Chapter 16(Part 1) - Shop for Love Day Tomorrow

“Are you guys free today?” Lily asked us, the whole group once we left the classroom after class.

“I don’t have any plans today other than to sleep.” Qeru answered casually.

“Me too.” Poui said.

“Don’t really have any plans today either.” I said, and we all looked at Hazuka who hadn’t answered the question yet.

“I’m free any time if it’s with Lily.” Hazuka replied and our asking faces turned to shock as we looked at him. Is he finally showing his love and care for my little Lily?

“Well, free or not, we’ll go shopping today for materials so you don’t have any choice.” Lily pulled me and Hazuka, circling her hands on our arms while walking to exit the school. The other two are in our front.

“Where are we going, by the way?” Qeru turned backwards to ask Lily once we were outside of the gate.

“To the mall!” Lily answered and continued on circling her arms around me and Hazuka on both sides.

Now we’re like a bunch of high schoolers hanging out after school. And that actually feels good. I didn’t get to experience this in the human world.

“Oh fuck, we don’t have any lists of materials yet.” Lily just realized that when we were already inside the mall and was overwhelmed by how big it was.

“Didn’t I say to make a list of materials earlier?” Hazuka asked Lily. It looked like he already knew that she had forgotten but still asked.

“Am I the only one who forgot?” Lily asked the whole group with a face hoping that everyone had also forgotten about it.

“Well, we didn’t get to write about it since our next professor came on time and we immediately headed here after class, so…….” Qeru replied and avoided eye contact with Hazuka, who looked really disappointed yet annoyed.

“Uh……..” that’s Poui showing a blank paper.

“Wouldn’t it be more fun if we just grab what we think will suit our theme on-the-spot?” I suggested. We just continued on walking while having that conversation.

“Oh yes, Catte, you are really smart!” Lily immediately agreed and wrapped her left arm around my shoulder, which made me crouch a little bit.

Lily is 4 inches smaller than me, while Hazuka is 2 inches taller than me, so that makes them have a 6-inch difference in height which is quite cute to look at. Qeru and Poui are almost the same height as me but half an inch smaller.

In the end, we did what I suggested. We split into two groups and I’m grouped with Hazuka and Qeru and we’re assigned to pick the materials and colors for the stall, while Poui and Lily are assigned to pick the materials for the customized necklaces.

“Do you think we should buy a fabric so no one will see what they made? I mean, it’s no secret if someone saw them making the necklace then someone points at them, you know?” I asked the two when my eyes caught a pastel red-colored cloth and with random black prints.

“Okay, let’s do that. Did you see a good cloth?” Hazuka replied, asking me. I pointed to the cloth I had seen earlier and he quickly grabbed one yard of it and placed it on the basket.

“I think we should just use our table and just buy two organizers for the necklace materials and our funds.” Qeru also suggested.

“Right, do you have any ideas about our organizers? I think it should be simple yet flashy.” Hazuka replied, and Qeru nodded her head, then proceeded to find an organizer.

“Do you think we should also include a letter as an add-on and a small pouch for the necklace?” Hazuka asked me when we walked past the old-style papers. “I think so. Having a pouch is also great.” I replied and walked back to the aisle, then started to pick up a bunch of papers. I made sure it’s not too many there, since it’s only an add-on for them to write their feelings.

Hazuka’s also verbal today. I thought he was some kind of reserved person.

“Is this a good design?” I asked Hazuka and Qeru when she came back. “Yep. That will do.” they both agreed.

We ended up buying a pastel red-colored cloth with random black prints to hide our school mates while making the necklace, two pastel-red with random white lines organizer, 50 pieces of old-style mail paper, and a pastel gold table cloth.

We now have 3 bags in total from that store. Lily said they were currently in a jewelry shop, so we followed them there.

Lily is currently holding a 4x3 column organizer. Their picks are actually cute and I think they will really represent what our group wanted to do.

“Hey, Poui. Is this cute?” she asked Poui, who was currently picking a string. “I think so. You should include that.”

“Okay.” Lily replied and put the sunbead on the organizer. It is rare to see her looking so serious and not like a giggling kid.

“That is some good picks, Lily. Good job.” I commented when I approached her on the left side of the store. “Oh hi, Catte! Isn’t this all cute?” she replied and smiled, then continued on picking and I sat beside Qeru on the chair. They only have to pick 4 beads so they’re almost finished.

“Hey guys, can you pick some designs here for me, please.” She approached us while holding the organizer.

“Huh? I thought we were going to buy it all?” I asked.

