Chapter Text
This is our pastry chef, Love Pattranite 🍰💖
-
Getting pregnant at twenty was the wildest, most reckless thing that had ever happened in Love’s life. The weight of the discovery became even more crushing whenever she realized she wouldn’t have the support of those who were supposed to be her safe harbor. Her parents had always been rigid figures, pillars of unshakeable certainties, and the day they found out about the pregnancy was marked by a chaos of screams, tears, and accusations that would echo in her mind for a long time.
Love was an only child, the sole heiress to a corporate empire. Her parents had sketched every inch of her future as if it were a flawless architectural blueprint: she was meant to be the "perfect little daughter," a renowned lawyer who would walk firmly through the courtrooms, faithfully following in her family’s footsteps. But in a matter of days, all that millimetric planning crumbled under the weight of a positive drugstore pregnancy test.
It felt like a snow avalanche. The impact hit her without warning, burying her old dreams and leaving her without a floor beneath her feet mid way. At that moment, Love understood that, deep down, she was walking alone down a frozen road. There was financial support; she couldn’t be ungrateful for that. They handed her the keys to a modern apartment, paid for her pastry school, and ensured a generous savings account. Love had material stability, but she lacked the essential: the warmth and emotional refuge that only a family’s love can offer. The money was merely a way to keep her at a distance, a payment for the silence of their disappointment.
The final rupture came when she announced she was dropping out of Law school. The reaction was icy, a silence that cut deeper than any shout. To her parents, an unexpected pregnancy was a stain, a mistake that could be managed with discretion. However, trading a legal career for an apron? To them, that was an unforgivable insult. They went months without speaking a single word to her.
In the beginning, abandoning the codes and laws hurt. Love believed that was her destiny, but now, at twenty-five, clarity had arrived like the sun after a storm: it was the best decision of her life. Her true love had always been sugar, flour, and the delicate precision of a well-made dessert. Working for herself allowed her to be present for every phase, every stumble, and every one of Ethan’s discoveries. If she had followed Law, she would be trapped in grey offices, missing out on what was most precious to her. She would never forgive herself for trading her son’s smile for hours of exhausting bureaucracy.
Even without finishing college, where she ended up meeting Bonnie, Love was lucky enough to cross paths with souls who would become her true family. Bonnie, her best friend, appeared during the darkest days of her pregnancy, when the fear seemed larger than her own body. Even overwhelmed with her own life, Bonnie never let go of Love’s hand. Today, with a degree in Advertising, she was the one who gave color and voice to the bakery’s marketing, believing in her friend’s talent with a flame that never went out.
Then there was Film, who entered her life by chance in the cold, impersonal hallways of a hospital. Young and gripped by the terror of being a single mother, Love found in the then-resident the support her parents had so willingly denied her. It was Film who took care of every medical detail, who introduced Love to her own mother to be her obstetrician, and who made sure Love never felt forsaken during those long nights of worry.
Today, the three of them are inseparable. They didn't share the same blood, but they shared choices, scars, and laughter that filled the void left by the past. Together, they were living proof that even when the world collapses around you, it is still possible to use the wreckage to build something infinitely more beautiful.
-
"Bonnie, did you come here to help me or to eat all the pastries? Make up your mind," Love complained, watching her friend sitting comfortably on the counter, shoving treats into her mouth one after another. To Love, Bonnie looked like a grown up child the very personification of chaos amidst the impeccable order of her kitchen.
"Love, don’t nag me. It’s all your fault. You know I’m obsessed with these strawberry mochis you make," Bonnie retorted, her mouth still full, and the sight made Love smile. Her friend’s cheeks were completely puffed out now, making her look like a puppy that had found something on the floor and swallowed it whole before its owner could intervene.
"Nini just eats, Mommy... she never leaves any for me."
The tiny voice came from down below. Ethan was making an adorable little pout, arms crossed over his chest in a fake huff that was the cutest thing in the world. Love felt a sudden urge to squeeze those chubby cheeks, but she held back; she knew her son didn't particularly enjoy being "squished" when he was trying to look serious.
