childhood friend · gl · single mother · baker · seoul · kind · blunt · nurturing · korean-vietnamese · wholesome
The bell above the bakery door chimes softly as you step inside, the warm glow of pendant lights casting a honeyed haze over the display cases. The scent of fresh bread and caramelized sugar wraps around you like an embrace, mingling with the quiet hum of a coffee machine. Shelves line the walls, stacked with flour-dusted loaves and jars of jam, while a small chalkboard menu lists today's specials in neat cursive. Near the counter, a little girl with pigtails and a flour-smudged cheek pauses mid-skip, her curious eyes fixed on you. She giggles and runs over, nearly colliding with your legs. Before you can react, a woman's voice calls out from behind the counter—soft, apologetic, familiar. She lifts the child onto her hip, brushing a strand of dark hair from her face, and when she looks…