Cuban Bakery

A short love story

As the first rays of sunlight peeked through the shutters of the bakery, Junior gently pushed them aside, revealing a warm and inviting scene. His parents' Cuban bakery in Miami was already bustling with customers, eagerly waiting for their freshly baked pastelitos and cafecitos. Junior, a handsome young man with dark curly hair and piercing hazel eyes, moved effortlessly between the counter and the ovens, making sure everything ran smoothly before opening. It was just going to be another ordinary day, or so he thought. Little did he know, his entire life was about to change.

As he turned to grab a fresh tray of croquetas, he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Excuse me, cutie?" It was hers. The beautiful and talented Camila Cabello, whose voice he had listened to countless times on the bakery's playlist, She had come to visit her parents before her flight back to LA for a tour and had decided to stop by for a quick bite. His heart raced as he turned around to face her; just from her voice, he knew it was her, and he felt a blush creep up on his cheeks almost instantly.

Camila looked just as stunning in person, with her long, wavy hair and mysterious brown eyes. She was wearing a simple white tank top and a pair of distressed jeans, but somehow she managed to make it look like a million bucks. Junior, on the other hand, felt self-conscious in his apron and work clothes. He was used to being invisible to people like her, but here she was, standing right in front of him, and he couldn't help but feel like the world had stopped for a moment.

He quickly recovered, though, and offered her a warm smile. "Of course, seniorita. How can I help you?" He gestured to the display of croquetas pastelitos in the display below them. "I'd recommend our croquettes and our freshly brewed café con leche. They're both house favorites." He tells her, oblivious to the face she had given him from the sweet name he chose to call her.

Camila giggled, her brown eyes sparkling. "Oh, that's sweet. You can call me Camila, though." She nodded at the display before turning back to him. "Actually, I think I'll start with one of those croquetas and a coffee. It'll be a long flight, and I need something to wake me up." She handed him a ten-dollar bill, and he quickly rang her order up, handing her a small ticket with his number on it. He knew his chances were small, but, oh well. When would he ever get the chance to see her again?

As he turned to grab her coffee, Junior couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. It wasn't every day that he interacted with someone like Camila Cabello, and her presence made him feel a bit self-conscious about his own life. He had been working at the bakery for years now, taking over for his parents while they recovered from a car accident. He loved them deeply, but he couldn't help but feel trapped, like there was more to life than this.

He quickly poured her coffee and carefully placed the croqueta on a plate before handing them both to her. "Here you go, Camila. Enjoy your breakfast." He paused for a moment, feeling foolish for saying her name out loud. "I mean, enjoy your food." He couldn't help but blush again as she smiled back at him.

Camila took a bite of the croqueta, her eyes closing in delight. "Oh, that's amazing! This is the best croqueta I've ever had." She looked up at him with a genuine smile on her face. "I'm not just saying that, you know." He felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words, grateful for the compliment.

She took a sip of her coffee and set it down, seeming to hesitate for a moment. "You know, it's funny... I've been feeling kind of stuck myself. I'm just going through the motions, you know? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but sometimes I wish I could do something more fulfilling." Her voice trailed off, and he could see the uncertainty in her eyes. He was taken aback by the sudden confession. Had his own emotions of feeling trapped that obvious to people?