Louisa's p.o.v;
After the party, I went to my place. I changed my clothes and took a look at the recipe I got from Lily. After looking at the recipe, I decided to bake the cake so that it'll rest for a day.
I placed the ingredients I needed for the batter and for the frosting on the kitchen table.
First, I started with the process of burnt honey. It is not literally burning but caramelising the honey. I took a saucepan, poured honey and turned the flame to medium and stirred it continuously. Lily told me to cook the honey for eight to ten minutes so let's do it like she said. After ten minutes, the honey turned caramel in colour so I turned off the flame and added a few drops of cold water to stop it from cooking further.
I set aside the burnt honey to cool down and took another saucepan to heat butter, sugar, burnt honey and regular honey altogether. After five minutes, I added baking soda and started whisking it until the colour changed while giving tiny bubbles. After it cooled down a little, I added salt and vanilla and gave it a stir.
In another small bowl, I whisked the eggs and poured it into the butter honey mixture. After sifting in flour, I started folding like Lily told me to do. When it became cookie-like dough, I covered it and kept it in the fridge.
While it was in the fridge, I pre heated the oven to 180 degrees and cut out parchment paper for the cake discs.
I took out the dough and divided it into eight pieces and rolled the dough in circles. After pricking holes in the dough using a fork, I placed it one by one in the oven and baked it for eight to nine minutes.
While the cake was in the oven, I prepared the frosting. In a large bowl, I added sour cream, icing sugar, honey and vanilla. I prepared cream with stiff peaks and gently folded it in a sour mixture.
Now, let's assemble the cake together.
After putting in the frosting, I placed the cake disc on top and spreaded the two tablespoons of frosting evenly across the layer. I repeated the steps for every eight layers and covered the entire cake with the frosting.
Finally, the cake is ready. Only thing that is left is setting.
I kept the cake in the refrigerator and said to it, "Since this is my first time baking, please don't make me feel bad in front of him. Even if you don't taste delight, I'm fine with it. But at least, be edible…"
While I was pleading to the cake, the door opened and Ace walked in.
I closed the refrigerator in reflex and asked, "I thought you wouldn't show up today."
He looked around and said, "I heard you talking to someone. I thought someone was here. Who were you talking with?"
Did he hear me talking to the cake? I'll get embarrassed if he knows. Moreover, the cake should be secret since it needs a day to be fully prepared.
I took my phone which was lying on the table beside the refrigerator and said, "I was talking on the phone."
While he was entering the house, I remembered how the kitchen was. I didn't clean up the mess yet. What if he sees that and finds out about the cake?
When he walked to my room, I let out a sigh of relief. I walked after him and saw him entering the bathroom. I think he's going to take shower. Let's clean the kitchen before he comes out.
Once I'm done cleaning the kitchen, I stay on the floor because it was tiring already from baking the cake. Why is cooking so tiring? Lily sounded like it was easy. I wonder how Lily does it everyday.
"What are you doing down here?"
When I lifted my head up, I saw Ace standing in front of me.
I stood up and said, "Nothing. Just cleaning some stuff."
When I tried to walk past him, he held my hand and asked, "Was it tiring because of the job?"
I used his reason as my excuse, "Yeah. A little."
"Did you eat dinner?"
"Yeah, there was a pre celebration of graduation party. So I'm full."
"For who?"
"A high schooler, in the cafe."
"Doesn't she have a name?"
"Why do you want to know her name? Are you planning to do something behind my back?"
He pinched my cheek and said, "Even if I did, you would find me, right? I thought you were dumb when i first met you but you proved me wrong when you tried to escape from the handcuff. That's where you surprised me in the first place. This head of yours doesn't suit philosophy at all."
"Then what is it suitable for?"
"Maybe a detective or a cop. Because you investigate very well to the point where you fool my guards. Your mind works more like a cop than a girl pursuing literature and philosophy. By the way, what are you planning to do after graduation? You're graduating in two years, right?"
"I'll get a desk job with decent income to run my life."
"You should be grateful to have this gift. Not many have this. Don't waste it by working behind a desk. Use it well."
"Why do I feel like you're pushing me to become a cop?"
"It was just a suggestion. You can also become an attorney or journalist or a job in forensics. The job which needs a brain."
"No job is low or high to me as long as it pays me well. I know what I should do with my life. I don't need any suggestions."
I walked to my room, sat on the chair, took out my book and turned to some pages and started reading.
He closed the book and asked, "Will you do anything as long as it pays you well?"
What does he mean by that? How dare you question me like that? Fine, I'll give you the answer you wanted.
"Yes."
Suddenly, he grabbed my neck and warned, "I won't allow you."
"Who are you to tell me what to do? You don't own me."
He let go of the grip and took his coat and walked out of the apartment.
Who asked you to stay anyway? Just go wherever you want! Like I care.
