PAID

*Crunch, crunch.*@@novelbin@@

I glanced around nervously as I sat at the kitchen table, stuffing cold chicken into my mouth while sneaking peeks at Chris.

We didn’t bother reheating it, but surprisingly, the chicken still tasted fine. It’s one of those foods that doesn’t lose much flavor after cooling down, as long as it hasn’t been in the fridge.

Chris, sitting across from me, didn’t look too happy. She was chewing her chicken mechanically, her face full of gloom.

*Crunch, crunch.*

"Huh."

I flinched.

What was that sound while she was eating chicken?

Looking more closely at her face, I noticed that Chris was chomping right through the bone of the drumstick.

Does Chris like eating bone-in chicken?

This meal felt like sitting on a bed of nails.

It was so uncomfortable.

Why had our usual peaceful mealtimes turned into this?

Why was Chris so downhearted?

I knew the reason. It was all my fault. Chris had come home early for once, and instead of spending time with her, I had left her alone to play by myself.

It might be petty of me to feel this way, but I was a bit annoyed too.

Honestly, I didn’t owe her anything. What I did with my time wasn’t her business.

Who does she think she is? My guardian?