On a breezy sunny afternoon, several children are gathered at a park. The children are varied, ranging from humans and demi–humans. Even among the demi-humans are unique kinds such as felines, canines, and reptiles. Among all of the children, one girl in particular is isolated at a picnic bench. Noticing this, a wolf girl approaches her
"What's wrong, Aisha? Aren't you hungry?
"N-no, I'm fine! No need to worry about me, Lelia."
"Come on, I can see it on your face. You really want to eat, I know it!"
"I told you, I'm fine! I swear that–"
Grrrrr
"!"
Aisha attempts to hide her noisy belly with her hands–though her method is wholly ineffective, resulting in her face turning even more red from sheer embarrassment. Lelia cannot help but to smile at the sight.
"Your own stomach just called you a liar, you know."
"..."
"Sigh, Aisha, you always refuse to eat around us. It's so obvious that you want to eat, yet you keep pretending otherwise. What's the deal with you? Do you not like pizza or something?"
"It's not that…"
"Then there shouldn't be a problem, right? Here you can have my extra slice."
Before Aisha could object, Lelia plops down her not-so-fresh pizza slice onto her friend's empty plate.
"Ah…thanks…"
"Hehe, my pleasure, bestie!"
"Hey, would you look at that–Aisha is finally eating food with us!"
A fox demi-human boy passing by notices Aisha's plate, now containing a single pizza slice. Without hesitation, he continues to blurt out his discovery, altering the other children.
"Lelia, is it true? Aisha is really eating?!"
"Yep, that's right! I finally convinced her to try it, but she is still a little shy about it."
"You've got it all wrong, it's–"
"Then how about we help her come out of her shell? I'll give her my pizza too!"
"Me too. There's no way I'm passing up the chance to see this rare event!"
"Here you go, a big slice–nice and thick!"
"There's no way I'm giving anyone my pizza, but I'll let you have this disgusting crust."
One by one, Aisha's peers piled up more and more pizza slices onto her plate, creating a mini mountain. Aisha could only watch in silence, helplessly overwhelmed.
"There. Now you have 7 and a half slices all to yourself. I'm a little jealous of you, even though I'm the birthday girl!"
Lelia pats Aisha on the back and snickers. The other children were smiling as well, showing their support. In contrast to the positive atmosphere, Aisha sits in the center of attention, anxiously staring at the pizza mountain in front of her.
"Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your kindness…"
"You can show your appreciation right now by chowing down! Don't worry about us, most of us have already started eating. You are the only one left, so we want to see your reaction! Urick especially, I bet."
"Heck yeah I do! This pizza is from my grandfather's restaurant; I even helped make a few of them for this party. I promise you, once you taste it, your life will never be the same!"
Urick, the fox demi-human, puffs his chest out, unashamedly displaying his pride for all to see. Lelia shakes her head, unimpressed by such a display.
"He's exaggerating, of course. Don't feel pressured to give him a good review if it's not as good as he claims."
"Hey, don't undermine me, Lelia! It's the truth 100%!"
"Yeah yeah, I'm sure it is."
Lelia rolls her eyes, complementing her sarcastic remark which frustrates Urick all the more. As the two banter, Aisha pays them no mind as if she were the only one there. She and the food that was placed in front of her.
I tried my best to avoid this situation, just like I have many times before. Several times in my life, I had to avoid food like this. Against my intention, I have become infamous for never being seen eating food, as if I were a mythical being or legend. Refusing to eat at a party I was invited to, especially my friend's party, makes me look insensitive. No one would want to remain friends with me if I continue this farce.
But it looks like I have run out of excuses–it was only a matter of time. Perhaps if I just take a small bite, I will be fine. After that, I can say that I am a light eater and will save the rest for leftovers. Everyone will come out satisfied!
"Here goes…"
Reluctantly, I stretch my hand out to grab the pizza slice that's resting on top of the massive pile. The crust feels warm and soft, the cheese is stretchy and fluid, but the toppings remain firm in place.
The closer I bring it to my mouth, the more I can smell it. The sauce lying underneath the cheesy layer smells like a delicate mixture of sweetness and spiciness. The crust smells like it was freshly made at a bakery. The veggie toppings not only look crisp, but they smell perfectly ripe and flavorful.
All of the traits combined should make anyone who is even a little peckish drool uncontrollably…anyone who is normal.
I get why everyone else is going crazy over this pizza, and other foods in general…but my body feels nothing. I felt the same satisfaction when I was holding nothing but air.
