y/n pov

the first time i met him, i was 10.

i was on the sidewalk of my neighborhood, skipping giddily in my new sparkly shoes. snowflakes were slowly covering the road, the christmas lights in each house providing a colorful scenery of the neighborhood, helped by the falling snow.

it was the night of christmas that i got my new shoes that i once admired in the shop that was given by my parents. my heart leaped as high as the sky as soon as i ripped open the wrappings, jumping around the house with the shoes on.

the shoes had a pinky sparkle, with a glittery strap and flowers on it as the final touch. my parents allowed me to take a walk with the shoes on, and so i did.

i kept on skipping, enjoying the scenery without realizing that the sidewalk was starting to get more and more slippery.

when i landed with both of my feet, my left foot didn't get a firm landing, causing me to slip and bump my knees and body to the ground.

i froze for a moment, taking in what just happened. "ouch." i mumbled, and as soon as i sat up, i saw my knees scraped with blood. i grimaced at the sight.

then i took a glance at my shoes. and my heart sank to the bottom of the sea as soon as i saw the flower was missing from my left shoe. i burst into tears, still sitting on the ground after realizing that i broke my new shoes.

"you okay?" a voice suddenly called out from above me. it was filled with hapiness and concern at the same time. i looked up to see who it was.

hueningkai was crouching down to my level, a boy that lived in the house next to mine. his face was showing pure concern, and as soon as he saw my wounds, he gasped and instantly took my hand as he stood up.

"it hurts, kai." i looked down at my wounded knees after i stood up. i grimaced again at the wound. and somehow, i started crying again.

"come on." hueningkai grabbed my hand and put it over his shoulders as he helped me walk.

"where are we going, kai?" i asked after realizing that he just passed my house.

"my house." he faced me and smiled.

his house was quiet, there was barely no noise except for our footsteps.

as soon as we got inside, he helped me up the stairs and we went into what seemed like his room. he looked like he was struggling on carrying me because he was making weird expressions when he started to help me walk. i just chuckled.

he sat me down on his bed. and after that, he leaned down to my eye level.

"wait here, okay?" he cheered, a cute smile plastered on his face. his face was so close to mine i was able to see all his face features.

i nodded, and he left his room after.

i had nothing to do, so i looked around his room. it was the first time i've ever been inside his room. his room had a calming aura, everything decorated in light blue. his bed, his wallpaper, his desk, even his wardrobe was in a shade of blue. and when i looked up to the ceiling, i gasped in amazement as i saw the ceiling in a very dark shade of blue with stars and the moon drawn on it. i was staring at it in amazement and wonder when something in the corner of my eyes caught my attention.

it was a poster plastered onto the wall next to his desk. the poster stood out from the others since it wasn't blue. the poster was a picture of a group of boys, to be specific a boyband called 'TXT'. i instantly felt emotional after i read what was below the picture.

'let's be together even after tomorrow.'

my mind drifted to the things we do as neighbors. in the night, i would take my flashlight out to do morse codes, and he would always reply. his room was across mine, so almost every night before we sleep we would talk in morse code.

we usually talk about random things, like what would we do if we have a flying pet or how we would survive in space.

the one time i saw his room from afar was when he took a nap without closing the curtains. i was playing with my dolls on my bed when i took a glance from my window to his. that time i didn't really noticed the details of his room since i was preoccupied with my toys.

"what are you thinking about, y/n?" he innocently asked, snapping me out of my trance. he was smiling cheerfully with a first aid kit in his hands, leaning against the door frame.

"nothing!" i denied, putting on my cheerful tone as he walked towards me.

"stay still, okay?" he said when he started treating my wounds. i soon remembered that the flower from my shoe was missing. i sobbed again.

"hey hey, what's wrong, y/n?" he asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"i-i lost a flower from my shoe..." i soon started crying again, embracing him into a hug.

hueningkai shushed me, patting my back in an attempt to calm me. i soon pulled away, calming myself down.

"i know what would cheer you up! come on!" he grabbed my hand again, pulling me up as we started pacing down the stairs. surprisingly, my knees didn't hurt anymore.

"kai, where are we going?" i asked while he puts his shoes on. he gleamed a smile at me, and soon took my hand again as we walked down the quiet neighborhood.

"wait, why was your house quiet?" i asked again, curiosity took over.

"my parents are away, and my sisters are celeberating with their friends." he said, now walking next to me.

"then why aren't you celebrating with your friends too?"

"well someone had to watch the house, right?"

"oh..." was all i could say.

"yay we're here!" after a couple of minutes walking in silence, he exclaimed.

