Chapter 4

chapter 4

Rejections

I spent an hour staring at the previous sloppy cakes that I laid out on the table. There was one that exploded, two that didn't grow, and one that was as hard as a rock. I even stayed up late last night just to watch videos on what is the right process to be successful in what I do today. I told myself I didn't want to make a mistake. I want to be polished. I also taught Manang Loida this morning.

I did use the private kitchen which is not used so as not to be disturbed by the maids. I can say it's not really easy. It's my first time to bake a cake so I'm really new.

I looked again at the remaining ingredients. as far as I can see, this is my last chance because it's almost gone. I don't want to buy from Manang anymore because I'm already wasting too much.

I glanced at the wall clock above the door. wow I've been here in the kitchen almost the whole day.

"You can do this again, JC!" I cheered to myself while squeezing my fingers.

Just like Manang taught me, I first mixed the sugar and butter. After that I mixed the egg. I also followed the flour and baking soda. I followed all the steps that were taught to me again. I have corrected the mistakes in the previous one.

After a few minutes, I also finished mixing the ingredients. Once this heart was shaped, I put it in the oven. While waiting, I was tired and fell down on the chair and leaned on its backrest. I wiped the sweat that was forming on my forehead because of what I did earlier.

After half an hour I took the cake out of the oven. I'm still a little closed due to nervousness and maybe sloppy again. In that case, I have no choice but to persevere.

I slowly put the cake on the table. He smells good. Looks delicious.

"I can do it," I whispered to myself and then took the icing.

Of course I also put effort into the presentation. So that even if it's not tasty, it can be recovered from the external appearance.

"That's beautiful, ah and it looks delicious," Manang said when he visited the kitchen. He came to the table and critically examined the cake I had made. "But why is it so small? It's like the size of your hand?"

"'Cause there's only a little left over from the ingredients." I pointed out the sloppy earlier cakes. "It's just sloppy."

Manang burst out laughing.

"Maybe you should bring your crush here to the kitchen and when he sees the trouble you went through, just bake him a cake."

I snorted and focused my attention on the cake that was made. I am happy with the result. I am satisfied with it. By the way, the question is, will Sir accept it?

"Did Mommy come yet?" I turned to Manang who was starting to put away the things I used.

"Not yet. They called a while ago. They said they were going to have dinner with your Papa."

I nodded and helped him.

"Don't help. I'll call Lisa so we can take care of it." He looked at me from head to hem of my apron. "Get dressed and get ready. Aren't you going to give it to your crush who just moved here later?"

I felt the hair and immediately felt its stickiness in the palm of my hand, probably from the flour that I accidentally touched my hair while working earlier. I glanced at the clock. It's past five in the afternoon.

"Go ahead, Manang." I left the kitchen to go up to the room.

Manang Loida already knows the reason for my persistence in baking. I told him this morning about my admiration for Sir Mendez. I did not mention the name and I know that Manang can be trusted with the secret. I was only ten years old, he took care of me because Mommy was busy with acting. I also consider her a second mother.

I showered again. When I got dressed, I wore the sleeveless wine lace trim dress that was short to the knees. It is V-neck and has a floral dress pattern. I dressed it up with strappy sandals.

I sat in the vanity room and looked at my face in the mirror. My heart-shaped face is small. I also inherited my small but sharp nose from Mommy. I inherited from my real father the deep-set eyes and the somewhat cuteness of it.

I also just let go of straight and very black hair. I also just put lipstick on my symmetrical lips with the lower lip being thicker and having a prominent cupid's bow. because of my fair skin that sometimes turns pale, I really need to put on lipstick.

Looking decent, I went downstairs to get the cake made.

"Aren't you going to eat first, JC?" asked Manang.

"I'm still full after tasting the cake earlier, Manang." I took the cake that was placed inside the pink box. There is also a ribbon on it.

I said goodbye and left the mansion. I really checked my feet and maybe I forgot to wear slippers again. My strappy sandals are intact so there is no problem and I don't think I will be embarrassed anymore. It's already dark outside because it's six o'clock in the evening.

When I reached Sir's apartment, I took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell button. I did this three times before he answered me.

I saw her casual wear again. Just a black t-shirt and shorts. Like before, he didn't open the gate for me right away.

"What are you doing here?"

I missed the indifference in the tone of his speech.

"I baked a cake!" I said enthusiastically. "I hope you taste it, Sir..."

He looked impatiently at the cake I was carrying.

