Sure enough, the next day, Gabriel conscientiously brought his own makeshift chopsticks and sat punctually at the square table in Clara's yard for breakfast!
Breakfast was bearable, but at lunchtime, he sat there again, helping himself to a lot of food without much courtesy. He used to have the largest appetite at this table, but this person had quite the thick skin.
In the afternoon, when Mateo and the others went to harvest rice, he also took Gabriel along, saying that his appetite was enough for two people and he should prepare his own food.
Mateo was quite adept at handling this situation. With a few words, he managed to take Gabriel away, avoiding leaving him by Clara's side, which made him uneasy.
Gabriel was reluctantly taken away. Clara watched them walking away, puzzled by how suddenly their relationship had improved.