The door slammed behind me, and I walked toward the parking lot, irritation and frustration swirling inside me. Why the hell did I feel the need to apologize? I growled inwardly. I was just trying to help her…
But I didn't owe her an apology, did I?
I end up sounding like a damn dad…
The sound of a pair of heels echoed behind me, followed by her voice, calling out. "Ice!"
I stopped and turned. There she was again, all bright and eager like nothing had just happened. Her happy-go-lucky attitude was so… Unbelievable.
Relief and exhaustion hit me at the same time. She's already forgiven me. Just like that. I wanted to feel grateful that she wasn't making a scene, but part of me couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that this was all too easy. I shouldn't feel like this. It's not right.
I sighed deeply. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It should've been simple. But then there she was, smiling at me like it was nothing. How the hell does she forgive people so easily?
She jumped into the passenger seat of the car, smiling like she was about to go on some fun little field trip. And there I was, driving toward the shop with a knot still tight in my chest. If she forgives everyone who wrongs her like this, she's going to have a hell of a time in life. Why the hell am I so concerned about this?
"We have no classes tomorrow," I said, trying to keep the conversation neutral. It had been announced right before she stormed out of the class.
"Good timing! I have work overseas tomorrow." She pulled out her phone and started typing away, still smiling brightly.
"Good for you. We're almost there." I muttered as I focused on parking. The lot in front of the shop was packed, as usual.
Once I parked, I glanced over at her, still dealing with my own thoughts. "Once we're there, don't do anything stupid, okay?" I warned, still trying to find my footing in this weird situation."Aye aye, Icy!" Fire saluted, mocking me playfully.
Icy? My brow furrowed. "Just call me Ice. Not anything stupid." I shut off the engine and unlocked the car.
She pouted, and for a second, I couldn't help but feel like I was dealing with a five-year-old. Why does she make me feel guilty over the smallest things?
We walked toward the pastry shop, and I could already feel my mood shift. Mom was waiting, as usual. She had a way of making things feel… familiar.
"Wow! It looks so good!" Fire's voice broke through my thoughts as she stared up at the sign of the shop, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Sweet Dream Pastry Shop," she read aloud.
I reached for the door, feeling the familiar cold metal against my hand as I pushed it open. The bell chimed as we entered, announcing our arrival. Fire followed me in, and the place was buzzing with customers, just like every other day.
It's just a bakery. Why do I keep coming here?
We built the shop up from nothing, and now it was one of the busiest spots in town. Mom was brilliant at it. But Fire? She didn't care for the business side; she just got lost in the sweet treats. I knew she'd wander off. It was inevitable. She was already at the glass display, her face pressed up against it like a kid at a museum, eyes wide with wonder.
I stood there for a moment, watching her, feeling the impatience well up inside me. She's not here for this. She's here to mess around with cakes.
Finally, I walked toward her, crossing my arms as I leaned down. "Ice, Ice, are you going to teach me like this? This one, please!" she exclaimed, pointing eagerly at a cake covered in flowers.
Without realizing it, I found myself smiling, just a little. Her childlike excitement was contagious, even if it was a bit ridiculous. She's so damn stubborn.
"Let's go," I said, trying to sound tough. "You're not here to window-shop for cakes."
She didn't move, still staring at the display, contemplating whether to follow me or stay glued to the cakes. I shook my head, exasperated.
"Since you like them so much, I'll talk to my mom first. I'll be back." I turned, feeling the familiar irritation rising again, though it wasn't as sharp as before. Her face brightened instantly, and she gave me a thumbs-up, looking so pleased with herself.
Babysitting… really?
I knocked on the door to the back office and opened it. Mom was sitting at her desk, going through inventory.
"Oh, I was just about to check on you, baby boy," she said with a warm smile, getting up to hug me.
"It's okay, Ma. We're just here to use the back kitchen," I said, feeling the usual comfort that came with being here. Mom was always busy, but she made everything feel like home.
"Hey, is that your girlfriend?" She peered through the door, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.I immediately shut the door behind me. "Ma," I protested, though I wasn't surprised.
"I saw you on the CCTV. You two look good together. She's really pretty!" Mom teased, her voice soft with affection.
I rolled my eyes. "She's just my lab partner. I need to teach her. She's not that good, so if I don't, she'll drag me down."
Mom's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "It's the first time you've brought someone here. She should be special, right?"
Mom, seriously? I could already feel the heat rising in my face. "I'm leaving, Ma," I said, trying to brush it off.
But my mother wasn't done. "Alright, alright, but you two look great together. Just don't forget to take care of her."