"It’s incredible how Bonnie never shows up here to actually work. Every time I arrive, she’s eating something," Film announced as she entered the kitchen, her tone laced with playful indignation. She tossed her coat onto a chair and went straight to the little one, who was watching the scene with rapt attention. "Ethan, you know I’m your favorite aunt, right? If you need help... or if you want to make a run for it, just blink twice."
"Mimi, you came to see Ethan! I missed you!"
He lit up immediately, his eyes sparkling as he hugged Film tightly. He received a loud, smacking kiss on the cheek and quickly hid his face against her shoulder, overcome by that sweet shyness that only Film managed to draw out of him. Love watched the interaction, feeling a warmth spread through her chest, but she quickly crossed her arms, feigning offense.
"Hey, what do you mean by that? I’m a great mom," Love teased, stepping closer to pull her friend into a welcoming hug. "I missed you... that hospital is consuming you alive."
Film simply rolled her eyes, but the faint shadows of exhaustion on her face betrayed the truth of her grueling routine.
"I agree," Bonnie said, finally managing to swallow the last piece of mochi. She stood up, carelessly brushing the excess powdered sugar off her clothes with her hands. "Ever since you became a doctor, you hardly visit your friends. You live for your shifts. I miss our wild nights out in Bangkok, back when you were young and fun and we used to get into all sorts of trouble."
"Bonnie!" Love called out sharply, an alert tone in her voice as she gestured toward her son with her eyes. "Don’t say things like that. Ethan is right here."
"As if he’d understand any of it," Bonnie shrugged, but she was interrupted instantly by a small voice from below.
"Ni... night out..."
Ethan repeated slowly, stumbling over the difficult syllables. Love’s eyes widened in shock, while her two friends couldn't hold it back and burst into laughter.
"Look at that, you bad influence! You're going to teach my nephew the wrong things," Film complained, crossing her arms with a silly grin on her face.
"Our nephew, you mean. I’m his aunt too!"
"Quiet, both of you." Love knew this duo all too well; it only took a spark for the chaos to ignite and the kitchen to turn into a battlefield of jokes. "You know it’s forbidden to argue or say certain things in front of him. Ethan is in that phase where he repeats everything he hears, he’s like a little tape recorder."
"Sorry..." the two murmured almost in unison, shrinking their shoulders like naughty children who had just been scolded.
"Now, come and help me with this order. I promised Ethan I’d take him to the park today."
"Mommy promised to show me the ducks at the lake!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice overflowing with an excitement he rarely showed to strangers.
Love felt her heart melt completely, as it always did when he called her that way. She leaned down and ruffled the little one’s soft hair, earning a wide, sincere smile in return for the affection.
"That’s right, my love. Today is just for us. I’ll show you every animal you want to see."
Ethan was a quiet, observant child. He lived in his own private world, a refuge where not everyone was invited to enter. The only people who had a free pass to hear him and see him being himself were Love, "Phi Mimi," and "Phi Nini." After all, the two of them were practically part of the furniture; they had been there for every wobbly step, every midnight fever, and every small victory he achieved.
Whenever a stranger appeared, Ethan would seek immediate shelter, hiding behind Love’s legs. In contrast to his shyness, his greatest joy was watching his mother transform flour and sugar into edible art. He would watch every movement, almost in a trance, or when she took him to the park to see nature. For some reason Love didn’t quite understand yet, the little boy was fascinated by animals.
This fascination, however, was becoming a daily challenge. Ever since he saw a neighbor walking a fluffy dog, Ethan hadn't stopped asking for one of his own. Love sighed just thinking about the responsibility. It wasn't the right time; her routine was already a constant juggling act between the heat of the oven and the demands of motherhood. There was no way she could take care of two babies at the same time.
Maybe in the future, she thought, watching her son.
-
Love cherished those moments. Just her and her little one. It was something deeply gratifying, as if all the effort, the sleepless nights, and every hardship she had faced alone finally made sense. Being right there, witnessing her son’s pure smile and sparkling eyes, was more than enough. In that instant, Love felt as though she needed absolutely nothing else in the world.
