Elin had always loved experimenting in the kitchen, but today felt different. Every fold of dough, every brush of egg wash, had a purpose. She was baking for someone specific: Axton. The thought made her heart flutter as much as the scent of warm butter and sugar filling the empty bakery.
She rolled out the dough on the floured counter, humming a soft tune, her mind split between the layers of buttery pastry and the soft green of his eyes. She wanted to create something that would make him pause, maybe even laugh, something that carried a piece of her in every bite.
"What if I add a hint of pandan?" she muttered, dipping her finger into the fragrant green paste. The aroma was subtle but intoxicating, a delicate floral sweetness that made her imagine him taking a tentative bite. "Or maybe white chocolate... no, too sweet... maybe both?"
The sunlight spilling through the bakery windows caught the fine dusting of flour on her arms and cheeks, making her feel almost ethereal, though her mind kept wandering to the possibility of Axton walking through the door. She shook her head, laughing softly at herself. "Focus, Elin. Croissants first, swooning later."
She carefully folded the dough, layering butter and chocolate and a whisper of pandan, her fingers dusted white with flour. Each croissant felt like a miniature work of art, delicate, golden, and fragrant. She peeked at the clock, hoping it wasn't too early—or too late.
By mid-morning, the bakery was filled with the intoxicating aroma of warm butter, sweet chocolate, and the floral hint of pandan. Elin pulled the first tray from the oven, placing the croissants on a plate with the precision of someone presenting treasure. She stepped back, hands on her hips, and studied her work.
"I might be insane," she whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But if he likes them... it will all be worth it."
Just then, the bell above the door jingled. Her heart skipped a beat. For a split second, she imagined Axton's tall frame, green eyes wide in delight, maybe even a laugh escaping him at her meticulousness. But it was only the delivery boy with a box of flour.
The second tray slid into the oven, filling the bakery with even more warmth and buttery sweetness. Elin leaned against the counter for a moment, closing her eyes. Baking for him felt like keeping a secret—delicious, nerve-wracking, and thrilling all at once.
She imagined him stepping inside, tall and awkward as always, pausing at the counter as the scent of croissants hit him. She pictured the moment he would pick one up, feel the delicate layers in his fingers, and take that first bite. She shivered slightly, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Act casual," she muttered under her breath. "If he comes in, act normal." Her hands betrayed her nervousness, brushing flour across the counter. She didn't care. The thought of his reaction, of seeing him savour something she had made, made her pulse quicken.
And then, she heard it—the softest chuckle from the doorway.
Her heart leapt, and she almost dropped the spatula.
"Axton?" she called, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and excitement.
He stepped fully into the bakery, hands in his pockets, smiling as he breathed in the aroma. "Something smells amazing in here," he said, his gaze falling on the tray of croissants. "What have you been up to?"
Elin swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. "Just... experimenting," she said, gesturing to the tray. "For... you."
His steps slowed. "For me?" He said it like he wasn't sure he had heard correctly.
"Yes." She pushed the tray forward, her hands trembling just slightly. "Pandan and white chocolate croissant. I thought you might like it."
For a heartbeat, he said nothing. Then, with a small exhale, he pulled out a chair and sat down as though the weight of her words had nudged him into stillness. "You made a pastry for me," he murmured, almost to himself. "No one's ever... done that before."
The sudden vulnerability in his voice startled her. "Well," she said quickly, trying to fill the space, "you kept buying the same pastry over and over, and I thought you might get bored, so—"
"Bored?" He looked up sharply, his green eyes catching hers. "Elin, I don't think I could ever get bored of anything that comes from your hands."
Her cheeks burned. She ducked her head, pushing the plate closer. "You haven't even tried it yet. Don't say things like that."
He tore off a piece and bit into it. The croissant crackled, layers flaking against his fingers. His eyes widened immediately. "Oh. This is..." He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is ridiculous. How do you even come up with something like this?"
"I don't know." She shrugged, fiddling with the hem of her apron. "It just... felt right."
He took another bite, slower this time, tasting it. "You made me something entirely new," he said, almost in wonder. "Do you know how that feels? To sit here, eating a pastry no one else in the world has tasted, because you decided to make it just for me?"
