XXVIII | Rule

❦

Through a mouthful of chicken rice,

Aspen says,
'Rowan's got church stuff today.
'so you'll have to wait till 3pm.'

My eyes shift to the clock.

It's 12nn.

Normally I'd in bed.
Why did I come here?

The nameless chicken rice shop is empty as usual.

The fans squeak.

Rowan's father is arranging chairs.

I don't think they were ever moved
to begin with.

I ignore Aspen
and take another bite of chicken rice.

'I'm here for the chicken rice.'

Aspen grins knowingly.
Greyish eyes sparkling.

He turns to his father.

'Heard that, pa?

'Clyde came here for the chicken rice. It's good!'

The old man looks abashed.

He grunts
and tells me to enjoy it.

'Come by anytime.'

Actually,

I don't like chicken rice.

It's too oily,
the meat has a weird flavour

and i get bloated
from all the grease afterwards.

My lie frustrates me.

Why did I say that?

Aspen saw through me right away.
He's even taunting me.

And now,

her father hovers within my field of vision

like an annoying
mosquito.

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]