Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Sept 5, 2020 12:22:26 GMT -8
Jesse smiled and nodded, not immediately saying anything and instead sipping at his own mocha. "I had a teacher like that..." He spoke finally. "My fourth grade teacher. I can't remember her name or anything about how she looked, but I remember she made learning fun, and encouraged all of us, especially in the subjects we had trouble with." He shook his head, "Not that I haven't had any good teachers since then, but I think she sticks out the most because she was the first teacher to really show her passion and love of teaching to her students. I remember she'd always tell us random quips of knowledge that, of course, to a fourth grader, mean nothing. But looking back, I think I understand some of the things she was saying. It was stuff you come across frequently in your adult life, phrases like, 'if you work with what you're passionate about, you'll never work a day in your life.' But back then, it was our first encounter with those phrases and so they stuck in my mind."
He leaned back, looking off into the distance at nothing in particular. "I think it's good that you're a kindergarten teacher. You seem to have a way with kids, and I think having you as either their very first or second teacher ever can help prepare them for their future." He looked back at Adriel and smiled, "I've never seen you in action in a classroom, but based on how you handle Rochelle, I'd imagine years down the line, you'll have students talking about how you inspired them to become a teacher."
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
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Post by Adriel Flowers on Sept 8, 2020 20:11:32 GMT -8
Adriel smiled, feeling his cheeks warm at the compliment. "Well you certainly seem to have fallen right into that 'do what you're passionate about'," he gestured to the coffee shop. "So, does it feel like work?"
He held his coffee up to his lips but didn't drink it, instead observing Jesse, looking to see if he could find the answer before he gave it. He knew what he'd started looking for but kept finding himself distracted by the freckle by Jesse's mouth, he was really going to have to stop staring at some point.
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Sept 15, 2020 11:34:40 GMT -8
Jesse contemplated the comment for a moment before smiling, "huh, I guess I did..." He commented before taking a sip of his drink. He thought even longer over the the question Adriel presented to him.
He sipped at his drink until he set down an empty mug, "Some days more than others." He said. "Especially when I just getting starting, it really felt like work, and I wondered what I was getting myself into. I'd go to bed exhausted every night, and on days when I'd not make budget or just barely break even, I'd even regret it. But it's started to balance out now, so it's not as bad, and I find myself enjoying a lot more days and finding it less like work and more like a hobby." He looked to Adriel, tilting his head to one side quizzically, "How about you, does teaching feel like work?"
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
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Post by Adriel Flowers on Sept 16, 2020 8:16:55 GMT -8
Adriel blinked a few times, finally able to drag his eyes from Jesse's freckle, "I echo your sentiment. Some days more than others." He took a sip of his coffee and set it down. "Now that Rochelle is older than what I teach it's a little less stressful... I don't know if that's the right word..."
He cleared his throat, "you're a single father, do you ever spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out how you've possibly messed up your kid and how to correct it? Before she was in kindergarten, I felt like I had to teach her all the things so she'd be ready for kindergarten. Then she was in someone else's class and it felt like how she did reflected on my parenting and skills as a teacher. Now that she's beyond what I teach I feel a little more relieved, like it wasn't my job to teach her that." Adriel shook his head, "sorry, I'm not making much sense."
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
|
Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Sept 29, 2020 19:53:54 GMT -8
Jesse shook his head, "No, you're actually making perfect sense. Even now, I still worry Hayako will be negatively influenced by my never going to college. Like by that point in his life, I'd hope this cafe was super successful, but also, if it is, what incentive is that for him to go to college if I did so well without doing so. So even though I can't relate on the teacher portion, I definitely relate. I think it's a thing all parents deal with in some way or another."
He chuckled, "And I still have no idea how I'm going to have the conversation regarding why I never call him by his English name. I know he's going to ask one day, and I can't just tell my kid I hate his name." He shook his head. "But his mom named him and didn't give me a choice, except for his Korean and Chinese names, and even then, it was 'how do these kanji best translate' rather than choosing the names myself."
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
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Post by Adriel Flowers on Sept 30, 2020 10:42:39 GMT -8
Adriel was relieved to hear the Jesse related to him. Not that they were dating yet, but they had a date scheduled and being open and vulnerable wasn't the easiest thing for him, so he was glad that opening up a little had worked out this time. "I get that, the college thing. I never even thought about it.." he shook his head, a little overwhelmed jus thinking about it. "On the bright side, us worrying and overthinking means we're good dads, right?"
He took another sip, "not liking his name will be a difficult conversation. But he'll be used to you not calling him that. He's a smart kid, I don't think it'll be a surprise to him, so maybe it won't be as bad as you think."
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Nov 1, 2020 18:17:28 GMT -8
Jesse let out a short laugh and nodded, "I suppose you're right. Who knew being a good parent was so stressful though, huh?" He said, only half joking.
