#Chapter 112: The Teacher and the Student

Abby I walk into my restaurant the next morning, the scent of fresh coffee and baked bread filling the air. The morning sun casts long beams of light through the windows, but the atmosphere inside feels oddly electric, tense yet filled with a strange and unexpected kind of exhilaration. It’s the day after last night’s events, and I’m running on a blend of excitement and worry, my thoughts a toss-up between optimism and that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. Did I make a mistake with Anton? Was it all an elaborate con for free food and a hotel room, or perhaps even a bizarre dream? Most importantly, what if he never actually shows? As I head toward the kitchen, though, it quickly becomes apparent that something is off. My staff are gathered around the kitchen door, oohing, aahing, and giggling at something going on inside. “Ethan, what’s going on?” I ask as I see my restaurant manager limping his way towards me, his face a mixture of concern and bewilderment. “