THREE
“Caesar salad and fish fillet, my drink is avocado juice,” Lauren ordered then look at me. “You?”
“Medium steak,” I ordered. “Avocado juice as well,” I added.
“1 caesar salad, 1 fish fillet, 1 medium steak, 2 avocado juices, right sir?” the waiter asked me.
“Yes.”
“30 minutes, sir.”
“Okay.” When the waiter left, Lauren said she will go to the bathroom. I am just sitting here with Kiki waiting for her to return when I heard a commotion at my back. When I turned, I saw a family laughing together when they saw their order arrive.
I am not judgmental. But based on their looks I can say that they came in a third class society. Simple citizens so to speak. And it is not an issue for me if they enter this place. But I am thinking that maybe they have an important event that they really prepared cause this place is quite expensive.
“This is so much, father, why did you order so much?” A man at my age asked his father. “This is expensive I think,” he added.
“Oh, son, I really prepared this and earn my father for this. This is nothing compared to your Achievement. you are now a certified teacher.” The father said.
Teacher? That man is a teacher?
The father messed his son’s hair. “I have a child who is a teacher, my heart is so full of joy,” he added. And you can really see in his face how proud of a father he is.
“It’s really for you, dad, and for my dream of teaching. Thanks for the support, dad, mom. Thanks to all of you, I promise I will not let you down and I will teach others the knowledge I have learned.”
“Oh, we’re all proud of you, son. Let’s eat and the food will get cold.” An erderly woman said. The father and son sat together, both smiling.
“Congratulations, son again. My son is a teacher,” the father said again.
“Congratulations, bro.”
“Congratulations, brother.”
While looking at them I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Teacher, fuck. Why do I witness this scenario right now? A lot of memories came back. Memories of failure.
“You will stop taking that course. Tomorrow, Dane will help you to shift into engineering.” I did not answer to what daddy said. I don’t want to be an engineer or enter the engineering field. I want to be a teacher. I like to teach children, explain what they should do.
I want to explain what they should learn. Step by step. I want to be among those who shape a child’s knowledge. Be one of their first guides. Be one of the first to teach them what they need to learn.
“Do you hear me?”I look at mom who stands beside dad. I want to ask her to help me to convince dad not to let me shift. If they want, I can do both. I can and I can handle it. There is nothing I can’t do if I want to be a teacher.
“Dale, your dad is waiting for your answer.”
“But I want to be a teacher, mom.” But dad is the one who spoke.
“Teacher? For what? So you can be like—-”
“Damian,”
“No, you will never be a teacher, Dwayne Dale. You will never be. PERIOD.”
“Hubby, Hubby.”
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong? I’ve been calling you many times but you’re spacing out. Is there a problem?”
“No, nothing.” Then I looked at the family and smiled sadly.
You’re rich, you have everything, you have no support and the one thing you want you can’t get. Damn it.
“Sit down,” I simply said and the food we ordered arrived just in time.
We ate silently while Lauren fed Kiki. I smile when I see them because they both look happy, whereas just last night she was scolding kiki for flirting with Tintin.
When we finished, Lauren invited me to have coffee. And since we are close to The Coffee Code, I agreed. I also want to have coffee because I will be staying up late again for the presentation.
“Hi, Dale, Lauren.” Maggie approached me with Joker silently holding his mommy.
“Hi,” Lauren and I greeted her together.
“You’re getting better, you’re blooming that obviously abundant with water.”
“Huh? Water?” Lauren asked and then looked at me but I just shook my head to tell her not to pay attention to Maggie.
“That’s ok, Blaze and I used to be like that. You’re shy to talk to others, but sooner or later, you’ll become a moron when it comes to sex, especially if you do it all the time.”
“What’s watering and sex, mom?” Joker asked.
“Holy shit.”
“Bad words, mom.”
“Ow, sorry, go to your aunt Margot’s office first.”
“Okay.” I just laughed because she forgot that her son was with her.
“What are you laughing at, Dale?” She asks me but I keep laughing.
“Nothing, you’re so careless and forgot your son’s with you.”
“That’s ok, my son is a boy so it’s ok. So, is there anything inside?” Maggie snorted pointing at Lauren’s stomach.
“Shut up, Mag, we’re here to have coffee and not to be curious about our lives.”
“I know, it’s probably a coffee shop. Why don’t you get a haircut here? So, what’s your order?” We walked together to the counter.
“Wife?” I asked Lauren.
“Funny Jace Hazelnut.”
“You?” Maggie asked me.
“Wild Zeus Espresso.”
“Oh don’t order that, it’s not good, just order Breezy Blaze Benguet,” she suggested.
“It’s your husband that’s why you want me to order.”
“Probably.” Then she turned. “Hana, give us one Jace and one Blaze,” she ordered.
“Hey, did I agree?” I ask.
“No, that’s why I’ve made a decision. Go ahead and sit there and we’ll just bring your order.”
“Let’s go, hubby, both benguet and espresso are strong and nice.” I just shook my head because I didn’t do anything either.
I help Lauren sit down before I sit across from her.
“Thanks.” I just gave her a smile.
“Welcome.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Maggie is still beautiful, isn’t she? It’s like not giving birth. Looks fresh and young. That’s how you can say that he’s happy in married life.” I look at Maggie who greeted a customer.
Lauren already knows Dane’s friends and their wives. Besides, we even invited them to our wedding, we also see each other at the hospital when Dane gave birth to Ace two weeks ago.
“She’s crazy,” I said.
‘”Huh?”
“Maggie is crazy, it’s not just obvious.”
“How can you tell?”
“How did I say it? Is there any sane person that burns houses and cars?” I saw her eyes wide. I had the same reaction when Dylan told me that before.
“Seriously?”
“Yes, she and her husband had a fight and Blaze ran away, so she burned her house. Well, that’s all I know.” I don’t care about their lives.
“Well—–” She looked at Maggie from head to toe. “It’s not obvious, she’s just like me when I’m in front of the camera and other people. Attitude because of the image.”
“You in front of the camera, but her—–even if it’s no camera.
“A little while, Maggie also arrived with our order. I thought she was going to leave right away but she sat next to Lauren.
“Oh, why?” I asked after sipping coffee.
“Breezy Blaze is delicious, isn’t it? As delicious as my husband.”
“You’re disgusting,” I said. Maggie and I are also quite close. Because apart from she’s Dylan’s ex, we used to see each other often when we were still in high school. I’m just really thankful that they didn’t end up because if it happened —— I don’t know what the result would be. And what kind of behavior will my nephew have?
“You two have been married for two weeks, right?” she asked.
“Yes, why?” I answered because Lauren was just looking at her.
“How many positions have you done?”
“Fuck.” I coughed because of her question. I saw Lauren stuck and couldn’t continue drinking coffee. “You’re insane,” I said in annoyance because I saw in Lauren’s face that she was uncomfortable. And she has a reason because the two of us have never had sex even when we sleep next to each other and I can almost see her whole body because she sleeps so careless.
“Gosh, that’s ok, I’m already married, so I know that kind of behavior. Anyway, Lauren, a piece of advice if you want your husband will follow you just follow these steps—–” She stood up and approached Lauren and whispered something. “Is that ok? Bye.”Lauren slowly moved her head and looked at me.
“What?” I asked but she just swallowed and looked down at ——- but immediately avoided it.
“L-let’s go home,” she said and stood up first and left. What could that crazy woman whisper to my wife? There’s really no point in talking her after at all.