The Reminiscene

Looking at the sky, Anne had sat on the schoolyard chair. The clear blue sky without clouds covered is slightly dazzling her narrow eyes. With a pile of candy wrappers on the table, she is still wiggling her legs since her feet could not reach the floor. It had been almost an hour and candies were the only thing to relieve her boredom.

“Today's sky looks more pretty than usual, but you are its reverse. Your name even topped the rankings on today's graduation bulletin. What's bothering you?" A boy's voice startled.

A mysterious boy unwittingly sits next to her and takes the only candy left from the piles of candy wrappers on the table. Anne is looking at the way he opened the mint candy astonishedly.

Anne starts to stare at the sky again, "I have a Dream." Her hoarse voice breaks the silence.

“I can't remember exactly when, but when I was little, my mother engaged me in a cake shop. I watched the cake seller pour all his feelings into the cake we ordered. Her hands danced as she spread the chocolate cream, sprinkled it with almonds, and pinned a cherry on top. It was beautiful. At that time I imagined myself in her position and today, still." She smirked until she resumed her words.

"And you know what's funny?" Anne looks at the unnamed boy, he plays with the candy wrapper silently.

 “No one supports me. My classmates regretted the grades, they said it is in vain to continue to Vocational High School. After all, I could ignore them. I mean, they were just classmates and their words meant nothing. But do you know what breaks my heart the most?" She laughs a little but sounds grieved.

"My parents. They said they were disappointed with my decision. My mom thinks it would be better to just follow the cooking course. I do not understand that. What's the difference? Wouldn't it be better for me to do what I love? No need to pay for the course, just school. Mom’s refusal scratched me more than the knife. It hurts." Anne could not be more emotional than telling her burden to a stranger.

She realizes, "Sorry, too much information."

He stops playing with the candy wrappers. He reveals Anne with his brown eyes, bright. “When you love something, do not hesitate.” One sentence of confidence.

"Here, cover the wound on your finger." He gets up and hands a star adhesive bandage.

She forgets this morning's wound, no more painful than her story.

The boy leaves her without saying goodbye, without getting to know each other. He swallowed by the wall, carrying all the candy wrappers. An unknown boy in Velicia Memorial Junior High School successfully blows the thick fog in Anne’s mind.

*****

Anne paces in front of the bathroom with confusion. The clock’s ticking boils her blood. "Mom, hurry up, please! It's seven and I am late!" Anne shouts.

As soon as the door opens, she blames the door. Seven minutes left, she runs to her room searching Liezenberg Vocational High School uniform. Anne braids in a hurry. It is fifteen minutes past seven. The class starts at half-past eight. She admits the fact that time is money. She will not miss the announcement of the Oddscake Competition’s selection by spoiling the day and running around the field as of late punishment. The Oddscake Competition is one of the most anticipated competitions for the young chef and one school is only represented by one person. She hopes it is herself.

"Mom, Dad, I'm leaving. I told you about the cooking competition last week, right? Today is the announcement, I think I'll be home late. Please wish me the best of luck." shouts Anne from the front porch while putting on her shoes.

“That cake cooking contest? Even if you qualify, it doesn't mean anything, right? Don’t waste your time!" Anne’s mom is pungent.

"Never mind! No need to argue, this is a national competition. It means a lot to me, Mom!” The upset Anne leaves the conversation.

It has been a year since she decided to continue her studies at a Vocational High School and her parents still deny it. She hopes they can understand. The hope becomes her reason to do the best, she will prove.

In the last tense moment, the school gate is about to be closed. With a slight gasp, Anne runs to the Alpha classroom. Alpha has been labeled as the favorite class. The Alpha members’ IQ is probably on par with Einstein and their cooking skills are the same as Gordon Ramsey. Anne has just sat down, straightening her disheveled uniform and ponytail after fifteen minutes became Flash, a superhero who relied on his speed to save the earth.

The whole class is silent suddenly. Mrs. Emily, the most killer teacher in the history of Liezenberg Vocational High School, enters the classroom. With her 30 years journey, she becomes the hero of Pastry and Bakery in this school. As the school supervisor for the Oddscake competition, she announces the school selection result without any courtesy. Mrs. Emily congratulates Alpha because one of their members will represent the school. And it is Yura Anne. The whole class burst into loud applause, whistles, the sound of a blunt object hitting the table, from the corner of the row of boy's benches came to a shout of congratulations which Anne knows clearly, it is Garent's voice. A friend from the first year, very close. Anne, who is still busy fixing her ponytail, is silent, pinching her cheeks as she thinks she dreams. She could no longer hold back her tears, tears of joy at being surrounded by supportive classmates.

