for love or cakes?

“Do not steal any of those pastries this time!” Kihyun scolded as you wandered through the back room of the bakery, nibbling on some of the fresh muffins that were secretly your favorites. You would never let Kihyun know you liked his cooking the best. He was busy moving heavy boxes from a back room to the front, and you constantly seemed to be in his way.
“It isn’t stealing if it’s in my father’s bakery!” you retorted as you walked around the side of a table to get out of the way of Kihyun. You weren’t moving fast enough for him and he snorted in frustration.
“I made those muffins, and therefore you are stealing from me” he said as he placed a heavy box down right in front of you. You looked at him smugly and took a large bite out of the fresh pastry clutched in your hand. Crumbs fell to the floor at his feet.
“That’s why they are awful! Can’t expect your baking to be decent!” you jabbed.
“You have eaten enough of them, so don’t lie! I know you like them!” he said as he took a defiant step closer to you.
“When you get done moving all of those boxes, Kihyun, you can leave if you would like. There isn’t much else that needs to be done around here” your father told Kihyun as he walked into the backroom. He sat down on a rickety old bench that had sat in the back room as long as you could remember.
“Oh- well, sir, I was going to get a head start on some of the baking for tomorrow. It should be a busy day and…”
“Just lock up when you are done” your father, smiling, held up a hand to quiet Kihyun, letting him know he didn’t need to explain himself. Kihyun nodded as your father took a deep breath and stood back up. He headed to the front of the store at the ringing sound of the bell over the front door. You remained in the back room, lost in thought.
“Sugar high?” Kihyun joked as he nudged your shoulder, noticing you watching your father concernedly.
“Sorry. I spaced out”
“I know you worry about your father, but he seems to be in better spirits lately” Kihyun said, his tone softer, trying to put your mind at ease. He knew how you would worry about your father’s health constantly.
“I just wish he would take it easy sometimes.”
“He does. That’s why I am here” Kihyun’s teasing tone was back before he finished his sentence.
“You hardly do any work around here. Slacker…” you teased and followed your father out when the bell over the front door sounded again. You didn’t want him getting too over worked out there on his own.
That night as you were locking up and wiping down the counters in the front room, Kihyun wandered over to you. He held a wooden spoon out, and you knew this meant he had been baking and wanted you to try something new.
“I ate enough today” you shook your head when he presented the spoon to you as you opened the register and tried to begin counting out the cash made from the day.
“Don’t argue; just try this” he said, not budging, but only moving closer. You rolled your eyes but obliged taking the spoon and liking the light pink icing that was on it.
“Actually, that does taste very good” you admitted, handing back the spoon with a nod of approval.
“I will take that as a compliment, coming from you” Kihyun said, finishing whatever was remaining on the spoon. There wasn’t much.
“What are you making that icing for?” you asked, following him to the back room.
“A cake” he said walking over to a table in the center of the room. A single light was on that casted the table and Kihyun into a spotlight. He looked almost romantic, if you thought if him that way. Which you definitely didn’t…
You slowly walked over to the table and sat down on a stool across from Kihyun. You watched as he added ingredients to a cake caringly. It was cute to see him acting almost endearing and not giving you a hard time.
“A little late to be baking, isn’t it?”
“A little late to be wiping down counter tops, isn’t it?” he countered, glancing up at you.
“Someone has to make sure you don’t burn the place down” you leaned closer to him across the table.
“I think you just like being nosey” putting the spoon he had been using to mix the ingredients down, he too leaned closer. The distance between the two of you lessened.
“What time is it?” he asked abruptly.
“What time?” you clarified, not sure why he would be asking all of a sudden.
“Sorry. I am needed somewhere tonight. I just remembered.” He stepped back and took his apron off and hung it on the door handle that lead out back.
“It nearly 7:30” you told him looking at your watch.
“Thank you.” He said as he quickly took the bowl of cake mix off of the table and placed it in the large refrigerator.
“Where do you go when you leave this late?” you asked him, thinking this was a harmless question.
“Nowhere” he responded shortly. He was a terrible liar.
“Is it- could you have a date?” you asked, trying to not care about what the answer would be. You hoped your tone came off as indifference and uncaring. He paused as he handed out the door, and looked at you, puzzled. He laughed once before exiting and did not answer your question.
“I don’t know if that was a yes or a no…” you looked down at the table top where you and Kihyun had been a moment before. Pouting, you finished locking up and headed for home.
The next day, Kihyun arrived to work late, which was very unlike him. He didn’t greet you good morning as he walked right past the front counter and into the back room. Right away, he started to move more of the heavy boxes he hadn’t gotten to yesterday. You heard him place them down angrily and complain to himself. You couldn’t make out what he was saying, but he definitely wasn’t in a good mood about something.
