𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 | ᵃⁿᵈʳᵉʷ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˢʰˡᵉʸ ˣ ᶠᵉᵐ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

chapter 11

there was no one in the art building since it was early in the morning as i was on my way to the office. "well look we have here... y/n. what are you up to in this goddamn morning?" i steal a glance when i heard a familiar voice and it was from my colleague, or more like rival artists, octavia. as usual, even though we are rivals and i still treated her nicely "via... it's nice to see you on this lovely morning" i gave her the gentle smile i could ever wear and she starts to fluster somehow

"i-i told you not to call me that! it sounds like shit when it comes from your mouth!" she was red, flustered and i was already annoyed that i bumped into her right now. i changed the topic by asking if our supervisor was here and occupied but she got suspicious about why would i want to see him. "i'm just getting my monthly payment" i started to walk away to go inside the office and via stood outside just like she always do when i was inside to see the supervisor

after i received the payment, i asked for the limitation of how i usually get but he didn't mind since i put some words to words to the reason i expended the payment. the sun is almost rising and is still pretty dark, i walk to my studio room but it's only small which each of the artists in the company has as they are allowed to paint whenever inspiration hits

"... you're painting now?" via asked and i nodded as i told her that i won't be around and lied that i'll be going for a holiday to have a break from arts for a while. i look at her in the corner of my eyes after she makes a mental note about my leaving and she is a little upset but she's being cocky and pretends she doesn't care until she asked, "where are you going, y/n? somewhere nice for you to have a little inspiration? because that's lame... going on a break.. somewhere far..."

'for fuck sake.... can't you just leave me the fuck alone??'

i didn't reply to her and gave her a reassuring smile as i prepared for the painting. "you're here for advice for your artwork, via? i'll be happy to help" i offered her help even though i didn't want to. via was slightly stuttering and she refused by being her mighty self again as if she was better than me but she finally gave in, "it's not like i admit defeat, okay!? i-i just want to make fun of you for how wrong you're techniques"

via sitting on the stool in front of the easel and i put the pallet beside her "let's start with green and then... we'll go with pink!" i exclaimed happily as i swirled the brush with green oil paint and felt somehow peace and happy when i saw the color. i drew my brush everywhere on the canvas as if i danced in my brush and showed its very own art

"... you always use the same colors in every of your work... why? to be honest, those two colors don't really look nice if it's blended anyway..." via said as she already looked bored somehow with my choice of color but still stay there to watch me painting. "oh via... as an artist... we don't say that do we..? after all, i'm using the color for my very own inspiration... and the things i'm feeling right now"

via look at me slightly and ask if i have any lovers which is so annoying of her to even ask me. "lover...? maybe i do and maybe i don't... it's always the one we love that inspired the artist right?" i said as i kept smiling warmly when i talked about it and still painting. via went silent and i could feel her eyes on me but i didn't care because all it mattered was the painting i'm working on

"... must be nice to be in love, huh? ... you'll be grey and brown for those two colors. that seems just like you... plain and nice but empty" she said all that with a little hint of sadness as she gazed at the palette and it made me stop with her every word. i repeat her word 'empty' over and over again since it made me pissed that i drop my brush at the side of my easel on my small table