The food came out in no time. Mom and Cain just got chicken tenders, and Euphi and I exchanged a silent look of judgment, shaking our heads in sync. While those two wasted this golden opportunity on something safe and boring, we were about to experience something new.
Euphi had clearly been tempted by the allure of chicken tenders earlier, but now she was firmly on my side. I could only hope the food lived up to the hype because if it didn't and she went crawling back to the tenders, I'd never hear the end of it.
A wide, shallow plate was set down before me, releasing a fragrant wave of spices that hit me like a truck; in a good way. The machboos was a vibrant landscape of seasoned rice, every grain coated in rich saffron and aromatic herbs, glistening under the warm light. Swirls of slow-cooked meat rested atop the mound.
Nestled between the meat and rice were slivers of roasted nuts—golden cashews and crisped almonds—each bite offering a subtle crunch that played off the softness of everything else. Scattered fried onions crowned the dish, their edges perfectly caramelized, carrying a smoky sweetness that teased the senses. A wedge of dried black lemon hid near the center, its citrusy tang sharp and cutting through the richness with a refreshing bite when mixed in.
The smell was intoxicating, a perfect blend of savory, smoky, and tangy notes that clung to the air and promised something both hearty and soulful. It wasn't just food; it felt like eating a memory from a land I hadn't even visited yet. Familiar in a way that made no sense, but comforting all the same.
Euphi leaned over, her nose twitching like she was trying to absorb the scent into her very soul. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, wide and hungry.
And me, I already had the first bite. Let me tell you this wasn't just amazing. It was spiritual.
"Brother, feed me! Ahhhhh!" Euphi opened her mouth wide, leaving me speechless. She didn't even wait for my response, but as her big brother, I couldn't let her down. I took a spoonful of rice, slivers of nuts, and a bit of meat, then fed her the wonderful blend. She munched down, and immediately her eyes sparkled with hunger. She loved it!
'FUCK, THIS REMINDS ME TO BRING THEM TO JOHN'S PLACE!'
Even though the thought was wildly out of place—considering we were on vacation—I really needed to remind myself to do that.
Mom and Cain stared at the two of us like we were weirdos, but they couldn't say a word. They were plain individuals, after all. Euphi and I had long ascended from chicken tenders into the realm of the unknown. True cultivators of the food Dao!
Our dinner proceeded smoothly with light-hearted jokes and just good quality family time. By the end of it, the sun was already near setting and the food was gone, so it was time to leave.
"That's him, officer!"
'Shit.' That voice sounded familiar. The words coming out of the bastard's mouth were even more worrisome.
Yes, it was the douchebag from earlier!
Turning around, I saw two male officers staring at me while Sir Douchealot was frantically pointing at me. Internally, I was freaking out, but on the outside, I kept a smile on my face.
'Ezryn! Help me!'
[What do you want me to do?]
'I—I don't know! Do some spirit magic!?'
[I can't do magic... and this is the consequence of your actions. I told you, didn't I? This is how the Record works. If you do something, you have to look past the short-term.]
'I know! But I can't help but forget! When has something ever drastic happened???'
[Hah~]
Ezryn sighed, and cold sweat ran down my neck.
"Sir, I'm sure you won't make this difficult for us?" one of the officers said. He had tan skin, black hair, blue eyes, and stood tall—probably around 6'4—as he walked up to me.I sighed and just lifted my hands up for this dude to take me away. He was a fucking behemoth, and I didn't feel like dying!
Okay.
On a serious note, I didn't want to implicate my two little siblings, but seriously, if I was alone, I would have run.
[My ass.]
'Shut it!'
[On another note, you sure know how to start a vacation. Straight to confinement, huh...]
My face stiffened hearing this bastard. Not only could he not help, but now he was enjoying this.
I looked at Mom and shrugged, feigning confidence. She waved at me, speechless. Cain and Euphi just shook their heads.
At least they aren't crying. Hah~ really, my two siblings are going to be stars one day!
They handled pressure better than most adults I knew.
Even with all this happening, I trusted that I'd be out before I knew it. I was sure Mom would handle it and if not, then I'd handle it with money. I still had a little over a million left over, and the dividends from all my stocks hit tomorrow!
How much, you might want to know?
I have no clue because I forgot to do the math!
But hey, rich people forget too, right?
As I was escorted—surprisingly gently—to the police car, I took a look at the two officers. They seriously looked aggravated. I cast a glance at Sir Douchealot, and he was radiating joy at me being arrested. That smug face was practically glowing.
Gross.
[Agreed.]
However, I felt like these two cops had better things to do. Their eyes were half-lidded, their movements automatic. They seriously looked like they hated wanting to have to deal with this. I kind of felt bad for them.
Could it be he called in a favor or something?
It was suspicious, but it also could've just been that they wanted to hurry and get off work. Still, something didn't sit right. Something inside me just told me this wasn't mere exhaustion.