Chapter 188
Matty noticed Theo’s hollowed, dazed expression-and the smile tugging at the corners of his lips only deepened.
With the pride of someone presenting a prized collection, he began telling the other kids all about Sharon.
“Sharon doesn’t just cook delicious food. She even knows how to make medicinal meals. Do you guys know what that is? My stomach’s always been weak, and my hands and feet are cold all the time. I’m super afraid of the cold. So Sharon makes me medicinal food every day to help me get better.
“She’s amazing, like she can do anything. She knows exactly what kinds of food are bad for the body and which ones help you get stronger.”
As he spoke, Matty lifted the insulated thermos in his hand. His delicate little face lit up with a happy glow.
“This is the one she made for me today. She said I’m still recovering, so I shouldn’t eat too much outside food. The food at kindergarten is tasty, sure, but a lot of the ingredients aren’t good for me right now. So she made me lunch herself and packed it just for me.”
The other kids listened in stunned silence, their eyes following the thermos like it was a treasure chest.
“Whoa! Sharon is amazing. She can even do that? Is she, like, a superhero or something?”
“I don’t like the food here either. I asked my mom to make me lunch, but she said I was being annoying…”
A kid wrinkled his nose. “I’ve had medicinal food before. It’s disgusting. I almost throw up every time.”
Matty’s smugness only grew. “That’s the old-fashioned kind. Sharon improved her recipes-it actually tastes really good.”
Then, without hesitation, he popped the lid off the thermos.
A gentle herbal aroma drifted into the air, subtle yet warm.
“Mmm, it smells so good!”
Several kids sniffed instinctively, and a few who hadn’t eaten much for breakfast had their stomachs rumble on cue.
One by one, all eyes turned to Matty’s thermos.
The colors, the fragrance-it was enough to make anyone’s mouth water. It looked good, smelled better, and probably tasted even better than that.
Without a hint of stinginess, Matty picked up the little spoon and cup beside him and offered a taste.
“Try it, if you don’t believe me.”
The kids didn’t need to be told twice.
“Oh my gosh, this is so good!”
“Delicious and healthy? I wanna eat this every day too!”
“Matty, please give me one more cup, please, please!”
“Hey! Why’d you steal my cup? That one’s mine! Give it back!”
“Nope! Not giving it back!”
Two of them nearly got into a full-on fight over a second helping.
Theo stood still, staring blankly at the scene, his tiny fists slowly clenching at his sides.
1/2
Once upon a time, his mom had treated him that way. But he found her annoying. In his eyes, all she did was cook-nothing special, nothing worth being proud of.
He’d even been ashamed of her, too embarrassed to tell anyone that Sharon was his mother.
So why… why were all these kids jealous of Matty?
While Theo stood frozen in thought, Matty had casually wandered over to his side.
“I got first place this time,” he said quietly. “That lady you and your dad like, Kelly? She’s not that impressive after all.”
Theo snapped out of it and shot him a glare, full of disgust.
But Matty went on, unfazed. “Sharon is prettier than her, smarter than her. She protects me from everything she even fights off the bad guys.”
“Not like Kelly. All she ever does is whimper and cry, always needing your dad or you to help her out. Can’t even handle things better than a five-year-old. Honestly, it’s embarrassing. And you guys still like someone like that? You must be blind.”
Every time Matty opened his mouth, Theo felt his blood boil.
He jabbed a finger at him and shouted, “Kelly’s not as bad as you say! I won’t let you talk about her like that!”
US
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