Barista

'Never underestimate a woman, even if they look weak on the outside, on the inside, they have strength like no other.'

Barista, a woman who lives a happy life. She has a husband (Charlie), two beautiful daughters (Risha and Taeri), and a successful job. Although Barista's happiness is interrupted by various problems, she never gives up to achieve her success. The results of that happiness are rewarded with a variety of gifts.

This is the story of Barista, a blissful woman... is it possible?

"Mah, where's my hijab?" Taeri asked her mother in the kitchen.

Barista who was cooking answered quietly, "It's on the ironing table, sorry I forgot to tell you."

"Thank you, mom. You're the best!" Taeri hugged her mom and left.

Hehe, she could have.

"Hmm, what is this scent?" Barista's stomach felt smooth with the touch of warm hands.

"Good morning, dear. Here is asparagus soup and fried salmon fillet."

"Yum, my favorite," Charlie looked at his meal with pleasure.

"Do you prefer food or me?" The barista teased Charlie.

"Of course, you are my favorite. Always and forever. But compared to food, I'll probably take food." Charlie took a piece of salmon and ate it.

"Ugh, cheating."

After cooking breakfast for the family, they went about their respective activities. Charlie went to work and the two kids went to school, and that left Barista. She had a cool job, but her two favorite people (Risha and Taeri) didn't know what she did. Barista walked into a room that said 'warehouse', then she turned on the lights and the scent of lavender permeated the room. The room had a television, gaming equipment (computers and console games), and a cabinet filled with action figures.

Barista's job is a streamer, where she live streams every Monday through Friday. The reason Barista chose this job is that for her, being a streamer keeps people entertained and inspires others. Her good public speaking skills are also the reason why she has the ability to positively impact thousands of viewers and share advice in the form of entertainment.

I love my job.

Barista opened the wardrobe adjacent to the action figure wardrobe and picked out two shirts.

"Choose this... or this?" Barista compared the two outfits she picked out to wear.

"This one." Barista chose a black and white maid outfit, complete with pigtails and bracelets.

After changing, Barista turned on her computer and adjusted her position before starting her work. Before starting her work, Barista always begins by reciting a prayer so that her work goes smoothly. She does this from the very beginning of her working career, which serves as mental training to prepare for the interesting situation ahead.

Then she accessed the streaming site to start her work.

"Hey, hey, hey... Welcome to Barista's world! What are we doing today?" Barista greeted the audience on her computer screen.

Various comments appeared asking Barista to do various content, such as reactions, mukbang, chit chat, and many more. Not only comments regarding requests, there were also hate comments appearing. Barista ignored the hate comments. She felt that the bad comments were just to get her down mentally.

"Wow, there are a lot of comments. Let's see what content I create..."

Barista selected the comments one by one to choose from for content. After choosing for about 3 minutes, Barista chose one content, which was a chit chat about what she would do in the future.

"Okay, I'm going to talk about future plans. So, you know what? I want to give you guys some exciting news!"

'Wow, leak it! What is it?'

"Get ready, prepare yourselves that in 2 days I'm going to an anime event that will be held at Platinum Mall! Yay!!!" The barista shouted in delight while clapping her hands.

Various emojis and GIFs popped up in reaction to the fans' enthusiasm after Barista's surprise announcement.

'No way, that's so cool!'

'Wow, I can't wait! Are you going to cosplay or just visit as a regular fan?'

"Good question, I plan to cosplay and hunt for some merchandise. But... I don't know what I want to cosplay as yet. Do you have any suggestions?" Barista asked her audience for help in choosing what character she would do for the event.

'How about being your favorite anime character? Or maybe something that fits your persona?'

'Being a teacher!'

'Hot moms!'

Barista saw one such comment and felt uncomfortable. That's the risk of her job that despite earning a lot of money, she sometimes becomes a target for online harassment. Barista has to fight this kind of negativity so that she doesn't get upset and become mentally weak.

"Being a sexy mom? No, no, no. No way... I still love my identity. You guys know I'm married, so I won't do anything weird in front of my family. Including this job, hehehehe."

