The silence hung in the air like a thick fog, heavy with unspoken emotions. Sunny and Alex sat there, frozen in time, as the weight of Sunny's words settled in.
Then, slowly, Alex turned to Sunny, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and understanding. "You shouldn't have said that," he said, his voice low and gentle. "You broke her heart."
Sunny felt a pang of guilt, but he stood his ground. "She has to know the truth," he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of sadness. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it for her. Even if I tried, it would still be the same conclusion."
Alex nodded his head slowly, his eyes never leaving Sunny's face. "I see," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The silence hung in the air for another moment, and then Alex picked up his fork and continued eating. The sound of his utensils scraping against the plate was the only sound in the room, a stark contrast to the heavy emotions that hung in the air.
Sunny watched Alex eat, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his cousin. Alex was trying to be neutral, to stay out of the conflict between Sunny and his mom. But Sunny knew that Alex was also trying to be supportive, to let him know that he was there for him, no matter what.
As Alex ate, Sunny couldn't help but think about his mom's reaction. He knew that she was hurting, that she was struggling to come to terms with the person he had become. But he also knew that he couldn't change who he was, not now. He had been forever changed by his experiences in the war, and he couldn't go back to being the person he was before.
Sunny returned to his food, picking up his fork and attempting to take a bite. But as he brought the food to his mouth, he realized that he had lost his appetite. The flavors and aromas that had been so enticing just moments before now seemed dull and unappealing.
He set his fork down, feeling a pang of frustration. He knew that he needed to eat, to refuel his body after the long and exhausting journey. But his stomach seemed to be twisted into knots, and the thought of eating made him feel nauseous.
As he sat there, staring blankly at his plate, Sunny couldn't help but think about his comrades back on the front lines. If he told them that he had left a delicious meal uneaten because he had lost his appetite, they would have laughed at him. They would have teased him mercilessly, calling him a "pampered soldier" who couldn't handle the rough and tumble world of war.
The thought of their ridicule steeled Sunny's resolve. He picked up his fork again, determined to force himself to eat. At first, the food tasted bland and unappetizing, but as he continued to chew and swallow, he began to regain his appetite.
Slowly but surely, the flavors and textures began to reassert themselves, and Sunny found himself savoring the meal once again. He ate slowly and deliberately, feeling his strength and energy begin to return.
As he finished his meal, Sunny felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. He had faced his doubts and fears, and had come out on top. He knew that he still had a long and difficult road ahead of him, but for now, he was content to have overcome this small but significant challenge.
Sunny took a look at Alex, who was engrossed in his food, his eyes fixed on the plate as he slowly chewed his meal. Sunny couldn't help but smile as he watched his cousin eat. Alex had always been a slow eater, savoring each bite and taking his time to enjoy his food.
Sunny decided to break the silence and asked, "How's university life?" He watched as Alex slowly chewed his food, his expression thoughtful.
After swallowing, Alex answered, "Not bad, I guess. Except for the lecturers' unnecessary assignments and their will to stress the life out of you." Alex's voice was laced with a hint of frustration, but also a dash of humor.
Sunny giggled at Alex's response, feeling a sense of amusement at the contrast between their lives. Here he was, fighting a war and facing life-or-death situations on a daily basis, while Alex was pursuing his education and dealing with the stresses of university life.
As he watched Alex eat, Sunny couldn't help but think about how funny it was that people living different lives at the same time could have such vastly different experiences. While Sunny was dodging bullets and navigating the complexities of war, Alex was navigating the complexities of academic life, dealing with lecturers, assignments, and exams.
Despite the differences in their lives, Sunny felt a sense of gratitude towards Alex. His cousin's presence was a reminder that there was still a world beyond the war, a world where people went about their daily lives, pursuing their dreams and aspirations.
As Sunny sat there, watching Alex eat and listening to his stories about university life, he felt a sense of connection to his cousin. Despite the vastly different paths they had chosen, they were still connected, still bound together by their shared experiences and their love for each other.
As the evening wore on, Sunny and Alex lingered in the dinner room, engaged in a long and winding conversation. They sat at the table, the remnants of their meal still scattered before them.
They talked about everything and nothing, their words flowing easily as they caught up on each other's lives. But one piece of news caught Sunny off guard, even though he shouldn't have been surprised. Alex, with a mischievous glint in his eye, announced that he had a girlfriend.
Sunny's reaction was immediate. He felt a pang of...not jealousy, exactly, but maybe a little wistfulness. Alex was 22 now, and it was no surprise that he had found someone special. But Sunny himself had never had a girlfriend. He had always thought that he wasn't fit for a boyfriend, that his life as a soldier was too unpredictable, too fraught with danger.
Who would want to be with someone who could die at any moment? Sunny had always thought that it was better to be alone, to spare someone the pain of loving him and possibly losing him.
As they finished their conversation and began to clear the table, Sunny couldn't help but feel a little envious of Alex's newfound love. He was happy for his cousin, of course, but a part of him wondered what it would be like to have someone special in his own life.
As they parted ways, Sunny headed to his room, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He was tired, but his mind was still racing with thoughts of love, war, and everything in between. He flopped down onto his bed, letting out a deep sigh as he closed his eyes, feeling the weight of his exhaustion finally begin to catch up with him.