Chapter 13 NO FEELINGS INVOLVED

Today was the contest for the paintings. I woke up early because Ardent calling me repeatedly last night. He wanted me to be there because that contest is for me. I was fast fixing myself, just a plain white shirt and pants. I combed my hair so I could look decent.

“Anmela!” I was shy the way Alem called me. People were looking at us, some were smiling, some were staring.

“She is the person in the painting.”

“She is beautiful.”

“She looks pretty.”

Those were the comments of the crowd, gazing at me from head to foot.

“The real definition of simplicity.”

Their opinions made me embarrassed, but at the same time appreciated. Hearing those words boost my confidence.

My feet stepped slowly towards a couple of people, they were smiling at me. I saw the different styles of painting such as abstract, I could understand the meaning. When I started at it, I could see the curves telling the loving stroke because it has a curve of a heart. I thought this was a sincere love but could cause pain and harm to both couples.

Alem encircled her arms to me. “I like the place. The paintings and the people.” Her chuckle became visible because she was looking at the guys from different universities. She was lunatic to wink at them. Those boys winked at her, too, then when they were about to come near us Ardent pulled us to his spot where his painting was located.

We stopped at the end of the hallway. I looked up to see the girl in the painting. “Beautiful, right? Like the girl seeing it.”

I could not take my eyes out of the painting. It was perfectly created, my face, nose, lips, hair, and body was look like.

A big smile formed in my lips, my hands raised up to touched every portion of my face in the paintings.

“Do you like it, Anm?” The smile of Ardent was visible.

“Yes. I super like it.” I touched the nose, lips, and cheek. “It is perfect.”

There was an organizer who approached us. “Ardent Laborte, your painting is the best selling. There are ten persons who want to buy your piece. What do you think of that?”

Ardent’s eyes widened, his mouth was opened. He was stunned by how she announced it. “Really? Let them buy it at the most price they deal with! This will cause millions of dollars!” Alem was being blabby that was why Ardent covered her mouth.

“Price is not a problem to me. Who comes first, he or she could take it.” Ardent said with a big smile on her lips.

“Are you sure, Mr. Laborte? The last man offers 10, 000 United States dollars and he said that if you did not tell the deal, he will add more.”

Literally, our jaw fell. Who is that person? He really loves my portrait that what I can guess/. There was no special to it except if that man knows me. He was desperate to buy the piece, maybe saw me in person or what.

“Take it!” Alem voice was high, making the people stare at us. “Ardent will sell that to the last dealer! Right, Ardent?”

Ardent did not do something. He moved his head from left to right. I mean who would be the person who will decline that big opportunity and good price deal?

“To be honest, I will keep this portrait for Anmela, but since I have a buyer I will give it to him. I will just create a new one.”

“Good decision, Ardent! You are going to treat us! Yahoo!” Alem was swaying her hips, making us laugh at her. She does not have any shyness in her body.

“I am shy because of you,” I said that with a mix of jokes. My look went to Ardent. “By the way, thank you for the paint. I look pretty. Seeing the piece makes me happy.”

Ardent stares at me intimately, his looks have something to say, but I do not know what is that. He encircled his arms on my shoulder. I remembered that Laurent wanted me to get away from him. I can’t do that. Maybe I just need to explain to him.

In the middle of our walk, looking at the paintings my phone rang. “Hands off. Say it to him.” My eyes widened. I immediately looked around to find where was Laurent.

“Where are you?”

“Not important. Just get off his hands on you.”

I slowly took off Ardent’s hand and stepped away from him. A little distance separating us. “You are here? Can I see you? Where are you? I will go to you.”

“No. Enjoy the exhibit, but don’t let him touch you. There will be a war. I promised.”

I prevented not to smile. I was being thrilled by his words. My heart was pounding so fast and I could feel the happiness inside of me.

“Bye.” That was his last word. He did not wait for me to say Bye. At least I knew that he cares about me.

Wait a minute. Where is he?

My eyes were looking for him. There was no figure of Laurent that I can see. It feels like he was far from my place or hiding from me. A lot of people, maybe he was just roaming around to look at the paintings, too.

My phone lights on that was why I looked at it. There was a message coming from him.

Don’t look for me. I just glimpse at you.

A beautiful smile came out to my lips. So he went here just to see me? That was so sweet of him. The smile never left me for the whole stay in the exhibit. I enjoyed the various paintings telling the real emotion of the painter.

“Ardent, why did you paint Anmela instead of me?” Alem had a naughty smile on her lips.

I also want to know why I am her model so I listen to his words.

Ardent averted his look at us. “Anmela is pretty and I know that I will win because of her beauty.”

“That is it? Nothing feeling involved?” Alem did not leave Ardent with just a single question.

He just smiled at us. “No feelings involved.”