Chương 7: Am I In?

Michael's attempt at a joke was met with disapproval by James, causing his throat to tighten the moment James asked him a crucial question regarding the joke that he had bet on to make him laugh.

"N-No sir! My apologies! I haven't manifested my powers yet; I'm not eighteen yet," Michael quickly scrambled to climb out of the hole he had dug himself.

"I see. I like taking on new talents, and the fact that you haven't manifested yet is a bonus for me. Hopefully, you'll develop a power of fundamental importance," James replied, sounding as if he had already decided to give Michael the opportunity.

Feeling a mix of hope and trepidation, Michael hesitantly asked the man with the clipboard, "A-Am I in?"

"You're in, but you will be expelled if you manifest an ability as ridiculous as your earlier joke," James stated bluntly. Despite the warning, Michael felt a surge of relief - he had managed to ace the audition.

"Thank you, sir!" Michael said, gratefully bowing his head.

"Please, call me James," James said with a warm smile. He wanted to establish a sense of familiarity with Michael, intrigued by the potential hidden gem he might be and eager to be on his good side.

"Where can I leave?" Michael asked, his eyes scanning the room. James pointed toward the door, which was cleverly painted to blend with the wall, making it hard to distinguish.

Following James' direction, Michael walked out of the room, still trying to wrap his head around what had just transpired. The rush of emotions made him want to scream and jubilate in excitement, but he was yet to process everything, especially as Elizabeth ambushed him right outside.

"That look on your face tells me you got in too! We should celebrate!" Elizabeth shouted enthusiastically, her voice almost turning Michael deaf. However, his excitement was too overwhelming to be dampened by the sudden ambush, and he couldn't help but join in the joyous mood.

"I got in! We should celebrate; what do you have in mind!?" Michael asked, his excitement palpable. The concept of fun was still relatively unfamiliar to him, and he was genuinely curious to see what brought joy to Elizabeth's life.

"How about we go out to eat!? Bills on me," Elizabeth suggested playfully, giving Michael a wink. The mere thought of a proper meal made his mouth water, and he couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed one. There was no reason to turn down such a generous offer in the name of fun, but he also didn't want to appear overly eager.

"That sounds like a plan; where do you have in mind?" Michael asked, trying to mask the underlying desperation in his tone. He did his best to keep it subtle, hoping Elizabeth wouldn't pick up on it.

"I was thinking of the restaurant that just opened uptown; it's expensive, but I have rich girl privileges," Elizabeth teased, and Michael smiled awkwardly. While he didn't care about any of the wealth disparity, he simply wanted to enjoy a good meal and would put up with anything to satiate his appetite.

Elizabeth had a private driver, and the most expensive car Michael had ever seen pulled up before them. The driver stepped out, ready to open the door for Elizabeth, but she insisted that Michael go in first. He thanked the driver, but he couldn't help but notice the familiar look in the driver's eyes - a look of disdain he had often received from his own father. It almost triggered a reflex action from Michael, but before he could react, Elizabeth's gentle voice cut through the air, calming him.

"Are you okay, Michael? You froze for a second there," she asked, and Michael nodded, assuring her that he was alright arriving at their location, right before entering the fancy restaurant, with Elizabeth following suit.

"I'm so excited! I have a secret; you're my first male friend!" Elizabeth said, once again using a label Michael hadn't quite approved of, but he was too preoccupied with admiring the clean streets and impressive structures around him to dwell on it.

The world he now found himself in was entirely different from the one he had grown to know. The people seemed genuinely happier, and the streets were surprisingly pristine. However, this innocent curiosity soon gave way to a sense of loathing, and his eyes took on an angry glint as he silently cursed them.

Within a few minutes, Michael found himself inside the restaurant, and the mouthwatering aroma that enveloped him made his stomach rumble, almost feeling like a mini earthquake.

The menu offered a plethora of unfamiliar dishes, leaving Michael intrigued by the array of choices. He let Elizabeth take the lead in ordering, as she seemed well-acquainted with the restaurant, evidenced by the familiarity with which the waiters and waitresses addressed her.

"Here's your Fleurburger, Miss Elizabeth," the waiter announced, placing the dish before them. Michael couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight before him—it looked like an ordinary burger. He wondered if Elizabeth was playing a prank on him.

As the waiter launched into an elaborate description of the burger's contents, Michael's bewilderment grew.

"This burger consists of Wagyu beef and is topped with foie gras and truffles. It also comes with a few slabs of prime foie gras and duck fat in a freshly baked brioche bun. The burger is served with a bottle of 1995 Petrus," the waiter explained, trying to add a touch of grandeur to the seemingly ordinary dish.

"So... It is just a burger?" Michael responded, his confusion clear. Despite the waiter's attempt to provide an extravagant description, all Michael saw was a neatly prepared burger before him.

"That burger costs $5,500," Elizabeth said with a poker face, leaving Michael gasping like a dramatic maiden from the '70s as he tried to process what he had just heard.

Michael immediately scanned through the menu, and there it was; the menu confirmed the jaw-dropping price tag, piquing his curiosity about how such an expensive burger could possibly taste.

"Go ahead, try it!" Elizabeth encouraged, and without hesitation, Michael took a bite. However, the moment the flavors exploded in his mouth, he jumped up from his seat, accidentally dropping the burger back onto the plate. Tears welled up in his eyes due to the overwhelming experience.

Startled by his sudden outburst, everyone around them turned their attention to see what the commotion was all about.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SORCERY!?" Michael shouted, unable to contain his astonishment. Elizabeth couldn't hide her excitement and matched his energy by jumping up as well.

"IT IS THE SORCERY OF GOOD TASTE!" Elizabeth exclaimed with unabashed enthusiasm, paying no mind to the curious glances from those around them. All that mattered to her was that Michael loved her recommendation, and witnessing his elated reaction was everything she could have hoped for.