Louisa's p.o.v;
After finishing my work in the cafe, I went to my apartment. I looked around for Ace forgetting what happened yesterday. When it hit, I felt confused about myself. Why did I search for him in the first place? Wasn't I just a fling for him? Let's stop thinking about him.
When I dropped on the couch, I remembered the cake I made for Ace. How did I forget it? What am I going to do with the cake now? Back in the cafe, when Ryan and Lily asked for the cake, I said that I hadn't started preparing yet. I can't believe I lied shamelessly for a cake. Urggh!
I opened the refrigerator, took the cake out and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind.
After some hours, I stood in front of Ace's house. I must be really crazy to come here.
I ringed and waited outside the house. Someone opened the door and asked for my identity. While I was explaining, Mateo saw me and asked, "Louisa, what are you doing here?" He told the guy who opened the door to leave and asked me to come inside the house.
I asked after stepping into the house, "Where is he? Is he here?"
"Who are you asking for? Oh, okay. I understand. He's inside. Talking to some people. You can wait in his room for a while."
I nodded and headed to his room.
Mateo opened the door for me and said, "I'll inform him that you're here." And left.
I entered his room and placed the cake on the table beside the bed. While I was waiting, the room reminded me of some unwanted memories I wanted to forget. I looked around the room and saw some new artefacts. I don't remember seeing them here before. Did he buy it recently? While I was looking at the artefacts, I came across some broken mirrors. Why is he keeping broken pieces of mirror in the room? When I looked at it closer, it had blood stains on it. Blood stains? Who's blood stains are they?... Is this the mirror which cut my hand? Is it my blood on the broken mirror pieces? Is he crazy?
The door opened. Ace walked in the room. Seeing him, I walked to the table to get the cake but before that he hugged me from behind. What's with the hug? It felt nice though. No, I came to deliver the cake. I broke the hug and when I was about to say it, he gave me a hug from the front too. Why does it feel good?
He said while hugging me, "You're here."
I patted him on the back to break the hug and said, "To be honest, I came here to deliver this to you."
I walked to the table and took the cake and gave it to him saying, "Done and dusted. I'll get going now."
He held my hand and asked, "What is this?"
"It's a cake. For you."
When I tried to leave again, he asked, "Why are you giving me a cake?"
"Do you remember when you talked to me about the cake your mother baked for you? I thought 'should i bake a cake?' and, here it is. The Medovik. Enjoy your cake. I'll leave."
He held my hand and asked, "Did you bake a cake for me?"
"Yeah. Now, if you let go of my hand, I'll just leave."
"Why are you in a hurry? Do you want to be somewhere else now?"
I stopped leaving and said while pointing at him, "Because. I'm. Still. Mad. At. You."
He pulled me into him and made me sit on the bed and said, "Let's eat together before you leave."
He opened the cake and set it on the table and made a two piece using the wooden knife which I kept Inside the cake box. He gave me one piece and took a bite from his piece of cake. I took a bite from the cake too. Wow! I can't believe I baked this with my hand. It's sweet and sour and delicious. It does have some crunchy texture too. I laughed after taking a bite from my piece of cake.
When I looked at Ace, he was in tears. Did he get an uncooked part of the cake?
"Where did I go wrong? Does that piece in your hand taste bad? Is it uncooked? I'm so sorry. I didn't know. When I tasted mine, I thought it came out really well but…"
Before I finished, he pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek before parting which left me in surprise.
Ace, "It's good. It's really good." And smiled at me.
I nodded and got up from the bed saying, "I'll get going then."
When I tried to open the door, he asked, "Can you stay the night here?"
If I stay here, Raphael gets suspicious of me.
"I can't."
"Take Mateo with you."
"It's fine. I'll go by myself."
After coming out of his house, I headed to my apartment.
The next morning at Ryan's cafe,
Ryan, "I thought you'd never show it is."
"Stop teasing me. Did you know how difficult it is for me to take it here? Have a bite and say how it was."
When he looked at the cake which was missing two pieces already, he asked, "Looks like it has already been judged by someone. What's the point of my reviews?"
"Ryan, please."
"Okay, I'll stop teasing you."
He took a bite from the piece of cake I gave him. His expression changed to being surprised. He likes it. I got happy after seeing his expression on his face.
"Did you really make this? Did you buy it before coming here?"
"I'm the one who baked the cake."
"It's delicious. Do you know baking? Why didn't you say you know baking before? Are you trying to hide your talents from me?"
"This talent you're talking about. I just discovered it a day ago. I was surprised like you too when I tasted the cake. I didn't know it would come out really well. I thought I could finish the cake by myself but you guys popped up in my mind. I couldn't eat it by myself so I brought it to you."
He patted on my shoulder saying, "Keep it in the fridge before you leave. I'll give it to Lily and others."
"Thank you, Ryan."
