The Sweet Sting of Jealousy

As she entered the library, Akai's eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face. And then, she spotted Charlotte, sitting by the window, her nose buried in a book. Akai approached her.As Charlotte looked up, her eyes locking onto Akai's, and a bright smile spread across her face.

Akai smiled back, her feet moving towards Charlotte as if drawn by an invisible force. "Hello,Charlotte," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Did I disturb you by calling you suddenly?" Charlotte asked, her eyes sparkling with concern.

Akai shook her head, her ponytail swishing behind her. "No, not at all," she replied, her eyes locked onto Charlotte's. "I was thinking of doing this project with you." Charlotte's face lit up, her eyes shining with excitement. "That sounds amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Akai took the leaflet from Charlotte's hand, her eyes scanning the page. The project was an art competition, themed "Artistic Expression". They were to create a mixed-media piece that represented their personal artistic style and expression.

This art competition was a highly anticipated event in the art world. It was a platform for young artists to showcase their talents, creativity, and unique perspectives. The competition was open to students from various schools, and the response was overwhelming.

A panel of renowned art experts and critics would judge the submissions, looking for originality, technique, and emotional resonance. The winner would receive a prestigious award, a cash prize, and a chance to exhibit their work in a prominent art gallery.

The competition was divided into three categories: painting, sculpture, and mixed media.

"This is incredible!" Akai exclaimed. "I love the theme!" Charlotte beamed with pride. "I knew you'd like it!" she said. "We can use recycled materials, paint, markers, anything we want to create our piece." Akai's eyes sparkled with creativity. "The possibilities are endless!" she said.

Charlotte grinned, her eyes shining with excitement. "That's great then," she exclaimed. "We can start brainstorming and get to work!" Akai nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. "Let's do it!" she said, her voice filled with determination.

After discussing the project with Charlotte, Akai decided to head to the grocery mall, "FreshMart", to pick up some ingredients for dinner. As she walked through the sliding glass doors, she was greeted by the familiar sight of neatly stacked shelves and the hum of friendly chatter. Her stomach growled with anticipation as she made her way to the meat section.

"Hey there, Akai! What brings you in today?" asked Mr. Jenkins, the friendly butcher. Akai smiled, "Hello, Mr. Jenkins! How do you do ?I'm going to make a special recipe tonight that my grandma loves, and I need some fresh ingredients." Mr. Jenkins' face lit up, "Ah, that's great! Your grandma's recipes are always a hit! How is she doing, by the way?"

Akai's eyes warmed with fondness, "She's doing great, thanks for asking! I'm actually making this dish for her." Mr. Jenkins nodded, "Well, I've got just the thing for you. Let me grab some fresh goodies, and I'll even throw in some tips for that recipe." Akai's face lit up with gratitude, "Thanks, Mr. Jenkins! I appreciate your help. Have a great day!"

She couldn't wait to see the look on her grandma's face when she presented her with the finished dish. She made her way to the checkout counter, her heart full of warmth.

As she was walking through the mall in the limited edition of the chocolate section, she saw Ryder accompanied by another woman, her face she couldn't see as her back was towards Akai. Ryder hadn't noticed her yet. Akai decided to greet him. She was upset that when she went to his house he was absent, but now on seeing him her mood improved. As she stepped forward, she saw the woman accompanied him was holding a chocolate towards his face. After sometime, he took the chocolate from her hand. The woman giggled on his action. As Akai saw her side profile, she came to know it is not other than Savannah.

Akai's eyes widened as she took in the scene - Ryder and Savannah standing close together, their faces inches apart. As she approached them, Akai felt a pang of jealousy and sadness wash over her. She saw how happy Savannah was, standing close to Ryder, and how carefree they seemed together. Akai's eyes pricked with tears as she realized she was witnessing a moment she had hoped to share with Ryder herself. She had been excited to show him the new chocolates ,the gift she got but now it seemed like he was too preoccupied with Savannah to even notice her.

Feeling a lump form in her throat, Akai decided not to interrupt them. She didn't want to intrude on their moment, and she didn't feel like forcing her presence on Ryder when he was clearly engaged with someone else. With a heavy heart, she turned towards the exit, her eyes brimming with tears. She had hoped to share a sweet moment with Ryder, but it seemed like that was not meant to be.