“I got you something,” Noah informs when he is about to pay for his bread. He takes out a peach-coloured box with a ribbon from his pouch and hands it to Evie.

Evie's eyes sparkled with excitement. “Is that perfume?”

“Yep! And not been released yet. This is one of my secret recipes for next winter collection, so for now, until the release date this is the only one in the world, special for your Christmas eve date so you better get that boy,” Noah smiles smugly as Evie keeps cursing in disbelief and examines the box meticulously.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she mutters as she tries to sniff the scent. “Oh shi...I mean…what if I stole your scent formula and gave it to your competitor? How can you give unreleased stuff to other people without much thought?” The girl appears rather concerned than she is actually plotting what she’s just saying.

Noah just chuckles at Evie’s serious face, she is close to packing the perfume back into the box and returns it to Noah, “Well, different from other art pieces, you can’t post scent structure online, only a few people are gifted who can replicate a carbon copy of perfume by only smelling it. Also, even if you are secretly my competitor, you won’t be able to produce it in time before I release mine” Noah smiles gently, “Don’t worry, I usually give my soon-to-release product to my closest friends. I need to hear their review for the final assessment.”

Evie doesn't re-box it. Instead, she smiles gratefully, deeply touched by the gift Noah had given her “Is that so? Then I’ll cherish it”

“Do you like it?” he asks whilst giving his card to pay for his purchase.

Evie nods eagerly with her toothy grin. “Thank you Noah”

“No problem” he answers “Oh Jonah!” He calls when Jonah comes out from the kitchen with his breakfast in his hands “Got you something! I don’t know what kind of scent you will like but judging by your floral pink handkerchief and your purple hair I assume you like something floral and soft” Noah hands the box to the older who looks bewildered “this is a soft blend rose, blackcurrant and some unique spices.”

Jonah blinks, forgetting his breakfast as he reads the perfume box. “You gave me a perfume?” 

Noah chuckles with his confused expression, “Early Christmas gift” he clarifies

A bright smile tugs on his lips as he tries to sniff it, “You’re good at reading people dude, this is nice. Thank you. I can’t wear it when I work tho, don't want to make my cake smell flowery, but I’ll wear it everywhere except for work,” he winks.

“Jonah! Jonah! I got mine too! Let me sniff yours!” Evie chirps excitedly, running toward the taller chef, trying to snatch his box.

Oliver enters after feeding the cat. He isn't surprised when he sees Noah, but he doesn’t greet him either since Noah is there literally every day.

“Uh… Oliver,” Noah calls. He isn’t sure how to call him since Oliver never told him to call him ’Olly’ like Jonah. Oliver ceases walking to the kitchen, he looks at Noah confused “I have something for you” Noah hands the box. It’s a navy box with a red ribbon on it. Oliver stares at the box for a while, which makes Noah squirm in nervousness. "Uh.. early Christmas Gift? I gave it to Evie and Jonah as well,” he quickly explains to himself.

Oliver looks at his face before he takes the box “Thank you” he says quietly with a soft smile tugging on his lips making Noah’s heart tighten with such a comforting warmness, he never knows to gain a genuine smile from giving someone a gift can bring so much happiness, especially this Olliver, just for keeping a casual civil conversation with him already hard enough, Noah can’t believe he just makes him smile. 

Oliver’s icy face melts along his apathetic facade, with an impenetrable barrier he keeps around him by keeping talking rudely to others, making the pastry chef is unapproachable. Noah can’t fathom what Oliver had been through until he is always on alert around him.

On the other side, Noah tries to put himself in Oliver's shoes. The agitated feeling of knowing some stranger holding one of his biggest secrets in his palm is understandable. 

Oliver must be anxious, he kept his eyes on Noah in case he has something under his sleeves, his expectation every morning is to find a mob of reporters swarming around his bakery because Oliver can’t understand why Noah wastes his precious time in his bakery every day unless he’s planning to search for proof of his affairs with Taylor and snitch it to Taylor’s family since he seems close to them.

But after all this time, Oliver’s fear didn’t happen. Rather than being full of fussy reporters, the customers packed his bakery store instead. Dozens of unfamiliar faces are coming and slowly become the regulars of his shop. One day, Oliver idly asks them how they know his bakery and mostly they are Noah’s co-workers and employees. Some know from Noah’s social media since he posted a lot of his breakfast there.

As time goes by, Oliver realises Noah isn't the cunning man he thought he was. He’s never mentioned Oliver’s relationship to the bakery staff nor tried to meddle in something that wasn’t his concern. Oliver can tell at the first time he appeared in his bakery, Noah was genuinely worried but after his explanation, he rather attempts to understand although he still couldn't fully support their decision.

Realising Oliver had his guard down, Noah needs to bite his lower lips to resist grinning like a fool even though he is sure his cheeks are as red as a ripe cherry.

“You, um.. why you don’t try to... smell it?” Noah suggests, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt nervously, afraid that Oliver won’t like the scent.

Oliver just smiles. “I believe it will smell good if you’re the one who makes it,” he shrugs casually

Noah almost staggers backwards if he doesn’t stand properly, his face heats as his eyes are as wide as deer caught up in hunting season. He is still not used to Oliver’s compliments. He sounds indifferent, but his words are thoughtful. Noah touches his cheeks and resists the urge to slap himself so he can cover the blush. Noah doesn’t know how to answer him. Should he tease him by saying ‘yeah? how do you know? what if I put garlic scent on it?’ or should he simply say thank you?

