C63 A Predator’s Patience

Breakfast stretched into a battle of silence. Every bite Arun forced down was watched, measured, as though his chopsticks betrayed secrets Riku wanted to read.

Finally, Arun set the bowl down, appetite gone. “I’m done.”

Riku didn’t look at the food. He looked at Arun. “You’ve barely eaten.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You were starving when you came here.” Riku rose, slow and deliberate. “Eat