When there was a lull in the front of the shop, you allowed your father to take over for a bit as you went to the back to check on Kihyun.
You watched silently as he seemed scrambled. He walked from one end of the room to the other, before realizing he forgot something and had to return to where he had been a second ago. He was mumbling to himself under his breath.
“Unreasonable. How can they ask something like this? People are already struggling…” you tried not to listen, but his angry voice carried through the quiet back room of the bakery.
“Um... Kihyun?” you asked walking into the room and over to him. He was angrily mixing contents into a bowl, spilling more than half of it onto the table top.
“Yes? Sorry. What do you need?” he unintentionally spat. You could practically see the tension in his shoulder. You smiled in spite of yourself.
“A little worked up today?” you asked, trying to sound disarming.
“I’m fine” he said and returned to the bowl he had been mixing, only to realize he had forgotten something he needed. He cursed under his breath before turning in one spot trying to find it.
“Need this?” you asked, placing the butter on the table. It had been behind you and he couldn’t see it.
“Thank you” he said, not looking at you.
“If something is up, you can take that day off…”
“No way. I can’t leave you and your father here like that”
“Everyone has a bad day. We will be fine.” You told him. You would never tell him how much of a help he had been since he started working here, but you don’t think you and your father would have been able to keep this place open if it wasn’t for him. Not since your father’s health started to decline.
“Fine isn’t ‘fine’ nowadays!” he raised his voice and threw his hands up. He reached up and rubbed his forehead causing you to laugh. He had rubbed a streak of white flower across his hairline and had no way of noticing.
You walked over and wiped it away, before pulling him into a hug. He didn’t hesitate before hugging you around your waist tightly.
“I know you care about us here, but we will be fine. Worry about yourself” you said as you released him.
“I will just go stir crazy f I go home” he said, still on edge, but this time smiling.
“If this is about the new taxes, please don’t worry. We have been managing until now, and we will continue to make things work” you turned to walk away when Kihyun spoke up again. His voice was softer, like he didn’t want you to really hear him.
“I just really care about you” he said. You stopped and turned slowly.
“Now you sound delirious with a fever. Maybe you should go home” you teased.
“Do you care about me?” he asked, feeling somewhat confident now that he saw the blush creep into your cheeks.
“I don’t- I mean…” you stammered, feeling flustered. Kihyun smiled, which made you fall silent out of embarrassment.
“Good enough for me” he said and went back to mixing the bowl that was in front of himself, finally adding the butter.
That night, you were tidying up the front of the shop, when you heard a noise in the back room. Kihyun had gone home hours ago followed shortly by your father. You had stayed behind so your father wouldn’t have to. Grabbing a long rolling pin that had been left behind the counter, you slowly crept to the back room.
Peering around the doorframe, rolling pin held high, you were confused when you saw Kihyun setting a cake on the top of a table.
“What in the world are you doing back here?” you asked as you held the rolling pin loosely at your side and entered the room. Kihyun mussy to have heard you because eye jumped when he heard you speak.
“Just- nothing! Why are you still here?” he asked rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
“Aare you baking? If you are I can leave…” you turned to head out, not meaning to intrude.
“I-I wasn’t.” he said taking a step back towards the pink cake that was on the table. There was a single flower next to it that matched the pink on the icing.
“I was just finishing up actually” he said. You walked over and looked at the cake.
“This looks really good. I’m sure the customers will love it” you smiled supportively.
“Actually this isn’t- it isn’t for the customers” Kihyun admitted. You had never seen him seem so embarrassed. Normally he was always confident when talking to you and kept up the banter better than you could.
“Oh. Well, good job either way” you shrugged, and turned to leave. You stopped when you felt Kihyun reach out and grab a light hold of your hand. Slowly he pulled you back as he began talking once more.
“I made this cake for you.” He admitted, not releasing your hand.
“That’s so sweet- but, why?” you asked, feeling confused.
“I like you” he confessed. Confident Kihyun was back, you realized, as he smirked.
“I was going to leave this cake here for hen you arrived in the morning, but I didn’t think you would be here so late” he told you. You felt speechless as the heat crept up your cheeks.
“That’s so- adorable? Who are you?” you asked feeling his forehead for a fever.
“Thank you” you told him softening at the sight of him standing in front of you smiling, and looking hopeful.
“Do you like me too? I mean, it isn’t ever day someone bakes a delicious cake for you” he asked, gesturing towards his head work.
“No” you shook your head and smiled. His mouth fell open slightly as he looked at you. You laughed and walked closer to him, placing a light peck on his lips.
“I’m kidding. I can’t say no to cake” you teased.
He smiled and pulled you in for one more kiss.

Notes