CH 6: Eating Together
When the lunch bell rang, the noisy chaos of the classroom erupted as everyone scrambled to grab their lunch boxes and head outside. I hesitated for a second, looking at Alaric, who was already reaching for his bag. He had been helpful earlier, though I wasn't sure if I'd regret what I was about to do. With an uncertain sigh, I gathered my courage.
"Hey… do you want to eat lunch together?" I asked, surprising myself with the offer. What was I thinking?
Alaric raised an eyebrow in surprise, clearly not expecting the invitation. "Sure," he replied, his tone polite but neutral. I regretted it almost immediately. What was in my mind, inviting him? I wasn't even that hungry, and now I'd have to make conversation with this boy who never smiled. Still, a part of me thought he deserved the gesture after helping me earlier.
As we made our way down to the schoolyard, the usual groups were already forming in their favorite spots. The warm sunlight bathed the ground, and kids were sitting in circles, sharing snacks and talking animatedly.
"Where should we sit?" Alaric asked as we reached the grassy area near the stage.
"Wherever you like," I muttered, not really caring but also trying to hide how uncomfortable I was. I kept my face as expressionless as possible.
Alaric glanced around and led us to a quieter spot near the stage. It wasn't the most popular area, which was fine by me. I was starting to wonder why I had invited him in the first place. We sat down, and I opened my lunchbox, ready to dive in—when the worst thing imaginable happened.
My lunchbox was empty.
I blinked, staring at the void where my food should've been. Did I forget to pack it? No, my mom usually packed it for me… but apparently, today, she hadn't. Great. Just great. My stomach growled in protest, and I immediately felt a wave of embarrassment rise up inside me.
Why do bad things always happen when I'm around this guy?
I rested my head in my hand, trying to figure out how I was going to survive the next half-hour without food while sitting next to Alaric.
"What happened?" Alaric's voice interrupted my thoughts. He had noticed that I wasn't eating yet. I bit my lip, debating whether to tell him or not. I didn't want to seem pathetic in front of him, but lying would just make things worse.
"I, uh… forgot to pack lunch," I admitted with a sigh.
Alaric didn't say anything at first, but then something unexpected happened. He smiled. And not just any smile—an actual, genuine smile. It was small, but it lit up his face in a way I hadn't seen before. Alaric, the usually serious, no-nonsense guy, was smiling.
I was stunned. I almost forgot that I was supposed to be embarrassed.
"If you don't mind," Alaric said, "you can share my lunch." His tone was casual, like it was no big deal, but I could see the sincerity behind the offer.
I waved him off quickly. "No, thanks. I'll manage." There was no way I was going to take food from him. I barely knew him, and it felt weird.
But then, Alaric did something that surprised me even more. He closed his lunchbox.
"If you're not eating, I won't eat either," he said simply.
For a moment, I was speechless. Who does that? I stared at him, trying to process what had just happened. Maybe he wasn't as cold as I thought. Maybe, just maybe, Alaric wasn't that bad.
"Alright, fine," I sighed, giving in. "I'll eat with you."
Alaric's face brightened again, and he happily opened his lunchbox. Inside were two neatly wrapped sandwiches. He handed me one without hesitation.
I took it reluctantly, feeling a little guilty but also incredibly grateful. As I bit into the sandwich, my eyes widened. It was… amazing. The bread was soft, and the filling was perfectly balanced. I couldn't help but smile.
"This is really good," I told him, taking another bite. "It's even better than my mom's."
Alaric looked at me, a bit surprised by the compliment. "Really? Thanks. That's the first time someone has praised my cooking."
I stopped chewing and stared at him. "Wait… you made this?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I like to cook."
That caught me off guard. I didn't know many boys our age who knew how to cook, let alone made their own lunch.
"Your mom doesn't cook for you?" I asked, more out of curiosity than anything. But the moment the question left my lips, I saw his expression change. The smile disappeared, replaced by a serious look, and his eyes took on a distant, almost pained look.
Alaric was silent for a few moments, and I started to regret asking.
Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet and steady. "My mom… she passed away in an accident when I was three."
I froze, not expecting that at all. "Oh…" was all I could manage. My heart sank.
"After a while, my dad remarried," Alaric continued, not looking at me. "He's away most of the time, and my stepmom doesn't really cook for me. So, I learned to do it myself."
I didn't know what to say. The weight of his words hung heavily between us, and for the first time, I saw Alaric in a completely different light. I had always thought he was just some emotionless perfectionist, but now I realized how wrong I'd been. He had his own struggles—ones I couldn't even imagine.
Without thinking, I reached over and gently patted his shoulder. He flinched slightly, surprised by the gesture, and looked at me. I gave him a small smile.
"Don't be sad," I said softly. "I'm sure your mom would be really proud if she saw you today."
Alaric blinked, the pain in his eyes easing just a little. He gave a faint smile, and for a moment, the serious, guarded mask he always wore seemed to slip away.
"You don't look good when you're serious all the time," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. Alaric chuckled, and I laughed too, feeling the tension lift between us.
We finished our lunch together in a comfortable silence after that. I couldn't help but feel bad for Alaric, though. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without my mom. She was such a big part of my life, and the thought of losing her was too painful to even consider.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, we both packed up and headed back to class. Alaric didn't say much during the remaining periods, and neither did I. For the first time, I felt like I needed to focus in class. With Oli still out, there was a very real possibility that I'd have to do my homework myself tonight, and I couldn't afford to slack off.
As we packed our bags at the end of the day, I turned to Alaric, curious about something. "Why do you always sit in the front?"
Alaric shrugged. "Because you can hear the teacher better from the front."
I shook my head, amused. This guy really was something else. Nothing could change his practical way of thinking.
With that, we walked out of the classroom, and I headed home, feeling a little lighter than I had that morning.
--