"Sigh," Kenneth frowned and sat down back again, "Fine."
The menu wasn't the problem, it was him all along. He kept spacing out even at these times. Before, he had sometimes felt kind of jealous of those families who had a great time with one another. He was sure that he could never ever do the same things as they did because of his unluckiness and misfortune— no, it was because of his father. He had been thinking he was the threat all along. He kept all of those things— forcing, taking away his son's confidence, and growing a stoic son— he did to Kenneth in secret from his mother to help himself be covered up even more. But right now felt different. This was the first time he had been with people for so long. Maybe thanks to Travis? He felt at least glad, there's a part in his heart that he wasn't, and he's so calm right now without worrying about his upcoming contest, his science study time, and his father. His head was free from everything. He couldn't believe that taking himself to a restaurant would just make him be grateful for Travis. At least he felt at ease even if it's for just this moment.
Right after ordering, the staff instantly went ahead to have their meals prepared. But upon their waiting, they talked to each other first.
"So what's the reason why we're here with you?" Samantha crossed her arms and leaned against her chair, "You want something from us, correct?"
"Yes, all I want is for us to get closer to one another." Travis reasonably replied, "I know after school, both of you just went to clubs to party without eating dinner. That's bad for your health, girls." After stating that, Emily and Samantha were too stunned to speak beneath their souls. How the heck did he know that? "And you too, Kenneth." Kenneth glanced at him, "I know you're an intelligent student, but after the class dismissal, you directly went to your house to study and do your best for the contest."
"Contest?!" Emily unintentionally screamed out of the blue as she was appalled. The restaurant staff reacted to her yell, all looking at her with concerned faces. And then when Emily realized, she shut her mouth off by covering it with both her hands.
Kenneth had become all red and then deeply thought, "How the heck did he know that?" He had gone flattered, clenching his fists, after knowing someone already knew he had an upcoming competition. He felt embarrassed and appreciated at the same time knowing someone had known what he had been up to.
"You're participating in a contest?" Samantha asked, calmly.
"But... what kind of contest is that?" Emily had now lowered her voice.
With all their reactions as if he were being overpraised, Kenneth couldn't hold it in but to show how flushed he had become. "W-What the fuck, Travis?" Emily and Samantha almost laughed at how he had pronounced "Travis" at the end as if he were a girl with a cute voice. "H-How did you know? No one knows about this except for my family!"
Samantha and Emily couldn't help but laugh. But later while, Samantha stopped laughing after realizing there would be trouble if ever she had to laugh or be optimistic at least. And so, she kept her straight face upon watching Kenneth yelling over and over to Travis, and Emily kept on snorting as she was observing him.
"Oh, sorry. My bad. You registered for biochemistry, economics, and philosophy, right?" Travis almost burst out laughing as well but just held it in, "My nephew registered for social science and ethics. Do you remember the guy who once visited our class days ago? The one who brought bags? Yes, him. That's why I knew you are participating too because I saw your name on the lists of participants."
"Wow." Without any expression or any excitement in her voice, Samantha resumed, "that's a hectic subject, I guess."
Emily nodded repeatedly after what Samantha had said. The two had no idea that Kenneth had been into this, competing or participating in contests, since they all have known him as a timid and smart yet strict person who always read mystery books in class. Now that they learned a new thing from him, they couldn't help but just act like it was nothing. It's a very likable scenario for him though.
"Yes, actually," Travis praised Kenneth even more. And he couldn't help but feel his face burning up in the heat. "And the fact that you chose three categories... Just, wow. I'm so proud of you, Kenneth. You're really my student."
On his seat, Kenneth couldn't help but feel his heart beating so fast, and so he thought, "W-What the— why is my heart beating so fast with just a single compliment? Don't ruin your appearance, Kenneth!" He had debated with himself, "Don't let mere compliments get into you!" It was just a simple compliment but Kenneth felt so overly appreciated. These kinds of commendations were what he had been seeking to hear so far. It may be true that his older brother would always compliment, and help him, but he just finds him not worthy to blurt out praising words. And Kenneth himself had thought that he doesn't deserve the things and praises he had received from Kent since he couldn't help but see him as a pathetic and disgusting person.
"Aren't you proud, too, girls?" Travis asked them both.
"Proud? Nah!" Samantha had just rolled her eyes. "But good luck, bro."
And of course, Kenneth didn't think of that as a compliment coming from her heart. Knowing Samantha, she would never praise anyone other than the ones close to her, which were the girls in the class. But he did count that as her effort upon saying that little heartless thing.
"Oh! I also know a bunch of reliable companies looking for a model." Travis grabbed out the two magazines related to a beauty company and placed them at the table, "Will the two of you like it if you would check them out?"
"What? Really?" Samantha got hooked up and instantly grabbed the one magazine to open it and share it with Emily.
"Wow! It's true! This one is the famous company that I told you about before," Emily pointed out the company displayed on the recent page of the magazine.
"Oh! And this one! Look, Emily!" Samantha appeared so excited, "This is the company where my favorite fashion designer is working!"
After growing confidence in herself from those hateful comments and words about her black beauty and her being a "half-African", Samantha apparently became interested in becoming a runway model to show off that even a person who'd have "black beauty" could get a chance to walk in the runway like a free tiger.
As for Emily, she wanted to become an actress and a singer and be known to the world. Despite the bashful remarks and statements about her being a "fat-ugly", she knew how to sing very well. And that's her talent too, as well as in acting. Although she hadn't grown up confident with herself yet, she might have achieved it if someone would help her like Samantha, and then she would pursue it for herself by then.