I'm Guilty, My Beauty

SUPER TYPHOON SAMUELA IS HEADING TOWARD NORTHERN PART OF THE PHILIPPINES.

This could be the most devastating storm that ever happened in years in the Philippine islands. Its speed was more than 220 Km/h bringing rain and strong winds.

A week to go and the typhoon chose to pa.s.s the wedding venue.

"What are we going to do? We can"t just change the hotel, can we?" Bella asked.

Beauty and Clarence"s parents and relatives were in the huge receiving room of the Peres" residence in Alabang. They were having a slight "panic" meeting.

The people were all sitting anywhere they could place their bottoms on. Some were on the big white sofa. Others were on the stairs. A few were on the carpeted floor.

"We"re zupposed to be on our way to za hotel but this happened. I wish this crazy typhoon to go astray so I can start with me cake." The Italian chef said as he continued to draw and redraw for the cake design. "Hey, Beauty, iz thiz enough? Only 21 layers of cascading staircase cake, eight on both sides. Four at za middle as a tower. Za last one iz a Pegasus cake with you and cuzin on top."

The French doctor peeped at his back. "Cuz Picas, can you finish that on time? Only a week to go."

"Don"t worry, za cakes are very izzy to bake, za decorazions are in me baggage. Need to do iz the baking and fondant covering and me masterpiece dezigns."

"What"s the cakes" flavor, cuz?" Jenna asked leaning within Ronald"s arms on the love seat.

"Za flavors are cheezy moisty triple chocolate, red velvet, lemon nutty, and ze last iz me espezial Italian fruitcake to last for years." He waved his hand with delight as if the cake were all in front of him. "Za cake here iz za nutty cake. Nutty with all nuts to make you nuts, you know." He ran at the right. "Over here iz za red velvet and over there...triple chocolate. All white rozes on top za cakes..." He went on and on as he described them like his painting.

He stopped and bowed. "Za flowers are all handmade by yours truly."

"What"s the food, by the way?" The policewoman asked while eating some nuts and her feet on top of the table.

"I talked with za chefs. They know what to do." He continued to paint on the canvas.

"I need specifics. I"m a foodie."

Claire spoke this time. "We have two boneless pork lechon and one beef lechon, ten types of appetizers like Canapes, crostini, and turkey mozzarella b.a.l.l.s, ten more other dishes that Beauty and Clarence like, and 50 varieties of sweets and pastries."

"Include my Calamari, please," Arnold said.

"Make sure there"s sus.h.i.+, too." One of the nephews spoke.

Beauty and Clarence sat near the gla.s.s panel watching the rain outside while food requests rolled at the background. Claire stated no change of menus for them.

"I thought this is a panic meeting but everyone is talking nothing but food," asked Beauty.

Clarence hugged her from behind and buried his nose on her hair. "Let them be. Actually, there"s nothing to talk about. They are just waiting for our decision this time." He brushed her hair with his fingers. "What do you think? I don"t want to cancel the wedding, not in my life."

"I don"t want to cancel it either. Can we not move the date instead? Make it earlier so that the place would still be beautiful for the pictorials?"

Clarence turned her to him. "That"s a great idea. Haha, earlier, I like that." He kissed her with a smacking sound. "Earlier to make you mine." Beauty giggled with his excitement. She was glad she decided without any doubt at this critical time. Clarence moved away and clapped his hand.

"Everyone, I need your attention, please."

The room went silent. All eyes on him.

"We decided to make the wedding four days later, that will be December 4, so two hours from now, let"s move to the site."

"What? What? Me cake needs time to finish. Can"t do." Chef Picas stood waving his brush.

"Make a wedding cake smaller than that. We are avoiding the typhoon that will arrive in a week. At least, the labyrinth would still be picturesque and we still have time to move out before the storm ruined the resort."

"I agree to this change of date. All partic.i.p.ants are here anyway. Paul, Richard, Jenna, call all guests for the change of date. I do believe they"ll understand. " Clyde declared. "We will provide transportation to the venue and back to their homes if needed."

"I"ll make sure the food, most of all the pastries are done on time," Claire added with excitement. She opened her purse and took her small notebook and pen.

Clarence went to his father. "Dad." Clyde turned. "Can we rent large tents? In case of rain during the wedding ceremony."

"Sure, that"s a great counterplan. I think we"ll need five." Clyde paused, thinking. "I think we can have a circus tent. Let me call a long time friend who borrowed a heartbreaking amount from me."

That"s how the panic meeting ended into a frantic exhilaration.

The storm continued to move on the way north without plans to change direction but it was no longer a threat to the wedding plans.

. . . . .

At the venue"s kitchen, Chef Picas began after arriving. His a.s.sistants, handpicked from the Peres" restaurants, baked the 21 cakes without delay. Picas chose to press on with his plan. Good thing, Clyde brought their own equipment, stoves, and ovens then built a makes.h.i.+ft kitchen in one of the function rooms near the hotel"s kitchen to accelerate everything.

The three days before the wedding were the busiest. Claire made sure that the kitchen was off-limits from Beauty. She wished to see the food, first and foremost, the cakes. However, as Claire dictated, the bride has to be at ease and prettily rested before the big day.

"I want to see the cakes. What"s wrong with that? Chef Picas won"t stay long here and I want to learn from him."

"No, I don"t agree. You might involve yourself there when help is most needed." Clarence stopped her path to the kitchen.

"I"ve been waiting to see Picas" works for months. I couldn"t even get a glimpse while he"s working. Unfair."

"You will see it tomorrow. Just wait."

Beauty wouldn"t budge. "You asked me to demand from you even once. Now, I demand to see the cake." She folded her arms and stared straight on his.

"What? You already demanded something."

She squinted her eyes. "Are you going back from your word, Mr. Clarence Peres?"

Later, Clarence caved in and asked Picas to bring the Pegasus cake at the kitchen door for a minute of viewing.

December 4th came faster. Beauty woke four at dawn for her beauty regiments while Clarence was still dreaming their first night.