Chapter Text
Yeji was born with a gold medal in hand.
She had faced off against Olympic champions, pierced apples from 80 meters with her arch, and even shot out the candle on a birthday cake while being blindfolded once. But no amount of gold Olympic medals or World Champion titles could help her now.
She tried to smile handsomely. She liked wearing her white tracksuit with the inscription "Archery Olympic Champ" in red and blue thread across her back. It was a great achievement that she enjoyed to flaunt with no shame. For most, it’s the source of great admiration. In Korea, not many women had the talents to go this far in their archery journey, much less at the age of twenty-five.
What Yeji touched turned to gold, and what she wanted was served to her on a silver platter. However, when it came to the heart she was trying to tame, she always went back home empty handed. No matter what stunt she pulled, she just couldn't land the shot when it came to Jisu.
Grace's was a corner bakery tucked between a stationary shop and a yoga studio in Mapo. It had the storefront that looked Instagram-curated, mingled with the smell of vanilla, cinnamon and unattainable affection.
That's how Yeji landed there only a week after it had opened. A stretching session in the yoga studio had lasted longer than planned, which left her and her personal trainer to wait outside. It was the first time Yeji's eyes took in the surroundings. Then it wasn't long before she found great interest in the pastries Grace's displayed. From sweet cupcakes to appetizing croissants, the warm bakery had just about everything to lure someone like Yeji in.
But it turned out the cupcakes and croissants weren't even the best delicacies the store had to offer. The cute store owner proved to be much more to Yeji’s taste.
Eversince, she’s just been trying and trying… to no avail.
It was a Monday today, a fresh start of the week, when Yeji pushed the door open, greeted by the soft jingle of the bell and the scent of fresh bread.
It was barely 8:15 in the morning.
The place was already buzzing with locals picking up their morning coffee and pastries. It was a cozy chaos Yeji had come to crave more than she'd admit.
Behind the counter stood the reason she kept coming back.
She wore a pale blue apron dusted with flour, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, bangs tucked behind one ear. She looked calm and efficient.
"Two raspberry danishes," Yeji orders, leaning against the glass case, "and, do you have anything shaped like a broken heart?"
Jisu scoffs. "I'm sorry, but we're fresh out of heartbreak today," she said with a mocking pout. "We do have some rejection scones left. They're very dry, though. That should be right up your alley."
Yeji grinned, barely capable of keeping her giddiness at bay. "I'll take twelve."
"I also do delivery, you know," Jisu suggested, impassive as she boxed the pastries. "You don't have to come here in person every day."
"I don't have to breathe either, technically," Yeji counters. "Yet here I am."
She handed over the box. "Thanks, Cupid. But next time, you can keep your flirty lines for someone who's interested and just order online."
Yeji took the pastries and her pride, what little of it was left anyway, and turned to leave.
"I'll be back tomorrow!" she announces, not a dent could be seen on her cheerful attitude.
"I'll make sure to wear earplugs," Jisu replied without missing a beat.
—
Outside, Yeji sank onto a bench and opened the box. The two danishes looked flaky, and very sweet. She collects some of the powdered sugar adorning the pastries and tasted it.
Everything was perfect. The raspberries were the perfect amount of tangy and sweet—exactly like Jisu's personality. She could be so sweet, when she'd greet customers and smile as they complimented her devine baking. She could also be slightly acidic, especially to Yeji when she desperately tried to command her affection.
Yeji sat back, smiling to herself as she took a big bite of the danish. The flavors bursted in her mouth, and all of it reminded her of the cute baker who brought the pastries to life. May it be her adorable face, her perfect features, or her amazing—
"You're embarrassing yourself," her teammate Ryujin interrupted, appearing beside her like a judgmental shadow. "Again."
"Did you even try the danish?" Yeji offered it out like evidence. "It's so her! It's romantic, tasty... Ugh! The right balance of sweet and sour. Pastry is a love language, you know?"
"You confessed to her with a pun written in icing."
"It said, I knead you,” she explained.
"And she said, I doughn't feel the same way."
Yeji sighed. "She's so clever."
Ryujin rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."
"Hopelessly devoted," Yeji corrected, watching as Ryujin licked powdered sugar from her fingers. "And tomorrow, I'm trying the croissants. Maybe she'll say yes to a girl with layers."
"What spell has she put on you?" Ryujin laughed. "Did she really bruise your ego by constantly rejecting you? Or is she maybe a magician?”
Yeji took the remaining danish she barely ate, shoving it into Ryujin's mouth. "Do you not get it? She's much more than a witch or a magician. She's Jisu, the devine baker."