As Clyde finally managed to stop coughing, he wiped the remaining tears from his eyes. His face was still flushed from the heat of the spices.
Althea hovered nearby, her expression a mix of concern and guilt. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle as she handed him another glass of water.
Clyde nodded, though his throat was still burning. "Yeah, I think I will survive," he croaked, offering a weak smile. "Though, I might need a few days to recover my taste buds."
Althea winced. "I am so sorry, Clyde. I should have known Vyan was up to no good. I can't believe I fell for his prank."
Clyde chuckled, though it was a bit shaky. "It's alright. Honestly, I think I know why he did this. He probably just wanted to diffuse the awkwardness between us. I mean, I tend to get hysterical when my mouth is burning."
"Well, I mean, you could have been a tad bit calmer—"
