Chapter 2: Chapter 2

I descend the stairs, occasionally taking in every corner of the room around me. In a house this big, it's only Rex who usually occupies it. Aunt Anna is always busy running her bakery not far from this residential complex.

Her bakery is always bustling with customers, thanks to the delicious bread she makes. That's why she sometimes chooses to stay there if she feels too tired to commute back and forth from home. Her husband, Uncle Jo, only comes home once a week because he works in a different city from us.

"Morning, aunty," I greet as I see Aunt Anna preparing bread, her own creations.

"Morning, sweety. Did you sleep well?" she asks while caressing my cheek.

"Yes, I slept really well," I reply with my best smile for her. Aunt Anna is strikingly similar to my mother, but she's more motherly than my actual mom. She knows how to treat a child and always knows how to give them attention, which sets her apart from my biological mother.

One of the reasons I accepted living in New York is Aunt Anna.

My gaze is drawn to the delicious aroma wafting from the table. Neatly arranged bread adorns this not-so-big dining table, and I can tell they've just come out of the oven from the lingering smoke around them.

"I'm so sorry, sweety. I didn't get a chance to buy rice; I promise I'll get it later after coming back from the store, alright?" Aunt Anna says, immediately making me shake my head quickly. I know what Auntie means with her words.

"It's okay. You know, I'm not... I eat anything, so I can survive without rice," I reply with a chuckle, throwing a rather awkward joke, but it still makes Auntie laugh heartily.

"Alright then, have your bread; I have to go to the kitchen now," she says while pushing my shoulder to sit in one of the dining chairs.

"Auntie, where's Rex?" I ask, realizing his absence at the dining table. Aunt Anna stops in her tracks and turns towards me.

"He had to pick up his car at the garage. He might be here in a bit," she answers, and I just nod my head while taking a bite of the chocolate-filled bread.

Ah, Auntie's bread has always been my favorite. I didn't realize I've nearly devoured half of the bread she prepared, and it's making my stomach feel a bit bloated. I didn't expect my small belly could hold so much carbs.

"Sweety, isn't Rex here yet?" Auntie asks from the kitchen with her bag in hand, and I simply shake my head in response.

"Ck, where is that kid?" Auntie mutters. I can see her annoyed expression as she's currently pressing buttons on her phone, undoubtedly trying to contact Rex.

"Are you going to the store now?" I ask, curious.

"Yes, sweety, I'm sorry. Originally, Auntie wanted to spend the day with you and take you around, but one of my employees called, and there's a little issue at the store," she explains with a flushed face. I know Auntie is currently uneasy, coupled with her irritation at Rex for not showing up yet.

"In that case, can I come with you?" I ask. It's a good idea; instead of sitting idle at home, I'd rather go with Auntie.

"Are you sure?" she asks to confirm.

"Of course, consider it as you're taking me around, and I can help out there, how about that?" I offer, and it's met with a delighted smile from Auntie. I know her answer will be yes.

"Alright then," she says, making me jump a little with excitement, and I immediately head to my room to grab my bag.

"Let the bread bake now!"

"Vin, your dough is too soft."

"Hey, get me the buttercream."

I'm glued to the people in front of me. They're bustling in this not-so-big kitchen, and Auntie is rushing to fulfill an order from a customer who suddenly ordered a large quantity of bread.

Four employees assisting her in the kitchen seem like they're being chased by ghosts. When they finish their tasks, their faces are all flushed from nervousness and the hot room temperature.

"Anna, Miss Brenda's order hasn't been delivered!" one of the workers, who I think is close to Auntie's age, calls out. Auntie stops her hand movements while making bread and blinks repeatedly.

"Oh my, I forgot. Can you deliver it?" Auntie says to the woman.

"The customers outside are busy, I can't leave them with just Jacob serving," she replies.

Auntie then looks at her four employees who are equally busy.

"Auntie, can I help you?" I interject, feeling bad just sitting there while they're all busy.

"No, sweety, just sit and eat your snacks."

"But, Auntie, I'm bored. I'm not skilled in the kitchen, but at least I can help you deliver the order," I respond with a half-whine, hoping Auntie will accept my offer. Finally, she lets out a rough sigh and nods her head.

I immediately stand up from my seat, take the order list, and a piece of paper with the customer's address.

