Daddy's Fiance - Completed (English)

3. Brownies

GESTE

I STARTED talking with Dada about the journeys I had and told him the stories when I toured to some places in America to find something that is unusual to chocolates. I mean the good unusual chocolates.

That's what I practically did after I graduated in NYU with flying colors, discovering more about chocolates and sweets. Then Dada called Silvia's name and the latter seemed oblivious of our presence. She's frowning then she will smile again. She didn't notice that Dada and I were staring at her. "Someone is daydreaming."

Ever since I was young I have loved sweets and chocolates. My mother was a great baker and also chocolatier. She also loves to make delicious desserts. But she never had the chance to fulfill her dreams because she had me when she was 16 and deserted by the person that gets her pregnant. She raised me on her own. She had no other families because she's an orphan since she was 10 years old and no one in her relatives wants to adopt her.

My mom went through a lot of pain. She works during the day and studies at night. She has extra work at night also after class at a resto bar. She was a waitress there and that's where he met my father.

"Silvia? Baby?" Dada's first call. The brat is still oblivious.

"Silvia?" second call. Ha-ha. What is happening to this girl?

"Silvia Josephine?!" Dada called her, this time with her second name. She hated her second name. I really don't know why. Every time I ask her about it, she will just shrug off the topic. That's why we just used it to tease or pissed her.

"Dada! Please don't call me that name again." Uh-huh! Effective though.

"Dada called you like a thousand times but you are zoning out. Then you're frowning and smiling at yourself. Don't tell me you're on drugs? Oh my God! My sister is a drug addict!" I said acting as if she really did it.

"What?!" Her face reaction is priceless. She bought my act. We laughed hard and forgot everything around us then...

"Good evening. I'm sorry I'm late." That voice is familiar! That angelic voice!

I snapped my head to the entrance of the dining hall and saw a goddess standing in there. I just stared at her. She smiled at Dada and Silvia and when she reached her eyes to mine, I couldn't help but to be awestruck at her beautiful grey eyes. Then I saw her beamed. My heart pounds like I went for running a hundred miles. Ahh, it's still there. I can still feel it.

"Hi! You must be Geste? Nice meeting you." I didn't notice that she was now in front of me.

I think I swallowed my tongue. I can't say anything. I just stared at her. 'Hey tongue? Where art thou?' Then to my surprise, she gave me a hug.

"Welcome home," she said aloud. I still can't pull my tongue. I can smell her sweet chocolate scent that I always love to smell.

Then she went to my father's side when I didn't respond and I saw her peck him on his lips.

That scene snatches me from my delusions. I automatically grabbed the glass of wine in front of me and gulp it one time. Is this really happening? Am I dreaming? Please, someone has to wake me up from this nightmare! This is a sick joke! Where's the camera? Maybe someone is playing a trick on me! Come on!

"It's okay, sweetheart. I know you're a very busy person," I heard Dada say and grabbed the chair beside him to let the brunette sit. She then sat beside him.

I was just staring at them, mainly to the brunette.

"Yeah, Marie, at least you're here now," Silvia said smiling warmly to whom? Marie?

"Ehem," Dada cleared his throat. I looked at him and saw that he was somewhat nervous. Why is he nervous? "Geste, I would like you to officially meet my fiancée, Marie Gretzel "El-el" Salazar. Your soon to be mom." Aww fate, are you that against me?

"Geste? P-princess?" Dada called. I just stared at him. I didn't say anything because I don't know what to say. Ugh! This is so hard. I saw Dada become more nervous when I still did not talk.

I don't know what my reaction should be. I was so confused at the moment. Then I looked at Marie and she just smiled… friendly? Yeah, friendly! What the hell!

So I arranged my best act ever and sweetly smiled. "Nice meeting you... Marie." I stared at her for a moment and saw something I couldn't read then her friendly smile came back.

"Thank you," she sincerely said. 'She's acting like she didn't know me. Ugh!'

She wants to play that game huh? Alright, I'll give it to her.

"She's very pretty, Dada. You're lucky to have her," I said without losing my gaze at her.

"Yes, I am, princess." Then he wraps his other arm to Marie's shoulder. Marie stared at my father and sweetly smiled. Ouch! I felt my heart is torn into pieces.

We talked about random things. Like about them, the wedding and my stay in New York and my relationships. Dada said that Marie knows that I am gay and she pretty much accepted it. Of course, she will! Damn, women!

