Red Apples

Red Apples

        Catharina twisted her face upon chewing on the purple grapes. Not that she hated the fruit; it’s just that the juicy flavor of the grapes was so different from what she actually craved for – apples. Specifically, the red ones, not green or any other color. However, when she searched the fridge for some apples, the snack only available was grapes. How she wished her mom would rush from the grocery.

        For now, she thought, she would bear with the taste. Only a few minutes more, her mom would come back with a fresh batch of juicy red apples. She sat cross-legged on the couch and watched some television while shoving each grape into her mouth. Beside her, Cara, her pooch slept comfortably.

        Ding!

        The sound of the doorbell snapped Catharina from her reveries. After setting the bowl of fruit beside her, she sprang from the couch and rushed to the door. “Apples, apples, apples, my love,” She chanted in her head.

        When she opened the door, to her great surprise, her mom was nowhere to be found. In fact, nothing was there. Catharina scowled in annoyance. The kids at front were probably playing tricks on her again. She often imagined herself scolding those little devils up until she’s wrinkly old.

        She heard Cara bark beside her. The loud doorbell in the quiet house must have woken her up. The dog bounded happily on her feet. It was definitely ironic for Catharina to own a dog, considering her nickname was Cat. “Down, girl.” She commanded Cara. But has her eyes cast down on her pet, she also noticed the box sitting in front of her. How could I have not seen that before?

        Cat picked up the box, closed the door and studied it. It was gift wrapped in a pink wrapper with white polka dots. Tied around it was a pink ribbon. A bit heavy, she thought.

        She wondered what could be inside it. Her first thought was that it was yet again another prank from her obnoxious schoolmates. She ran through the chances and considered another options. If she found another gift inside, then it would be the second time around – the second time the anon (or her so called secret admirer) sent her a present. There’s only one way to find out, then.

        Cat opened the box, and there, revealed in its glory are apples. They’re not just apples, but caramel apples. The apples Cara got her name from. Wooden sticks perched on top of the handles as handles.

        She noticed the paper stuck on the lid of the box:

        Dear Cat,

        I heard you like apples – caramel coated ones, especially. You even named your pet after them. Enjoy, my sweet.

                                             -Anon, your secret admirer

        Whoever that person was, he was good. The note was typed and printed so that no handwriting could be recognized. Cat remembered the first gift he sent her. It was enclosed in a box wrapped in glossy red paper with a ribbon tied to it, too. It contained chocolates, delicious ones.

        She stared warily at the caramel apples. They were so tempting. Licking her lips, she picked up one and stared at it. At first she didn’t believe anyone would possibly be her secret admirer but she just decided to benefit from the gifts he sent her. If he really wanted to be with her, then he would try harder and actually speak to her, right?

        Cara barked again.

        Screw that secret admirer, whoever he is, she decided, I still love my apples. She took a testing lick on the caramel and made sure that the apple she would bite on is not an onion in disguise. The pranks were clever nowadays.