The waiter looked troubled. "Mister, today's a weekend. Usually, if you don't make any reservations in advance, the private rooms will be taken by others," he said before pointing at the empty table next to Kingsley's. "That's the last table left now. Would you like to take the table, line up to wait for a private room to become available, or go take a look at another restaurant?"
Just then, a young lady standing next to the man spoke. "Let's take the table, Calvin. The heels I'm wearing today hurt my feet a little, so I don't want to walk anymore. And besides, I'm hungry."
"Okay, Elaine. Since you've said so, let's take the table." The young man called Calvin flashed her a grin before immediately urging the other five young men to take their seats with the air of a leader. Then, he snapped his fingers at the waiter, saying, "Excuse me, we'd like to place an order!" He was very liberal with his money. With a wave of his hand, he ordered 20 expensive signature dishes all at once.
The other five men immediately sucked up to him, saying, "Oh, Calvin, it's so kind of you to order so many nice dishes!"
"That's right! Not only do you do well in your studies, but you're also bold and enterprising! I have nothing but admiration for you, Calvin. You're my idol!"
"Yeah, that's right! Calvin, you're my idol, too, so we mustn't let you treat us to dinner today! Let me treat you guys to it instead!"
Calvin Giuliani seemed incredibly pleased by their boastful compliments. "Haha… Didn't we agree that this dinner would be my treat? None of you are gonna take it away from me! Don't worry; I'll arrange for you guys to join the student council as soon as you're in the second semester of your freshman year!"
Upon hearing this, the five young men said excitedly, "In that case, Calvin, thank you so much!"
Calvin smiled smugly. "Nah, it's no big deal. It's just a piece of cake for me."
The five young men today had given him a bribe of about 10,000 in total for the purpose of joining the student council. As the student council's president and Vincent Albright's favorite pupil, he naturally promised to take care of everything. While he was at it, he asked Elaine Albright—whom he had been courting all this while—out on the excuse of welcoming the student council's new members. "Elaine, are you free tonight?" he asked with a lewd smile. "I hear that there's a new film showing at midnight at the theaters next door. Why don't we go and watch it?"
Elaine asked expressionlessly, "Is this the student council's welcome party that you told me about?"
"Hehe. If I hadn't said so, you wouldn't have come out!" Calvin replied with a cheeky grin.
Elaine darted a look at him in annoyance. Then, not in the mood to say anything else, she turned her head away immediately. She wasn't the type of person who would make a scene by flipping the table and turning against anyone before leaving. Even though she knew that she had been fooled, she decided to bite the bullet and eat a few bites before returning to her dorm immediately.
At this moment, the dishes Kingsley had ordered were served—braised eggplant, sautéed mushrooms, a shrimp cocktail, a green salad, and a bowl of chicken soup. As he ate dinner while listening in on the ongoing drama at the adjacent table, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The life of college students is really interesting, huh…
Soon after that, the dishes ordered by Calvin and his men were served as well. After drinking a bit of alcohol, he began to assume an air of superiority and brag volubly about himself.
Getting impatient from listening to him, Elaine put down her fork and spoon, saying, "It's enough. I'm full, so I gotta go back to my dorm."
"Don't leave, Elaine!" Calvin grabbed her hand. He said with a smile, "Why leave so early? It's only been half an hour now, and there are a few dishes that haven't been served yet."
The other young men chimed in, "That's right, Elaine! You're eating like a bird. Come on and eat more!"
"There are more than three hours before the dorm is closed. It's so boring for you to go back so early, Elaine!"
"Haha! Who cares if the dorm's door is locked? I'll book a hotel suite for you and Calvin, Elaine!"
Elaine's face darkened more and more at their greasy words of harassment. "Get off me, Calvin! If you harass me again, I'll tell my dad about it!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: I am the ruler of all novel (Kingsley)