[From the author: In case I missed explaining, I just want to clarify to the readers that this story began when Sheila took the scholars.h.i.+p, two years before Clarence met Beauty. It"s more on a backstory in Sheila"s life this time and it will continue until Hugh proposed to Sheila or maybe more.]Sheila opened the chat room and saw ChefDeli"s account to be online. She wrote a personal message to Clarence.
[I was chosen as one of the school"s representatives for an inter-school compet.i.tion. Wish me luck.]
She waited for his reply but Clarence ignored her, another failed attempt. She puffed out her cheeks and slowly expelled air. "What must I do to make you talk to me again?"
. . . . .
Sheila, Dandy, and three more students were brought to Paris for the aforementioned compet.i.tion. It was for a fundraiser. All culinary schools were to sell their delicacies to the public and the one who raised the highest amount would be given a free pa.s.s for a crash course of one of the well-known chefs in France. It was simply a win-win friendly compet.i.tion.
As they arrived at the great compet.i.tion hall inside a mall, all the culinary school students began buzzing like bees, irritating Dandy and their teacher, Monsieur Devan.
"Look at these guys. They really had a gull to compete again after losing three compet.i.tions in a row last year. So irritating." A lady from La Brioche said. La Delicatesse had a reputation as the country"s fifth-best culinary school for six years in a row but they were losing against this two-year-old school.
"What"s the fuss all about?" Sheila asked Dandy.
"Don"t mind them. They feel they"re big shots after we lose to them last year. They are 100% jerk." Dandy said.
"Oh, then we"ll show them we"re not underdogs." Sheila winked at Dandy and the other did the same.
After arranging their food stall, Sheila and Dandy went to the bathroom.
"Where are the girls?" Mr. Devan asked.
"They went to the bathroom to change clothes, Sir," one of the student"s said, giggling as he spoke.
"What would they be wearing now?" The teacher started to get edgy. He recalled their eccentric dressing in school. "I hope they won"t embarra.s.s our school and lose again this time."
As expected, the two trendsetters, Sheila and Dandy, came back wearing high top canvas shoes, s.e.xy white shorts showing off their long slender legs, and metallic gold colored blouse. Their white ap.r.o.n covered their front and their chef"s caps were on their heads.
Dandy pushed the play b.u.t.ton on her phone and it resounded at the wireless player. The background music of "Everybody dance now" started playing.
The two stomped their feet and everyone in the hall looked their way. They danced in front of their stall. Dandy opened her mouth. "Everybody, look here!" The two swung their hips and did a running man. Dandy continued singing, "Everybody, buy here!" They waved their hands high, beckoning the people to come as they danced.
"Let"s get on with it, let"s taste and beat it. Everybody, this way!" The two sang together. They continued with their rehea.r.s.ed dance steps for this occasion.
The two became a sensation in the fundraiser hall. Their stall was getting the crowds" attention. People took photos and videos of them dancing. Their schoolmates gave away free tastes and the people were buying frenzy after tasting. Before the clock struck twelve at mid-noon, almost all of their food was gone. After two hours more, their display table was empty, relieving the other schools.
Sheila and Dandy high-fived after cleaning their table. "Yeah, we did it."
One of the students went to Sheila. He was curious about one thing. "How did you know we can sell all our food after you danced?"
"Hmm, you see, I believe all of the food being presented here are all good but a little crowd inducing strategy would make the difference. So, while the buyers" tongues are still clean and free from any free tasting from other stalls, grabbing their attention and make them taste our food first would make a difference. Since we"re also selling really tasty delicacies, they will choose to buy them first. That"s all." Sheila said it with a matter-of-fact tone and with opened palms at her side."
"Good thinking, Miss Hernandez. I hope the dean won"t reprimand us," Monsieur Devan said.
"Don"t worry, he won"t get angry," Sheila said with a huge smile, crossing her fingers at her back.
At this very moment, Hugh was invited by one of his female colleagues, Dr. Alicia Burnett, to accompany her to support the fundraiser. This girl liked him a lot and was trying to win his affection. He ignored her first but when Alicia showed him the video taken by Alicia"s friend, he changed his mind. What caught his eyes was Sheila dancing with a food tray in hand, serving some fanciful bite-size food to the crowd.
Hugh, a 30-year old bachelor, had been a career focus person. His love life was secondary in every plan of his life. His aim to become a surgeon was his dream since young. This all started when his favorite uncle had a life-threatening car accident and he had bone fractures. Hugh was fascinated after he saw how the orthopedic doctor helped his Uncle walk again. From then on, he desired to be a doctor, who"s able to help patients in dire conditions.
Though successful in his career, he chose to ignore the advances of his female counterpart and by other girls who got interested in him, not until he saw Sheila with her sad eyes. Sheila, the girl who became an elusive dream for him. Somehow, knowing that Riley met her, he was a.s.sured there would be chances for them to meet someday.
Then on this very day was one of the said chances. Instead of Alicia insisting on him, he dragged Alicia to his car and drove straight to the fund-raising area, but he was too late. He saw Sheila went into the school van and closed the door before Hugh could park his car. He stepped on the brakes and ran out to the van but it drove out before he could reach it.
He ran back to his car and told Alicia, "sorry, but I have an important thing to do." He let Alicia out from his car and left her there in the parking lot, infuriating the lady doctor.
Alicia stamped her feet hard and shouted in anger."You, you, you, no wonder you"re still a bachelor. You have to compensate me."
Hugh followed the van and saw it fifty meters away. He tried to go nearer but it turned right at an intersection, and he couldn"t follow anymore because the traffic light turned red. He slapped the car wheel, feeling depressed.
"La Delicatesse. Now I know where to find you." He decided to find her, no matter what.