What does he think in his mind? Does he think I should do only what he says to me? Who is he to say what I should do with my life? Even my parents didn't question me, who is he?
When I looked at my neck, it was reddened because of his grip. All he knows is to use force on others.
When I tried to close the door, I stopped when I saw the guy whom I saw some days ago. He was dressed up in black from head to toe. His face wasn't visible since he was standing in the dark. Is he looking at my place or somewhere else?
I walked out of the apartment and started walking towards him. After noticing me, he moved away from that place and he started to walk. I bumped into Ace while I was following him.
Ace, "I don't want your apology."
"I'm not giving one either."
I walked past Ace and looked for the guy in the front. I started running after him when he started to run. Why is he running away from me? Who's he? Do I know him? By looking at his height, I never knew anyone with this height. The guy who's running in front of me is a lot taller than me.
After a few minutes of running, I lost him in the alley. I looked at the front, it was a dead end. He definitely came here. Where did he disappear?
While I was taking my breath and searching for him in the alley, it started to rain.
'Oh, really?'
I wiped my face and looked at either side. Suddenly, I got pushed down on the ground by someone. When I took a look, it's the guy I was running after. I stood up and started running after him. This doesn't look like it's going to end. I'm sorry for this. I removed my shoe and threw it on him. Missed! I removed my other shoe and threw it on him. It's a hit! He got hit on the back of his knee and fell down in the middle of the street. I ran towards him quickly and stood in front of him to see his face. Couldn't recognise.
I gave a punch to his mouth and grabbed his shirt while he was on the street, kneeling. I asked, "Who are you? Why did you run from me? Are you one of the phantom gang?"
He shaked his head. I gave another punch which made his lips bleed.
"I'm from Pandora gang. Mr Cruz asked me to keep an eye on you. For the missing stone."
I let out a sigh and said, "How many times should I say it? Tell him that I don't have the stone. And, if he sends people to spy on me again, I won't talk to them like I do to you. Spying on me will be their last job. Inform him."
He took off after hearing a warning from me.
When I turned back, I saw Ace standing in front of me. He said, "That's what I was talking about. He was taller and weighed more than you but he still got caught by you. Because you were fast and quick. By the way, who's he? Why did you chase him like that? Did he steal anything from you?"
"Recently, I was watched by someone and it felt very annoying. So I went after him and asked what he wanted from me."
"What did he say?"
"He's part of the Pandora gang. He was sent by Paulo to keep an eye on me for the stone."
"What?"
Suddenly, Ace took his gun out and shot the guy who was running away from me. When I looked at the guy, he was on the ground.
"Why do you shoot him?"
He made a call and spoke to someone else on the other end. When he's done, he said to me, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
In a minute, a car stopped beside us and I saw Valentine and Mateo getting out of the car. They took the guy I caught and talked to Ace about something and took him along with them.
"Where are they taking him?" I asked him.
He patted my shoulders saying, "Let's go to the apartment first." He looked around and said, "Come on, let's get inside."
Even though I asked him to leave, he accompanied me to my apartment. When I was about to close the door, he said, "Let me in."
"Didn't you leave earlier?"
He walked in and said, "It's not safe to leave you alone. I'll stay here for the night."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, go on."
"You're a part of the phantom gang. You're the next in line leader's position for the phantom. Have a rival against the Pandora gang. You do drug business. You're kidnapping and murdering people. Which is illegal and a biggest crime. I bet many cops will be looking for you. Aren't you afraid of getting caught by them?"
"Didn't you ignore me before? Why are you asking me now? Why should I answer you?"
I opened the door and asked, "Will you please leave my place?"
"What?"
"I don't want you to stay here."
"What if another guy shows up in front of your door? And, with a gun? What will you do then?"
"I'll take care of that. Now, leave."
"Don't make me force you, Louisa."
"Then, I'll leave. Stay here all you want."
When I tried to walk out, he pulled me inside and asked, "When will you stop being stubborn? It's tiring to handle you."
"Who asked you to handle me anyway?" "Let go of my hand already."
I walked to my bed and laid in it.
After a while, he walked in and turned off the lights. I felt him when he laid beside me on the bed.
Ace, "Are you mad at me?"
I didn't reply and remained silent. After that question, I didn't hear him talking. I guess he fell asleep.
When I turned to see, he was still awake. I got caught by him.
He said, "I thought you slept."
I turned away from him and closed my eyes.
He said, "I know you show yourself that you're strong to everyone but I don't know why you're doing it to me. If you want to say something, you can. You don't have to raise a wall against you everytime."
"I don't like the jobs you mentioned. Those jobs don't give peace of mind. All I wanted was a simple life with the needed amount of money with a peaceful life."
"Then I should stay away from you because I'm the one who's bringing the trouble to you. Sorry for coming into your life and making it difficult for you. This will be my last stay here. You won't have any trouble from now on. You can have your peaceful life back."
"I doubt that."