Kapitel 12: Summer Heat

Staring at the stove, Kali counted internally.

897 seconds.

898 seconds.

899 seconds.

900 seconds.

Ding!

Like an alarm in his head was sounded, he turned the stove off, and the pot stopped boiling.

"June. Fifteen minutes passed."

Waking up disoriented, she closed her eyes again, "Could you you repeat that again?"

"Fifteen minutes passed."

"Did you count that? What?"

"Yes. I counted."

"For fifteen minutes?" June was astounded.

"Yes."

"Damn alright." Trusting his words, June got up and opened the top. With steam flooding out, she took a whiff, "Wow. This might be my best work."

Looking, Kali couldn't help but be excited. Though, his expression was as monotone as always.

Ever since the day he'd met June, he had discovered an intense appetite for food. A few months later, June would also realize during an all you can eat moment, that he could possibly eat… forever, fortunately June stopped him before anything crazy happened.

She was still worried in case he would puke everywhere. Upon checking, there were no signs he would, but after she gave Kali a limitation on how much he could eat. Which was still a lot of food.

He also didn't care about the taste of basically everything. It was all apparently good to him. Dice once wondered as to what extent this was and literally gave him a spoonful of a salt, to which Kali swallowed, saying that he liked it a lot. It was staggering just how absurd it was.

Using a knife, she stabbed a chunk of meat. Taking it out, she ate it, "Damn. It's good. Alright let's eat."

With a shimmer in her eyes, they focused. Moving at lightning fast speeds, she began plating everything at incredible pace.

Steamed vegetables, beef, and rice.

Spooning up some of the meat sauce from the pot, she poured some into her rice.

Sitting down, she placed both hands together and exhaled.

"Alright. Let's go." And then they began eating.

"June, why do you clap your hands together before eating?"

"Force of habit! People whom have certain beliefs do it for religious purposes. I do not. I do it purely because of habit. The monks I used to live with placed both hands together to pay respects. But I'm not religious, so I do it simply because it feels right. Hey, don't eat so fast, you might choke."

Slowing down his rate of devouring, Kali asked, "What do you think happens after you die June?"

Caught off guard, June nearly choked, "Fu- MHMM, jeez Kali, that came out of nowhere. Anyways, I think… hmmm, do you remember from before you were born?"

"No. I don't." He did however, still remember the exact moment he was born. Upon gaining sentience, he still had memories of everything that happened before he realized he existed.

"Well, I believe that when we die it'll be something similar to before we were alive."

"I see."

"Ya know Kali, you're like a little robot sometimes."

"What do you mean?"

"You rarely express anything but curiosity. And your face is always expressionless."

"Should I change that?"

"Honestly it'd feel odd for you to start smiling, and it'd feel odder for me to ask you to just start smiling."

"It'd be pretty easy for me to."

"What really?"

"Yes. I could definitely copy it."

"Tch, copying isn't good enough, it has to be reaaaal! You should only smile if you're truly happy! Are you happy right now Kali?"

"Yes. I'm happy."

"Alright. If you ever feel like smiling, smile, but never make yourself smile."

Curving his lips, and widening his eyes a little, Kali transformed his expression, "What do you think?"

Nearly choking, June stammered, "Holy sh- I mean, damn! Like that's actually insane! You should definitely show Dice later!"

Reverting faces, Kali took another bite, before replying, "Ok."

"So how's the food."

"It's good."

"You say that about everything, is it really all good to you?"

"Yes."

"I see."

Finishing his bowl, Kali washed it and went outside. Following him out, June began contemplating to herself. Leaning on a fence underneath the porch, she sighed dramatically, "Ah, you"ve grown up so fast. I remember when I first found you. Incredibly freaky. But now here you are, so incredibly smart. Now you're even hanging out with your friends without me."

"But I'm only meeting Dice."

"Tch, I know. I used friends instead of friend because…" June found herself at a lost for words, "actually never mind, get the hell out of here and go meet Dice or whatever."

"Be careful!"

"Ok June. Bye." Placing a key in his pockets, he began walking away.

"Byee!" Sighing once more, she muttered to herself, "Haaa, such a handful."