kickin it

@jaesmintea — You’re hard at work at your desk when your friends barge into your dorm with a dramatic flourish, pulling you out of your desk before you can even blink. Though you complain of an early class the next morning, you’re smiling, and anticipation swirls in your gut, shines in your eyes. You willingly get caught up in the storm of your friends as they animatedly prepare for another night of adventure.

@valentinesicheng — It’s about to storm. There’s a distant rumbling of thunder, and the air is heavy, though not oppressively so. You take in the comforting orange of the sunset as you push open the door of your childhood home, and you make your way up the familiar steps to begin cleaning out some old belongings that have been sitting in the storage room for a little too long. Nostalgia sits in the pit of your stomach as you rummage through each box, but you don’t feel regretful as you place items in the give away pile; objects may come and go, but memories stay.

@masterninjacow — You’re sat in a quaint, cozy corner of a cafe in Paris, late morning light caressing the furniture around you. There’s a half-eaten croissant and recently-filled mug beside you on your table, but they’re hardly at the forefront of your mind as you continue to scribble and write at the leather-bound journal in your hands. The baristas hardly bat an eye at your presence, used to you lingering at that corner table for hours as you simply write away at the fragments of time, inspiration at the tip of your pen.

@legendnct — You’re at the arcade, deep in focus as you attempt to best your friend at a dance game. Your tongue sticks out of your mouth, and you lean heavily on the bar behind you. Left, right, up, up, down, left. They beat you and you groan, but it’s good-natured as they collect their tickets. The both of you head up to the award desk to pick a prize, and they end up getting a stuffed animal which they give to you. You feel your heart swell with affection as you pull them into a hug.

@minsprings — You’re practically flying. One order down, already on the phone with another client, another friend. Writing down notes and finishing products that you wrap up neatly into a box, ready to be shipped. Once you start working, it’s hard to stop; you want to finish quickly yet well-done, and you’re almost caught off guard when you turn around to find no more work to do. It’s refreshing; it’s rewarding to know you’ve done your best, and that hard work pays off.

@coshuangmos — One. Two more. Four more stacked on top that veers to the side dangerously. You didn’t seem to notice, or rather, mind, the increasingly large pile of books beside you as you browsed the shelves. How were you supposed to pass by without taking a few? Books were invaluable; they taught you skills, they took you on adventures, they informed you and made you feel a plethora of emotions you didn’t think you’d ever experience in your everyday life. You carefully lifted your stack and made your way to the counter. You could never understand why the library was never crowded; the path of knowledge must be a well-kept secret, and people may only find out if they’d read but a page.

@xiaocity — You excitedly dropped the clothes you ordered onto your bed, and your friends watched you expectantly as you disappeared into your closet. Dramatically, you stepped out to model one of the outfits, and your friends began to laugh and cheer at your performance and fashion sense. You couldn’t hold the act for long, for a smile soon broke across your own lips and you giggled along with them.

@markswoman — It’s quite beautiful, really. Wonderfully crafted, the textured paint and vibrant colors impeccably placed to draw the viewer’s gaze around the painting. You didn’t realize how long you had been standing before the masterpiece, your hand stiff from being cupped under your chin, your blazer uncomfortably cinched around your shoulders. You clear your throat quietly as you smooth out your outfit and your features, and you glanced behind you at the rest of the gallery. Patrons amble around, stopping before statues and art pieces for only a few moments before continuing on their way again. You give the painting one more longing glance before placing your hands in your pockets and stepping away to mimick the other viewers—never realizing the beauty of a moment, the beauty of the creations of humankind.

@4-sun — You sit in your backyard, a book open on your lap and lemonade in hand. You’re supposed to head in soon, you know, but before you can stand, you hear the leaves rustling off to the side. When you look up, you’re staring into the eyes of a deer, gentle yet majestic. You regard each other with a dull sense of respect and wonder before the deer seems to nod and disappears back into the woods.

@jupitersmark — You didn’t realize you were picking up speed as you rode down your subdivision’s sidewalk. The morning air felt refreshing as you passed people walking, and you stopped pedaling to glide by. The trees and houses passed by in a blur, and you felt the urge to close your eyes and simply feel the movement of your bike, your body, your bones. Your eyes only snapped open when a crack in the sidewalk almost sent you toppling sideways.

@henderbeans — You pushed the gas station door open lazily and strode over to where your friend was sitting on the curb. You joined them, and you stretched your legs out across the asphalt as you took a swig of your slushie. The both of you nodded at some people that entered the store, and your friend passed you the hand-held fan as they pulled up a show to watch on their phone. And even though it was unbearably hot, you still rested your head upon their shoulder as the show began.

@jaemericano — “You cheated!” You gasped with a laugh as you threw a blueberry at your friend across the table. They only smiled sheepishly and laid down their cards, saying something about their luck as they took a bite out of an orange slice. The morning breeze kept the summer heat at bay from your porch, and your laughter mingled with it as it carried your voices down the road.

@yinxiong — You purse your lips as you watch the popcorn bag begin to expand in the microwave, taking its sweet time. Your friends ambled back and forth between the living room and the kitchen in search of snacks, and the ding of the microwave seemed to shock them to life as they hurried back to the couch. You snorted as you poured the popcorn into a bowl, and you happily settled between two of your friends as you pressed play, the blue light of the screen illuminating your faces.

@imaginedreamies — You’re dropping in at your favorite cafè quickly before you head to work. Though you keep checking your watch as you wait in line, the second you see the cashier, you can’t help but return their infectious smile. When did the smell of coffee become so potent? When did the atmosphere become so refreshing? And so as you wait for your drink to be made, you decide to ignore time and instead bask in the simplicity of it all.

@xingmis — The bell above the door of the old-fashioned candy shop rings, signaling your arrival. Children, with their parents in tow, dance between your legs as you make your way to the shelves. You pack an assortment of chocolates and candies into a bag, and the man behind the counter is dressed just like an old-timey worker. The shop feels so out-dated, so thrown back in time, that you can’t help the knowing smile that crosses your lips.