"come on!" he impatiently cheered, dragging me with him.

"the bakery?" i asked as we got inside. we were flooded with the smell of dough, and people walking in every direction possible.

"yep! they have a lot of free testers here!" he giggled, pointing to one of them.

i quickly walked towards the testers and my mouth exploded with various flavours.

"oh my god, this is so good!" i mumbled as i took more and more testers.

"i know right!" he replied, taking the testers with me. we chuckled as we munched into one tester after another.

after a while, i got full. i sneaked away from hueningkai, who was still busy eating.

i ended up in one of the windows that showed the kitchen where the bread was made. i smiled at the baker when he saw and winked at me, not in a creepy way.

he was very focused on shaping the dough correctly, which wowed me because i have never seen someone very passionate about their jobs. my parents were never this determined in their job, and they never seemed happy. and that baker right there was smiling while doing his job.

i watched in complete happiness when i felt a finger tap my shoulder. it was hueningkai.

"i want to be like him someday!" i pointed at the baker that was still focused on the dough.

"you'll be a great baker, y/n!" he smiled, encouraging me to go for what i want.

"merry christmas, kai."

"merry christmas, y/n."

my first encounter with hueningkai was somewhat a bittersweet memory i could never forget.

_

(8 years later)

now i'm 18, and an aspiring baker in one of the most modern cities in korea, seoul.

ever since that time in the bakery store, i tried baking, and it became my passion over the years. despite my parents being a little bit disapproving, i still pursued my dream of being a baker in my own store, and my parents were happy that i found what i love doing. now they're living in the countryside, enjoying their retirement years.

as for hueningkai, he moved away around 2 years later after he took me to that bakery. i never saw him again. but we got to play together in the playground several times, and we still did morse codes until he left. geez, how i miss him so much.

"y/n." one of my staff and friend, mina called out from the kitchen counter, bringing me back to reality. i just realized that i stopped rolling the dough.

"what?"

"i forgot to tell you that a manager from this big company came to me the other day." she informed, smiling mischiveously at me.

"wait, really?"

"yeah, they said that they need a baker for a big event, and they want us to do it." she explained, walking into the kitchen and leaned towards the kitchen table.

"what company?" i approached mina.

"i think they said bighit? but i'm not sure. oh, they left their number though." she handed me a card.

"oh my god, really? mina, this is huge!" i jumped in excitement.

"i know!" she jumped with me, celebrating.

mina moved into hueningkai's house a few months after he moved out. i told her about my dream, and she was so excited that she said she'd help me. and she did, which i was grateful for.

"what kind of event is it?" i asked as soon as we stopped jumping. she was panting, which made me chuckle.

"well, they want to celebrate christmas with a music group. they wouldn't tell me which group, but what i know is that they have the same group name with a boyband that broke apart a few years ago." her face went dead serious.

"wow... okay, i'm gonna call them now!" i excitedly waved the card, and she squealed. i squealed back before leaving the kitchen.

i took a deep breath before making the phone call. and after a few seconds, somebody picked up.

"hello?"

"yes, hi. i'm calling from y/n's bakery. i want to talk about a offer you made the other day?"

"oh yes, for our christmas party, right?"

"yes."

"okay so what we're trying to do is a big cake for the members and little cakes for the guests."

"how many guests are there, exactly?"

"i suppose around 200 guests. we're only inviting close family and friends and also the employees."

i flinched at the number of guests. 200 guests are a lot when you're working alone.

"well, can you give me the approximate price?"

"umm, the range would be in between _________."
a/n - i'm not good w money so just put in whatever number you want lol.

"okay, that's a deal. the event would be held on christmas, which is two weeks from now. can we meet up tomorrow for further details?"

"yes, of course."

"the address is written on the card. is 3 pm okay?"

"yes, mr. i'll be there."

"bye ms. y/l/n."

then he hung up. i was still processing what happened. i was just on a phone call with one of the biggest company in korea, and they were expecting me tomorrow. i cheered in excitement before telling mina the good news.

when i got to the counter, i saw a familiar figure walking out of the store. "oh, hey!" mina said.

"who was that?"

"just a customer, i guess. why?"

"nothing." i sighed.

hueningkai pov

"god, this is exhausting." yeonjun hyung complained after another one of our christmas party practice.

"just bear with it, hyung." taehyun hyung sighed as we sat down on the studio floor, chatting before we head back to our dorm.

"kai, are you okay? you've been spacing out lately." soobin hyung asked.

"i bet it's about y/n." beomgyu hyung smirked.

"i'm okay, hyung." i forced a smile, and they were convinced.

