Delight (Happiness Book 1)

Chapter 2

Serena, 18 years old.

"Anak, are you sure you don't want a debutante party? You only turn 18 once." Mama asked as she kept busy preparing dinner while Serena was studying on the kitchen island.

Big gowns, eighteen candles, eighteen roses, and all other traditional things Filipino girls did for their 18th birthday. She already thought about this and she concluded that a big lavish party would be a waste because who on earth would she invite to her celebration? She only had two friends.

"No, Ma. I'm 100% certain," she assured her Mama. "Besides my friends and I already made plans, remember?"

Serena, Joy and Nat have opted not to have debutante parties. Instead they planned to use the funds that were meant for their bashes to instead go on a backpacking trip all over the Visayas before they all go to college.

It was Nat's idea. Serena thought at first she was going nuts but as all their 18th birthdays neared and the three of them were brainstorming for ideas on what they would do when they reached their legal ages, the idea made sense. One night of lavish celebration vs. weeks of adventure? All three of them picked the adventure.

When Serena pitched the idea to her parents, her Mama intimated she wanted to tag along but Serena pointed out that the trip was meant as their coming of age celebration. For 18-year-olds only. Her parents said yes but she knew her Mama still wasn't all for the idea. She kept waiting for Serena to change her mind.

"I know, Anak. But feel free to change your mind," her Mama encouraged.

"Ma, Joy and Nat and I are already making plans," Serena reasoned.

"I was afraid of that." Her Mama sighed. She pressed on, however, seemingly unwilling to drop the subject. "Is there anything else you want? More books? A new phone? What do girls your age buy nowadays?"

At that moment Serena wanted to be honest with her Mama. There was something that she wanted, and she wanted it bad. Yet, she kept it from parents.

Her secret: She desperately wanted to attend Culinary School. But she feared her parents wouldn't let her go because they had this expectation that she would become an Accountant or take up Finance since she's a wiz in math. Or become a doctor just like Joy.

The thing was, Serena didn't want to be all that. She wanted to be a baker, a panadero to be exact. In fact, she could not remember a time she didn't want to be a baker. But her parents still thought she'd follow Joy wherever she went. They still got told that they were like conjoined twins who were unable to do anything without the other.

Serena looked at her school books she was studying but all she could think about was how nice it would be if she were reading recipes instead or learning more about food.

She really wanted to tell her Mama but Serena felt a familiar rumbling in her stomach, caused by anxiety that her Mama mistook for hunger.

"Set the table, Anak." Her Mama smiled and added proudly. "Our future doctor needs sustenance."

Serena felt her chest constrict as she decided not to speak about culinary school just yet.

She started clearing her things and went to set the table. As she did, her Mama, who still wasn't over the fact that she didn't want to celebrate with a party, called out after her. "You and Eli would've looked adorable."

Serena shuddered at the thought. Another reason not to have one. She thought of the many ways Eli would embarrass her at a party.

She dismissed any thoughts of Eli because that would be tempting fate. He might sense that she was thinking about him and suddenly materialize in front of her. Serena did not want that. She was content living a peaceful existence away from the Giant.