A small brown chocolate cake sat on the "Cravings" display shelf. It had been there all morning waiting for its customer -- a fidgety, stout fellow named Earl whose brow was sweating a bead. Cravings, renowned for delightful feasts and its culinary school, would be host to a brief but memorable affair.
This brown cake would be married, albeit briefly, to a wedding ring. The ring would lay on top of the pastry in their honeymoon in the fridge. The sad red cherry, normally with the cake, would be elsewhere.
They'd be hidden for a while as the ring's true recipient, a woman named Elise, ate spaghetti Bolognese.
Earl, who concocted the whole scenario, felt suddenly unsure.
Earl knew that Elise was fond of pasta. She loved Italian food and European culture. He could see her influences in the designs at the dormitory she managed for her family. It was also prominent on custom-designed charms she sold through the Internet. He knew all that from five years of mostly merry traipsing and occasional tear jerks with her.
Earl's anxiety was on the delivery of the proposal itself.
The words "Will you marry me?" would not fit the tiny pastry, nor would it fit the plate. "Marry me." Two words - that seemed like a dire command was inscribed in chocolate ink instead.
Earl changed his mind. He held the ring, frowned, and decided he'd keep it on his pocket. He preferred to hold onto it as he proposed. Enough of this drama, he thought. Just let me do it.
And so the cherry remained stuck on top of the brown cake who seemed to sigh at his predicament.
Earl sighed at his predicament as well. Today, on the seventh of July, 2007, he would utter words of uncertainty mixed with conviction. In certain religious sectors the date, a 777 on Roman calendar, was supposed to be good luck. To Earl it seemed ominous.
He had pushed off thinking about how he'd do this. He only knew he'd do it on this date. The details fell to chance.
Fortunately, Earl had a videographer friend named Ardy who also just proposed to his fiancee. Ardy threw scenarios at him. He even described how he had proposed under water, in a beach off Bohol Province. He found it awkward to hold a wedding ring, then hidden in his swimming trunks, while snorkling.
Earl cried at his friend's creativity and wondered if he could emulate it.
So, a day before 777, Earl had Ardy prepare a video cam. It was to be hidden somewhere in Cravings. Then as Earl prompted Elise to lunch, he'd pop the question. All would be documented in moving color.
The cake was ready.
The ring was on his pocket.
The camera was hidden.
"How would this day end?" Earl wondered.
[Next: Chapter 2 Ask Me Again]
