New Day, New Challenges
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Sugar
"2," followed Sugar.
Destroyer
"1," growled Destroyer.
Freya jolted awake, her alarm drowned out by the chaos of her three dogs.
Freya
"I'm late for work again!" she exclaimed, scrambling out of bed like a whirlwind. Thankfully, this time, she managed not to trip.
Freya's mornings always started this way: a chaotic blend of barking dogs, hurried preparations, and a false sense of urgency. After staying up late watching movies with her dogs, she barely had time to shower, throw on her pre-selected outfit, and rush out the door, convinced she was late—though, oddly, she never was.
Meanwhile, in the apartment next door, Ambrose was wide awake, looking like he hadn’t slept a wink.
Ambrose Romano
"Now I get why that uncle told me 'rest in peace,'" Ambrose muttered, running a hand through his hair.
His mind flashed back to the noise-filled night before.
Freya
"Oh my God, his head!" he remembered Freya shouting.
Freya
"Oh, he’s eating her head!" she yelled again, followed by her dogs barking in unison.
The memory ended, and Ambrose sighed.
Ambrose Romano
"She watches horror movies all night and still manages to be so energetic in the morning. How?" he murmured, baffled.
Resigned to his new reality, Ambrose got up and prepared for the day. By the time he left his apartment, Freya had already dashed off, leaving him in peaceful silence—for now.
Freya arrived at the bakery, where Andreas, Anraud, and Elena were already waiting by the door.
Elena
"Welcome, Freya," Elena greeted her politely.
Freya
"Sorry, I’m late," Freya said, her tone apologetic.
Andreas
"Hi, Miss Freya," Andreas said with a friendly smile.
Freya
"Hi, Andreas," Freya replied warmly, but with her usual formality.
Arnaud
"Hi, hello, Miss Freya," Anraud chimed in, flashing his signature smile.
Freya
(Playboy) Freya thought to herself, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Arnaud
(What? She replied to Andreas but not me? That’s not fair!) Anraud thought, baffled. Determined not to give up, he tried again.
Arnaud
"Hi, Miss Freya," he repeated, maintaining his smile.
Freya ignored him once more.
Arnaud
(Looks like she’s not easy to befriend. Or maybe she just doesn’t like me?) Anraud concluded, feeling a bit disheartened.
Freya unlocked the bakery door with the spare key her uncle had given her for emergencies.
Andreas
"Looks like the boss and Ambrose are running late today," Andreas remarked, checking his watch.
Arnaud
"Ambrose is never late. He’s always on time," Anraud said, puzzled. "What’s up with him now?"
Amélie Freya best friend
"Hey, Freya!" Amelie called out as she entered the bakery.
Freya
"Amelie, what are you doing here?" Freya asked, her warm smile returning.
Amélie Freya best friend
"I’ve got a new project," Amelie replied. "So I thought I could work on it here at your bakery. It’s such a cozy place!"
Amélie Freya best friend
"But…" Freya hesitated, glancing at her colleagues.
Amélie Freya best friend
"You're not going to reject me, are you?" Amelie asked, putting on her most innocent expression.
Freya
"How could I reject you? But about Uncle..." Freya trailed off, concerned.
Amélie Freya best friend
"Come on, has Uncle Alvaro ever said no to you?" Amelie replied confidently.
Freya
"Okay, just don’t make any mess, and especially nothing like last time when you saw Ambrose," Freya warned with a sigh.
Amélie Freya best friend
"Of course! You can have full confidence in me. I won’t freak out at all," Amelie assured her, brimming with confidence.
Freya
"I hope so," Freya muttered, sighing again.
Amelie settled into a corner and began drawing. The rest of the team got busy with their work. Within minutes, customers started coming in to buy sweets, lifting everyone’s spirits. Freya and the others were thrilled that the bakery was busier today, much sooner than their first day.
Soon after, Alvaro arrived at the bakery, with Ambrose walking in alongside him.
Alvaro / Freya uncle
"Sorry, everyone. I got delayed—I had some unfinished business to take care of," Alvaro said warmly.
"It’s okay!" everyone shouted cheerfully, still riding the high of their morning sales.
Alvaro headed toward the kitchen, with Ambrose following him. Freya noticed that Ambrose hadn’t apologized for being late. This irked her, but she kept quiet at first. Meanwhile, Anraud noticed Ambrose's tired appearance and approached him.
Arnaud
"Your eyes are red, and you’ve got dark circles. Didn’t get enough sleep last night?" Anraud asked curiously.
Unable to hold back any longer, Freya made a pointed comment.
Freya
"Looks like not everyone feels guilty about being late. That kind of attitude shouldn’t continue in our bakery," she said mockingly, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Ambrose, hearing her remark, turned back toward the counter, his expression calm but sharp.
Ambrose Romano
"I might have arrived earlier than everyone else—if not for someone who watches horror movies all night and doesn’t let me sleep properly," he retorted bluntly.
Freya’s eyes widened, her annoyance growing.
Freya
"What’s that supposed to mean?" she asked angrily, narrowing her eyes at him.
Ambrose Romano
"Whatever you heard, Freya," Ambrose replied confidently, holding her gaze.
The atmosphere in the bakery grew tense as the two stared each other down. The staff froze, each lost in their own thoughts.
Arnaud
(The situation is getting tense…) Anraud thought nervously, fidgeting.
(Did he really just stand up to Freya?) Alvaro and Amelie thought in shock, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
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