The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Elena and Das were sitting on the bench behind the stall.

Elena was holding the plate while Das was looking at the chicken meatballs on the plate.

"What's wrong? Try eating it."

Das gulped down and said, "Are they really safe?"

"You saw how the owner made it, right?"

"I did, but still…"

'All the ingredients he used were indeed packed, and he was following all the rules, but still… I don't think I can eat--'

As he was wondering if he should eat or not, Elena took a bite.

"Uh… Elena?"

"I brought you here because I wanted to celebrate your birthday, but you still keep acting like this. I won't beg you anymore. Just do what you want."

"..." Das stared at Elena as she kept eating.

"Uh… Elena?"

"What is it?"

"Are you angry?"

"Of course I am! Why do you always act like this? Why don't you just forget everything for some minutes and enjoy your life?!"

"..."

"If you keep acting the same way, then you will never be happy."

'Dammit! Why does everything she says hits me deep in the heart?'

"Are you still not going to eat?" Elena asked.

Das slowly moved his hand to the fork and grabbed it.

"What will you eat it with? Soup or sauce?" Elena questioned.

"What do you like?"

"I eat it with both"

"..."

"Well, for starters. Try eating it with the sauce."

"Okay"

Das moved the fork to the meatball and then at the sauce.

"Be careful; they are quite hot," stated Elena.

Das slowly moved the form towards his mouth as he opened it.

His hands stopped right in front of his opened mouth.

Elena made a weird sound in annoyance and said, "You are cruel."

"Please stop giving me emotional torture."

"And what about the torture you are giving me right now."

"Fine, fine. I am eating. But if I didn't like it, I will leave"

"As you wish."

Das ate it.

As soon as he put it in his mouth, he froze.

"Das?"

After a while, Das started chewing and eventually swallowed it.

"How was it?" Elena asked curiously.

"Well, it's too early to judge. Let me eat one more."

"Eat it with the soup this time."

"Hmm"

Das grabbed the small bowl and put the meatball in it after pouring some soup in it.

Elena passed him the spoon and said, "Do you want a spoon, or will you be okay eating it with the fork?"

"It's fine."

Das sliced the meatball and ate half of it, then the other half.

"How was it?"

Das nodded and said, "Not bad."

"Right?!"

"Yeah. I can't believe this is street food."

"Looks like this guy had never eaten street food before," said the shop owner.

"I rarely eat outside since my mom is very strict about my diet, and I have always eaten from the world-famous chefs. I had no need to eat street foods, and I can say this with confidence that I would never come here again."

"May I ask why?" asked the shop owner.

"Because I know it."

"No one can predict the future, kid."

"I can predict my future because I make it."

The old man then looked at Elena and said, "This boy is too full of himself."

"Excuse me? Why don't you say it on my face?"

"Well," The old man took out a watch from his pocket and wore it as he said, "You are aware that you are too full of yourself."

"..."

'What's with this old man?'

"Let me give you a piece of advice, kid. Never look down on people inferior to you because you have no right to do that."

"..."

The old man took out his phone and called someone.

"Yeah, please come."

He hung up the phone and said, "There must be a reason you are superior to them, and there must be a reason they are inferior to you."

"What are you trying to say?" Das asked.

"Nothing. You look smart enough to figure it out yourself."

"...."

'What's his deal? He is acting too haughty for a stall owner.'

A car stopped in front of the stall. The old man walked to the car and opened the backdoor.

He looked back at Das and then at Elena, saying, "Well, I wish you good luck."

He sat in the car, and the car drove off.

"What was his deal?" Das asked.

"I don't know. This is the first time I have seen him acting like this"

Das looked at Elena and kept staring at her.

"What's wrong?" Elena asked.

"You should stop being friendly with strangers."

"Why?"

"It's dangerous. Don't your parents tell you about this?"

"Well… they do, but I am an adult now."

"You don't act like an adult."

Elena squinted her eyes and said, "Are you saying I am an idiot?"

"That you are, but that's not what I am talking about right now."

Elena puffed her cheek and said, "You are making fun of me again."

Das moved his fork towards Elena's cheek and said, "Stop this, or I will eat them."

Elena's face flushed as her cheeks got red.

"They are red now." He poked her cheek with the fork and said, "Should I eat them?"

Elena started glaring at him.

Das pulled back his hand, saying, "You look scary sometimes."

"What will you do if I do the same to you?" Elena asked.

"Hmm. I don't know. Since you are a glutton who can eat everything, I would be worried about my cheeks."

Elena held her fork as if she was about to stab it.

"You know, being with you is so much fun," stated Das.

"Do you feel happy when you are with me?"

"Hmm. I guess you can say that. Since I forget all my worries when I am with you."

"Hmm," Elena used her fork to get a meatball and dipped it into soup,  then into the sauce, and moved it towards Das' mouth.

"If you are going to pull it back and leave me hanging with open mouth, I will make you regret it."

"Gah!" Elena started sweating.

'I was going to do that, but now  I can't do it,' Elena thought.

She kept moving her hand to Das' mouth regardless and fed him.

"How is it?" she asked.

Das gave her a thumbs-up sign.

"Say,"

"Hmm?"

"If you want to live a happy life, then live your life my way."

Das choked after hearing that.

"Are you okay?!"

Das hid his mouth with his hand and said, "Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"And sorry, I was just joking."

Das shook his hand and said, "I guess I will try living my life your way," while grinning widely.

Elena's heart fluttered as he thought, 'Oh, no. I have fallen in love with him more deeply.'

"What's wrong?"

Elena shook her head and said, "It's nothing. You should eat quickly, or they will get cold."

He ate one more meatball and said, "Why did the owner leave?"

"He closed the stall, so he left"

"What about the money?"

"He said it's on the house, right?"

"He did, but I don't like owing someone."

"Hmm," Elena grinned. "So I guess we need to come here again."