The piercing ring of the lunch bell sliced through the air, signaling the start of the midday break. A massive throng of students flowed gracefully into the cafeteria, where the enticing aromas of curry and garlic sauce mingled. Hugo, Megara, Laura, and Jane joined the current, but as they entered, Hugo's phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket, his eyes fixed on the caller ID: Zack. Turning to the girls, he explained that they should go ahead without him, promising to return before they even noticed his absence. Megara smiled, waving at him as he hurried away, disappearing down the hallway.
"What are we ordering for lunch?" Megara asked, and Jane giggled, a true foodie at heart. "Such a foodie!" Megara teased.
Jane playfully scoffed. "Look who's talking! Aren't you a bigger foodie?" she joked, playfully grabbing Megara's arm as they fully entered the cafeteria.
They made their way to the canteen, their eyes scanning the impressive display of delicacies. Australian crabs, Caesar salad, and perfectly sliced pan-seared A5 Matsusaka wagyu were beautifully arranged, accompanied by wasabi and a generous amount of soy sauce, their rich aromas filling the air. Megara and Jane giggled, leaving Laura marveled at their unbridled enthusiasm for food. Megara, in particular, was astonished by the intricate designs of each dish, wondering at the dedication of the chefs. This was a stark contrast to her former school, where the food was poorly presented and utterly tasteless.
She longed to treat her father to these mouthwatering meals, but she was certain they would cost a fortune.
Before Megara could even choose the eye-catching wagyu, Jane pulled her along. Megara's gaze then landed on the foie gras, a dish she recognized from a library book as made from fattened duck liver. She knew the unfortunate reality behind it—that the animals were force-fed beyond their capacity. Yet, the deep red tomato sauce, rich pepper flakes, and glistening olives in the dish began to melt her resolve. But once again, before she could make a choice, Jane pulled her further through the canteen. They next came across Ayam Cemani, a dish made from the exotic and rare Indonesian black chicken. Its deep black hue looked like a work of art in the glittering red hot sauce gravy. Megara, however, shook her head vehemently and moved on.
From her table, Amaya observed the girls happily selecting their food. She whispered something to Tanya before getting up and walking towards them.
Megara nervously clutched the foie gras in her hand. Laura had chosen an Ayam Cemani paired with caviar, and Jane had opted for the tuna salmon salad and mussel-filled spaghetti. They were about to make their way to a free table when Amaya intercepted them.
Megara winked at Laura, then at Jane, before turning to face Amaya. "You're in our way, Amaya. What do you want from us?" Amaya eyed her, then tossed her hair over her shoulder. "You should speak, or else get out of the way. I don't want to lose my appetite over some eyesore."
Amaya was taken aback by Megara's comment but maintained her composure as she noticed everyone in the cafeteria watching them. "You see, Megara, I'm just trying to remind you that the food in your hand isn't free, and it's certainly not what a pauper like you could eat." She smirked, twirling a strand of her hair around her index finger. "It costs fifty-nine thousand pounds. I bet that kind of money could feed you and your pauper family, couldn't it?"
Laura's face contorted, her blood boiling with rage. She bit her lower lip, fighting the urge to slam Amaya's head into the wall. "Amaya, don't you have anything better to do? We know the food isn't that expensive, or else you're just too cheap to afford it. That's why you're having a filet mignon steak and your deadbeat friend is having a ribeye steak, which only cost twenty thousand pounds." She pointed, narrowing her gaze towards Amaya's seat. "So I suggest you sit down and stop acting all high and mighty. Everyone's trying to eat, not watch some stupid queen bee."
Amaya stared at Laura with a menacing gaze, her face burning with embarrassment and annoyance. She lunged at Laura, but Hugo appeared, holding her hands mid-air. "Hugo, you're back!" Amaya exclaimed, trying to pull away, but Hugo held her tightly, not letting her escape. "Let go of me! You're hurting me!"
Hugo looked like he was seconds away from striking her, a vein throbbing in his head, his jaw tightening. "How many times do I have to ask you to stay away from my friends?!" he barked harshly, and Amaya feared for her life. "Don't test me, Miss Boris. I'm not a patient person."
Amaya looked around the cafeteria at the silent gazes and the few phones recording everything. It was clear this incident would be the school's news headline by the end of the day. Frowning, feeling utterly defeated, she rushed back to her seat, slumping down as Tanya tried to comfort her.
He turns facing Megara and the girls, his lips pulled out in a smug smile, before dramatically leading them to the center of the cafeteria where they sat down, preparing to wolf down their food.
Megara looked around the cafeteria in hopes of finding Uriel, but there was no sign of him at all. She wondered if his family were hard on him, as the principal had said. As if reading her thoughts, Hugo noticed her sad face and began typing on his phone.
Her phone chimed, and as if looking for a diamond in mud, she hastily dug her hand into her suit pocket, abandoning her food. She looked at her phone screen before smiling at Hugo again, then looked back at her phone.
Hugo: Are you looking for Uriel?
Megara: Nah, I'm not. And who said I was?
Hugo: You've been looking for him all over with your eyes, and clearly I know something's wrong. What is it?
