CHAPTER 005 - Wrong Box, Right Guy

She bit her lip again, trying to hold back a squeal of excitement. Her heart was pounding wildly, and she could barely contain the giddy feeling bubbling up inside her chest. She felt like a teenage girl in a romance movie, overwhelmed with joy.

How could she say no to that man? The same man she had been secretly fantasizing about since the moment he appeared at the bakeshop earlier. From his smile to the way he looked at her, he had completely disarmed her.

She gave him a soft nod as her answer. It was subtle, but it carried all the weight of her anticipation and silent hope.

But a loud crack of thunder suddenly echoed through the sky, shaking her from her thoughts and dragging her back to reality. It was as if the universe itself was reminding her not to float too far into her daydreams. Jolted, she quickly reached for the umbrella that had fallen to the floor of the front seat, opened it against the persistent rain, and finally stepped out of the car.

Before closing the door behind her, she bent down and peeked back inside; her eyes finding his.

“I… usually go to that bakeshop every weekend at eight in the morning.”

He nodded, his lips still curled in a smile, effortlessly charming. “Copy that. See you on Saturday.”

She shut the door and quickly turned away. As she walked toward the gate, she let out a small squeal under her breath. She still couldn’t believe she was going to see that charming stranger again.

She couldn’t believe someone like him would actually be interested in getting to know her better.

She glanced over her shoulder to check if he had already left, but his car was still parked there. She quickly looked away and smiled shyly to herself.

He’s probably watching me until I get inside. How sweet is that...?

She walked to the door with a giddy smile on her face. But just as she turned to glance back one more time, the front door suddenly opened and there stood her smiling grandmother, Gran Valentina.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked past her grandmother and saw her entire family gathered behind her.

Maureen, her cousin, was also there, wearing a knowing smirk.

“I knew it. You planned a surprise for me, didn’t you? That’s why you were late,” her grandmother greeted with a kiss on her cheek.

Despite her age, Gran Valentina still looked youthful and full of energy. She could walk perfectly fine and had such a vibrant presence. Her gray hair and gentle laugh lines didn’t take anything away from her charm. Always smiling and genuinely kind to everyone, she was adored by the whole family.

She set the umbrella aside by the door and looked over at the relatives behind her grandmother. She flashed them a warm smile.

Even though her mind was still reeling from the moment with Van, she forced herself to act normal. She pulled herself together and greeted cheerfully,

“Happy birthday, Gran!” she said, raising the cake box in her hands.

Her grandmother gently pulled her inside and closed the door behind them.

“Is that my favorite mango cake?” her grandmother asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Yep! And this one’s the best mango cake in the metro.” She signaled to Maureen for help, and her cousin quickly approached with a lighter in hand. Maureen assisted in untying the ribbon and opening the cake box.

They were just about to place the candle and start singing, ready to kick off the birthday song with cheerful energy, when something made them stop. The festive air was suddenly interrupted by confusion.

Demani groaned as soon as she saw the cake. Her heart dropped.

“What is this, Demani?” Maureen asked, frowning as she leaned in to inspect it. “You know Gran’s allergic to chocolate. Why would you bring this?” Her voice was a mix of concern and disbelief.

Their previously excited grandmother, who had been practically glowing with anticipation, now furrowed her brows as she peeked into the box she was still holding. Her eyes scanned the dedication written in delicate script across the surface of the cake.

“‘Missing you both...’? What’s this, Demani?” Maureen read aloud, confusion etched all over her face.

She shut her eyes in dismay, a wave of panic rising in her chest. “Holy moly... I grabbed the wrong box.”

Without wasting a second, she quickly pulled the box away from her grandmother, closed it tight, and signaled Maureen with an urgent look to re-tie the ribbon. They were scrambling to fix the mix-up when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Everyone turned toward the door, alert.

“Are we expecting another guest?” her mother asked, glancing around.

When no one responded, Gran Valentina took the lead, stepping toward the door with the ease and confidence only she could carry at eighty.

And when she saw who was standing there, her eyes widened in shock.

It was Van Dominic. He was holding a cake box in his hands, and for a split second, he looked just as surprised to be facing the entire family, all gathered in the foyer, staring at him.

But the surprise was fleeting. He quickly composed himself and flashed a wide, charming smile as his eyes met hers.

“Hi again,” he greeted.

She swallowed hard. She could already sense the buzz of curiosity and excitement building around her.

“Oh, hello, young man. How may I help you?” she heard her grandmother ask politely.

Van’s attention shifted to her grandmother. With a respectful tone, he replied,

“Good afternoon, Ma’am. I came to swap this cake with... that one.” He glanced at the box in her arms before looking back at her with a smile. “Good thing I thought to double-check before I left.”

She didn’t know what to do or say. She was frozen in place, staring at the handsome man before her. She could hear whispers from her family in the background, and then a polite cough from her grandmother beside her.

She resisted the urge to bite her lip again. She didn’t want to look like a woman thirsty for attention in front of her grandmother.

“Hey,” Maureen nudged her from the side. When she didn’t respond, she gave her a light elbow.

That finally snapped her back to reality.

Van’s smile widened even more after seeing her stunned expression. He then turned back to her grandmother, his expression gentle.

“I believe this is your cake, Ma’am,” he said kindly.

Her grandmother accepted the box with a smile, looking up at the tall man. “Are you my granddaughter’s special someone?”

“Gran...” she groaned in embarrassment.

She handed Van the mistaken chocolate cake, which he took easily, and then she retrieved the mango cake from her grandmother.

“He just gave me a ride from the bakeshop earlier,” she explained. “The weather was terrible and I couldn’t get a ride, so—”

“Oh, shush, Demani. A man who’s not interested in a woman wouldn’t go out of his way to drive her home. It’s obvious he likes you.”

Her eyes widened at her grandmother’s bold comment, which only made Van chuckle. The whispers from the rest of the family grew even louder.

“What’s your name, hijo?” her grandmother asked as she clung to Van’s arm. There was warmth in her eyes as she looked at him.

“I’m Van Dominic Loudd, Ma’am. And you must be Mrs. Valentina Dominico?”

“Yes, that’s me,” her grandmother replied with a smile. “Are you in a hurry? It’s my birthday today, and I’d love to invite you in as a thank-you for bringing my granddaughter home.”

Nice one, Gran! she thought with a silent scream.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for Van’s response. He turned to look at her again.

Their eyes met, and she gulped hard, especially when he smiled at her once more.

“Is it okay with you?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Well, if you’re not busy, why not?”

“I’m not busy.”