I looked at the houron the watch over the office desk: it was nearly 9 o' clock. The children would show up at 9.30 for the laboratory hour so I decided to prepare all the materials beforehand. I began pulling out gowns and gloves for the children and also sacks of soils... and then they arrived.

"Thank you for having gladly accepted our request, miss y/n" the teacher spoke to me as we greeted each other.

"The pleasure is all mine" I smiled at her and then at her students.

"Please follow me" I invited every of them and then looking at the children... "Are you all excited to learn?".

"YEEES! "they shouted out loud looking really hyped and I couldn't hold back a giggle at them;I was really pleased to have such an excited young public eager to learn about the handmade arts and for that I felt honoured that the school contacted such a young woman as I am; I didn't expect but I was grateful. And I also accepted their work to take advantage of the opportunity to see how it is to teach someone a passion of yours.

First of all I showed around my creations and they were really amazed by my talent; they complimented me and asked how I ended up with this work and I gladly told them about my life up until that very moment. They were eager to know but time was running and they couldn't spend all the morning in my shop so I started to show them how my work should be done... and they listened carefully and steps by steps they followed my instructions as I began as first modelling the materials. After I finished my vase I started helping them by mixing the soil with the water and then I let them do the rest. After all they were here to learn and make their own pots; nonetheless I helped them through the stages until every child arrived at the moment of forming balls; and it was in that moment when I heard a little girl calling for me. At first I thought she need help but she instead pointed out to the window shop.

"Miss, there is a man looking inside the shop" she told.

"He is handsome. Is he your boyfriend?" another little girl asked me and at her question I blushed madly for embarrassment.

"I'm sorry...can you wait for a moment?" I apologized to the teacher to see what that man was doing.

I cleaned my hands and then I went out...

And as I found myself myself in front of him I felt my cheeks becoming even redder than before for how handsome he was.

He was tall and looked very muscular. He had a rectangular face with some cheekbones and chubby cheeks but with such defined jaw lines that if I touched them I could cut my finger. He had a bit of stubble and his eyes were so magnetic as they were a mix of green, blue and grey; and his lightbrown short straight hair was slicked back and that hairstyle suited him very well, if not perfect. He was wearing a jeans jacket with a white under-shirt and light brown jeans and on the jacket he had a blue and opened coat with a long striped scarf around his neck.

I got lost looking at him but then I tried to compose myself.

"E-Excuse me mister" I called him stuttering like a teenager in front of her crush.

"Are you in need of something?" I asked him.

"Oh no... I was just admiring your work". He gave a genuine smile and I felt like melting down because of it.

I began playing with my hair and I couldn't stop smiling wildly like an idiot.

We both stood silent for few seconds.

"I-I am sorry but I have to return back to my work".

"Don't worry...it should be me who should apologize" he smiled again.

I turned my back to go inside but a second after I ended up facing him again.

"If you want you can come later" I suggested him with such an ease that scared me. I didn't realize that unwillingly I spoke out my thoughts to him and for that I covered my mouth.

"Around 12 is ok?".

"Y-yeah" I whispered and after greeting him I rushed inside the shop.Goddammit! What happened to me earlier? Why did I ask him to pass by later? I felt so embarrassed....

When I returned back to the children I acted like nothing actually happened and composing myself again I kept on with the laboratory.

- time passes by -

Laboratory was finished and the children thanked me so much along with their teacher before heading back to their school.

I sighed happily for the good job I did that morning and I began cleaning up the room by putting away the materials and the chairs... when the shop bell rang.

I turned my face to greet my client when I saw him again. As impulse I took a look at the hour and it was nearly midday. Oh my god, I was too absorbed into cleaning I totally forgot about the hour and about what I told him when we met before; actually I remembered but I didn't expect he would really show up.

"What an airhead I am! I am so sorry..." I tried to apologize at my best.

"I didn't expect you really would come back in my shop" I confessed him.

I cleaned my hands in my apron and then we shook our hands.

"I'm y/n. Pleasure to know you" I smiled at him.

"Christopher. The pleasure is all mine, miss". And then his powerful smile came back on his face to strike down on m ypoor heart to make me blush.

"What brings you here?" I got curious.

"I felt attracted by your shop with no particular reason" he told me while he began to take a look around; and I followed him.

"These... did you do these pots by yourself or you act as intermediary for artisans?".

"Actually I created them with my own hands and I show and sell them".

When I told him so he turned to me to look at me with an amazed expression on his face.

"Truly awesome! You are so talented!" he told out loud. "It's a rare thing seeing such a young and pretty miss like you doing such a stunning work like this".

I felt flattered by his compliment that I couldn't find words to thank him properly so I remained silent as he kept on watching and I had a bright smile on my face seeing how he was in awe.

He then looked at the hour on his watch.

"May I invite you out for lunch now? I imagine you feel hungry after that job with the children" he asked me.

"Why not?". I accepted his offer without thinking twice.

In this way I cleaned myself and changed in better clothes and after closing the shop I followed him as he lead the way to a restaurant with tables outside.

While walking by his side I could begin to feel a bit odd. He had such a familiar aura around him that I felt like him being old friends who reunited with me after long time... but he wasn't; he was a total stranger to meyet I felt like being long-time friends. It was so weird but I liked it.

Once we sat down at a table we began talking to each other about our lives and when I discovered him being an artisan like me I felt so happy; for the first time I met up with someone like me with the same work and passion of mine and unintentionally I opened up to him.

It was so spontaneous I didn't expect from myself acting like this and that scared him a bit.... well, truth to be told he didn't felt scared but surprised and he also was really glad to hear about me.

And I talked and talked. I spoke to him about my life with such an ease it surprised both of us. I never felt like this with someone but with him I was so thrilled about telling my life and work and my love for the hand-made arts without being misjudged. I felt free around him, it was lie I could trust him and I thought he sensed how I felt because from the other side of the table I saw him chuckling; and looking at him smiling I felt my heart beating fast and my eyes sparkled.

...around him I could feel at home ...

and I loved it.