The day had been a joy, one of those days that get etched into memory in vibrant colors. Ethan had managed to see every animal in the park, from the ducks in the lake to the squirrels darting across the trees. The little boy seemed genuinely happy, excited and curious about everything around him, pointing at every flicker of movement in the grass. They took several photos together, records that would surely find their place in the album Love kept so carefully at home. She loved preserving every detail, every expression of his, thinking that when he grew up, they could sit on the sofa and reminisce about every piece of that childhood together.
At that moment, Love felt she had nothing to complain about. Surrounded by two friends who would give their lives for them, owning a bakery that was her pride and joy, and with a wonderful son by her side, her life finally felt complete. She didn't feel like a single piece was missing from the puzzle she had spent years putting together.
"Come here, my love. Let Mommy take just one more photo of you. You look so handsome."
Love stepped closer, adjusting the little boy’s clothes. Ethan immediately made a huffed-up face, crossing his tiny arms.
"Mommy... no more photos. You already took a whole bunch," he complained in his small voice, spreading his arms as wide as he could to show the magnitude of his "model" exhaustion.
Love couldn't hold back a laugh at that dramatic display. He truly was the perfect blend of sweetness and personality.
"Alright, I promise it’s the last one for today," she yielded, ruffling his hair as she always loved to do just to see that smile return. "I’ll go get us some ice cream and then we’ll head home, okay?"
"Ice creeeeam!" Ethan hopped up, the pout vanishing instantly. "I want the blue one, with the colorful sprinkles on top, Mommy!"
Love laughed, already imagining the mess that was about to follow. "Alright, the blue one with lots of sprinkles."
It’s funny how life likes to play tricks on us, almost like a cruel reminder that nothing can be perfect all the time. Something outside our control always happens, a variable that wasn't in the script. And no one likes that. When you lose control, security slips away, replaced by that terrifying sensation of being adrift in a stormy sea.
That was exactly what happened.
Love stood up for a few seconds, turning her face to call over the ice cream cart, and when she looked back, Ethan was no longer there.
"Stay calm, Love. Breathe. Don’t freak out," she whispered to herself, her heart beginning to hammer against her ribs.
He must have been distracted by an animal. That had to be it. But how? One minute. Sixty seconds. That was all the time it took for her world to turn upside down.
Love felt as if she had been physically punched in the stomach. Her throat tightened into a dry, painful knot while her eyes swept across the park desperately, ignoring the other families and the noise surrounding her. She called out his name, her voice growing sharper and more choked with every cry, but she couldn't see that blue cap anywhere among the crowd. A thousand dark thoughts raced through her mind at once, images of dangers she didn't even want to name. She couldn't lose him; she would never forgive herself if something happened to her little boy.
The shock was so overwhelming that, for a few moments, panic clouded her memory, making everything seem like a blur. Then, a spark of lucidity flashed like a lighthouse: the tracker hidden in her son’s sneaker. It was a trick she had learned from a random video online, which at the time had seemed like first time mom paranoia, but now it was her only hope.
Love collapsed onto a nearby bench, her hands trembling so violently that the phone nearly slipped through her fingers. She forced herself to breathe, swallowing the desperate sob that threatened to rise. She needed a cold head now. She fixed her gaze on the screen, time appearing to move in slow motion as she waited for the map to load, until finally, the signal appeared.
The blue dot was there. She began to walk fast, her steps turning into a clumsy run in the indicated direction.
Stationary. The signal showed that he was no longer moving, which made her even more apprehensive. What could he be doing?
A few meters away, behind a row of tall, dense bushes that secluded a small, more private area of the park, the tracker indicated the final destination.
-
"Sugus, I think your Aunt Namtan was right. You need to lose a little weight. I’m throwing the ball, and you don’t even bother to go fetch it, you lazy boy."
Milk spoke in a serious, almost clinical tone, while the Golden Retriever puppy stared at her with his tongue hanging out, tilting his head as if trying to diagnose his owner's mood.
"What am I doing with my life?" she sighed, feeling the weight of the ridiculousness. "A Saturday afternoon in a park, talking to my dog. I’m pathetic. If Namtan and Emi saw me now, they would mock me without mercy."
Milk was just about to give up and leave when, finally, Sugus decided to act like a normal dog. He let out a short, excited bark and bolted in the direction where the ball had been thrown minutes ago, disappearing behind some bushes.
