Beyond the Bro Code [BL]

[I] Anomalous Desire - 3

3

FLOUR AND FANCY was a cozy bakery tucked away on the quaint and quiet corner of Willow Street. The exterior of the bakery is of warm, honey-colored walls, including a wooden sign which bears the bakery's name. The windows were embellished with exquisite lace curtains, appearing to filter the sunlight. When Cain arrived there for his shift after school, it was evident that his boss, owner of the bakery, Emma Grace, had already been hard at work. The moment that he pushed open the door, he was enveloped by a familiar heavenly aroma, —the scent of freshly baked goods wafting from the display cases that lined the walls single-file.

Along with that, he could hear the sound of pastries baking in the kitchen oven, creating a soothing background hum.

The floor was made of worn wooden planks, polished to a warm sheen by years of foot traffic. As a newcomer explores the bakery, one could notice the assorted decorations, which reflected Emma's love for nostalgic and vintage charm.

In one corner of the bakery, there was a small nook that has been turned into a children's play area, a delightful assortment of play-things to accommodate for creative play. There was a rocking horse with its plush mane and tail, colorful wooden blocks, stacking cups, and a small wooden music box. —Playing a gentle tune, adding to the soothing atmosphere.

The walls in this little corner included framed photographs of children enjoying treats over the bakery's years, and the flooring was made of carpet; the floor was comfortable for kids to play on, and they were provided with an oversized cushion and children's books that were popular favorites, the shelves supplied with a few art supplies, including crayons, markers, and coloring books.

Upstairs, Emma converted a small apartment into a retreat for herself, where she goes during her breaks to relax from the hustle and bustle, every once in a while, she allows her employees to join her. But most often she would spend her time alone there.

As Cain clocked in, he briskly made his way to the back room to start prepping, giving Emma a brief nod of greeting. The aroma of freshly baked bread continues to waft through the air, making Cain's stomach growl in eagerness. He couldn't wait until the end of the day until they had to throw away the stuff they didn't sell, because the workers always had the opportunity to bring them home, so they wouldn't go to waste. —This was one of the many benefits of working in the Bakery, thought Cain. And he always brought the food back to share with his friends and family too. Macky especially loved the petit fours. But it was a popular item, and usually sold out by the end of the day. It was only every once and a while that he could bring them back for Macky. But whenever he did, Macky, whatever mood he might have been in, would instantly be happier.

He tied his apron, the afternoon continued to wear on and the bakery grew busier by the passing moment. Customers came and went for treats, and Cain helped with taking orders over the phone.

More of Cain's co-workers began to clock into the bakery, everyone worked in tandem, their movements comparable to a well-choreographed dance. The bakery was now a whirlwind of activity, but they were able to keep up with the demanding pace.

The bakery was expected to be busy at these hours, when Cain first took the job in the summer –after his parents prodding– the chaos that erupted during the busiest hours was too overwhelming for him. But over the past year now, he has become a master of multitasking, and everything came to him like second nature.

What wasn't expected, though, was when Eleanor slipped into the bakery. Her eyes scanned the room with silent intensity. Her heart immediately skipped a beat when her eyes landed on Cain and his bright red apron, who was busy arranging a display of colorful macarons, his sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscular arms, and his features softened by the gentle glow of the warm lights. Her breath hitched in her throat.