“Is Noah late again?” Evie wonders from her counter as it’s almost entered the brunch hour.

Almost at the same time, the doorbell chimes along with a familiar jolly greeting that only belongs to the most loyal customer of the bakery, “Good Morning~”. Noah’s mirthful face appears from the entrance, instantly lightening up even the darkest corner of the room, uplifting the monotonous dynamic of the bakery staff trio.

With the big event coming up, the three of them have been on the edge; particularly the two chefs who are continuously debating and locking themself up inside the kitchen until past the closing hour. This is why Evie demands a part-timer to at least save her from getting caught between the stubborn bakers.

“There he is,” Jonah perks from the kitchen when he hears the doorbell, stepping outside while holding a tray of freshly made bagel sandwiches for today’s special menu. He knows Noah will dine in before going to work so he intentionally brings the fresh new batch from the kitchen.

“Good ‘late’ morning, Sir” Evie gives the suited man a salute. “Based on your crooked tie, I can tell you overslept,” Evie accuses with what she considers as an amazing deduction ability.

“Kind of, ” he giggles, fixing his tie while borrowing the girl’s mirror.

“Give him a break, Evie~ Noah overslept because he brought his work home. Not like you stay awake until past midnight reading steamy fan fiction,” Jonah teases the bob-haired girl who’s now blushing for being exposed. She once accidentally sent him the wrong document instead of the viral DIY dessert hack. Now Jonah wouldn’t ever shut up about her guilty pleasure like he doesn’t have any.

Evie sticks her tongue out. “Yeah? like you have a better reason to stay up late rather than pushing rank. Don’t tell me you also spend your days off playing games all day?”

Jonah shrugs, binding his light lavender hair and tucking them inside his hat neatly before going back to the kitchen. “My Xbox is my date, gotta problem with that, baby gorl~?”

“Have you ever dated someone? Like a real person???” Evie is genuinely curious, as far as she knows, all Jonah did besides kneading the dough is grabbing the console.

“I had,” Jonah answers solemnly, “But as expected, My Xbox is the best, less complicated, less drama. Maybe I will date someone if they can beat me in a one-on-one match”

“Hey Jonah, what game do you play? PUBG? Free fire?” Noah joins the chat.

“I play all, dude. But the battleground setting is my favourite” Jonah’s dark brown eyes glint with curiosity.

“Play with me! What rank are you at? I’m Ace 1,” Noah announces triumphantly.

“What??? You are higher than me???” Jonah can’t believe what he hears. “I thought you just worked all day…”

“Well, I have played since college with Ta- with my close friend. I was pretty addicted back then,” Noah giggles lightly, his deep indigo eyes arc into a gentle crescent when he recalls the old days.

“Oh shoo… You should tell me sooner, man,” the taller chef slings his arm on Noah’s shoulder. “Let’s play on our day off. You should be on my team and help me climb the rank, got it?”

“Geez… boy will still be a boy,” Evie rolls her eyes, feigning annoyed but her smirk betrays her. She prefers this silly banter rather than a dull, lifeless bakery where everyone burns out and becomes sensitive.

Noah lets Jonah put everything he recommends for him on his tray. He catches Oliver eating his breakfast on his couch, staring out the window absent-mindedly.

Not gonna lie, Noah is a bit disappointed. He thought they were getting closer, but apparently, Oliver was still ignoring him. He hoped he was brave enough to sit in front of him, laughing and talking naturally like yesterday, but Noah is still afraid he would appear too pushy or overbearing.

Sometimes he can’t fathom what Oliver is thinking inside his head. Sometimes he laughs and is carefree but the other times he becomes quiet and often looks absent, he smiles wistfully with a sombre mood he hardly covers.

On this particular day, Noah guesses Oliver’s gloomy expression must have something to do with the news about the wedding date. He can’t blame him, even Noah chokes on his toothpaste this morning when he heard that on the television news. Taylor might never touch his romantic relationship topic with him, but still, the wedding date is a serious deal and Noah finds it odd that Taylor left his only friend out for such big news.