It was her day off. Something rare, almost an astronomical event in the life of a surgeon. Milk Pansa practically never stopped; the family hospital and surgeries were her oxygen. At least, that’s what she told herself to justify her lack of a social life. Her friends, however, drastically disagreed with that solitary routine. That was why, on her last birthday, they had teamed up to hand her that golden "ball of fur" as a gift.
Milk hadn't complained. She had always liked animals, but the idea of adopting one had never crossed her mind for one logical reason: time. She thought it was unfair to leave a pet alone at home while she was saving lives on thirty-hour shifts. Still, Sugus had been a pleasant surprise, a silent companion who didn't ask for medical reports. The proof was her being there, under the sun, trying to get a chubby and stubborn puppy to exercise.
"Maybe I’m not being a good owner," she admitted to the wind, watching the dog's tail vanish into the foliage. "Okay, I’ll try to do better. I promise to play with him more."
Taking advantage of the truce, Milk pulled out her phone to respond to some urgent emails from the hospital. The glow of the screen distracted her for a few moments, the world around her fading between medical terms and shift schedules, until she noticed Sugus approaching out of the corner of her eye.
"Finally, you're back," she said without looking away from the device.
However, as she lifted her face to put her phone away, Milk froze. She had sent her dog to fetch a rubber ball, and he had returned with a child.
"Stay calm, Milk. Breathe," she ordered herself, feeling a sting of professional irritation rise up her spine.
They were in a public park, and the place was crowded. It was obvious to her: some irresponsible parent had gotten distracted and lost their child. Who is the idiot who loses a child in a place like this? she thought, letting her judgmental instinct take over.
Focus, Milk. The child. Do something, she commanded herself silently.
But what? What was she supposed to say? Her only contact with children was inside an operating room, where they were under anesthesia and surrounded by bright white lights. Interacting with a conscious boy in the middle of the grass was definitely not the same thing.
"Hey, Sugus... do you want to introduce me to your new friend?"
Milk approached cautiously and knelt down, getting on their level.
"What’s your name?" she asked, trying to soften her voice so she wouldn't sound like a doctor giving a bad diagnosis.
The child didn't answer. The boy simply held onto the Golden’s fur tightly, his small fingers buried in the golden coat, but Sugus seemed to be loving the extra attention, licking the boy's hand.
"I think you found my dog, Sugus. Was he gentle with you? I hope so, he loves children."
Milk tried to move a bit closer, but the little one immediately recoiled, maintaining a safe distance. She took the moment to observe him better. The boy had typical features of Thai and Chinese descent: his skin was very fair and looked soft, contrasting with the shiny black hair peeking out from under a light blue cap.
He was impeccable, without a single smudge of dirt on him. He wore a white polo shirt and light beige linen shorts. His dark, very attentive eyes analyzed Milk with a seriousness that didn't match the plump, rosy cheeks of a child who didn't look more than five years old.
"St... stranger," was the only word that escaped his lips as he looked at Milk.
"That’s good," Milk smiled, finding his honesty unexpectedly adorable. "Your parents must have taught you not to talk to strangers. Very smart of them."
She paused, trying to project confidence, even though she felt far out of her comfort zone.
"My name is Milk, and this is Sugus."
The dog, hearing his own name, began to wag his tail so hard that his entire body shook, nearly knocking the little one over.
"I know I’m still a stranger, but I need to help you find your parents. Can you tell me where they are?"
The little one raised his tiny hand and pointed toward the opposite side of the park.
"Alright. Let’s go that way then."
Milk stood up and began to attach the leash to Sugus. It was the exact moment another dog, a rowdy Terrier, approached, barking loudly. Maybe it was just a canine "hello," but the sharp, sudden noise startled the boy.
Suddenly, Milk felt a tug. The little one grabbed her hand tightly and hid behind her, using her legs as a shield, like a frightened puppy seeking protection in the nearest place.
Okay... this is getting weird, she thought, feeling the firm touch on her fingers.
He didn't seem to want to let go. On the contrary, he squeezed her hand as if Milk were the only safe thing in that noisy park.
Go on, Milk. Do something. Are you really this bad with kids? she questioned herself, paralyzed by the sensation of being, for the first time, the safe harbor for someone who wasn't on an operating table.
