#my try

[itschingsu]

Cardboard Loom

Whoever came up with this technique is brilliant! It amazes me that one can weave a bracelet by "turning around a carboard". The only thing to complain is this activity does not show you how to beautifully knot the end and how to joint two ends of the bracelet together.

I might try and make a multicolored one next time.

[timetowritefic]

Sale x Coffee Shop Staff!Reader

The tiny bell above the door jingled when Sale pushed it open and casually walked in. The relaxing smell of coffee and warm atmosphere welcomed him. 

“Welcome” The staff greeted him as they always did to any customer. Their eyes flashed with recognition and smiled at him. “Good afternoon, may I take your order?”

Before walking in, he already looked around the whole place. In this small homey cafe was the staff alone. All chairs were empty maybe because it’s not the time. But even in rush hour, he had never seen this place crowded.

That’s why he loved to chill out here. Just sipping some coffee in silence while looking out of the window. Letting his body relax and his head empty.

He found this place on pure luck - a rather plain coffee shop settled in a backstreet. He was just thirsty and bored at the time, yet found himself coming back because of 1) This place gives him some peaceful moment. Not so many customer. Not so standing out. 2) The taste and price are acceptable. 3) Zucchero hadn’t known about this place and he hoped it stayed that way.

He had visited the cafe to the point that one day the staff handed him a member card with a smile, saying that for the tenth order he would get a discount. Marketing strategy he knew, but it’s free and what kind of idiot would toss away free stuff. He was obviously not the kind so he seized it.

He shuffled through his pocket and pulled the card out, handing it to the staff.

“This is my tenth visit” He said as his eyes were on them.

The same staff who gave him the card lit up.

“Oh, congratulations. You may choose whichever drink and you will get 30% discount” They gestured the blackboards above their head. List of drinks were scribbled by chalks.

Sale hummed. He had already had something in his mind - something he had wanted to try for a while. 

“That one at the bottom” He pointed at the right blackboard and the staff turned back to take a look.

Even from this angle, he never missed the sparkles in their eyes as their smile grew wider. They didn’t even try to hide it when facing him fully again and checking the bill.

Sale then walked to his usual spot near the window and sat there, facing the counter. His eyes followed the form of the staff subtly gliding and dancing around to make his drink.

He had been observed the staff for a while, even before they gave him the member card. It’s not really their look or voice or smiles that caught his eyes.

It’s their diligence.

Sale had grown up in one of the most neglected part of the town - where you not only had to try and struggle but fought tooth and nail to get what you needed. Even as a boy, he knew he belonged to somewhere better than this and he had done anything and everything to reach his goal. 

He finally could join Passione but it’s only the beginning. He knew he could do much better than being a regular grunt. He’s a stand user - a magnificent one even. He just needed a chance to shine. And if you thought he’s the type to just wait for the time to come, you’re dead wrong. He would chase it down. 

It wasn’t easy, he admitted. Being paired with Zucchero helped him, but the guy is a hedonistic fool. He had to be the one who planned things out and also made sure it went smoothly. It’s long stressful works.

That’s why he’s here, sitting in an empty coffee shop. He needed to take a break once in a while or he would one day got hemorrhage as Zucchero often teased.

The staff hummed a happy tune as they poured the drink. Sale had noticed that they always got excited when the drink was ordered and made it with more enthusiasm than usual. From what he had seen, it’s not been ordered often though.

During his visits, he had met the staff so many times although he visited this place at random times. He wondered about their shift but it’s no point to ask. Even with few customers, they occupied themselves with any trivial chores. Beads of sweats rolled down in hot summer when they cleaned the window from the outside. Still, they flashed him a smile from the other side of the glass when their eyes met.

Sale couldn’t help but thought of his younger self where he ran around taking any job that could get money. It was not actually a bad time. He was proud that he was a self-made man

He was brought back from his thought when the drink was set in front of him. Sale looked up and was greeted by their friendly smile.

