(MY RELO )CHAPTER 1
The sky above Matlhakola was painted in soft pinks and golds as the sun began its quiet descent. Edwin stood behind the bakery counter, wiping the glass display for the third time, though it was already spotless. He wasn't thinking about cream puffs or buns today. His mind was far away—stuck in a memory that refused to fade.
It had been five years since Thato left. No phone call. No message. Just silence. And yet, today, something felt different. The air seemed heavier, as if it carried a whisper of the past.
The bell above the door rang softly.
Edwin looked up, expecting a customer. But when his eyes met the figure in the doorway, time seemed to stop.
Thato.
Same warm brown eyes, same stubborn jawline—but older, somehow. Weathered. As if the years had been heavier on him than on anyone else.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
"Hey," Thato said finally, voice low, almost unsure. "Still baking?"
Edwin forced a smile, though his heart pounded. "Someone's gotta feed the village."
Thato stepped inside, his eyes scanning the shelves like they were full of stories. "Smells the same. Feels the same."
"You don't."
Thato flinched slightly. He lowered his gaze. "I deserve that."
They stood there in silence again, words heavy between them like unfinished sentences. Edwin wanted to scream, to ask where he had been, why he left, what happened. But instead, all he said was:
"Want a fatcake?"
Thato smiled, just a little. "Only if it's on the house."
"You still owe me for that last one you ran off with," Edwin replied, handing him one from the tray.
Their fingers touched briefly—just a moment—but it said more than either of them dared to speak aloud.
Unspoken feelings. Unanswered questions. And a reunion baked in warmth, regret, and something that still might be love.