Eat Your Food

Milan had the back of his hand against his mouth. He then stopped in the middle of the cleared-out family room. His face was so filled with heat his eyes almost closed longer. On his mouth lingered the taste of Owen’s tongue.

“Calm down, you whore.” Milan laughed softly at himself. He didn’t know someone he just met could make him this excited, even if he grew scared of the man earlier. The newcomer then combed his hair and took deep breaths to clear his mood.

He then jogged to the door and opened it for Corey. However, his smile was too bright as if he was inexplicably happy. “Hey, Corey! Uh, am I running late?”

Corey’s eyes flickered. She then laughed. “What’s happening, Milan? You look very happy. Did you find something inside your house?”

“Huh? Uh, no, wait, dammit, this is suspicious.” Milan used a hand to cover his face. “Sorry, sorry, Owen was telling stupid stories about his cows at the barn. It’s disgusting, too, so I can’t retell them.”

“Owen? Owen Bloodworth?” Corey lifted her brows. “Uhm, I didn’t know you’re also friends with the sheriff’s nephew. Is he still here? Florence cooked today for you, so I went to look for you before she felt bad about you missing lunch.”

“That’s not good. I’ll just lock up.” Milan then looked behind him and saw how Owen also emerged from the family room. The door to the kitchen was also closed, but the sight was too far for Milan to react to it. “Let’s hurry back to Corey’s house. Florence made lunch!”

…

The smell of the curry filled the noses of the people at their dining table. Florence was smiling as she served the food she painstakingly prepared for Milan. She was told he was going to spend the whole day outside to attend to their mother’s arrangements, but she had already cooked. No one could surmise the kind of happiness she got when Milan walked in the door earlier.

However, she eyed this other person who came with Milan. He was known to Corey as Owen, the nephew of the sheriff sent in by the mainland fifteen years ago. Since Boris’s mother was from Lasair, he was not treated as a complete stranger. As for this Owen, no one knew his parents or his reason for coming here. He just arrived two years ago and had been manning the farm ever since.

No matter, as long as he wouldn’t take Milan away or hold the other down, Florence would think about him. She would rather spend time making sure Milan was comfortable.

“How was it?” Florence smiled as she asked her brother, who was eating small portions. Her eyes seemingly glared at the food that wouldn’t get cleared out in minutes. “Do you like it?”

“It’s delicious! Is this a new recipe?” Milan had smiles on his eyes and lips as he ate slowly. He wasn’t picking anything, but he did not fill his entire spoon at every bite.

“New recipe? Not really. I saw it from the back of a broth’s packaging before, so I started doing it.” Florence didn’t know why he said ‘new recipe,’ but she would attest to a thought that flitted through her mind. If he was asking if it was different from how their mother prepared it, yes, it was.

Florence didn’t want anything from that woman to survive. Not even a legacy recipe.

At the side, Corey was watching Owen eat slower than Milan would. He didn’t even seem to like the food served to him. However, he was working hard to finish what was on his plate. She then stared at the man. “Uh, Mr. Bloodworth, I heard Milan asked you for help. Do you know each other from outside Lasair?”

Both Milan and Florence paused and darted their gazes at the two other people at the dining table. Corey didn’t even flinch when she was hit by the weight.

“No, but Uncle tends to get busy these days because of the strange happenings. Someone seems to be loitering around at night to kill livestock. With winter approaching, every cattle and chicken are important.” Owen didn’t reserve a smile. “Since he had to accommodate Milan, I just volunteered to do it for him. After all, Milan is a friendly person.”

“I didn’t expect you to be a friendly person, too.” Corey gasped and realized what she had said too late. She then stared at her food. “I mean, you’re really keeping to yourself all the time you’re in the Sheriff’s Office—whenever I visit my brother! You barely leave the farm, too. I never saw or heard you hanging out with anyone aside from your uncle.”

Owen chuckled and shook his head. “I have no reason to help him out or open my mouth. Besides, I’m normally tired from tending to the farm on my own. Granduncle is already too old to help. It shouldn’t be a crime to stay quiet when exhausted, is it?”

Corey lifted her head and shook it. She then brought it down again to eat some more.

At those words, Milan continued staring at Owen. He did hear this guy was watching over the barn, but he didn’t picture Owen as a real farmer. Then again, with a body like that, it would make sense. Of course, his mind began to wander. If he could keep the farm running, then he must be a good one. He must be milking those cows really well.

“You should eat your food, Milan.”

Milan suddenly heard Owen say. He then blinked and realized Owen was looking at him. Right, he should finish eating. They had a lot of things to do. Whether each other was on the list, Milan would decide a little later. He still had to generate energy from the spite deep within him.

He suddenly scarfed down the food when he realized the time. Moreover, Owen was already finished with his food. It’s just that Milan was not used to eating like a pig. He just ate faster than he could manage, not even minding the gaze Florence gave him.

Soon enough, the two men had to leave for the house again. Florence watched them from the main doorway and cast her heavy gaze at the males walking away from the house. She clutched her skirt before turning away to close the door behind her.

“What’s wrong, Florence?” Corey was clearing the table when she saw Florence walk toward the dinner table. “Did they forget something?”

“Disgusting.” Florence glared at the leftover curry she made. Then she walked away.