Cupcake

It was a busy day at the bakery shop and all the employees rushed to get all the goods on display for the awaiting customers. Do KyungSoo observed every single pastry, making sure each one was perfect. The workers were intimidated by their boss, knowing that every single treat had to look perfect before they were sold. KyungSoo was a perfectionist when it came to cooking and baking and he made sure everything wasn't left untouched.

"Yah, come on guys, I know you can do better than this. We can't have these pastries looking like they've been made by a three-year-old or else we can't sell. Let's go people!" KyungSoo yelled. His employees avoided eye contact with him as they continued preparing the pastries.

The bells of the shop rang and Miyoung stepped inside, inhaling the scent of freshly baked goods. She made her way to the kitchen where everyone was gathered at, trying to make as many goods as they could. She looked around as she tried to find the owner of the place. She observed all the people around her and watched as they decorated each pastry with intricate designs. She stared in awe.

"Excuse me." A stern voice called out. Miyoung jumped and turned around and meet face to face with a wide eyed boy.

"Who are you?" The boy asked. Miyoung gulped and bowed.

"Anneyonghaseyo, Song Miyoung imnida. I'm new." She greeted herself. The boy nodded.

"Do KyungSoo imnida, I'm your boss and the owner of this shop." He held out his hand which she hesitantly took. They briefly shook hands.

"Today, I want to see how good you are with baking and decorating. I want you to make a batch of cupcakes and decorate all of them. I'll be checking back on you in about an hour, arasso?" KyungSoo commanded. Miyoung nodded.

"Yes sir." She answered formally.

"Good, now there's the oven and the supplies are over there." He directed her towards her station and handed her an apron.

"Don't disappoint me." He stated firmly before walking away. Miyoung swallowed a big lump in , putting her apron on, and started working on her assignment.

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An hour later, Miyoung's cupcakes were baked, and she was in the middle of decorating them when KyungSoo stopped by to observe her work. Miyoung was concentrated on her work, trying to perfect making a flower with frosting that she had not noticed her boss standing right next to her.

"These are looking pretty good so far Ms. Song." He complimented. Miyoung jumped in surprise but managed not to ruin her flower. KyungSoo chuckled lightly.

"May I?" He pointed to one of her creations.

"Ah, neh." She nodded. KyungSoo grabbed one of the floral cupcakes. He observed each detail of the design, admiring the details of the petals and the precise use of frosting. He slowly peeled off the wrapper and bit into the cupcake.

Miyoung bit her lip and looked at him nervously. By the look on his face, she couldn't tell if he liked it or not and she was anxious to know whether they were good or not. She saw him swallow and her stomach clenched. He scrunched his face and looked at her. She knew it wasn't a good sign.

"Your designs are good, but these cupcakes are too sweet. You added too much sugar. I don't want my customers to complain about a toothache later. Do them again." He demanded. He grabbed the tray of cupcakes and threw them in the trash. Miyoung was on the verge of tears. The other employees who heard looked at her in sympathy. She sighed and grabbed her supplies to make the second batch of cupcakes.

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For the first few days, Miyoung would come into work and make a fresh batch of cupcakes as soon as her shift started, only for KyungSoo to look at them in disgust and throw them away, making her start all over again. They were either too sweet, too plain, not enough sugar, or not to his liking. Miyoung grew frustrated but never gave up. Baking was her passion and she knew that it would take a lot more than having her boss complain about her work for her to give up that easily.

KyungSoo finally gave up and assigned her to design the pastries instead. He loved the way she decorated the goods and it had attracted more customers more than ever.

"Those look lovely Miyoung. Keep it up." KyungSoo patted her shoulder. Miyoung lightly smiled and concentrated on the cake she was decorating.

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A month passed and the shop was getting busier and busier. The holiday season was nearing and people were buying pastries more than ever. Each day, all of the pastries would sell out and the employees had to make twice as much goods as before.