“After the Pastry and Bakery lesson, the official announcement will be sent through the school bulletin board. For Anne, I hope you can meet me after this class." The quiet class goes back to the first vibes when Mrs. Emily has entered the room.

The bell squeals at two o'clock. Anne becomes the second sun in this sunny afternoon, she is dazzling. The rumors and congratulatory messages accompanying her way to the teacher's room. She knocks on the door to fulfill her promise. The room is suddenly full of congratulations from the teachers for a while before finally only Anne and Mrs. Emily were in the room.

"Have a seat, Anne." Anne complies.

“So, how do you feel to be the only student who will represent Liezenberg Vocational High School in this year's Oddscake Competition?” She continues.

"Engg~ a little bit nervous, but I will try my best," Anne answered confidently.

After a few simple questions about Anne, Mrs. Emily leads her out of the room. They pass the third-year classrooms row and go to the last building. Paradise Hall. The most magnificent building, with a distinctive aroma that can even be smelled from a radius of ten meters, the architecture is oval like a football stadium equipped with a solar panel roof to capture light energy. The inside is filled with shelves of cooking utensils, with dozens of long tables, the ingredients of which are always ready on stock. Anne finds her paradise.

“So, what do you think about cooking? What is the most important thing you need to have to cook delicious food?” Mrs. Emily breaks Anne’s view from the building that can only be accessed by seniors.

“We need to cook with heart, Ma’am.” Anne is intimidated.

"Heart? What can your heart do to your food? You need to use your brain Anne, your Brain! Cooking is not a simple thing like you chop up all your ingredients with a butcher knife then throw them in a baking dish and then when you put your love in them, the mold will turn your food into an edible one. If it were that easy, I think everyone can become a good cook.” Mrs. Emily took a deep breath before continuing her words.

“Cooking requires calculations, Anne. You need to measure how much sugar you need to add, calculate how long your dough will stand, and maintain the right temperature for your cake to cook perfectly. All of that goes through an intelligent and careful process. So you need to use your brain." Anne wants to stay in silence but it might make Mrs. Emily angrier.

“S-sorry, Ma’am.” She looks at the floor of Paradise Hall.

"Oddscake competition will take place in six months, we still have time to reconstruct your naivety."

The first day ends curtly. There are six months ahead that Anne has to live like hell with Mrs. Emily even though she knows that her teacher has a kind heart, but no excuse for everything about cooking.

*****

The Oddscake Competition is attended by the participants and the coach only but it is on air in national channels and live streams on Oddscake Competition's Utube. The best participants from fifty schools gathered, building a different atmosphere. The Oddscake Competition will be divided into four rounds. Traditional, Fusion, and Opera Cake were successfully passed by Anne in the previous three rounds. The last round determined the winner asks the three contestants to choose one of the boxes containing the Disney movie poster. Anne stares at the Frozen poster for five minutes. She runs to the store, carrying a red basket in her right hand. The ingredients are inserted and look piled up. All contestants are concentrated as Anne.

“Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Put Your Hands Up!" Shouted the emcee to indicate the time was over.

All contestants are prohibited to touch anything again. Anne presents the character Samantha in the Frozen movie as a cake. Samantha's gleeful details are visible on the cake perfectly. Samantha leads Anne to be the winner of the Oddscake Competition.

“What's wrong with you? You look so gloomy.” Mrs. Emily asked on the plane to San Francisco City.

“I am so happy to win the competition, but this morning I felt something strange on my tongue. The morning tea tastes plain even when I have added five teaspoons of sugar to it. I can not feel the sweetness." Anne's eyes are concerned.

"Did that just happen this morning? Don’t worry. After we arrive, I will take you to see a neurologist. Let’s check it." Mrs. Emily holds Anne's hand tightly, she seems to feel Anne's concern, her gaze is soothing.

After arriving at the San Francisco International Airport, they see a neurologist. Anne waits for her turn anxiously, sweat dripping from her forehead across her cheeks. A hospital always becomes a mysterious place when the truth about someone's illness is revealed. After checking up and doing the MRI scan, the doctor tells Anne's Glossopharyngeal nerve damage caused the brain too hard to receive the signals conveyed by the papillae of the tongue. Thousands of daggers seemed to pierce Anne's chest as the doctor tells her that it is impossible to be repaired. Anne would not be able to taste anything gradually. Such a bitter reality, she thinks she does not need the Oddscake Competition’s victory if she knows this will happen.

Mrs. Emily takes Anne home. She meets her parents and says that Anne is the best girl and hard worker made her win the Oddscake Competition which is hard to achieve, even Mrs. Emily could not. She does not tell the truth about Anne's illness as Anne requests. "Stay strong girl, you will find the way." Mrs. Emily hugs her before saying goodbye.

