The Bad Girl: Chapter 26 - The Surprise

Smile Liu emerged from the bathroom, feeling fresh after a long and luxurious bath. She was in a sunny yellow terry cloth robe and her hair was wrapped in a small white towel. She walked to her closet and chose a flimsy and yet comfortable nightgown. She put it on and prepared for bed when suddenly, she remembered she had not checked her personal email today.

Turning on the laptop, she sat comfortably on the chair. The instant she was connected to the net, the alarm that signaled that she had an email. She looked hopeful and was not disappointed to see whom it is from.

It was from Jaguar Chen.

"You would not like this, but you should see this." The message read and it had an attachment.

Smile squinted while looking at the attachment and she suddenly turned into a raging mad woman, and threw her laptop on the floor. She glared at broken gadget and a moment later, smiled and laughed hysterically.

She had quickly devised a plan.

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It's a bright Saturday morning and yet, Reina was home alone. Sherwin had gone out of town for a meeting with another client yesterday and stayed there overnight. He was due to come home late afternoon today.

Reina had just finished watching a cooking show. She was very fond of watching these shows, however, she doesn't seem to have the knack for cooking. It is always either undercooked or overcooked and she would often end up having fast food delivered to her house.

This time was different, though. After watching the show, she had an impulse to go to the kitchen and find something to cook.

She smiled. Now she had found a way to repay Sherwin's kindness and gentleness a few nights ago.

She shook off her thoughts about that night and went to the kitchen. She opened the fridge but to her dismay, there was nothing inside that she can cook. She closed the fridge door, a bit disappointed.

"How can I thank him now?" she thought. "I can't very well cook, much less recognize the stuff they put in the food."

Her face suddenly brightened, "This calls for an emergency."

With that, she dashed to get her phone and dialed Chrissie's number. Her best friend had the talent for cooking.

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Chrissie was standing at the grocery entrance waiting for Reina to arrive. She looked lovely in her all-white ensemble. A mixture of anticipation and excitement was evident on her face.

It's been a while since they saw each other and she missed Reina, too.

Minutes later, Reina was seen running and puffing toward her. Looking like a harassed princess in pink separates.

"Chris!!" Reina screamed 50 ft. away from her.

Chrissie smiled and waved.

Reina hasn't changed one bit.

The women hugged each other tightly and laughed and went inside. They grabbed a cart and went.

"So, tell me again," Chrissie looked at her friend. "You called me just because you needed my help on how to cook and what to cook."

Reina nodded, not looking at her friend.

"And since when did Reina Yang cook?" inquired Chrissie.

"Since today?" Reina replied.

"Hmmm… Why the sudden interest in concocting something delectable?" Chrissie pressed, a teasing gleam in her eyes, "I bet it has to do something with someone equally scrumptious like the former dorky turned hottie we know… like my cousin-in-law!"

"Shut up, Chrissie! By the way, how's Matt?" Reina asked to divert the topic. Her plan worked as Chrissie Yan-Li began to blab and gush about her oh-so-sweet-and-thoughtful-and-wonderful-and-sexy-the-list-grows-longer husband.

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Reina and Chrissie went back to the bungalow as soon as they finished buying the ingredients. Since they were pressed for time, they had decided to cook relatively fast, easy and yet sumptuous food that could be finished in an hour or less. They prepared a full meal with appetizer and desert.

For starters, they made a salad from lettuce, chives, olives, chopped onions and garlic and cherry tomatoes and dressed in a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil. They also chose to steam a large fish and made a homemade mayo for the dip.

Reina watched as Chrissie took out the blender and put an egg yolk in it with a dash of pepper and a pinch of salt.

"Now," Chrissie said as she turned it on. "Make sure to mix this really well until you have an emulsion before dropping in the basil, and mix it again."

Chrissie closed the lid and pushed the button again to ensure that the basil is properly distributed. While mixing, she opened the top of the lid and slowly poured in the olive oil.

"Always remember not to mix everything all at once," Chrissie instructed Reina.

"Why?" Reina tilted her head and asked.

"Look, see how well it blends together with the yolk mixture?" Chrissie pointed out.

"Uh-huh," Reina nodded.

"If you mix them all together at once, after a few minutes, the olive oil will separate from the yolk. But if you slowly pour it in while mixing the yolk, it will have a nice consistency, like this," Chrissie turned off the blender.

"Ohh!! So how much oil should I pour in? And how long do I mix it?" Reina asked while pouring the mayo into a small bowl.

"It actually depends on you," Chrissie replied while washing her hands. "If you like the consistency to be light, then just pour a little and blend it for a couple of seconds, but if you want it thicker, more oil and about a minute or two on the blender."

"Right!" Reina mentally recorded it in her head.

Now they are onto the pasta. They boiled a pot of water while steaming the fish.

Reina had just started to saut the garlic and onions when they both heard a car approaching and they stiffened. Reina ran to the front window to check who it was. Her eyes widened when she saw it was Sherwin slowly turning up the curve.

She panicked.

"Oh my God!" she scurried back to the kitchen and informed Chrissie that Sherwin is home.