Miyoung wiped off the sweat from her forehead as she completed another batch of cupcakes. Lately, she had been feeling fatigued and hadn't gotten enough sleep. Stress was getting to her as she tried to balance school and work at the same time. KyungSoo noticed the pout on her face and he couldn't help but smile. He had been paying close attention to the girl lately and he didn't know why. But he couldn't help but get annoyed with the fact that she had been slacking lately.

KyungSoo strolled over to her, arms crossed with a straight expression on her face. The employees glanced at him and shivered, moving out of his way to avoid contact with him.

"Song Miyoung." Miyoung turned around and gasped. She sensed the tension around her as her boss eyed her.

"N-neh sir?" She stuttered.

"I couldn't help but notice that you've been slacking lately. Care to explain?" Miyoung bit her lip.

"I-I have no reason, sir. I'm sorry and I will work harder." She bowed 90 degrees towards him. KyungSoo sighed.

"I can't afford anyone slacking off, Ms. Song. Do you understand?" She nodded.

"Neh, I understand."

"Good. Now, I want you to try baking cupcakes again. Let's see how you improved, neh?" She nodded.

"Neh."

"Get to work." With that, he walked away. Miyoung let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding and grabbed her materials.

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KyungSoo returned to the kitchen an hour later just as Miyoung was finishing her cupcakes. He strolled over to her and eyed the freshly baked treats.

"Looks good Ms. Song." He picked up one of the cupcakes, peeling off the paper and taking a small bite. Miyoung bit her lip. KyungSoo swallowed and sighed.

"Ugh, too bland. Once again, you have failed to satisfy my taste buds." He tossed the cupcake into the trash and shook his head.

"How do you expect to excel in the business of baking and cooking when you can't even make a damn cupcake right?!" He yelled in frustration, causing the workers to stare at him. Miyoung stayed silent.

"If you can't do it right, don't do it at all." With that, he walked away and the workers went straight back to work. Miyoung was on the verge of tears. She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't take it too personally hun, he's prissy when it this time of year. He probably doesn't mean it." SeoHae, the worker next to her, gave her a light and encouraging smile.

"Thanks SeoHae-shi." Miyoung smiled back and gathered her materials.

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"Okay let's see, add this much flour..." Miyoung said to herself.

She stood in her kitchen as she attempted to make another batch of cupcakes to prove to her boss that she was capable of baking a simple cupcake with just the right amount of sweetness. She added a dash of cinnamon and grabbed the sugar. She carefully poured just enough so that it didn't look like a bowl of sugar with flour. She mixed the ingredients then poured them into the cupcake pan and popped it in the oven.

KyungSoo sighed. It was closing time and all the other employees had gone home. He sat at one of the tables and rest his head in the palm of his hand. The day had been the busiest they've ever had and the stress was getting to him. He felt bad for putting his employees through hell and he knew he owed them a lot. He especially felt bad for his newest worker, Song Miyoung. He blamed himself for his picky tongue and for not liking her cupcakes as much as he wanted to. But he knew there was potential in her somewhere.

The bell next to the door rang and footsteps were heard from behind.

"Sorry but we're-" KyungSoo turned around and gasped.

"Well, well, what are you still doing here little bro?" KyungSoo rolled his eyes.

"What do you want KyungMin?" KyungSoo asked tiredly.

"It's hyung to you and why, can't I just drop by and say hi?" KyungMin smirked.

"No." KyungSoo snapped.

"Ahh wae KyungSoo-ah? I missed you." KyungSoo rolled his eyes.

"Don't you have any schedules to attend to?"

"Nope, surprisingly not. It's been tiring you know, the life of an idol and all." KyungMin chuckled mockingly.

It had always been KyungSoo's dream to be an idol but when KyungMin had won over his younger brother, it was all over. All their lives they have competed with each other to be idols and knew that if one lived it, the other one couldn't. It was a deal that KyungSoo hated. He knew that he had no chance of becoming an idol after KyungMin had become a trainee, leading him to open his own bakery. If anything, baking was one of the only ways KyungSoo coped with his feelings, where he could get away from the world that was almost against him.

