Work Text:
The first time Im Nayeon saw Yoo Jeongyeon, she was under the impression that the girl was sage green.
She had to find a new bakery to get Tzuyu's favorite honey bread since the usual one she went to shut down. As Nayeon stepped into Yoo's Bakes, she was immediately hit with the savory smell of bread. It was warm and welcoming. Everything Nayeon loved about bakeries.
Nayeon stepped up to the clear glass counter, scanning the variety of breads in the display case as she waited to be helped. She was excited to see new breads and even though she was only there for the honey bread, she made sure to keep a few in mind for next time.
"Hey! Welcome to Yoo's Bakes. How can I help you?"
A friendly voice drew Nayeon's gaze away from baked perfection and up to a stunning girl with a little bit of flour on her cheek.
Nayeon blinked a few times as she stared into the girl's dark brown eyes. They were warm and welcoming, just like the bakery. "Hi! Could I just get a honey loaf, please?"
The baker smiled and nodded, sliding the display case open. She reached into the case with a gloved hand and placed it in a paper bag, tying the end of it with a green ribbon. She placed it on the counter for Nayeon and rang the loaf up.
"Are you paying with cash or card?"
The question was simple, but with how distracted Nayeon was, it seemed like the most complicated thing she'd been asked all week. She knew that she didn't have any cash on her so she was paying with her card. Instead of answering Nayeon just nodded and pulled her card out, inserting it into the card reader. She stared at the green ribbon tied around the end of the bag as one thought raced to the front of her mind — this girl is sage green.
The baker looked at Nayeon a little confused but shrugged, thanking her for the tip as Nayeon took her honey loaf. "Thank you for visiting Yoo's Bakes. Come back soon." The baker gave Nayeon a polite smile and bowed before heading back to the kitchen, leaving Nayeon standing there with the wonderful smells and sight of the bread.
//
"Did you say anything other than asking for the honey loaf?" Tzuyu, Nayeon's housemate, asked her as she sliced two pieces of the honey loaf. She placed them on plates and pulled the strawberry jam out of the fridge.
Nayeon shook her head and sighed, staring at the now cut loaf. "She looked at me like I was weird, but I don't blame her since I was just staring at her while I paid."
Tzuyu chuckled as she spread the jam on her bread, handing the knife and jar over to Nayeon when she finished. She took a small bite, her eyebrows raised in delight. "Holy shit this is even better than the last bakery."
Nayeon rolled her eyes as she spread her jam. She placed the knife in the sink and put the jam back in the fridge before she picked her piece up. "Yeah as if."
It did smell heavenly when she walked in, but Nayeon was sure that it couldn't beat their old bakery. She analyzed her piece before cautiously taking a bite. In less than three seconds, she realized that Tzuyu was right. The balance of the sweet honey and the slightly milky flavor was perfect. "I take it back. This is so good!"
"I hope you're not too embarrassed to go back there, because this is the only honey bread I'll eat now. You know I can't live without my honey bread." Tzuyu teased Nayeon, nudging her slightly with her elbow as they ate.
They finished almost half the loaf while they sat and chatted. Well, Tzuyu talked and Nayeon half-listened. She was more focused on the amazing flavor of the bread and the image of the baker in her brain.
"I can tell that you didn't hear a single thing I just said." Tzuyu let out a small laugh and took their plates to the sink, waving Nayeon's half-hearted apology off. "You thinking about the baker?"
Embarrassingly, Nayeon just nodded her head. How could she not think about the baker? Her bread was the best bread she had ever tasted in her life, and she was the perfect sage green. Before she could think any longer, she blurted that thought out. "She's sage green."
Tzuyu looked at Nayeon, not entirely sure of what she meant. "Sage green? Like she was wearing sage green?"
Nayeon shook her head and rested her chin in her hand. "No. I mean like she as a person is sage green. I don't really know how to explain it without sounding like a crazy person."
Tzuyu checked the time on her phone and looked back up at Nayeon. "I've got time and I already think you're a crazy person, so it's okay."
Nayeon playfully rolled her eyes and leaned back in the barstool she was sitting in. "She barely said anything to me, but her vibe was so calm and comforting. It kind of felt like she was meant to be a baker. Like the complete opposite of me."
"So she's calm and mature while you're annoyingly loud and act like a kid sometimes?"
Nayeon shot Tzuyu a glare. "Not like that and I don't act like a kid. I mean that she's just... I don't know."
And Nayeon really didn't know. She couldn't explain why she thought that the baker was sage green. She just felt it. Like how she felt that Tzuyu is marmalade orange.