"I'll be back," I muttered as I left the office.
I pushed the key into the doorknob and rotated it, the soft click signaling my entrance. As I pushed the door open, Fire was right behind me, still wide-eyed, scanning every corner of the room like she was on some sort of field trip.
"Wow, this is so cute! Looks like there are a lot of memories that were made here." She beamed, glancing around as she stepped into the room.
I froze, momentarily caught off guard by her words. What? I thought she'd be the type to complain about how old the place looked, or how cramped it felt compared to the main bakery. But instead, she said something... unexpected. She actually gets it.
This kitchen was separated from the front building of the shop where the bigger kitchen for the shop is. It's tucked away in the back of the property, small and a bit hidden from the bustling customers outside. Most people, if they noticed this part of the building at all, would probably think it was the least important. The kitchen, tucked away from the main shop, looked like it hadn't been touched in ages. But for me, it was the heart of everything. It's where Mom and I spent countless hours working side-by-side, perfecting our craft, making the place grow from a small shop to what it was now. This is where the real work happens. This kitchen, these memories—they matter more than anything.
"Right. Let's start," I said, my voice steady, though I couldn't quite suppress the small smile creeping onto my face. The familiar warmth of the kitchen seemed to settle into my chest, making my mood shift just a little.
I didn't expect her to say something like that. In my mind, she was just a brat—one who would probably gripe about the old kitchen, the cramped space, or the lack of shiny new appliances. But instead, she said she saw memories in it. Damn, she's not as annoying as I thought.
An hour passed like it was nothing. Fire, surprisingly, wasn't a total disaster. She was focused, nodding or saying "Okay" whenever I guided her, the same enthusiastic smile on her face. But this time, it wasn't just that carefree, reckless energy of hers. No, she was determined, and I could see it in the way she held the piping bag steady, her small movements precise. I thought it would be a nightmare, teaching her, but now... it felt different. I ended up enjoying it, even though I hadn't planned to.
I watched her for a moment as she carefully decorated the first batch. "I think decorating is your thing. This is really good," I said, giving her a rare compliment. It was the first time I really noticed how steady her hands were with the icing.
"Really!?" Her eyes lit up, sparkling with excitement. But it wasn't just happiness—it was the look of someone who was genuinely amazed by the compliment, as if she didn't expect me to say something nice. Do I look like I only give criticism?
I nodded, and before I could even process the fact that I had made her this happy, she jumped up, bouncing around like a little kid. Normally, that would've driven me crazy, but today… I didn't have the heart to stop her. She looked so genuinely excited.
"Okay, let's try some cupcakes. You'll make and decorate them, okay?" I suggested, trying to keep things moving along.
"Aye aye, Captain!" Fire replied, saluting me with that ridiculous amount of energy. Where the hell does she get it from?
She immediately started pulling ingredients from the counter, and I stood there, watching her. Maybe it was true—maybe she just needed time to get the hang of things. She's not as hopeless as I thought.
Just then, the phone by the fridge rang. It was Mom. The landline connected to the bakery, and I picked up without hesitation. The conversation was brief—just few minutes—and she needed me to handle something at the shop.
"Hey, I need to run to the shop real quick. I'll be back," I said, looking over at Fire, who was so focused on the cupcakes that she barely acknowledged me. At least she was taking this seriously.
"Okay!" she called out without even looking up from her work.
I left the kitchen, heading for the front of the shop, but when I got there, the place was packed. The cold season had hit, and a lot of the employees were sick. So, I ended up helping Mom with the rush, mostly deliveries and take-out, but it was still chaotic.
I restocked the empty pastries in the display window, all while making sure everything was running smoothly. It was the usual madness, but at least it kept me busy, distracting me from whatever was going on back in the kitchen.
After a while, I remembered Fire. We should be leaving soon...
I slipped my hands into my pockets and made my way back to the kitchen, ready to get going. But as I rounded the corner, a plume of smoke met me, curling up from the direction of the kitchen.
Darn it, Fire…
I sprinted to the kitchen, my heart racing for a split second. What the hell had she done now? Was she seriously trying to burn something in here?
Next chapter: What starts as an emergency becomes something far more personal as he lashes out at Fire, the girl caught in the center of it all. But beneath the harsh words and anger lies a storm of guilt, unresolved grief, and unexpected protectiveness. When he finds her sobbing alone in the dark, everything shifts.
Raw emotion, painful truths, and surprising vulnerability collide in this powerful chapter—where blame is questioned, empathy is earned, and something fragile begins to grow between two people who might be more alike than they realize.