Louisa's p.o.v;
I was looking at Ace who was sleeping on the bed beside me and the one who looked cute when he's drunk. This is the first time I'm seeing him getting drunk. I saw him drinking before but never saw him getting wasted. He apologised a lot of times in one night. I don't know if I could forgive but I'm sure I can't forget it. I turned off the lights and laid beside him, facing him.
"Did you know that I got worried when you didn't show up? I must be insane, right? To be worried about class one mafia. I wonder who you are underneath all of this. I'm getting confused about who's the real one sometimes. Is it the one who's outside the room, murdering almost everyone or the one who's beside me, being nice and warm. Whoever you are, Please, don't make it difficult for me."
I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
The next morning,
I woke up to the noises from the kitchen. I got out of the bed and walked straight to the kitchen and asked Ace, who was doing something on the stove, "When did you wake up?"
"Early. Did I wake you up?" He asked while tapping something in the pan which made the noise earlier I guess.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm making garlic cheese bread."
"I never heard of it. Does it really exist or did you make it up by yourself?"
"It does exist. It was a simple dish I made for myself while I was in Ottawa."
"You were in the US?"
"I studied there."
"Wow. Which university?"
"University."
"I didn't know. You must be smart then. Which faculty did you choose?"
"Business administration."
"Woah!"
"What was the reaction for?"
"I'm sorry but I thought you're a college dropout or something. I didn't judge by your face though. You look smart and handsome… And a little bit rough... But I didn't know you're a…. Wow. Hold on, why did you become a part of something illegal while you can run a business by yourself and be legal or something? Sorry, if I stepped out of my paygrade. I was just surprised after hearing that."
He nodded and said, "No other reason. Someone has to take care of the family's business."
"But it's still illegal." And I walked to my room.
After a shower, I sat on the couch and turned on the television.
"Aren't you leaving for college?"
"I don't have any morning classes today so I'll leave around 12. What about you?"
He sat beside me and said, "I don't have any work today. Guess I'm free too."
"Well, tell me about your mother. I want to know more about her. When you talked to her, you were all smiley too."
He let out a smile and said, "She looked really beautiful. She got married to my father out of love at a very young age. After giving birth to me, she fell in love. Not with her husband but with her child. I was the only happiness for my mother like how you were to your grandfather. I didn't like my father much in my childhood because he didn't treat my mother well."
"How about now? Do you still hate him?"
"Do you want to hear about her or not?"
After I nodded hurriedly, he continued, "Whenever she hugs me, she gives out this sweet smell. It was a popular and rich soap used by many people at that time. But my mom is the only one who stood out. Whenever I score top marks, she bakes a cake for me. I can still remember how the cake tasted."
He stopped telling me about his mother in the middle and sat like a mannequin.
I tapped on his shoulder and asked, "How did the cake taste? What was the name of the cake?"
"I don't remember. But I do remember how it looked. It had many layers stacked one upon another having cream in between every layer. The surface of the cake had a crust layer on top of it. It gives a sour taste in the beginning but it changes to sweet when it melts in the mouth."
While he was talking about the cake his mom baked for him, his phone rang and he left saying it's an important thing to attend.
After he left, I thought about the cake he described. Should I bake a cake? Layers having cream in between sounds like every normal cake. But the surface has a crust layer which makes it sour and sweet, difficult to find it seems.
I browsed the internet to find the name of the cake using the keywords as layered cake and sweet and sour but all i can find is chocolate or honey or ice cake. I changed the keyword to crust layered cake and searched for it but i got sugar crust cake or toppings with nuts.
I got a call from Ryan while I was searching for the cake. Why is he calling me now?
I answered, "Yes?"
Ryan, "Are you in college right now?"
"No, I'm at my place. I have afternoon classes. Why?"
"Can you please come to the cafe right now?"
"Okay, I'll be there."
He thanked me and ended the call.
I changed my clothes and locked the apartment and headed to the cafe.
When I entered, I saw the cafe being decorated.
Ryan, "Thank you for coming. I really need a hand. Help me out by sticking these on the wall." He gave me balloons and continued, "Don't worry, I'll pay you for this."
I received it from him and asked, "What's the occasion?"
"Didn't you hear about it? Danielle is graduating next week from her school."
"Yeah, she told me."
"Lily and I planned to throw a surprise party for her today. But Lily got stuck with her dinner and couldn't make it today. I thought I could call Nathaniel, but you know how he is. He gets irritated whenever I give a job to him. Then, you popped up in my mind. Did i distrubed you?"
"Not a problem. I was free too."
After finishing with the balloon stuff, I asked Ryan, "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Do you know which layered cake comes in the crust giving a sweet and sour taste?"
He thought for a while and said, "Sounds tricky. Sweet and sour taste?" "The only layered cake I know is guava roll cake. But it doesn't give a sour taste. And it doesn't have a crust layer like you asked." "Where did you eat the cake?"
"I didn't. My friend told me about this cake but she didn't remember the name of it."
"Lily will be here soon, ask her about this cake. She knew about cakes well."
I nodded and continued helping him.
After a while, Lily came to the cafe and apologised to Ryan for being late and started her work.
Ryan told her, "Louisa asked me about some cake but I told her that you knew well about it."
Lily asked, "What is the name of the cake?"
I said, "I don't know the name except for its description."