//
Nayeon was in the bakery the very next day despite still having half of the honey loaf left. She walked in, the bell jingling above the door to announce her arrival to the baker in the back. She was nervous for some reason even though she was just there to get a different loaf of bread. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Welcome to Yoo's Bakes! H-oh hey. You're the girl from yesterday. Honey loaf, right?" The baker walked out, greeting Nayeon before she realized that she was just there the day before.
Nayeon shyly nodded and took a few steps closer to look at the display. There were a few familiar loaves, but there were some new ones as well. One that really caught her eye was the strawberry bread.
"Did you want another honey loaf, or was there another one you wanted to try?" The baker leaned against the counter, full focus on Nayeon.
Nayeon looked up at the girl and blinked a few times, looking between the baker and the strawberry loaf before pointing at it. "Could I try the strawberry bread?"
The baker smiled and nodded, getting another brown bag. She slid the display door open and grabbed the loaf, tying the bag with a green ribbon.
"Is there anything else you need, or will that be all today?"
It took every single atom in Nayeon's body to actually verbally respond this time instead of just putting her card in the reader like a mute robot. "Uh, actually could you tell me about how you make the strawberry bread?"
Nayeon really didn't care that much about how the baker made the bread, but she wanted just a few more minutes to look at the baker's beautiful face and inhale the fresh scent of freshly made bread.
The baker tilted her head a bit as a small smile spread across her lips. "I'd love to. People don't usually ask about the bread, but I'm more than happy talking about it."
Nayeon listened intently as the baker took Nayeon through the step by step process. Apparently it was a brioche bread and one of the baker's favorites to make. She said something about putting in the perfect amount of yeast and not going overboard on the butter, but there were far too many details for Nayeon to remember.
"After that I just pop it in the oven and let it work its magic."
Nayeon nodded and smiled. Although she had no use for that much information about bread, she was happy she got to see the baker talk about it so passionately.
"Cool. Well, uh thank you. I'm Im Nayeon by the way."
The baker smiled and bowed slightly, handing Nayeon her bread. "Yoo Jeongyeon. It's nice to meet you. I hope to see you again soon, Nayeon."
As Jeongyeon turned away, Nayeon felt her cheeks heat up. She was sure that Jeongyeon didn't mean anything personal by it, but the fact that she specifically said her name made Nayeon giddy.
//
Almost every day for the next two weeks, Nayeon went back to try new breads. She got Tzuyu her usual honey loaf twice. One day she got sourdough and the next she got an olive and rosemary loaf.
With each loaf of bread, Nayeon stayed to talk with Jeongyeon for a little longer. She started out asking her questions about the bread then slowly started asking questions about herself.
Nayeon learned that Jeongyeon had two dogs that she loved to death. She learned that Jeongyeon wanted to be a singer, but once she interned at a bakery, she fell in love with making bread. She learned that Jeongyeon's favorite color is green.
And she learned that Jeongyeon isn't sage green. She's lilac purple.
The way Jeongyeon spoke and the more Nayeon learned about her pointed to lilac purple. She was kind and compassionate, her eyes practically sparkling when she talked about her bakery. She was so welcoming and helpful even when Nayeon asked really silly questions.
The 10th time that Nayeon stepped into Yoo's Bakes, she was pleasantly surprised to see Jeongyeon already waiting at the counter. She had a loaf of bread already in a brown bag, perfectly tied at the end with a green ribbon.
"I picked out a loaf for you." Jeongyeon smiled as she handed the loaf to Nayeon. Nayeon took the loaf, switching her tote bag to her right shoulder so she could grab it.
"Oh, thank you. How much is it?" Nayeon went to reach for her wallet but Jeongyeon held her hand up to stop her.
"It's on the house. Take a look at it. I think you'll like this one."
Nayeon raised an eyebrow in suspicion, completely missing the slightly nervous expression on Jeongyeon's face. Nayeon untied the ribbon and pulled the loaf out, a wide smile on her lips. It was another rosemary loaf, but on the side was written out, 'Go on a date?'
"Is this date with you or the loaf?"
Jeongyeon chuckled and took her apron off, hanging it on a hook beside the entrance to the kitchen. "A date with me if you're up for it."
Nayeon looked down, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. "You know, I'm a little embarrassed." Jeongyeon looked scared as Nayeon said this, but when the older girl pulled a small bouquet of lilacs out of her bag and handed them to her, she couldn't help the laugh that fell from her lips. "I was going to ask you out."
"Great minds think alike, huh?"
Nayeon nodded and put her loaf of bread in her tote, following Jeongyeon out of the bakery.
Jeongyeon locked the door and turned, leaning down to smell the lilac bouquet. "These are beautiful. Why did you pick lilacs?"
Nayeon shrugged and placed a gentle kiss on Jeongyeon's cheek, a small smile drawn on her lips.
Because you're lilac purple.