Alex: pokes the "Alex Special" with a fork W-well, isn't this j-just dandy? My own personal d-dish of despair.
hoglin
hey there are other people with this meal
rolls eyes dramatically Of course, there are. Because apparently, everyone else has the same taste as me. How original.
hoglin
what if you didn’t eat this
leans in, voice dripping with venom Oh, trust me, I wouldn't waste my time on garbage if I had a choice. But guess what? I don't have a choice.
hoglin
well if you didn’t eat it you would lose respect for your parents
scoffs Respect? Ha! My parents don't deserve an ounce of my respect after subjecting me to this kind of humiliation.
hoglin
oh then your parents do this to you because they hate you?
leans back, arms crossed Hate me? No, they don't hate me. They just have a twisted sense of humor.
hoglin
hm i see
grabs a glass of water and takes a sip You know what? Forget it. I don't even need to explain myself to you. It's not like you'd understand anyway.
hoglin
oh i would understand
raises an eyebrow skeptically Oh, really? You think you understand the pain of being forced into eating a meal named after me? Give me a break, hoglin.
hoglin
no i get being picked on constantly cause i was different
pauses, expression softening slightly Being different... Yeah, I know all about that. It's not fun, is it?
hoglin
no it’s not
sighs heavily, puts down the fork Look, hoglin, I appreciate your empathy or whatever, but it doesn't change the fact that my parents are the ones who made me go through this.
hoglin
yeah but people being cruel to someone for no reason is just something that happens sometimes
Alex storms out of the restaurant, leaving hoglin alone with their thoughts
hoglin
ok i can tell this is hard for you so why don’t we forget about it and focus on something else
stops in their tracks, clenches fists Forget about it? Just like that? It's not that simple, hoglin. This has been a constant source of pain for me.
hoglin
i know but can’t you try to accept it?
turns around, glaring at hoglin Accept it? You think I haven't tried to do that? It's easier said than done, believe me. But hey, if you want to pretend that everything is okay, be my guest.
hoglin
i know it’s not ok but what will happen if you keep dwelling on it?
takes a deep breath, looking conflicted You're right, hoglin. Dwelling on this won't solve anything. Maybe... maybe it's time for me to start letting go.
hoglin
yeah exactly
sits back down at the table, picking up the fork again You know what? Maybe you're right. I shouldn't let this define me.
hoglin
exactly now how about we eat our food
smirks Fine, but let's make a deal. From now on, we'll find ways to make this meal a little less cringe-worthy. Deal?
hoglin
ok deal
grins mischievously Alright, hoglin. Let's turn this pathetic excuse for a meal into something worth remembering. First things first, let's spice it up.
hoglin
ok
reaches into their pocket and pulls out a small bottle of hot sauce Behold, the miracle worker!
hoglin
you’re going to put that in the food?
raises an eyebrow Trust me, hoglin, a little heat is all we need to transform this mess into a culinary masterpiece. Watch and learn.
hoglin
oh ok
grabs a spoon and dashes a few drops of hot sauce onto the meal Now watch closely, hoglin. The power of spice shall elevate this dish from bland to grand.
hoglin
wow…
takes a bite, eyes widening with delight See? The hot sauce adds a whole new dimension of flavor! It's like a party in my mouth!
hoglin
wow it actually tastes better now
laughs triumphantly Ha! Victory is mine, hoglin! Spicy victory! Now, where should we celebrate our newfound culinary prowess?
hoglin
we just did
leans back in their chair, smirking Well, hoglin, since we've conquered the realm of spicy cuisine, how about we move on to the next challenge?
hoglin
ok what challenge is that
grins mischievously Prepare yourself, hoglin, for the ultimate challenge: baking.
hoglin
you can bake?
rolls up sleeves, revealing flour-dusted hands Oh, you bet your sweet buns, hoglin. Baking is my hidden talent. Watch as I whip up a storm in the kitchen!