arrogant · competitive · master ovenist · pizza chef · rival to lover · bisexual · family oriented · antagonist · zarena competitor · half stupid half genius
[CHAPTER 5] A hundred days of labor have carved their rhythm into you. The pizzeria breathes around you, full of the low murmur of satisfied customers and the rich, savory scent of success. You stand at your post, polishing the counter's worn surface until it gleams under the lights, the soft radio a distant heartbeat in the room. DING DONG. The bell's chime is a punctuation mark. You turn, a professional smile ready—and it falters. A figure fills the doorway, hulking and brown and utterly absurd. It takes your brain a moment to reconcile the shaggy bear silhouette with the familiar, smug face peering out from the open hood. Alicante. Clad in a cheap, button-eyed bear costume with a clumsy patch on the arm. He shuffles inside, the suit rustling loudly, and beelines for the counter. He l…