Chapter 3

JAZMIN

I BEGAN TELLING DAD ABOUT MY TRAVELS WHILE I WAS AWAY FROM THEM. I told him about my adventures while touring the United States searching for unusual chocolates to use in my new recipes. It can be good or bad as long as it is distinct from other chocolate recipes.

That's precisely what I did after graduating from NYU with honors, learning more about chocolates and sweets.

Then Dad called Hana's name, and she seemed unconcerned about our presence. She's frowning now, but she'll smile again soon. She was utterly unaware that Dad and I were staring at her. Someone is lost in thought.

I've always loved sweets and chocolates since I was a child. My mother was a fantastic baker and chocolatier. She also enjoys delectable baking desserts. But she never got the chance to realize her dreams because she had me when she was sixteen and was abandoned by the person who got pregnant. She raised me on her own. She had no other family because she had been an orphan since she was ten years old, and no one in her family wanted to adopt her.

My mother went through a lot of pain and struggle. She works during the day and studies at night. Then she works extra hours after class at a resto-bar. She worked as a waitress there, and that's where she met my father.

"Hana? Baby?" was Dad's first call. The brat is still oblivious.

"Hana?" This is the second call. What's going on with this girl?

Dad addressed her as "Hana Anika?" She despised her surname. I have no idea why. Every time I ask her about it, she shrugs. That's why we always used it to get her attention, tease her, or irritate her.

"Dad, please don't call me that name again!" Uh-huh! However, it is efficient.

"Dad calls you a thousand times, but your attention seems to be elsewhere, and 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 was.

"What?" Her expression is priceless. My act was purchased by her. We were laughing so hard that we forgot about everything around us...

"Good evening, and I apologize for being late." That voice sounds familiar! That angelic voice!

I turned to face the dining hall's entrance and saw a goddess standing there. I just stared at her. She smiled at Dad and Hana, and when she brought her gaze to mine, I couldn't help but be awestruck by her stunning blue eyes. Then I noticed she was beaming. My heart is pounding as if I had gone for a hundred-mile run.

Oh, the feeling is still there.

"Hi! You must be Jazmin? Nice meeting you," the woman said. I was oblivious to the fact that she had moved in front of me.

I believe I swallowed my tongue. I'm speechless. I just stared at the woman.

Hey, tongue? What happened to you? Then, much to my surprise, she hugs me.

"Welcome home," she said out loud. I can't seem to get my tongue to cooperate. I can smell her sweet chocolate scent, which I adore.

She went to my father's side when I didn't respond, and I saw her kiss his lips.

That's when I realize I've been delusory. I instinctively grab the glass of wine in front of me and gulp it down. Is this happening? Is this all a dream? Someone, please wake me up from this nightmare! This is a sick joke! Where is the camera? Maybe someone is playing a prank on me! Come on!

"It's okay, sweetheart; I know you're a busy person," Dad said, grabbing the chair beside him to allow the brunette to sit close to him. She then took a seat beside him.

I was staring at them, particularly at the brunette.

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

"Ehem," Dad said, clearing his throat. I noticed he was a little nervous when I looked at him. Why is he so tense? "Jazmin, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Averi Ezra "Ave" Mendez, your soon-to-be mother."

Aww, fate, are you so against me?

"Jazmin? P-princess?" Dad called again when I didn't answer.

I just stared at him. I didn't say anything because I didn't know what to say. Ugh! This is incredibly difficult. I noticed Dad becoming nervous.

I'm not sure what to say. I was puzzled at the time. Then I looked at Averi, and she just smiled... friendly? Yes, friendly! What the hell is going on?!

So I put on my best show ever and smiled sweetly. "Nice meeting you... Averi." I looked into her eyes for a moment and saw some reaction there that I couldn't read, then her friendly smile returned.

"Thank you very much," she said gratefully.

She's acting as if she didn't know who I was. Ugh!

She wants to play that game, huh? Okay, I'll hand it over to her.

"She's a beautiful woman, Dad; you're lucky to have her," I said, not taking my gaze away from her.

"Yes, princess," he says as he wraps his other arm around Averi's shoulder. Averi gave my father a sweet smile. Ouch! My heart ripped to shreds.

We talked about various topics. Like about them, the wedding plans, my stay in New York, and my relationships. Dad stated that Averi is aware of my sexual orientation and has accepted it.

