs, "And I'm on a budget since my parents are no longer sending me pocket money. So I don't know if buying take-outs all the time is good for my wallet too."

"Ah. You've never changed." Eugene crosses her arms, a visible frown on her face now. "Chris. Do you ever think how funny it is? You're a teacher, who should generally show a good example for your students. Sure, they're university students who won't model after you all the time, but some will still do-and some will definitely look up to you."

"Imagine eating instant food all the time-like, yes, cost wise it's the best but what about your health?" Eugene speaks with concern, her grip on the grocery bag getting a little tighter.

His expression turns sheepish and guilty, his shoulders slumping. "I know... I know..." He lets out a sigh, "It's just hard, okay? I'm broke and I'm tired all the time. So I always opt for the easiest option, which is cup noodles thrice a week."