The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 30.5: Her Eyes

Part 1/3

Ben was fiddling with a coin, spinning it around in his fingers and bouncing it from one hand to another. He was currently at a store that sold tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican cuisine.

Ben loved tacos. In fact it was his favorite food. He always went out on Fridays to get a few carne asada tacos. It was a tradition of his, and sometimes he would go out with his friends if they weren’t busy. But today, they were indeed busy, so Ben would have to go alone.

“Next!” the lady at the cash register shouted. Ben let the coin flip in the air one last time, and it landed heads in the palm of his hands. He pocketed the coin and walked up to the register.

“Well hello! Good to see you again Benjamin, the usual?” she asked. Mrs. Dugo was such a sweet lady, she and many of her colleagues had started this restaurant to make their living, and Ben was one of their very first customers, which Mrs. Dugo was grateful for.

“Yeah, yeah the usual,” Ben replied with a soft smile.

“Of course. Coming right up!” Mrs. Dugo shouted some Spanish order into the kitchen, and then turned back to Ben, clicking a few buttons on the cash register. Ben’s total came up.

“That’ll be $13.05,” Mrs. Dugo declared, looking at Ben with a smirk. Ben nodded, pulling out three ten dollar bills. He handed it to Mrs. Dugo, and she loaded it in the cash register.

“Keep the change, kay?”

“Of course. Thank you, Benjamin,” Mrs. Dugo reached forward and pinched Ben’s cheek, shaking it like she was his grandmother, “I can’t believe you don’t have a girlfriend yet. You’re such a gentleman!”

“Yeah yeah, thanks,” Ben replied sheepishly, “But, I never cared for that stuff. I’m fine as I am now. That’s all that matters to me.”

“Aww, come on, don’t say that mijo, having a lover by your side is always the best! You can kiss and cuddle and-”

“Yeah, YEAH, I know,” Ben shot back, scratching his head lazily.

“Well, just wanted you to know!” Mrs. Dugo giggled, “You know I have a daughter your age. Goes to your school too I believe. I think you two should meet.”

“That sounds great and all, but I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Okay… Well, enjoy your time here!” Mrs. Dugo called out as Ben left to go find a table.

Ben let out a sigh as he plopped down on the booth of a two-seater table, shuffling around in his seat before finally relaxing, breathing steadily and looking at his surroundings. There were many couples chatting together, holding hands or feeding each other or drinking out of the same glass. Ben smiled as he looked around. He found it comforting how happy the people of this town were, even with everything going on around them.

A few minutes later, one of Mrs. Dugo’s co-workers came around with a plate of 2 carne asada tacos and a glass of chocolate milk. A weird combination, but Ben always found it delicious.

“Here you go, enjoy!”

“Thank you, sir.”

The waiter walked away, and Ben grabbed a taco, eager to devour this meal as he usually did.

But as he took a bite out of the taco, he couldn’t help but scrunch up his face in disgust. Despite its savory and saltiness that Ben particularly was fond of in carne asada, things just felt…

Duller.

He took a look around his surroundings. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying their meal fine. One man was even eating a boatful of the same carne asada tacos that Ben was eating, and he didn’t get the ick.

“Why does it taste like this?” Ben thought. He took another bite, but this time it tasted even worse. He almost gagged, but luckily with a swig of chocolate milk it went down but even that tasted a bit thick.

Ben blinked his eyes again, and looked at Mrs. Dugo who seemed her outgoing self. There’s no way any of her colleagues had messed with the food, right?

It wouldn’t make sense. He had known them for the longest time!

“SHE was the one who recommended it to me. I would think-”

Just then, the door to the restaurant opened up and the bell contraption rang, and Ben’s eyes darted to the door. A girl walked into the premises. It was her.