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Chapter 18 - Cake and Conversation (Part 1)

This is the first time I am doing a cake again. Since I've tried cupcakes I thought there would only be a little science to add up in doing cakes but boy I was wrong. I think it was how I beat the cake batter that is why it was so airy and I have to repeat again the whole process the second time. My house smelled like bread and chocolates since I am baking a chocolate cake and I am yet to do the frosting.

The oven sounded a familiar ding. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago pumunta sa oven. I also said a little prayer. That was so out of my character but then I needed all the help that I can have. Pagbukas ko ng oven ko ay may lumabas na usok. My eyes widened in realization. Hindi ko binabaan ang temperature. At matapos mawala lahat ng usok naiwan ang half burnt cake. Another take again.

It was almost one when the my third cake came out. I didn't have my hopes high. I opened the oven for the nth time and was expecting for it to be a complete mess but I was welcomed by the perfect smell of baked cake and chocolate.

"Ouch!" Due to excitement ay nahawakan ko ng walang heat protection ang lagayan ng cake. Oh my goodness my fingers were burned! Kaagad akong nagpuntang sink at pinadaluyan ito ng tubig. "Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!" I cussed. Ang tanga lang Belle! Ang tanga lang!

It took a while before I stopped the water flowing. Dagdag bayad na naman iyon kapag nasayang. I took out the cake safely afterwards and let it cooled down in the counter.

I woke at four in the morning to do the dark chocolate frosting and the decoration. Kahit papaano with my aching fingers ay naiayos ko naman at napantay ang frosting. I arranged the coffee flavored chocolates and dark chocolate sa isang side. The hardest part was putting the words 'Happy Bday Eki!' Though with scorched fingers I still managed to do it though not perfectly but acceptable.

It was already five thirty when I finished. I quickly took a bath and dressed up. Magtataxi na ako. As much as I wanted to use his car at work but I know the tsismosas in the office are very vigilant. Ginagamit ko lang talaga ang kotse niya kapag may deliveries. At since may extra money ako from orders kaya okay lang magtaxi ngayon. Hindi naman kasi ako makakasakay sa bus ng may ganitong bitbit. Siguradong punuan at baka hindi na mukhang edible ang cake pagnagkataon.

I reached the office very early as I planned at kaagad nagpunta ako sa office ni Eki. Ayoko kasing may makakita na ilalagay ito. So I entered his office that is usually not locked and put the boxed cake on his table. Napangiti naman ako. The operation was a success!

...

It was already five in the afternoon and I was arranging my things to go home. Wala akong balita na nakabalik na si Eki. I even asked one of the tsismosas and she said that he is not back yet. Alam din ng mga tao sa office na birthday niya ngayon and all of them gave him gifts. Marami rin mga clients na nagbigay sa kanya ng cakes and a lot of things and it was delivered also to his office but he was not there.

I threw my phone on my bed. No, I won't call him again. The last time that I called him I already begged him to come back but he still didn't. Naisip ko nga na itataon niya sa birthday niya since it was two weeks away from the time that I called but he didn't come back. Tapos sinabi niya pa na kapag nastress siya tatawagan niya ako to relieve his stress but I didn't receive any call from him or even a message.

Ah oo nga pala! Nalimutan ko ito pala ang rason bakit ako nagalit sa kanya dati. He didn't even call or message to us. At mukhang ngayon inuulit na naman niya. Bwisit siya! Bwisit!  I shouldn't baked him a cake. Hindi sana ako nagpakahirap ibake iyon at tustahin pa ang mga daliri ko. Eki!!! I hate you!

...

"Belle sa pantry tayo. May pamerienda si Sir Heze." Napatingin ako sa isa sa mga tao sa team ni Faye.