#and last sem practical was so good

[what-the-stories-have-foretold]

If it'll be like the practice exam I'll pass and even do better than last semester.

[thebigqueer]

anuway good news is i have definitely improved on my dacnign this sem

[iwaoiness]

Iwaizumi, leaning against one of the barriers separating the stands from the rink, just a few meters away, smiles in amusement when a staff member stops Oikawa in front of the advertisement panel, where a group of eager journalists from various international sports outlets are waiting. Tooru hands over his water bottle after taking one last hurried sip and flashes them a bright, radiant smile before greeting them.

Then the round of questions begins, and Oikawa, with his hands behind his strong back and his tempting hips slightly tilted into his most comfortable stance, lets his tongue take the lead. He answers everything with charm and ease, drawing out a few collective laughs and subtly sidestepping the more personal questions so smoothly it's almost imperceptible. But the best part—the most amusing thing that will never cease to fascinate Iwaizumi no matter how many years go by—is the way Tooru switches between languages effortlessly, without the slightest hesitation.

When they speak to him in Spanish, Oikawa responds in nearly native Spanish, complete with his little filler words, that distinct "sh" sound, his melodic intonation, his voice a bit deeper. When they speak in English, Oikawa replies in smooth English, only tripping over the more complex words, slipping in some Californian slang, his voice a bit higher. When they speak in Portuguese (to many people's surprise), Oikawa answers in playful, cheerful Portuguese, a tone that matches his grin too well, leaning on his Spanish when he can’t find the right words, his voice soft. And when they switch to Japanese, Oikawa responds with a fluency that's one of a kind, his tone shifting into something that feels like coming home after months away, his tongue rejoicing in finally using those words from his native language that just don’t have the right weight in other tongues, his voice genuine.

Nearly fifteen minutes later, the session wraps up despite some mild protests from the journalists, and Oikawa bids them farewell with heartfelt gratitude. Hajime straightens up, never missing how Tooru looks for him with his eyes, how his slight pout melts into a sweet smile and a twinkle in his gaze when he finds him.

Damn it, he loves him so fucking much.

“Iwa-chan!” Oikawa jogs over, arms already outstretched to wrap around his neck in a warm hug, which Hajime quickly returns, his own arms finding their place around Tooru’s waist.

“Hey, babe. Good job today.” He places a soft kiss on Oikawa’s neck, near his jugular.

“Did you catch the whole interview?”

“Of course, mister it-was-a-very-intense-matcha.”

“That was just a slip-up, Iwa-chan! You’re so mean! Match and matcha sound really similar!” Oikawa protests childishly, lifting his face to pout at him under his messy bangs.

Iwaizumi grins playfully, pulling one hand away to reach into his pants pocket, where a ripe banana is sticking out. Oikawa’s eyes light up when Hajime hands it to him, and he snatches it immediately.

“I disagree, Iwa-chan is the best!” Oikawa self-corrects, practically moaning as he takes the first bite after peeling it with the hunger of a pro player who’s just played four hard-fought sets in the VNL quarterfinals.

Hajime rolls his eyes in amusement, watching him fondly, Oikawa’s voice still echoing in his mind like a mantra in four different languages: Go shitsumon arigatōgozaimasu, jitsuwa kono gēmude wa…", "No sentí que Matías estuviera en baja forma, solo que estaba boludeando demasiado en el primer set, de hecho…", "If I had to decide which set was more intense, I’d definitely say the second one—did you see that 6’7” opposite hitter who came in mid-set? And don’t even get me started on...", "O melhor momento sem dúvida foi quando chegou a vez do Lucar sacar, ele tentou um saque para cima e o idiota achou que tinha acertado a bola em um ângulo bom, mas ele bateu direto na cabeça dele. Ah, e também quando..."

“You know,” Hajime says, catching Oikawa’s attention as he chews, his right cheek bulging, “the way you speak so many languages and switch so easily is pretty hot.”

Just two seconds later, Iwaizumi regrets those words deeply when Tooru blinks at him, wide-eyed, before a mischievous smile spreads across his face, his eyes narrowing playfully. Hajime’s cheeks flush instantly because he knows that fucking smirk all too well, and damn the moment I opened my stupid mouth.

“Ara, ara, Hajime-chan! I didn’t know you had that kind of kink!”

“It’s not a kink,” Iwaizumi mutters through clenched teeth, glaring at him with burning cheeks.

“There’s no need to be so shy, my little big boy!” Oikawa widens his smile and tilts his head slightly, blinking in that way that makes Hajime’s pants feel suddenly tighter. “I can moan for you in four different languages when we’re in bed,” he assures, his voice low, gravelly, and damn tempting as he slowly bites off another piece of the banana, never once breaking eye contact with Iwaizumi, who feels his throat suddenly go dry.

And, oh.

Oh, shit. Merda. Kuso. Mierda.

...

maybe i'll post this on ao3 cuz its so so so funny

u can fine me on my ao3 and this is my carrd 🍉

[wonumatics]

✰ wonwoo x gn. reader ; fluff ; 0.6k

Wonwoo's blue full-sleeved shirt was curry-stain free and worn the proper way. He smells of freshly washed linen and breath mints. The weather is perfect, warm rays of sunshine spreading across a cloudless sky (he carried an umbrella nonetheless).

So far so good. Grade B, even.

Today is the day Wonwoo would try and catch the seat next to you in the Environmental Technology elective you both took. Maybe strike a colloquy with you on environmental toxicology. Maybe even exchange numbers.

“You’ve been saying the same thing for the past three weeks.”

“But-” Wonwoo stops, frowning at the notification on his phone. Soonyoung glances over his shoulder to take a look. The former sighs. The latter doesn’t bother to conceal his laugh.

Wonwoo had run a lot of scenarios through his head, finding appropriate solutions for each case. Nothing however would have prepared him for the class getting cancelled today.

“On the brighter side, you can practice your pick up lines on yourself for another day.” Soonyoung clears his throat to match Wonwoo's voice, “are you a data type? because you float inside my mind.”

Soonyoung sidesteps, avoiding the jab coming his way. He backpedals away, mouthing better luck next time as he leaves for his next class before the “Shut up.” leaves Wonwoo's lips.

And that’s how he ends up in the library, trying to finish his assignment for the OOP using Java bridge course. The key word is trying; there’s only so much freecodecamp.org can help with. He twirls his pencil around his thumb. Today was a failure. Maybe he should quit this and visit that new boba place instead.

“Hey, Wonwoo.”

The pencil falls from his hand and onto the floor. Wonwoo looks up to face you. Milliseconds pass by as he digests the fact that you did, indeed, call him.

He likes the sound of his name on your lips.

You pick his pencil up for him, a smile adorning your face as you continue, "I'm-

-(name)”, fuck, what happened to his lower register? “I've seen you around. We share the environmental technology class.”

It all comes out at a pace too fast for his liking, but you nod along. Wonwoo takes his pencil from your outstretched hand, mumbling thanks and trying not to hyperfixate on how his fingers would've brushed yours had he moved them a little closer. Cerise colours his ears at the thought.

You glance at the material strewn across the table, recognition flashing across your face. "I took this course last sem." Your eyes shift to his laptop's screen, which currently flashes a runtime error.

Of all times, why now?

He follows your gaze, feeling sheepish. "Well, this course is not for the weak."

You snort in agreement. "So, want some help debugging?"

"Oh please."

Wonwoo knew he should be paying attention to what you were doing but trying not to hyperfixate is easier said than done. '(name) pulled a chair right next to you to help you', chanted a little voice in the back of his head. From the spark in your eyes and the furrow of your eyebrows to the shade of your currently pursed lips, he couldn't help but notice it all.

This is nice.

"I'm done."

Wonwoo blinks. Already? He looks at the screen and then at you in awe. "That was really fast. Thank you."

Your smile widens. You move your chair and sling your bag over your shoulder, getting ready to leave. "Let me know if you need help with anything else."

It was now or never.

"Are you free for a boba run? it's on me."

One second. Two. Three. He shouldn't have-

-sure. Should we check out the new place downtown?"

"Yes." Yes, anything you say. He stuffs his bag with his books.

Maybe, today deserves a solid grade A.

[my-castles-crumbling]

Hi Cas,

So I just found out that you're a teacher and I have been struggling with school quite a lot lately so i could really use some advice.

Let me give u some background context, before COVID I used to be a straight A student, in like all subjects except maths ( i used to get Bs , which was kinda ok).

But during covid, I like stopped studying as hard as I used to which has a very bad effect on my academics now that I've returned to school.