There is still joy in the house over Anne's accomplishments. Her parents could not lie that they are proud of Anne. But that annoying nerve damage still plagued Anne's mind, erasing the joy on her face.

"Mom, I'll go up first. So tired." Anne stops her mother's curiosity about what she was doing in New York.

"Alright, I will hear your story later, dear." Anne's mom kissed her daughter's forehead, letting her daughter rest.

Anne’s legs are shaking, holding back her tears. That kiss was the most valuable prize from the Oddscake Competition victory. Anne locks the door and hugs the trophy tightly. Her tears wet her uniform. She is crouched behind the door, the sense of injustice boiled her blood and tears. Her hope and future are obliterated by a disease that came from nowhere. She bites her thumb to cry in silence. It hurts.

The doctor was right. She could not taste anything, everything tasted bland. The spoon that she is holding for dinner falls to the floor, she bursts into tears.

"What's wrong Anne?" Her mom still had not realized anything. Anne tells everything. She holds back her tears and runs into her room. She needs space. Hoping the tears could wash away the pain and make her happy.

A voice came from outside Anne's room, the voice came from her mother and father. "I told you, didn't I?! We should have forced her into senior high school! The dream is over, what can a chef do without tasting ability?” Anne’s mother shouts to her husband.

"Come on! It's been two years. What’s wrong with you? Anne is having a hard time now, no one needs to blame for!”

they down the stairs, seems to be continuing to argue elsewhere. Anne looked at the trophy. The quarrel she heard a moment ago burned her spirit, she wants to prove to everyone. God's plans could not be doubted.

Anne opens her recipe book from her previous practice with Mrs. Emily. The detailed recipes written in the book, how much of each seasoning is very complete, four months of undergoing hellish training in Paradise Hall opens new hope in Anne. “Blessing Recipe Book” is written on the first page. Her hands take the ingredients following the book’s instructions. “Glazed Chocolate Brownie Cake”, its texture and scent are perfect. The taste might be a problem since she could not taste it. She takes pictures of her art and posts one of it on her Stagram, one of the most famous applications for visuals. “I need a taster for this cake, please send me a message if you are willing to. I will pay for the shipping charge. Thanks!” enough for its caption. The unknown account offered to be a tester, he sends the address after dealing. Anne has no problem with the unknown identity of her tester, she only needs the feedback.

*****

Two years on after Anne lost her taste sense and got used to it. She created new recipes and compositions, the Blessing Recipe Book is now filled with Anne's crazy recipes made from her calculations on the combination of ingredients and how to prepare them. The mysterious account that she finds in Stagram becomes her permanent tester with detailed feedback, no matter what background this mysterious account has, but every feedback given is detailed and precise. Mrs. Emily’s contribution is also in the book. Anne newborns herself. Becoming the best-graduated student one year ago and winning the Oddscake Competition helped her a lot in building her business, “Yura’s Bakery”. Her bakery is built by the name of unbelievably delicious cakes from the owner without the sense of taste. Everyone knows it.

Tring-ring. The doorbell rings again as Anne tidies up the tables preparing to close the shop.

Twenty years old man with a neat maroon shirt appeared from the door. He is about 183 cm, almost touching the door barrier.

"Is it still possible to order?" His voice is heavy but soft.

“The bakery actually closes at 4 and it's past five now, but since you've come here please have a seat.” Anne hands the menu.

"I ordered Bloody Velvet" He does not need time to choose.

“Please wait a moment, your order will be served for about 25 minutes from now. The ice tea in the corner is free.” Anne takes the menu and prepares the order.

By the open kitchen design, the man looks at the elegant Anne. Her balloon whisk dances mix the Hibiscus flower flour, milk, and eggs as the main ingredients of Bloody Velvet. Her rhythmic and hand movements when making dough are visible.

Anne serves a portion of Bloody Velvet with a small wound on her finger. She is too excited when cooking the cake, not even noticing it. After placing the cake on the table she explains,

“The cake is named Bloody Velvet because of the bright red color that comes from the Hibiscus flower and when you spoon it…,”

the voice tone changes, “The sweet beetroot jam will burst out. It creates a bloody impression.”

The man cuts her babbling shows he understands more than Anne thinks.

"Hi Anne, glad to see you up here. God's plan to lose your sense of taste seems like the best choice. Fortunately, you follow your heart, not the words of others." With a silver tray in her hand, Anne is startled. She stares at the man’s eyes, brown, bright brown.

"Here, cover up the wound on your finger." The man hands a star adhesive bandage.

Fin.