LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 24: Savory Smell

*MELANIE SMITH POV*

Due to the whole night of raining, the morning bleak that filled into my room, made me lazy. I didn't want to get up but my alarm clock kept buzzing in my ears from the side table. 

Without opening my eyes, I groped the alarm clock to turn it off and took another ten minutes sleep but my drowsy soul earlier was completely woken up as my sharp nose sniffed a mouth-watering smell. 

"What's that smell? So good." I rose on my feet and went outside. I was scratching my head while calling Barbie between my yawns. "Barbie! Barbie!"

Barbie's room was only opposite to mine and just three calls Barbie's door opened. Just like me, Barbie was fixing her long curly hair while yawning. 

"What is wrong?" She asked.

I frowned. "Did you wake up early and cook something?" 

"No. I just woke up too. I was woken up by a delicious smell of food. I thought it was you who cook."

"Absurdity! I once told you I don't know how to cook so how can I cook? You forgot that?" 

"Then who cooks? Or maybe the smell comes from our neighbour." Barbie said. "Let's just come down and check. It seems that the smell comes from your own kitchen." 

"Okay." I wrapped my arms at Barbie and lazily walked with her. "I only hope that there really is fresh cooked food in the dining. If not, this is too disappointing. Wake up because of the food yet there's none." 

"Don't think much yet. What if there really is."

While getting closer to the kitchen, the delicious smell of the dish became strong and vivid to my nose. I was confidently sure that there was food in the dining area waiting for us. 

I and Barbie's jaws jutt wide and nailed on the doorway when we reached the dining table, there were plenty of good dishes that were served. 

"Wowww, what a feast!" I and Barbie exclaimed together. Both of us showed our greed with the food. We couldn't help but gulped and licked. 

"Who prepared all of these?" Barbie said, amused with the food. Seemed like she had just seen those dishes today. "Melanie, tell me. Who prepared this?" 

I pouted at her. "I don't know."

"Are you sure? Or maybe you are just keeping from me that today is your special and important birthday." Barbie said. 

"I swear, I really don't know. It's not my birthday today, okay?" 

"Nevermind! Let's just eat." Barbie went to the sink and washed and rinsed her face and her mouth.

I assumed my eyes twinkled as I trailed my sight at every dish served in front of me. I admit I was a little glutton, just a little, and seeing a lot of food which not only smells savory but also looks appetising really enlivened my dull morning. The dishes are not just simply sliced or placed in a plate but meticulously arranged and designed to make it look more palatable. My small dining table became a luxurious cuisine. 

"Such a grand meal, who could cook these for us?" I mumbled. 

At the edge of the table, I saw a piece of paper neatly folded and pinned with a glass of milk. "Barbie, there is a letter."

I pulled the letter.

Barbie hastily ran over me and peeked at the letter in my hand. Wiping her hands on her pants, she said, "Open it! Open it! Let's see who wrote that."

I frowned as I glanced at Barbie. This girl was really negligent towards herself. She hadn't even wiped a few bubbles and water on her mouth, yet her attention was captivated by the letter. 

I shook my head as I pulled a tissue paper and sighed. I raised my hand and wiped her mouth. 

She stepped back a little, "What are you doing?" 

I halted and looked at her meaningfully, "What do you think? Taking advantage of you? Look at you, you can't even dry the water all over your mouth." I handed her the tissue, "Here, take it. Why are you so excited about this letter? Wait? Can't it be you are now expecting that a certain person prepared all these?"

"What nonsense are you spouting about." She softly poked me. "Just hurry and open it. Don't keep me curious."

"You are blushing!" I laughed. 

Barbie covered her cheeks and turned her back at me. "I am not."

I opened the letter and the penmanship was what attracted me firstly. 

"Whoahh, what a beautiful penmanship. Clean and neat. I am giving this Ten points." I blurted. 

I nudged Barbie with my elbow, "Hey turn over here now, I won't tease you anymore. If you don't turn, I will read the letter all by myself."

Barbie instantly turned and peeked her head to the letter. "Can you please read it aloud?" 

"You're begging me?" 

"Come on, hurry up. If you keep dragging the time, these foods will surely get cold." 

"Alright. Alright. Listen carefully."

The professional letter said: "I am sorry ladies if I just left without a proper goodbye. Since it was already morning yet the two of you were still soundly asleep, I could only leave silently. Actually, I thought to wake you up but I don't think I have the right to do so I let you continue sleeping. Moreover, I am also sorry for touching the kitchen without permission. Just take these foods I personally cooked and prepared as my apologies for troubles last night, for leaving without goodbye and for touching the kitchen. Hope you will enjoy it. Especially you Barbie. Hope to see you smile while eating the food I cooked for you. If there's a chance, I'd love to see your smile and cute reactions while savoring my dishes. Eat well and Be Safe my Clumsy Lady. 

TRULY YOURS, Angelo."

"What? It's him? That man who looks grown up with a golden spoon in his mouth knows to cook? Seriously? This is unbelievable. Am I dreaming?" I poked Barbie, "Hey, hey, can you pinch me. I want to wake up from this dream."

"You are not dreaming my dear." Barbie did pinch my cheek and I screamed because she put on a lot of strength. 

"Ouch, Barbie. Do you want to ruin my face? It hurts." I tapped her hand. 

"It's you who asked me to pinch you, why blaming me." She said while giggling and unawarely she snatched the letter from my hand, "Give me. This letter is mine."

"Oh, you kept denying there is nothing between the two of you. But why are you so affectionate with his letter? Can't even let me hold for more while."

"He is my good friend, of course, everything from him even if it was just a paper, I will certainly keep it well. This is his first letter for me and so this is special." She hugged the letter. 

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You're doomed. I think you're in love. Be careful. You know nothing about that man."

"I'm afraid, even his hair, I know well how many it was. But I want to tell you. I am not in love okay. So fast? We just know each other. Besides, I don't know the feeling of being in love." She pulled a chair and sat. She folded back the letter and inserted it in her blouse pocket. "Come on Melanie, let's dig in."

"Hmmmm, Melanie, what are you waiting for. Try it. It's delicious." She exclaimed right after feeding herself a mouthful of food. 

I watched Barbie's facial expressions and I was sure that she was in love. So pitiful, could not even understand her inner feelings. I could only hope, she wasn't going to get hurt. I shook my head as I also started to scoop food for my plate.