My studying capacity has really reduced and i really really struggled to maintain a good GPA in these previous academic years. ( i passed my mind sem exam by 2%) And now I'm going to start a new academic session (bcoz the next 2 academic sessions r literally one of the most important years of my education) and I need to get my shit together, I did some self reflection and have realised that I waste a lot of time on my phone & laptop and even when I'm not using them i just waste a lot of time but just lying in bed and doing nothing.

I just finished a semester with a very stressful period of exams and have some free time on my hands (like 15 days ig), and I really want to use this time fruitfully.

So as a teacher, what do you suggest I do?

p.s- thank you so much for listening to all our problems and giving advice, you're like a guardian angel and i really appreciate what you're doing. ♥️♥️

Hi hon!

First, I think it's amazing that you're reflecting and wanting to do better, especially at your age. It's difficult to make those realizations, you know?

Also, I want you to know that you are absolutely not alone. SO many people are struggling after covid.

I think the biggest things to put in place, especially as school gets tougher (which is natural as you get older) are strong study habits, organization, and time management. You can't always control the difficulty of classes, but you CAN control how you deal with that.

So, over the next few weeks, I'd suggest taking some time to first, get yourself organized. If you don't already have one, come up with a system that works to keep all your books, notes, assignments, etc in order. And then STICK to it.

Next, practice some different ways of time management. Do you work better with lists or a planner? Alarms on your phone? Rewarding yourself after every twenty minutes of work with a Tumblr break, or just getting the whole assignment done at once? Reflect on how you manage your time best and make sure those systems are put in place before classes start. Then, STICK to them.

Last, reflect on your study habits. What's the best way for you to study? Do you prefer to read information? Rewrite it in notes? Say it aloud? Make flashcards? Some other way? If you're not sure, try each one. Knowing the best way to study for YOU will help you later when you have tests so you're not wasting time making flashcards if you really benefit more by reading.

Once you figure all this out, make sure to stick to it. Even when it sucks. Because if you do, you won't get as overwhelmed when things start to get tougher. I'll be honest with you, I literally started using a time management strategy I hadn't used since high school just the other day because I had so many things going on and it was SO helpful!

Remember, you've got this! I believe in you!

(Also I am naming you student anon in case you want to write again!)

[orangeinecstasy]

creative writing ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟelijah hewson

paring: eli x fem!oc

summary: meeting eli in s creative writing class.

a/n: wanted to experiment with writing something from the guy's povs so here we go! lmk if you guys would want a part two for this or maybe other stuff from the guy's povs.

wc: 3.8 k

*reblogs, notes, and feedback are greatly appreciated!!

"What do you have for your last class again?" Robert said, leaning against the lockers as I shut my own. I look down at my schedule, eyes scanning it.

"Uhh, creative writing with Mr. Smith," I push a hand through my hair, a nervous habit I had picked up in the past few months.

"Good luck with that one, lad. I heard he's a real dick," he patted my shoulder gently as we made our way down the crowded hall. Sighing, I glance down at my schedule again, trying to pretend I was happy with my class pick.

"I just need this year to be fucking over so that I don't have to worry about this shit anymore," I shove my schedule into one of my notebooks, hoping that it'll magically change as it's pressed between my physics notes. I glance down at my watch. "Shit, I'm going to be late. I'll see you a practice today," I said before spilling off from Robert.

"Good luck!" He yells as I sprint down the hallway, entering the class just before the bell rings.

"Good timing, Mr. Hewson," Mr. Smith, a man in his late forties wearing a tweed blazer and glasses that are slightly too small for his face, says as he stands behind the podium in the middle of the room. I flash him an awkward smile before looking around the room and finding an empty seat next to the windows overlooking the courtyard. 

The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Mr. Smith cleared his throat as he straightened his posture. "Good afternoon, everyone. As most of you know, I'm Mr. Smith. Welcome to your senior writing sem-" His words were cut off by a knock at the door. He looked over, slightly annoyed to be interrupted to see the headmaster with a girl my age, with brown curly hair and the same blue uniform that all the other girls wore, standing next to him.

"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Smith. This is Clara Anderson. She's new to our school," He said, resting his hand on her shoulder, I'm guessing to comfort her. "That's fine," he said, looking over his glasses at her. "You can sit next to Elijah Hewson. Mr. Hewson, please raise your hand," I did as told, my eye's following her as she sat down next to me.

"Hi," she whispered with a small smile, the American accent surprising me slightly. "Hey," I said, returning the smile as Mr. Smith started rambling again.

I look out the window, mindlessly watching the rain fall as I sit in Mr. Smith's class again. We had been in school for a few months, and the class hadn't become more enjoyable. The only thing that made the class even somewhat bearable was Clara. Though we didn't talk a ton, it was nice when we chatted occasionally.

I discovered that her parents had moved here from America because her Dad did something with international relations, and she had a younger brother named Jonah. We talked about music some, and I told her about the band that I was in. Yeah, I was trying to impress her, but who wouldn't when you're talking to a beautiful girl. I was snapped out of my daydreaming by hearing my name being called.

"Huh, yeah?" I said, eyes quickly flashing from the window to Mr. Smith. 

"Are you ready to present your poetry assignment?" he said clearly unamused, eyebrow cocked as he and the rest of the room looked over at me. 

"Uhh..." I stammered, knowing that I had totally forgotten about the assignment. 

"Do you mind if I present Mr. Smith?" Clara said, in the mists of unpreparedness. 

He rolled his eyes. "If you must," He said, moving away from the podium so she could present. 

She grabbed her notebook and walked to the podium. Her curls fell over her shoulder as she flipped her notebook open, hands gripping it nervously. "This one is called Summer," she quickly pushed her hair behind her shoulder before starting to read. 

Everyone always told me that summer love never lasts

But my heart yearned

It craved that feeling

So I didn't listen

Then I met you

Bright smile, blond hair, eyes that crinkled when you laugh

So I gave in

But now

As the weather grows colder

Blossoming falling

Leaves changing 

I can feel your hands grow cold as I grip them tighter 

Trying to hold onto something 

Trying to hold onto you

But then you pulled away 

Leaving me surrounded by the falling leaves 

As I wished that I could just go back to that summer

She paused for a moment after reading her pome before shutting her notebook. "Thank you," she smiled gently, the class clapping loudly as she returned to her seat beside me.

"You really saved my ass. Thank you," I whispered, leaning over so she could hear me clearly. "Yeah, it's no problem," she smiled, her cheeks pricking with a slight blush. I nod, smiling. 

The bell chimed, causing everyone to gather their stuff and leave the classroom, excited to go home and experience the weekend. "Hey, Clara!" I yelled, causing the girl to stop in the middle of the hallway.

"Yeah?" she said as I caught up, fingers running through my hair. "Are you doing anything tonight?" I asked.

"Hmm, I don't think so. Why?" she asked as we stared down the hallway together.

"Well, you know that band I'm in? We're playing a show at one of my friend's parties, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?" I said, messing. With the rings of one of the notebooks I was carrying.

"Yeah, I'd be down," she smiled, nodding. "Here, just text me the details," she grabbed the pen clipped to one of her notebooks, grabbed my hand, and wrote down her number.

"I'll see ya tonight," she said with a slight wave before walking off.

"Yeah, see you then," I said quickly before staring down at my hand where she had written. 

"Eli, you haven't stopped checking your phone for the last thirty minutes. So what is going on?" Rob said as he sat on the couch next to me.

"Sorry, I guess I'm just kind of out of it," I shove my phone back into my pocket, leaning into the plush leather couch.

"It's probably that American girl, Clara, or whatever her name is," Ryan said as he walked into the room, cracking open a can of soda.

"Oooh, do you have a thing for her now or something?" Rob said with a smirk, nudging me with his elbow. My hands ran over my face, causing the sigh that escaped through my lips to be slightly muffled.

"I don't know. She might be coming to the show tonight, but she hasn't texted me back, and I'm just ugh," I huff, rubbing my hands on my jeans.

"I'm sure she's just busy. I wouldn't worry about it," Josh said as he kicked his feet up on the coffee table. He was always so positive, and usually, it was nice, but this time it was slightly annoying.

"Yeah, yeah," I said before feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket. Quickly, I pull my phone out of my pocket, and a text notification from Clara appears on my screen. 

Thanks! Can't wait to see you play tonight. Tell the guys good luck for me :)

I smiled down at my phone as my fingers moved across the keys, responding with a simple, Will do

"Was that her?" Robert said, leaning over to look at my phone. I nod, a bright smile on my face. "She's coming, lads. We need to perform better than we ever have." The guys cheered, Ryan and Josh crashing their soda cans together in celebration. 

