143 Kaoru’s Cake House - Chapter 9

Chapter Nine : Saturday Morning Call

Ginn Celes’ sweet Saturday morning slumber was disturbed by a call from his brother, Mike Celes.

“Hey! Aren’t you awake yet? It’ll be hard getting an income if you keep waking up this late!” Mike reprimanded before Ginn could even utter a morning greeting.

In a hoarse voice from just waking up, Ginn answered, “I came back home late last night. After playing tennis with some friends, a client called to discuss  about an upcoming runway project.”

“Whatever my dear boy, you still have to wake up early. Breathe some fresh morning air. It’s already 8 o’clock. Being a bachelor doesn’t mean you can do anything according to your will. Natures hate that,” Mike lectured.

Fury ignited within Ginn. He wanted to voice his resilient. His blood boiled for a moment. “Did you call this early only to rant? Are you mom now?!”

He could hear Mike chuckling over on the other end of the phone. Then, he heard the shuffling sounds of the phone being passed as Mike talked with the other person. “Here, you better speak to him. He’s already pissed!”

“Hello…good morning!” The sweet voice enter in his ears. Moon Johanez!

“Hi! Morning,” Ginn immediately greeted. The voice of the girl he respected the most was ringing in his ears, her good morning wish to him repeating again and again.

“Ginn, we’ll have lunch at Kaoru’s Cake House later this afternoon, alright? We can discuss about the wedding dress then,” Moon said.

“Alright!” Ginn agreed.

“Okay, see you!” Moon replied before ending the call.

Unable to reply quick enough, the line was cut off. Ginn’s lips curved upwards into a smile while he shook his head. He threw his phone onto the bed and then, went straight for the shower. As he got ready to enjoy the weekend morning, he couldn’t help but think about that girl…. Jasmine, along with what he should eat for breakfast.

Just as Ginn was about to enter the bathroom, his house phone rang. Quickly he rush to where his house phone was and picked up the call, “Good morning, Ginn’s Residence!”

“Good morning, Ginn!” The voice on the other line belonged to none other than his business partner, Elle Cavier. He was a fashion designer that he truly respected and admired.

“Hello boss! How are you this morning? Why did you call on a weekend? Is there an emergency event?” asked Ginn while dropping onto his bed.

“No, there isn’t. I just wanted to ask what your plans are for this afternoon. I was thinking of inviting you to lunch…” answered Elle but before he could finish his sentence, Ginn cut him off.

“Alright! We’ll meet at Kaoru’s Cake House during lunchtime! Mike—my brother—and Moon wants to discuss about the wedding dress. I really need you there to perfect the wedding dress I designed. Please!”

“Hmm… okay. See you there,” Elle replied without any objections and then hung up.

Ginn smiled another time and shook his head. That was how Elle was after succeeding a huge task. He would rest the whole weekend without checking at the boutique or making any meeting with any customers. Just one day all for himself.

After returning the house phone to where it belonged, Ginn stood up and went to the bathroom. This time, there were no interruptions by the phone and his mind wandered back to the last Saturday. Will he be able to meet Jasmine today? It has been four days since the encounter in the lift.

If the morning brought you to her, then she’ll be yours for the day…

~*~

Just like usual, Jasmine woke up as early as dawn. She had breakfast with her mother and as if it were a routine, she accompanied her mother to Maria’s Bouquet.

The hand on the clock read half past eight in the morn. By then, Jasmine was all alone in the condo unit again. Lazy to watch television, she went to her bedroom. All of a sudden, her mobile phone that was lying on top of her study table rang. In one swift motion, she picked it up and answered the call after a quick glance at the ID. She couldn’t help the grin on her face.

“Hello Liyana! Why are you only calling now? It’s not nice you know!” Jasmine playfully scolded.

“I’m sorry, my friend. It’s hard to call fromPakistan,” Liyana softly replied.

“You promised to call four days ago!” Jasmine whined childishly.

“Sorry. I had a flight delay because there were unsettled things over there.”

“So? Are you back already?”

“Yes!”

Jasmine cheered. “When can we meet?” she asked instantly.

“Anytime works. But…didn’t you move out? I don’t know your new address. Where is it?”

Jasmine proceeded to tell her best friend her new address but out of the blue, Liyana’s side of the line grew quiet. Silence. Jasmine’s answer had made her mute. Or was it simply a connection problem?

“Hello! Hello! Are you there?!” Jasmine called over the phone repeatedly.

“Yes… I’m here.”

“What happened?!”

Liyana paused, uncertainty laced in her voice. “It’s nothing. Err…you’re living over there now? Do you mean….the one near Kaoru’s Cake House?”

Jasmine stared in nothing at particular, her smile widening as she heard the name of her newly found shop yesterday.

“Yes! How did you know the shop, Liyana? Have you been there before?”

“Um…. I have friends there.”

“You mean the guys there?”

“Yes…”

Jasmine’s heart leapt in joy. She didn’t know that her best friend that went toKoreajust a month ago before heading toPakistancame back with good news. Liyana was already used to the area. Especially Kaoru’s Cake House that served her favorite cake.

“That’s great! If it’s like that, why don’t we meet at Kaoru’s Cake House this afternoon?”

“What?! We’ll just meet at your house! It’ll be fine! I want to see your new place!” Liyana replied, reluctant to go to the cake shop.

“We’ll come to my place after we hang out at the shop. Please?” Jasmina pleaded.

Liyana began to complain, giving excuses, trying to get out of the situation.

“Why won’t you go there? You’ve fainted in front of them before, haven’t you?” Jasmine giggled at the memory of her best friend’s phobia of guys. Even more so if she was touched by her crush. She could definitely faint!

“That’s enough! We’ll meet there at half past one!”

“Alright~” Jasmine replied in a singsong tone.

It was evident she was filled with bubbling happiness with the return of her childhood best friend. There was much to tell since she moved here. Even more about the one thing, or rather person, that haunted her mind…

Ginn Celes.