Author's POV

The scent of warm vanilla and melted butter wafted through the room as the cooking studio buzzed with activity. Students chattered excitedly, their laughter blending with the occasional clinking of metal bowls and the hum of mixers. Large, wooden tables were set up in rows, each equipped with an assortment of baking tools, ingredients, and gleaming stainless steel bowls.

Yoona stood by her station, meticulously arranging her setup. Her flour, sugar, and butter were already measured, each portion separated into tidy little bowls. The piping bags, spatula, and mixing bowls were lined up perfectly, as if awaiting inspection.

Cooking had always been her escape, a way to lose herself in the rhythm of creating something from scratch. But today, the serene anticipation she usually felt before a class was replaced by a gnawing dread.

"Please, not him," she muttered under her breath as the instructor, a middle-aged woman with a perpetual smile, started assigning partners for the class project.

Her prayers went unheard.

"Yoona and Jin," the instructor announced cheerfully. "You'll be working together today."

Yoona froze, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

"Of course," she muttered. "Because fate hates me."

Author's POV

"Looks like we're partners again!" Jin's voice rang out, far too loud for comfort.

Yoona turned her head slightly to see him sauntering toward her, a lazy grin plastered across his face. Kim Seokjin—or simply Jin, as he insisted everyone call him—was the very definition of infuriating.

He was loud, cocky, and had an uncanny ability to charm everyone in the room except her. From the very first class, he'd managed to rub her the wrong way. He didn't take anything seriously, yet somehow, he always managed to keep up with the lessons, earning praise from the instructor and admiration from their classmates.

"Don't mess this up for me," she said curtly as Jin stopped beside her station.

"Mess this up?" he repeated, feigning offense. "Excuse me, Yoona, but I'm a natural in the kitchen. I could win a baking show blindfolded."

She rolled her eyes. "You're lucky if you don't burn water."

His laugh was hearty and unapologetic, and Yoona found herself gritting her teeth.

"Alright, everyone," the instructor announced. "Today, we'll be making layered sponge cakes with buttercream frosting. You'll work together to bake the sponge, prepare the frosting, and decorate the cake."

Yoona silently cursed her luck. Of all the days to end up with Jin as her partner, it had to be on one of the most intricate assignments yet.

Jin's POV

I could tell Yoona wasn't thrilled about being paired with me again. She didn't even try to hide it, glaring at me like I'd personally sabotaged her day.

But honestly, I didn't mind.

In fact, I liked working with her. Sure, she was uptight and bossy, but there was something about her intensity that drew me in. She cared about cooking in a way no one else in this class did. It wasn't just a hobby for her; it was a passion.

"Alright, Chef Yoona," I said, clapping my hands together. "What's the game plan?"

She didn't even look at me as she started listing instructions. "You'll sift the flour while I prepare the wet ingredients. Once that's done, we'll combine them and—"

"Hold up," I interrupted, holding up a hand. "Why do you get to call the shots? This is a partnership."

Her head snapped up, and she fixed me with a withering glare. "Because I actually know what I'm doing."

I smirked, crossing my arms. "Oh, really? And what if I told you I have a secret talent for baking?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You? A secret talent?"

"Hey, don't underestimate me," I said, leaning closer. "I might surprise you."

Author's POV

Despite their constant bickering, the two of them quickly fell into a rhythm. Yoona's precision and Jin's surprising knack for improvisation turned out to be a surprisingly effective combination.

Yoona worked on the batter with practiced ease, carefully measuring out each ingredient and mixing them together in smooth, deliberate motions. Jin, meanwhile, busied himself preparing the pans and adjusting the oven temperature.

"Careful," Yoona said as he poured the batter into the pans. "You're tilting it too much."

"I know what I'm doing," he replied, though his hands wavered slightly under her watchful gaze.

Once the cakes were in the oven, they turned their attention to the frosting.

"Do you even know how to make buttercream?" Yoona asked skeptically as Jin picked up the mixing bowl.

"Of course I do," he replied confidently.

He started dumping powdered sugar into the bowl without measuring it, earning an audible gasp from Yoona.

"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed, grabbing the bowl from him.

"Relax," he said, laughing. "Buttercream is all about feel. You don't need to measure everything."

"Yes, you do," she shot back, her voice rising in exasperation. "This isn't some slapdash cooking show. If you want the frosting to turn out right, you need to measure the ingredients properly!"

Their argument escalated, drawing amused glances from their classmates. The instructor, however, seemed unfazed, watching their antics with a knowing smile.

Yoona's POV

I couldn't believe this man.

He was infuriating, arrogant, and completely reckless. Watching him toss ingredients into the bowl like some sort of culinary daredevil made my blood boil.

But what annoyed me even more was the fact that he somehow managed to pull it off.

"See?" Jin said smugly as the buttercream came together in the mixer, perfectly smooth and creamy. "Told you I knew what I was doing."

I wanted to argue, to point out that his method was sheer luck rather than skill. But the frosting looked flawless, and I hated that he'd proven me wrong.

"Fine," I muttered, crossing my arms. "You got lucky."

"Lucky?" he repeated, laughing. "Admit it, Yoona. You're impressed."

"I'm not," I snapped, though my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

His grin widened. "You're blushing."

"I am not!"

Before I could say anything else, Jin reached for the piping bag and started filling it with frosting.

"Let me handle the decorations," he said confidently.

"Oh, no," I said, snatching the bag away from him. "You've caused enough chaos for one day. I'll do it."

Author's POV

The tension between them simmered as they worked side by side, the unspoken challenge pushing them to outdo each other.