The music from the speakers caused the floor underneath me to vibrate as I pushed through the crowd to get to the drinks. As I made my way over, I saw Clara, out of that familiar blue uniform and instead in blue jeans and a white off-the-shoulder top that exposed her collarbones.

"Hey, Clara," I said as I pulled a Heineken from one of the coolers. "Hey!" she smiled, using a bottle opener to remove the cap. "Enjoying the party?" I said, reaching into the cooler to grab my own beer, the cool green bottle pressing against my skin. She shrugs,

"Yeah, I'm here with some friends, so that's nice." She sips her drink. "When do you go on?" she hands me the bottle cap opener. "In a couple of minutes. I'm kind of nervous," I chuckle weakly, opening my beer and taking a swig. She touched my shoulder gently, that beautiful smile still on her lips.

"You're going to do great," she said before looking past me momentarily. "Shit, my friends are calling me. I promise I'll be watching. Good luck," she squeezes my shoulder, kissing my cheek softly before walking back into the crowd. I turned to watch her as she walked away, my heart skipping a beat as my hand reached up to touch my cheek. 

I shake my head slightly, pushing through the crowd again to find the lads. "Eli, there you are. Fuck. We're on in two minutes," Ryan said, fiddling with the drumsticks.

"Sorry, I was just getting a drink," I hold up the Heineken, taking a long swig before setting it down on some random table. I wipe the sweat from the bottle on my jeans before slipping my guitar strap over my shoulders.

"Hey guys, you ready?" Jack, our friend hosting the party, said. "Yep," I said, grabbing a guitar pick from my pocket. 

Jack steps onto the makeshift stage, tapping the mike gently to see if it was turned on. "Hey everyone, how are we feeling tonight?" The crowd cheered in response, some people lifting their drinks into the air. "That's what I'm talking about! Now, I'd like to introduce you to my good friends. Please give a big round of applause for Inhaler!" He steps away from the mike, clapping as the lads and I walk on stage.

"Thanks, Jack," I say, plugging the amp into my guitar. "Hey guys, we're Inhaler. This song is called I Want You. Hope you enjoy," I strum the guitar, ensuring it is still in tune before looking over at Robert and Josh, both nodding that they're ready. I take a deep breath, looking out into the crowd and seeing Clara beautiful as ever. She gives me a small wave and a smile that I return before starting the set. 

Once our set was finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. "Thanks, everybody. Enjoy the rest of the party," I unplug the amp from my guitar, giving the crowd a small wave before leaving the stage. "That was fucking amazing! They loved us!" Robert said, wrapping his arm around Josh's shoulder, a goofy grin on his face.

"Yeah, great job, guys," I smile, setting my guitar back into its case. My hands push through my hair as my eyes scan the crowd, quickly finding Clara. "I'll catch up with you guys later," I move past Rob and into the crowd.

"You were fucking amazing!" Clara yelled over the music. "Thanks! I'm going out for a smoke. Want to come?" I leaned down, hoping it would allow her to hear me clearly. She nods. "Yeah, sure!" I take her hand, allowing us to wave through people so as not to get separated.

I take a deep breath as we set out into the night's cool air, the deck empty as I lean against its railing, quickly lighting a cigarette. "She's so beautiful," Clara said, looking at the sky. The bright moon cast light onto her skin, giving it a soft glow. "Yeah, she is," my eyes didn't leave her.

"Did you write that first song you played?" She turned to me, leaning slightly against the deck's railing. "Yeah, the lads and I write everything together," I take a long drag from the cigarette.

"Want a drag?" I say, holding it out to her. "Fuck it," she shrugs, inhaling deeply, causing her to cough as the smoke leaves her lips. I laugh, taking the cigarette back. "First time?" she nods, her coughing slowly subduing.

"Yeah, it's kinda taboo in America," she fiddles with her beer bottle, a phone chiming and cutting through the silence. Clara pulled her phone out of her pocket, reading something on her screen.

"Shit, I've got to head home. I really enjoyed tonight. Thanks for inviting me," she smiled gently. "I can drive you home if you'd like," I said, stubbing out my cigarette. "That'd actually be super helpful," she slipped her phone back into her pocket. "It's just out front," I motioned towards the driveway. 

The car's top was down, and the cold night air pushed into the car. Clara's eyes were again fixed on the starlit sky above as we drove through the dark countryside, slowly returning to the city. It was quiet the whole ride, but it wasn't awkward. There was something almost comforting about just being with her. I parked in her driveway, shutting off the car.

"Thanks for the ride," her hand ran through her windswept hair, trying to push it back into its regular position.

"It's no problem at all," I smile, focusing, moving from her eyes to her lips, then back again. The space between them got smaller as she leaned in. I sucked in a breath as her eyes moved to my lips before looking at me. I leaned in, kissing her gently. She smiled into the kiss, soft lips melting into mine. I blushed as she pulled away, a small laugh leaving her lips.

"I'll see you on Monday," she said as she exited the car.

"See you" I responded faintly.

I waited in the noisy airport, families, school groups, and corporate workers passing me as I stood outside the arrivals gate. Clara was finally coming back from America after visiting her family.

Even after her family had moved back, she decided to stay in Ireland and attend university here. Though I told her I would support her no matter what, I was happy that she decided to stay. But that was a couple of years ago now that she was about to graduate from university. 

"Where is she?" I mumble, looking down at my phone to make sure I had the right gate. "ELIJAH!!!" I heard a familiar voice scream. Looking up, I see Clara running towards me. I wrap my arms around her tightly as she reaches me, picking her up and spinning her around.

"I missed you," I say as her sweet scent consumes me. "I missed you too! Ugh, it's so great to be back. You don't understand. Well, I guess you kinda do now. Don't ya, rockstar?" she nudges me gently, causing me to laugh as I take her suitcase.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I shrug, the two of us making our way out of the airport, Clara talking about all the family drama she found out when she was back in the States. 

"Surprise!" the lads and some of our other friends said as Clara entered my apartment, setting off party poppers that scattered confetti into the air. "Awe, guys, you're so sweet," Clara says, her face bright with happiness.

"I missed you so much, lovey," Lizzy, Clara's best friend, says as she hugs her tightly. "I missed you too," she hugged, greeting everyone else before settling on the couch beside Ryan. "I'm fucking exhausted, guys," she sighed, leaning back into the couch.

"That's a shame. I guess you won't want to go to the party tonight," Robert says, knowing that it would only push her to go. "Rob, seriously," I say, slightly annoyed.

"Party?" Clara perked up, her eyebrow raising. "I can always go to a party," Rob looked over at me, a pleased smile on his face. "See Eli, she wants to go!" he motions in her direction, his smile growing. I clear my throat, clasping my hands together.

"One of our friends is throwing a party tonight. I wasn't going to tell you because I knew you'd just be back, But Robert," I look over at him, jaw clenching slightly, "has now broken the news," his arm wraps around my shoulder, pulling me into him.

"Oh, come on, Eli. She's an adult. She can make her own decisions. Can't you, Clara?"

She laughs, nodding, "Of course, I can." 

"Clara, you ready?" I say as I slip on my shoes, glancing in the mirror to ensure I look decent. "Yeah!" she says as she walks into the living room, her more casual airport outfit replaced by a black mini skirt and a small graphic t-shirt. "Is this okay?" she did a little spin, allowing me to take in all of her. I swallow hard before responding. "Yeah, you look great," I smile. 

The party was already crowded by the time we got there, pushing our way into the apartment. "I'm going to go get a drink," Clara yelled over the music. I nodded in response before she walked into the crowd. I wandered around momentarily until I finally found Ryan and Josh sitting on a couch, smoking a joint.

"Hey, lads," I settle myself on the armrest of the couch. "Want some?" Ryan holds out the joint to me, smoke slipping from his lips. I shake my head, "I'm good," he nods, handing it back to Josh. 

"How are you feeling? Still going to tell her?" 

I shrug, fiddling with one of the rings. "I don't know. I just don't want to fuck our friendship up," I sign, hand brushing through my hair. 

"If you don't do it not, you'll never do it," Josh said, taking the puff of the joint as its light fizzled out between his fingers. 

"We'll just see what happens." 

Clara appeared from the crowd, making her way in our direction. "Hey guys!" her smile was brighter than usual. "Eli," she says, handing a beer out to me. "Thanks," she hums, sipping her beer as I grab mine from her hand.

