Retired River: It is 4:30 p.m
Retired River: It is 4:40 p.m
Retired River: It is 4:50 p.m
Retired River: It is 5:00 pm. @10 grams of sugar, I am very disappointed. If you can set an appointment, you should keep it.
Ravi's lips tugged down. He had gotten his hopes up and had actually been ghosted by this person and for some absurd reason, he had actually had a good impression of him from their first conversation. So, he would not be getting the grill for 100 dollars but then again, it was too good to be true.
Things that are too good to be true should be avoided.
[A message from 10 grams of sugar]
Ravi quickly hurried to open his phone and read the message.
It was an emoji of someone kneeling and begging.
10 grams of sugar: I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. I am working overtime. Please don't be disappointed in me. I promise I am not usually like this.
There was another emoji sent almost immediately. It was that of a cute dog passing a bone forward.
Ravi's lips twitched.
10 grams of sugar: Forgive me, ba. Please. Can I shift the appointment to tomorrow? I would not be late again.
He is cute. The moment that the thought flashed in his mind, he froze and took a step back.
He blinked. A stray thought. It happens at times and it does not mean a single thing.
Retired River: 70 dollars
10 grams of sugar: At this rate, I would be giving it to you for free. Please, brother, I need to eat.
Ravi was relentless.
Retired River: 70 dollars and if you are late tomorrow, I would remove another 30 dollars.
10 grams of sugar: Are you a judge?
Retired River: A judge?
10 grams of sugar: You are so strict, I thought I was in the court.
Retired River: I am not a judge
10 grams of sugar: I know, you said that you sell peppered noodles and grilled fish. Ah! You would not do any business tomorrow because of me. I feel bad. I am sorry."
Ravi, who had forgotten all about the lie he told, blinked and cleared his throat.
Retired River: Don't feel bad.
He canceled it and worried his lips a bit before typing another response, "I do not mind."
There was a long silence from the other side before 10 grams of sugar replied, "You should mind. I am really sorry. Actually, I am also selling a wok. Barely used, for 20 dollars."
Ravi blinked, what would he use a wok for? Oh! He had forgotten again of his identity as a street food seller.
Retired River: That is a good price. Is it in good condition? Can you take a picture and show me?
10 grams of sugar: I am still at work. Do not worry, you will like it when you see it. I have to go now. I have to continue working hard. Please send motivation. I am about to faint.
Motivation? Ravi had never been asked to give motivation. He clicked the search engine.
[How to give motivation to someone who is overworking?]
Numerous search results came out.
"Not this, not this either." His eyes scrolled to a reply and his cheeks visibly redeemed. Ravi started coughing and switched off his phone in a hurry. What is he doing? He was not a child. He switched it back on and fought down a blush as he closed that particular page.
In the end, he downloaded a sticker pack and carefully looked through hundreds to pick one.
Retired River: Work hard. Sticker.
10 grams of sugar had probably resumed work. Ravi placed the phone in his pocket when he looked up. The stores opposite him had glass doors, his reflection clear as day appeared in front of him. Police uniform, light blue and slightly scuffed up, his body slouched on the pillar and his face, a small smile pulled the side of his lips wider.
He was smiling so widely. Why?
He stretched his hand for a few seconds and dropped it to his side, the smile on his face disappeared as he did so.
Ah! Ravi suddenly felt tired. He did not want to go home and start cooking. He made his way down the apartment stretch and down the high school not far from there.
He did not go through the front of the school but he took the back alley. The alley was long and deep, and even though it was still 5 p.m., the alley had already started to darken. Ten steps away, there was a small shop.
Ravi's lips twitched, it had been three years and yet there was not a single change to the shop. He entered inside, the layout of the store was the kind where you would see the person cooking, creating quite a nice feeling.
The moment he stepped in, the woman at the stove looked up, the shock in her eyes was so vivid. Then realizing that she had been staring for a while, she hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron and the corner of her eyes were filled with smiles.
"Ravi!"
"Aunty Gloria."
The woman smiled even wider, "I thought I would never see you again. You look good. That is good. That is good. Cynthia is not back from school, I will call her now."
"No need. I just came to eat." Saving Cynthia had been a…, looking at the glowing eyes of the woman, he did not call it a mistake. Nevertheless, he did not want to see the daredevil again.
"You have not changed one bit." The woman chuckled, "What do you want to eat?" She asked, hurrying back to the kitchen.
"One plate of spicy goat meat, a bowl of shrimp wonton, one plate of porridge, and a plate of rice and some sauce. You still have soju, right?"
"Soju?"
"I don't sell soju again." She saw the disappointment in Ravi's face and she amended, "But I have good beer upstairs. How many bottles would you like?"
Ravi raised his entire palm up.
Aunty Gloria stared at him.
He put a finger down.
Another stare.
Another finger.
In the end, the two of them had settled for two bottles of beer. The food was ready within 10 minutes and Ravi dove in.
The soft goat meat was so tender and spicy that his eyes but the cold beer was the perfect accompaniment.
Eating on itself was the most pure form of therapy for Ravi.