Torned Pages

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10: GOING HOME?

AXEL

Seeing her slowly walking away from us makes me feel like what we did wasn't enough to make her happy. I became a little sad because me and the children specially the little boys really wanted to make her feel happy but I guess our efforts that we put in our plan really doesn't quite work. They actually planned the wedding, I just added a itsy little bit idea in their plan. I suggested a fake priest should play in our fake marriage and added that Mr.Manuel would play a good priest, I really wanna make fun of him because he always tease me about anything. My face, my body and even about me being around with girls. And it's gonna be a payback time. But he's happy about being a fake priest he absolutely loves wedding. Maybe wedding reminds him of his wife. And it made me feel happy that I made him feel happy, I hope I could do the same to Hannah.

I smiled bitterly and lowered my head and made my way to follow the kids. I saw them getting ready to bake. All wore their aprons hair nets and plastic gloves to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen. I got excited and ran to them and quickly washed my hands, wore my apron hairnet and gloves. I didn't even bother to change clothes. Finally we started baking. I've been baking since I was a child since I grew up here, the sisters always teach children to bake which becomes my hobby here in the orphanage. I also already experimented different kind of recipes for cakes cupcakes and cookies.   I want to make my own recipe today, and will make Hannah taste it. That would make her happy because everytime I bake my specialty I offer it to many sad children and they always smile after taking a bite. I call it the 'Happy Cookie'.

I started by preheating the oven in 350° and began to mix egg, strawberry juice, oil, milk vanilla and sugar in a large bowl. Then I added flour baking and baking powder then mix it until it has a consistency of a cookie dough. Then added chopped strawberries and chocolate chips into it and folded it. I drooled over its smell. Can't wait till this cookies are done. Then rolled it in a size of a golf ball and placed it in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to avoid the cookies sticking to the baking sheet. Then I put it in the oven and waited for 12 minutes.

While waiting I wondered where she may be. I want to go to her but the cookies are still not done. So I just watched the little children making their own cupcake. I got so bored. I'm about to go to Hannah when the oven rang. So I went back to the kitchen and prepared a plate for the cookies and took the freshlybaked cookies out of the oven. Everyone in the room looked at me because this happy cookie is really smelling good. Everyone shouted with a big smile on their face, "HAPPY COOKIE".

I smiled at them and shook my head.
" These are for her. She needs a happy cookie. " The kids looked down looking sad so I got sad too. " I'll give you some leftovers later." Then I saw them smile their sweetest smile again.

I finally walked away the kitchen with the plate of cookies in my right hand and a strwberry milk in my left hand and looked for her everywhere, I thought she already left cause I'm having a hard tim finding her but luckily I heard sobs. And finally found her in the playground swinging alone while crying. She's in her white tank top so i got worried because its really freezing today. Fall is coming. So I quickly walked towards her and placed the cookies in her lap and the milk in the ground. I took of my coat and placed it to her shoulders and I rubbed her arm to warm her up.

She looked at me with a confused look on the cookies. I sat at the swing beside her and looked at her.

" I baked that. That's my best recipe. Take bite." I said and smiled.

She looked at me and took one cookied and had a bite out of it. I had my fingers crossed wishing she would smile after her  very first bite. I stared at her while she was chewing the that's it. I saw her smile. I smiled too.

" How was it? " I asked while I can't take off my smile.

" So good. It makes me smile. What do you call this recipe? " She asked smiling too.

"Happy Cookie." I happily said.

" Truly is a happy cookie." She happily agreed and ate some more. I watched her eat so joyfully. And i started telling her the story of that cookie.

" I always bake that cookie and give it to sad children and everytime they bite into it they smile, so I baked it cause I thought it may work for you too, and luckily it did."

She never erased her smile even while drinking the strawberry milk. She only ate 4 so there's many left for the kids. I stood up and asked for her hand and carefully assisted her in standing up. And left the playground. We walked toward the kitchen and gave the children the leftovers of the Happy Cookie and I can totall see their joy while eating it. I looked at her while she was looking at the kids. I gotta admit she was the most beautiful disaster I had ever seen. A beauty ruined by sadness. She looked at me too. So to play it cool I asked her, " Wanna go home ? "

" This is home." she replied .

" But your parents may look for you." I said really concerned.

" You mean, wanna go away from home ? " she said and laughed.

I chuckled too.

"Just kidding. Let's go " She said and finally said our goodbyes to the two sisters and gave goodbye hugs to the little children and also to Mr. Manuel.

And we finally left home.