Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Eight university students stared at cake as if world peace depended on the result.
"Ready?"
"No."
"Me neither."
"Okay now?"
"Still no."
Finally Oliver counted.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
Everyone took a bite.
Silence.
Then confusion.
Then realization.
Blue.
Every single piece.
Blue sponge.
Blue filling.
Blue cream.
Porter looked at his cake.
Then Chloe's.
Then Sam's.
Then Alankrita.
"It's a boy?"
The question escaped almost in unison.
Alankrita looked down at her stomach and smiled.
A smile so soft and happy that nobody would ever forget it.
"Yes."
Her eyes sparkled.
"It's a boy."
For one second the courtyard remained silent.
Then it exploded.
"A BOY?"
"BABY PUMPKIN IS A BOY?"
"OH MY GOD."
Sam nearly knocked over his coffee.
Chloe hugged her immediately.
Mei Lin joined.
Elara followed.
Oliver awkwardly stood there wondering if boys were allowed to participate in group hugs.
Porter solved the problem by hugging Oliver too.
The celebration became chaos.
Wonderful chaos.