"I missed this. I missed you guys. You don't know how fucking happy I am to be back," a small laugh followed her words, the dim lighting casting beautiful shadows across her face.

"We're happy to have you back. Especially this one," Ryan says, hand coming down hard on my thigh. I could feel the heat creep up in my face.

"What can I say? I'm enchanting," she flipped her hair jokingly. Even though she was joking, it was true. 

We talked for a little longer until the song changed to Lets Go To Bed by The Cure, causing Clara's eyes to light up. "OH MY GOD, I FUCKING LOVE THIS SONG!" she set her beer down on the table next to me. "Eli, come on, you have to dance with me!"

I shake my head smiling. "I'm good. You have fun, though," I say, gesturing to the crowd of people dancing. "Boring," she rolled her eyes playfully, smile still on her lips before going out to dance. 

I take a long drink from my beer before standing and telling the guys I am going out for a smoke. I stepped outside into the cold night, watching the cars below pass as I lit my cigarette. I was getting in my head too much. I just had to do it. I had to tell her, but something was holding me back. I take a long drag from a cigarette, holding the smoke in my lungs until it burns slightly, then letting it drift from my lips.

God, you're such a fucking pussy, Elijah. You could have any girl you wanted in the tenth of a second, but you're too scared to ask the girl you've been in love with for years? Fuck this. I take another long drag from the cigarette before stubbing it out on the metal railing, walking back into the apartment, determined to confess my feelings to Clara finally. 

I move through the crow of people, eyes moving along people's faces as I try to find her. Finally, I spot her in the corner of the room, another beer in her hand, as some guy leans down, saying something in her heart that causes her to laugh. My jaw clenches tightly as I make my wave over.

"Hey Clara," my arm slips around her waist, pulling her close. "Hey!" her arm wraps around my shoulder. "Mark, this is Eli. Eli, this is Mark" My eyes scan him for a moment. "Nice to meet you," he says with a smile. I nod my head, giving a slight hum in response.

"Can I talk to you outside for a minute?" I whisper in Clara's ear, causing her eyebrow to raise. "Do you think you can wait a sec?" she says, glancing at Mark. "It's kind of important," Mark clears his throat, rubbing his nape.

"I'm going to go. But I'll see you later, yeah?" Clara eye's cut in my direction for a moment, a smile quickly returning to her face as she responds. "Yeah, definitely!" 

"Eli, you totally fucking cockblocked me back there," he says with a smile. I nod my head, giving a slight hum in 0talk to you outside for a minute?" I whisper in Clara's ear, causing her eyebrow to raise. "Do you think you can wait a sec?" she says, glancing at Mark. "It's kind of important," Mark clears his throat, rubbing his nape.

"I'm going to go. But I'll see you later, yeah?" Clara eye's cut in my direction for a moment, a smile quickly returning to her lips. "Yeah," Mark responds with a nod.  

"Oh, excuse me. Mark looked so fucking ravishing. I was getting turned on for you," I say as the two of us step onto the balcony. She scoffed, rolling her eyes. 

"Jesus, what the fuck is your problem?" 

"You! You're the fucking problem. Ever since you left, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind, and now that you're back and here, it all feels too real." 

There's a beat before she responds, "Eli, what are you trying to say?"  

I look down, the leather of my boots glowing slightly from the moonlight, "What I'm trying to say is," 

I pause, looking back up at her. "What I'm trying to say is, is that I'm in love with you, Clara." 

Before I could even think, her lips were pressed against mine, the strawberry taste of her lips making my brain go numb as the kiss grew deeper. Her arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. My hands naturally found her waist as I smiled slightly into the kissing, humming happily as she pulled away. 

"Elijah Hewson, you are the fucking dumbest person I know," she shook her head, causing me to laugh. "How so?" I say, glancing down at her lips for a moment, her lipstick slightly smudged. 

"Because I've been in love with you since we were in creative writing senior year," she says, laughing. 

"Wait, seriously?" 

She flicks my forehead gently, "Yes, idiot." 

"Hey!" I rub my forehead as she continues to laugh. 

"That's what you get."

"Oh well, at least I have you now," I say, kissing her once again, the night fading around us.

[hobie-doh]

I don't like Kasumi Yoshizawa at all (the fake person, not the dead sister)

Sumire is fine, I don't really have an impression of her other than "wow they really forced her as best girl huh and the ending is lackluster if you actually date her." But KASUMI.

Bane of Ren "Yo momma" Amamiya's existence.

I was gonna eat ice cream with the boys, boom. Kasumi.

I wanted to buy Coffee Dad/Brojiro a trinket? Kasumi.

Nice park clean up and cute moments with the shujin trio? No, it's Kasumi time.

It's a shame because I want to like Kasumire I really do, but she spends too much of the game as Kasumi and leaves so small of an impression as Sumire.

Also tbh her writing in third sem sucks. Putting her hair up with the Kasumi ribbon allowing her to transform into violet? Dumb. Her outfit is Fem Jokers? Dumb, they should have got rid of that when she was no longer FeMC.

I like the leotard but outside of that it just... big sigh, she didn't her own color and just also red, Joker does it better and longer than her and it makes her time as a thief feel bland.

Her moveset too... bless and curse fighters aren't great but Sophia and Ken Amada prove it can be done but something about Sumi's moveset feels weak.

And (I have this problem with almost all the girls dw) romancing Sumire feels gross.

Joker doesn't know her well, he knew Kasumi, and Sumire's last five social link ranks just don't feel like they are enough to get to know her, she doesn't feel all that different from Kasumi either which ISNT a good thing as it makes me feel like she's relapsing by the end of the game which is BAD.

Also like, she's so entranced by Joker and has that whole "I owe him so much he's my wonderful senpai!!!!!1!1" thing that also makes romancing her feel yucky to me.

And her sailor moon transformation is dumb. You're telling me nerdy Futaba, practically serena herself Ann, and elegant princess Haru had normal fire transformations ans Kasumi gets a sailor moon transformation?

There's so much with her that feels mishandled, and again I have such a hard time trying to like Sumire because Kasumi angers me.

I would like to reiterate, if you like her, as either Kasumi or Sumire PLEASE do not let me take that away from you, it's completely valid and I would even like to discuss it with you as I want to like her.

Anyways she's still not the worst phantom thief.

GG to Yoshizawa and Akechi fans, y'all ate in third semester, but as neither of those things, I prefer the vanilla ending.

[ktsumu]

hi this is so unrelated but I’ve seen you post about being a stem student (I think) and literally how do you cope with finals 😭😭 i did so bad last sem and I need advice (1st year chem eng) if you have any!

i am so unqualified to answer this but here’s like …. my tips … for having written 8 finals in like 6 days last semester in the same boat as you basically SO!

this might be different because I’m a biochem major (technically bio with a chem minor now but still taking courses for introductory BSc requirements) and not chem eng BUT my friends in chem eng share a lot of my courses right now SO:

for math, physics, chem: practice problems until u want to die. like until you seriously want to scratch your eyeballs out. i aced my physics final by JUST doing practice problems FOR HOURS and watching theory videos on youtube for long-answer questions!! if you get stuck (ESPECIALLY on physics) take a break or get a fresh set of eyes to set you in the right direction. if i ever got stuck I literally just left it for an hour, came back and could do it

for calc (calc 2 especially because jesus fuck) i do active recall on a whiteboard for all of the trig substitution stuff (power reducing, product sum etc) because there’s a LOT. also the trig subs for like 1+x^2 and all that. OR i remember one and learn how to get the others from that but that’s kinda hard … mainly I focus trig because that’s what i think is the most dense but reddit forums can help you deal with any problem areas you have!! discord math help servers rock too

if you’re taking biology or psych as an elective or pre req, ACTIVE RECALL. bio pathways on whiteboards especially!!!! so good for metabolic pathways (we did a baseline coverage of them) and the krebs cycle!!! acronyms and rhymes are super good for bio (mainly bio 1 but you know)

also biochem if you’re taking it before second year: the app ‘amino acid quiz’ is a LIFESAVER i memorized them by doing it like once a day … i could draw them in my sleep right now i swear to fod

OVERALL: prioritize yourself overall! also do not compare with your friends outside right before the exam, i found it could be helpful but overall just stressed everyone out because we all studied the content in different ways. you’ll do great!! 🤍🤍 be kind to yourself always, university is hard!

drink water and you got this!!! sending you hugs for finals season friend!

