Chapter 41: Hungry Boys
The boys sprinted toward the dining area like starving animals, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten at the mere thought of food.
Their legs, which had been shaky from hours of dragging wood and working on the rafts, suddenly found new energy as they raced across the sand.
Some of them were practically shoving each other out of the way, their competitive instincts kicking in even over something as simple as eating first.
By the time they reached the large mat spread out for meals, they were nearly tripping over each other.
The sight that greeted them was nothing short of a miracle — massive bowls of food were waiting for them, steam rising from freshly cooked rice, grilled fish laid out in neat rows, their golden, crispy skin glistening under the firelight.
Leo let out an exaggerated gasp, dramatically clutching his chest. "Oh my God. Is this what being a man gets you? Because if so, I’ll carry a damn forest next time."
The other boys burst out laughing, but no one wasted any time before digging in.
They grabbed generous portions of rice, scooping it into their mouths with their hands, tearing apart the fish like wild animals.
It was simple food — nothing fancy — but to them, after the back-breaking work they had endured, it might as well have been a royal feast.
Oliver groaned in pleasure, leaning back as he chewed. "This is heaven," he mumbled, half to himself. "Actual, real-life heaven."
"Forget rafts, man," another boy spoke between mouthfuls. "I’d build a whole house if we get meals like this every time."