Chapter 226: Pure recipe for love 4

The days that followed were the busiest for Ever as she had to combine her studies with her preparation for the competition. Each day, after school, Jayden would go over to her house and tutor her for an hour or two and then they will use the rest of the time for her practise.

During the one week before the competition, she had practised cooking different kinds of dishes and finally settled on making pastry since it seemed that was what she was good at. Jayden also helped her to ask some of the students questions about their favourite pastries and why they like them. She used that study to come out with her own cookie which she named 'EJ', using the first letters of their names and shared with her family to taste and give her feedback, though that wasn't part of the competition.

The day of the competition came. Since she was an independent competitor, she didn't have a lot of the resources that were provided by the school for the groups, but nevertheless, she didn't lack anything as her parents bought her everything she needed. They supported her in their own way, to show their love for her.

The interclass competition was running for the whole week and the cooking competition was not on until the last day, so Ever had a lot of time to keep practicing and perfecting her skills.

Today was the first day of the competition and it was the swimming competition. All the students gathered in the school's swimming pool and sat on the bleachers cheering the competitors on.

Sitting in the middle of Jade and Amber, Ever's eyes were searching around the swimmers that walked out. When her eyes spotted the one she was eagerly waiting for, she couldn't hide her excitement anymore as she stood up and screamed his name.

''Jayden!!!''

Amber and Jade turned and looked at her. She flushed and threw them an awkward smile before sitting back. Jayden who saw her silly act chuckled and waved his hand at her smiling. She smiled back and waved at him.

''Silly'' Jayden muttered and turned to his homeroom teacher who called for them.

The swimming competition kicked-off with the MC announcing the participating class which consisted of mainly final year students.

They got into their positions and when the alarm went off, they dived into the water and started swimming.

Sitting anxiously on edge, Ever couldn't help but look on as the swimmers dived into the water.

''I bet that Jayden is going to take the first place this time again''

''He has never lost any single game. How can someone be so good at everything?''

Jade heard two students saying behind them. She smiled and turned to them saying, ''he is my brother''

Amber and Ever shook their heads when they heard Jade bragging endlessly.

''Our swimmers are doing so well. Class three A representative has taken the lead. If he wins, this will be the third time he has won the school's swimming competition in a row'' the MC announced as the students got up from the bleachers cheering on their representatives.

''Jayden, Jayden, Jayden!!'' the class A students cheered him on and Ever instinctually joined in. She was about to cheer for hin but stopped herself in time after meeting the gaze of Miss Sharon. She swiftly stuffed the flag bearing Jayden's name into Jade's hands and Miss Sharon shook her head. She wondered which class she was in to be supporting another class.

Ever lifted her hand up and started cheering for the boy in her class half-heartedly.

…..

Soon as they finished the swimming competition and the winner was declared, Ever stayed behind waiting for Jayden who was still chatting with his homeroom teacher. When he turned and saw her, he smiled and said a few things to the teacher before walking to her.

''Ever''

''Jayden, come with me'' she pulled him to corner.

''What is it?'' Jayden asked as they stood at the corner. Her actions were suspicious.

''Congratulations, Miss Sharon is over there. If she sees me supporting you, she might give me a demerit for not supporting my own classmate''

''Silly girl. I saw you just now when I got to the finishing line''

''You did?'' she asked as she unscrewed a bottled energy drink for him, ''here, drink this''

''Thanks. I saw that you were about to mention my name but suddenly stopped''

''Oh, that? I had to stop myself in time. Miss Sharon almost caught me cheering for you''

''You weren't cheering for your class representative?'' he asked and chuckled.

''Oh, I wasn't. I'm sure a bad classmate, right? I couldn't help it. You were the only one I could see among all the swimmers. It was like I was blind to them''

''Me too'' Jayden said and tussled her hair.

''Huh?''

''You were the only one I could see in the bleachers. When I saw you cheering me on, I felt so energised''

''I brought walnut cake for you, let's go and get you some energy'' Ever said and turned to go. Jayden pulled her back and hugged her.

''Thank you for cheering me on, Ever. It meant so much to me''

''I will always cheer you on''

''Let's go. I can't wait to taste your walnut cake. They always taste different every time. I mean different in a good way'' he said and pulled her along as he walked away.

….

The days that followed had Ever secretly cheering Jayden on since he was participating in almost all the events of the competitions. She would sneak away from her class members and find a place where Jayden could easily find her and sit, so that whenever he looked up, they would see each other. Sometimes she felt like they were having a secret love affair.

###

''Secret love affair?'' Jayden asked as he ate the sandwich that Ever prepared for him after their volleyball games. They were sitting under the tree behind the school library.

''Yes, funny right? I couldn't stop laughing just thinking about it'' Ever told him about the thought that came to her mind that morning.

''If this feels like we are in a secret love affair, then I don't mind it at all. Since, I get to spend time alone with you and listen to your cooking stories and silly jokes. I love it''

Ever felt her heartbeat raising when she heard him. She smiled as she looked at him.

''Do I have something on my face?'' he asked and she shook her head.

''No, Jayden, I have something to tell you on the last day of the competition''

''What is it? You can tell me right now''

''No, I need to win the competition before I can say it'' she needed to also win something and prove to him she was at least good at something. That way, she could be able to find the courage to confess her feelings to him.

''Now, I am curious about what Ever has to say''

''I will tell you after I win''

''What, does that mean you won't tell me if you don't win?''

''Maybe?''

''Then, I guess I have to pray hard so that you will win. I want to hear what you have to tell me''

''Really? I hope you won't be surprised by it or maybe freak out?''

''No, I am too excited to even freak out''

…..

''Ever, you can do it'' Julieta kissed her cheek before she went over to join the bleachers as part of the audience.

Ever stood in front of her table nervously as her eyes kept glancing at the door. She looked at the time. They were about to start but Jayden was still busy with the track-and-field events. The time overlapped and they had to compete at separate places.

''He is going to be here, Ever. He promised to be here'' she said, trying to calm herself down even though her hands were shaking. She wanted Jayden to watch her today, so that she would have the confidence to confess to him afterwards.

''Tsk, is she seriously going to do everything alone?''

''She challenged Miss Sharon, I can't wait to see her fail''

The two students representing their class said rather loudly enough for Ever to hear them.

''Our cooking competition is about to start. Now, this year's competition, we are focusing on healthy diets, so the school decided that all the dishes that the students will prepare are going to be of strawberry and other organic foods. We will start with our first group. Let them tell us something about what they are going to make'' Miss Sharon who was the MC said as she walked to the first group. They were six in all, with the exception of the class C which had two different participants which were the two girls and Ever.

''We are making strawberry zucchini muffins'' the first group announced.

''We are making avocado strawberry mango salsa'' group two announced.

''We are making strawberry coconut chia seed banana bread''

''We are making strawberry cashew smoothie''

We are making peanut butter, strawberry and banana quesadillas''

''I am making fluffy Greek yoghurt blueberry pancakes with strawberry maple syrup''

When Ever mentioned her dished, everyone gasped and stared at her.

''Does she want to fail that much?''