"I'm not eating that. Just give it to someone else."

He was about to turn his back on me but I still persisted.

"B-But I worked so hard to bake this, Sir! It's a waste of my effort if...if it ends up going to someone else."

He sensed it and then quickly opened the door of the gate. he silently took the cake from my hand. The smile left my lips.

"I hope you'll like it, Sir!"

"It's late. You should go home," he let me go again.

I didn't go any further because it was really dark. I just smiled as he closed the gate again. Even though he turned away, I still waved.

"Bye!"

I was smiling from ear to ear while in bed that night. I can't sleep because compared to the letters I gave, this is the first time he accepted what I gave. Of course apart from the school output. And the good thing about it, it was face to face and I didn't just sneak it.

I screamed because of the thrill. I am also changing myself. This is my first time to be really bold with my feelings. I just got used to holding back my emotions because that's what Mommy taught me. he said, a woman's thoughts and feelings are the most powerful ace so they should not be given away lightly. Maybe it just proves that we are not the same.

Because I slept well last night, I woke up well the next morning. my first class is at nine o'clock. I know that Sir is already at the university because his first class is at eight in the morning.

I was smiling while riding the car. Passing by Sir's apartment, a familiar box caught my attention. I immediately stopped Kuya Benj's car.

"I'm just looking for something, Big Brother!" I said goodbye and got out of the car.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Inside the trash bin that was outside his gate, I saw the box that the cake was in.

to confirm the hunch I quickly opened it. The cake that worked so hard to make appeared before my eyes. It wasn't even touched because it was still intact.

"JC, you might be late!" Kuya Benj called.

My tears flowed spontaneously. it was more painful than the previous times he changed the things I gave. I heard Kuya calling again so I wiped away the tears and returned the made cake to the place where I gave it to.

I got back inside the car and remained silent the entire trip. The energy from before disappeared like a bubble. I was lethargic all morning. Hope noticed that but because of the series of classes, she didn't ask me more. Then he asked me after eating lunch. I told Jok and them both what happened.

Jok slammed the used spoon on the table. This got attention from the other students who were eating in the canteen.

"Your crush is getting too much, huh! Who does he think he is?" he said disgustedly.

"Calm down!" Hope scolded him.

"How can I calm down?! Is his crush really still a person? He's so numb, I feel like it's a stone, eh!"

"It's my fault too. I insisted too much."

"Tss! That's really bad behavior. Why do you smart girls like the cold and bad boy?"

"Why do you like sexy and outgoing girls?" Hope is his rock. "And why did you join us for lunch earlier? I thought you had a girl again?"

"No spark, huh." Jok shrugged and then drank some water.

Hope slapped him lightly on the back.

"Hey! Letse! That's my glass!"

Jok just continued drinking. He even drained the water inside it.

Hope turned her gaze to me again.

"What are you going to do? are you going to give up?"

I sighed. "I'm going to give up on cake."

His eyebrows met. "Huh? On the cake?"

I took the bag that I put on the other seat. I grinned when I looked at him again.

"I'm going to learn to make cookies."

He just shook his head at what I said. I stood up and got ready to leave.

"Oh, where are you?"

"I have a meeting with the org. See you in the last subject!" I said and walked away.

"Are you really not going to tell me who JC's crush is?" I heard Jok ask him.

"You're really gossipy!"

I didn't hear what Jok replied to Hope because I was already away from them.

Baking cookies was what I learned when I got home. Manang still taught me. and because of this I was able to share with him what happened to the cake I made. He didn't stop me despite the unfortunate incident. He still supported me in what I wanted.

I also persevered for three nights to learn it. Mommy thought that maybe I just had an event at school. He didn't even question me. When he was like this, I was happy just now.

The case I put the cookies in is beautiful. In its heart shape, the purpose can be seen. I put it in a paper bag and brought it to the university the next day.

After the class with Sir, I followed him out. My classmates were surprised except for Hope who already knew what I was planning to do. Sir Mendez noticed me before we even got inside the faculty room.

"Sir! Can I speak to you?"

He nodded curtly while pointing to the door of the faculty room. I quickly nodded in agreement.

When we got inside there was no one else. maybe still in class or already home. Sir went straight to his table, I followed.

"Please make it quick. I still have a class to attend."

I followed what he said.

"Po? We're your last class, aren't we?"

he didn't answer me and just continued to put his things away. He also took his black laptop backpack.

"S-Is it in your law school?" I guessed more.

