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F I F T E E N Y E A R S A F T E R 

“You’re my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you’re my sweetie pie. You’re my cuppycake gumdrop soogums boogums, you’re the apple of my eye and I love you so and I want to know that I’ll always be right here, and I love to sing sweet songs for you because you are so dear.” Aimee sang with a wide happy grin as she drew Hello Kitty’s face on the cupcakes, humming as she squeezed her piping bag.

For the final touch, she grabbed the bottle of pink sprinkles and showered it above the cupcakes. She stepped back, arms on both sides of her waist as she stared at the pretty pink cupcakes. Her grin grew wider, eyes squinting like a kid.

She craned her neck, eyes wandered around the small kitchen. Flour was everywhere as if it was snow, some bowls were left untidied on the sink, but the girl only smiled; lips sealed together while she rubbed her neck. A kid in a kitchen played with tools and mixed ingredients. That’s how it may look like but beneath the surface, the kid knows what she is doing. 

“You’re my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you’re my sweetie pie,” she chanted once again. The oven timer rang and she marched her way towards it, wore her oven mitts, and took out the freshly baked cake. Her eyes closed as she sniffed, and the warm, sweet, cheesy aroma almost watered her mouth.

Who would’ve thought that this kid runs a cake shop she rents every month of October? 

And the cake shop is always the talk of the town for its sweet, appetizing pastries. She's a bit messy inside the kitchen but it is undeniable that her cakes are both attractive and delicious... Due to the demand, she now has resellers and conducts deliveries. But the Ameira in AMEIRA’S SUGAR PLUM SWEET CAKES remained anonymous where only the real owner knows.

After doing the strawberry cheesecake’s toppings and decorations, she immediately boxed the cupcakes she made earlier. Fifty cupcakes in ten pink boxes, everything Hello Kitty as what the client has requested. After closing the lids, she placed the popular unicorn logo of the shop on the box’s top surface. The strawberry cheesecake then made its way inside a box, packed and now ready to deliver. 

Aimee leaned against another baking table behind her. She smiled and then yawned, causing her eyes to water. She wiped her cheeks and the corner of her eyes using the back of her hand. She heaved a sigh of relief after glancing at her unicorn calendar on the wall. 

Her cupcakes and cakes are now for delivery. Might as well take a long nap after cleaning the mess and baking a few more cupcakes for display.

She began picking up the used bowls and utensils, washed them thoroughly, wiped them dry, and placed them back in its resting places. She wiped the countertops, removed the flour, wiped her sweat with a clean towel of hers, and went on cleaning the rest of the baker’s tables all while singing the same sugar plum song with her sweet, youthful voice.

Meanwhile, Aleja’s forehead wrinkled as he tilted his head up to read the giant pink storefront sign.

AMEIRA’S SUGAR PLUM SWEET CAKES. 

He couldn’t help but stretch his lips into a smirk. His eyes squinted as the sunlight hit his face. When he looked straight, he saw his faint reflection on the glass walls only to reminisce memories.

Fifteen years after being imprisoned for a crime he did not do, he finally exited the walls of the city jail. Aleja is extremely determined to be free because he knew, without a doubt, that the real murderer is still out here, fostering evil. Sure, he wasn’t the first of his kind that was accused and jailed without doing anything wrong, but he will not keep silent about it and make them pay.

Money and power are ruling the world in a bad way.

He needs to get out of prison without the person who threw him in, knowing. Hence, he knew he needed to take risks. He became a hitman working for politicians, killing high-ranking government officials. Through this, he was able to enter and exit the city jail. Instead of cash, he asked for them to help him be released earlier from prison which they gladly agreed.

Aleja’s jaw clenched as he stared at himself.

Now that he’s free, he can finally put into action the plan he had thought of for years behind bars.

Justice will be served by his own hands. The evil must pay for its sins and suffer more than what the innocent had. 'In a world where justice is a marionette of money,' he thought, 'sometimes it must be you who must handcuff the devils to death, yourself.'

Knowing he’s not entirely free because of the case filed against him, he must not be involved with even the simplest trouble. While executing his revenge, he knew he must also find evidence to finally clear his name and prove himself innocent. Being out here still is uncertain freedom since his politician acquaintances only managed to alleviate the verdict that instead of forty years, he was out fifteen years earlier. He will then take this opportunity to seek vengeance against those who jailed him and find the real culprit of that incident fifteen years ago.

After fifteen years, it's his first time stepping into the streets of Manila and breathing the outside world’s air. The long time he spent inside the city jail slapped him with another truth; he’s not getting any younger. And today, other than his release date, also happens to be the day of his birth. The same day that drastically turned his life upside-down. He despises this day so much, he never had plans on celebrating it,' but plans change,' he thought.

“Where are you? Where’s the cake? Have you bought one already? The kid wants you to hurry, it’s also his birthday, dude!”