[grad604-kannonhen]

mid sem objects 3

The two art books:

Tekkonkinkreet art book Shiro:

Tekkonkinkreet is an animation film by Studio 4C, original manga by Taiyo Matsumoto. I was gifted this book for my 18th birthday by my mother and younger sister. The Shiro (meaning white in Japanese, also being the name of one of the main characters) version showcases the background art used in the final movie. Background art of animation movies, particularly hand-drawn ones, has always been one of my core artistic inspirations starting from Studio Ghibli. It has always been a dream of mine to collect art books and this is the first ever one I owned which already makes it incredibly special for me. Tekkonkinkreet has won many awards, one of which is the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year; it incorporates hand-drawn illustrations combined with 3D technology which creates immersive camera movements while keeping the tactile quality of hand-drawn background. The artwork of Tekkonkinkreet stunned me and has affected my creative eye. The old nostalgic broken down cityscape and the density of the place are inspired by actual location in Japan and is depicted in the fictional reality, realistic fiction. It reminds me of the Tokyo Chaotic style named by Perimetron.

Tekkonkinkreet art book Kuro:

I was gifted the Kuro(meaning black in Japanese, the name of the other main character) version this year for my 20th birthday. The Kuro version showcases more of the behind-the-scenes works like the storyboarding process and initial sketches done by the art director of the film, Shinji Kimura. After having looked through the Shiro version first, looking at the sketches that came before all that deepens the world-building and makes it even more immersive. As a viewer we rarely ever get a chance to see the storyboarding process or initial sketches so it was a special experience for me.

Drawing tablets:

Wacom drawing tablet:

Wacom is a Japanese company famous for creating drawing tablets, founded in 1983 having its head office in Saitama prefecture Japan. This is the first ever drawing tablet I bought for myself. It's the smallest size sold from Wacom and honestly, it isn't the easiest thing to use, but it still is special for me because it is what enabled me to start digital drawing. Digital drawing as a medium was a complete change from the traditional paintings and analogue drawings that I did throughout my life up until then, and it has influenced my interest in Japanese internet culture. It led to me looking through many artists online with the same practice and learning from their beautiful works. It was also a tool that was essential for creating some university projects like the concertina or the awareness campaign. It is a beginning and an end to certain chapters of my creative journey and as crucial key object for the development of my illustration practice.

XP-Pen display drawing tablet:

The display drawing tablet was an upgrade from the small tablet. I only got this last year and it was a major turning point in my illustration process and workflow as well as my mindset as a creative. I used to not take illustration very seriously and was only little doodles on the side of school work I didn't want to do, thus why I spent a minimum amount of money for the smallest tablet available. However, as I drew more and more, like any other creative person, I started seeing my limits and lack of technique or skill. I abandoned drawing all the time, and I still do, but purchasing this large tablet marks a change in my efforts and the significance of illustration within myself that it's a good equipment that I own so I must use it up to its potential.

[nsimdigitalmarketing]

Why NSIM Offers the Top Digital Marketing Course in South Delhi

The digital marketing industry is changing at breakneck pace, and it becomes a daunting task to identify the correct training institute. With so many on offer, how do you select a course that truly prepares you for the challenges of the real world? After scouring various institutes in Delhi, one name continually stands out as the leader: NSIM (National School of Internet Marketing). An unbiased examination of the reasons why NSIM has become the Top digital marketing course in South Delhi.

Location That Really Counts

Let’s begin with something practical — reaching class shouldn’t be a chore. The location of NSIM in South Extension Part-1 is not just convenient; it is strategic. This region is fast becoming a hot spot for educational institutions, and rightly so. The South Ex Metro Station is a stone’s throw away, literally, which means whether you’re traveling from Gurgaon, Noida, or any other location in the NCR, your journey won’t cut into your study time. I have talked to some students who opted for NSIM, at least partially due to this convenience. A working professional spoke about how she found it convenient to go for evening classes after her work in Connaught Place. Another student, hailing from Faridabad, enjoyed not having to travel through Delhi’s infamous traffic congestion to go to remote areas.

Faculty That Brings Real Experience

Here’s where most institutes fail — they have good marketing but poor trainers. NSIM is different. Their instructors are not only academically trained; they’re practitioners who have conducted campaigns, handled finances, and experienced real client pressures. What does this do for you? Rather than studying theoretical concepts that read well in a textbook, you’ll know how an actual Facebook ad campaign performs when your client’s money is at stake. You’ll discover why some SEO methods work on paper but not in reality. This experiential understanding is priceless and something you just can’t learn from a textbook or online course.

Comprehensive Curriculum That Keeps Up

Digital marketing evolves quicker than most individuals switch out their phone case. Last year’s strategy could be totally obsolete now. NSIM speaks to this problem by re-releasing their 30+ revised modules encompassing all of digital marketing that you’ll actually use. Their syllabus is not only exhaustive; it’s up to date. They touch upon the basics such as SEO and SEM, but they also explore newer topics such as influencer marketing and marketing automation. The social media marketing module, for example, does not merely instruct you on how to post on Facebook — it touches upon platform-specific strategies for Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and newer platforms. The PPC training covers more than simple Google Ads configuration. Budget optimization, A/B testing, and conversion tracking are on the agenda. The analytics course doesn’t demonstrate how to simply read Google Analytics reports; it instructs you on how to extract usable insights and report them to stakeholders.

Certifications That Employers Recognize

Let’s face it — certificates are important in the job market. NSIM doesn’t simply hand you their own certification and walk away. They get you ready for industry-recognized certifications from Google, HubSpot, and Facebook. These aren’t participation trophies; they’re credentials that hiring managers actually search for. The Google Ads certification is enough to lift your resume. HubSpot’s inbound marketing certification is much sought after by content marketing companies. Facebook’s Blueprint certification proves that you know social media advertising. Possessing these certifications, along with NSIM’s training, puts you ahead of the game.

Practical Learning Through Internships

Theory without application is like learning how to swim but never stepping into the water. NSIM’s voluntary internship program closes this loop perfectly. You will get to work on actual projects, work on actual client specifications, and feel the pressure and satisfaction of producing results. This internship experience tends to be a point of conversation during job interviews. Employers like candidates who can talk about actual campaigns they have worked on, the problems they’ve solved, and successes they’ve attained. It makes you from a person who knows digital marketing principles to one who has actually performed digital marketing.

Placement Support That Goes Beyond Job Listings

Most institutes claim to provide placement assistance but provide no more than a list of corporation names. NSIM works in a different, more hands-on way. They do not merely assist you in finding job vacancies; they train you to acclimate to interviews and workplace environments. Resume construction sessions enable you to showcase your strengths. Mock interview sessions equip you with typical questions and situations that you will encounter. Weekly hiring sessions give you direct access to recruiters and hiring managers. All these in a seamless support system enormously increase your chances of getting the right job, not merely any job.

Value That Makes Sense

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get quality education. NSIM’s pricing is competitive, particularly when you factor in what you’re getting. The payment plans make it affordable for students and professional workers who may not have the money available initially. The access to training materials for life is especially worth it. Digital marketing is constantly changing, and being able to gain access to revised materials ensures you can update your knowledge as needed along the way.

Why NSIM Is Different

Selecting NSIM as your source for digital marketing education isn’t merely a matter of course content — it’s about being part of a community that cares about your future. Coupling experienced instructors, thorough curriculum, industry certifications, real-world experience, and strong placement assistance creates a learning experience that’s difficult to match. Whether you’re a fresh graduate looking to start your career, a working professional seeking to switch fields, or a business owner wanting to understand digital marketing better, NSIM provides the foundation you need to succeed.

In a city of possibilities, NSIM has secured its place as the best digital marketing course in South Delhi through its ability to consistently deliver. The proof, they say, is in the pudding — and NSIM’s record is one to talk about.

Ready to move forward with your digital marketing career? Learn more at https://www.nsim.in

[dreamsinfiction]

May 2025 (aka when things were cultural)

Writing this in mid-June and wow, May felt so far away alr. Maybe because I had a really bad mental health breakdown last week due to work huhu (spoilers, stay tuned for June recap! ✨ But I am better now, thank you friends and kind bosses for checking in on me).