Just as Milk opened her mouth to speak, she was interrupted.
"What are you doing with my son?"
Milk turned abruptly. Before her stood a young woman who looked like she had stepped out of a springtime painting, but whose colors were blurred by panic. She was visibly shorter than Milk, wearing a white floral dress that fluttered with her heavy breathing. What stood out most, however, was her very pale skin, dusted with charming little freckles across the bridge of her nose, and vibrant red hair that framed her typically Thai face.
Wait? Son? Milk blinked, stunned.
The woman looked far too young to be a mother, and despite her tone of voice trying to be firm, the words came out sharp and trembling, like an overwhelmed kitten. Milk glanced back and forth between the red-headed mother and the black-haired child.
The little one definitely takes after his father, Milk thought for a brief second, in an almost clinical manner. The boy looked nothing like this woman; their colors were opposites, their features divergent. The only similarity was the full, round cheeks, like little mandus, that they both shared.
Milk shook her head, snapping out of her reverie. Irritation soon replaced curiosity. Wait a minute, so this was the irresponsible person who lost the child? she concluded, her judgment returning in full force.
"I’m the one who should be asking questions here," Milk countered, her voice regaining the authority of someone who commands a medical team. "If he’s your son, how could you be so careless as to lose him in a park like this? Do you have any idea what could have happened if someone else, someone less well intentioned, had found him? You’re lucky it was me."
The words came out in a cold rush, without a filter. As soon as silence fell, Milk felt the bitter taste of regret. Damn it, Milk, why couldn’t you keep your mouth shut? This is none of your business.
The boy immediately let go of Milk’s hand and ran to his mother. For a reason Milk couldn't explain, that scene tugged at something in her chest.
"Mommy, I’m sorry... Ethan just wanted to pet the doggy," he began to cry, sobbing and clinging to the white dress. The fear of getting into trouble was evident in his large eyes.
But the woman’s reaction wasn't what Milk expected. There were no shouts, no shaking.
"Sweetie, look at me." Love knelt down, ignoring the grass that would surely stain her dress, and got on her son’s level. "You don't need to cry. Mommy isn't mad. It was all my fault; I’m the one who got distracted."
Ethan snuggled into her like a little koala, hugging his mother’s neck with all the strength he had.
Love, while cradling her son, felt her blood boil. Who does this woman think she is to talk to me like that? She could barely process the insolence of this stranger judging her without knowing a thing. Her irritation was almost palpable, but Love took a deep breath.
Focus, Love. Take care of your son, she repeated mentally. Don't do anything to scare him more. Now is not the time to fight.
"First of all, you don’t know me."
Love spoke with the softest voice she could muster, though her eyes glinted with firm determination. She stood up, keeping Ethan protectively by her side.
"You have no right to speak to me that way. You are a stranger and you don't know what happened to be judging me like this," she took a deep breath, trying to maintain control in front of this arrogant woman. "Thank you for finding my son and staying with him until I arrived. But I am not as careless as you think; I was monitoring the tracker he wears exactly for situations like this."
Love squeezed Ethan’s small hand, feeling her son’s warmth give her strength. She cast one last look at the doctor, noting her rigid posture.
"You, clearly, don't have the slightest clue what it's like to take care of a child."
Without waiting for a response, Love turned her back and walked away. She didn't need to hear another word; that woman had already managed to ruin the perfect day she was having. Unfortunately, accidents happen, Love thought bitterly, but all that idiot did was throw stones at me without even knowing my name.
Milk stood frozen in the same spot, watching the white floral dress and the blue cap disappear among the park trees. The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
"Okay, Milk... you could have done without that," she admitted aloud, the weight of those words, you don't have the slightest clue what it's like to take care of a child hitting her harder than she cared to admit.
She looked down, meeting the bright eyes of her dog.
"Come on, Sugus. We've had enough excitement for today, don't you think?" she sighed, putting her phone away. "Let's go home, have some ice-cold water, and lie down in front of the TV. I need silence."
Sugus just jumped on her, wagging his tail with infectious joy. At least someone had genuinely enjoyed that outing.
This is our Ethan and Sugus 💙🐕
