15 Art of Life

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time by Thomas Merton"

Those words were imprinted both in my life.

It was simply true, and yet, I was unable to see past through it. Defying everything I have ever wanted for, for just a simple ignorance and pride.

Which in turn destroyed the one thing I am good for.

Art.

"Oi! Get out of the way!"

The voice of someone I knew from before, the man with exceptional talent on painting, Saito Ukiyo. Although his face and tone is always cold, and an unapproachable man famous for his aloofness towards worldly concerns, his talent is exceptional.

With just a plain canvas, he can create a masterpiece.

"Ah! Ying Zen, are you feeling well now?" Mr. Wang asked me out of the blue.

Seeing my classmate's eyes glued on me, I went inside the classroom and smiled lightly towards them.

"I'm sorry for being absent for a long time, I hope you all understand my...circumstance" Feeling a it embarrassed at their obvious display of concern.

They obviously heard the news and was acting all friendly towards me when months ago, we were just classmates in art class and nothing more special than that.

"The guys have their hearts broken by your sudden declaration back then!"

"Yeah! We're so hurt about it!"

"Were so jealous about you!"

Words of envy and admiration where thrown towards me in which I smiled stiffly. Their eyes were trained on my every move and as I turned my head, I happened to see Ukiyo's eyes trained on me too.

Smiling at him out of courtesy, he ignored me and turned his head towards the window. I didn't focus much on him and sit to left corner of the room.

"Okay that's enough!" Mr. Wang continued his lesson and for the second time, I could still feel Ukiyo's eyes trained on me. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I loo towards him and find him looking at me with interest in his eyes.

"And so! I would group this class into four and with that, you would create a masterpiece that would be presented in the upcoming 'Commemoration towards Chinese Artist'. It would also give you some chance to prove yourself worthy to be called as artist!" Mr. Wang enthusiastically said.

The class turned erupted into cheers and hoots, the seemingly stiff atmosphere into a giant mess as they tried to recruit various people in our class that is good in painting. Looking towards the aloof guy being smothered down by our classmate's voice of recruitment, I turned my head towards the guy in glasses recruiting me.

I was about to give him my answer when a hand suddenly took hold of mine.

Before I could decode what's happening, his voice booms towards the room.

"She's mine"

And the room erupted into silence.