My stomach was growling. I hadn't eaten a morsel since yesterday, nor did i had any time to spare. In all that hurriedness, from morning to noon, the feeling of hungriness was feeble. It was now when i had reached my destination, did that devil inside my belly awaken. I had very rarely eaten outside. Gramp always rebuke me whenever i asked him to dine outside. But Gramp was no longer with me and i had to make the choice. Cafes and restaurants stretch as far as the eye could see. But the innumerably only added more weight to my choice.
I walked along the pavement, dodging the quick strides of stranger that flew pass me as quick as arrows do. Through those hazy glasses i peered into the interior of the shops. There were peoples occupying every possible space, some were chatting, other were munching down their food. A few whose order hadn't arrived sat, fiddling their cell phone. I gathered all the courage and entered into the shop. The door creaked, announcing my entry. The girl at the counter welcomed me, to which i nervously nodded. All those peoples were busy with themselves. No one knew that i had entered just now. Like a swift autumn wind i scanned the area and found an empty seat at the far corner of the shop. And i dashed toward it.
With my butt secured on the seat, i hurriedly pick up the menu. There were dishes whose name i had never heard. 'Latae' what was it? Some kind of exotic fruit! The margins of the menu were adorned with small pictures of curry, chips and fry. I was engrossed in those delicious names and miniature picture that i didn't notice that the waitress was standing near me. I was startled but she kept on showing a faint smile.
"What would you like to order?" she asked.
"Hamburger steak" i replied nervously trying not to make eye contact with her. She nodded and went away.
I pull out my phone and open Tokyo's map. There were 24 wards, 23 being standard wards and the 24th being an island. I was in 3rd ward. My first concern was to find a place to settle. None of gramp's relatives live here. Finding the whereabouts of my parents would take time. And i have nothing much let alone a photo either to begin with. What i have is just a tale left by gramp.
While i was contemplating my choices, the waitress brought my order. It was a fine piece of beef. It surface glistened with the sizzling oil. A rich umami smell was seeping out of it. With the knife i cut a piece of that meat; and speared it on the fork, i dipped it in the ketchup. With a single gulp i gobbled up that piece. There was a blast in my mouth.
The waitress had just moved to another table, but when she turned her head toward that foul sound; she let out a shrill scream that awaken everyone in the shop from their mundane slumbers. I was vomiting out my guts. Tears were rolling out of my eyes. The food fell down from my mouth onto the plate. A few bits danged by the saliva threads, until they snap and fell on the steak. It was bitter no not bitter but disgusting, as if i was chewing clumps of mud. The waitress hurried toward me.
"Is there anything wrong with the food? Sir, are you ill?" she asked worriedly.
"No, i think the meat is not properly cooked, could you please bring me something to drink. Perhaps a coffee" i asked her wiping the tears that had collected at the corner of my eye. She ran towards the kitchen.
When i turned my head, all the peoples were looking at me. Their forks had been placed down and so were there phones. There wide eyes made them look like ominous owls. Two of them had left the shop. There was silence.The shop was now like a wintery battleground. But the warriors were dead and frozen. The waitress came with a cup of coffee. She put it on the table, but rather than moving away she stood motionlessly. I turned my gaze sidewards and everyone's gaze was still directed at me. Like owl scrutinizing their prey from afar, they judge me with their eyes. I picked up the cup and sip that dark liquid. I sip another gulp. It was good. The waitress sighed and walked away.
Those strange gazes died off and after a minutes those distant conversation once again began anew.
The waitress in the confusion had forgotten to take away the steak. I was curious, whether i had just picked a side that was not properly cooked. I once again drew my fork and start poking that meat. All sides were evenly cocked. But to be in the safe side i chose to cut a piece from another side. This time i didn't dip it in ketchup. The meat had just touched my tongue, i could already feel the repulsion in my mouth. Without even letting it stay for a second i let that piece out as quietly as possible. I drank what little was left of the coffee and headed to the counter to pay my bill.
At the pavement, i was all sweat and tears. Suddenly at that moment, gramp's word stroked my mind.
'Am i a ghoul?' i wondered. 'But there was nothing written about it in the letter. It was most likely that the meat was cooked poorly' i tried to reassured myself.
But inside my mouth, i could taste that bitterness still lingering around.
'I need to eat something; but what? Coffee, right! I need some coffee.' i thought. But there was no way i could go back to that shop or any one near it. The people had already been agitated. I walked a few metres and took a turn. Luckily i found a convenience store. There was bound to be some kind of coffee powder there. I hurried inside the store and scavenge through the shelves. I picked a jar of coffee powder. It was only when i was heading to the counter, the magazine section caught my eye.
'How to spot a Ghoul. By Hishashi Ogura' that title caught my attention as a harpon would when piercing a fish. I picked it up and rummage across those pages.
'A ghoul only eats human flesh. It is unable to consume normal human food.
When excited the ghoul's eye turn red, such an eye is known as kakugan.
Though very rarely in public, a ghoul would release it's kagune; a hunting appendage.'
That first line sticked to me even though i tried to deny the other two claims. Out in the open, my stomach was still growling and now much louder. As my hunger increased, i could feel my senses getting highten. The late night breeze hit more frequently on my sweet skin, my eyes seem to see more clearly in that twilight night and wafting in the air i could smell a pungent fragrance. That smell was heavy but sweeter than anything i have ever smelt. I walked on the scent trail, navigating my way across Tokyo's backalleys.