CHAPTER 8: CHEESECAKES

It had been a tiring day for Mr. Amber who had constantly been picked on by his fellow teachers. It wasn't a situation where he was bullied. The senior teachers had been teasing him ever since the day he had messed up in the auditorium. As a matter of fact, it wasn't him who had messed up. It was Mr. Shaw: the principal of the school. He had called him out on a mistake on someone else's part. What was a silly mistake as such called upon anyways? It wasn't as if that particular event was a professional meeting anyhow. In conclusion, Amber hated Shaw.

He sat down in an empty table of the restaurant. He was dining alone in the family filled place. As the night approached, he could feel the crowd rushing in. He hoped that the waiter wouldn't ask him to share his table with another stranger again, just like what had happened the last time. He was scanning his menu very well knowing that he would end up ordering his usual dish when what he feared happened yet again. A man dressed in white shirt and black pants sat in front of Amber as the waiter made asked him to cooperate politely. Amber went back to his menu, not bothered about the stranger. He was trying to avoid any interactions with the unknown. Last time he had been bothering by a student who had spent the entire meal talking about his insect collection. Amber hadn't asked him to share such vivid yet disgusting stories but was forced to listen anyhow. That day he couldn't digest his food. To stop history from repeating again, he swore not to meet eyes with a stranger ever again. This time he wouldn't waste his money on food he couldn't eat.

"Is the menu that interesting?" The stranger spoke.

"Yes." Amber said curtly but didn't look above. What he was thinking of at this moment was that he had been introduced to a guy that loves to chit-chat again. What would his interest be? Fishing with his bare hands? Asking random strangers if they would rather eat chocolate that tastes like shit or shit that tastes like chocolate? Or perhaps this particular stranger liked collecting insects too. Amber shivered before swearing he wouldn't think negatively before eating his share of dinner again.

"Is it because you're mad at me?" The stranger spoke again. But who was he talking to? Perhaps he was on a call. Such so, Amber ignored him.

"So, you are mad at me Mr. Amber."

Mr. Amber found it to be a cliché when he raised his head to find the young principal seated across him. It was awkward to see him outside school premises, especially since Shaw was wearing comfortable sweatpants and plain white t-shirt. Amber thought that the guy had a pretty good fashion taste for his personality. Perhaps he was one of those toxic men that would flirt with a hundred women and throw a tantrum when someone calls out on his actions. Amber gave his business smile.

"No, Mr. Shaw...." Amber put the menu down and motioned to a waiter, hoping that getting his order soon would let him run away from his boss soon. "I didn't know it was you and imagined that a stranger was on call."

"Hmm..." Shaw nodded before picking up the menu Amber put down. Just like that, the conversation was shut down. The only noise engulfing the two were loud murmurs of the families and young children throwing a tantrum. Amber wanted to ask what the guy across him was doing at the place but then again, he could have been a lonely bachelor just like himself. This theory however, went against his supposition of a married principal. Amber would feel a stare throughout dinner but just like his initial plan, he completely avoided meeting his eyes.

"Put his bill on my tab." Shaw told the waiter when the two finished their dinner.

"No, let me pay, Sir." Amber felt more awkward than shocked at his gesture.

"It goes against my ethics as a senior. It's alright, let me pay." Shaw handed out his card to the employee that stood watching the two bickering over the bill.

"Then, at least let me buy you coffee." Amber slid his hands over his neck and gestured towards a café on the opposite street. Its banner was visible through the glass window. "Ah... sorry, I didn't even ask if you drink coffee at night. They are famous for their deserts too if you have a sweet tooth."

"If you insist, Mr. Amber." Shaw nodded his head as he collected his card and bill back from the waiter. "I usually get coffee after breakfast so you'll have to buy me some cake."

"I love cakes." Amber said as the two walked outside. He felt more comfortable with the man now but definitely not the best. He wondered what Shaw was thinking: was he uncomfortable too?

The café was bustling with customers. It had a cozy and warm welcoming aura thundering round it. They had a special cake they were famous for in the school. Amber always wanted to get one when his students talked about it to him during class. The teacher however did not imagine that he would find some of his own students at the place clicking aesthetic pictures to post on their social media late at night. Especially not when he was with the man that scolded him in front of them just a few days ago.

"Mr. Amber what are you doing here?" An oblivious Keisha shouted at him through the opposite end of the hall. Three heads popped up from behind her when she said so. "And you're with Sir Principal!"

"Are they students from our school?" Shaw turned his head towards Amber who felt like ham struck in between two pieces of bread. He just nodded.

Anu, Keisha, Jabira and Mil stood up from their table and walked towards the two in haste, both curious and excited about the odd pair. Perhaps because they were outside school, they didn't get the prey instinct to run away from the predator. They attacked the adults with questions. While Amber was busy keeping up with them, Shaw was entertained by the scene. He looked over at the table the four were seated in to find an older lady busy on a call but still keeping an eye over the children. When his eyes met hers, she gave an elderly warm smile and bowed her head slightly as a greeting. Shaw returned back the gesture. The table was scattered with numerous clothes that looked like costumes. When the head of the school did not recall any talent functions to be organized soon, he assumed that the group was preparing to perform at the morning assembly and had begged one of their mothers to take them for some cake.

"What would you like to order Mr. Shaw?" Shaw turned his head towards the man who was speaking, "The children asked me to buy them some cake too so I'll order right now. I recommend their cheesecake."

"But their funfetti cake is awesome!" Anu said as she ordered for the four. "Please put this bill on them." She said, claiming the free treat her teacher was giving.

"I'll take the..." Shaw scanned the cakes, "The Black Forest."

"Alright, I'll take the lemon cake." Amber said as he was taking out his card. He felt a hand on his arms as he turned back to Shaw handing out the card to the employee again.

"Sir, let me." Amber's eyes looked like an owl under the haze, "We decided that I was going to buy, didn't we?"

"The situation changed, however." Shaw turned to the students who were picking up their orders. "Get some drinks and buy something for you mother too. It is good to participate in school activities but don't forget to study too. What grade are you in?"

"11th, Sir." Anu gobbled down the whole cake in front of them, devouring the piece like a starving goblin, "Can I get another?" Perhaps getting all those lashes from her friends had turned her into a shameless being. Not that the group considered pride to be part of a broke student life. The three followed her friend and gave puppy eyes to their principal. They looked like meerkats. Shaw and Amber locked eyes before breaking into laughter.

That day, Amber saw another side of Shaw. He wasn't the old man who would pick up faults in your every move. He was like a friend that didn't speak much but was considerate and observant of you. Amber would then secretly hope for a coincidence to happen again and this was not because he was fond of free meals. The next day at school, Shaw would find a cup of coffee and a piece of cheesecake delivered to his office from the same café. on the coffee clung a post-it-note lettered with red ink.

'Because you didn't try the cheesecake'

Shaw smiled. Later, he would find himself ordering only cheesecakes. Was it because it suited his palette or it reminded him of Amber? No one but Shaw himself could answer that.