art shivers

Chapter 2

When I closed the door, I was flooded with flashbacks, feeling an exciting curiosity about the new, handsome stranger I had met.

I decided to take a nap, not just a quick one, but a solid two-hour sleep. After waking up, I had a meal and immediately started working on a new art piece. With no homework to worry about, I could create something straight from my imagination, aligning it with my existing collection. My focus was on depicting bodies – their shapes, both perfect and imperfect, the intricate details, faces, and the diverse range of skin colors.

Three hours into my work, with music blasting loudly in the background, I heard a knock on my room's door. It was my roommate, inviting me to join them for coffee. They had been gathering, and I was missed. I obliged, and as we sat down, we began discussing how life was treating us. It seemed like everyone was sharing updates on their love lives in turn. When it came to my turn, all eyes were on me, expecting something new beyond the usual stories about studies and friend conflicts.

I felt a bit awkward, opening my mouth to speak several times, only to close it, unsure if what I had to say was worth sharing. Eventually, Israe broke the silence, urging me on, "We've been waiting for you to spill the beans all morning. We still have things to discuss. Hurry up, girl!"

Reluctantly, I began, "Well, okay. So, today I was on my way back home, and I ended up vomiting. But here's the interesting part – a really nice, incredibly handsome guy came to my aid. He helped me out, bought me some things, and even accompanied me on my way because he was worried I might vomit again. He was so caring. When I was almost here, he asked for my number, but I gave him my Instagram, and that's all. Nothing special."

Amal chimed in, "All of that, and you say it's nothing special?"

Israe was eager to see his Instagram account, and Wiam was equally intrigued. I shared it with them, commenting, "That's him, though he looks even better in person."

Wiam responded, "Love at first sight, huh?"

Israe added, "He's so handsome and caring. I think he likes you. It's time to teach you some lessons about how to handle a guy."

Amal teased, "And how to act on the first date."

I watched them, a mix of shock and laughter on my face, saying, "Hey, I told you he helped me; he didn't ask for a relationship! Calm down, girls!"

Wiam, in a hushed tone, whispered, "He will ask sooner or later. No worries, baby."

I retorted, "Well, who said I want to be in a relationship now? Come on! I'm not even free for dating..."

Israe intervened, "I'm not wasting my energy on you now. We'll wait until he asks for a date, and then we'll give you advice. You'll understand later."

I agreed, "Okay, bestie. Just don't get mad. Come here, hug me..."

Amal chimed in, "And me?"

Wiam playfully added, "What about me?"

I laughed, saying, "All of you!"

After hugging the girls, I returned to my room to continue working on my painting before the paint dried completely. Just as I was getting back into my creative zone, my phone rang, and I noticed a notification on Instagram. It was him saying, "Hey..."

I replied with a simple, "Hello."

He asked, "How are you, girl? How are you feeling now?"

I responded, "All good, thanks for asking. And you?"

His reply had a flirtatious tone, "Yes, I'm fine if you are 😉."

I thought to myself that he was trying to flirt, so I decided to see where this was going.