Spring had gently returned to the village. The bakery was quiet, its usual calm wrapping the space like a warm blanket. Mr. Jin-woo kneaded dough with flour-covered hands while Mr. Min stood in the corner of the kitchen, preparing tea. The day's bustle was over. Jun-seo sat quietly in a corner, pretending to study, though his eyes kept drifting to the two men. Every little glance between them held years of tenderness, a love so familiar that even silence spoke.
"Do you remember the first time I brought you something?" Mr. Jin-woo asked, taking off his glasses.
Mr. Min smiled instantly. "You mean those cinnamon rolls?"
Mr. Jin-woo nodded, trying to hide his grin.
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Flashback – New Beginnings
Back then, Mr. Jin-woo had just moved to the village. He was quiet, serious, and slightly distant. His marriage in the city had ended in divorce, and he came here looking for a fresh start. He opened a small bakery, and though the villagers didn't know much about him, they quickly fell in love with the warm smell of his bread.
Mr. Min was the beloved schoolteacher. The kind who taught math through songs and smiled while watering the garden each morning. Somehow, these two very different souls had found each other—quietly, gently.
That morning was still fresh in Jin-woo's mind. He had just baked his first batch of cinnamon rolls. Something inside him said, "Let today be the first." He placed three warm rolls into a small box and scribbled a note: "Hope this gives you some energy before your morning class."
With the box in hand, he walked to the school, his heart racing. Nothing had been made public yet. Everything between them was still new, still delicate. Like spring.
When Mr. Min saw him at the school gate, his surprise turned quickly into a smile. "Mr. Jin-woo… What a lovely surprise this early in the morning."
Jin-woo handed him the box. "New recipe. I wanted you to be the first to try it."
When Mr. Min opened it, the warmth of the rolls hit him—but more than that, it was the note inside. His eyes softened. In that moment, no words were needed. That little box said everything.
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Present Day – The Bakery Kitchen
Mr. Min smiled softly. "I remember those rolls… You put way too much cinnamon," he teased, affection in his voice.
Jin-woo chuckled. "I was so nervous, I messed up the measurements."
"And that note… It was so sweet," Min said, his eyes glinting. "You know I still have it?"
Jun-seo looked up, surprised. "Really?"
Mr. Min nodded. "First steps are unforgettable. A little box of pastries… but it held a whole new life inside."
Mr. Jin-woo moved closer, gently taking Min's hand. "I'm glad I baked those rolls," he said. "And I'm even more glad you were there to open that door."
Jun-seo watched them with a quiet smile. Love didn't always begin with grand gestures. Sometimes, it started with a shy delivery of cinnamon rolls—and somehow, the sweetness lingered even after all those years.