Cakes and Donuts is a charming little shop nestled along the picturesque waterfront in town. Adjacent to it is a cozy reading room—an idea that was Bella's, brought to life by her best friend, Lala. Lala's shop has a loyal customer base, and online orders are doing well too. Bella, however, is the only one who frequents the reading room to enjoy her books. Lala often jokes that by promoting the shop through her webtoons, Bella gets all her treats for free. And while Lala is Bella's best friend, it's more accurate to say she is Bella's only friend.
They have been inseparable since high school, through the good times and the bad. Lala has never left Bella's side, fully understanding that Bella is a puzzle no one can solve—someone unlike the rest. Yet, Lala continues to play a pivotal role in Bella's life because she has weathered all of Bella's storms.
Lala was carefully adding the finishing touches to a new cake when Bella walked into the shop. She placed her scooter helmet on the shelf and walked over to Lala, placing a stack of letters on the table beside the cake.
"Got fan letters again?" Lala asked without even glancing up from her cake decorations.
Bella frowned in frustration, "No. It's been a year since I've received a letter like that."
Lala raised an eyebrow. "Then what are these?"
Bella's smile widened as she proudly replied, "I decided to get a real job." She folded her arms on the table, looking innocent. The flower Lala was drawing suddenly slipped from her hand, becoming a distorted mess. She stared at Bella, stunned.
"To go to work? The famous B.S.? I can't believe it," Lala said, laughing out loud.
"Don't believe it? Have you seen these?" Bella asked, pointing at the pile of letters. "They're job offers from the most well-known entertainment companies in Kochi."
Lala took the letters and scanned them. Sure enough, they were all envelopes from various companies.
"Why do you need a job now? Aren't your webtoons going great?" Lala asked, puzzled.
Bella sighed, sitting on a chair beside a customer table. Lala immediately grabbed two coffees and joined her.
"Why the sudden decision?" Lala asked.
Bella took a deep breath and pulled out her phone, opening her webtoon site to reveal a rating of 5/10. This was for a new webtoon she'd been uploading for the past year. With a frown, she showed Lala the pile of negative reviews underneath.
"I'm really disappointed this time," one comment said. "It's like the story has no life."
"The last two webtoons were amazing," other one remarked. "Now it feels like you've lost your inspiration."
"B.S. has a very narrow view of the world," one comment read. "The characters repeat the same attitudes."
"'B.S., you need to understand people better. Otherwise, you should stop creating webtoons.'" Bella stopped lala from reading the comments, then angrily grabbed her phone, turned it off, and slammed it on the table.
"Do you think the same too about my webtoons?" Bella asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she looked at Lala.
"Doesn't my darling Bella need at least a little bit of that 'people interaction' in her life to keep from lacking it in her work?" Lala teased, her tone playful as she raised an eyebrow. Bella's face frowned with dissappointment.
Lala took a moment before speaking, her expression thoughtful. "I think you have immense talent, Bella. Your stories are unique, and your characters have depth—but sometimes it feels like you're holding back. It's like you're drawing from a small pool of experiences, and once you've explored those, the stories start to feel repetitive."
Bella's heart sank slightly, but Lala chuckled shaking her head. "Oh, come on, Bella. You know as well as I do that real experiences, real connections, bring depth to your creativity. You can't stay locked in your room forever and expect your work to evolve. Sometimes, you just have to live life to write about it."
Bella didn't reply.
"Look, Bella. The story is good, but the characters lack depth. You're basing them on a few people you know, but once you've exhausted that list, the story will lose its life too," Lala explained as she sipped her coffee.
"I know" Bella nodded, her head drooping slightly, a disappointed expression settling on her face as she mulled over the thought. It was clear she was struggling with the idea, her energy drained by the weight of the decision ahead.
. "Do you think this is a good idea, like Mom said?" Bella sighed, Glancing at the letters lying on the table Bella's eyes lingered on them for a moment, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges as if weighing the significance of the decision before her.
"Which idea?" Lala asked, pausing as she set her coffee cup down and picked up the letters. She tilted her head. "This one?" Bella nodded yes.
"Yes, you need to go out, meet new people," Lala said with a grin. "Who knows? Maybe you'll meet your 'prince charming'—the one who lives inside your webtoons."
"Who needs Prince Charming?" Bella snapped, her voice sharp with sudden frustration. "I just want to be a professional webtoon artist. That's all."
Lala smiled sympathetically, rubbing Bella's arm gently. "Let it go, Bella. Look, you have the talent, but you're missing experience. I think it's time you stepped out into the world and gained some."
Bella hesitated, her mind swirling with doubts. "What if I fail? What if I can't handle it? What if they all reject me?"
Lala met her gaze with a firm look. "Rejection happens to everyone. You're strong enough, Bella. You've got to fight those insecurities. No one's life ends with rejection."
Bella nodded slowly, her uncertainty lingering.
After taking a deep breath, she handed the letters back to Lala and commanded"Then, choose one for me."
Lala couldn't believe it. Bella was finally ready to step out of her comfort zone.
"Are you sure?" Lala asked, her surprise evident. Bella smiled and nodded, her determination shining through.
Lala gleefully spread the letters out on the table, touching each one with her fingers like a child playing a game.
"Inky pinky ponky,Daddy bought a donkey,Donkey died,Daddy cried,Inky pinky ponky."
Finally, Lala stopped her finger on one letter and handed it to Bella. "This is the one. This place will change your life," she said with a proud smile.
Bella took the letter, her heart racing. She read the address:
Victoria Entertainment Company, Kochi.
"Yes," Bella said, nodding firmly.
They high-fived, confirming their decision.
"Wait, let's celebrate!" Lala cheered, jumping up. "I'll bring my new cake."
"Perfect," Bella said, raising her thumb and forefinger in approval. She gazed at the letter again, feeling a sense of finality. It was time for a change. Victoria Entertainment would be her fresh start.
As Lala returned with the cake and offered Bella a spoonful, Bella savored the rich flavor, her eyes lighting up with delight. She blew Lala a playful kiss, a sparkle of joy in her eyes.
"Enjoy, enjoy," Lala grinned, handing the cake over. Bella smiled like a child, relishing the moment. Outside the café, the sunlight shimmered on the water of the lake, heralding a new chapter in her life.