"Y."

All that mattered to X was that X wasn't sick on any of the weekdays, especially Mondays, but really, it never really did matter much to X whether or not X was in a war with the sniffles or housing a party of headaches; X's work is by far the most important thing yet.

It isn't so much of the work for X, like when 6.30 am came and the freshly baked cakes, pastries and loaves of bread were allowed to enchant pedestrians with their fragrance. Unlike the role of these seductive treats, 7.30 am is a very important time for X.

Well of course if X was sick, X wouldn't be able to go near the baked goodies but X didn't mind because X would still be able to work in the office (doing the accounts and checking that every ingredient was still in stock) and that gave X a pretty good view indeed.

This is what people nowadays call a one-sided love.

Y comes in at exactly 7.30 am, with a bright smile and shiny brown eyes, asking for Y's favourite type of cake, the bakery's speciality, marshmallow chocolate cake. Whistling a memorable tune, Y would set the exact change on the counter and almost always look at the clock on the wall before rushing out, a curse smothered by the rush of the wind going against Y's exit.

When X first started working in the bakery, the marshmallow chocolate cake would always sell out by 7.00 am.

X met Y on X's second day of work at 7.35 am.

"Ex-excuse m-m-me!!!" X turned around.

"Yes, how can I help you?"

"Do-do you still-"

"Calm down, take a breather."

A gulp of air went down. "Do you have anymore of the marshmallow chocolate cake?"

The meeting of two pairs of brown eyes.

A spark of interest.

"Just the one."

"Thank you!!!"

The doorbell rang 2 minutes later. 

That was why X needed to be there early, to save that one slice of cake for Y. Y never came on weekends because in the first place, Y doesn't work on weekends but yet again, the bakery never did open on weekends because the Lady of the House believed that all of her people deserved their rest after a long tiring week.

Everything was a bonus for X. Good pay. Good boss. Even two days where X could go out and buy thick paperbacks that promised thrilling excursions to the melody of Eric Clapton's voice back at home.

The problem was, X was sick of that.

Fridays marked the end of Y's presence and the beginning of another 2 day long wait to 7.30 am. Mondays were so much better.

It was on a Thursday that it occured to X that it was time to do something about this hatred X had for Fridays. It wasn't a good feeling, having hatred in X's heart and it was time to remove it once and for all.

"I'm quitting today."

Lady of the House looked up in surprise but she is a wise woman, and she knows exactly why.

"It won't change anything, I hope you know that."

"Indeed, that is true, but, I want to put an end to this."

X and the Lady of the House exchanged the needed formalities and shared a hug before X went out of the bakery with a box of miscellaneous items. X was free with enough money to last for a year, since X didn't spend a lot of money, but everything just seemed wrong.

On Friday, X went to the bookstore at 8.00 am and picked up a random paperback (secondhand by the looks of it) and went back home and nursed a broken heart to guitar strums. The coffee laid undisturbed on the table, a half-bitten apple rolling to and fro ever so slightly in a wooden bowl.

That night was tough. It would have been better if X was sleepless, but X just had to be tormented by dreams never to be and wake up before going back to sleep and repeating the cycle over and over again.

By 6.00 am, X couldn't stand it any longer.

Walking through the same hedges, seeing the same lilies blooming, it set X's nerves at ease. A familiar path X shouldn't be taking but which X thoroughly enjoyed.

Before X knew it, X was staring at the familiar "I am sorry, we are closed! :(" sign X used to stare at during work hours. X felt translucent crystals forming but held them back, whistling a memorable tune never to be heard again.

"Excuse me." X turned around.

The world slowly tuned out.

"Yes, how can I help you?"

"Uh, well, uh-"

"The bakery isn't open during the weekends."

A slight blush appears. "I know that."

The meeting of two pairs of sparkling brown eyes.

A silent understanding. But X needed to know.

"So what are you doing here?"

"You owe me one."

"Oh really?"

"I didn't get my marshmallow chocolate cake yesterday-"

"Not exactly my fault."

"And you forgot to pay for the paperback you bought at my shop."

X couldn't meet Y in the eye. The sound of feet shuffling.

"I'm sorry, I'll pay it back. I forgot my money at home."

"Doesn't matter. That was the best 15 dollars I ever spent cause then, I'd have never got this moment right now."

A silent thank you to the world.

Fridays are much better now and Mondays are pretty much just as loved. Everyday of the week is something to look forward to. In fact, all the days are almost the same because the happy ending is never reached.

The happiness is continuous.