"Chris, I'm sorry but you have to go out," Reina was almost breathless.

"I know…but the sauce…" Chrissie hesitated.

Reina was shoving her out the back door. "You already told me what to do and I can handle it."

Chrissie looked doubtful. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, yes…now, go!" and shooed Chrissie out.

She breathed deeply and composed herself. She walked back the stove and asked herself, "Now, what's next?"

She checked the other pot if the water was boiling. After which, she dumped a spoonful of salt and submerged the noodles in it. She took a ladle and mixed the noodles.

Then she tried to recall Chrissie's instructions for the sauce and actually did a pretty good job. The sauce smelled wonderful and tasted fine.

"Not bad Raine, not bad," she convinced herself.

She then stretched her back. "Oww…my back hurts! I never thought cooking could be very tiring!" So, she went to find a chair and sat on it while waiting for the noodles to get ready.

She found a magazine and decided to read. However, she got absorbed in reading that she forgot the noodles

Reina didn't realize this until she smelled something burning and remembered she was cooking! She ran into the kitchen quickly turned off the stove but it was too late.

The noodles were perfectly burnt!

Reina was mortified! Cooking the noodles was very simple and yet, she could not do it! Now what? They can't have just the sauce and it'll take a few more minutes to cook the noodles again. She felt so disheartened. All her hard work turned to nothing. She sat back on the chair and covered her face and sobbed.

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Chrissie never really left the vicinity and was watching Reina, well, it was more like spying on her. She was talking to her husband while doing all the spying.

"It was really funny when Rain called," she told Matthew. "And all she wanted was for me to teach her how to cook!" Chrissie laughed.

"Oh, oh, wait!" Chrissie told Matt. "The food burnt!"

"What do you mean, how?" Chrissie asked. "Of course, Reina doesn't know how to cook and she had to push me out the back door because your cousin arrived."

"He doesn't know. It's a surprise." Chrissie explained. "I gotta go. I can't take this anymore, with Reina crying and all."

"Love you!" she ended her call and continued to watch her friend.

But little did Chrissie know, her husband Matthew, called Sherwin.

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Sherwin had just parked his car but still did not get out. He knows Reina's home because all the lights in the house are on. He smiled as he remembered how she looked the night he brought her home.

Sherwin stayed in his car a good 15 minutes in memory lane before going out and unloading. His phone rang and Matthew's name appeared on the display.

"Yup?" he answered. "I'm good. I just got home."

"Hey man!" Matthew said. "I heard you built a new house and it's the same as the house we had in Thailand."

Sherwin snorted. "I bet some nosey chick told you that."

"Yeah, well, my wife is not nosey," Matthew smacked his forehead. He's going to be in a lot of trouble if Chrissie finds out.

"Chrissie? How did she know?" demanded Sherwin.

"Look, it's not important right now," Matthew was trying to divert the topic. "What's important is, you go in and check your house. I heard it's burning."

"Bye, dude!" and the line went dead.

Sherwin rushed to go inside the house and was greeted by the smell of burnt food.

"Holy shit!" was all he could say.

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Sherwin ran into the kitchen and checked if Reina was hurt. But all he found was a messy kitchen, a set table, burnt noodles on the sink and a sobbing Reina. He didn't know if he should be awed, amused or sorry. He blinked a couple of times before going to Reina.

"What's the matter?" he asked ever so softly.

Reina raised her head and hugged Sherwin. "I'm so sorry!!"

"I tried so hard to make it perfect but I ended up burning the noodles! I'm so stupid!" she said between sobbing and hiccupping.

Sherwin felt wonderful. He smiled and rubbed Reina's back. "Shh…it's okay…it's just noodles. I can do it in no time at all."

Reina pulled away and he wiped Reina's tears. He smiled tenderly at her and stood up and prepared the noodles.

She was still sniffing but had calmed down and watched Sherwin. She smiled and tears formed in the corner of her eyes and remembered the first time Sherwin cooked for her.

To stop herself from crying again, went to Sherwin and poked him on the shoulder.

"Hmm?" Sherwin turned around.

"Umm…I want to go up and take a shower if that's okay. I smell awful," she told Sherwin.

Sherwin smelled her. "No you don't. You smell absolutely delicious," his eyes twinkling.

She laughed and ran to her room.

She went inside and showered quickly, but making sure she's squeaky clean. Then she chose to wear something special for tonight, a Versace little black dress. She checked herself in the mirror to see if everything is in place. She smiled at her reflection. It was not a fake smile; it was a smile full of happiness and warmth. Then, she went down.

Sherwin just finished cooking and was placing the pasta on the table when Reina went down. He was surprised to see Reina all dressed up and looking so lovely. He could hardly breathe.

She smiled shyly at him and looked down.

"I tried to prepare a special meal tonight is to show my gratitude for the way you have been treating me the past days. When you gave your so-called indecent proposal, I thought I was to be treated as nothing more than a… "

She never got to finish as Sherwin placed a finger on her lips. He smiled and led her to her seat.

Sherwin complimented her on how she looked and she blushed. He never took his eyes off her while they were eating. Her beauty mesmerized him.