Since I'm taking a day off today because of the Raphael investigation, I left the cake inside the fridge for Lily, Nathaniel, Danielle and others in the cafe.
When I came to the apartment, I saw Raphael leaning on his car outside the apartment building.
"Raphael!"
He waved his hand when I called out his name and gave me a smile.
I asked him, "Why are you standing here? I thought you would have started your investigation."
"I was waiting for you."
"Why do you need me? I don't know any of them here. I wouldn't help you."
"I didn't expect you to help me either. I'm starting my investigation with you."
"Didn't you investigate me already in your station?"
"I'm starting from the scratch again."
"Okay, what do you want to know?"
"Tell me when did you start seeing him near your apartment."
"It was a couple of weeks ago. And, I saw him again two days ago."
"Didn't you see him again after that?"
I shrugged my shoulders and said, "No. I didn't see him."
He nodded and asked, "Can you take me to the apartment maintenance?"
"Yeah, I'll do that."
I knocked on Mr Hernandez's office room and waited for him to open. Mr Hernandez opened the door and asked, "Louisa, what are you doing here?"
"A cop here wants to talk with you, Mr Hernandez."
"Yeah, come in."
Raphael said to me before entering the room, "The maintenance guy calls you by the first name. Why didn't you say you're close with him?"
"He's the only guy I talk to in this entire apartment since he helps me with my mails."
"Um, can I go to my apartment?"
He gave a nod and walked inside the room, where Mr Hernandez is.
When I came to the apartment, I threw my phone on the couch and thought, 'Does Raphael doubt me? I thought I was being careful by not indulging too much into this thing but I didn't know he'd ask me like he doubted me. Okay, he's a cop.'
I walked to my room and took a nap.
I woke up to the knocks on the door. I walked to the door and opened it. Raphael was standing in front of me and asked, "Shall I come in?"
"Yeah, come in."
After he walked in, he took a seat on a couch and asked, "Are you living alone?"
"My friend and I were sharing this apartment but he moved recently so, yeah. I'm living alone right now."
"Why didn't you take rooms in dorms instead?"
"I feel uncomfortable living among many people in a single room. I wanted to be alone. A single roommate sounded better than so many."
"Who's this friend and what's his name?"
"His name is Bernardo. We're studying in the same college."
"Why did he move out? Did you two have a fight?"
"No, we didn't have a dispute between us. We're good friends. He moved to stay with his girlfriend."
He nodded and asked, "Can I take a look around?"
"Yeah."
He looked into my room and Bernardos which was empty and said, "Looks like you really love being alone. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Does your investigation need that part?"
"By hearing your story, let me tell you a little story. What if you have a love interest in your friend and you suddenly come to know that he's in love with another girl and moves out. You break them apart. His girlfriend hired someone to get revenge from you."
I smiled at his story and said, "That's funny to hear. For your question, No. I don't have a boyfriend."
"The investigation part is over. Let's get back to being friends. Sorry, if it was too intimate. I have to do it for everyone. It is the procedure."
"I can understand."
"I'll get going then."
"Have you finished investigating everyone?" I took a look at the time. It's 6 already. Did I sleep for three hours straight?
"I did. With most of them. Some weren't in their rooms."
"Yeah, most of the people who stay here are office workers. Students like me are rare here."
Before leaving he said, "Thank you for cooperating in the investigation, Ms Alves." And left.
I closed the door and sat on the couch. I'm glad that Ace didn't come last night. Otherwise, Raphael would have sniffed his scent in my place. I laughed to myself thinking about it.
I got a call. Who's calling me now?
I looked for my phone and looked at the name on the display. It was Danielle.
I answered the call, and she asked, "Why didn't you say you're taking a leave today?"
"I forgot to tell you. Are you mad at me for not informing you?"
"Ryan gave me the cake you baked. It tasted so good that i wanted to give you a big hug but he said you took a leave today. I got very upset that I couldn't give you my hug."
I laughed and said, "Then, wait till tomorrow. You can give your hug tomorrow to me."
"I won't come tomorrow. I'm going shopping for my graduation ceremony."
"Oh."
"Don't tell me you forgot my graduation."
"No, no. I remember. Coming Tuesday, right?"
"Yeah."
"What do you want for graduation?"
"You already gave me a present, Louisa. It's enough for me."
"Okay, even if you asked for it. I can't. Because I'm running low on money right now." And laughed.
"Did you become penniless after buying me a phone?"
I let out a chuckle and said, "No. I didn't go penniless. I have money on me. If Ryan paid me this month, I'll have money to spend more."
I heard Danielle shouting out to Ryan, "RYAN! Pay Louisa's monkey soon!!" And said to me, "He'll pay you soon."
I laughed at her innocence and said, "Okay. Don't be on the phone too much. Get back to work, partner."
I heard Danielle chuckles from the other side before she ended the call.
I'm waiting for graduation day too, Danielle.