"Okay, tell me about the cake."
"This cake has many layers with cream in between. The top layer of the cake has a crust. The taste will be sour and sweet."
She thought for a while and asked, "Is it the guava cake you're talking about?"
I shaked my head.
Ryan laughed and said to Lily, "I can't believe we share the same brain cell." He made fun of her and walked away.
Lily, "Sour and sweet. With the crust top layer. Crust layer. Sour. And sweet. Crust. I think the cake you're looking for is medovik."
"What?"
"Medovik is a layer cake from Russia. The combination of ingredients honey and condensed milk results in crust layers for the layer. The sour taste comes from adding sour cream in the preparation of the cake. But it is a very difficult cake to prepare. It is known for its lengthy preparation time. Why are you asking me about this cake? Are you going to bake this?"
I nodded and asked, "Yes." I don't know why I agreed after hearing it to be the difficult one to prepare.
"It needs a lot of time. Do ya need my help?"
"Thanks but I'm planning to do it myself."
"Okay. Don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything."
"Okay."
I walked to Ryan and asked, "Hey boss, can I take off?"
"Hold on, aren't you going to make the cake?"
"What cake?"
"The medovik."
"I'll prepare after I come from college. Why?"
"I thought you're going to make it here."
"Nah, I'll do it at my apartment. Moreover, Lily said it takes eight hours to set. We can't eat it even if we start preparing it now."
"Hold on. Do you know how to bake a cake?"
"Do I look like I don't know how to?"
"I'm sorry if I offended you. I didn't know you could bake one."
"Actually, it's true. I don't know how to bake cakes." And smiled at him.
"But you talked like you're a pro."
"It's the internet stuff. There's lot of easy ways to bake a cake through the internet. So I'll make use of it."
"Then, don't forget to tell me how it tastes."
"Didn't you want to taste it before? What happened now? Do you only want a review after knowing that it's my first time?"
"First time you say. And you want me to taste it?"
"You're my boss. Don't say it like that. I'll definitely bring a piece for you."
I walked out of the cafe and headed to the college.
At college,
While Mr Hall was taking philosophy of law, I was thinking about the medovik cake. By what Lily said, it's not a difficult one but it needs a lengthy preparation time. Since it's not a difficult one, I hope it comes out well.
"Ms Alves!"
Mr Hall called out my name which brought me back to the class. He asked, "Ms Alves, Do you think there's an essential connection between morality of action and morality of intention behind it?"
"Yes, there is a connection. Sir."
"Can you please describe it in detail?"
"No fire can start without smoke, Sir. Like that, One's action or way of doing something or working towards should be based on intention for the action to be carried out, which becomes visible. A good intention gives out a good outcome, not immediately but it always in the end. However bad intention shows in the output of a task. Proving that intentions and actions are highly connected, Sir."
"You are correct. Have a seat."
After I sat down, he said, "Even Though you answered properly, concentrate in the class too."
I nodded and continued listening to his class.
Once the classes got over, i packed my books back into the bag, Jules said, "That was really a good answer. No wonder you're the topper of the class." And she went back to packing her books.
"Hey, Jules."
"Yeah?"
"Shall we do the summer break assignment together if you don't mind?"
She was surprised when I asked her and said, "But you said you work alone."
"Yeah, but having another person would be good too. I don't mind if you teamed up with someone already."
"No, no. Let's do it together." And gave a smile and asked, "Your place or mine?"
"Shall we do it at your place? Mine's kinda a mess."
She nodded and said, "Okay."
I gave her my phone and asked her to save her number in mine.
When she was done with it, she said, "I'll message you my address."
"Okay."
After I came out of the classroom, I thought, 'It's not difficult to talk to someone I guess.'
At the cafe, when I entered the cafe, the music was loud and the place was lit. Ryan did change this place into some night club but with funny decorations. I didn't see any customers though.
Lily, "Why are you late? Come in."
I walked into the dining place and saw Danielle talking to Nathaniel.
I walked to her and asked, "Am i interrupting something?"
I gave a quick hug to Danielle and said, "Congratulations on your graduation, Elle."
"Thank you."
I gave her a present saying, "I couldn't prepare properly. It was so sudden so don't get hyped much."
She received it from me and opened it right in front of me and said, "A phone?"
I said, "I thought you would see it later."
Everyone was stunned by my present.
I asked her, "Does my present look bad?"
Ryan started teasing me, "I didn't know you're rich."
I said, "I'm not only working here. I do have other part time jobs, Ryan."
Lily, "Still a phone costs a lot."
"I took from my savings too." I said.
Nathaniel, "It looks great."
While everyone was commenting and teasing me, Danielle stood there without uttering a word.
I asked Danielle, "Do you like it?"
She nodded and gave me a hug asking, "Why did you buy a phone for me?"
"Some days ago, I saw you talking to someone with a broken phone. And I noticed it was still broken days before too. I haven't bought a present for anyone so when i went to the store, it reminded me of your broken phone so i bought it. I hope you like it."
"Are you kidding? I love it. Thank you again, Louisa."
"You forget something."
"What is it?"
"You didn't invite me to your graduation yet."
"Sorry, please come to my graduation, Louisa."
I patted her head and said, "Okay. I'll be there for sure."
"I want to introduce you to my brother. He was asking about you."
"I want to meet him too."