I can see that lady over there, Lelia's mother if I remember correctly, throwing away an empty pizza box in the garbage bin.
Grrrr
Such a perfectly good box…
"Um, Aisha? How long are you going to stare at that pizza? You shouldn't make your stomach suffer any more!"
"Yeah, come on already. I can't wait to tell my grandfather about my excellent reviews!"
"Hurry up, slowpoke!"
"She's making me regret giving her my crust–and I don't even like crusts."
Yikes. Lelia, Urick, and the others are getting increasingly fidgety and gradually losing their patience with me. This pressure…I can't bear it anymore!
"Gulp, may this food be blessed…"
The longer I think about it, the more hesitant I become. It's time to get this over with!
I close my eyes and–
"Aaah…chomp."
Taking a big mouthful, I thoroughly chew each bite, savoring every ingredient. Despite keeping my eyes shut, I can still sense the gazes from everyone as they watch me chew. I would rather eat with my eyes open, aware of my surroundings, but that would only distract me.
Okay, now it's time. I gather all of the bits of pizza and push it towards the back of my mouth.
"Gulp."
As I feel the pizza travel down my throat into my stomach, I slowly open my eyes…
Just as I expected, everyone around me has their attention solely on me and nothing else. Heh, maybe I should be an idol when I grow up.
"Soooo, how was–?"
"Did you like it? Well, of course you did, so the real question is how much did you like it? Isn't it the best food you've ever tasted?"
"Hey, don't interrupt me! It's rude to bombard her with such questions anyway."
"I'm not talking to you, Lelia. I want Aisha's opinion only!"
Lelia and Urick get in each other's faces and growl. It's so bothersome when they argue like this–they really are like animals sometimes. I better interject quickly.
"It's…not bad. Not bad at all, I think. In fact, I survived!"
Yes, it worked! They are focusing on me again, less obnoxiously.
"Did you hear her, Urick? She thinks your food is edible!"
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
"By Aisha's standards, yes."
"Why are you laughing, Lelia? Look, now you made the others laugh too! Come on, I was being serious, you know!"
"Sorry Urick, I didn't mean it like that–?!"
GRUMBLE
Oh no, it's happening again!
The cheerful laughter is silenced by Aisha's stomach churning. The laid back atmosphere radically shifts. Lelia appears to be the most visibly disturbed.
"Whoa, your face is turning green! Aisha are you–"
"Excuse me!"
Aisha hurriedly leaves the picnic bench, pushing aside anyone in her way. She holds both hands over her mouth, trying not to let anything from within her escape.
Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?!
I can feel explosions going off inside my stomach! Something is trying to crawl its way up my throat!
Aisha continues to scurry around frantically, her unnatural face complexion alerting those around her. Eventually, she finds a sign of salvation: a symbol resembling a female.
There it is! Please don't be full! Public bathrooms are usually occupied, especially around this time of day. I know my chances are low, but please…
This bathroom is fairly sized, surely there's an empty stall somewhere! No…not here…not this one either…no…
I'm just getting deeper with no sign of relief. I look like a maniac searching stall by stall!
Knock knock
Yes yes yes, the door opened! It's empty, this stall is actually empty!
Without wasting another second, not even to close the door, Aisha rushes into the stall.
"BLEEEEH"
That was…the most disgusting vomit I've ever tasted. My stomach feels relieved, but it's still–
Grrrrr
Aisha rubs her belly, trying to pacify its cries for nourishment.
I can't take this anymore–I need to eat something right now! There has to be something here, please let there be…
Identifying a suitable object, Aisha picks it up as if she were a shopper picking fruit at a market.
"This'll do."
"Aisha! Aisha, are you okay?!"
Voices of Aisha's female peers suddenly echo throughout the bathroom. Lelia yells out the loudest for her friend. In a minute manner of time, the girls arrive at the open stall.
"Aisha, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have pressured you into eating that…"
"Aaah, so delicious…"
Witnessing a never-before-seen-sight, Lelia stands outside the stall, looking at a loss for words. Aisha, feeling pure gratification, is blissfully unaware of the girls behind her.
"Aisha…"
"...?!"
Finally regaining awareness of her surroundings, she turns around in her stall only to be met with the gazes of her peers. She is in the middle of chewing, though she gradually comes to a halt as their reactions gradually settle in.
"...Are you eating…"
"Gulp."
"...Toilet paper?"
The reactions that I tried so hard to avoid.
The expressions that I never wanted to see again…
The look of utter disgust…
No words were spoken, but their faces said it all…
You're filthy.