Her throat tightened. She had not expected his words to carry so much weight. "I just wanted you to like it," she admitted quietly.
"I like it more than that." His gaze softened, lingering on her. "I feel... seen."
The words struck something deep in her, and she busied herself with wiping a perfectly clean counter, desperate to steady her racing heart. "If you like it, then it needs a name," she said, trying for lightness.
He leaned back in his chair, still holding the croissant. "A name, huh?" His grin returned, teasing now. "How about... the Elin Special?"
She nearly dropped her cloth. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Why not? It suits. Sweet, a little surprising, impossible to forget." He winked, and she groaned, hiding her face in her hands.
"Stop. If you're going to be like this, I'm never baking for you again."
He laughed, the sound low and warm, filling the quiet shop. "Alright, alright. What about... the Green Gold? Because of the pandan."
"That sounds like some investment scheme."
"Then... Pandan Delight?"
She shook her head, though her lips twitched. "Too cheesy."
He tapped his chin theatrically, pretending to think deeply. "Hmm. How about The Croissant That Changed My Life?"
She burst into laughter, the sound bubbling up before she could stop it. "That is the worst name I've ever heard."
The bell jingled, and Elin's smile froze on her lips. Mrs. Tan and Mrs. Wong bustled into the bakery like a summer storm, their parasols tapping against the floor as they took in the scene before them.
Two pairs of sharp eyes landed immediately on Axton, who still sat with his chair angled toward Elin, crumbs of croissant scattered across the plate in front of him.
"Wah!" Mrs. Tan exclaimed, smacking Mrs. Wong lightly on the arm. "You see or not? She baked something special for him only."
Elin felt her stomach drop. "Auntie Tan, please—"
But Mrs. Wong was already leaning over the counter, her grin sly. "What's this ah, Elin? Secret menu for handsome customers only? Not fair, you know. I've been buying from you ten years, never once got special croissant."
Elin's cheeks turned scarlet, but Axton only laughed. He leaned back comfortably, completely unfazed by their teasing. "I think it's because I inspire her," he said smoothly, his voice laced with playfulness.
The aunties gasped and squealed in unison like schoolgirls, clapping their hands together. "Aiyo! Hear that? He so thick-skinned but so sweet!"
Elin buried her face in her hands, wishing she could melt into the tiles. "You are not helping," she hissed under her breath.
"Oh, I'm helping plenty," Axton murmured, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Mrs. Tan marched right up to his table, planting her hands on her hips. "Show me this croissant. Let me taste."
Elin tried to protest, but Axton had already torn off a piece and offered it to her like it was some grand ceremony. Mrs. Tan popped it into her mouth, chewed, and her eyes widened. "Wah! This one really good! Sweet, soft, got the pandan smell, but still buttery." She turned to Mrs. Wong. "Quick, you also try!"
Mrs. Wong took her share and hummed in approval. "Not bad, not bad. Elin girl, you better put this on the menu. This one will sell out."
"It's not ready yet," Elin muttered. "It was just... an experiment."
"Experiment for him only," Mrs. Tan corrected with a wink.
Elin groaned.
"Anyway," Mrs. Wong continued, ignoring her, "it needs a proper name. Cannot just call it pandan croissant, very boring."
"Agreed," Axton said, eyes glinting. "We were just trying to come up with one."
Mrs. Tan's face lit up. "Ah! Then let us aunties help. We good at this kind of thing."
They pulled two chairs closer without asking, settling themselves at Axton's table like they owned the place. Elin could only stare in horror as they leaned in conspiratorially, the three of them forming an unlikely huddle.
"Okay, okay," Mrs. Tan began. "Since this is made with pandan, maybe call it Kaya Kiss."
Elin nearly choked. "Auntie Tan!"
Mrs. Wong smacked her friend's arm. "Too suggestive lah. People will think it's some funny business. Better something elegant." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Green Velvet."
"Ooo, not bad," Axton said politely.
Mrs. Tan waved her hand. "Too serious. This one must be romantic. How about Love at First Bite?"
