2 Chapter 2- Food for though (2/2)

He was gone before Mei's fuddled brain could make sense of what he'd said. Mei sighed and set to righting the situation, dumping shower gel on the pile of wet cloth; he may as well wash them as he washed himself. Maybe the shower gel would be fragrant enough to overpower the yeasty smell of stale beer. Water sluiced over his shoulders and he let it wash both soap and worries away. If it was really important, he'd remember at some stage.

* * *

The cafeteria was crowded, a myriad of conversations and voices echoing in a gigantic mixing bowl of migraine inducing proportions. Hao Mei held his head, rubbing his temples in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing in his skull. The feet in front of him slowly shuffled forward until, eventually, they disappeared and all he could see was the white bench.

”Ah...” The smell of the food made his stomach roll and he wasn't sure he wanted to see what looking at it would do. A tray appeared in front of him, already filled with white rice, stirfried greens and a bowl of clear broth with an egg. Since when did the cafeteria serve broth with egg? Confused, he looked up and into a pair of familiar eyes.

”KO!”

”Drink the broth first. Then eat. You need food in your stomach so you can take your medicine.”

Hao Mei looked back down at the tray and noticed a small, foil packet tucked under the edge of a plate. ”Ah... thank you...” He cleared his throat and shifted slightly on his feet. Blood rushed to his cheeks and to cover his embarrassment he grinned. ”It was a big night, huh. I don't always drink like that.”

The other man simply looked at him and Hao Mei chuckled nervously. ”So... yeah... I'll let you keep working. And thank you. Again. For the food. And the medicine. And... yeah...”

Taking his tray to a clear space in a corner, he thunked his head on the table. ”Hao Mei, did your beautiful words disappear with your beautiful face last night? Or did they wash away in the shower this morning? Argh.”

A vibration in his pocket made him jump before realising it was just his phone. He opened the text from a number he didn't recognise.

-- Eat. Take medicine. Don't sleep on the table.--

Startled, Hao Mei lifted his head and looked around like a meerkat on the African Savannah. His eyes locked with KO's over the sea of students and he lifted the hand with the phone in it. KO ducked his head, yes, before turning his attention back to the students still waiting to be served. Smiling to himself, Mei saved the number under Number One Chef, then turned his attention towards the food, forgetting his hangover in the process.