UNFINISHED PAINTING
1118 Words
CLEO
“Not bad,” Isabel commented after entering the room I now use as an art studio.
My shoulders jolted in surprise, and I almost messed up the painting I had been working on for days. I was too focused that I didn’t even notice her arrival.
Isabel’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought you noticed me. I even knocked.”
I put down the paintbrush and waved my hands slightly. “It’s alright. It’s on me. I was just too focused, I guess.”
“You’re doing well, especially for a beginner,” she inched closer and tilted her head a bit.
I chuckled awkwardly, “I’m cooped up in this place. I have lots of time to practice. Hey, at least you didn’t have to scold me for trying to do all the house chores before you.” I joked, trying to shift the topic as I feel a little shy.
“I suppose that’s a plus.” She agreed with a grin before looking at the half-finished painting. “
“Is that… the gardens of the pack house?” She asked again, eyeing at the details I’ve painted.
My eyes smiled before my lips curled. She recognized it. That means it’s quite decent.
I nodded eagerly, “Yes, it is. I’m glad you recognize it.”
“Why, though?” Isabel asked curiously.
My face tinted red. It was the place where Alpha Solan and I got to know each other better, the most decent conversation we had without all the drama and such. It’s where he shared the stuff about his mother, how he adores the last piece of memories he had with his mother.
“It’s a beautiful landscape.” I answered simply, still smiling, “I want to capture that moment.”
She nodded and smiled softly, “You’re certainly doing it. You have a gentle touch, and it shows in your work. The scenery felt alive and very… warm.”
I laughed lightly, lowering my gaze to look at the palette. “You really think so? Or are you just saying that so I’d continue painting and won’t bother you from working?”
Isabel shrugged, “It could be both, you know.”
“But seriously,” she added, “Maybe it’s because you’re painting from a precious memory that makes it warm. It must be a fond one. One with your mate, probably.” Isabel threw a guess and glanced at me to confirm her assumption.
“Maybe,” I said, though my face already heated up as if I was caught red-handed. Well, it wasn’t so hard to guess that.
I don’t think I’ll have the chance to go back to the gardens anytime soon, especially since Vera is so close to killing me when I got there. Still, that precious moment was still fresh in my mind. I remember how he looked at the carvings based on his mother’s old paintings, how his eyes softened as he reminisced about the sweet past.
“You miss him, don’t you?” Isabel said gently, not as a question but a quiet observation.
“I…” I trailed off, trying to form my thoughts better, but ended up giving up and sighed before giving her a helpless smile. “I guess I do. It’s strange, isn’t it? We barely spent much time together, and yet…”
“It’s the bond,” Isabel answered without any doubt, “They said the mate bond makes every moment with your mate precious and unforgettable. Distance doesn’t easily hinder it. It’s the bond formed by the Goddess herself, after all.”
I turned back to the canvas, adding another soft stroke of color near the trees, carefully mixing the colors to make it seem real. “Sometimes, I wonder if it’s just that,” I admitted, “That it’s just the bond that makes us feel this way.”
“Do you feel that the king’s emotions weren’t real?” She threw the question back, making me freeze.
I immediately shook my head. “No, not at all. Everything felt so real. Alpha Solan… he’s a very warm person. No one has ever treated me like that aside from my mother.”
“Your mate bond lets you feel each other’s true emotions. If you feel it’s real, then it is real. You don’t have to doubt that.”
My heart skipped a beat hearing her remark. It’s been bothering me for a while, but her assurance calmed my heart.
“Thank you, Isabel,” I said with a grateful smile.
She shrugged and went back to her usual expression, “You don’t have to. You didn’t hear anything from me.”
I quickly got what she meant and simply nodded, “Yeah. You never told me anything because you’re very neutral and indifferent to the omega mate of the king you are assigned to serve.” I answered, already used to how this place works.
She fought the urge to smile and kept a straight face. “Keep working on that. I’ll bring you some tea later,” Isabel finished, turning toward the door but glancing back with a knowing look. “But don’t tire yourself out too much. You still need to rest.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered and focused on the canvas once again.
I brushed another layer of green on the trees, thinking it was much darker in my memory. I paused when I saw the empty spot on the bench in the painting, wanting to paint us last after the painting was nearly done.
A small smile shone on my face, but the happiness soon gave way to longing. I miss him a lot, and I really hope we can spend some time together again outside of the bedroom and my duty as his baby maker.
I slowly got up from the stool, put down the palette, and sighed. “And that’s my cue to rest.”
Still, I couldn’t help but stare at the unfinished painting.
“Think about the present, Cleo. Focus on the present.” I chanted, willing myself to stop overthinking.
I went out of the room and planned to make the tea myself. For sure, Isabel would complain, but I’ll just sneak inside the kitchen.
My plan halted when I heard knocks on the main entrance. I approached it curiously and opened the door, finding Theodore wearing a nervous smile.
“Theodore, hi. It’s been a while.” I greeted with a small smile. “Do you need something?”
He gave a small nod, “Yes, I have something important to ask about.”
- Writer
