4. Flan
1382 Words
GESTE
*Flashback continues*
AND the winner for this year's Cupcake and Desserts war is..." the voice of the emcee echoed all over the school gym. The fake drum rolls play.
I'm so nervous. My stomach is in somersaults. But I'm positive I'm winning this competition.
"Maria Kaye Romero!" The crowd cheered my name. I heard my name called and announced as a winner but I'm still absorbing the situation. I'm so overwhelmed; I think I'm going to cry, a cry for victory and happiness.
"Come on stage, Miss Romero." the emcee called me again and this time I obeyed.
"Requesting Mrs. Salazar to give the awards to our winner." he added.
The Governor's wife pleasantly greeted and congratulated me. Then she gave me my cash prize and scholarship papers.
"Thank you, ma'am." I sincerely said to her. She smiled. I'm so happy right now and as I have this award, I really badly needed to see Nanay. I wonder what her reaction will be when she'll learn about this. I can see her jumping in joy right now. My grin became wider while thinking of her.
More picture takings, a little interview and a talk with the Governor's wife and we're done.
+++
At my small house...
"Congratulations, anak." Nanay said for the nth time. Ever since I arrived from the competition, she congratulates me for the nth time.
"Thank you, nay. You know it's all for you." I hug her. She's sitting beside me in our small table, Cheena and Abel are on the other side.
We're here at my small house celebrating my victory. My teachers and classmates also came but went home already because it's late. My two best friends will sleep in my house even they're houses are only in the neighbourhood. Ha-ha! They live in a subdivision beside our slum area.
I already know that we'll end up not sleeping again because we will talk and talk as if we haven't seen each other for too long. This will be another long night.
"Thank you, nak. I'm so proud of you. I'm really lucky to have you. You're really my angel." I smiled lovingly at my mom and kissed her cheek.
"Aww. Sweet," Cheena said while looking at us.
"Hey that's enough. I'm starving." Abel interrupted, not averting his eyes from the foods in front of him. He looks like a lion ready to devour his prey. He's really hungry. Poor worms of Abel, I think they're fighting in his stomach right now. We haven't eaten yet because we entertained the visitor's first. Talk about Pinoy hospitality.
Cheena slaps the back of his head.
"Ouch! What was that for?" he glared at Cheena while rubbing the back of his head. She must've hit him very hard.
"What was that for?!" she repeated what he said. I can see she's raising her left eyebrows. "They're having their mother-daughter moment in here and you're ruining it with your big monster mouth. Can't you wait?"
"I'm sorry. Okay? I'm really hu---" he didn't finish what he is about to say when his stomach growls loudly. "Hear that? He he! Do you still need proof?" he pointed out his stomach and blushed and laughed. Ha-ha! He's tomato red.
Then for a while we were all laughing. Haaa! This is the happiest day of my life! We are chatting while eating.
"Auntie this is really good. No, not good. The best tinolang manok ever!" Abel exclaimed while eating.
"Eww. Don't talk when your mouth is full, you beggar." Cheena said to him.
"I'm just complimenting auntie Melinda's cooking. Why do you always have to be against me?" They have always been like that.
Always playing the cat and mouse game. They always argue and fight for almost everything but in the end they still manage to forgive each other. Sometimes I wonder why they became best friends if they always fight with each other. But I guess that's the beauty of it. Nah, they are fine. They're not taking it seriously and physically, just word war.
I met Abel first on the 1st day of my freshman year and we became close immediately. He is from a middle class family and his father is the Chief Police officer of our town so nobody really messes with him. And when I become his friend, I'm covered by his umbrella, if you know what I mean.
While Cheena is a rich young girl that was thrown to the Public High School by her parents because of her stubbornness. She's the bratty daughter of the Mayor of our town. She transferred in the middle of the school year and nobody wants to befriend her because she bitches all the people who come near her.
Then one day I saw her crying in the deserted classroom and approached her. Luckily, she didn't rant to me. Instead, she hugged me and I comforted her. We became friends, I introduced her to my best friend Abel and all the three of us get along well till now. We saw who Cheena really was and she's really a kind person.
As for the looks, well, all I can say we are more qualified to be a model. I'm not bragging but I speak only the truth. We're gorgeous not only outside but also inside. The teachers and students respect us because we are the good looking, talented students that are also excelling academically. Not that I'm pulling our own chair but we practically got the top 3 in our class. I am at top 1 and Abel and Cheena on top 2 and top 3, respectively. Yeah! But what can I say, even if they're rich they always make me feel that we are equal. Though I'm poor, they befriended me. I'm so lucky to have them.
"Best?" Cheena called me.
"Ah yeah?" I came back from my daydreaming.
"What's your plan?" She asks me not to break her gaze upon me.
"Plan? For what?" I asked, while getting a brownie. Cheena's finished eating while Abel still digs on his plate. His plate is full of food. What a pig! I smirk.
"About the scholarship." The brownie that I was about to eat is left hanging in front of my mouth. I cleared my throat before answering.
"Uhm. I- I-" I didn't know this would be so hard. I felt the hand of Nanay's rubbing my back. I looked at her and she smiled at me with a look saying 'it's going to be fine'.
"Nanay and I talked about it a while ago. The Salazar's wanted me to finish my senior year at UP. They give me a job also at Caramel City as an assistant Chocolatier so... Uhm..." I hate to say this to them but I hope they understand. My eyes are staring down at the table.
Cheena pulled my hands that were placed on the table. "It's fine, best. We understand. Right, Bel?"
"Yeah, Kaye. It's only two towns away so we can easily visit you there. We will visit you on weekends, if that's okay with you?" I nodded. Still not looking up to them. My heart is aching right now at the thought of leaving them and starting again to another school, but what can I do?
This is for my greener pasture. It's the stepping stone in fulfilling my dreams as the greatest chocolatier in the world. It's Nanay's dream and also mine. I want her to be proud of me and make sure that my father, who abandoned us, will see how my mom raised a successful person all by herself.
"Hey, look up. Come on." Cheena said with a hoarse voice. When I looked up, I saw her smiling sadly. She's teary eyed. Abel as well and I know that I am too teary eyed too.
"It's for your better future, best." said Abel with a force cheery tone. I nodded at him and smiled which I did to Cheena.
"It's going to be fine. Promise!" Cheena said while quickly wiping her tears.
"Group hug!" Abel said in a baby voice. We laugh at his cuteness.
"Alright, children. Who wants to eat Leche Flan?" Nanay said, breaking the melodramatic surrounding. She really knows how to make us feel better. She knows that the three of us are in love with her Flan. It's the best Flan in the whole world.
"I!" we scream in unison.
"Leche Flan with chocolate toppings, coming up!" she said and disappeared in the kitchen.
We squealed with excitement. Nanay is the best!
*End of flashback*
- Writer