Megara: Yeah, you're right. I'm just worried about Uriel. Would his family discipline him? He was just trying to help me out, that's all, and now he's in this mess.
Hugo: Uriel never gets disciplined. His stepmother, Catherine, makes sure of that. Have you heard about the power duo in the real estate industry?
Megara: You mean like the owners of Skye Real Estate Firm, Derek and Erik?
Hugo: yes they're his older brothers and when it comes to affection he is showered with so many so as for punishment I'm sure he'll pass on that.
Megara: he was born privileged no joke.
"Aren't you eating?" Laura's eyes narrowed at Megara's untouched food after she patted her friend's shoulder. "You should really limit your screen time, or your eyes will bulge out."
Megara scoffed, digging into her food, Uriel's well-being instantly forgotten.
Later That Evening
The cafe buzzed, a steady stream of customers flowing in and out. Outside, the bright neon sign flickered, proclaiming "Griffin Cafe and Convenient Store." Megara hopped out of Hugo's car, waved goodbye, and headed for the entrance.
The media room cleanup had taken less time than expected, thanks to her friends' help. Never again will I get involved in a fight, she muttered to herself. Pushing open the glass door, she was greeted by Tobi, who beamed at her.
"Hey, girl!" Tobi exclaimed, pulling her into a hug, careful not to stain her uniform. "You look bizarre, but how was your day?"
Megara clutched her bag strap, biting her lower lip. "I'm cool. Just had to clean up the media room, you know… punishment," she whispered, Tobi gasped. "What happened? It looks bubbling in here."
Tobi turned, glancing at the long queue before facing her again. "Oh, them? Never mind, it's just the cafe getting exposed after the bikers' competition." He jabbed a thumb at the crowd, rolling his eyes as they walked toward the counter. "Well, guess who's here?"
"The president? The governor? Maybe Mr. Griffin?" she guessed, earning a glare from Tobi. "What?! You know how bad I am at guessing."
Tobi grinned, dumping a tray in the sink. "I didn't realize it was that bad, but anyway, Uriel Jefferson, the leader of the Z3, and his best friend, Zack Oswald, are both here."
Megara's bag dropped to the floor. "You're not serious, are you?" she muttered, her eyes scanning the room. There he was, seated, his face cold and proud, yet undeniably breathtaking. "He's here, and that's none of my concern. Let's just get back to work."
Tobi raised an eyebrow. "You attend the same school, don't you? So he's the meanie you've been telling me about?" Megara nodded. "Well, he won't get away with hurting and humiliating my bestie like that. I'm going to give him therapy."
"What kind of therapy are you going to give him? Do you know how dangerous he is?" Megara's voice dropped, laced with concern. "Think twice. I don't want you ending up in prison."
Tobi laughed, leaving Megara hanging in suspense. "I'm not going to do much, other than spitting in his coffee," he whispered, and Megara burst out laughing. "Fate has brought him here, and he happens to be the person I'm taking an order from right now."
"Yeah, Tobi, but you better be watchful," she warned before disappearing into the changing room. "He has eagle eyes."
Tobi, oblivious to their playful banter, meticulously brewed a fresh pot of coffee. His movements were precise, his focus unwavering. As he poured the steaming liquid into a mug, he leaned in and muttered, "Here's to revenge, Uriel Oman Jefferson." He then proceeded to spit into the mug, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
Meanwhile, Megara emerged from the changing room, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. She couldn't help but chuckle at Tobi's serious expression. "What's got you looking so determined?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Tobi sighed, setting the tray down. He turned to face Megara, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Wish me luck, sweetie," he whispered. "He's about to get a taste of his own medicine."
Megara giggled, but her smile quickly faded as Tara approached. "What did I miss?" Tara interrogated, her gaze shifting between Tobi and Megara. "And what are you two up to? You better not be planning to spit in someone's coffee, or else I'm reporting it to Mr. Griffin."
Megara rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Who said anything about coffee spit?" she retorted, as Tobi walked away toward Uriel's table.
At Uriel's table, the atmosphere was a mix of tension and animated chatter. Two girls approached, their eyes widening when they saw Zack and Uriel. They excitedly took pictures with Zack, who exchanged numbers with them, promising to call later. However, when they attempted to take a selfie with Uriel, he glared, a stern warning in his eyes. The terrified girls scrambled away, leaving the table before he could even blink.
Zack scoffed, his eyes still glued to his phone as he saved the girls' numbers. "Are you serious? How could you scare them off like that?" he demanded, finally meeting Uriel's calm and indifferent gaze. "You're supposed to enjoy the fun, or at least get a girl for the night, but no, you just scared them off. Did you see how the blonde was looking at you?"
Uriel scowled, his friend's words sounding like an insult. "Do I look like a pro hooker? I'm not interested in gold diggers like them, and I'm not planning on having what you call 'fun'."
Zack scoffed, then burst into laughter. "You must be lying! You're here to see Megara, and I know it." He pointed out, and Uriel looked away. "What happened to the chefs? I thought you only ate meals prepared by Michelin chefs."
