Chapter 5: Love

"So, guys, just another update. It's been a week since I started seeing that girl. Still pondering over what nickname I'm going to give her. Anyway, the plan is going swimmingly. We've been hanging out every day this week, and without fail, we've found our way to McDonald's at some point during each outing. It's not yet enough to pack on the pounds as I desire, but conditioning is key. I want her to associate fast food and eating in general with spending time with me.

Observing her, I can sense her hunger for attention, her yearning for someone to notice her. If I play my cards right, she'll become not just addicted to me but to food as well.

Regarding her physical transformation, progress is evident, albeit subtle. I believe she may have gained around 1 kg of fat, but more importantly, there's development in other aspects. I've stealthily swapped her usual order with larger fries and an upsized coke. Though she claims to feel full, I doubt she's noticed the increase in portion size. Moreover, I've been generously adding extra sauce and toppings to her mcflurry. These small adjustments may go unnoticed by her conscious mind, but they're all part of the master plan.

We're on the right trajectory. I'll continue to provide updates. Maxfeed out."

…


Mira sat in her room, the book lying open on her lap, its pages untouched as her thoughts wandered back to the events of the past week. Was this what happiness felt like? It was a foreign sensation, one she couldn't quite decipher. And to make matters worse, Alexandra's teasing echoed in her mind, taunting her with notions of love that seemed too absurd to entertain.
"Someone is in looove," she could hear Alexandra's voice, dripping with mockery. Was she going mad? How could she be in love with someone she'd only just met? It defied all logic. Seeking solace, she turned to women's websites in search of answers, but all she found were vague musings on zodiac compatibility and empty platitudes about love at first sight. It left her feeling even more adrift, her quest for understanding yielding no fruitful results.

But perhaps, deep down, she had been secretly hoping for disappointment. After all, disappointment was familiar territory for her, something she could navigate with ease. The alternative was too daunting to contemplate. The prospect of genuine affection and connection was both thrilling and terrifying in equal measure.

Games made it all seem so simple, but love couldn't be orchestrated like a strategy guide. There were no cheat codes to unlock someone's heart. Yet, despite her reservations, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was willing to endure the uncertainty, the constant questioning of whether there would be another day with him, another walk, another shared moment of laughter and joy.

Feeling suffocated by her own thoughts, Mira pushed herself up from the bed and made her way to the window, craving a breath of fresh air to clear her mind. Yes, she needed to go for a walk.

…


As she sat in McDonald's, her favorite spot, Mira couldn't help but gaze over to where he usually stood—ordering, waiting, and then making his way to their table. They would spend hours here, immersed in conversation. Her thoughts were interrupted by Alexandra's arrival at the door.
"So, what's so important that you disrupted my beauty sleep?" Alexandra quipped, with her usual sass.
"It's only 22:30. You never sleep before 01:00," Mira retorted, knowing Alexandra's nocturnal habits all too well.
"That's why I'm always late for school."
"You're not late; you just never come for the first classes."
"It's the same."
Mira offered to buy Alexandra something to eat, hoping to placate her for a moment. Alexandra told her to order her usuall, making sure to mention that it was on Mira since she was the one who asked her to come out at this ungodly hour.
"As always," Mira muttered under her breath as she got up to place the order.
She paused for a moment before reaching the self-checkout booth, feeling a strange pull towards this particular one. Was she trying to convince herself that there was some other reason for choosing it, besides the fact that Max always used this one?
After picking up Alexandra's order, Mira hesitated for a moment before adding one more item to her order—a Big Mac. It was a small gesture, but she hoped it would bring back some memories. Despite having dinner here with him not too long ago, she couldn't shake the feeling of wanting more. So she decided to treat herself to a little piece of nostalgia.

