EATING TOGETHER

𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑜

I looked at the boy who battered his eyes on me, pleading with me with his eyes. And he even blackmailed me by saying he helped me. A smile almost crept on my face at the look he gave me and I could feel her t gaze on me as well.

"Please?" He clasped his hands together in a praying form.

I nodded. When I was done with my fried egg rolls, I made 12 pieces. I placed three pieces on a plate for him. The smile he gave me in gratitude warmed my heart.

"Thanks," I responded with a nod and place the remaining ones on another plate. Walked over to the refrigerator and poured me a glass of orange juice. I positioned everything on a tray but her eyes were still on me, to be honest, I wonder what was with the look she gave me. I carried the tray and was about to walk out when he stopped me.

"Why don't we eat together?" I wonder if that was a request or just a statement but it threw me off guard. For a minute I was dumb, I don' know what to say to him. Even where I come from, I never ate together with my family members except my mom. Even if I did, it always ended in a hassle.

I kept mute for a while, watching the look in his eyes. His eyes radiate with so much brightness and there was this thing in his eyes that says he hoped I give in to his demand.

"My mom said eating together brings people together," he smiled and showed his teeth. Eating together might have brought him and his family together but it was the total opposite of mine. It brought conflict, scorn and mocking to me and my mother, we are always labelled the bad guys. No one cared to know what happens to me or my mom.

I pulled my seat and plant myself down, waiting for the maid to place my portion of the food on my plate, his eyes lingered on me but it was filled with hate and scorn. I could feel his burning anger around me I had to twitch uncomfortably in my seat.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned. Our father was seated at the head of the table, paying deaf ears to us. His mom was seated beside him scowling at me and my mother. "Didn't I tell you, you don't belong here- you and your slut of a mother should leave this....."

I can't bear the thought of my mom being called names repeatedly. "Mind your language! Mind the words you say to my mother or....."

"Or what?" The side of his lips curved upward into a mocking smirk. I balled a first, trying to calm down. I glared at him, feeling to urge to wipe off the smile on his face.

"Will you two stop ruining this breakfast?" Our father's deep voice prompt calmly but it reverberated throughout the whole room and it carried this energy that quieted us.

"I will suspend you two from joining breakfast if you two can't keep shut and eat your food in silence." He frowned at us before digging into his dish.

"I can't," I shook my head. Dismissing him, his eyes dulled at my words. "I don't share an eating table with others, I wasn't taught that. 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔, 𝑖𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡." I mumbled these last lines to myself.

He tried to stop me but she stopped him instead. "Daniel, I will eat with you. I will make some omelette and eat it with you."

I ignored them and went into my room, I placed my dish on the table and saw an incoming call on the screen of my laptop from Kenny. I pulled the chair back and sat down, I answered the call but was greeted by a frown on his face.

"Ever since you migrated to another country, another city. You forgot about me and you don't ring me first without me doing so. What kind of a friend are you?"

"A friend who has a lot going on in his head and life," I chuckled. "How have you been?" I picked one egg roll and chewed it.

He held that upset look for a minute before answering. "I'm good but mark it on your calendar, this will be the last time I will ever phone you first." He tugged his arms against his chest and huffed.

"Why are you acting like you are my wife?" I asked rhetorically and smiled. Moving my mouth as I savour the work of my hand. "Alright, I'm sorry, I will try to call first next time. By the way, how is life treating you in Seoul?"

"Good but your brother thinks I knew where you are, he even brought the police to interrogate me. Can't you tell me the particular place you are residing in America?"

"I will when the time is right, for now, I want to know what's wrong with me....." I saw the look in his eyes. Filled with curiosity.

"What's wrong with you? Is something happening over there? Do I need to come over?"

I shook my head and gave him a weak smile. "Nothing.....it's just that....." I paused and realized I never told him, that someone is living with me in this house and I have done things here I don't even remember. I mean I tend to forget things but she telling me I drove a fork through the palm of that kid's father shocked me. I'm not capable of doing such a thing.