“Nah, it will be too expensive so we will only take 9 of these, so I’m asking you three for your tastes to be included.” She replied and gave us the organizer.

I can see a sun, infinity, a knife, the poison symbol, the moon, holding hands, a question mark, a galaxy-colored star, a tear, a puppy, and a telescope.

I picked the galaxy-colored star bead, Hazuka picked the sun, and Qeru picked the puppy.

“Okay then, I’ll pick the question mark and Poui said she liked the infinity one. All in all, we have the sun, a telescope, the stars, a puppy, a question mark, infinity, a poison symbol, a tear, and the moon. Thanks, guys.” She said and walked towards Poui to show him the beads.

Poui also showed some strings, so maybe he’s asking to pick a better option.

“Okay guys! We’re finally done! Let’s eat!” Lily excitedly exited the store with us.

We went to a rooftop café in the mall and I really liked the fresh air.

Hazuka ordered for us while we were admiring how pretty our materials are.

“We actually picked this nylon string because it stretched yet it doesn’t break and we think that resembles the feelings and bond one feels for another.” Lily explained while showing us three colors of nylon strings: red, skin-colored, and gold. I forgot to say that the beads are all cute yet sharp-looking. We also contribute our money and we’ll part our incomes after the practical business.

“Thank you, Hazuka!” Lily thanked Hazuka when he returned with a tray of snacks and drinks.

“So, about the total expenses and selling price stuff, who will join me to arrange it?” he asked right after he sat down. We are currently taking our foods from the tray and we froze by his question.

We all looked at each other without saying anything. But our eyes look ‘you do it, I wanna design the stall’.

“I’m not actually good at math and analyzing so…..” I immediately said to avoid getting pointed to.

“Uhhh…. Me too….” Lily also said.

“Eh, I want to design the stall.” Qeri said directly. She did not make any excuses and said what she wanted to do. We all slowly looked at Poui.

“I can’t do math properly so….” Poui excused and we all retaliated.

“What are you saying? You always get a perfect score in our math class!” Lily said desperately.

“Don’t you lie, my dear. Catte’s still excusable because she’s always a few points below half and you’re always perfect during quizzes. Come on, now.” Qeri said.

“What do you mean, Qeri? At least I passed!” I turned to Qeri with an asking face.

Our table became chaotic with us pointing at each other when Hazuka interrupted.

“Poui then.” He announced, then gestured at Poui to sit in front of him. Poui had a defeated look and forced himself to sit in front of him.

Our sitting arrangement is like; Hazuka sitting on the far left side, Lily on his right and I’m on Lily’s right. Poui is sitting in front of him and Qeri is in front of me and Lily.

Hazuka and Poui started discussing, so we also did.

“Hm… Lily should be the saleswoman, Hazuka will be the cashier, Catte on the packaging, and me and Poui will sales talk the customers for add-ons.” Qeri suggested.

“So we’ll have three sales talkers?” I re-confirmed.

“Yep, Lily will attract customers, while me and Poui will sales talk them to buy the add-ons.” Qeri answered.

“Umm… guys, I agree but why am I the one to attract customers?” Lily asked while raising her hand.

“Huh? It’s because I think you’re good at it and I trust you.” Qeri replied like it’s an obvious answer.

“You trust me?”

“Yep.”

“AAAHHHHH, thank you!!” Lily’s face lit up and she smiled brightly.

“So are we good then?” I asked.

“Yep. No complaints.” That was Lily who seemed to be content.

“Yeah.”

“We’re also good.” Hazuka turned to us and showed a paper full of numbers and solvings.

“What’s that?” Lily asked and we can tell she was glad that she didn’t do it because of how many numbers there were in the paper.

“We’ll sell it for 24 tuan and we will still have a fair amount of income and we will each have money larger than what we contributed. Any complaints?” he explained and circled the selling price.

“None.” We all answered. How can we complain if that’s the case? And what’s even there to complain about?

“Bye guys! I had fun!” Lily waved to Poui and Qeru, who were going the opposite way to us.

“Ahhhhh, I’m excited about tomorrow, Catte.” Lily said while walking.

“Yup, tomorrow will be so much fun.” I agreed and smiled at her. I have a feeling we’ll be sold out tomorrow.

“Well, we will get going now.” Hazuka suddenly spoke. I just realized we were already at the end of the street.

“Ah, okay then. Bye! See you tomorrow!” I waved at the two, they did the same and walked to the right.

I walked to the left side because that’s where my part-time job is.

continue next chapter~