"Wow. That is... such an astoundingly beautiful painting I've ever seen." 

I turned around to see a guy in his mid-twenties looking at my painting with genuine awe and interest. I smiled proudly towards my artwork. At times like these, I felt like gloating and shouting at the top of my lungs, "I'm the best y'all and nothing can ever change that!"

"Thanks."

"What inspired you to paint this?" He asked me and I furrowed my brows at him.

Clearly, a compliment was cool but a short talk about my inspiration and everything sounded so weird if I were being honest.

He must have sensed my confusion because he chuckled apologetically. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. I literally forgot. I'm Luke and painting stuff just happens to be my favourite thing. I love the science behind art."

"Oh." I laughed. "I'm Aria. It's good to finally meet someone who actually 'loves' painting. Also, to answer your question, nothing really inspired me. I just captured everyone's expression and that's all," I stated, doing jazz with my hands and nodding my head around us.

"That's a nice symbolism there though. I've always loved symbolic paintings. Especially those old artists and sculptors. Their paintings were so deep. Like Bernini, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Da Vinci. I mean you get the gist, right?"

I found myself agreeing with him. They are the most renowned artists in the world of painting literature. "Couldn't agree more. They are my favorite artists too along with the others, of course," I said excitedly. It felt so good to finally know that there are people out there who are geeks just like me and share the same passion as me. Not only this, but Luke also had the knowledge of the old, esoteric artists.

"Which also reminds me that are you going to that exhibition held this weekend? You know, because you have such a fascinating talent and all that," Luke asked while I was busy stuffing all my materials inside my backpack. 

"Yup because I've never been to an exhibition before. Plus we've never had such a huge event in this town before so I'd love to go. What about you?" I asked, looking at him. I found him scrutinizing my painting with calculating eyes. I found his expression a bit comical because he looked like a professional artist who checked for some flaws in a single piece.

"I actually booked myself a seat there too."

"That's great! Are you putting any of your paintings for the auction?" I questioned, enthused.

"I am not quite as good as you are. So I guess not." He shrugged with a half-smile. "But you totally should!"

"What if you are better than me and your painting just happens to get sold in millions or even better billions?" I said, trying to encourage him.

"We both know that's just wishful thinking." He laughed it off. I wanted to stimulate him further but I left it at that, thinking he might not want people to pester him into doing things he didn't like.

"Well, okay."

"What about you? Are you going to put your painting for the auction?"

"No. I am just attending because I wanna get the hang of everything. I want to see the paintings of some big, modern artists. As of now, I just want to learn," I explained and he agreed with me. 

We talked some more about everything painting related until I was finished packing my stuff and wrapping my canvas in a paper. "All right. Will see you this weekend then," he said and held up his hand for a high five and I returned the gesture. We said our goodbyes and I couldn't stop the smile on my face.

Soon enough, I cycled my way back to my house. I'd been anticipating this exhibition for a week now because I would love to see all the flawless paintings of the famous artists. 

Parking my bike, I made my way inside my house and towards my bedroom. I jumped on my bed with a content sigh. My eyes fell on the bedside drawer where the four VIP booth tickets were stacked beneath a paperweight. Kris had one of the five tickets, leaving these four with me. 

I got up and sat cross-legged on my bed, facing the tickets. Grabbing them, I realized that I have yet to ask Dave if he would join us at Mars's concert. 

I kept two of them aside for Paris and I. 'If one for Dave then should I keep the last one for Bert? Would he even want to come?'

If I think about it, he's just a kid. It would be really awkward for him to join in amongst a group full of adults. He'd rather stay home and play Fortnite or some other video games.

'What was Atlas thinking while buying five VIP tickets and not even attending the concert? Why would he waste his money on these expensive tickets?' Something doesn't sound right but I just ignored it. It isn't my place to judge.'

As I was skimming through the contents of the tickets, my cell phone pinged. I placed them back on the bedside drawer and removed my cell phone from my pocket.

Hey, can we meet? Like now!! - Kris.

Sure. Everything alright? - Aria.