"Get out KyungMin." KyungSoo glared at his brother.

"Still jealous aren't you?" KyungSoo's hands balled in fists.

"I said get out! I don't need you here! You're a bastard and I never wanna see you again!" He yelled, letting his rage out. KyungMin put his hands up in defense.

"Fine, I'll go. But it's gonna be pretty hard not to see me again, I'm everywhere KyungSoo-ah." KyungMin chuckled and walked out.

KyungSoo growled and knocked a chair down, letting all his anger out. At that moment, the bell to the shop rang again, but KyungSoo didn't bother to look at who it was. He sat back down and buried his head in his hands. He heard light footsteps approach him.

"What now KyungMin?" KyungSoo groaned.

"B-boss?" He heard the soft voice of a girl. He lifted his head, wiping the tears away and looked up at the girl. He was surprised when he saw Miyoung. He stood up and straightened himself out.

"Miyoung, what are you doing here?" He asked calmly. Miyoung bit her lip.

"I-I just wanted to give you this." She said quietly. KyungSoo eyed the boxed item in her hands.

"What is that?" He pointed at the box.

"A c-cupcake." She held the box towards him.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Miyoung shrugged.

"W-will you try it? I-I want to see if I got it right this time." He eyed her suspiciously before taking the box. He placed it on the table and carefully took the cupcake out. He observed the treat, first admiring the intricate design before peeling the paper back and slowly taking a bite.

Miyoung's heart pounded as she watched him carefully chew her creation, waiting for his reaction. When he swallowed, she held her breath and anticipated his answer. A small smile appeared on his face, easing Miyoung's pounding heart.

"It's not bad." He said. Miyoung's eyes widened.

"Chincha?!" KyungSoo nodded.

"Here, try." He held the cupcake up to , encouraging her to take a bite. She opened and took a bite, savoring the flavor. Her eyes lit up and she smiled.

"Wah, it is good." KyungSoo chuckled.

"Silly, you got frosting on your lip." He raised his hand and wiped the frosting off the corner of her lips with his thumb. She blushed.

KyungSoo's eyes sparkled as soon as he looked into her deep brown orbs. It was his first time ever looking at the girl so intensely that he now noticed how attractive she was. She was a simple, natural beauty, but KyungSoo liked that about her. He gradually leaned in as her eyes reeled him in closer and closer. Miyoung closed her eyes as she felt the gap between them close and their lips connected.

Miyoung felt like she was high up in the clouds. She could feel her rapidly beating heart, threatening to explode out of her chest as his soft, sweet lips moved against hers. She could taste the sweetness of the cupcake lingering in his mouth. She inhaled his intoxicating scent and craved for more. She grabbed the sides of his shirt to keep herself from falling. The effect KyungSoo was giving her made her feel weak and she loved every second of it.

They pulled away after some time and gasped for air. Their cheeks were rosy red and their eyes sparkled. After a while, they both laughed and pulled away. KyungSoo wiped the frosting that had now smeared on her cheek with a napkin. He placed the unfinished cupcake back in the box and stood by Miyoung, lacing his fingers between hers.

"It's getting late. Can I take you home?" KyungSoo asked. She nodded.

"Neh, thanks boss."

"It's KyungSoo." He smiled. She smiled back.

"KyungSoo." She corrected.

"Neh, that's more like it." He chuckled.

"Thanks again, KyungSoo oppa." Miyoung blushed. KyungSoo's heart raced as she called him "oppa."

"No problem my little cupcake. Kaja." He lead her outside the shop and locked the door before making their way down the street, hand in hand and the precious little cupcake held securely under KyungSoo's arm. No doubt that it was the best cupcake he'd ever tasted, but it was no better than his little cupcake that he held onto tightly and protectively beside him.

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Sorry for taking so long, hope you guys enjoyed it! :)

-lilxninjaa