Axton burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "That's... actually fantastic."
Elin slapped the counter, mortified. "Absolutely not! We are not naming a croissant that."
"But it suits!" Mrs. Tan insisted. "Look at you two, blushing and laughing. Perfect name."
Mrs. Wong snickered. "Then call it Sweetheart Croissant. Simple and clear."
Axton leaned back in his chair, his grin impossibly wide. "I think they've outdone us, Elin. You'll have to print new menus."
Elin's hands flew to her burning cheeks. "I'll do no such thing."
"Don't be shy," Mrs. Tan crooned. "Your customer already confessed the other day. You heard him say he likes the company more than the bread. Aiyo, I nearly fainted from the sweetness."
Elin shot Axton a desperate look, but he only leaned forward, his voice warm and steady. "I stand by it."
The aunties gasped again, fanning themselves dramatically. "So romantic!"
Elin gave up. She ducked behind the counter, pretending to busy herself with the register, but the truth was she could not stop smiling. Her cheeks ached, her heart thumped far too fast, and even as the aunties continued their chatter, her gaze drifted back to Axton.
He caught her looking. For a moment, his grin softened into something gentler, something that made her knees feel weak. He tapped his plate lightly, as if to remind her.
"Best croissant I've ever had," he said.
Elin's lips curved helplessly. Maybe she would let the aunties name it after all.
Mrs. Tan finally pushed herself up from her chair, brushing crumbs from her blouse. "Okay, we go first. Got mahjong later." She shot Elin a mischievous look. "Don't let this one slip away, ah? Tall, handsome, polite, and can eat croissant until so happy. Rare catch."
Mrs. Wong chuckled as she looped her arm through her friend's. "We expect wedding invitation next time."
"Aunties!" Elin squeaked, her hands flying to her face again.
The two women cackled their way out of the bakery, their laughter lingering even after the bell above the door jingled shut. The shop felt suddenly bigger without them, the silence settling like flour dust in the air.
Elin exhaled shakily, pressing her palms to her hot cheeks. "I cannot believe them. They have no filter. None."
Across the table, Axton was still chuckling. "I think they're wonderful."
"You would," she muttered, ducking behind the counter to stack some empty trays, more for distraction than necessity. "They practically proposed for me."
Axton's chair scraped softly against the floor. A moment later, he was leaning against the counter, arms folded, watching her with amused fondness. "I didn't mind."
She froze, tray in hand. "You... didn't?"
"No." His voice was quiet now, gentle, the laughter softened into something that felt more dangerous to her racing heart. "It was... nice, hearing them say out loud what I've been thinking."
Her throat tightened. She set the tray down carefully, trying to steady her hands.
"They're not wrong about one thing," he said, his voice quieter now. "The croissant deserves to stay. Even if you don't name it after me."
Her heart fluttered. She met his gaze, finding no teasing there, only warmth. The sincerity in his tone lodged itself somewhere deep inside her.
"I'll... think about it," she murmured, trying not to sound too soft.
Axton's smile lingered, then he shifted in his seat, almost as if bracing himself. He reached into his jacket and pulled out two slim tickets, sliding them across the table. "Speaking of things worth keeping... I got us these."
Elin blinked. "Tickets?"
"To the new Oceanarium. They just opened it last week. Everyone says it's spectacular. I thought maybe..." He hesitated, green eyes holding hers with something both hopeful and tender. "Maybe you'd like to go. With me."
She stared down at the tickets, her fingers hovering above them as if afraid they might vanish. The thoughtfulness behind the gesture stunned her. He had remembered the way she once mentioned she loved quiet places, how she liked to notice the little things. The Oceanarium, with its drifting schools of fish and soft blue light, was exactly that.
"You... you got these for us?" she asked softly, her voice trembling a little.
"For us," he confirmed. "Though if you'd rather, we can invite Mrs. Tan and Mrs. Wong. I'm sure they'd have a blast."
Elin burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hands. The tension broke, leaving her warm and giddy. "Please, don't give them ideas."
He leaned back, clearly pleased with her reaction. "Then it's a date."