Canvas and Melody (Arts & Love Series #2)

CHAPTER 15

Chapter 15

LOVE'S CHALLENGES

After Liam―Eclipse perform for the couple, I was adding the final touches to the painting, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Ma'am Naomi, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"Harmony, this is breathtaking," she said. "The couple is going to love it."

"Thank you, Ma'am Naomi," I replied, smiling. "I'm glad you like it."

"You've captured the essence of the wedding beautifully in your painting. It's going to be a cherished memory for the couple."

I nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the completed artwork. "I wanted to make sure every detail reflected the love and joy of this special day."

"You've certainly achieved that," she praised. "Harmony, I have something for you." She reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope. "This is an invitation to exhibit your work once again at our gallery, mahaba-habang preparasyon pa ito dahil after two months pa naman ito."

My eyes widened in surprise and excitement. "Oh, wow! Thank you so much, Ma'am Naomi. This is a dream come true!"

"You've shown exceptional talent and dedication," she continued. "Your art deserves a wider audience, and I believe our gallery is the perfect platform for that."

I accepted the invitation with gratitude, feeling a surge of confidence and motivation. "I won't let you down, Ma'am Naomi. I'll work hard to create pieces that resonate with people."

"I have no doubt about that," she said encouragingly. "Keep pushing boundaries and exploring your creativity. The art world needs voices like yours." She glanced around the garden. "By the way, there's someone here who wants to meet you. He's a big fan of your work."

My curiosity piqued, I followed her gaze and saw a man standing near the edge of the garden, looking at my painting with admiration. As I approached, my heart skipped a beat. It was Liam.

He turned to me with a warm smile. "Hi, Hanny. Your painting is incredible."

"Salamat." Nginitian ko rin siya. "Galing mo rin kanina," I grab both of his hands. "Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na ang taong nasa harapan ko ay ang pinakasikat na singer ngayon."

He chuckled, pinisil pa niya ang ilong ko. "You always know how to make me feel special."

"Bakit, hindi ka ba special?" I teased, feeling a rush of happiness in his presence.

As we talked, Liam's hand slipped into mine, and we found ourselves drawn to a quiet corner. The soft glow of the evening lights created a romantic atmosphere around us. Liam looked into my eyes, his gaze filled with warmth and affection.

"Hanny," he whispered, "being with you feels like a dream come true. You inspire me in ways I never imagined."

I blushed at his words, feeling a deep connection between us. "And you, Liam, you make every moment magical. I love you."

Instead of answering back, he pinned me and kiss me passionately. I envelop my arms around his neck, his left hand is exploring my curves. May kung anong pakiramdam ang nabuhay sa loob ko, we stop kissing and stared for a while.

"Baka may makakita sa ating dalawa." I said, worried that someone might know him.

"I make sure that this is a safe place." He look at my lips and I unconsciously bit my lower lip.

The desire is building up between us, at kusa na akong lumakbay patungo sa kanya upang angkinin ang kanyang mapupulang labi. His left hand that is exploring my body, were found on my br*ast. Pinisil niya ito and a soft moan escape my mouth, hindi rin ako nakapagpigil at dinala ko ang aking kamay sa alaga niyang buhay na buhay.

Nagsisimula pa kaming mag-init ngunit nahinto ang ginagawa namin dahil may narinig kaming may nagkwe-kwentuhan. Nang lumampas na sila ay nagtinginan kami muli at napatawa na lang. Pinagdikit namin ang aming mga noo.

"Panira! Nabitin ako, Hanny. Pwede bang ituloy natin?"

"Liam, hindi pwede. Baka may makakita na talaga sa atin."

As we walked towards the exit, the tension between us seemed to thicken with each step. Liam's earlier suggestion lingered in the air, an unspoken invitation to continue our intimacy.

"Sabay ka na sa akin umuwi, let's continue our evening at your condo," he suggested, his voice low and suggestive, his eyes locking onto mine with a mix of desire and longing.

I hesitated, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks at his boldness. "Your lips are too daring," I replied, trying to lighten the mood with a playful smile. "Paano kung may makarinig? I'm sorry, but that's not possible. It might cause issues if they see you here with me, especially with your Eclipse persona." I tried to tone down my voice.

His expression shifted, a hint of disappointment crossing his features before he masked it with a nod of understanding. "You're right, it's better to be cautious," he conceded. "I just wish we could have more private moments like this."

His words echoed my own desires, and for a moment, the weight of our hidden relationship pressed down on us. "Me too," I admitted softly, "but we'll find our moments."

Habang hinihintay namin ang kotse niya, the unresolved tension simmered between us, fueling the growing unease. Liam's frustration was palpable, evident in the way he clenched his jaw and the slight edge to his voice. "I just don't understand why we have to hide everything," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the ground as if searching for answers.

"I'm not hiding anything, Liam," I replied, my own emotions bubbling to the surface. "I just want to avoid unnecessary complications. You know how delicate our situation is, especially with your public image and my own commitments."

The silence between us was heavy with unspoken words, each of us lost in our thoughts. I stole glances at Liam, his profile illuminated by the passing headlight of the approaching car, his expression a mix of frustration and longing.

"I just want us to be free, to not have to hide," Liam broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of desperation. "I want to be able to show the world how much you mean to me."

"I understand, Liam, I do," I replied, reaching out to touch his hand in a gesture of reassurance. "But we have to be careful. We can't risk everything we've built, especially now that you're gaining more recognition as Eclipse."

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. "I know, I know," he muttered, his tone resigned. "It's just hard, you know? To love someone so deeply but not be able to shout it from the rooftops."

"I feel the same way, Liam," I admitted, my voice softening with emotion. "But we have each other, and we'll find a way to navigate through this. Our love is worth the patience and the sacrifices."

Nang may pumara nang itim na sasakyan ay tumayo ako gilid, the car was familiar. Ito yung sasakyan na sinakyan ko nung hinatid nila ako pauwi sa dati kong apartment. Bumukas ang pinto ng sasakyan at agad na sumakay si Liam without even looking at me. I know and I understand, he is upset.

As I entered my condo, a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts churned inside me. Liam's words echoed in my mind, his longing and frustration palpable even in the silence of the room.

"Is this really what we've become?" I wondered aloud, pacing the room as memories flooded my mind.

Without pausing, I made my way to my art corner, where my painting materials awaited. The canvas stood tall, a blank slate waiting to be infused with emotions and memories.

"I used to paint with such clarity, pero ngayon gulong-gulo na," I mused, picking up a brush and dipping it in paint. The colors swirled together, reflecting the chaos of my thoughts.

As I sketched on the canvas, my mind replayed moments with Liam—the stolen glances, the whispered confessions, the hidden embraces. "We were so careful, so cautious," I whispered to no one in particular, my voice filled with longing.

Each stroke on the canvas was deliberate yet spontaneous, mirroring the complexity of our relationship. "How do you capture a love that's meant to be hidden?" I asked the empty room, my heart heavy with the weight of our secret.

Hours passed, but I was lost in the world of colors and emotions. The painting evolved into a masterpiece, capturing the essence of our love—the struggles, the passion, the hope.

"Parang tayo lang, Liam," I murmured, stepping back to admire the painting. "A blend of light and darkness, of joy and pain. A love that defies definition."

With a sigh, I gazed at the painting, my eyes tracing the curves and lines that told our story. "This is our unspoken truth," I whispered, a tear slipping down my cheek.