Chapter 4: Something is there between you and me
1530 Words
HOPE POV
After a hectic day, it is time to relax at home, sweet home.
With a cup of coffee and some music. I wanted to finish my painting with some final strokes.
I needed to submit it before Sunday for the Art exhibition for child orphanage society.
Blissful weather, evening sunlight, and a jovial mood gave me a new level for my strokes.
Immersed in my work for more than an hour, to get a final look, I took a few steps back and sensed something was behind me.
Petrified, I turned and hit something.
It was Ian, standing right behind me.
By mistake, I spilled my palette colors on him.
Confused with what just had happened and trying to control my giggle, I bit my lips.
"I am so... sorry, let me clean it for you."
I grabbed a piece of cloth and tried to wipe his t-shirt nervously.
I glanced at his chest and saw the thin T-shirt straining to cover his 8-packs.
Forced my eyes to look up to his face, but his deep blue oceanic eyes were looking at me already.
It felt like it immobilized my bones with his alluring gaze, trying hard to get myself away from him.
Suddenly I heard a familiar voice.
"Lemon, where are you? Did you finish your painting? We need to submit it by tomorrow."
It’s Melon, wanted to ask all questions in one breath.
"I am at the terrace, come and see I have completed the work." I purred.
"Lemon... Who... you?"
Ian tried to compose himself in a good way and whispered.
I looked at him with my wide eyes to warn him, never to ask this question again.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? And why is he covered in paint? What's going on here?"
Melon interrogated him.
With a fist, Melon changed her direction towards Ian.
She was vigilant for me.
"Stop... stop Melon,"
I screamed and grabbed her fists before she punched Ian.
Ian stood like a puppet watching everything and not able to understand purred.
"Hi, I am Ian... your neighbor Mr. and Mrs. Smith's grandson." pointing towards his room across the terrace.
Unconvinced Melon, looked at me for confirmation.
I nodded a yes.
"I met him this morning. He dropped me to the office."
Tried to convince Melon curiosity, I answered all questions.
"But why is he covered with paint?"
Melon tried to control her chuckles.
"It was a mistake." We both said at the same time.
Finally, we all decided to have coffee together after this unusual introduction between these two people.
Ian went to change his clothes.
It was easy for us to see him jump from our place on his terrace with a hop.
"He is kinda strange. How come he can jump here so easily."
Melon Sherlock Holmes, the mind was still working.
I hugged her after watching a protective version of hers.
"Is this beautiful? Come and check her."
Pointing towards my painting, I asked for her feedback.
"Yes, she is beautiful. But it will be more enchanting if any one of her hands slightly misplaced, revealing her boobs."
Exclusive comments by Melon.
"I was waiting for your feedback, and all you wanted to say this."
I gave her an angry look.
"No, all I am saying is if you painted her hand slightly up or down there, you would get more money for this painting."
Melon justified her feedback for a stupid reason.
"Melon, you are correct." Ian interrupted in between and tried to support her.
"Thank you so much. Ian," Melon purred at him with a supportive smile.
I kept quiet and started cleaning my stuff and saw these two were busy talking to each other.
After some time, Melon took the responsibility to make coffee for everyone she went inside.
Ian came to me and tried to help me to pick up the stuff.
He looked at me and smiled.
"Your painting is as beautiful as you." He whispered, looking at me.
"Thank you, but I know you guys didn't like it." I answered with a low voice.
"No, it was a joke. But can I ask you something?" He eagerly asked.
"Why did you paint her like that, so depressed? Is she trying to hide from something or scared to open up to the world?"
That question hit me like a thousand bricks. These were the same words my grandma once told me.
I still remember she told me a man with a pure heart; can read your emotions through your art.
I wondered how Ian could read my emotions through my art.
Melon came, Ian grabbed 2 cups from her and passed it to me.
"Here, Mam," he looked at me and understood I didn't have the words for his question.
"Cheers for a beautiful painter and the future artist."
Melon encouraged me, sensing my wet eyes.
"Cheers... to the best painter."
Ian purred with a warm smile towards me.
"But if possible, please paint that hand a little bit down to reveal.
You know...," Melon appealed.
We all laughed. It was a beautiful day for all; I wondered how Ian met me today, and now we are having coffee together like buddies.
How he knows what I had in my mind while I was painting that picture. He is a kind-hearted man... a pure heart... but I am scared not to fall for anyone. In the end, they all will hurt you.
Ian Pov
I looked at my phone and realized it's time to go home.
While heading towards home, it rewinds a glimpse from today's morning. It made me happy.
A smile popped up with a thought of our conversation about her company and her new CEO.
She didn't have a clue of me being her new boss, Mr. Ian Smith.
I reached home and got to know that my grandparents were going out for dinner, passing my goodbyes to my grandparents. I went up to get a cold shower.
After a relaxing shower, I came out of the room and saw Hope on her terrace.
She looked different in her pajama and white tank top.
She was busy arranging colors in the palette and painting.
Without pondering, I jumped over the terrace to get a genuine view of her painting.
Stood behind her for more than half an hour.
Immersed in her thoughts, she didn't realize my presence behind her.
Thought, to extend my hello but didn't want to disturb this beautiful moment where I can see her.
Suddenly she stood up and took a few steps back towards me.
My heart pounded harder, like never before.
I wanted to hug her badly as she was moving towards me, her body hit my chest that gave me thunder, she turned towards me, and all I can sense was something wet on my chest.
I saw her scared face trying to stop her giggle, and she bit her lower lip.
That lower lip looked like a crushed petal with red ends.
Her pointy nose has a little color on it.
She said sorry, but her eyes were saying something else.
Her emerald eyes roamed around my body, took me all in.
She looked at me, and I saw myself in her deep green eyes.
I wished this moment would freeze. Suddenly we heard a noise.
I heard lemon. Why would somebody called, her lemon?
"Lemon... you... Hope," she gave me an angry look that informed me she doesn't want me to call her lemon.
Ok, I got it. I realized a friend of hers asked so many questions about me.
Before she tried to hit me, I introduced myself as their neighbor.
Hope held her hand and told her that we met today, and I dropped her to the office.
With that thought, we decided to have coffee, but before this, I have to change my t-shirt.
After I came back, I heard Melon was giving her feedback on her painting.
I agreed with her point.
She went to get coffee for everybody.
I saw Hope was quietly doing her work.
I wanted to say you are the most beautiful person I have seen, but I changed my words and complimented her painting with her beauty.
She replied with a depressed look that we didn't like her painting. But I tried to convince her about her painting.
I felt pain in her painting, a scared girl from the world. I asked her if she was trying to hide something here?
She didn't reply, but I could feel there was something more in her eyes.
Her eyes were wet, and I felt helpless.
I wanted to hug her, but before I did something, we heard her friend coming with coffee.
She smiled again, we celebrated our unusual meet and congratulated hope for completing her painting for the Art exhibition.
I came home but unable to forget what happened today.
Today was the best day of my life.
I said to myself, “I met a girl, and I think I am in love with her.
Hope… ”
There is something in between you and me.
- Writer