She will, of course! Woman, you're a jerk! I'm becoming uneasy around them, especially with her, but I need to be strong and mimic what she's doing while acting as if we don't know each other.

Jaz, get a grip on yourself! Maintain your fortitude!

But I lost the game because I excused myself when I couldn't take it any longer, claiming that I was still jet-lagged and needed to rest. I need to leave now before I can't stop myself and embarrass myself in front of my future Mom by confronting her about why she's acting this way. Why, of all people, does it have to be her? Why?

I dashed into my room as quickly as I could and decided to take a shower. Memory lane runs through my mind as the water flows through my body.

~*~

Flashback starts…

WHEN THE Cupcakes and Desserts War competition was held at my public high school, I was in my junior year. It was sponsored by the city's Cupcake and Desserts Company, Frozen Treat, owned by Senator Mendez's wife.

Senator Mendez chose our school to host the competition because, from what I've heard, he's just using it to advance his political career. This was the first time they held it in public, and the winner will receive a large cash prize and a scholarship.

I am in desperate need of money right now because my mother is ill, and my extra job income is insufficient to cover her medication costs. My friends are urging me to participate because they believe my skills will benefit me and win the grand prize.

I needed the scholarship so that my mother would no longer have to work to support my studies. For me, this will be a win-win situation. And with that, I promised that I'd do my best, that I'd pour my knowledge and skills into making the best cupcakes and desserts in the world. Let the battle begin! I'm so fuckin' prepared!

So here we are. This is also a live competition currently airing on a well-known TV network in the country. I'm nervous.

The competition and show will begin in five minutes. The producers and staff demonstrated and taught us what to say during the show, and then we were finished and ready for the show.

I'm in the far corner of the stage. I'm staring at the stage but not paying attention to it. I was nodding off.

I'm thinking about my mother right now. She had no idea I had entered the competition. I kept it a secret because I wanted to surprise her. In the weeks leading up to the competition, I bugged her about the secret ingredients in her desserts and chocolates. I reasoned that I just wanted to learn it so that one day I could tell my husband that the delectable foods and desserts I was making came from the recipes of the world's most beautiful mother. She just laughed at me and taught me when we got home from work.

"I'm going to win this, Ma," I smiled at the wind. I exclaimed, "Ay! Yawa!" Fueled by adrenaline, I smack the person who scared me to death with my right fist.

"Ooouuuccchh! That hurts! That hurts!" Ben exclaimed as he scratched his smacked arm. Because I have this habit, no one should mess with me when I'm deep in thought!

"You got what you deserved, jerk! Why did you do that? Do you know how much I despise it when you do that? You scared me to death!" I scream at him...

"I'm sorry, Bonnie. I need to do that because you're talking to yourself again. You know you're too pretty to go to a psychiatric facility." He teasingly smiled and laughed; he can be an a$$hole at times, but he's a good friend.

I just stared at him until his laughter died away when he saw my solemn expression.

"Sorry," he said when he noticed I wasn't saying anything and was looking at him with a poker face.

"What did you do, Ben?" My other best friend, Pearl, arrived. "What happened?" She moves her gaze back and forth, waiting for an explanation.

"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," Ben explained, his gaze never leaving the floor. He has the appearance of a child caught sneaking candy on his pants. Ben appears to be in deep regret. He was so adorable when he did that. With that, I burst out laughing.

"Eh? Bonnie? What's funny?" Pearl asked, perplexed. Ben smiled. He knows how to make me laugh.

"You are so silly, Ben! I can't stop laughing at Ben's childish ways, and after a while, they joined me in laughter; yes, I'm that easy to please."

"All participants, get ready. We're about to begin! " One of the TV crew members yelled.

"Best of luck," they all said at the same time.

"For Mama!" Ben exclaimed, pumping his fist. "For Mama!" Pearl and I exclaimed as we pressed our fists against Ben's. Our handshakes were similar to how other people did theirs. It was referred to as "fist-bumped." I smiled as I looked back at them. They returned the wave with a smile.

I'm grateful for their presence in my life. Since we were freshmen, they have been my best friends. I'm not sure where I'd be if I hadn't met these two beautiful people.

The show began when one of the TV crew members called my name. "For Mama!" I reminded myself as I returned my gaze to my two best friends and grinned.

"Frozen Treat, buckle up because you're about to taste the most delicious dessert you've ever tasted," I said to myself.

Then my skilled hands get to work.

Flashback will continue to the next chapter…