“Thank you” He replied and they bowed their head a bit before returning to their spot. Sale took a sip of the drink.

Hm. This was pretty good.

He drank it more while his gaze wandered to the staff. Unsurprisingly, they were looking at him too.

They took the chance to start a conversation.

“Is it too sweet?” They inquired.

Sale shook his head.

“No, it is good”

They seemed happy with the answer.

“That’s good to hear. You didn’t seem to like something too sweet so I change the recipe a bit. Glad you like it.”

He paused and cocked his brow at them.

Did they notice?

Unlike the sweet-toothed fool, Sale didn’t like anything too sweet. He cringed when he saw Zucchero gulped down 4 bars of milk chocolate all by himself. His stomach churned.

But what perked his interest now was that the staff noticed it too. How long had they been observed him and taken records? It seemed like he’s not the only observant here.

“Can you do that?” He asked. 

The staff tilted their head.

“Changing the recipe? Well, actually I shouldn’t” They let out a small nervous laugh. “But I’m the one who created that drink and presented it to the boss. Besides, I think the happiness of customers is the most important here."

Sale's gaze dropped to the drink in his hand, watching the swirling liquid for a moment before bring it to his mouth again.

He let out a content sigh and then looked at the staff in the eyes, licking the foam off his lip.

"So, you always keep records about customers' preferences and change the recipe to their liking?" He inquired further, leaning back to his seat.

The staff's smile melted into a naughty one.

"Not always. Are you gonna report it to my boss?"

Sale hummed and looked at his drink again like he's considering it.

"You said the happiness of the customers is the most important right?" He looked up "I must say I enjoy this special drink you made for me. So your goal is accomplished."

He smiled at them, not as friendly or bright as theirs. But he's definitely smiling.

Sale might not be aware, but the staff did realize it's the first time he had ever smile directly at them. So instinctively they reciprocated him with a brighter one.

"Again. I'm glad to hear you enjoy it" Their heart was filled with so much joy they were in a really good mood to tease "Now I know why you always order low sweet or no sugar. That smile of yours is enough sweetener"

There was a moment of silence between them. The time seemed to be stopped.

The small empty cafe felt even smaller, to the point of suffocating.

Woops. Talk about coffee puns.

Still, none of them broke the eye contact even if their brains might already be dead.

"That's...."​

It was Sale who decided to break this awkward silence and set both of them free from this emotion cage. "The... lamest pickup line I've ever heard"

The staff decided to break the eye contact first and looked everywhere but his face.

"Ahaha no. I'm on my shift I can't flirt with my customers" They decided to make themselves busy by cleaning the counter, avoiding his gaze.

Sale coughed and adjusted hair near his ear, making sure it covered the red tip.

No one said anything until there's no spot for them to clean anymore. Sale kept sipping on his drink until it was less than half empty.

"But..." They took a deep breath. There's no turning back at this point now. They faced the regular with their gathered courage. "My shift is gonna over soon"

Both held their gazes for a solid minute, observing and trying to analyze any thoughts and emotions behind them.

This time, Sale broke the contact and looked at the clock, crossing his legs.

".....I'm free" A smirk adorned his face.

[zzzyur]

e

[megumihimawari]

mauve pearl

[sabi-star]

[itschingsu]

Picture Ball

Just made a picture ball full of Asu and his avatars. Although the workmanship is so-so, at least I have accomplished something. Haha!

This is the third activity I did following instructions from a book titled "Maths Lab". I bought the book for my 6-year-old nephew but I am the one that actually read it. Probably too difficult for a 6 years old. Haha!

[itschingsu]

24 Solar Terms

Gee, it is difficult than I expected to manipulate the data in Excel so that when I insert the "Sunburst Chart" it will automatically create a chart I wanted. Once again, although it is not precise, this is the best I can achieve now.

I got into "24 solar terms" when reading fanfics. I even bought a book on this topic. Haha!