Dreams & Fate

Years After

Five years after our graduation, five years after that dumb confession, I'm living the life of an exhausted goal-achieving, working-class heroine. I am now the head Patisserie of The Bakery from a world-class six-star hotel. I am living the life of every woman wants.

I got my dream job. I have my own condominium unit just a 20-minute drive from my workplace. I also own car, a Hyundai i30. And my family is well-supported by my wage.

But life is not so perfect after all. Remember the guy I loved throughout college? Yes. John Andrews. Five years has now passed, but he never left my heart. His confession, the confession that until now I wished ended for us to be together, still lingers. After graduation, I've never heard from him. All contacts  had been cut. I deleted his friends from my facebook friends. I avoided the places where I might see him. I never tried to find him again. I was so hurt and disappointed that the one chance that my dream could come true shattered the moment he confessed his love for me.

Ironic, isn't it? Because when someone we love tells us they love us too, that always ended with a kiss or hug or both. And the two of you would be together. But not for us. We separated ways and accepted what life has given us. I accepted that maybe we weren't really meant to be together. That fate designed us to be with someone else. Acceptance is what kept me going for five years.

I am still with James, my long-time boyfriend and also my bestfriend. And I guess, he is too. And what happened next confirmed my thoughts.

As I was out supervising The Bakery and attending to customers if they are satisfied with our services, the main door suddenly opened. Two people, a couple in fact, entered The Bakery's premises. One of our staffs approached the two and they talked for a bit. The staff led them in a table for four and left, heading towards me. Cherrie, my assistant pastry chef, approached me. 

"One moment, Chef." She asked me.

"Is it about the customers?"

"Yes."

"We better go in my office and discuss this."

"Okay, Chef." We turned to leave, headed to my office. I sat down my chair as Cherrie closes the door.

"Sit down, Cherrie."

"Chef, I know you don't like dealing directly to customers, but... this one. They insisted to talk directly to you about their business. I guess it's a big thing, right?" She said nervously, knowing that I might get pissed off. At this time of year, the kitchen is really busy. Valentines is nearing, and cakes and sweets will be trending again. Christmas and New Year had just been gone and now the season for lovers is coming. Work is just gonna be so tough. Handling requests from customers and guests will only add too much problems. 

"Cherrie, you do realize that I have a hundred menu to work on right? We can't sell the same cake everyday. I think we have the manager for this, right? You, of all people, know that we handle FOOD, not PEOPLE, RIGHT?" Cherrie trembled in front of me even though I sounded as calm as I could. "I really do think we need Knigh for this."

"Sorry, Chef. I'll talk to him." A knock came over as she started for the door. Mr. Knigh, the manager, came in.

"Jari, we have clients asking for you. Stop," he raised his hand to stop me from interrupting him, "I know what you're going to say. The woman wants you. She's rich and I don't want you to take down this offer. Settle this, dear. I'm counting on you."

"Guess I don't have a choice. Let them in."

Cherrie and Mr. Knigh left. Come on, I have so much work to do! A minute or two after, someone knocked on the door. I gently shouted for them to come in. Oh, the couple must be really rich to be this insisting. Or maybe the woman's just spoiled by her dumb husband.

When the door opened, all I could think of was: This can't be happening.

John Andrews and Mitch Aldrin.

***

John's POV

"Hey babe. Look at this magazine I got from the news stand. It features high-end restaurants and bakeries that look real good. Yeah, real goooood." As mitch sat down the sofa. "I think I want one of these to cater our wedding."

Five years out of college and I'm marrying the girl I've been with since highschool. But still, five years has already gone by, I can't still forget the fluffy-haired woman. Jari. I'm thinking, what if I broke up with Mitch back then, and I asked Jari to be with me. What would happen? Would she leave James for me? But the John Andrews back in college was an idiot, afraid and doesn't have a conviction.

"Babe, are you listening to me?" Mitch whined childishly.

"Yeah. So did you pick a cake already?"

"It doesn't sell cakes. It features bakeries and restaurant."

"I know, just messing with you. So? What now?"

"Well, there is something... Or rather, someone." She looked at me with her pleading, childish eyes. "She's a chef from The Bakery. Know that? I know you do. And she's pretty famous. And look at her works! Really incredible." She showed me the magazine and I looked at it with faked interest.

"If that's what you want, then it's okay. Who is she anyway?"

"Chef Jari Cooper."

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This Chapter has been updated. Unfortunately, wattpad had done something really terrible and deleted half of this chapter and.... I don't have a back up.

So I wrote all over again. And obviously, changes are made. Sorry! :'(