Cherry Jam Strawberry Shortcake Novels & Stories

I parked my car in front of a pastry shop and I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Sumama ka, Mine. I don’t know what flavor your family would like, so be my guest.” I opened the car door for her. She smiled at me which made my heart do a sommersault and she murmured a simple thank you just enough for me to hear. Again, I opened the glass sliding door of the pastry shop for her as I motioned my hand for her to go inside first. “Ladies first, Mine,” I said with a smile. “One strawberry shortcake and a chocolate cake. To go, please. Thanks.” I just watch her as she talked to the cashier about her order.

Nais kong kumagat ng original glazed, lemon meringue pie, cookies and kreme, apple cinnamon, glazed raspberry, strawberries and kreme, millionaireʼs shortbread, glazed cruller, maple bar, wonut, at glazed twist, pero biglaang dumating si Clifford sa aking direksiyon. Hindi ako makatingin kay Clifford nang direkta, sapagkat pinagmamasdan at sinusuri niya ang buong mukha ko pagkatapos kumuha ng millionaireʼs shortbread na may dala-dalang whisky sour. “Oh, this party isnʼt maskara, itʼs formal. If I were you, I advise you to reveal your beautiful face, Gold Lady!” Bago pa man siya umalis sa aking kinaroroonan, muli niya akong pinagmasdan at ngumiti. “Oh, I made a mistake. Wearing maskara may be

" I said. "Ano pa - Ano pa?" tanong ni Cora. Biglang napakumpas ako ng aking kamay sa isang fashionable way, suot ang puting lab coat, ako'y naghayag ng aking matinding pagkatuwa. "Ang bagay na aking nakuha ay.... "Isang pack of Cherries!!!!" I shouted with giggles. These fruit is the epitome of good fortune, new beginnings and revival. They are bouncy round, cutely small, black or red, sweet or acidicly sour.

Hugo asked. "Could you make a strawberry coffee, please?" Ngumisi si Hugo. "That's weird... But i'll try." Masayang naupo sa barstool si Catalina nang alalayan siya ni Hugo. After he secured her safely sitting on the chair, Hugo started cleaning the strawberries and grinding them in a blender. He put some strawberry syrup in a clear glass and melted the native powdered coffee. Nakatingin lang si Catalina sa ginagawa ng asawa habang nakaupo sa barstood. Aside from what Hugo was making, Hugo was also part if the menu.

Gusto ko sana siyang awatin at nahihiya talaga ako. "Hon, would you like some desert?" tanong niya sa akin. "I want it, Daddy." singit naman ng anak naming si Harold. "Okay son.." "Kindly added some of the Chocolate Crackle and Cherry Jam Lamington." aniya. "How about you hon, would you like to add some more?" tanong ulit nito. Gusto ko na lang sanang sabihin dito na mag tubig na lang ako. "N..Nothing hon." ngiting sagot ko at baka magdagdag pa siya.

Pagkakita nito, agad na sinabi ni Cosmo, “Ayoko ng strawberry cake.” Sa halip na mainis, mabilis na pinalitan ni Eloise ang cake ng matcha, sabay ngiti. “Hindi ako namimili, ito na lang para sa'yo!” Bihira para kay Cosmo na pumili ng kahit ano, kaya nang makita niyang pinalitan ito ni Eloise, napatingin siya rito. Ngunit kahit matcha cake, ayaw niya rin. Sa totoo lang, wala siyang ganang kumain. Ngunit parang hindi ito nauunawaan ni Eloise—o baka naman nauunawaan niya, ngunit nagkukunwaring hindi.

Maya-maya'y pumasok sa kusina si Jinky, ang kanyang ina, bitbit ang maliit na bayong mula sa grocery. "Aba, ang bango!" sabi nito habang sinisinghot ang hangin. "Parang mas bumango ka pa kesa sa cinnamon rolls mo, 'nak!" "Ma, tumigil ka nga d'yan." Tumawa si Fortuna, pero may saya sa kanyang mga mata. "Tatlong order ang kukunin mamaya. May isa pang regular na gusto raw subukan 'yung blueberry cheesecake natin."

Tahimik siyang umatras nang dalawang hakbang bago sumagot. “Strawberry. Mas gusto ni Wendy ‘yong mga cute at girly things.” “See?” masayang sabi ni Cassidy. “I knew we’d think the same!” Bigla itong tila may naisip. “Oh! What if strawberry cake ang base, then lalagyan natin ng chocolate macarons sa labas? So she'll get to enjoy two flavors at once.” Napangiti si Czarina. “That sounds good.”

Tahimik kaming kumain, pero komportable. Pagkatapos ng dinner, naglabas siya ng dessert. Chocolate cake. Dalawang layers. May strawberries sa ibabaw. “Hindi ko ‘to ginawa,” amin niya. “Binili ko ‘to doon sa bakery na gusto mo. ‘Yung malapit sa office mo.” “Naalala mo.” “Naalala ko ang lahat tungkol sa ‘yo, Vanessa. Lahat.” Naramdaman kong muli akong maiiyak. “Tigilan mo nga ako. Naiiyak na naman ako.”