Regardless of the uproar within the community and the wild assumption circulating about this going to be the most expensive wedding ever. Noah is still positive Taylor will sort things out. That guy won’t be that heartless to leave Oliver without a word, after all, he’s the same person who stands against his family to pursue what he truly wants in his life. If he wants Oliver to be on his side, Taylor wouldn’t give up easily.

Knowing his best friend’s demeanour, Taylor was always hard to reach when his mind was in chaos. He needs time to thread the mess carefully and then plan what next step he should take. Noah knows Taylor will come to him when he’s ready, thus he always waits patiently for him 

This time could be the same. Noah will wait for Taylor to come up with the plan. Whatever it is he will support him like he always did.

Still and all, Noah and Oliver are in different positions. While Noah can wait and be considerate, Oliver is in the most uncertain situation. He is in a boat, without a steering wheel and sail, tossed around in the open sea, with no companion nor a certain destination.

Noah has been thinking, is there anything he can do for him? His feelings about Oliver and his friendship with Taylor will bias and cloud everything he said. The idea of using this timing to persuade Oliver to end his relationship sickens Noah. That would be very low of him and he won’t be able to face Taylor anymore. But, if he’s siding with Taylor and assures the pastry chef to be patient, that also would be very insensitive of him. Both of them commit to this complicated mess along with the consequences that could hurt both of them, yet Noah can not just turn blind and be ignorant.

Noah hopes he can do something to at least ease Oliver’s anxiety. He just hopes he has some courage. “Since tomorrow is your day off, is anyone up for the winter festival and watching fireworks at the Han river tonight?” Noah suggests, crossing his fingers, that they will agree- well, especially a particular person he desperately expects to come.

“Oh, the weather forecast said tonight is going to be the first snow, right?” Evie exclaims, counting Noah’s breakfast. “Ah, no wonder my boyfriend insisted on taking me out. Sorry,” she offers an apologetic smile.

“I don’t do that kinda romantic shit, Noah. I better play games at home,” Jonah also refuses, gulping his coffee while leaning toward the cashier counter.

Without even realising, Noah lets out a very subtle huff, disappointed with the possibility he’ll spend his first snow at his apartment this year. Again. He thought at least this year would be different.

“Let’s go,” a familiar husky voice heard for the first time since Noah arrived.

Noah snaps his head almost too hard, his eyes like a deer caught in the headlight, staring in marvel at Oliver, “You can? You will?” he sputters merrily.

Oliver’s amused smirk grows on his peach-coloured lips, “I can, I will, I have nothing better to do”, he shrugs casually.

Noah blinks. Is this real? Is he going to spend his first snow with Oliver? Just the two of them?

Although it seems like it, Noah keeps repeating in his head that this is just casual hanging out. He’s not a jerk who takes the opportunity of Oliver’s vulnerability. He must have a lot on his plate. Another burdening feeling from Noah must be the last thing Oliver needs right now.

Watching fireworks while waiting for the first snow with his best friend’s boyfriend is not a crime, right? Noah assures himself they will just do a normal thing like friends usually did, nothing more.

All the more, he originally wanted to hang out with everyone from the bakery, but Oliver offered himself to accompany him. Well, what Noah can do about it?

Right?

Under the subzero temperature, Oliver’s bundled in a thick coat and hides his neck to half of his face with a burrito of the shawl. Even if he had arrived at the festival place, Oliver still questioned his decision to accompany Noah on this freezing night instead of tucking himself under his warm duvet while catching up on ‘Stranger things’. Piles of frosted brown leaves and innumerable flashing fragments shine in the brilliant wintry light. Even the leaves' stems lie white and sharp. Ahead, the path glistens like white quartz, and the sparkle of decoration lamps in various colours adorned the trees along the pathway. Jonah was right. This is quite romantic. 

“Oh Look! There’s a busker right there!” Noah bounces on his feet excitedly, as if he just finds the whole troupe of circus singing while juggling the ball or something. The busker looks quite desolate since no one stops by and listens to his singing but he keeps strumming his guitar on the side road without caring about his surroundings.

Oliver laughs lightly. “Want to stop and listen for a while?”

