Phonophobia [RE-WRITTEN & EDITED] 📗

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"Red velvet, let's go with red velvet, fifty percent of people who've had it loved it and I'm sure the little guy will love it too." I smiled through the phone adding some heavy cream into a glass bowl.

"Why didn't I think of that? Oh, Abby, what would I do without you." Gabi, my manager, chirps.

"Nothing." I giggled pressing my button phone closer to my ear.

"You're right, absolutely nothing." She laughs. "Then why don't  you take out the ingredients for the red velvet cake, we can work on it when I get back. The meeting with the investors will start any moment from now I gotta go, bye!" she rushed before hanging up.

"Goodbye, Gabi," I say to the empty line before slipping the phone into the pocket of my apron.

I added icing sugar into the bowl of whipped cream and whisked until my arm was sore and then sat it in the fridge for later. I looked around to see if there was anything left to do but later realized that I had already done most of the chores.

"Okay, let's go open the bakery, Abigail," I say to myself after tucking away a few flyaways and sanitizing my hand.

I made my way to the main door and switched the 'close' sign to 'open'. I stood at the entrance and turned to face the shop, carefully inspecting my entire setting. The cakes were ready, disposable cups were stacked, tables were spotlessly clean, and most importantly, I could absorb the few seconds of peace before my coworkers arrived. These few moments of silence are what make me love my job as the Head Baker.

With a small sigh, I stepped away from the entrance just in time for the transparent glass door behind me to swing open, missing my body by a few inches and making me swerve my head toward the figure that was now standing there, my body stiff with shock.

"Oh, it's you," I said to him as he stood grumpily in front of me, the smile I forced on my face ending up as a grimace while my heart pounded like crazy.

As expected, he just scoffed in reply and walked past me.

This person is Keith, he is one of the other three people who work here, with me. He may seem like a bad person, but that's because he is.

We don't get along very well and I think I'm his least favorite person in the world.

He doesn't like it when I smile, talk, laugh – heck, he probably doesn't like it when I breathe. If he could end my existence, I bet he would without giving it a second thought. He says I'm a very weird person, that's why he doesn't like me.

No, I'm not okay with it. But what can I do about it? People are always free to have their preferences and opinions.

I, personally, know that I have a boring life and I cannot force someone to like me. I mean, God forbid if I would recommend myself to anybody as a friend.

I can't stand my flaws either, there are just too many.

I tucked back a few strands of loose hair as I watched him head straight to the changing room. The rest of my coworkers arrived at the shop shortly after I had taken my spot behind the counter, all three of them.

Sugar ñ Spice was the name of this bakery though it's more than a bakery, we do ice-creams, milkshakes, and coffees too, I have no idea why the 'Spice' though, all we do is sugar.

Weird.

I opened my mouth to say hello but flinched noticeably when they let out a bark of laughter at something one of them said as they were coming in.

"Good morning," I mumbled anyway, ignoring the goose bumps rising on my forearm as they returned the greeting in mixed tones.

Am I already acting weird to you? Well, if you think so, that must be because I am scared of loud or sudden noises. Medically, it's called Phonophobia.