Chapter 6: Cafeteria War
The school cafeteria was packed with students starving after gym class that afternoon. Kevin, still stewing over his loss during the basketball scrimmage earlier, hurried toward the corner table that was his favorite spot.
"I got here first!" Kevin suddenly shouted, slamming his bowl of meatball soup down just before Rey could sit.
Rey calmly held his plate of fried noodles. "I'm pretty sure this table's been empty the whole time. There's no sign with your name on it."
"This table belongs to the basketball kids!" Kevin shot back stubbornly. "Go find another table!"
"The cafeteria tables are school property, not the sports team's personal belongings," Rey replied casually. Without the slightest hesitation, he sat down in the chair directly across from Kevin.
"Hey, I told you to move, and you're still being a pain?!" Kevin glared at him.
Dimas, who had just arrived with iced tea, elbowed Kevin in the side. "Let it go, Vin. This table seats four anyway. Besides, every other table's full."
"No way! I can't stand eating next to someone who fights dirty!" Kevin scoffed sharply.
Rey picked up the chili sauce bottle in the middle of the table. "Who fights dirty? And who was the one who lost at basketball earlier?"
"You just got lucky!" Kevin cut in quickly.
"Classic excuse," Rey muttered. He started pouring sauce over his fried noodles.
The moment Kevin saw Rey's attention shift to his food, he grabbed the soy sauce bottle beside him. Without wasting the opportunity, Kevin deliberately knocked Rey's elbow hard.
SPLAT!
The chili sauce in Rey's hand sprayed everywhere, flooding half his plate of fried noodles until it turned a deep, fiery red.
"Oops. Sorry, my hand slipped," Kevin said with a grin completely free of guilt.
Dimas slapped his forehead. "You suck, Vin..."
Rey stared at his plate, now drowning in red sauce, then shifted his gaze to Kevin's bowl of meatballs, still full of clear broth. Instead of getting angry or shouting, Rey simply took a short breath and smiled faintly.
"It's fine. I like spicy food anyway," Rey replied calmly.
Before Kevin could realize what was happening, Rey's hand shot out and grabbed the bottle of dried chili flakes. Without hesitation, Rey twisted the cap all the way open and turned the bottle upside down over Kevin's bowl of meatball soup.
WHUMP!
A whole canister of coarse chili powder piled onto Kevin's broth like a miniature mountain.
"Dude! Are you insane?!" Kevin yelled, jumping out of his seat. "My meatballs turned into lava!"
"Sorry, my hand slipped too," Rey replied, using the exact same line. He then stirred his dark-red noodles without a care. "At least now our food matches."
"You really want to die, don't you?!" Kevin threatened, his face reddening as he held back his fury.
Aris, who had just arrived with a tray of siomay, looked at Kevin's bowl. "According to my estimates, the spice level in your meatballs could cause appendicitis within five minutes."
"I don't care! I'm going to finish these meatballs to prove I won't lose to you!" Kevin challenged, far too proud to back down.
"Be my guest," Rey challenged back, casually taking a bite of his insanely spicy fried noodles. "Let's see who gives up first."
Kevin snatched up his spoon, stirred the pile of chili until the broth turned a terrifying, deep red, then shoved it into his mouth. After just one bite, his eyes immediately welled up, and his throat felt like it was burning alive.
COUGH! COUGH!
"Water... where's the water?!" Kevin shrieked in panic, sticking out his tongue as he desperately gasped for air.
"Here, take my warm tea, Vin!" Dimas shouted, holding out his glass.
"Are you kidding me?! That makes it even hotter!" Kevin cried in dismay.
Seeing Kevin suffering from the spice, Rey stopped eating. He sighed, then held out his unopened carton of cold milk to Kevin.
"Drink this," Rey said shortly.
Kevin stared hesitantly at the milk carton through his misery. "You... you didn't put poison in this, did you?"
"If you'd rather die from the spice, be my guest," Rey replied flatly, going back to his noodles.
Without thinking twice, Kevin snatched the milk carton, stabbed in the straw, and drained it in a few gulps. The burning sensation on his tongue slowly faded, though his face was still bright red.
"How is it? Good?" Rey teased softly, peeking at Kevin from behind his plate.
"You wrecked my meatballs!" Kevin snapped, still breathing heavily.
"You started it," Rey replied without a hint of remorse. "Next time you want to mess with someone, think about the consequences."
"Just you wait," Kevin threatened, glaring at Rey with the last of his strength. "I'm not letting you off that easily in class!"
Rey merely shook his head and wiped his lips with a tissue. "I'll be waiting for your revenge, Captain."