I'm really not comfortable talking with them, especially with her but I need to be strong and do what she's doing, act as if we don't know each other.

Get a hold of yourself, Ges!

Then when I can't take it anymore, I excused myself and said that I still have jet lag and that I need to rest. I need to disappear now before I can't stop myself in confronting my future mom. Of all people, why does it have to be her? Why?

I walked fast in my room and decided to take a shower. As the water flows through my body the memory lane runs through my mind.

+++

*Flashback starts*

I was in my junior year in a public High School when this Cupcakes and Desserts War competition was held to my school. It was sponsored by the biggest Cupcake and Desserts Company in the city namely, Caramel City owned by Governor Salazar's Wife.

Governor Salazar chose our School to host the competition because from what I heard he's just using this to make his career more aromatic in politics. This was the first time they held it in public and the winner for this competition will win a big cash prize and a scholarship.

So, I really badly need cash right now because mom is sick and my extra jobs income is not enough to support her medication. My friends are pushing me to join because they know my talent will help me with this and they are certain that I will win the grand prize. I need to win as well because I needed that scholarship so that my mom will not work anymore to support my studies. Basically, this will be a win-win competition for me. And with that, I promised that I'll do my best, I will pour out my knowledge and skills to the best cupcakes and desserts in the world that I will make. Let this war begin! I'm so fuckin' ready!

And here we are. This is also a live competition and aired right now in a well-known TV network in the country. I'm really nervous. Five minutes more before the competition and the show will start. The producers and the staff showed and taught us what to say during the show. Then after the briefing we are done and ready for the show.

I'm in the corner of the stage. Staring at the stage but not really looking at it. I was zoning out. I'm currently thinking of my mother right now. She didn't even know that I had joined the contest. I didn't tell her because I wanted to surprise her though the past weeks I pestered her on her secret ingredients of her desserts and chocolates. I reasoned out that I just want to learn it so that someday, I could brag to my husband that the mouthwatering foods and desserts came from the recipes of the most beautiful mom in the world. She just laughed at me and taught me after her work when we are at home.

"I'm going to win this, nay," I said to the wind and smiled. I called my mom, Nanay. "Ay! Butiki!" I squealed. Because of the adrenaline rush, using my right fist, I smack the person that scared me to death.

"Ooouuuccchh! That hurts! Hahaha! That really hurts!" Abel said scratching his elbow that I had smacked. No one should mess around when I'm in my deep thoughts!

"Serves you right, jerk! Why did you do that? You know how I so much hate it when you do that? You scared me to death!" I rant to him.

"Hahaha! I'm sorry Kaye. I need to do that because you're talking to yourself again. You know you're too pretty to go to the mental institution." He teasingly smiled and laughed. He is a a$$hole sometimes, but he is a good friend.

I just stared at him till his laugh subsides.

"Sorry," he said when he saw that I'm not saying anything and I am just with my poker face looking at him.

"What did you do, Abel?" My other best friend Cheena came. "What happened?" She looked at the two of us back and forth.

"I was just cheering her up because she's so nervous. I know she can win this thing, so she shouldn't be nervous at all," Abel explained while his eyes never averted to the floor. He looks like a child that's been caught in sneaking candies on his pants. He was so cute when he did that. With that, I burst out laughing.

"Eh? Kaye? What's funny?" Cheena asked, confused. Abel smiled. He really knows how to make me laugh.

"Haha! Abel. Haha!" I can't stop laughing at Abel's childish ways and after a while they joined with me laughing. Yes, I'm just that easy to please.

"All participants prepare yourselves. We're about to start!" one of the TV crew shouted.

"Good luck, best!" they said in unison.

"For Nanay!" Abel said, raising his fist. "For Nanay!" Cheena and I said bumping our fist to Abel's fist. If other people make their handshakes, ours was like that. Fist bumped is what they called it. I glanced once again at them and smiled. They waved and smiled back.

I'm glad I have them in my life. They have been my best friends since we were freshmen. I don't know what will happen to me if I haven't met these two lovely people in my life.

One of the TV Crew called my name and the show started. "For Nanay!" I reminded myself and looked back at my two best friends then smiled.

'Caramel City buckle up, because you're about to taste the most delicious dessert you have ever tasted.' Then my talented hands do its work.

*Flashback continues on the next chapter*