Instead of answering the question, he looked at the paper bag I was carrying. here I remembered the purpose of him.

"I'll give it to you," I said with a smile as I handed the paperbag to him.

"I don't eat cake—"

"It's not cake!" I gasped. "These are cookies!"

From the paperbag I was holding, his gaze shifted to my face. he stares at her intently. At this point I saw that his eyes were black.

He took a deep breath and finally accepted the paperbag I was handing. I was encouraged and had new hope again.

"That's sweet!" I added enthusiastically.

I noticed that he winced as if what I said was not a good thing. Maybe he is used to this mudos of women who like him.

We left the faculty room together. I hoped that we were also in the parking area together so that we actually met Ma'am Ramones.

The female teacher's eyes narrowed slightly when she saw me at the same time as Sir. There was also a question in his eyes when he saw the paperbag that Sir Mendez was carrying. when he shifted his gaze to the man we both liked, his appearance changed immediately. It looked like a smiling angel.

"Do you have a second to spare?" he asked softly.

Sir glanced at the watch he was wearing before nodding at the female teacher. I was also forced to say goodbye because I didn't want to be a fool. I know the signs when my presence is uninvited.

"Make it quick because there is still class, but Ma'am Ramones was still talked to!" I was already in the car while traveling home.

"Oh, is there a problem at school, JC?" Kuya Benj said that I still disturbed him by driving.

I watched him. After almost two years of being my driver, I knew he was in his thirties.

"You're still single, Brother, aren't you?"

"Yes.God's mercy," he answered and looked at the road.

"If your future girlfriend had to choose you, Kuya, between a college student and a working woman, which of the two would you choose?"

"Of course you already have a job! We've already split the cost of the date." He laughed along with it.

I have nothing more to say. I think the annoyance I feel just got worse.

I have fixed the emotion when the mansion arrives. I don't even want Mommy to wonder what I'm doing. I don't want Dad to worry anymore. I also focused on my pet chick Pepe to forget the painful incident.

I left home early for school. It was hoped that Sir Mendez would be caught outside his house but was disappointed to see that his car was no longer inside. it's obvious that going to university is even earlier. I'm still excited to ask him how the cookies I made taste.

I passed by the faculty room to see if he was there. It's not even eight o'clock yet so I don't know that his first class hasn't started yet.

I stopped at the door and simply peeked inside. I wish I didn't do it. It's too late to regret what I saw that ruined my feelings for him. because on Ma'am Ramones' table, I saw and I couldn't be wrong, the heart-shaped case that I put the cookies I worked so hard on.

My eyes darkened immediately because of the tears. That's why I don't want rejection because it hurts so much. I quickly turned and left. I didn't go to class because of the heavy emotions that I felt for the first time in my entire life.

I went to the mall and watched a movie. Even though I'm watching an action movie, my tears don't stop. luckily it was dark, the people there didn't notice me.

I just hung out at the mall all day. Fortunately, the university I attend does not have uniforms. Being a student who takes cutting classes is not noticeable to people. I didn't ask Kuya Benj to pick me up and said I would go with Hope. I intend to just take a taxi.

I decided to go home by five in the afternoon. I was outside a famous fast food while waiting for a taxi to ride when suddenly it started to rain heavily.

I was about to stop the taxi passing by when I caught sight of Sir Mendez crossing to my location despite the heavy rain. I wanted to turn around and avoid it because I thought I couldn't face him yet but my body had other ideas because it just stiffened.

The blue polo shirt he was wearing was a little wet on the chest. Because of the muscular body. His jeans were also slightly wet around the knees. I noticed the shock in his eyes when he saw me. No doubt he didn't expect me to be here. He recovered quickly.

"You didn't go to class today." It's not a question.

"Good afternoon, Sir," I responded coldly. Even colder than bad weather.

He glanced sharply at the entrance of the mall and then turned to me.

"Did you take cutting classes or didn't you go all day?"

I would have been satisfied if he was a concern as a man, but I know that he is only a concern as a teacher.

"Why did you give Ma'am Ramones the cookies I worked so hard for?" I asked boldly. Couldn't stop himself.

for the first time I saw his look of shock because of what I said. He acted caught and still fumbled for what to say.

"I...I don't like—"

"Then you shouldn't have accepted it in the first place! You shouldn't have given it to others!" I exclaimed. Openly crying in front of him.

His mouth opened and closed. Obviously don't know what to say. Before he could think of anything to say, I stopped the taxi and got in. I left him.