As Aster began to pack his tablet to leave the coffee shop, Renata had changed out of her barista uniform and strolled over to their table. “Hey, I wanted to talk to you a bit before. Are you free at the moment?”
Aster looked up to her, then looked over to see Linh giving a curt nod of his head. “Of course, only I’m packing up and leaving with Linh soon.”
Renata leaned down towards him. “I had seen some of your art before and thought that it was pretty cool. Can I have your socials?”
Aster’s cheeks grew hot at the attention he was getting. “Sure!”
He took his phone from his pocket, hastily opening the app in an attempt to alleviate Renata from wasted time. After they followed each other, Renata raised her hand to wave him a farewell before leaving the coffee shop. Once Aster had refocused back to the table after watching Renata’s figure disappear past the doors of the shop, Linh had also stowed his belongings into his canvas bag. Linh stood up and walked to the side of the table, using an arm to prop himself over the table. Aster took his backpack and heaved the chair back to its original position, swinging his own bag over his shoulder. They then left the store to head back to their dorms just as the street lights turned on. It felt like a liminal space, a once busy street becoming so empty and quiet, stretching infinitely into the night.
“You're starting to have a fan base now, Aster,” said Linh as he peered up towards him.
Aster beamed. He readjusted his posture and was ready to spring across the street as the attention was being set on him.
“Soon you’ll have fanfics written,” proposed Linh with a devilish smile.
Aster groaned as he considered it. “My characters don’t deserve to be treated in such a manner.”
Linh slowed down his pace and turned around. “How come? Doesn’t everyone deserve their own interpretation of your characters?”
Aster restlessly glanced at Linh. “No, I need everyone to see my characters through my eyes. It’s the original version that I wish to convey.”
Linh sighed, “From words to pictures, each person has a unique perspective of life built from their own experiences. No matter how intricate you make something, it will never be the same in the eyes of each person who views your work.”
Aster and Linh walked in silence for a bit as Aster pondered Linh’s words. Aster rubbed his arms as he looked away. “But what if it isn’t perfect enough in their eyes?”
Linh smiled. “There is no such thing as perfection. Emotions should not be expressed in the most perfect scenarios because then it’s no longer the person finding happiness on their own. Let it bloom in a person naturally. You shouldn’t need to lead every viewer to their own growth. Isn’t it better that so many stories and feelings can spring from the same work?” Linh twirled back to Aster, leaning forward to him with a grin. “And for as many times as you need to hear it, I personally think your work is amazing.”
Aster stretched his hand out and ruffled Linh’s hair, expecting a protest to break his streak of newfound emotional intelligence. However, Linh only stopped talking, before leaning into his hand to enjoy his teasing. Aster lost eye contact with him, but he knew Linh was enjoying it. Aster turned his head away as he felt warmth grow in his chest.
They stood there for a bit longer as they enjoyed each other’s company before continuing their walk back to the college dorm in comfortable silence.
Once they made it to their destination, Aster cleared his throat. “Now that we are back, want to call later as we do our work?”
Linh peeped up at Aster with a light blush. “Um yeah, yeah let’s call later.” He then left with a small scurry to the elevator. “See you soon!”
Aster watched the elevator doors close before turning to walk to his room. He nodded to the security as he slid his card to open the door to his well-loved room, and immediately he hopped into bed to shove his face into his floral embroidered pillow, gripping it onto his face as he twisted and turned. Why do I feel so giddy? I want to start kicking my blankets off in bouts of ephemeral thrills. Aster sat back up while still clutching his pillow. What am I going to do with myself?
Aster opened up his drawing pad and started drawing his characters, Occa and Raine, in all the events that happened that day. The love of having quality time without anything special other than the time spent together. Aster understood now that he had to stop just drawing actions that were intended to push the concept of their desire for each other. He realized that blatant actions of the physical expressions of love that disregarded the story and background had caused a sense of improper development of his OCs’ relationships. This newfound inspiration to convey softer stories of affection that allowed the characters to grow to care for each other to such an extent led him to spend a few hours to cement this new comprehension into drawings. This surge of interest left him to focus purely on his drawings; his mind was finally clear and he wanted to spend this opportunity to be productive. Soon, he had images of Occa sitting on a bench smiling softly as he watched Raine being surrounded by ducks as he fed them, to the two partaking in festival games together and winning a high streak with each other.
