MOANS BEHIND THE EASEL

Chapter 2

NIKOLETTE’s  POV

I smiled and walked home feeling happy. Nightfall came. It was just me and my Rubie razor blade again, thinking what kind of s***h I would make on my skin. I remembered how I hurriedly canceled my art exhibit because of that call. I felt so down, disappointed, and hurt.

My father was safe. He didn't have any illness. He just staged everything for me to stop my exhibit. How can a father like him manage to do this on his own daughter? 

I held the blade near my skin and slowly sliced it, letting my blood flow and stained my bedsheets. I didn't wipe it. I just let it drip after cutting my skin again and again.

I'm so tired of this life. Why does the angel of death seem to forget me? Does the ONE up there didn't notice my hardships? My pain and hatred?

I felt the pain of my slashed skin and flashes of my heated argument with my father flashbacked in my mind.

"Mom? Dad had an attack. I will cancel this exhibit first, then we will leave." I immediately called the organizers to cancel the event.

I drove towards the city infirmary. We asked the nurses' station, but they didn't have a patient name like my father.

I let them check their records thrice, but nothing.

Then the realization hits me. 

"He tricked me, Mom?" I can't believe it.

"Ley, calm down. Let me talk to him."

"No, Mom! This is too much. I can't let this pass!" I ran towards my car and left my mother and sister calling my name.

I drove to my parents' house, and I saw my Dad sitting in the living room.

"I know you will come here. How's the exhibit?" He was sitting on the soft cushion, sipping his wine. 

"Why did you do that? Don't you know how much effort I exerted for that exhibit!?" I shouted at him. I couldn’t tolerate this anymore.

"I don't care about your efforts on your trash. I would gladly appreciate it if it was on medicine, Nikola. Not that lewd and disgusting things." He raised his voice on me. Trying to scare me. But I am not scared anymore.

I wanted to strangle him.

"Why can't you be happy for me? Why do my mistakes and misfortune always make you happy? Are you satisfied that I am suffering? Do you know what I've been through?! You don't because you are just thinking about being a doctor, medicine, medicine, and f*****g medicines!"

I heaved my breath. My chest was filled with rage.

"No matter what you do, you will always be a disappointment to this family. Leave now, or I will drag you out." He glared at me.

"I will not step in this house again until you die." I pointed at him, and I rushed out of the house.

My chest is very heavy. But I can't cry.

I needed my razor. My calming cure. 

Seemed like I was born with bad luck beside me.

I woke up early, and I saw my wrist with dried blood. My mom didn't come here. 

I showered and removed the remnants of the blood on my wrist, and I bandaged it again. 

Then John called me. 

"Ley. Last night I was looking for you." 

"Sorry, John. Something happened, what's up?"

"My brother really wants you to paint him. He will wire you the payment immediately now." 

Why not? I don't have anything to do. 

"Fine. Let him come to my studio, and we will start immediately." 

John dropped the call, and after a few minutes, he called again. 

"I gave him your bank account, and he already deposited the payment. Sorry, but he is persistent." 

I shook my head. "Okay. I'll wait for him.” 

I immediately moved to prepare my things, and I opened my studio on the first floor of this building. I rented a whole unit downstairs of this condominium building to serve as my painting studio. 

I didn't wait for long when a handsome man came in. 

I rarely look at the opposite s*x person ever since Frank happened. But this guy in front of me managed to make my knees wobble. 

"Hi, come in. You must be the brother of John?" I opened the door widely to fit his huge frame. 

His eyes were fixated on me, making the hairs of my nape rise. 

He blinked for a while and smiled.

"Adamson Alistair Bossini, but I am not bossy. It's a surname. I'm thrilled to meet you." He offered his hand, and I accepted it formally. I was stunned when I didn't flinch in his touch. 

Usually, I will flinch or jolt if other men accidentally touch me, followed by my anxiety attack. But Adam wasn't one of them. Maybe because he was the brother of my male best friend? 

I wonder. 

"Nikolette Gutterez, sit down.” I motioned him to the couch. 

He sat down. 

I discussed my rules as a painter, and he willingly listened to me, nodding from time to time. He was sitting on my small couch with his maroon three-piece suit. 

He looked calm and collected. Adam smiled when he caught me staring at him. 

I looked away and finished my discussion. 

After that, we started by sketching him on the big blank canvas. 

I was in front of the canvas while Adam was posing for me on a small platform, only a thin cloth covered his crotch area, but his massive manhood was visible. I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking. I suddenly felt hot and nervous. 

"Are you doing the right thing?" Adam's teasing voice made my ears irk up. 

I sigh. "I'm not sure. Please, get dressed. I'm uncomfortable." I couldn’t look him in the eyes.

"Why so? I thought you were used to seeing c***s in different sizes because you are a nude painter. I already paid you. Do your job." Adam raised his brows. He didn’t sound arrogant, but instead, he sounded funny. Like he was teasing me. 

"I'll give you back the payment. I can't paint you." I took a step back when he started to stride towards me. 

"Or, perhaps. You have a hots for me, Ms. Nude Painter?" Adam walked closer, still naked.

I felt petrified while looking at the man walking towards me. He was like a God from Greek mythology.

His muscles were in the right places, not to mention that he was really a "big deal" down there. My eyes raked his body. 

"Eyes up, painter," he commanded.

I looked straight into his eyes. My face heated up. 

"I can get any painter I want to paint me, but there is a reason why I want you to do it for me." Adam looked at me then he wiped the smudge of paint on my nose.

"Huh!? What do you mean?" I was still in shock; dodging his touch, I took a step back. 

"I like you. I adore you, and I am falling for you by just looking at you in any exhibit. I am showing my affection by buying your arts," Adam said straightforwardly, which caught me off guard. 

Did the heavens open, and the ONE up there noticed that I am unfortunate and made a joke by using this man in front of me?