Scarlett Cake

Lost in excitement as I paid attention to my mothers delicate hands, began to decorate a plane white cake. Her concentration was incredible as I leaned in with astonishment at her dedication for perfection.  

Gasping a breath as the sweat began falling from her cheek as it mirrored my own face. Once she stopped and turned to me, we both held a gentle smile as she finished putting her signature red ribbons along the rim of the cake. The longer I stared at her radiance, the more I wanted to quickly grow up to be just like her and make beautiful cakes like the ones she made.

My mother turned to me as she gave such a beautiful smile while I expressed my content heart. My chest was bursting with an urge to bake and decorate cakes like she did. Chuckling lightly, she took off her red, velvet apron and hung it over the rack as she picked me up onto her shoulder. If it hasn't been for going to school later on the morning, I would spend my entire day watching her bake breathtaking cakes.

Her personal and unique apron remained the root of my focus as I wanted to catch up with moms skill level. I wanted to grow and bake the greatest cake the world had ever seen.

Resting my head over her shoulder as the lights turned off, she took me upstairs and locked the door to the kitchen. Feeling weary, she then headed to my room as she set me down and laid beside me as she would stroke my hair whenever I was too excited to sleep. Stopping her, I snuggled into her cherry scented scent as I placed myself into her chest and gently held her hand over my cheek.

Comforting me as she gasped with a slight chuckle, I inhaled while being wrapped in the warmth of her arms as I began falling asleep. Listening closely to the sound of her beating heartbeat, I fell in love with the rhythm as it reminded me how lucky I was in having a mom as amazing and fearless as mine.

"Mama… " Softly tilting my head as I met her low, glistening gaze as I awaited for her response.  

"Hmm… what is it, Asia? "

Lowering my gaze as her strong and gentle voice gave me the strangest feeling that I was blessed to have been born with her as my mother. Closing my eyes, I smiled as I didn't need to tell her for her to already know what I was going to say.

"It's nothing you don't already know. "

Chuckling, she held me closer as she drew in a slight breath and spoke a half hour later when I was on the brink of falling asleep.

"I love you, too, sweetheart… "

Content as her soft voice gave me comfort while sending me into a dream…

~

As time passed for both me and my mother, we moved across the country as she baked all sorts of cakes with artful personality. In the course of three years, she had made a naked for herself in the culinary business as her abilities with cakes made her second to none as her experience was often sought after by many who wanted to learn under her guidance.

Turning each person away, I nearly burst with excitement as she gave them the same hard pressed line with a strong gaze…

~

"I shall not train anyone for my services are already spoken for by my daughter…Asia. Tell anyone who may have the same intentions as you did in seeking me out… "

~

I snapped out from my gaze as my mom smiled when I had finished icing a cake with executing her signature design for her famous, Red Velvet cake. Turning to meet her proud gaze as she stared at my doughy filled face, she smiled as she told me I had finished learning everything's she could possibly teach me. Exhausting a slight cry as her tears of joy suddenly became my own and hugged in commemoration of my becoming a Pastry chef.

Holding my out in her arms as she looked at me and told me I was ready to take part in this year's Pastry baking competition in, Tokyo this year. I can still remember the sleepless nights when I posted to my mothers experiences when she was younger. Having gone to various dessert shops in order to honestly her craft, I was burning with excitement as she told me stories of her competitors as well as her rivalry with another man who was just as skilled as she was.

Brimming with excitement as I couldn't wait for the competition to start, I still had to wait half a year, until being able to show what I was made of…

Practically living in the kitchen as I practiced before and on arriving from school as my mom lent a hand every now and then as our business was thriving due to my Pastry baking skills.

Stopping a couple weeks cold as I freaked when I saw I had begun gaining weight, my mind became split into exercise and baking as I continued to balance the two in my life. When I got home from my run in the morning before heading to school, my mother hands dme a cup of water. Asking her how she was able to retain such a beautiful and slim figure, she smiled and said it was in her genes.

Half disappointed with her response, I laughed and told her I was going to bake her the greatest cake right after I win the competition by a mile. Chuckling under her breath, I felt the irritation grow as I politely asked heed what was so funny.

"Oh… nothing. " Lowering her gaze as I stared at her suspicious behavior, she turned away and bursted out laughing.

"W-what?! "

"I-its nothing, sweety! " Lifting her arm as she waved that she was okay, my suddenly began to blush as I headed up to my room.

Closing the door and running a hot bath, I see my clothes neatly away as I got in and washed the tension away. All the while, I wondered if my mothers response suggested this competition wasn't going to be as easy as I first thought…

Thinking back to what my mother said when she won her first, pastry baking competition, I suddenly realized there were bound to be others who were just as skilled as my mom. The new knowledge  my arm shake in excitement as I relaxed my head into the water while closing my eyes and expecting to go all out right off the gate.

Raising my arm above the water, I lightly touched my chest while remembering my beautiful mother bake with such elegance and grace, I was going to give it my all I won't disappoint her expectations as she'll be cheering on as the competition was going to be made into a TV series and broadcast live across the major news networks.

Suddenly, the pressure of over a million people watching my every move made me slightly uneasy. I calmed myself and regained my composure as I thought of how much fun I was going to have going up against talented bakers from around the country.

"Little red delivered her basket to granny's, regardless the challenge… if she could do it, so can I. "

Walking out of the bath, I cleared the fogged up mirror with my hand as I looked at myself in the mirror. Staring into my own, gleaming brown eyes, my excitement for this upcoming competition had me fired up with all sorts of amazing designs popping into my head one after the other.

Once I passed the qualification rounds, Ill make my way to the finals as I promised myself to win and bake the greatest cake in the world for my mom to show my gratitude for all she has done for me.

"I'll win… no matter what. "

~

Not long after winter break was over, the competition was starting as spring came and I had gotten special permission to participate in the tournament from school as I would make up for the two months in the summer. Having my chance, my friends and teachers held a special party in my honor as I would be the first participating on a live broadcast show that involved using my skills in front of the world.

"Asia! Come! Let's take a picture so we can brag about it when you become famous! "

Being pulled by my arm as I strained that my victory was not a sure thing, I smiled nonetheless.

"Asia… "

Turning around, Fay and Nana handed me a couple of good luck charms for my upcoming battles. Having been friends for the duration of high school, I was half to have them supporting me as I couldn't hold balcony my teary eyes as I would miss them for the next two months.

"A-Asia… You better not skip out on your meals. " Holding out our hands, they began lecturing me to stay healthy and storing so I can come back to them after my win.

"Are you and your mother really leaving for Tokyo? "

Nodding as I told them the show will be filmed all over, Tokyo as the probability of ever coming back here was low. Regardless, I hoped and hug them both as I took my bag and left while thanking everyone for the generous hospitality and support.

Heading outside as my mom was waiting to take me to the airport where I will be boarding a flight, paid by the network executives of the show. I would be stepping into the light aas my mothers first and only successor as my last name had definitely stirred things up on social media due to my mothers reputation as a legendary figure in the culinary baking world where she toppled even seasoned Pastry chiefs and when it came in terms of her passion.

Crying as I tried to stay strong while departing from my mom at the gate, we hugged as it was hard on us both. Cheering me on as she promise to watch me as I made my debut as not only her apprentice, but, as her proud daughter as well. Crouching, she took off her golden necklace she got from dad and fought me as I couldn't possibly tale such a treasured item with me. Nodding, she agreed and told me to bring it back to her once I won the tournament.

Bursting into tears, I rushed to the plane as I sat near my window and waved her goodbye as the plane began moving.

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