I occasionally glance left and right while keeping my eyes on the small piece of paper in my hand. My feet keep pedaling the bike with a basket full of bread orders. After circling the residential complex for quite a while, I finally find the customer's address.

I get off my bike and carry the basket filled with bread, heading towards a rather large house.

Houses here are quite different from houses in Indonesia. Their houses don't have fences separating the yard from the road; it's very open. There might be a few houses with fences, but they are rare. I glance around the spacious yard, hoping to find the person who ordered this bread.

But just a few steps toward the door, I'm startled by loud barking that makes me jump and sit down.

Shit.

I grab my sore butt from the fall. Who in their right mind keeps a big wolf-like dog in a residential complex like this? Didn't they think twice about keeping it and letting it roam like this?

I start to panic because the large animal in front of me keeps barking and approaching me. Okay, I don't know if wolves bark or howl, and I don't know if it's a dog or a wolf or a mix of both. I don't care.

I ignore it and immediately take my fallen bread basket and pull out some bread as bait.

"Huss,huss, do you want this bread? Take it but let me go, okay?" I say while waving the bread in front of it. But instead of calming down, the animal keeps barking louder.

Come on, someone get this crazy wolf away from me.

I close my eyes, hoping that when I open them, the animal will be gone.

"What are you doing?" I squint my eyes as the barking noise disappears, replaced by a deep voice of a tall man standing right in front of me, forcing me to look up and see the man with the wolf sitting obediently by his side.

"What are you doing here?" he asks again. I snap out of it and stand up while brushing the grass off my pants.

"I just wanted to deliver the bread order to this address," I reply while staring into those beautiful eyes in front of me, then I glance at the wolf by his side, their eye colors are the same.

"Go away!" he says coldly, making me furrow my brow.

"This bread—"

"Go fucking away!!" he curses, causing me to jump in surprise. Not just because of the loud tone but also the profanity that came from those bright pink lips. I can't help but imagine how warm they would feel against my cheek.

What? No, I have to stay focused. Stop thinking about his sexy lips that could kiss my cheek warmly.

"What? No, you have to pay for this bread that got dirty because of your pet wolf," I reply, hands on my hips, raising my chin to challenge him.

"Didn't you hear me earlier? Go away from here," he says, trying to shoo me again.

"No."

"You'll regret it, bread delivery girl," he hisses, accompanied by a smirk that sends shivers down my spine, whether from fear or his handsome face, I can't tell.

"I already told you, pay for my bread first."

"Hey, bread delivery girl—"

"My name is Aurel, not bread delivery girl," I interrupt, feeling uncomfortable with that title.

"Whatever. Now, either you go or I can tell my friend here to tear you apart," he says with a sharp gaze directed at me. Unfortunately, my knees are trembling with fear.

I start to shift my gaze to the wolf beside him, which is also glaring at me. Why do they both look the same? Well, they both seem to dislike my presence.

"What are you waiting for? Go away," he says again with clenched teeth.

"Fine, I'm leaving, but accept this bread and give me the payment," I say as I hand him the bread basket in my hand. After that, I raise my hand toward him, demanding the payment I'm owed.

For a moment, he glances at the basket in his hand and my raised hand.

"Go fucking away!!" he snaps, causing me to close my eyes, my heart pounding wildly. What's wrong with him? Why would he order bread if he doesn't want to pay for it? Is he always like this when he orders from Auntie?

Oh, I definitely need to tell Auntie Anna about this when I get back. She shouldn't serve customers who act like wolves, well, like this wolf owner here.

"At the very least, don't order bread if you don't have money," I grumble in frustration, and I'm pretty sure he heard me judging by the annoyed expression on his face.

"Rex, I think you're having the tastiest dinner tonight, are you ready, buddy?" he says as he ruffles the fur around the wolf's head. Wait, did he just call the wolf Rex? He didn't really name the wolf Rex, did he? I squint at him suspiciously.

"I'll count to three, if you're still standing here, Rex will get an early dinner," he threatens, trying to intimidate me further, and it just makes me even more irritated and convinced that the wolf is indeed named Rex. What a jerk.

"I can't," I retort.

"One! Two!" he yells, causing me to jump, and without thinking twice, I immediately run to my bike and hop on.

For a moment, I glance back at him, still watching me with that blank expression, and a split second later, he tosses the bread basket into the front yard of his house.

What a strange guy.