Bittersweet✔️

E p i l o g u e

Epilogue

A few weeks later

"Rosaline, help me with these!"

I rush over to Claire and help her as the egg yolk tried to escape through the gap of her fingers.

"Got it!"

I safely put the yolk in a separate bowl and help clean the minor messed from the yolk that did manage to escape.

"That was a close one, " Claire said as she washes her hand.

I nodded my head in agreement. We are making some Asian sponge cake but so far it wasn't going as plan. We haven't gotten to the mixing part yet but we were already making a mess. I let out a sigh as I look at the clock in the kitchen. Thirty minutes have passed and only step two finished.

"We are so slow."

Claire let out a laugh, "tell me about it."

We both laughed after that before we went back to finishing the cake. After a lot of struggle and spilling, we finally got the cake mixture inside the oven. Once we turn the oven to the right temperature we were finished. Finished with the baking part.

I let out a sigh of relief as I wiped my forehead.

"We're finally done. A good amount before they come home, " I said when I notice the clock reach five-twenty.

In just forty more minutes they will be home. And by then the cake should be finished.

Ding!

Twenty-five minutes have passed and the cake was finally done baking. We took it out of the oven and gasp from the delicious aroma and the appetizing sponge-like cake texture. We let it rest for five more minutes before getting into decorating.

Claire had pink frosting to decorate hers while I had blue. We laughed when we both accidentally got some icing on our sleeves.

"O! How did you write so neatly?!" Claire asked me when she peeked at my cake.

"You just have to be careful when you squeeze the icing out. See?" I said as I demonstrated how I wrote the words out.

She studied me for a bit before doing it herself, "I did it!!!"

"Mmm. What's that smell?" A voice said to us.

We both turn to the owner of the voice and gasp when we saw Nicholas standing by the kitchen entrance. I look at the clock and realize it was exactly six o'clock.

"You're not supposed to see it, " I grumbled as he spoiled the surprise for himself.

He chuckled at me as he walks towards me and gave my forehead a peck, "sorry, my little rose. But at least you get to surprise me with the taste. I still haven't eaten it yet."

I still frowned at him as I pushed him out of the door.

"Stupid bear, " I mumbled.

Claire laughed at me as she shook her head at us.

-*-

"This is amazing! You girls did a wonderful job, " Mrs. Peterson said as she praised us for our baking.

We both thanked her with a happy smile on our faces.

"Rosaline, I still can't believe you finally got my boy to settle down. I honestly thought he was gay or just like girls chasing after him, " Claire's mom said.

"Excuse me? Mom!" Nicholas shouted, choking on the cake he was eating.

She laughed at him, "why are you so upset. You know it's true. Girls are chasing after you like moths attracted to fire. You're just like your father. Pain in the ass."

"Alexis! It's not my fault girls like Mitchell Annoy kept clinging to me. You know I only care about you, " Mr. Peterson said as he gripped Mrs. Peterson's hand.

My eyes widen when they mention my mother's name.

"Michell Annoy?"

"Yes, dear. Michell Annoy. She and we have a lot of history back in high school, " she explained to me.

My mouth dropped in disbelief. What a small world we are in, "that's my mother's name..."

It went dead quiet as they all stared at me with wide eyes.

"Well. I guess fate wanted us to be together as a family."

"What a small world we live in, "Nicholas's dad said at the same time.

"I never knew she had a daughter. Speaking of that, how did you and Nicholas end up meeting each other?"

Nicholas and I both stared at each other as we recalled the first time we met each other. We both looked away and scratch the back of our neck.

"Um. It's a long story."

"Yeah. It sure is."

Luckily they dropped it at that and soon the dinner went back to normal. The conversation about my mother was long gone. I was surprised by how carefree both of the parents were. They didn't seem to mind that I was the daughter of Michell Annoy. They instead took care of me like I was their daughter.

I smiled as I took a bite of my cake. I was indeed lucky enough to have someone to care for me.

My life wasn't the best at first but now it is.

I guess my life is after all not bittersweet.