A Tale of Love & Blood

Chapter 2: The offer

It took quite some tissues for Kevin to clean up the mess. Amber's father kept handing to him more and more tissues from the tissue box and apologised for his daughter's behaviour, throughout the apology having a hidden, amused smile on his face.

"I'm so sorry once again." The old man said. "She just can't handle criticism and her temper is short... These are not excuses! I'm just explaining..."

"That's okay," Kevin finished cleaning his hair and then set them again. "And that's enough tissue I think."

"Oh that's so kind of you, boy. Nowadays people are so intolerant." Amber's father said, keeping aside the tissue box.

Kevin uninterestingly nodded and looked at his laptop. It was hopefully functioning alright. He opened the Internet and started doing his stuff. "I'm just relieved my laptop is alright, to be honest."

"Oh, yes yes. Lucky you. And your order is on the way, please be patient." He assured. "Mind if I take a seat?"

"Not at all." He answered, absorbed in his laptop.

"Alright," Amber's father sat down and took off his apron.

"And uhh, about the order," Kevin took his eyes off his laptop and looked at the man. "She won't be bringing that muffin again, will she?"

"You don't need to worry! Humph! I only brought what you asked for this time! My precious million dollar muffin is not for you!" Amber's shouted from behind.

Kevin rolled his eyes and thought to himself, "Oh, thank Lord... But how is that million dollar?... I won't even pay a piece of copper for that..."

Amber marched into view and put down the tray with a slam. "Here is your order! Hmph!" She blew her cheeks.

"Behave yourself Amber! Your behaviour is going to cost us this cafe some day!" Her father shouted.

"Ugh! Fine!" She folded her hands over her chest, face red with anger.

"Now properly apologise to him! He is kind to tolerate such a big — big —" Her father couldn't find the word.

"Insult. Disrespect. Mini-assault. Property damage." Kevin suggested as he smacked the keys of his keyboard, busy searching for something in the Internet.

"Fine!" She shouted at his face and took a deep breath. "I'm..." she opened her mouth and the words jammed in her mouth.

Kevin stopped and looked up at her. She seemed cute in her state of anger.

"Sor... I'm sor..." she closed her eyes and frowned. "I'm sor... I'm... suu..rii..?" Her voice was a whisper.

Clearly, she didn't want to apologise or didn't know how to swallow her pride and say sorry. Either way, Kevin didn't show it, but he was amused by her behaviour. He almost smiled on the inside at her cuteness.

"Thank you." He returned to his laptop.

Amber sighed and took a seat beside her father. He could feel the awkward vibe in the air, and he knew she was looking away from him.

"I'm sorry, by the way." He apologised, not taking his eyes of his laptop as he swiped and tapped on the mouse pad.

"Huh?" Amber was surprised, and in his peripheral view he could see her body tension loosen up.

"I didnt mean to offend you. It just — maybe just preference. I'm sorry."

"Huhhhh???" Amber breathed deeply in that big huh. And then she leaned forward and waved her hands at him. "No no! It's fine! It was...my..." her words became feeble again in tone. "Fau... fult..." then her tone went up again. "So please don't apologise! Even though I really appreciate it!" She added and then sat back beside her father who was chuckling at her overreaction.