…

As they sat in McDonald's, Mira couldn't shake the question burning in her mind, and so she finally asked Alexandra, who was munching on fries.
"So, what's going on?" Alexandra asked between bites.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" Mira questioned, her gaze fixed on her food.
Alexandra paused, a playful smirk playing on her lips. "I think it's a little too late for first sight, plus you're not my type. You know I like them tall, handsome, strong, and with a dick."
"I'm serious," Mira insisted, her tone tinged with frustration.
"Alright, sis, chill out. Serious mode activated. So, what was your question again?"
"Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"Not for me. Maybe love at first taste, but I don't think that's what you wanted to hear," Alexandra replied casually, taking a bite of her McRoyal. "Just because it never worked for me doesn't mean it couldn't work for someone else."
"That's not the answer I wanted to hear," Mira muttered, hiding her disappointment behind a bite of her Big Mac.
"I don't have answers for you, girl, but I've got this. Just do something. You've wasted your whole life, never fighting for yourself. You're still the same little girl I met in kindergarten, and that was a long time ago."
A moment of silence hung between them, the weight of Alexandra's words sinking in. Mira reluctantly handed her phone over to Alexandra when she asked to borrow it. It took Mira a moment to realize what she had done.
"Wait, no, give it back!" Mira exclaimed, attempting to lunge for her phone but nearly slipping in the process.
"It's done," Alexandra declared, returning the phone with a mischievous grin. "You'll thank me later. Oh, and next time, order me extra fries, okay? Love you!" With that, she left the empty tray behind and sauntered off.
Mira dreaded to see what Alexandra had done with her phone. Her dread was interrupted by the vibration of a new message. Glancing at the blocked screen, she saw a message from Max: "Will be there in 15 minutes tops."
Mira felt a sense of panic rising within her. She was in for it now.

…


For the next 15 minutes, Mira teetered on the edge of a panic attack. Her heart raced as she fought the urge to scream, run away, or bury herself under a blanket. With each passing second, the impending arrival of Max felt like a weight pressing down on her chest. She frantically cleaned up the mess Alexandra had left, her hands trembling with anxiety.
Just as she finished tidying up, Max walked in. He greeted her with a warm hug and sat down across from her.
"I got your message. Is everything okay?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice.
Mira struggled to maintain her composure, feeling like a dam about to burst. "Can you grab me a McFlurry? Let's go out for a walk," she managed to say, her voice shaky.
"Sure thing," Max replied, rising from his seat.
As he headed to the counter, he stole a glance back at Mira. Despite her attempts to smile, he could see the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. Let's see if she notices the extra-extra chocolate sauce.

…

Mira felt the weight of each spoonful of the McFlurry as it slid down her throat, the sweetness mingling with the knots in her stomach. She forced herself to eat, each bite a deliberate effort to prolong the moment, to keep the conversation suspended in time. The ice cream was rich, drowning in chocolate sauce that seemed to flow endlessly, just like the torrent of emotions within her. She couldn't help but think she had consumed as much sauce as ice cream, the sugar threatening to overwhelm her senses.
With the last spoonful gone, the silence hung heavy between them, suffocating in its intensity. Mira stole a glance at him, her heart racing as she found solace in his gaze. Was it the overwhelming rush of sugar or the depth of emotion she saw in his eyes that made her heart flutter? She couldn't be certain, but in that moment, it didn't matter.
Summoning her courage, Mira broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Now, I believe in love," she confessed, her words carrying the weight of a revelation.
It may not have been the exact question posed earlier, but it captured the essence of her newfound certainty. Emboldened by her admission, she leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his lips before retreating, her gaze returning to the empty cup of McFlurry.
As tears threatened to spill from her eyes, Mira felt his arm enveloping her, his hand guiding her head to rest on his shoulder. With the floodgates opened, she surrendered to her emotions, tears streaming down her face as she buried her head under his jacket. It was a deluge of pent-up feelings, a release long overdue. In that moment, she didn't question the nature of her tears—whether they were tears of joy, of sorrow, or of something else entirely. She simply allowed herself to feel, to be enveloped in the comforting embrace of his presence.
As Mira sobbed into his shirt, Max's hand traversed down her body, coming to rest on her belly. He could feel the tension coiled within her, the hardness of her abdomen betraying the fullness within. Each subtle rise and fall of her breath beneath his touch spoke volumes—she had forced herself to eat that McFlurry, likely overeating before he arrived. Perhaps she had indulged with her friend, Alexandra. He couldn't help but feel a surge of possessiveness, a sense of ownership over her in this vulnerable moment.

His fingers traced the soft curve of her stomach, lingering on the slight roll of fat he could feel beneath her shirt. In that moment, he knew with certainty that she was his to claim. She will give herself to him, body and soul, and he relished in the power he now held over her. It was a heady sensation, intoxicating in its intensity.