Chapter 40: Eat Pasta Soup

The air was thick with the spicy smell of the food. Myrna talked to Monica briefly, then she and Calvin found a place to sit. Students and people who worked nearby had just finished their day; the thirty tables were almost full. Luckily, an available table sat in the corner by the wall.

Calvin saw that Myrna put her phone on the table to save the spot. It looked like she came here often. Myrna looked back and asked Calvin, “Do you want pepper in your pasta soup?”

Calvin looked strikingly different and eye-catching among the crowd. He glanced at the young people’s plates beside him with his deep eyes. Their pasta looked red and very spicy. Calvin didn’t have his yet, but he felt his throat and stomach begin to ache.

“I can have a little of it.”

Myrna snapped her fingers casually. “Okay. What about other meat or animal organs?”

In Nemmington, everyone knew Calvin only ate delicate foods and didn’t eat animal organs; he didn’t even eat foie gras. It wasn’t because he disliked them; he was allergic to such foods. Calvin rubbed the bridge of his nose, finding himself in trouble. He said in a deep, enchanting voice, “No. I want it simple.”

Myrna blinked her bright eyes, as if she had seen through Calvin’s weakness. She asked randomly, “Don’t you eat animal organs?”

Calvin didn’t know how Myrna knew that. At least, he hadn’t told her. But when Calvin wanted to say something, the cool, pretty girl looked away and was ready to order. “No animal organs and a little pepper, right? I got it.”

The table and stool were too small for Calvin. The table was less than half a meter wide, and the plastic stool was extremely low. It was so simple; it looked like equipment from a children’s game. The environment wasn’t very good, but fortunately, Monica liked to keep things neat and tidy. The place was clean.

Calvin bent, pulled out a stool, and sat down. He was tall and had long limbs. The plastic stool was so low that Calvin had to curl his legs; there was almost no room for his long legs. For the first time, Calvin sat so uncomfortably. He had been in gunfights, but this felt more awkward.

“Food is ready.”

Soon, Myrna came back with two steaming, hot plates. “This one is yours. I didn’t put much pepper in it.”

A plate of pasta soup was placed in front of Calvin. It smelled great, only had a little pepper, and didn’t look very spicy. “And this one is mine.”

Myrna pulled out the stool opposite Calvin and sat down. Her pasta soup looked much spicier; she added a lot of pepper and chili to her pasta. She also ordered some other vegetables and meat.

Myrna looked relaxed. She picked up two forks and gave Calvin one. Myrna seemed to be in a great mood. She said, “It tastes better when it’s still hot. Monica is a good cook. Students and people who work nearby like to eat here. Taste it.”

“Okay.”

Myrna seemed to be enjoying her food. Seeing that, Calvin somehow felt hungry. He lowered his head, wound some pasta, and had a taste. The pasta was cooked just right. The vegetables were crunchy and kept it from being too spicy. It tasted good. Calvin hadn’t eaten at a roadside stall before. He was surprised that it didn’t taste bad. Calvin raised a smile. The gloom in his eyes disappeared a lot. His shoulders were as relaxed as Myrna’s.

Chapter 41: Encounter a Local Bully