"What is it?" I returned my gaze to him and saw the worry in his eyes.

"I want to ask you, have you been scared of me? Have I done things that freaked you out? Ever since you knew me?"

His eyebrows pulled together, creating a wrinkle. His eyes filled with confusion, he's prolly wondering why I asked that. "Where does that question come from?"

"It's just that.....," my words were cut short, when my door was pushed open and that kid walked in, smiling. I was stunned to see him, I mean he has no fear in him. Don't misunderstand me but that kid is bold and it's already getting on my nerves. I don't hate kids but I dislike the clingy and disturbing ones.

"What are you doing in here?" I blocked the screen of the laptop with my back to obscure Kenny from seeing what was happening.

"Toro, who is that kid I just saw now?" I heard his question. But I focused on the kid before me.

"I came to say thank you for sharing your food with me," he broadened his smile which weakened my bones. He smiled so brilliantly that I forgot what was troubling me a while ago. "Although you didn't share an eating table with me and Nino, I enjoyed every bite of the egg rolls."

I only stared at him.

"I hope you teach me how to make those egg rolls, so I can make them for my mother. And please don't ask Nino to pay rent if she keeps me here, I will leave once my mom is out of the hospital."

I was moved by the boy's sincerity not only his boldness. I was tempted to reach out my hand and stroke his head but I quickly pulled my hand back when Nino walked in. Surprised to see Daniel in my room. She glanced all around the room and almost gasped. I'm wondering she's shocked at what I did to her parent's room which is mine now.

"Daniel, didn't know I will find you here," she looked from the child to me. She stared at me but didn't utter a word. She took his hand and left. But I can tell she was upset.

"Hello, Is anyone there? Toro are you still there? Why can't I see a thing?"

I turned back to my laptop at Kenny, I had already forgotten about him. "Who is that child?.....and I heard a female's voice too? Don't tell me you are already married and have a kid in this short span of days you left Seoul?"

"They are just my neighbours, my neighbour's kid. He's fond of me." I answered but something in his eyes told me he doubts everything I say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My face almost hit the tiled floor when my right foot steps on a ps remote lying on the floor when I walked out of my room to the sitting room. I was immediately upset, this is the main reason I don't want anyone residing where I'm residing. My blood was already boiling, I wanted my peace but no, she violated it, she keeps on violating every rule I listed for her. I almost fell but was held by someone. I lifted my head and saw him, the guy that strangely looks like me.

I don't know if I was hallucinating again. He always wore clothes that contradict mine clothes, Clothes which l never dare to put on. It irks me. My imagination might be playing pranks on me again.

"You again?" I prompt and pulled my hand from him. "What are you doing here?"

The little boy was seated in the sitting area, a ps remote in his hands. I looked up to the tv and he was playing LOL ( league of legends ) The game I love playing when I was a kid, I used to play it with Kenny. It was the reason I went into gaming and it was easier because my father owned a game company.

"Are you talking to me?" Daniel turned at the sound of my voice.

I shook my head.

He returned his attention to his game. "Remember when we used to play this game when we were kids, you, me and Kenny."

As far as I remembered, I never played this game with anyone except Kenny. What is he yapping about? And I can't get these irk feelings he looks exactly like me. Who is he? And how did he appear here? I must be hallucinating again.

I tug a hand in my left side pants pocket and move to sit beside Daniel. The guy who strangely looks like me picks up the ps remote and walks over to us.

"Hey, why don't we play together?" He asked the kid, who was surprised and happy at the same time.

"Really?"

The kid channelled his eyes on me. Why ask me? He should ask the one who asked him that.

The guy nodded and came to sit beside him. "This used to be my favourite game when I was a kid, I used to beat my friend in it." I watched the two interact like they knew each other for a long time.

"Where is Nino?" He darted his eyes around the room for a glimpse of her. "Weren't you supposed to go with her to work?"

"Yes, but she told me to stay home, that she had somewhere else to go."