Anyway, here's the May recap:

Office move to JE:

I am loving the new office! Yes, the desk is (much) smaller, my colleagues are seated nearer to me, but it's definitely an upgrade from HQ because a) I no longer feel like my lungs are dying/clogged by the dirty air vents, b) our view is pretty nice on the 18th floor and c) it's a 40 min door-to-door commute now 😝

I still do my 30 min walks to the LRT as much as possible to escape the office crowd and get a bit of fresh air in the morning. But because my commute is so short, I'm still one of the earliest ones in office and I enjoy the 30 mins or so of quiet time (brewing tea, quick journaling, catching up on emails) before the rest of the division comes in. The office environment is also so conducive to locking in and being productive that I now usually come in 4x a week heh (especially during the recent heat wave)

Before and after! I love how homely my new desk is - I've also bought a small collapsible storage box from Ikea and placed it under my desk for me to store my essentials and keep it within reach (eg. prayer set, tupperware and cutlery for tapao lunches)

쌤, 또 만나자! (Farewell to my Korean teacher)

Met up with the Sejong crew to say goodbye to our Korean teacher one last time! It was so nice to see everyone again (because we ended our last sem together in late Apr) and just talk about anything under the sun. The food was really good too and worth the price points! (not halal-certified but I stuck to the seafood based options)

Still thinking about the food - especially the pesto pasta and the calamari; completely out of this world 😋

Short KL trip

Made the flight up north for a short getaway and going to F's wedding! KL is always a good time - good food, large spaces and a more relaxed way of life (even in the city you can feel the difference compared to SG).

We stayed in Novotel Bukit Bintang this time round (comes highly recommended by S since she stayed there with her parents multiple times before) and okay yes I am a fan. I will definitely stay there again if I'm not in the mood to try a new hotel because the location is unbeatable (less than 5 min walk to Pavi through a sheltered walkway), the price is pretty affordable compared to other hotels in the area, and the facilities are well-maintained! I even used the gym and it was large enough for me to do walking lunges heh.

Went to TRX to check out the newest shopping mall in KL and wow it's huge. Like Ion on steroids hahaha. Checked out Chulop too since they've expanded to Malaysia (recommend! the choc churros are not too sweet). We also saw and spoke to a local celebrity who's actually one of my favourite Nusantara singers but erm, he's now embroiled in a SA case undergoing investigation...so okay I won't post the photos we took here. Sigh, if he is proven guilty under the law, then people can be truly deceiving/have multiple facets since we had such a lovely time talking to him 😔

The wedding itself was lovely! There was a GlamBot 360 thing happening too which made us feel very much like a celebrity 🤣. But again, Malaysian weddings are different than Singapore weddings haha; the customs are slightly different! I feel like our weddings here are more steeped in traditions with multiple steps but those in Malaysia are more modern (at least the ones that I've been to). I saw a TT recently which explained why - basically it's because we are very much influenced by Javanese culture and still strongly retain the traditions (which I love heh).

Cultural things:

a. Phantom of the Opera

Went with F on this as we were watching it in spite LOL (context: there were many a band practice during secondary school where we were s u f f e r i n g learning to play the theme song and the whole repertoire. Being a flutist was not easy with all the running notes).

I liked it but not sure if it was just an off day for the main Phantom guy cos he cracked at a few points and there were several moments where the stage lights and live band was a bit off/not in time with whatever's on stage. My TLDR is I like Hamilton a lot more HAHA - maybe I like my plays with a bit of political intrigue. The songs were as nice as I remembered though!

When you collectively only have one braincell...

b. Salina

This was...a miss hahaha. Went with the goblok squad (LOL our clique name) and we were all ??? when it was 30 mins to the end where the plot started unravelling hahaha. Our review was similar to others in the audience so we weren't the only ones left confused. Such a waste though cos the cast were all pretty well-established names from the industry! 🙁

When the lighting outside Esplanade is giving.

Other highlights:

a. Attending my first Chinese wake

This was an experience. Never attended a Chinese/Christian wake before and it was a bit of a culture change. I'm used to funerals being very solemn, sad and fast (since the burial is usually on the same day). But this one was different - it seemed to be more of a celebration of life with the deceased's (my grandaunt's biological mother) favourite songs playing, everyone gathering at the funeral hall and talking at normal volumes, with the casket right there. Different ways of viewing death I think.

b. Seventeen's pop-up!

Went with SR for this and omg everything there was really pretty (but also really expensive huhu). I didn't get anything but she got Mingyu's frying pan 😹. Was very tempted by Wonwoo's keyboard and I think I would have gotten it if it was in blue instead of purple hahaha.

2025 goals tracker

i. Journalling

14/30

ii. Reading

Read 6 books (3 fiction, 2 manga volumes, 1 non-fic) - Higher than my usual number of books in a month; the random pockets of time during the trip definitely contributed to it (eg. on the plane, in Grab rides, in the hotel at night after a long day out)

Highlights: I have two this month -

(a) The Hunger Games! A reread as I wait for Sunrise on the Reaping through NLB/Libby heh. It's a bit disturbing how dark the original trilogy is with this reread, especially when you consider how the books are categorised YA. We were all in a dark phase growing up huh.

(b) Klara and the Sun - I think this was quite hyped when it first came out and I can see why. How it discusses AI and having them as companions is very, very relatable to today's times when some people do treat ChatGPT as their therapist/friend etc (a trend which I find concerning when you think about all the data privacy issues it may entail). Ishiguro's writing is not my cup of tea though so I don't think I would pick up any of his other books even though the topic may be interesting.

iii. Being more active

Continued with my PT regime! But scaling it down to 1x a week to a) make my package last longer, and b) I'm doing a session weekly by myself in JE now since there's an outlet in the same building as the office (need to justify my multi-gym pass...😛)

iv. Saying yes to things that make me uncomfy

Highlight of May is definitely me co-facilitating a book club session with Maktaba! As part of the Sama-Sama Book Club we have with NLB, we usually pick a fiction book to read and discuss together and this time it was Klara and the Sun.

I usually get a lot of anxious sweats when speaking in public (even in relatively safe circles like this one) but N was such a delight to co-facilitate with and I think we made a good pair; she's more extroverted and can manage the room well while I come in with the prompts to get the discussion going.

At first, I thought I did a bad job managing the room cos I just couldn't find the right juncture to interject when the discussions were getting too heated, but actually most of the room really appreciated the balance we had. Thank you friends for being validating and affirming 🥹 IH even asked if I would like to co-host the next session but I said I would need time to recover from this one first 😹

...and that's my May! See you at the halfway mark of the year (where is the time going homg)

[abdu7888]

What to Expect from a Digital Marketing Course in Kerala

i you wish to study digital marketing in Kerala, you should understand the curriculum and how it will guide you through a career path in this continuously evolving sector. Digital marketing is wide and dynamic, and studies in Kerala are structured to provide you with theoretical know-how as well as practical experience.

Comprehensive Curriculum

A quality online marketing course in Kerala would ideally encompass the following important areas:

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC): Learn paid advertising strategies through Google Ads and other channels.

Social Media Marketing: Learn how to build effective campaigns across popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Content Marketing: or; Learn ways to write good content that has people come to get and keep them.

Email Marketing: See how to make email lists, plan messages and find how well they work.

Google Analytics: Learn how to see and look at web visits so that you can know if marketing plans work.

Affiliate Marketing : Learn how to have others sell and spread the word on stuff they sell for you. 

Mobile Marketing: Know the best way to sell stuff on phones, tablets and computers that work without the internet.

 Online Reputation Management : Know how to keep a good name and dirty name off the internet.

Practical Training and Live Projects

All institutes that provide a digital marketing course in Kerala focus on practical learning. You will have the opportunity to work on live campaigns, case studies, and projects. Practical exposure is essential to learning how digital marketing actually functions in real life and gaining confidence.

Duration and Format

Digital marketing training in Kerala differs in length and usually lasts between 3 weeks to 6 months. Short-term courses would be appropriate for those interested in learning certain skills within a short period, whereas longer courses give a deeper understanding.

Format-wise, most institutes nowadays provide both online and offline courses. This provision of flexibility makes it easier for working professionals and students to coordinate their schedules and gain useful knowledge.

Certification and Placement Assistance

Upon course completion, you will be awarded a certificate which can enhance your resume. Renowned institutes also offer industry-approved certifications from Google, Facebook, HubSpot, and more.

Besides that, most courses also include placement support, internships, or freelance project guidance. These processes bridge the knowledge gap to employment, particularly for first-timers.

Who Should Enroll in This Course?

A Kerala digital marketing course is perfect for:

Students who want to establish a career in digital marketing

Working professionals wanting to upskill

Entrepreneurs who seek to market their enterprises online

Freelancers who want to provide digital marketing services

Final Thoughts

When you join a digital marketing course in Kerala, you can anticipate a thorough course of study that is balanced by practical training. You will be taught the new digital marketing tools, strategies, and techniques and also learn through practical applications with projects.

This groundwork equips you for a range of positions in marketing or for launching your own digital marketing campaigns.

If you desire to remain relevant and competitive in the modern digital economy, a digital marketing course in Kerala is the wise option.

