Eating Something Wonderful

She’s scandalous. Each line of thought feels rough and an overextension. What about pregnancy, protection, or the responsibility and possibility of children? Isn’t that something to think about? What about the need to date first? Before you know?

Nah, I’m being naive.

Well, what if I’m the one who is not ready? Outward appearances are one thing, but there are countless other impactful traits to a relationship or love. Also, I heard from conversation that guys can really blow it their first time with someone. There are many paths to that ruin, and doesn’t that type of thing lead to confidence issues down the line?

Curses. My world is spinning out of control, all the while I can’t answer Asa, who is all stares waiting for a response from me. The space between us remains intimate. I only retreated slightly; I could hold her hand again in a heartbeat. From her point of view, I must appear in consideration or alternatively faltering.

As if to add more chaos, my stomach howled in the otherwise tensely quiet room. I felt as if her face grew more lifeless, seeing how things unfolded. I couldn’t complain. I had unleashed a distraction, albeit unintentional. The more time I had to settle down and process, the better.

“...How about we come back to this. Close your eyes, and I’ll get us something to eat, seeing as you sound famished. What’s your favorite food, Astrid?”

“What is it that you are going to do?” I respond. If it is secretive, that’s all the more reason I should be able to see.

“Please close your eyes, and state your favorite food. It is simple and it would do us both good,” Asa said.

“It can be anything? The price doesn’t matter?”

“Yes.”

Something immediately comes to mind, yet it would humiliate me to say. Like she’s close to a stranger, right? A pretty one at that, and I don’t want her to hate me or worse, think I’m a nobody.

What surfaces in my desire is something you are not meant to ask for in any way. It is an unspoken gift instead.

A birthday cake. I haven’t had one in three years. It isn’t a necessity, so it's something my family had me forego.

I couldn’t bring myself to insist on one in those past days. I…I felt like it would injure me and who I was more than lacking the cake itself.

“I want something to eat that is special. Specifically, it only occurs for each person once a year.” I wince my eyes, so they can’t be seen begging. Please figure out what I’m asking for. I’m being hopeful because I can’t bring myself to be any more specific.

She’s quiet for seconds. Is it in thought?

“You can open your eyes, dear.”

My jaw dropped, and my face glowed with more light than it had known in months or perhaps years. She understood my meandering. She noticed me! On the table is a white and red frosted cake with countless candles lining the rim. In the center was a frosted and dotted red

Happy Birthday

* Astrid *

I noticed a knife in her hand and an indistinguishable expression.

Where did that come from?

The knife rocketed closer to me. My heart rate was rising as I found it in my hand. Pffhew.

“Thanks, Asa.”

“Go on, blow out the candles and cut us some slices.”

Bwwwh! I make sure to take off the candles once I’m done.

Up and down my blade goes into the cake, revealing a decadent, crumbly vanilla inside. I hand her a slice first and then eye up my cake like it may disappear at any moment. I take a fork and drive it into the cakey walls and place it on my tongue. Was I missing something worthwhile?

Yes! The delectable mouthful made me feel lighter. I ate my piece carefully, and I elicited a few tears that burst past my eyes that were trained to hold them. It is remarkable. Good memories can mean more than all the hurtful ones. I can’t throw my neglected past to the wind, yet I feel incredibly pleased to have experienced this.

Looking up, Asa, on the contrary, hadn’t taken more than a single bite.

“Do you not like me?” She sought in distress. “Or is there something wrong with me that makes you want to do it with others more? That’s clearly the reason you didn’t respond. You couldn't even give me a maybe as an answer.”

My heart retracted, and I quickly blinked away my tears. I messed up as a guy. This question sounds like one a hurt partner would ask. I need to be honest about how oblivious I am when it comes to this stuff. That would be the most right and purposeful.

Are there other ways to handle this? I really don’t know.

“Can you tell me what this is all about? I don’t think you would be the type to consummate with me. It was eating at my mind, and that’s why I didn’t say anything.” I explain.

“From the very beginning?”

“Yes.”

“I am the goddess of goodwill. Every god here in the divine realm is a false god and is of the lowest rank. As long as we are here, we are in a ritualistic contest titled Metagenesis to transform and determine who should be the next morphic god, the second rank. The final tier in the hierarchy is the transient gods, who you can think of as the ultimate powers when it comes to gods and this world. I need to consummate with you in order for you to become my medium and gain my emblem’s respective powers.”

Goddess! Was what I was about to yell out, yet she shushed me with a finger. She said all this knowledge of importance while I was disconnecting from shyness!

I am in the divine realm, and I can gain powers. This is just like a video game I played in my youth! I can’t remember the series at this exact moment, but I know that the playable character dies and then is allowed to choose powers before going to a new fantasy world!

Unexpectedly, I find it hard to breathe. “Asa, have I died on Earth? Is this my reincarnation?”