I kinda knew it
So, today I found out that Starbucks was releasing new models. 🌟 I stumbled upon a pic of a paper bag filled with Young Playmobil figures on a forum I frequent. Wasn’t planning on buying, but I thought I should at least swing by Starbucks to check them out, even if it meant a detour in the morning. The sneak peek only showed the box side, making me super curious about what they actually looked like. But who would’ve guessed it would all fall into place like misaligned gears in an old clock? – Ttick – just like that. 🤔
Got totally lost in Lee Si-young’s YouTube channel, it was so entertaining I couldn’t stop. 🎥 But everything was still cool, right? Unless I had forgotten my gloves, maybe I could’ve snagged a ‘Tea Sommelier Roy’ before starting my day. The local Starbucks? It’s basically deserted in the mornings. ☕
I rushed to the subway and spent the whole day in a blur. By the time I was walking home in the evening, I had no clue about anything. You know those days when you just want to take the quietest path home? Today was that kind of day. I couldn’t bear to see another shop window or even the store clerks. So, I turned into the dark sidewalk, the one that’s always empty in the evening. No idea why, it just always is. 🌙
Just before you hit the elementary school’s main gate, there’s a Starbucks on the left. It’s not tiny, but it’s tucked behind the flowerbeds so you might miss it if you’re not looking. Today, though, I did a double-take. That green Starbucks logo reminded me of the special edition Playmobil figures. 🎁
‘Sorry, we only have ‘Barista Joy’ and ‘Coffee Master Jun’ right now.’
Until then, all I knew was it was some Young Playmobil stuff. Didn’t expect them to have such detailed backstories and names. There was a mountain of ‘Barista Joy’ boxes piled in front of the register. Guess she wasn’t that popular? 🤷♀️
‘Do you have Coffee Master Jun? Can’t see him here…’
The clerk fumbled below and handed me a Coffee Master Jun box. ‘Here you go.’
In his black apron, Coffee Master Jun looked more like a firefighter than a barista. 🔥
‘Anything else released today?’
‘Tea Sommelier Roy is all sold out, sorry.’
I had never even heard of ‘Roy’ until just now. But suddenly, it felt like I’d been yearning for Tea Sommelier Roy all day. Funny, isn’t it? Wanting something you can’t have. Roy is just that kind of thing. Then, my eyes drifted back to ‘Barista Joy’.
‘Why so many Joys here?’
‘Joy was released last week, and we got a lot of stock.’
‘Not because she wasn’t selling?’
Silence.
I felt kinda bad for Barista Joy. She wasn’t annoying or weird-looking. Just your typical green apron Starbucks barista. ☕ And then I realized, she was dressed just like the clerk helping me. Suddenly, the clerk seemed sad too, her eyes silently pleading, ‘Please, buy her… Why not? Do you not like the underdog?’ I made up my mind and softly said, ‘I’ll take a Barista Joy.’
‘Sure thing!’ she responded, maybe more cheerfully than I’d imagined. Back home, I opened the box, snapped a few quick shots. Took me about twenty minutes, and I probably spent fifteen just balancing a seal on a gorilla. ‘What am I doing with my life?’ I thought for a good ten minutes. Then, I tucked Barista Joy into my desk drawer. 📦
Why did I even buy this? And since I bought coffee at night, I’m not sleeping tonight either. Typical me. 🌜
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