Barista continued searching until he found a suitable character. For Barista, the choice of a suitable character depends on her, because as a housewife, she will not just choose the character that she will do in public.

"Got it! I'll do this character, a tomboyish girl in a high school costume! Thank you for helping me choose a character!"

'Yay, you're welcome!'

'You're welcome! I wish I could attend the event in person, but I'll probably wait for the stream review. It's going to be epic!'

When Barista looked at the wall clock, it was 2pm. Risha and Taeri were going home. So, she immediately looked at the monitor, "Guys, too bad our chat time is over. Don't forget to visit my cosplay booth later! Your support means a lot to me! I'm sure I can bring a more exciting feel to the event and will tell you about it through the stream."

'Check the calendar soon! Stay safe and I can't wait!'

"Thank you so much! This is going to be the biggest bang! This is going to be an unforgettable adventure!"

Barista ended her work then shut down the computer, changed her clothes, and turned off the lights. As soon as she walked out of her room, Barista energetically changed her clothes into a new, more relaxed outfit. Her fingers ruffled her hair so there was no dust or scent of the warehouse space. The main door opened as soon as she finished that, and her two favorite children, Risha and Taeri, entered the house happily. Their eyes opened upon seeing the appearance of their mother, who just a few minutes ago, was a beautiful streamer, now looking like an ordinary human who was tired of doing household chores.

"Mom, we're home!" Risha and Taeri hugged their mother with nostalgic feelings.

"Hi, dear. You guys are so excited today, how was school?" Barista smiled despite feeling tired.

"It was good, mom. But, are you okay? You look tired," Taeri looked worried about Barista's condition.

"Well, I've been sweeping and mopping the house. Not bad, fighting germs on the floor. Maybe I need a rest after this."

When Taeri and Risha went to the bathroom, Taeri found a bracelet (an accessory worn by Baristas) lying on the floor near the 'warehouse' door. Feeling curious, Taeri picked it up and approached her mother with a curious expression.

"Mom, what is this? I found it on the floor near the warehouse door. It looks cool!"

Barista was surprised that she hadn't noticed that one of her accessories had fallen out when she was changing her clothes. Barista looked for a way to make her daughter feel less suspicious.

"Ah, that's the bracelet I used to tie my hair. Do you like it?" Barista chuckled.

"It's awesome! I love the color!" Taeri was delighted.

"You can wear it, dear. But remember, be careful. Mom bought this with great effort, don't lose it."

"Really? Thanks, mom."

Taeri wore the bracelet as a hairband, "What do you think? Is it good?"

"Good dear, it suits you perfectly. Maybe one day I'll buy it for you. Let it be a special mother-daughter time."

Taeri laughed happily and ran away from Barista, she was worried whether her secret would be discovered or not.

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That night, before she went to bed, she faced Charlie who was reading a book. The room was quiet, and the soft lamplight created a warm atmosphere.

"What's wrong, dear? You've been looking at me suspiciously," Charlie focused on his book.

"It's... normal. It's about work. You know what I do, but the kids don't. I'm scared that the kids will find out through some nonsense."

"That's not easy, considering social media can spread info quickly," Charlie sighed.

Barista nodded in agreement with Charlie's statement, "I see what you mean. It's a hard thing to control, and there's a lot of info out there that we don't know about."

Charlie thought about something, "Should I ask the kids not to access social media on school days?"

"Maybe, if we can discuss it with the kids. It's a different world. We need to find a way that the kids don't feel like we're invading their privacy."

"I agree. But that doesn't seem like something you want to talk about."

"You know where this is going, I'm actually going to an anime event in two days. I don't want the kids to come this time."

"I understand, because you definitely need me time."

"Is that okay?"

"It's okay, dear. Just be careful while you're there."

Barista hugged her husband tightly.

As the anime event approached, Barista found herself immersed in a whirlwind of excitement and preparation. Eager to fully embrace the vibrant world of anime, she gathered her cosplay outfits, arranging them meticulously and carefully. However, her enthusiasm did not go unnoticed by her curious children, who were drawn to the colorful costumes and bizarre accessories scattered across the living room.

