Pins And Post-its

When It Suddenly Rained

It had been another ordinary day, wherein I open the café as simply as flipping the plastic signboard form ‘Sorry We’re Closed’ to ‘Welcome! We’re Open’ then I stand behind the counter or island where the cash register sits on a small corner, carefully camouflaged by the wide screen monitor and a corkboard at the other end. I sat there silently, and occasionally move about of course, like arrange a few of the pens that had gone off or play around with the push pins making shapes or letters.

Few minutes later, I heard the door chime rang, I wasn’t so alarmed. It was too early for any customers, and when I saw that familiar dark blonde stick out from the door and out of that navy blue hoodie that he so loves to wear, immediately I spat out orders. He groaned, whined that it was too early, too serious and too me as he names it to order him around when he has just arrived, and when there’s just the two of us.

“I’m not paying you to complain Jung Daehyun, now go do as you’re told,” I jest.

He scowled and bit that supple lower lip of his from agitation as he trudge towards the sink.

I smiled toothily, triumphantly. I always enjoyed mocking and playing with a moody Jung Daehyun, my part-time barista and partner in this petite but cozy café.

“Stop staring into space, and do something sir,” he talked back from the sink-slash-kitchen. I chuckled from where I was sitting. He must’ve sneak a glance while I was looking away.

“I’m thinking of a novelty idea to add-up to the café so shush up and do as your job description says.” 

Daehyun replied with a throaty, displeased groan that would almost closely resemble that of an angered dog’s growl. But his idea of a threat didn’t faze me, we’ve worked and been we’d each other for quite some time now that I know how his mood would swing. I sit back and scan over the hundreds, probably, of post-it notes stuck on almost every nook and cranny of the bookshelves alone.

Each one of them the same but totally different as well, not one can be left alone, nor can any stand out far too much. Different shades of pink, blue, green, yellow, orange – pastel or blindingly fluorescent, I can’t help but smile.

To think it all started with one person saying suddenly, “God, I’m so tired already,” in a whiny, nearly-depressed voice while he sinks into his pad of multi-colored notes and rainbow variation pens and highlighters, oh, and books and notes as well, where would he use the supplies, right?

Thinking about it, my eyes started searching for that specific note, I pivot from my chair and slowly scanned the walls and tables and the little open cupboard where I had a few magazines – local and international, lain out.

“Someone’s coming,” Daehyun mumbled from the counter, calling me out of my happy place. I stood up languidly and went for the main computer but before I could sit or log in the door chime rang and I greeted with a wide, welcoming, practiced smile our first customer for the day.

“Good morning,” Daehyun and I greeted in unison with a respectful bow.

The young lady fixed her hair, brushing it up and out of her face before greeting us with a shy smile too and with a ‘good morning’ though I thought it was silly, Ji-eun was after all one of our regular customers, when her classes permit her.