Maybe This Time

Chapter 9

-Bernadette’s  Time-

My golly, why does time fly so fast these days? It seems like it was only yesterday when I was appointed with the rest of my group mates to enter the Cooking Challenge. Now, here we are, getting ready since the competition will start in an hour. The Cooking Challenge, Table Arrangement Contest, and the Dance Exercise Battle fall on the first day of the festivities. I’m not a newbie when it comes to cooking but I can’t seem to calm my nerves. What’s worse, I was appointed to be the head chef. Go figure.

“Hey Sam, I’ll just get some fresh air.”

“Come back soon, Ana!”

I hurried off to buy a bottle of water and decided to take a breather at the garden. I’m the only one there, since the entire high school body is at the gym now for the Cooking Challenge while the elementary students and teachers are at the open court for the Veggie Games… their own little version of the Olympics - only with veggies.

I sat down at my favourite spot. It’s just one of the benches but surrounded with different trees and far from the other ones so it kinda makes one feel secluded - just what I need. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, forgetting the world. I clasped my hands and prayed.

 “Lord, please help me and all of us win this competition. This is our last year in Aceltoria, and so we would like to make a lot of happy and triumphant memories together. I lift everything up to You.”

Even if I was done praying, I still closed my eyes. When I decided to open them…

“Hello Bernadette!”

“AAAHH!” I jumped in surprised. The culprit was laughing his head off. I slapped his arm and he just laughed even harder.

“Man, your look was priceless! I wish I had a camera with me.”

“You jerk! You almost gave me a heart attack, Caleb!”

“S-Sorry,” he smiled a bit with a look of apology on his face. “I didn’t see you at the gym, so I came looking for you.”

“I was just taking a short break,” I answered. “Is the program starting already?”

“Nope. I just think that the trump card of the cooking team should be already at the area and getting ready.” He offered his hand. “So, let’s go?”

I took it and he pulled me to my feet. “Let’s get cooking!” I smiled at him and he gave me a thumbs-up sign,

“That’s the spirit! Make sure that the judges will forget their names when they taste your cooking. I tell you, you’re gonna win this,” he assured.

“I sure hope so!”

We went back to the gym. I proceeded to go to my team while Caleb went to sit with his friends. My group mates are seated at the side, and pretty soon the contest proper began.