I Miss You So Much It Makes My Heart Race

[Could This Be Love?]

Lin feels like something has been off with him lately. Whenever certain people enter his peripheral vision, his heart starts racing without him even realizing it.

*

His boss seems to really like eating fish eyes.

Lin stares at his boss's rolled-up shirt sleeves across the table. His sturdy forearms, exposed in the pale light, gleam with a smooth sheen.

His gaze seems to catch his boss's attention. The other man picks up another fish eye, then smiles at Lin.

*

His coworker is a little too much of a gossip. Like a spider constantly spinning its web, he chats animatedly at parties about all kinds of topics.

He seems to notice Lin looking at him, too. As he leans closer, there's a faint clicking sound from his bones. Muttering, "I think I'm getting a little osteoporotic lately..." he brings over some hot water.

"Are you still not over your cold? Drink more hot water."

*

Lin feels like his brain might be broken. How could he possibly find his boss and coworker so appetizing?

He makes an excuse and stands outside the restaurant to cool his head.

The giant screen outside Ruiming Tower is showing an ad for the latest drug. Lin catches sight of the neighbor next door, the one who always blushes when he talks.

He hears the neighbor keeps lots of plants at home. Sometimes Lin receives flower pastries he made.

*

Standing outside in the breeze doesn't help. After some thought, Lin decides to head home early after all, using his lingering cold as an excuse.

He has just made it home when the takeout he ordered on the way also arrives.

"Oh, it's you! What a coincidence."

The delivery guy outside the door looks delighted.

He's an acquaintance. Lin has seen him in all sorts of places. He's a true king of part-time jobs.

Lin takes the food from him, accidentally brushing his hand.

Slick and wet, with a faint suction, like the tentacles of an octopus he'd eaten before

A very distinctive texture. When you bite down, the suckers cling to your tongue and the inside of your mouth, leaving a tingly, numb sensation.

Lin presses his tongue against the roof of his mouth, feeling a little nostalgic for the taste of raw marinated octopus.

So hungry.

So hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, so hungry...

*

[Is this love?]

[No, it's appetite.]

/2024.10.29

/Urban Mutation

Theme: Remember to eat well every day~