"oh, by the way, i think there's a bakery with that name too." soobin hyung informed.

"wait, really?" i asked in disbelief.

"y-yeah. our manager said there's a bakery called y/n's bakery, and he want them to make the cakes for the christmas party. i'm not sure if they have made a deal, though." taehyun hyung continued.

i smiled at what they said. my y/n is finally living her dream. i'm happy for you, y/n.

i couldn't stop thinking about the day we directly met. she was a really happy girl, her face would make various expressions each time we meet that would actually surprise me. i was sad when i saw her crying, but i tried my best to look cheerful for her to cheer her up too.

and her face lit up so much up to the point where she forgot that her shoes was broken once i brought her to the bakery. i've always seen her on the street when she couldn't go in to the bakery so she would stare at it from outside. she may have not known, but i knew that she would be a great baker before she wanted to be one.

i would always remember the random things we talked about through the morse codes. i chuckled at the ridiculous things we talked about that other people may have never come up with.

"hey, earth to hueningkai... i think he's spacing out again. he even laughed! i think he went crazy." beomgyu hyung waved his hand in front of me, the others laughing at what he said.

"i'm sane, beomgyu hyung. thanks." i stuck my tongue out to beomgyu hyung.

"that's the hueningkai i know." soobin hyung exclaimed.

"yah, taehyun hyung... where's the bakery?"

"um, i could ask the address from our manager if you want." he shrugged.

"yeah... thanks, hyung! i should be heading back to my dorm." i waved goodbye as i walked out of the studio.

"yah, we're not done talking, kai!" yeonjun hyung yelled.

"we'll talk later, hyung." i flashed them a smile before i left. i was going to freshen up to go to the bakery.

_

i was in front of the bakery. it was nice to look at, with pastel blue as the main theme. i walked in to find a completely different aura inside the bakery. i felt calm, and soon i smelled the breads. i was quickly drawn to the tester, reliving the times when i lived next to y/n.

"hi, may i help you?" a girl approached me. she seemed familiar, but i couldn't quite grasp what was familiar about her.

"yeah, i'm looking for y/n. i want to talk to her."

"oh she's busy right now. do you want to leave a message for her instead?"

"no, i'm good." i sighed. it could be a different y/n you idiot.

"come by next time!" she cheered.

"i will." i smiled before walking out of the bakery.

y/n, where are you?

y/n pov

it was time. to attend the christmas party.

the manager insisted me and mina to participate in the party. they said the group will perform, so i joined to entertain myself. plus, we were supposed to present the cake on the stage with the group.

the manager asked for the big cake to be made as a chocolate and caramel cake. just how hueningkai likes it.

focus, y/n. it's not him.

"you good?" mina asked, sitting next to me in the car. yes, they picked us up so we would not know the precise location of the party.

"yeah... i'm just scared if the guests would like the cakes or not..." i sighed.

"everyone loves your cake, y/n. calm down." mina comforted me.

"i hope so." i smiled, trying to convince myself.

_

the party seemed big, but it wasn't really crowded. it was really, really fancy, with a golden chandelier hanging from a roman style ceiling. the tables were well decorated with candles and golden plates. the stage was prepared also, christmas decorations surrounding the stage. a christmas tree was placed on the middle of the massive hall, decorated with colorful christmas lights. it reminded me of my hometown in christmas. it reminded me of hueningkai. i quickly shook off the thought. i was not about to get distracted from my job.

i was preparing the cakes before it would be served. i gave it a final touch before it went to the crowd. and soon, i was showered with smiles and compliments.

the one thing i enjoy about baking is the happiness of the people after they eat what i made. it made me happy seeing them happy with the taste i give them.

"see, they loved it." mina smirked, nudging me with her elbow.

"yeah... you're right." i smiled, and we laughed.

i was somehow excited for the performance, but i was nervous at the same time, worrying what would they think about the cake when i give it to them after their performance.

and soon, the lights in the hall started to go dimmer, signing that the performance. i quickly went to the kitchen to prepare the cake, but a hand held me back.

"let's look at the performance." mina smiled.

"but the cake-"

"we have time." she insisted, cutting me off. i smiled and faced the stage, anticipating the performance.

"ladies and gentleman, TXT!" the MC announced, people clapping soon after.

wait, TXT? the poster from hueningkai's roo-

my thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of morse codes. and spotlights were starting to center on 5 boys that was starting to dance and sing to the song.

"oh my god, TXT? they're the rookie group from bighit? wait, he was at the bakery 2 weeks ago!" mina pointed at one of the dancing boys. and it wasn't just any boy.

it was hueningkai.

tears were starting to form in my eyes, but i tried my best to hold it back. but when i couldn't, i quickly went away and into the kitchen.