Aster looked at his characters in adoration. They were becoming more alive and in love with each other as he drew, until he realized that he too also had a moment awaiting him.
Aster looked up to her, then looked over to see Linh giving a curt nod of his head. “Of course, only I’m packing up and leaving with Linh soon.”
Renata leaned down towards him. “I had seen some of your art before and thought that it was pretty cool. Can I have your socials?”
Aster’s cheeks grew hot at the attention he was getting. “Sure!”
He took his phone from his pocket, hastily opening the app in an attempt to alleviate Renata from wasted time. After they followed each other, Renata raised her hand to wave him a farewell before leaving the coffee shop. Once Aster had refocused back to the table after watching Renata’s figure disappear past the doors of the shop, Linh had also stowed his belongings into his canvas bag. Linh stood up and walked to the side of the table, using an arm to prop himself over the table. Aster took his backpack and heaved the chair back to its original position, swinging his own bag over his shoulder. They then left the store to head back to their dorms just as the street lights turned on. It felt like a liminal space, a once busy street becoming so empty and quiet, stretching infinitely into the night.
“You're starting to have a fan base now, Aster,” said Linh as he peered up towards him.
Aster beamed. He readjusted his posture and was ready to spring across the street as the attention was being set on him.
“Soon you’ll have fanfics written,” proposed Linh with a devilish smile.
Aster groaned as he considered it. “My characters don’t deserve to be treated in such a manner.”
Linh slowed down his pace and turned around. “How come? Doesn’t everyone deserve their own interpretation of your characters?”
Aster restlessly glanced at Linh. “No, I need everyone to see my characters through my eyes. It’s the original version that I wish to convey.”
Linh sighed, “From words to pictures, each person has a unique perspective of life built from their own experiences. No matter how intricate you make something, it will never be the same in the eyes of each person who views your work.”
Aster and Linh walked in silence for a bit as Aster pondered Linh’s words. Aster rubbed his arms as he looked away. “But what if it isn’t perfect enough in their eyes?”
Linh smiled. “There is no such thing as perfection. Emotions should not be expressed in the most perfect scenarios because then it’s no longer the person finding happiness on their own. Let it bloom in a person naturally. You shouldn’t need to lead every viewer to their own growth. Isn’t it better that so many stories and feelings can spring from the same work?” Linh twirled back to Aster, leaning forward to him with a grin. “And for as many times as you need to hear it, I personally think your work is amazing.”
Aster stretched his hand out and ruffled Linh’s hair, expecting a protest to break his streak of newfound emotional intelligence. However, Linh only stopped talking, before leaning into his hand to enjoy his teasing. Aster lost eye contact with him, but he knew Linh was enjoying it. Aster turned his head away as he felt warmth grow in his chest.
They stood there for a bit longer as they enjoyed each other’s company before continuing their walk back to the college dorm in comfortable silence.
Once they made it to their destination, Aster cleared his throat. “Now that we are back, want to call later as we do our work?”
Linh peeped up at Aster with a light blush. “Um yeah, yeah let’s call later.” He then left with a small scurry to the elevator. “See you soon!”
Aster watched the elevator doors close before turning to walk to his room. He nodded to the security as he slid his card to open the door to his well-loved room, and immediately he hopped into bed to shove his face into his floral embroidered pillow, gripping it onto his face as he twisted and turned. Why do I feel so giddy? I want to start kicking my blankets off in bouts of ephemeral thrills. Aster sat back up while still clutching his pillow. What am I going to do with myself?
Aster opened up his drawing pad and started drawing his characters, Occa and Raine, in all the events that happened that day. The love of having quality time without anything special other than the time spent together. Aster understood now that he had to stop just drawing actions that were intended to push the concept of their desire for each other. He realized that blatant actions of the physical expressions of love that disregarded the story and background had caused a sense of improper development of his OCs’ relationships. This newfound inspiration to convey softer stories of affection that allowed the characters to grow to care for each other to such an extent led him to spend a few hours to cement this new comprehension into drawings. This surge of interest left him to focus purely on his drawings; his mind was finally clear and he wanted to spend this opportunity to be productive. Soon, he had images of Occa sitting on a bench smiling softly as he watched Raine being surrounded by ducks as he fed them, to the two partaking in festival games together and winning a high streak with each other.
Aster looked at his characters in adoration. They were becoming more alive and in love with each other as he drew, until he realized that he too also had a moment awaiting him.