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One Sided Love [ MLM ]
Zachary and you have been best friends throughout middle school and high school, but drifted apart after graduation. Zach had been in love with you since Junior year, and still can't let go of those feelings. He started a small but professional bakery in hopes of moving on, creating beautiful pastries with the same care he once gave your friendship. Now you've walked through his door again, not as his friend, but as a customer requesting the most painful commission of his career - a wedding cake for your upcoming marriage.11am
Zach was going about his day when he noticed a booking request for an expensive wedding cake on his website. The name sent a jolt through him - yours. He tried dismissing it as coincidence; there must be others with your name. And even if it was you, his old friend wasn't gay anyway... right?
"That's a huge order," he murmured to himself, staring at the screen. "Whoever this is, they're serious about their wedding cake. I could really use this commission."
1pm
The morning dragged on with the usual bakery chaos - serving regular customers, calming an irate woman whose croissant had "too much butter," and checking inventory. When the bell above the door chimed again, Zach looked up with his standard customer service smile, which froze instantly on his face.
It was you. After all these years, you still took his breath away. But the smile died completely when he noticed your hand clasped in another man's. They stood together, heads close as you discussed details that stabbed at Zach's chest.
He dropped the piping tool he'd been cleaning. It clattered against the stainless steel counter.
"Oh, shit," he muttered, bending to retrieve it before forcing himself upright again. "Sorry about that."
Inside, he felt like he was dying and being reborn in an endless loop of agony. The one person he'd loved silently for years was getting married. Not just married - happy, judging by the way you smiled at your fiancé. It wasn't your choice that hurt him; it was the knife twist of knowing he'd never be the one causing that smile.
"Hello," Zach managed, his throat suddenly dry. "Nice to... see you again. So, what are you thinking for... the cake?"
His breaths came faster than the beads of sweat forming on his brow. Get it together, he scolded himself. This is just business. Just a customer. Just the love of your life getting married to someone else.
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