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Chapter 10
“Surprised, aren’t you?”
Rolin laughed as he led me into the campus, heading straight for the Department of Fine Arts.
Turns out, tonight was the opening of the summer student exhibition.
It hit me the second I stepped inside.
It was at a night just like this–during a student gallery show–that I first met Mason
Inside the exhibit hall, surrounded by bright, passionate faces and fearless energy, I instantly understood what Rolin had brought me
here to see
My recent work had felt… lifeless.
It lacked energy. Spirit. That raw drive.
Back then, when I first entered the art college and snagged my first design award so quickly, it wasn’t about technical skill.
It was about passion
That bold, fearless confidence of someone with nothing to lose.
And I’d lost it somewhere along the way.
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “I get it now!
Rolin grinned, clearly pleased. Then his usual teasing tone returned.
“Knew it. My muse wasn’t stuck, just a little rusty.”
I shot him a look, suddenly flustered.
He quickly added, “Hey, don’t feel pressured or anything, I didn’t just bring you here for your sake, I’m also scouting for some fresh. talent for my team.”
Then he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me to wander freely.
And honestly? I was happy to be left alone.
I wanted to take it all in.
Until–hidden away in one of the prep rooms–I saw one of my own old paintings.”
My painting. From years ago.
It shouldn’t have been here.
I stared at it for so long, the staff member nearby finally spoke up.
“These are older works from alumni. That one was actually purchased last week. It’s not part of the exhibition.
Wait–sold?
Someone bought my painting?
I was about to ask more when Rolin yanked me away.
Everyone had gathered in the main square for a live challenge.
“Speed painting round! You In?”
“Absolutely not.” I instinctively stepped back.
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But Rolin shoved a paint kit into my hands and pushed me toward the stage
From the crowd, he shouted, “If you win, I’ll greenlight your design! Come on, my muse goddess!”
Of course he’d cause a scene.
But this was
the Department of Fine Arts. The crowd loved it.
Everyone joined in cheering, and the energy exploded.
It was wild–insane.
Maybe it was the atmosphere, or maybe it was just me missing that fearless, younger version of myself-
But damn it.
It was just painting.
So I picked up the brush and stared at the blank canvas.
The crowd faded. The only sound was the smear of paint, the beat of
my
heart.
The theme was “Myself!
As I sketched the first lines, my mind ran through everything that had happened these past years.
I’d planned to paint a self–portrait.
But somehow, Mason’s face emerged.
Wait-
Had I really built my entire sell around Mason?
I set the brush down.
“Ten minutes left!” the host called.
I looked at the half–finished portrait and felt frustrated.
No.
Mason was Mason. But I was still me.
I wasn’t just a woman in his shadow.
With a deep breath, I pulled my messy hair back into a bun using a pencil–just like I used to in college.
And then I painted like hell.
For the last ten minutes, I didn’t hear the crowd. Just my pulse. My breath. The scratch of brush against canvas.
“Time’s up!”
The host’s voice snapped ine out of it
The votes were quick, and when the results canie in–my painting placed third.
Thurd.
And I burst into tears.
Rolin rushed to my side and pulled me into a hug.
“Hey now, come on. It’s just a friendly throwdown. Third place is still amazing.”
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He laughed. “Besides, everyone thought you were my girlfriend anyway. That guy in the red X? They all think you painted me.”
I rolled my eyes and lightly punched his arm.
The final version of my painting?
It showed Mason’s figure in the background, crossed out in bright red.
And in the foreground–me. Alone, centered, finally standing in my own light.
Amid all the noise and excitement, I saw Mason standing in the crowd, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Sabrina,” he said, his voice cutting through everything. “This was the ‘thing‘ you had tonight?”
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