[nandosf1news]

China - FP1: report + results

Good early morning, you, who like to read my usual walls of text. The race weekend is here and we can watch the first and only free practice, because this time we will have the sprint. It´s warm weather, sunny and the conditions will probably fit to McLarens, because the temperature is 23°C and the track has 38°C. Well, the track for sure, but what about the new rule about the wings? Will tougher wings (and rules) make McLarens slower? Who knows? So let´s watch, learn and hope, that no rookie will crash during the weekend, because there was more than enough during last Sunday… and for the first time ever I say: Dr Marko did not use the chance to be silent for a while. Of course he says what he feels, of course it´s tough true, but dammit… not every driver is Max who does not cry, Helmut. Deal with it. But let´s look back on the track. We had Liam out in the gravel, but he returned back. Yukino announced, that the new track is grippy a lot. Wait… this will eat tyres as hell, no? Interesting!

We did not have to wait much for some results for comparing, so after 15 minutes George is the fastest one with 1:33:017 followed by Ham, Oscar, Lando, Charles, Pierre, Max, Kimi, Yukino and Nando. All drivers are on mediums now. Both Merc drivers look quite fast and I would tell, that they will bring solid points for their team again. On the other side there is Liam, who obviously does not fit well with the car. For the second weekend in the row. Well, no wonder, only Max is able to drive that beast from the current grid… and there are only two drivers, who are able to work with it, but RedBull denied the second one last year, so the second seat is cursed. When we look at Astons, they drive with Eddie´s name on their cars. Awwww, nice from whole team which was born from former Jordan. We could see Yuki´s rear wing literally flapping, probably some issue with DRS, which means huge aerodynamic disturbance.

Both Ferraris are doing much better than last Sunday, but McLarens sem to be a little bit aback. Same as Max. For Max it can change, because we are used to RedBulls finding seconds here and there during whole the weekend, but McLarens are or are not fast. Nothing between it. So how will it go this weekend? We can see some works being done on the back of Liam´s RedBull when we peek into the garage. I do not think anything good about it. We can only count days till Helmut´s nerves will burst. After half of this session both Ferraris skipped up a bit, same for Max and Kimi too! Nice! George is still the fastest with 1:32:377 followed by Charles, Ham, Kimi, Max, Oscar, Lando, Carlos, Yukino and Alex. Other newbies are far behind them, stuck with Haases and Saubers. Ouch. Hope that someone of them manages to reach some nice laptime. At least Kimi, who proved himself as a very good driver during the last race.

We could see both Ham and Lando having a moment, but they fortunately managed it and returned onto the track. Nando obviously is not satisfied with the car balance, but the team will try to do something with that. Lando was wide in the same place, dammit… it only took a while! Well… something really happens with McLaren cars! And wow, wow, wow! We have car off the track, spinning into the gravel! Ouch, damn, Charles. How did that even happen to him? Ah, locking the rears in the first corner. Well, that first corner will be damn interesting both in sprint and race, trust me. Another thing: Front. Left. Tyre. That will be huge problem for everyone… and who is the best tyre whisperer on the track? George and Max. So this can stir the pot a lot! 15 minutes before the chequered flag we have George still as the fastest one with 1:32:377 followed by Charles, Oscar, Ham, Kimi, Max, Lando, Carlos, Yukino and Alex.

We have another car off the track and the yellow flag flies! It´s Jack, who calls for instructions, because the steering is off and he has no power. Well… huh, not nice. And he skips from the car, which does mean the red flag because of this mechanical issue. It took only 3 minutes to remove the car and Jack walks back to the pits, clearly not happy. The session will be restarted in a little minute, so let´s wait if someone makes better laptime than George. We can see soft tyres and yes! Charles managed to make better time than George and Ham too. But there will be more of them soon. One by one the drivers set quite fast times, so after the chequered flag we have non/suprising results. Lando was the fastest one with 1:31:504 followed by Charles, Oscar, Ham, George, Nico, Alex, Nando, Kimi and Yukino. Max was far away without softs. So, that was the only practice this weekend, thank you for reading and see you in several hours during the sprint quali!

One more thing... Charles´ helmet. Did you notice it?

[ginhawatranslations]

The Story of Unit 24-C - Chapter 6

Read the previous chapters here.

MULA NGAYON BY CARL BELEY

A week before the start of the second semester, I joined Valeen and Jaypee to apply for the scholarship. We’re hoping to get it in time for the second semester, but it’s still fine if they grant it during our second year in college. What matters most right now is to get a scholarship so I can help ease my mom’s financial burden.

“Did you bring the documents I mentioned? A xerox of your ID, grades, and birth certificate?” Valeen asked us.

I checked the folder I was holding to make sure all the required documents were inside.

“If they ask why you need a scholarship, just say you’re an average Filipino citizen,” she advised. She even told me not to mention that we own a hotel in El Nido. I should say we have a small business and that we earn just enough to get by each day. She said that if they find out we’re well-off, I’d get disqualified right away.

Valeen seemed really experienced with this stuff based on the number of tips she gave us.

While waiting in line, we chatted about random things - especially the highlights of our vacation in El Nido.

“You know, it’s been almost six months of us hanging out, but we've never even chilled at your condo, Kelvin,” Jaypee said to me.

“It’s messy,” My short reply. “And I’m kind of embarrassed because of my roommate.”

“How’s your roommate anyway? Maybe he’s handsome! Introduce me!” Valeen joked.

“Why would I care if he’s handsome or not?” I laughed. “We just share a room; we’re not friends.”

“Wow, a cold war when you’ve been living together for a while?” Valeen commented. “So, how is he as a roommate?”

I paused for a moment. If only they knew what I put up with because of that guy. Sometimes he doesn’t even wash his dishes, and I end up doing it after getting home in the afternoon. He also leaves food under the couch. His stuff’s all over the place - like he thinks he’s living alone.

If he pisses me off enough, I swear I’ll post on social media about how disgusting their beloved basketball player is as a roommate.

“He’s alright. We just have different personalities and schedules, so we’re not close,” I explained. I didn’t want to ruin his reputation - he still has one in school, after all.

The line was long, and we didn’t finish until around two in the afternoon. After applying for the scholarship, I headed to the College of Home Economics building to help Miss Cheska. She had a lot to take care of too, especially with the start of classes.

**********

The second semester started and as usual, professors don’t really teach much on their first week. But most of them already gave us a heads-up that we’d be cooking more often, so we should prepare for this semester to be expensive.

Good thing I managed to save up a bit from doing side work as Miss Cheska’s student assistant.

“There are so many PE options this sem! Why volleyball!?” Valeen complained as we walked to the gym. I don’t really mind having volleyball as our PE, but it’s summer now and the heat index is insane. It’s exhausting doing such a physically demanding activity in this weather.

Last semester, our PE was just Zumba. Our professor barely taught, so we passed easily.

When we got to the gym, we saw the Golden Bears practicing on the other side of the court.

I watched Noah play. He’s actually really good, just like Valeen said. She says he has a lot of potential even though he’s only a freshman. I just can’t appreciate him that much after all our bad first encounters.

It’s like there was an instant wall between us from day one. I mean, during our first meeting, he ignored me and just threw his duffle bag on the bed and left. The second time, he puked on me. I swear, I can still remember the smell. The third time, well...he redeemed himself by telling me Eya was already in a relationship. I didn’t get to thank him though - I got too shy, especially since her boyfriend was his teammate.

After making a shot, Noah did a quick high-five with his teammate. He looked over at our group walking near the bleachers - me included. Our eyes met, but I quickly looked away. He’s a stranger. Act like you don't know each other.

Coach Romeo, our PE professor, arrived. Luckily, he didn’t make us play today. Instead, he gave us a brief history of volleyball in the Philippines and assigned us to research player positions.

**********

When the day ended, I went straight back to unit 24-C. The heat in the Philippines during summer is brutal! I can’t stand going out in this weather. I’d rather lie down and enjoy the air conditioning. Our second semester at Ardano runs from February to June.

And to think it’s only February…what more when we get into April and May? Lord, have mercy on me.

I was lying on the couch watching this Netflix series I just discovered - The 100. Actually, it wasn���t a real discovery; it’s on the top of the recommendation list.

I was chilling on the couch with a bottle of Mogu-Mogu on the table and a bag of Nova chips. The door opened and Noah walked in, which surprised me. He just passed me by and went into the bedroom. I followed him with my eyes.

“Wow, a miracle! The idiot's home early,” I mumbled, grabbing another chip and turning back to my show.