He thought over Adriel's words and then nodded after a moment's pause. "I suppose. If I had any say in it, I'd help him change his name, but that's up to him, and I don't want to influence him one way or the other, even if I do dislike the name."
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
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Post by Adriel Flowers on Nov 5, 2020 9:35:35 GMT -8
Adriel smiled, "I'm pretty sure the main reason I initially never wanted to have kids was because I knew how much I'd love them." He picked up his now empty cup of coffee, "can I take this to the sink and wash it or something?" he asked, hesitating before circling the bar.
He was enjoying the conversation and was aware they were in Jesse's coffee shop, but he'd already been served two cups of coffee, he felt like he had to clean or something now. "Sorry, habits..." he gingerly fingered the handle of his mug, waiting for an answer.
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Dec 10, 2020 10:04:53 GMT -8
Jesse smiled softly. "I suppose being a parent comes with some inevitable heartbreaks many would rather avoid." He agreed. There were inevitable heartbreaks, first days of school, graduations, the inevitable passage of time to make it so before a parent's eyes their children are grown, and then there were the ones the two of them faced, becoming a single parent long before expected. His face softened a bit as he thought about it,
He looked up at Adriel with wide eyes as the man asked to clean his own mug, only then realizing he'd spaced out for a moment. "Um... We're not supposed to allow customer behind the bar." He said softly, taking the cup from Adriel's hands. "So though I'm sure my coworkers would appreciate the offer, it's fine to let them take care of it." He brought the cup to the back, returning with a couple water bottles and offering one to Adriel, "would you like something other than coffee now?" He asked with a short, playful laugh.
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
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Post by Adriel Flowers on Dec 11, 2020 9:49:31 GMT -8
Adriel sighed a little as he noticed Jesse spacing out, "I recognize that look, the existential dread of fatherhood and all the things we have and will face."
He let go of his mug and thanked Jesse for the water, "any more coffee and I'll be bouncing off the walls more than Rochelle." He took the water bottle gingerly and set it down, unopened. "Though, I should probably grab her and start heading home, I have some craft kits I need to prepare for class tomorrow, and she's usually my helper." He paused, not really wanting to end their encounter, "I look forward to our date on Friday night."
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
|
Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Jan 11, 2021 18:30:40 GMT -8
Jesse nodded, "You are correct." He agreed. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but when he started talking about his son, it was an inevitable feeling that would creep up after a while.
He chuckled and sat back down at his seat, opening his own water bottle and nodding slightly at Adriel's comments. "I also look forward to our date on Friday. It was... a pleasure to get to meet you." He said softly. "Good luck with the craft kits."
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
|
Post by Adriel Flowers on Jan 12, 2021 14:06:15 GMT -8
"I guess it's score 1-0 for the kids versus adults. I feel like I should be worried that they are both smart enough and aware enough to come up with this plan to set us up," Adriel said, smile in his voice and on his face. He debated having a conversation about manipulation with Rochelle, but he really was looking forward to the date, so maybe it would just be an informational conversation rather than a teaching moment.
He pointed towards where the kids were, knowing that it was past the employee's only section of the store, "May I?"
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
|
Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Jan 17, 2021 14:24:13 GMT -8
Jesse smiled and sucked in a breath, looking away thoughtfully, "They really did beat us, didn't they? I feel like if this works out, we'll have a lot more tricks to deal with." He said, his voice playful and an amused smile on his face.
"Let me walk you there." He said, getting off the bar stool and leading Adriel towards the back room. He stood at the doorway and let Adriel do the talking.
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Kindergarten Teacher.
Bisexual.
Single.
01/24/1980.
41.
Monkey (WA)
Authored by Velexa.
Offline.
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Post by Adriel Flowers on Jan 19, 2021 19:35:39 GMT -8
"Not only tricks to deal with, but I know Rochelle will lord this over me if it works out. Teenage Rochelle asking for a new car because 'remember daddy, I'm the reason you're not single today,'" Adriel shivered a little. "They're going to be a handful."
He followed Jesse back to the break room and went in, "ready to go home?"
Rochelle looked up from her homework, "but I'm actually doing homework dad~" she whined.
"You act like you don't do that at home," Adriel said.
"I mean I do, but you can't flirt if I do homework at home," she said like it was obvious.
Adriel sighed and rubbed his temples with one hand, "see what I mean," he said to Jesse.
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Cafe Owner.
Bisexual.
Interested in Adriel Flowers.
03/01/1985.
38.
Ox (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
|
Post by Jesse Sang Wu on Apr 11, 2021 10:51:31 GMT -8
Jesse chuckled, "No kidding!" He laughed. "If this works out, they're going to truly be a handful." He agreed.
He chuckled at the banter between Adriel and Rochelle, nodding quickly at Adriel's comment that was directed toward him. "Your father has his own work he needs to get done, and I also have work I need to get done. We already have a date scheduled for Friday, isn't that enough?" He tried.
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