PanShake Cafe. - Kris.

Be there in fifteen. - Aria.

PanShake Cafe is Kris's favorite cafe and we usually meet there to just talk about our boring lives. But today I was worried because her calling me there was just so sudden. Without changing my outfit, I quickly rushed towards the cafe without any delay. 

The bell chimed when I entered the cafe, making the smell of coffee, muffin and everything sweet waft through my nose. My eyes fell on Kris who was already seated in a booth with a mug of coffee in front of her. She was busy stirring it with a spoon but the coffee seemed untouched. Like she didn't intend to drink it.

"Hey there." I smiled and took a seat across from her.

"Aria." She looked livid with a tinge of embarrassment. 

"Are you... okay?" I asked in a concerned voice.

"No," she spat but her anger wasn't directed at me.

I quickly gave my order when a barista approached our table and paid my attention back to Kris. "What's wrong?" I took her hand and squeezed it to assure her that she could talk to me openly.

"Cole," she grumbled. "Do you remember that guy named Cole I told you about? The stupid guy at my workplace?" She asked me and I nodded my head. "Well, it turns out, he didn't ask me out on a date after all." She huffed but I could tell that she was hurt.

"But Kris... didn't you tell me that he'd asked you out on a date," I queried, dumbfounded.

She pursed her lips in annoyance and sipped her coffee to calm down her fretful nerves. 

We were interrupted again when the barista came back with my coffee. Thanking the guy, I put it down before taking a sip. "I took it the wrong way, Aria. Because truth be said, he never asked me out on a date," she hissed. 

I noticed that she was not crying which was a good thing. If I were in her place, I'd be bawling my eyes out by now because of the humiliation. 

"I am not following you," I said, shaking my head. 

She exhaled and explained it to me again. This time more clearly. "Well we were good friends and I realized that we have a lot in common than I'd previously thought. So I started liking him and got the wrong impression that he returns my feelings as well but boy was I wrong." She paused, letting me sink it all.

"Okay..."

"We always talked during the office hours but never had the fortune to meet outside our workplace because we live in different neighborhoods and all that. So imagine my surprise when he'd suggested to hangout together out of the blue the other day. I was beyond happy because I liked him so much but I took it in the wrong way. He said hangout and I perceived it as a date. Stupid me," she choked the last part. 

I thought that she was going to cry and have a breakdown in the middle of a crowded cafe but she was stronger than I thought. She blinked back her tears and gazed outside the window.

"We spent our day by goofing around the whole town. We ate ice cream, laughed, joked and had loads of fun, you know. He gave me a ride back to my house and walked me to my front door. So I just..." She looked mortified to continue so I passed her an encouraging smile. 

"It's fine if you don't want to tell me."

"No!" She exclaimed. "Of course I want to. The reason why I called you here. It's just so hard to speak it all out, you know." She cleared her throat and continued, "Anyway, so I leaned towards him to kiss him but he took a step back. He was glaring at me. I asked him what's wrong and he just continued shooting daggers at me.

"I thought he would just walk away but he gritted that he has a girlfriend and treated me as his younger sister," she said, her anger back now. "Can you believe it?! I was about to foolishly kiss him."

"He never told you he has a girlfriend?" I asked her suspiciously. 

"Her girlfriend doesn't want them to make it public," she replied through clenched teeth. "You know whenever a guy says hangout, it's always a hangout and not a date. I am warning you. Never repeat the same mistake as me, Ari."

My eyes widened and my mind drifted back to when Atlas had asked me to hangout with him and I thought it was a progress and maybe also meant a date. Not in a literal sense but I thought it was his way. I wanted to believe it was a date but I'd reminded myself that it is not true.

'What if he thinks of me just as his friend or even worse his sister?' Kris's last statement felt like she knew about my situation and was giving me a silent warning for the future.

I shook my head and concentrated on consoling Kris. Right now, she needed me. But there was a nagging thought in my head. While on the other hand, Atlas had kissed me on my cheek. Even better, he had initiated it. Of course, that meant something, I assured myself.