The bedroom door opened again. He had a towel over his shoulder. He headed towards the shower.

I didn’t pay much attention. But then my phone rang - Valeen was calling.

“Hello?”

“Hey Kelvs! Sorry for the call, but I just wanted to ask if you have my notebook? It’s not in my bag. I feel like I handed it to you earlier. Can you check please?”

I paused my show and got up to check my bag. “Hold on, madam, I'm checking,” I joked.

When I found her pink notebook, I let her know right away. “Yup, I have it. I probably forgot to give it back. I’ll just return it tomorrow, or do you need it now? I could have it delivered if you want.”

“Idiot! It’s just a notebook, no need for Lalamove. I’ll get it tomorrow. No important assignments anyway. I just feel better knowing you have it. Bye! I’m at SM right now. Damn it’s hot!” I laughed at her complaint - we share the same sentiment today.

She hung up. I was about to return to the couch when the door opened again, and Noah was just about to enter the room. We startled each other, but I was the one more surprised!

The idiot just came out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel around his waist. His hair was still wet, and water was dripping onto the floor.

“Sorry,” I said, stepping aside so he could enter before I left the room.

I sat on the couch and sighed. I mean, it’s normal to see shirtless guys - I grew up in El Nido - but this was the first time it happened up close, and with just the two of us in the unit.

I took a sip of Mogu-Mogu and tried to snap myself back to my senses.

About five minutes into my show, Noah came out of the room again. He was now wearing a red striped t-shirt and shorts. What a miracle - he's not heading out tonight. He usually gets home really late.

I didn’t bother asking and focused on the show.

“Kelvin,” he suddenly called out. He was leaning on the door frame.

How did he know my name?

“Kelvin, right? I saw your name in the group chat with Therese.” Oh, that made sense. Speaking of that group chat, I haven’t checked it in months - no one really talk there anyway.

I kept my cool. “Why, is there a problem?”

“Well, I informed Ate Therese about this, and it would be rude if I didn’t ask your permission,” I raised an eyebrow and paused the show. “My cousin from the province is watching a concert at MOA, and instead of renting an Airbnb, he’ll be staying here.”

Damn. This idiot only informs me now? He didn’t even ask for permission beforehand.

I sat up straight. “And you’re just telling me this now?”

“Sorry, my cousin only told me last night too. Instead of him wasting money, I offered the unit. Just this weekend. But if you’re uncomfortable, I can tell him my roommate refused.”

“Are you dumb? So I’ll look like the bad guy to your cousin?” I sighed and ate another chip. “How many days?”

“Just next weekend. Around 2–3 days max.” If it’s just that long, I don’t mind. I could probably crash at Uncle Vince’s place so they can have the unit to themselves.

“If that’s all, then fine,” I said. I saw Noah smile at my response. “But make sure your cousin doesn’t get handsy. He can only sleep on the couch. He’s not allowed near my loft bed or my study table. Clear?”

“Got it. Thanks, roommate,” he said and returned to the bedroom.

**********

On Wednesday, I came back to the unit early because of the heat. I also had assignments in Ethics and NSTP to do. I had a plastic of gummy bears beside me for snacks, and honestly, if I get lazy, that’s my dinner too.

I quietly reviewed my notes while having some jazz music to help me focus. I have the unit to myself today since it looks like Noah will be coming home late again. I passed by the school gym earlier and saw them practicing.

My study session was interrupted by a knock on the door. Damn, those knocks give me trauma. The last time someone knocked persistently, I got puked on.

“Hold on! Are you in a rush to poop again!?” I shouted, sure that it was Noah. Why does he always forget his key? What if I wasn’t home?

I finished writing the sentence for my essay and walked to the door. I unlocked everything and opened it wide.

“Next time, stop forgetting your-”

I didn’t finish. It wasn’t Noah at the door. A lean guy in a black dry-fit shirt and loose pants smiled and waved at me.

“Hi,” he greeted.

“Hello?” I replied, confused. Who the hell is this? I looked around. “I think you have the wrong unit.”

“Oh shit.” He checked his phone and looked above the door. “24-C. This is the unit Noah sent me.”

Then I remembered Noah the moron's request for his cousin to crash here.

“You’re Noah’s cousin?” I asked.

“Yup,” he smiled again, showing a dimple on his left cheek. “My name’s Darius.”

“You’re the one watching the concert?” He nodded, and I opened the door wider to let him in.

Wasn’t he supposed to arrive Friday? What day is it today? It's only Wednesday!

I sighed. Looks like I’ll have to endure a few days with both Darius and Noah around. Seriously, that moron only brings me nothing but stress.

Translator's Notes

The song title in English means "from now on". This is in connection to Kelvin's premonition that his relationship with Noah is about to change.

In the original, the author said Valeen introduced the scholarship to Kelvin, but in the previous chapter it was Jaypee who shared it. (Author missed that part, sorry!) We decided to remove that part as it's not really relevant for the paragraph.

Filipinos often call photocopy machines Xerox after a popular brand of copiers. It's so prevalent that the trademark owner threatened lawsuits against businesses appropriating it for their photocopying services.

Most universities require physical education (PE) a.k.a. gym classes. More often than not, students have no choice which activity they're assigned to for the semester.

The Philippines is located in the tropics, so it's technically summer here all year. April to June are the hottest months, with temperatures ranging from 25-40°C (77-104°F).

Mogu-Mogu is a drink made of fruit juice mixed with bits of nata de coco (coconut gel).

Nova is a brand of chips made of various grains such as wheat, oat and rice. It's often marketed towards health-conscious people.

Lalamove is an app that offers same-day delivery services.

SM is the largest shopping mall operator in the Philippines, with more than 80 malls as of 2024. (It seems like Valeen went to SM San Lazaro, referred to in a previous chapter.)

NSTP (National Service Training Program) is offered as an civilian alternative to the one-year military training requirement for college students.

Kelvin used the word mokong, one of many Tagalog profanities that's similar to the word idiot.

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[cuetopia]

Page #7 - Fourth Year, Second Sem, Week 9

March 17

It's so funny that I was panicking about being bored last time, because clearly the universe has answered my prayers. I slept 14 hours yesterday, a result of staying up all night Monday to work on the sound for Through Her Eyes before our class screening. We're also running out of time to finish everything we wished to for our stop motion, and I simultaneously am glad that they'll have to cut shots, and guilty as if I could have somehow prevented it. Me and my co-production designer have so much left to do, which I would feel more hopeful about if I didn't also have a creative final assignment, classes I have to attend, and another time-consuming commitment happening within these two weeks.

My friend's sister started a magazine, and she asked if I could "dj" for their second issue launch. Though I'm not actually a dj, because I only took one workshop and performed one forty-minute set which wasn't all that great. My friend doesn't know how it went because I hesitated to tell anyone it was happening, and though I know no one is expecting perfection I'm still obviously nervous. To make things more difficult, I don't have a turntable and my laptop clearly rejects this "hobby" because it crashes every time I open the software, so I'm not exactly sure how I'll practice. The good thing about djing is that you mostly just have to pick music that everyone will enjoy. I think I'm naturally good at presuming what other people will like and how to please them, but maybe that comes from being a youngest sister.

I started looking into taking a short solo trip to Nova Scotia after the film festival and before convocation (travel, accommodations, where to visit, small things like that). Despite my attempts at keeping things private (I only just started looking after all), I squealed before everyone could put their coats down. Their reactions were a mix between shock and mild interest, but when I told one of my sisters she said, "aren't you too young to go alone?". This immediately pissed me off, because since I knew I wasn't too young, her comment was basically her saying that I won't be able to handle it. My catastrophizing brain can't settle with the fact that my older sister is just being protective, and although her other suggestions were annoying–that instead I could join her on a stopover to a Dominican Republic trip she's already planning, or go to Vancouver where I know I'll spend two times my limit–she's just looking out for me. It still bugs me, especially since she kept bringing it up to my parents, who I guess decided that they should have a normal amount of apprehension and joked that they'd follow me there.

I think I get mad about things like this because when I was a child I didn't feel like one, so the backwardsness of feeling treated like one now that I'm older feels so visceral. I also grew up in a bit of solitude, which made me less likely to compromise when other people started to enter the picture. I need to be less quick to assume the worst of people (but I'm still going to Nova Scotia alone, which might just prove this sentiment unwise (I'm a tad nervous about the east coast racism).

Still reading the same stuff all the way back from my first page… but I am caught up on the newest episodes of Abbott Elementary!!! I love sitcoms, they remind me of the minuscule impact our mistakes often have on our story.