“Huh? I thought you hate the idea since it’s cold” Noah blinks, confused but still proceeds to approach the busker with Oliver following him. Well, Oliver is not that delighted either, but he can sense Noah wants to stay at least for one song. After observing him for these past months, he can tell Noah is a very considerate guy who can not let people in trouble alone. He just can’t help himself to stay and do his best to help others.

“Well, gotta admit that’s a real passion right there,” Oliver shrugs, shoving his hands inside his coat pocket to find a coin. “Some of us are hardly going to work in this weather, yet this guy is standing here for hours without even knowing how much he will earn. He might have another job but still did what he truly likes for self-satisfaction alone.”

“Agree” Noah grins. Oliver notices his usual cherry lips are a bit paler and chapped from the dry cold winds. The smiley-faced guy will get his lips torn if he grins that wide with that condition.

“Wait here,” Oliver tells Noah to stay while he heads to the convenience store right behind the busker.

“Huh? Where are-“ Noah watches Oliver’s back and enters the convenience store. He’s wondering if Oliver is uncomfortable with the cold. This might be unbearable for him, so he chooses to warm inside the store rather than following Noah’s stupid plan. Noah starts to worry. Maybe he should initiate a more reasonable place to hang out in winter; Who is on earth sane enough to stroll in minus temperature? Had he taken Oliver to a theatre or a good café, they would have had a more enjoyable night. Noah is getting more anxious if he causes the chef ill and could not go to work. 

What if he couldn’t finish the preparation for his big project because he caught a cold?

What if sick Oliver has to still make a cake and then accidentally infects the cake with his virus and people who buy and eat it also get sick? 

What should I do if the plague spreads around the town??? All of this because I recklessly asked him to dat- to hang out without thinking thoroughly. Damn stupid Noah, can’t you be more reckless???

“Hey, are you okay?” Oliver’s gentle voice snaps Noah back from his little breakdown. “You look like someone who just realised from making the worst decision of their life”

“Where are you coming from? Are you okay?” Noah grimaces apologetically. Consider asking if Oliver wants to go home and call it the day.

Oliver blinks, “What possibly happened from buying coffees from the convenience store?”

“Phew…I thought I’m going to turn people in the city into zombies”

“Zom- what- Nah never mind. I’m not going to ask for an explanation for your wild imagination. Anyway, here I brought you a coffee. Based on your lips, you are the one who will turn into a zombie soon” He snickers and hands one of the paper cups with a steaming latte inside.

“This is for me?” Noah takes the cup. “Oh, it’s latte! Perfect! Thank you” He beams and sips the warm liquid, humming delightedly when the warmness reaches his stomach, somehow tastes even sweeter but he’s not complaining, though. Oliver shakes his head with a suppressed smile. At first, Oliver thought that Noah’s reaction when he sees his blueberry muffin for the first time was an exaggeration but now he realises Noah drinks his instant mix coffee with pure bliss. This guy is just naturally easy to please.

Noah is not the only one who pleases.

Despite the frigid temperature, people seem to enjoy the festival. The hustle and bustle of chatter, cheers of celebration; the tantalising smell of warm stew, fry meat, caramel desserts. Everyone is carrying the positive energy of the festive mood that radiates the warm glow despite the cold. 

Walking through the food and souvenir vendors, Oliver finds Noah halts midway. Following his gaze, Oliver spots a lonely Santa Claus standing forlornly in his thin costume while waiting for people to come and take a photo with him. Just by connecting the dot, Oliver already can guess what Noah thinks inside his head.

Oliver groans, “Fine Noah, stop pouting and stand right there. I’ll take your photo with Mr Santa”

“Yeay!” Noah drags Oliver by his arm toward Santa, who’s excitedly dancing from getting a new customer. Pulling his phone from his coat, turns on the front camera and gently pulls Oliver closer to get him inside the frame. Noah sets the timer, “Let’s take a selfie instead”

“You…you really can’t help yourself, do you?” Despite the exasperated tone, Oliver still pulls a winsome smile when the flash shoots. Geez, he missed the old day when he could easily win the argument against Noah and just ignored him.