As Yoona carefully piped frosting onto the cake, Jin leaned closer, watching her with a teasing smile.

"You're holding the bag wrong," he said.

"I am not," she replied, her voice sharp.

"Yes, you are," he insisted. "Here, let me show you."

Before she could protest, he reached out and adjusted her grip, his hands brushing against hers.

Yoona froze, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected contact. Jin didn't seem to notice, his focus entirely on the frosting.

"See?" he said, his voice unusually soft. "Like this."

She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the warmth of his hands and the way her pulse raced.

But then disaster struck.

In her flustered state, Yoona accidentally squeezed the piping bag too hard, sending a dollop of frosting flying onto her nose.

Jin burst out laughing, doubling over as Yoona glared at him.

"It's not funny!" she said, trying to wipe the frosting off with the back of her hand.

"Here," Jin said, still chuckling. "Let me."

He reached out and gently wiped the frosting away with his thumb, his touch lingering for just a moment too long.

Their eyes met, and the laughter faded, replaced by a charged silence.

Jin's POV

I don't know what came over me.

One minute, I was teasing Yoona, and the next, I was standing inches away from her, my heart pounding like a drum.

Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, and for the first time, she didn't look like she was planning to yell at me.

"Yoona," I started, my voice barely above a whisper.

But before I could say anything else, she stepped back, breaking the spell.

"We should finish the cake," she said quickly, turning her attention back to the project.

I nodded, though my mind was still reeling.

Author's POV

Despite the awkward moment, Yoona and Jin managed to finish their cake just in time. The final result was stunning—a perfectly layered sponge cake with smooth buttercream frosting and delicate piped decorations.

The instructor was impressed, praising their teamwork and creativity.

"You two make a great team," she said, smiling.

Yoona glanced at Jin, who was grinning like he'd just won the lottery.

"See?" he said, nudging her. "I told you we'd nail it."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips.

As the class came to a close, the chatter of students filled the room, some excitedly discussing recipes, while others cleaned up their stations. But amidst the buzz, Jin lingered by their cooking station, his usual confident stance replaced by something unfamiliar—hesitation. He shifted on his feet, fidgeting with the edge of his apron, his eyes glancing toward Yoona, who was cleaning the countertop.

Yoona noticed him standing there, an odd quiet surrounding him. She wiped down the last of the flour on the counter, then looked up to find him staring at her with an intensity she wasn't used to seeing from him.

"Yoona," he said, his voice low and serious.

She stopped what she was doing, her heart skipping a beat. Jin was usually so effortlessly confident, always throwing out jokes and teasing her. This new, quieter side caught her off guard. She raised an eyebrow, curious and a little cautious.

"What is it?" she asked, her tone light, though she couldn't quite mask the slight nervousness bubbling in her chest.

Jin hesitated for a moment longer, his gaze dropping to the countertop before looking back up at her, his lips curving into a sheepish smile. "I joined this class because I saw you sign up," he said, his voice soft, almost vulnerable. "I wanted an excuse to spend time with you."

Yoona's heart skipped another beat. She froze, her hands still holding the cloth, but her mind was racing. Was he serious? She thought she'd misheard him, but the sincerity in his eyes told her otherwise. This was something different, something real.

She tried to keep her composure, but her words came out before she could stop them. "You're annoying," she said, but even as the words left her mouth, she could hear the lack of its usual sharpness.

Jin's lips parted in a quiet laugh, his warm grin returning, but this time it wasn't just teasing—it was full of affection. "And you're impossible," he shot back, stepping closer, his voice teasing yet laced with something more. "But I like you anyway."

Yoona blinked, suddenly finding it harder to breathe. She'd never been the type to get flustered, especially not by Jin. But now, standing so close to him, hearing those words, she felt something she wasn't prepared for. She opened her mouth to give him a retort, but for once, the words failed her.

Instead, she smiled. A soft, genuine smile that tugged at her heart in a way that was both new and comforting. Her gaze held his for a moment longer than usual, and she realized, with surprising clarity, that maybe—just maybe—she liked him too.

For a few seconds, the world around them seemed to quiet, as though time had slowed. The bustling of their classmates and the sounds of chairs scraping against the floor faded, and in that moment, it was just the two of them. Jin, standing there with that vulnerable look in his eyes, and Yoona, feeling something warm fluttering in her chest.

"Well, you're not exactly easy to get along with," Yoona said finally, her voice softer than usual, a playful glint still in her eyes. "But maybe I don't mind it as much as I thought."

Jin's smile widened at her words, and he stepped just a little bit closer, his hand almost brushing hers as he reached for his own apron. "Guess that's progress," he teased lightly, though there was an undeniable warmth in his tone that made Yoona's heart beat faster.

She watched him for a moment, trying to decide whether she should say anything else, but the words seemed unnecessary now. The way he was looking at her—open, unguarded, and full of sincerity—spoke volumes.

She wasn't sure where this would go, or what it meant for them, but for once, she didn't feel the need to rush away from it. Maybe Jin wasn't just a goofy, annoying guy to tease. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more to him, and to this connection that was slowly unfolding between them.

As the last of the students left the room, Yoona and Jin lingered, their banter flowing easily, but with an underlying tension that neither of them could ignore. It was a new beginning, one filled with the possibility of something real, something deeper than either of them had expected.

And as the doors closed behind them, leaving only the quiet of the kitchen in their wake, Yoona couldn't help but smile to herself. Jin, the usually unflappable, confident guy, had just confessed his feelings in the most unexpected way.

And for the first time, Yoona realized she wasn't the only one who had been hiding her true feelings all along.