Micro-story: The Night the Drinks Fought Back (by Tonkabean)

 

At 3:00 AM, the moonlight was like a voyeur, peeking through the window screen onto the kitchen counter. A cup of amber honey water and a cup of cloudy ginseng tea stood side by side in perfect order.

Ah Bei was used to drinking honey water before bed, letting the sweet taste coat her throat. Ah Lap, however, was obsessed with the bitterness of ginseng tea. If forced to choose, he would say that life itself is bitterer than Chinese medicine.

Thankfully, they had just finished watching a movie—David Lynch’s *Eraserhead*. On the screen, a deformed creature suddenly turned its head to the camera, flashng a sweet, honey-like smile. Ah Lap felt that only this kind of bizarre, twisted film could balance out his daily life. Perhaps, Ah Bei's presence in his life was the exact same kind of balance.

Ah Bei’s hand unconsciously moved to her chest. Something seemed to be crawling inside...

Tonight, the two drinks decided they would no longer stay silent.

Countless tiny bubbles popped up on the surface of the honey water, rolling and rolling, eating away at the edges of the ginseng tea. Not to be outdone, the root-like tea dregs of the ginseng tea grew out like a small hand, tightly wrapping around the honey water cup.

"I know your smile is sweet, but it’s so fake!" hissed the ginseng tea.

"Your bitter face is the one that's fake!" the honey water shot back. "Don't you know? Laughing releases endorphins. Whether it’s a real laugh or a fake laugh, it kills pain instantly."

The ginseng tea froze for a moment.

Taking advantage of the victory, the honey water pushed further: "Studies say that laughing can boost positive emotions by 17% and drop negative ones by 27%. Look at you. You’re so bitter and repressed. Who would ever want to get close to you?"

Furious, the ginseng tea stretched out its dark brown roots, wrapping around the base of the honey water cup like an octopus.

"Serotonin makes people calm, relaxed, and hopeful."

"Hey! Don't judge a tea by its cover! Just because I look bitter doesn't mean I don't want to smile," the ginseng tea replied, sounding a bit wronged.

The honey water went silent.

In her sleep, the corners of Ah Bei’s mouth curved up, looking like a thief who had just stolen some honey. Ah Lap’s brows, however, frowned into the exact shape of a wrinkled ginseng root.

At dawn, they woke up as usual.

Ah Bei took a sip of her honey water: "It doesn't taste that sweet today."

Ah Lap took a sip of his ginseng tea: "It doesn't taste that bitter today."

They looked at each other, and both smiled at the same time.

Deep down in the kitchen sink, the leftovers of the honey water and the ginseng tea quietly tangled together.

It seemed they were still talking.

End

Date：10 August 2026

Illustration: Ai-Bean

Written by: 東加豆 (Tonkabean)

Besides writing micro-stories, I also create audiobooks. I hope we can get to know each other.

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About me ：https://tonkabean.me/

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