"I fired them this morning," Uriel said flatly, not meeting Zack's gaze. "I asked them to make me a coffee that tastes exactly like the coffee they make here—you know, the one that tastes like almond, a hint of bale leaf, and cream—but guess what? He made me a coffee that tastes like shit, and the appearance was totally sickening."
Zack couldn't hold back his laughter. He laughed so hard he was almost falling from his seat. "That must be crazy! I can't imagine having such coffee. So, just like that, you fired them? How were they supposed to make a coffee they haven't even tasted?"
"I don't know, but they should have made it using their common sense, dude. I gave a description," he replied, his voice firm and unapologetic.
Tobi walked toward them, his steps hasty but careful. His mind reeled with anticipation and excitement. "Hi, welcome to Griffin and here's the coffee you ordered," he announced, setting the tray down. "A tapioca pearl bubble tea for Mr. Zack here, and a bale leaf coffee for you, sir."
Uriel's eyes glimmered brightly as he smiled, stunning Tobi, who couldn't believe a grumpy boy like him could smile. He brought the coffee cup to his lips, but upon scenting it, he frowned again, setting the cup down. "What's wrong? Didn't it suit your taste?" Tobi asked, confused by Uriel's sudden demeanor.
"This is not the coffee. There's no hint of almond in it," Uriel pointed out, his voice firm. "I want the bale leaf coffee with almond in it."
"Oh, that coffee…it's Megara who makes it. We don't know how to do that; it's her recipe," Tobi replied. Uriel glared at him. "She's not handling the coffee pot today. She's only taking orders and cleaning, so you can't have it today."
Uriel put his hand inside his white Burberry overcoat, retrieving his Emperor Diamond Black Card, and slammed it onto the table. "Here, take this. I'll pay fifty thousand pounds for her to make the coffee and a hundred thousand for her to personally serve it to me," he said, leaving Tobi flabbergasted. "Unless you want to lose your job, do exactly as I say, or else I'll see the owner of this café, and I'm going to buy it."
Tobi took the card and the tray, then quickly left the scene. He thought he had the caliber to face Uriel, but when met with his intimidating aura, he backed down.
Zack turned away from staring at the departing Tobi and then to his friend. "Did you really have to do that?" he scolded, but Uriel didn't reply, instead throwing a bubblegum into his mouth.
"What's the matter, Tobi?" Megara asked, her voice laced with concern, as Tobi returned to the counter, a deep frown etched on his face. She was busy cleaning cups for the next order.
"That prick is nothing but a demanding jerk!" Tobi ranted, showing her the Black Emperor card. "Can you believe he offered to pay you a hundred and fifty thousand pounds just for a cup of coffee? Is he mocking you? Does he think we're poor or need his money?" He continued, "He even threatened to call Mr. Griffin to file a complaint—the nerve of him!"
Megara laughed at his pouting face, then pinched the bridge of her nose before turning to the coffee machine. "I'll make it for him," she said, turning the coffee pot on. "And I'm going to hand the Black Card right back to him."
Megara prepared the coffee with careful precision, then carried the cup to Uriel's table. He spotted her and instantly straightened, his mischievous mind already plotting.
Megara set the tray down and handed him his coffee. "Here you go, Uriel. And here's your black card back." She slammed the card onto the table. "No one's a beggar here, and for the record, you shouldn't just hand your black card to anyone."
Zack smirked, winking at Uriel, who inhaled the coffee's aroma before taking a sip. Uriel set the cup down and met Megara's piercing gaze. "You certainly affect me differently, Megara. That's an Emperor Diamond Black Card; there are only three in the world. Two belong to the Jefferson family, and one to Mr. Black Agate." Megara folded her arms, her nonchalance palpable. "I gave it to you not because I trust you, but because I knew no one would leave with that card. I'd have it frozen before it ever got swiped."
Megara almost screamed, but glanced at the other customers in the cafe. "Uriel, I don't care about any of that. Just stop flattering yourself into thinking everyone's interested in your money." She warned, poking his chest. "Don't show up here and try to cause trouble for me. You can have your way at school, but not in my workplace."
"I'm not trying to have my way in your workplace; I'm only purchasing your service, Megara, and here you are." He pointed, narrowing his gaze at her finger on his chest. "I see you've taken a serious liking to my chest, but please keep your hand to yourself. I don't want you staining my shirt."
Megara's nostrils flared, and she immediately retracted her arm. "What a braggart! I'm so sorry, it seems your wealth has blinded you and made you so dense you think people actually want a bleached shadow like you." She retorted before stomping away angrily.
Zack spat out his coffee, which landed squarely on Uriel's overcoat. Uriel's face contorted into a deep scowl. "Shit! I'm sorry, man, but she roasted you like pasta," Zack replied, earning a death stare. "The restroom's over there. Let's get you cleaned up."
Uriel feigned an appreciative smile before his frown returned. "Thanks a lot for the compliment, Zack," he muttered angrily, heading for the restroom.
Zack watched him disappear upstairs before bringing his coffee cup back to his mouth. "What is it with these two? Every day, a new quarrel. One minute he bullies her, the next he saves her, then he watches her get bullied, and then he gets too possessive."