After dinner, they went to the living room, each holding a glass of wine. Sherwin turned on the CD and Boyz II Men's voice filled the air.

"Close your eyes, make a wish
And blow out the candlelight…"

He went to Reina and took the glass away from her and placed it on the table.
"For tonight is just your night
We're gonna celebrate, all thru the night…"

He held her hand and slowly led her to the middle of the living room. His eyes never leaving hers, nor hers from his.

"Pour the wine, light the fire
Girl your wish is my command…"

He took her hands and wrapped them around his neck. She made no protest. Then, he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her close. She gasped as his hands tightened around her.

"I submit to your demands
I'll do anything, girl you need only ask…"

She leaned her head on his chest and closed her eyes. His masculine scent filled her nostrils. She inhaled deeply, taking in more of his scent, of him, drugging her senses, clouding her mind.

He closed his eyes and rested his chin on the top of her head. She smelled sweet, like a blooming flower in the midst of a field. He pulled her closer. Her body so soft against his, he rubbed his hand across her back.

"I'll make love to you
Like you want me to
And I'll hold you tight
Baby all through the night…"

Her eyes fluttered open when she felt him pull her close, making her aware of his presence, their closeness. She leaned her head back and looked up at him and saw him staring at her. They stopped dancing.

"I'll make love to you
When you want me to
And I will not let go
Till you tell me to…"

He bent down to kiss her and she tiptoed to meet him. Their kiss was gentle, undemanding, sweet, and yet, when they pulled back, it left them breathless, gasping for air.

"Girl relax, let's go slow
I ain't got nowhere to go…"

Reina looked deeply in his eyes and held up her hand and touched and caressed his face. Sherwin caught her hand and kissed her palm, sending shivers to her spine.

"I'm just gonna concentrate on you
Girl are you ready, it's gonna be a long night…"

She linked their fingers together and led him to her room. He hesitated and did not move, a frown on his face, questions in his eyes.

"Throw your clothes on the floor
I'm gonna take my clothes off too
I made plans to be with you
Girl whatever you ask me you know I'll do…"

Reina smiled at him and kissed his hand. She pulled him softly and he followed.

"Baby tonight is your night
And I will do you right
Just make a wish on your night
Anything that you ask
I will give you the love of your life…"

They closed the door and Sherwin kissed her tenderly, afraid that if he kissed her the way he wanted to, she might fade away and never return.

He pulled back and gazed at her face.

Reina was breathless when he kissed her. She opened her eyes when his lips left hers and found him staring at her. She brought her hand to his face and let her fingers trace his handsome features. Lastly, her finger traced his lips.

He caught her hand and licked her wrist. She gasped. He looked her in the eye and asked, "Are you sure about this?"

Instead of answering, she just pulled him close and kissed him, hungrily, passionately. "Is that enough for an answer?" she asked huskily.

He smiled mischievously. "I'll make this a night you'll never forget," and captured her lips again.

He kissed her chin and down to her throat. He kissed her collarbone and nipped her shoulder, slipping the straps down. He did the same to the other shoulder. Then he worked his way to the hollow of her breasts and licked her. He smiled when she shivered.

He found the zipper behind her back and unzipped her dress and peeled it off her. He hissed at the sight. She was only in her lacy thong.

"I've never seen a woman as lovely as you," his voice was hoarse. "You're so perfect."

He laid her on the bed and removed her thong. He quickly undressed and lay on top of her. She felt goose bumps all over her as his body made contact with hers.

He captured her lips again for a searing kiss, his tongue dueling with hers. She moaned as his hands roamed her body.

She pressed her upper body to bring her closer to him, to bridge the gap between them. He almost cried out when he felt her wetness against his thigh.

She arched her body. He groaned in pleasure.

He moved down and worshipped her body in every way imaginable. She had never responded with so much honesty to anyone. But with Sherwin, she bared everything she had. She never held back.

Her moans of pleasure filled the air.

This delighted him.

He gazed into her eyes and there was such an incredible intensity that he could not figure out. He caressed her face and she whispered, "Make love to me…" She began to nibble his lower lip.

That was all he needed to hear, all he wanted her to say. He would make love to her.

He would make it last all night. There would be no hurry. He would take his sweet time loving and pleasuring her.

Her moan interrupted his thoughts. He then began to part her legs and positioned himself at her entrance.

She arched her back to let him know she loved what he's doing. Her fingernails softly raked his muscled back.

He entered her inch by inch, letting her get accustomed to him, letting her delay her release.

She dug her nails onto his back and that caused him to enter her swiftly. She gasped at the entry and sighed.

Together, they danced to the music of their moans and groans. They swayed their bodies in perfect timing and rhythm, without missing a beat. It is crucial to reaching the desired effect. They started slow and steady and measured. However, their tempo increased as they became lost and absorbed in the music. Soon, they were reaching the climax of their dance and the world stopped spinning for a moment. She screamed his name and he shouted hers. Their breathing, shallow and fast, slowed down, like the sea after a storm.

Soon, they fell asleep in each other's arms, sated smiles on their faces.