"y/n!" i heard mina called out for me, but i just ignored her yell. i just kept on walking towards the kitchen.

"y/n, don't tell he was the boy that lived in my house before. what's his name again? ha... ling...k-"

"hueningkai." i sobbed more after mentioning his name

i was suddenly ambushed with a hug, and it somehow calmed me down.

"i'm sure he misses you, y/n. let's go and give them the cake." mina smile, i was still in her embrace. she knew how i felt about hueningkai, and she's been supportive since i was so sad about him moving out.

"i think he forgot about me." i forced a laugh.

"you don't know that, y/n." she replied as we walked towards the backstage.

"and now, let's start the christmas party with a cake for TXT!" the MC spoke, signing us to walk towards the stage. the audience was clapping, and we were walking towards the boys.

and when i caught his eyes, he was staring at me, eyes wide. i could see that his eyes were starting to form tears. i was trying to ignore him, but my eyes always landed on him.

"who will cut the cake?" mina asked, knife on her hand.

"i will!" he blurted, walking towards me.

"y/n." he gave me a sad smile that made me feel like crying again. but i was going to be a professional, so i forced a smile. he soon walked towards mina, taking the knife out of her hands and plastered an excited face for the crowd.

he soon cut the cake and the crowd clapped and cheered. i quickly walked away from the spotlight, walking off the stage. i couldn't take it anymore, i felt mixed up. and soon, i was in tears, frustrated at the world.

i soon felt arms around me, patting my back and shushing me to comfort me. i didn't bother looking up, because i knew who it was.

i kept on crying as i buried my head in his chest, wetting his shirt. his scent, minty and sweet, filled my nose as i tried to keep my breathing steady. despite the troubles i caused him, there he was, comforting me. the fact that he didn't leave my side to proceed to the party made me cry even more. but instead of frustration, it was out of happiness.

then i heard more sobbing. but it wasn't coming from me, it was coming from hueningkai. i gasped in shock as he cried, burying his face in my neck. the one person i knew that was always cheerful and bright was...crying. the person that attempted to calm me down earlier was now showing his vunerable side.

"k-kai?" i pulled away, looking at his tear-streaked face. my hands were still on his shoulder, but i was still surprised as i look at him sob. he was looking at the ground.

"y/n, i'm so sorry... i knew i should've told you i was moving out, but i didn't have the courage to make you cry again. i didn't want to be the reason you cry, that's why i didn't tell you... but i knew it was wrong, i-"

"hey, hey... i'm just glad i'm with you again." i cut, which made him look up. i tried to smile, which brought up a smile on his face too.

"you tried to cheer me up when i was sad, and i really appreciate what you did... when i was down, you'd do silly things that will always make me laugh, and you never seemed angry or sad. and i was wrong too, i should've taken your feelings into consideration." i continued, chuckling after.

"y/n, we were kids." he rolled his eyes, which made me chuckle more.

"and yeah, i just tried to look happy in front of you, so that you'd smile for me. and i would always be glad i did what i did because it made you happy." he smiled, looking intensely into my eyes as he stroked my cheek. i felt like my heart was about to burst out of my body.

"kai, please don't hide your feelings from me..." i said, pulling my hands away from his shoulders and fiddling with my fingers.

"y/n, i promise i won't. so i am going to be honest with you right now." he took a step closer as he lifted my chin up with his finger. his voice went more serious.

"y/n, the song we just performed? the morse codes? it was inspired by what we did as kids. since i moved away, you have always been in my mind, and no matter how much i tried to forget you, i just couldn't do it. i love you, y/n, and i'll do whatever it takes to make you happy." he confessed, looking deeply into my eyes. as of right then, my heart was about to explode, and butterflies were fluttering in my stomach. a blush crept up to my cheek as we stared at each other in silence.

"oh! i want to give you something." he cheered as he took something from his pocket.

and in his hands, there was a flower. but not just any flower. it was the flower that fell from my left shoe when i first met him.

"i found it in my bedroom before i moved out. i wanted to give it to you, but the timing was never right." he scratched his neck as he blushed.

"merry christmas, y/n."

"merry christmas, kai."

i took the flower from his hand, interwining his hand with mine. i smiled ear to ear as i said what i wanted to say for so long.

"i love you, hueningkai."

***

okay, that last part was pretty cringey lmao. definitely not one of my best work...

i wanted to post something about christmas before the new year, so here ya go. hope you enjoy it :)

taehyun imagine coming up next! ♡♡