Starlight for love.

(Chapter 5) : Inner peace ✌

The aroma of freshly baked cookies filled Ella’s cozy apartment, a comforting scent that did little to ease the tension simmering between her two best friends, James and Liam. They were sprawled on her plush rug, ostensibly engaged in a casual conversation about their favorite artists, but the air crackled with unspoken animosity, a silent battle waged with pointed glances and thinly veiled insults. Ella, perched on the armrest of her sofa, watched them with growing unease, a knot of confusion tightening in her stomach.

"My favorite artist has always been Van Gogh," Liam began, his voice smooth, almost too smooth, as if carefully choosing each word. He casually strummed a chord on his guitar, a nervous habit that Ella had noticed was particularly pronounced whenever James was around.

James, who had been sketching in his notebook, looked up, his gaze sharp and intense. "Van Gogh? Really? Overrated," he said, his voice flat, devoid of any hint of genuine disagreement. It was a clear provocation, a deliberate attempt to ignite their simmering conflict.

"Overrated?" Liam echoed, his voice rising slightly. "His use of color, his emotional intensity, his ability to capture the raw energy of life…how can you call that overrated?"

"Because it's cliché," James retorted, his eyes fixed on Liam, a challenge in his gaze. "It's the kind of artist everyone claims to love, but few truly understand."

"And you, Mr. Basketball Star, claim to understand art?" Liam countered, a smirk playing on his lips. "Last time I checked, your artistic talents extend to doodling basketballs on your notebooks."

James slammed his notebook shut, his eyes blazing. "At least I'm not obsessed with self-promotion, with desperately seeking validation through mediocre music," he snapped.

"And at least I'm not obsessed with winning, with crushing anyone who stands in my way," Liam retorted, his voice equally sharp. "Unlike some people, I actually have a passion, something more meaningful than a fleeting moment of glory on a court."

"Oh, I have passions too," James said, his voice dangerously low. "And one of them is spending time with Ella, something you seem determined to prevent."

Ella, who had been patiently trying to ignore their escalating conflict, finally intervened. "Guys," she said, her voice a little shaky, "this is ridiculous. We're supposed to be talking about our favorite artists, not tearing each other apart."

"He started it," James muttered, his gaze still fixed on Liam.

"No, you started it," Liam countered, his eyes narrowed.

Ella sighed, rubbing her temples. "Look," she said, trying to maintain a calm tone, "I get that you both…have feelings for me. But this constant bickering, this animosity…it's exhausting. And frankly, it's disrespectful."

"I'm not trying to disrespect you, Ella," James said, his voice softening slightly. "It's just…I can't stand him."

"And I can't stand him either," Liam added, his voice equally subdued.

Ella looked from one to the other, her confusion growing. "But why?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine bewilderment. "Why do you two hate each other so much?"

James and Liam exchanged a long, tense look, neither of them answering. The unspoken feelings, the simmering resentment, the silent competition – it all hung heavy in the air, a suffocating cloud of unspoken emotions. Ella knew, deep down, that their rivalry was far more complex than a simple competition for her affection. It was a clash of personalities, of ambitions, of deeply rooted insecurities. And until they could confront those underlying issues, their animosity would continue to cast a long shadow over their friendship, leaving Ella caught in the middle, desperately wishing for a resolution that seemed further away than ever. The aroma of cookies, once comforting, now felt heavy and cloying, a stark contrast to the bitter taste of their unresolved conflict.