"Where are you going? You look so ready!" Risha asked as she drank and looked around the living room at the many types of outfits.

Charlie, with a playful smile, "Oh, honey, mom has a secret project today. She's going to help some of her friends for an online event."

Risha with sparkling eyes, "Really? What kind of event, dad?"

Charlie, thinking while stomping repeatedly on the floor, "Maybe... like a virtual event, where mom will give her work tips and talents to people online."

Taeri who came over was excited, "That looks great! Can we watch it, Dad?"

Charlie chuckled, "Well, I'm afraid it's for adults, dear. But mom will tell us everything when she gets back. It's a secret project, how can you tell us right away?"

Taeri with a mysterious smile, "Secret project? Like a superhero?"

"That's right! Mom is a hero whose secrets are only known by adults. But shh, that's our little secret too," Charlie winked.

Both kids nodded with mischievous grins, relieved at the full explanation, as Barista walked out and looked back at Charlie.

Thank you, dear.

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Once she arrived at the anime event location, Barista, dressed in her normal clothes, entered with an atmosphere full of creativity and fandom. With pleasure circling her face, she wandered around the sea of enthusiastic visitors to find her cosplay booth designated by the organizer. Setting up her display with care and flair, Barista arranges her carefully crafted collection of costumes and accessories. As she adorned her booth with eye-catching banners, fans began to gather, drawn in by her incredible detail and craftsmanship. Engaging in lively conversation, Barista shares stories about her cosplay journey, leaving a trail of curious fans eager to explore her creations.

As Barista stood proudly beside her cosplay booth, adorned with her fans, she couldn't contain her excitement as a group of very enthusiastic fans approached her.

"Oh wow! I've been following your stream online for a long time! Your attention to the details of the costumes is amazing!" One fan expressed excitedly.

"Thank you very much! I'm happy to meet you all too. What's one of your favorite cosplays?" Barista smiled at the praise from her fans.

"I can't decide; they're all awesome! Hey, did you sell any of the costumes?"

Barista nodded while showing the costumes she had brought, "Of course! I have several creations that you guys can buy. Is there a specific one you're interested in?"

"I've been eyeing that amazing outfit you wore at last year's event. The one inspired by the RPG game. Can I buy it?"

Barista nodded while looking for the outfit in question, "I'm so glad you like it. That outfit is available. I'll give you my signed photocard."

The fan whispered excitedly to his friend, "This is an amazing dream! I never imagined it would be like this!"

As fans happily perused the costume options, Barista found herself not only sharing her passion, but also making new connections with those who admire her work. The event was full of excitement, as Barista began new friendships through a shared love of cosplay.

Unbeknownst to Barista, Risha and Taeri visited the event after forcing their father. As Risha and Taeri (leaving their father in place) stealthily made their way through the crowded hallways of the convention, they felt a sense of betrayal lingering in the air. They saw a figure they recognized speaking with several people.

"Risha, I don't believe this, but I'm pretty sure the person right there is Mom. And look at the posters above, she's also a streamer!" Taeri whispered to Risha.

Risha squinted, "It does look like Mom, but this can't be. Why did Mom keep this a secret from us?"

"I don't know, but we have to trust our instincts. It's her, Risha. We have to talk to her," Taeri was confused.

Risha felt nervous, "What if we have the wrong person, Taeri? What if it was just someone who looked like her?"

Taeri is determined to find answers, "I can feel it. We have to find out the truth. Let's approach her and see what happens."

As Risha and Taeri cautiously approached the cosplay stand, their hearts pounded with uncertainty, each step echoing the tense atmosphere surrounding the revelation they were about to face. The siblings struggle with conflicting emotions, torn between their instinctive certainty and the unsettling idea that their mother has hidden an important part of her life from them.

The tension between discovery and secrecy weighs heavily on the sisters as they secretly observe their mother's interactions at the lively cosplay stand, unsure of how to deal with the hidden truth that has just been revealed. The convention becomes a battleground of conflicting emotions, with anticipation leading to confrontations that have the potential to reshape family dynamics.

