Chapter 1: The Girl Who Loved Chocolate

The bell above the door chimed softly as Cocoa stepped into the shop, the rich, velvety scent of chocolate wrapping around her like a warm hug. She took a deep breath, savoring the familiar aroma that had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. The shop was quiet this early in the morning, the sunlight streaming through the windows and casting a golden glow over the rows of truffles, pralines, and chocolate bars.

Cocoa loved this time of day, when the world felt still and full of possibilities. She hummed to herself as she tied her apron around her waist, her fingers brushing over the embroidered letters that read “Chocolate Baby.” It was a nickname her grandmother had given her when she was little, and it had stuck ever since.

“Morning, Cocoa!” her coworker, Mia, called from behind the counter. “You’re in a good mood today.”

Cocoa grinned. “I’m always in a good mood when there’s chocolate involved.”

Mia laughed, shaking her head. “You’re hopeless, you know that?”

“Hopelessly romantic,” Cocoa corrected, her eyes sparkling. She believed in love—real, messy, all-consuming love. The kind of love that made your heart race and your stomach flutter, the kind that felt like the first bite of a perfectly crafted truffle.

As she arranged the display case, her thoughts wandered to the boy who had been coming into the shop lately. He was tall, with sharp features and a quiet intensity that made her curious. He always ordered the same thing—a single dark chocolate truffle—and he never smiled. Not once.

Cocoa had tried to strike up a conversation with him the last time he came in, but he’d barely looked at her, his responses short and clipped. Most people would have been put off, but not Cocoa. There was something about him, something hidden beneath that cold exterior, and she was determined to figure out what it was.

The bell chimed again, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up, and there he was, standing in the doorway like a shadow against the morning light. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Good morning!” she said brightly, her voice warm and inviting.

He nodded slightly, his expression unreadable as he approached the counter. “One truffle,” he said, his voice low and quiet.

Cocoa smiled, reaching into the display case and carefully selecting the darkest, richest truffle they had. She placed it in a small box and tied it with a ribbon, her fingers moving deftly.

“Here you go,” she said, handing him the box. “Dark chocolate, just the way you like it.”

He took the box without a word, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest moment. Cocoa felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, but he didn’t seem to notice. He turned to leave, and she couldn’t help herself.

“Wait!” she called, leaning over the counter.

He paused, glancing back at her with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m Cocoa,” she said, her smile widening. “You know, like the chocolate.”

For a moment, he just stared at her, his dark eyes unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and walked out the door, the bell chiming softly behind him.

Cocoa sighed, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him go. “Well, that went well,” she muttered to herself.

Mia appeared beside her, shaking her head. “You’re wasting your time, Cocoa. That guy’s an iceberg.”

“Maybe,” Cocoa said, her eyes still on the door. “But even icebergs melt eventually.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***