Diary From The Carrot Union

Chapter 12: #Star

I quickly went out from my place down the staircase to the lobby on that stormy evening, and what awaited me was Star, waiting for me with the handgun on her arm, looking back at the barrel with empty eyes.

It's a spooky appearance, as she was enshrouded with darkness and thunder, with nothing but the decade-old flickering lights, as well as the scent of rain from outside.

There was no one at sight but Star herself and whatever feeling creeping up my spine.

"Ummm, star?"

The kit quickly noticed me, coming out from the darkness with her adorable and dumbfounded face, a stark contrast that sent chills on my stomach.

"Looking for this?" She asked, her voice light, "You're gonna harm yourself."

Don't tell me what to do, was the response initially popped out in my head, but looking back at her gave me that peculiar feeling that I always wished to relinquish - the same thing I felt when I saw that Joseph boy, whom I disappointed.

"I'm sorry," She said. "I didn't know where else to go, as I don't think the rain's gonna stop."

"What do you mean? Should I take that statement literally or rhetorically?"

Star stole a short glimpse back at me, "You never leave room for subtlety, don't you? I guess it's up to you to interpret."

I felt that Star somehow read my mind, straight into my vulnerability, one that piqued my interest quick .

"Hey Star, umm...You can come to my place until the rain stops."

****

I led Star into my bedroom and gave her some freshly laundered clothes. It was fortunate that I tidied up my apartment yesterday, so she'll not feel too disgusted at least.

"Thanks, Mr Leon."

"Alright, you stay here for a while, okay? I'll fetch you something to eat...If I can. Spaghetti or something else?"

"Spaghetti will do, sir!" She smiled back, "Though don't make it too spicy."

"Not so spicy, sure."

I don't know how to make spaghetti. I have cheese, though, and some tomato sauce, material possessions, that is! I never cooked for anyone, nor do I want to waste food on some random strangers I just met, but I guess it's time for some new experiment.

I just wish I wouldn't kill this girl with my cooking.

So I prepared the essentials - some tomato paste, spaghetti noodles, and - of course, the camembert cheese - a little bit petrified but still delicious.

Okay...Simple, boil the spaghetti, then mix with the...Umm? Salt? Okay, salt! Now how can I put this spaghetti in the pot? Should I break it? Yes, break it in half! No shit!

So I proceeded to break it in half, and yet the effects of the blunt made me so, so weak.

Goddammit...Break you feckin' capitalist spies! Yes! Think of capitalist spies!

I kept struggling and added more pressure, but the noodles won't break

"You need help, Mr Leon?"

I jumped on the hint of her voice, causing the noodles to scatter on the floor nearly. Embarrassing? Very! How nice. "W-what? Who?"

"It's me, Star!"

"Oh shit...well, sorry for the fecking disappointment, yeah? I can't cook for shit. But, I will be honest..."

Her response was a curious silence, and it felt even worse than before for her to know that I'm a failure inevitably. "Well, you got most of the things correct, at least!" Then, Star said, "You got the essential onions, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, greens, tomatoes, and oil, and the cheese! You even have cheese!"

And if it is that simple, heh...

"Well, can you cook? Little girl?"

"No? But I think I know the spaghetti goes in the bowl. Boil half until soft, then boil the other half!"

"You positive?"

"Calicivirus? No, hungry? Very yes!"

Okay, spaghetti goes into a bowl, boil half until soft, then the other half. Cook ii far away from Star; else, she starts eating the spaghetti raw. And so I did what she said, dipped the spaghetti on the pot, and turned back to her.

"Anything else?"

"Hmmm...Then you mix sauce and stuff in another pan. Maybe?"

"Okay, stuff on the pan, but make the onions brown first, I think!"

"Fiwst?"

I felt like a toddler. It's embarrassing.

"Shush..."

I went on my instincts and poured oil on the other pan, dicing up the greens and garlic and the onions until it smelled nice and brown. Then I run the rest while Star keeps trying to crane up her neck to see the food.

Finally, I had enough and let her on a high chair to oversee me.

"Just...Be patient, yeah?"

"Okay...But I want extra cheese!"

Sure, extra cheese...

"Now add sauce and cheese! lots cheese!"

"Right...Lots of cheese."

And there you have it, a serving of classic spaghetti - definitely not vegan because of the processed cow juice, but still.

So I brought the bowl of spaghetti to the dining table - a serving for two, with lots of melted cheese for her. "Well, there you go! Bowl of spaghetti!"

"Yay! Let me try..."

Star made a big roll with the fork and proceeded to put it inside her mouth, and I'm curious how she didn't flinch to the heat, dabbing a bit of her sauce-covered face with her hands before wiping it off on the table.

This, of course, pissed me off...

"Oi, Dontcha wipe off the sauce on the table! Are you seven or something?"

"I'm four..."

Oh, of course. "Well, be careful next time, yeah?"

As the tension settled, she continued eating the dish ravenously, leaving me curious on whether the food was really that good or if she's essentially starving. Finally, sheShe ended her meal with a small burp.

"So? You like?"

"Hmmm...A bit too sour and too cheesy, I think...But I enjoy it!"

"Well, you wanted extra cheese, right?"

"Yeah!" She said excitedly, "Extwa cheese means extra flavour! I think...So thank you!."

Something's wrong cause I tried my best to not vomit from the stuff I cooked, but I tried swallowing my doubt.

"Alright...Well, you're welcome."

"Okay!" She went off her chair, "My turn!"

"Wait, where are you going?"

"You just watch!" She yelled from behind, going straight on a beeline towards the fridge, "Now we make dinner!"

"Wait, we just had dinner!"