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Barista, in the midst of interacting with fans at her cosplay stand, spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Her eyes were shocked when she saw her husband, Charlie, walking towards her cosplay stand. The tension increased as she tried to remain calm.

Oh no, Charlie is here. Why is he at the event?

Charlie approached with a shy smile, catching the Barista off guard.

"Hey, darling. I'm here because they insisted on coming. I'm sorry," Charlie lowered his head in apology.

Barista, trying to keep her composure, responded with a forced smile.

"It's okay, and I'm sorry too. Where are they now?"

Charlie frantically looked through the crowded anime event halls, his worry increasing when he couldn't find Risha and Taeri amidst the sea of colorful costumes and excited visitors.

"Risha? Taeri? Where are you?" Charlie called their names nervously.

He looked at the Barista's face, "It looks like they disappeared."

They quickened their pace, darting through the crowd, their eyes searching for any sign of the children.

"Risha! Taeri! Please, where are you guys?" Charlie called their names loudly.

The worry in his voice echoed throughout the crowded hall, creating an eerie backdrop to the otherwise festive atmosphere of the event. A knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach as he realized he had lost them in the maze that stretched inside the convention. Concern etched on his face, he approached Barista, hoping to help her find their missing children.

As the anime convention pulses with energy, Barista and Charlie, now filled with worry, frantically slice through the crowd in search of Risha and Taeri. Anxiety etched on their faces, they called out their children's names, their voices blending into the various excited conversations and echoing throughout the convention hall. The colorful costumes that previously made Barista's happy now seem to obscure the path to finding their missing children. Each passing moment increased the intensity of their worries, turning the convention into a maze of uncertainty. Barista and Charlie's shared concerns forge a bond in their efforts to reunite their family amidst the chaos of the event.

Barista and Charlie returned to the Barista cosplay stand empty-handed and when they arrived, they were relieved to find their two children, Risha and Taeri, talking with the fans. When they saw the two sisters passionately interacting with fans and enjoying the intricacies of their mother's work, the worry lines on their faces changed.

"Risha! Taeri! Where have you two been? We looked around and couldn't find you!" Charlie approached Risha and Taeri.

Taeri saw the Barista wearing a costume, where she remembered the incident a few days ago, feeling a little disappointed, "Mother, is it true? Is mom a streamer?"

I expected it to be like this.

Barista nodded hesitantly, "Yes, honey. I don't mean to hide from you, but..."

"How is that possible, mom? Mom never talks to us! We finally found out, but not at home, but at an anime event," Taeri didn't expect her mother to betray her two children.

"I know this is hard for you, and I should have said it sooner. I just don't want it to change the way you see me."

"It felt like Mom was living a secret life. I thought I could trust you.," Taeri's words made Barista's chest pierced.

You only see me as a mother figure, as someone you love. This is not what I want.

Barista bent down and hugged Taeri while whispering, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Taeri. I just want to follow my passion without affecting our relationship."

Taeri hugged her mother a little annoyed, "Well, that did affect our relationship in the beginning! We feel like we don't know who Mother really is."

"I understand you are disappointed, and I apologize for not talking about this in front of you. Next time, no more playing with secrets.," Barista swallowed all the truth she had told to her two children.

Charlie felt relieved that Barista's problem was over, then he looked at Risha and Taeri, "What do you think about this anime event?"

Taeri chuckled, "Mother, father! You won't believe it, there are lots of cosplayers and merchandise collected here! This is like a real dream!"

"And they also have a gaming zone with new games. I'll start visiting here!" Risha feels proud to discover her new charm.

"We are relieved that you are safe. Next time, tell me first where you're going, okay?" Charlie reprimanded them gently.

Taeri and Risha looked down, "Sorry, father and mother. We are too excited about this anime event and we promise to be more careful. But can we take a walk around again before we go home?"

Barista smiled, "Yes, as long as you don't separate from us. And don't run away!"

"Okay, go play, but remember, we'll wait here. And this time, no magic!"

Barista and her family continued to enjoy the anime event together, with feelings of relief and joy.

End.