Jayden went straight to lecture just in time after getting prepared. He had second thoughts about reaching the café first, but he later decided to just head straight there and visit the café later.
Since it hadn't been a week yet, he figured it wasn't really necessary to disturb Melinda and let her manage the café. Just as the system had promised, the Amber Bloom flower would help a lot, and even though Jayden hadn't gotten any feedback from her, he was still relaxed and hopeful.
He entered the hall with his backpack slung on his right arm, drawing the attention of almost all faces. He noticed that the front row was already full, so he joined the back row, which was just two rows away from the end.
The back rows were always filled with talkative, gossiping students, and even the ones who would just spend their whole time scrolling Loopi till the end of the lecture.
Jayden was never part of these people, but he had no choice but to sit there since there was no other place.
Coincidentally, he noticed the chocolate-skinned beauty sitting next to him again, but she was actually the first to notice him.
"Hey," she greeted with a smile.
"Hey," Jayden accepted her handshake without hesitation.
"I never thanked you for the rose... It..."
"Don't mention it. Sweet beauties like yourself deserve more like it," Jayden smiled at her.
"Huh-huh... That's too sweet," she said.
"You can call me Sweet Guy then," Jayden replied with a sharp look, staring right into her eyes.
She couldn't help but let out a soft laugh as her cheeks flushed. It would be ridiculous to think that she wasn't enjoying his compliment.
"Paula," she introduced herself at once.
"Oh, of course, you know me. I'm Jayden," Jayden replied with full confidence that she already knew his name.
For sure, who wouldn't know his name after Royce and his friends had already castigated his father's name and what happened between him and his father... It was not a new thing as everyone in the faculty knew Jayden.
"Why don't you just give me your contact? I would love us to hang around somewhere else, you know...? Somewhere better than this heating hellhole," Paula said as she bit her lips.
Jayden hesitated and shrugged.
He wasn't expecting her to be the one to ask for his number, but she had reacted faster than he expected.
It wasn't as if he would decline anyway.
They ended up exchanging their contacts, and Paula was noticeably excited after that session.
In a short moment, Royce suddenly walked in when Jayden attempted to bring his book and pen out of his backpack.
"Yo, Jayden," Royce called, grinning intimidatingly as he approached. "Didn't think this seat was your type."
Jayden looked up slowly. "Why? You think you own the back row too?"
A couple of students nearby chuckled, including Paula.
Royce's eyes glinted sharply, but he shrugged and smirked, taking the seat three seats closer to him.
Richy and Luka sat closer to Jayden, but Sofia wasn't with them today.
Jayden didn't care.
After settling, Luka broke into a conversation.
"Man, last night's auction was mad. Word is someone bought a Rolex worth $1.1 million dollars and left without collecting it."
"Crazy, right?" Royce chimed in loudly, eyes sliding toward Jayden. "Must be nice to play rich in your dreams."
Jayden didn't flinch, and he knew they were clearly referring to him. He already knew that Royce was finding it hard to believe it since Luka told him.
"I wouldn't talk about dreams if I still depended on Daddy's car to feel important."
The students around them immediately turned. Soon, a long section of laughter rose.
Royce's eyes darkened as he gritted his teeth. "Says the guy whose father stole millions from a company that gave him a life to live, got jailed, and ended up getting killed by his own guilt."
The class murmured, a few gasps cutting through the silence.
Jayden looked up slowly, calm but sharp.
"My father was framed, and the truth would surely come out one day. But tell me, Royce, what's it like living in your father's shadow when he's still pulling strings from behind closed doors... stealing with clean hands?"
The silence cracked into scattered laughter.
Jayden smiled and added without flinching,
"You should worry less about my past and more about your future. Because I'm coming for both."
Royce's grin vanished. His jaw tightened.
He tried to stand and attack Jayden as he clenched his fist and teeth, but Luka quickly stood up and held him back.
"Save it for a nice spot," Luka muttered.
There, Jayden just sat and grinned his grief away, because this bastard made him remember his father's death again today. But he was relieved with the threat, and that wasn't only going to be a threat.
It was a promise.
It didn't take long before the professor walked in, and they had up to three lecture sessions.
While Jayden was preparing to leave, he overheard some girls who had gathered in one spot for a chat.
"I swear, that caramel brew at Monarch Café? Like... addictive!" one of them gushed, flipping her braids.
"My sister literally drove all the way from Midtown just to buy a cup this morning," another added, wide-eyed.
"Let's go now," the third said, already adjusting her crossbody bag. "They say the queue is mad, but it's worth it."
They giggled and quickened their pace, heading to the door as they left.
Jayden furrowed his brows, but he pretended like he didn't hear a word or, literally, like he didn't care.
But he was deeply stunned...
'The café is blooming already,' he said inwardly.
The next moment, another talk about the café sounded from the side, and this time it was Richy telling his friends.
"Yo, have you guys tried that Monarch Café yet?" Richy asked, pointing with his chin. "Bro... the coffee slaps. Like... properly. I've been there twice already today."
Luka raised a brow. "Isn't that the place people are saying got renovated overnight or something?"
"Exactly! It's already becoming a big shot in town. Some say the flavor hits different, like it has some kind of kick. Trust me, even the regular latte tastes like luxury." Richy grinned.
A smile crossed Jayden's lips, but he made sure to look away.
Royce scoffed slightly but glanced toward the girls headed there.
"Tch. Fine. Let's check it out. If nothing else, at least the view won't be bad," he muttered with a smirk.
The three of them left the hall even before Jayden, as Richy persuaded them to hurry up. It seemed like he couldn't wait any more minutes to get there.
Jayden couldn't help but chuckle...
If only they knew he was behind this...
But he had no issues with them. He decided to head back to his apartment and not branch to the café anymore because he knew he would be addressed formally if he went there.
For the meantime, he didn't want anyone to know he was the owner of Monarch Café.
---
The crowd outside Monarch Café was thick like a concert scene... Students, lecturers, and even a few well-dressed workers from nearby offices lounged around, sipping coffee like it was the secret to happiness.
On a bench not far from the door, Royce, Richy, and Luka each held a steaming cup from the café. The moment Royce took his first sip, his eyes widened.
"Yo... What the hell is this sorcery?" he blinked, staring into the cup like it held secrets.
Richy burst out laughing. "Didn't I tell you? That's their signature roast. Hits like a punch from heaven."
Luka took another sip and leaned back. "I feel like I'm drinking confidence. Like I could walk into my exam hall and write answers I've never studied for."
Royce sipped again and let out a slow, involuntary sigh. "Nah… This is too good. Who made this thing? I need more." He started glancing around as if another cup would fall from the sky. "I swear, I'll marry whoever made this coffee. No cap."
Richy smirked. "You? Marry a barista?"
Royce shrugged. "With this kind of magic in a cup? I'll propose with my ATM card."
As they joked, the crowd around them buzzed with conversations. Some were laughing, some were taking pictures, and a group of girls nearby were already ordering their second cups.
Then, a voice from the bench behind them spoke up casually.
"You know the real shocker? I heard the new owner of this place is that Jayden guy. The one that's been trending since the auction drama."
Royce, mid-sip, choked at once. He coughed and suddenly spat the coffee in a full spray, missing Luka's face by inches.
"WHAT?!" he barked.
Luka dodged, glaring. "Bro! Watch it! This shirt is limited edition!"
Royce stood up immediately, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "This thing's bitter as hell anyway! What nonsense are they putting in people's mouths?"
Richy nearly fell off the bench laughing. "But you just said you'd marry the barista!"
Royce scowled. "That was before I knew Jayden might be involved. Please, pass me water. I need to rinse my tongue."