He sighed, holding his phone near his ear. 

“I’m about to. Calm your rumbling stomach, Kendrick,” Aleja speaks and drops the call even before Kendrick could reply.

He never thought that a cake shop would be the first place he would visit on the day of his release. He wasn’t even able to visit his dad’s grave.

After having another sigh, he finally entered the shop and was greeted with everything pink and unicorn prints and stickers. 

“I look like a dad, buying a cake for a daughter’s birthday,” he whispered, slowly shaking his head. It was only then he realized, he was alone.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” he said, his deep voice echoing across the room. No one has answered yet. He took the chance to grab the free cookies placed by the counter. “Not bad. Not so sweet, not too plain. It actually tastes good,” he said to himself and grabbed more, hiding it in his pants’ pocket.

He slouched slightly and wandered his eyes on the cakes displayed in the pastry display cases. Every delicacy looked appetizing. A small smile formed on his lips when he saw that round, rocky road cake. 

“Kendrick left me a thousand, I just hope it’s enough,” he murmured.

When he stood upright, he saw a glimpse of the kitchen where a girl in a messy bun and a bandana headband walked around. He noticed white spots on her neck, cheeks, and even on the hair, which is obviously flour. 

'Tasty cookies but does she bathe with the flour?' He thought.

And then he heard her hum and sing a familiar nursery rhyme.

“You’re my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you’re my sweetie pie. You’re my cuppycake gumdrop soogums boogums you’re the apple of my eye and I love you so and I want to know that I’ll always be right here, and I love to sing sweet songs for you because you are so dear.” 

Unconsciously, his lip curved into a smile and then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the countertop, and watched the girl bake and sing. Aleja took several bites of the cookie from the free cookie basket as he seized the opportunity to witness a slight behind-the-scenes of how the cake shop creates its delicacies. 

His smile reached his ears when the girl began to dance while humming. Sure, he enjoys this peaceful scene, he did not even notice he was slowly banging his head to the beat as the girl sang. His heart softened at the sight. He felt like he was apart from the world when he was behind bars, he lost his freedom, he felt caged; witnessing someone do what she loves and dance like no one’s watching, he felt he can be free too. He wants to be free from all the burdens of the world. This girl made him feel happiness like no other, her calming voice took him to a paradise of smiles.

At that moment, his soul knew meeting this girl was not an accident. 

“Done!” Aimee heartily smiled as she finished drizzling sprinkles on the icing of the cupcakes. One-by-one, she placed them on a decorative tray to display on the counter. 

Holding the tray’s handles with both hands, she turned around only to freeze on the spot. Someone was staring and smiling at her. Before she could even move, her eyes were immediately captivated by his manly smile. 'The most beautiful smile she had ever seen in her entire life,' she thought. He looked stunning with his pepper stubble and deep brown eyes. 

She smiled as sweet as sugar. She left the tray on the table and wiped her hands on the apron before taking it off. 

Aleja blinked as he saw the girl up close. Fascinated by how she acts and speaks like a little kid. She did not even bother to remove the flour on her face and fix her hair, but to his eyes, she still looks stunning.

“Hi! How may I help you?” Aimee said upon arriving by the counter.

Aleja stood upright and tried to bring back his straight face. 

“Uh, this rocky road cake, please,” he said, stopping himself to grin widely. “How much is it, miss?”

“It’s 850 pesos, sir! Anything else?” Aimee always had this smile on her face every time she talks to customers, her mom always reminded her to do so. She knows smiling has an effect on people, 'look at sir now,' she thought, he’s turning pinkish-red! 

“N-No, I’ll only take the cake.” Spending a long time in prison made him forget how to talk to ladies, thus his malfunctioning while in front of the girl. 

Aimee packed the cake with a smile, and even added a free cupcake as part of her yearly birthday giveaway. To her, if it’s her birthday, it’s everyone’s birthday as well. She went back to the counter with two boxes, one with the cake and the other with the cupcake.

“Uh, I did not order—" Aleja instantly reacted.

“I know, sir,” she said softly and handed him the boxes. “Happy birthday! Have a wonderful birthday and I hope the cupcake will make you smile!” Aimee wished, both index fingers at the corners of her wide smile. “You look lonely, please smile at me again.”

A smile formed on Aleja’s face and patted her head. He wasn’t sure of how to respond. He hates his birthday, but he never knew this year would be a memorable one.

Aimee, Ameira’s birthday alter, always reminded her of her mom, the person who taught her to bake.

“Thank you,” Aleja said, words oozing with sincerity. After paying, he exited the shop only to see her still smiling. The girl formed finger hearts at him which made Aleja hold his chuckle.

“Weird but cute,” Aleja whispered, shaking his head with a smile before making his way to Kendrick and his friend's family's place.