Noah couldn’t even find the proper expression to be displayed on his face to react to Oliver’s word but the chef speaks again “and just ‘Olly’ is fine” he makes his way back to the kitchen

For crying out loud! Noah is already 28, and he even still blushes awkwardly like a smitten teenage boy. He can feel Evie’s and Jonah’s gazes looking at him. He can’t afford another embarrassment. After clearing his throat, he grabbed his bread and left.

Noah comes a bit later than usual. He overslept but, of course, he can’t skip his breakfast, rather even more starving than usual. He gets off from his car that he usually parks not too far from the bakery, opening his umbrella this time so he won’t be damp from the heavy rain, and lets Evie and Jonah tease him again. It’s utterly freezing, even after wearing the thickest coat in his wardrobe, as expected from the late autumn morning rain. 

Noah paces the steps, rushing through the puddled pavement that keeps splashing on his rubber shoes. He wants immediately to get inside the warm bakery and sip hot cocoa–yeah not because he wants to meet Oliver and his warm smile that he recently showed toward him–definitely not like that. Just because of warm bread and hot cocoa–he convinces himself.

Noah can see the yellow hue coming from inside the bakery, looking brighter under the cloudier ambience. They’ve been open for a while since it’s already time for brunch. 

Noah stops himself when he sees Oliver on the outside. He just stood in front of the bakery, tapping the tip of his shoe on the pile of damp leaves. He’s holding a big umbrella and seems to be waiting for someone. 

Noah raises his hand, ready to greet him from afar. He was about to shout Oliver’s name from his lungs out when someone from the other side of the road approached him. A tall man with curly long hair is wearing the coat with a unique pattern of a certain brand, tailor-made, which Noah is already familiar with.

Taylor.

Noah pulls back his hand, and Oliver gives him a light peck on his cheek and his lips before taking his hand to guide him inside the bakery. They share the same sweet smile, a smile that Noah never expects he will find on Oliver’s face. He thought Oliver’s smile at him recently was already his prettiest one, but what he saw today is on another level. It was blissful and enamoured.

Noah’s smile instantly falls. He knows he shouldn’t feel this way, but this very feeling is completely out of his control. Oliver keeps avoiding him, ignoring him even if they spare a glance at each other. Oliver is always being cold to him and seeing him that welcome and warm with someone makes Noah… envy? Jealous?

Noah shakes his head. This doesn’t seem right. It’s Taylor, his best friend that he had considered a brother. His happiness should make him happy, too. How can he feel envy for Taylor?. Knowing he’s even capable of letting such ugly thoughts almost murk his friendship with Taylor, utterly sickens him. Taylor deserves to be happy with the love he chooses. 

Noah turns on his heels and walks back to his car. Paving the same puddled path under the heavy rain and raging wind -  just this time is much colder.

No bread for today.

“Why didn't you come yesterday? Jonah wanted you to taste his new recipe, tho. He was so excited, saying you should be the one who tasted it. But don’t tell him I snitched him out to you, alright?” Evie is pouting while counting Noah’s purchases. Nevertheless, saying Jonah was the one who looked him out, Evie appears to be the one who pulls her long face at him.

Noah is a regular in their bakery, and the friendliest among the customers, Evie considers him a close friend. Although they had only known each other for a month, the stories they share are already on a personal level. 

Evie told Noah about her concern and struggle to continue her study at university, and how she’s waiting for next year to retest after failing this year’s entrance exam. Noah, as someone who has ahead in a term of age, gives Evie some of his opinion and encouragement.

It’s a simple gesture, but Noah’s sincerity and genuine reaction are what make his words sound more resonant in that girl’s heart.

“Noe! Where have you been, man?” Jonah appears from the kitchen door. He must have heard Evie call his name earlier. “Lucky you, I save my newest masterpiece, here I present the chocolatte-glazed almond cookies! try it out. And oh…what’s wrong with that sombre face? Are you alright?” Jonah’s furore flatters when he notices Noah’s discouraging appearance.

The truth is, Noah keeps dwelling on his chaotic mind, despite being in denial of his jealousy. He can’t stop thinking about what Taylor’s doing in the bakery yesterday. 

Did Oliver let Taylor taste his new recipe? Was that the reason Oliver called his boyfriend over?

Did Oliver let Taylor enter the kitchen and watch him bake? 

Did they sneak out again and make out in the storage room?

Noah wonders if Jonah and Evie know about Oliver’s forbidden love. Yesterday was definitely not Taylor's first visit to Oliver's bakery. He entrusted them with catering for sure because he often came and tasted Oliver's dishes, which might have been specially cooked for him all along. The store employees can also be sure to often meet with Taylor. Are they friends with Taylor too? Did Evie and Jonah expect Taylor to come like they were waiting for Noah's visit?

Noah can see Oliver on the corner, placing the pastries on the storefront. He knows he can hear him, but he doesn’t look at him, not even spare a glance. Whether he came or not, Noah assumes Oliver won’t be interested in anything about him, either.

“I’m just not feeling well” Noah tries to smile at Evie and Jonah hopefully, it won’t look too forceful. He takes a bite of Jonah's cookie, looking by the way crumbles fall on the table and quickly be brushed off by Evie. The insignificant part of such painstakingly made sweet teaches Noah to know his place.

Hoping too much will only crush him.