I Am Tired Of Being A Hero
Chapter 118: Cold noodles

Chapter 118: Cold noodles

Look forward to tonight! Look forward to tonight! Look forward to tonight!

The words echoed three times in Ravi’s ears and he wished he had a pillow to hide his face in. He did not need to touch it to know that his ears were flaming hot.

Look forward to tonight! He running his hand over his arms, those shoulders, and those biceps, sinking his fingers into his hair and holding him close. Pressing their bodies together and ....

Ravi slapped his cheeks. Wake up! It is not what you think it is and you know it.

"Okay." He typed and switched off his phone, slipping it into his pocket.

"Ravi!" Asher rushed over and took his hand before he touched his cheeks, "Why would you do that?"

He had seen him slapping himself. He could not start to explain what really happened. You see images of my Captain and me, wait had the teenager even had the talk.

His brows tightened. Ah! That was a guardian’s duty that he did not want to do.

"I was feeling sleepy."

Asher did not look like he believed him and he directed a harsh glare towards the phone peeking out of Ravi’s pocket.

"I have gotten enough stuff. Let’s go home. I will cook dinner and you can rest."

Ravi shook his head, "The slap worked so I am not sleepy anymore. But it is not a good way to wake up, that is the job of coffee or hot chocolate for you."

Asher blinked, "I can take coffee. You don’t need to label the coffee machine, don’t touch it anymore."

Ravi looked at him. It was a good thing he was talking more right? "You can take it when you are eighteen. In fact, I would buy you a coffee machine as your birthday present then."

Asher stared at him, there was something in his gaze. Utter disbelief.

"Don’t look so shocked. It is not that expensive. What is expensive is the car, you would get it only when you enter a good college, if not, a good plain bicycle."

He stood up to go but Asher was still there staring at him. That look still in his eyes.

Was that too harsh?

"Okay. Not a good college. Any college." The look remained, "Technical school is okay with me. Fine, I would buy it when you are eighteen whether you enter college or not."

Asher did not speak and just hugged him. In the middle of the store. He could feel a wetness on his clothes, causing Ravi’s entire body to still. He patted the other’s head, not knowing what to say or do.

He was never going to talk about college or cars again. Ever."It is okay. You are going to be okay."

A pained sob slipped from Asher’s lips. It was just one sob. One and the rest were choked in, all Ravi could feel was his shirt getting wetter and wetter.

After three minutes, Asher pulled away, his face was red and puffy and he looked embarrassed.

"Sorry, Ravi."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Ravi patted his head.

Asher raised his head and smiled at him. Widely, Genuinely. It made his heart skip.

He smiled back.

"Let’s go." Asher said quietly.

"En."

****

"I meant home."

"Many people call this place home." Ravi said and looked around. It was a street stall, the entire line of people were selling so many different things.

One woman was selling candied kumquats.

"Let us try these."

The kumquats were originally golden but after being cooked and soaked in honey, there was a beautiful shade of orange and looked like a flower about to bloom when the woman sat on a white plate.

Asher hesitated but picked one up, it had a refreshingly light taste and was not as sweet as he expected it to be. When he bit into it, the citrus was accompanied by the taste of honey. It was delicious.

His eyes lit up when he looked at Ravi who smiled.

After having the candied kumquats, Ravi was still not in the mood to go home. He dragged Asher to another stall that was serving food.

The food stall was not big but it was very clean, the fragrance of the noodles filled the air and Asher swallowed.

Ravi smiled and passed him the small paper menu. The woman was very fast when making the cold noodles and soon passed Ravi a huge bowl, causing a sweet and savory scent to fill his nose.

The cold noodle soup was light and had white egg ribbons, A round egg, pickled cucumbers, red pepper sauce, a sprinkle of roasted sesame peanuts, and green onions.

He stirred it and used a pair of chopsticks to pick the noodles. The noodles were fresh and handmade. It was smooth, and soft but chewy, mixing well with the light soup. The more you ate, the more delicious it was.’

It was refreshing and delicious.

Asher had ordered another soup base, the chicken soup base, he was sweeter and Ravi could perceive the toasted peanut sauce and the pickled pear.

"That was so delicious. Ravi, thank you."

"You like it. Do you want me to make it for you tomorrow?"

Asher nodded then looked at him.

That look had not changed, The one that stated that he had something to ask but he did not know he would react.

"What is it?"

"Can you teach me how to make it?"

Ravi looked at him and then took out his phone.

Can a 13 year old make cold noodles?

"Sure. Tomorrow when I am making it, you can watch. Wait here!" Ravi recalled something and he walked down the street, turning at the corner.

When he came out of the store and returned, Asher was talking to someone.

"Ravi!"

"Sage?"

The older teenager placed his hand on the back of his head, "Asher already said you bought the malt drink. I came to buy it."

Ravi nodded and then thought for a while, "Since you are here, you should come with us."

Sage frowned, "I am not Asher. I am not a child. I don’t need anything to watch over me." He said harshly.

Ravi just watched him and after a few seconds, he replied calmly, "Okay."