"Toffee! Look at that braised pork! It is shining and calling my name. It is basically screaming 'Eat me, Toffee!'"
Toffee's eyes were wide as he stared at the food stall in the middle of the busy university canteen.
The smell of garlic and spices was moving all around his head.
"Toffee, stop! We cannot eat here," Mok said, grabbing Toffee's hand just as he was about to join the line.
"We have to eat light today because I forgot to tell you something. My mother is already at our dorm, and she cooked a mountain of food for us. If we show up full, she will definitely give us that disappointed look for the next three days."
Toffee froze in his tracks, and his face fell faster than a dropped scoop of coconut ice cream.
"Mok... are you serious? Why are you telling me this now after I already prepared my stomach for that pork? You are just messing with me, aren't you?"
"I swear, I just remembered! Do not look at me like that!" Mok laughed when he saw the betrayal in Toffee's eyes.
Without warning, Mok turned and ran toward the exit. "The last person to reach the dorm pays for the taxi tomorrow!"
"Mok! You jerk! Get back here!" Toffee yelled, his face turning into a giant pout. He scrambled after him, moving through groups of students who were busy drinking their Thai iced teas.
Mok looked back and grinned like a crazy person. "Hurry up, slowpoke! Or I am telling Mae that you said her cooking is just okay!"
"I never said that! You are a total cheater, Mok!" Toffee screamed, his anger melting into a giggle as he tried to catch up.
Mok suddenly stopped and waited for Toffee to get close. Then, he reached out and pinched Toffee's chubby cheek with a loud squish.
"Stay right there! I am going to kill you!" Toffee shouted, his face turning as red as spicy salad.
They ran out of the canteen like two blurs in their white university uniforms, making the ladies at the fruit stalls laugh at them.
Finally, they reached their new dorm. Panting very hard, Mok and Toffee collapsed against the wall of the dorm hallway.
"Are we actually insane?" Toffee wheezed while clutching his side. "Mok, stop teasing me for five seconds so I can actually breathe some oxygen."
"We really ran all the way from the canteen to here," Mok gasped while wiping sweat from his forehead. "I cannot believe it. My legs feel like overcooked noodles."
"I have not exercised this much since middle school," Toffee muttered, then he looked at Mok with suspicion. "Wait, why are you looking so serious? It is scary."
Mok turned to him with a look of pure horror.
"Toffee... we forgot something. We forgot something very, very important."
Toffee's eyes went wide. "What is it? Did Mae forget the crispy pork?!"
Flick! Mok's finger snapped against Toffee's forehead.
"Is food the only thing you think about? Why is your brain made of 90% rice? We forgot the car, you dummy! It is still parked back at the university!"
Toffee froze. "The car? Oh... the car. Do we have to run back? I will actually die."
"Are you crazy , Toffee."
"It is fine, we will just take a taxi back for it tomorrow.
Look at us, our shirts are soaked with sweat and we look like we just fell into the river. And look... the elevator is broken too. This is a cursed day." They groaned together and slowly walked up the stairs.
The moment they swung the door to their dorm room open, a smell of jasmine and motherly energy hit them. Mok's mother was waiting inside with a big smile.
"SURPRISE!
Oh, my dear Toffee! My precious boy!"
"Mae! Your son is here , you know," Mok teased, but Mae was already squeezing Toffee's cheeks.
"I have not seen my Toffee in a whole month! Look how thin you have gotten! Are you eating enough? Is Mok stealing all your snacks?"
"Mae, we are exhausted," Mok complained, though he was still smiling. "The hug is enough for now because Toffee is about to faint from hunger."
"Right, right! I prepared a big feast for your first night here. I made everything Toffee loves, like green curry and spicy stir-fry!"
"Thanks, Mae," Toffee beamed, sending a smug look at Mok.
Mok cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem. And what about me? Is there anything for your favorite son who actually carried all the heavy bags?"
Mae glanced at him for a second. "No."
Mok slumped his shoulders. "See? Once again, I lose to the Golden Child. You are the favorite, and I am just the delivery driver."
"Mok, stop being a drama queen," Toffee giggled.
As Mae gathered her things to leave the dorm, Mok pouted. "Are you really going without giving me a hug after I ran miles for this family?"
"Oh, come here, you monkey," Mae laughed, pulling them both into a group hug.
"Be good, study hard, and do not spend all your money on bubble tea! Call me if you need anything. One last hug for Toffee... okay, bye babies!"
"Bye, Mae! Drive safe!" they shouted as she disappeared down the hall.
Toffee turned to the table with his eyes sparkling. "Okay, Mok. The car is gone and the lift is broken, but the food is here. Life is good."
"And you are crazy ," Mok sighed, but he was already picking up a spoon.