The Landlord

fourteen - lightbringer

I let out a heavy breathe as I observe my painting. I don't know how to interpret this to everyone. I did not plan this, my hands just helped my emotions to get out. As I discern my work, it shows a girl with 2 shadows. A dark one and light one. If you would think that it represents myself, then you are wrong. The inspiration of my work is that giant, gorgeous and dominant Principal in front of me. Larissa, please stay out of my mind. I know that Brienne is somehow considering us dating but I cannot stop thinking about Larissa. She's all I can think of whatever I'm doing and I know it's wrong, yet I cannot help myself.

"Hey, Aliyah. That is a nice work." I glanced at the woman who complimented my work, it's one of my classmates. "I'm Amelia, Lia in short. The class mayor." she offered a handshake which I gladly accepted.

"Hi!" I did not respond much because I was focused on observing my work. I am really fighting for this.

"I'm Principal Weems' co-judge. Not to really spoil you but there are only 3 works that will compete and I am the one choosing those three and then the rest is in Principal Weems' hands. I assure you that you're one of them." she winked at me, "Piece of advice, do better in your interpretation coz you'll be presenting it. Goodluck!" she waved before leaving.

Damn. I'm more nervous about explaining this work. As much as possible, I don't want Principal Weems to think that I painted this because of her...although it's really because of her.

"Alright, time is up. Brushes up. Put all your paintings in front." Principal Weems instructed, "Amelia already talked to me about her top 3 and I am very delighted to tell you that we have the same thoughts."

I tightened my grip when I felt the nervousness inside me. I am not really competitive especially with my works, but this Florence girl really got into my nerves. As of now, I'm very competitive about this activity and I would cry if I didn't win.

"Please step forward Miss Hidalgo, Miss Stevens and—" Principal Weems paused and her eyes widened, "Miss Beischel."

Did I hear that right?! I wanted to scream and jump but I tried my best to conceal my real emotions. I cannot show them that I'm very enthusiastic about this.

"Aliyah, please show and interpret your artwork." Amelia says as she escorts me infront. Principal Weems is behind her so I can't really see her reaction since I don't want to glance at her side just to see her reaction. "Go on, Aliyah. Pray tell..."

I swallowed a big lump on my throat before showing infront of the class how my artwork looks like.

Everyone gasped. There was silence.

I saw in my peripheral vision that Principal Weems forwarded and she simply took a look at my work. I saw how her eyes widened when she saw my painting. I guess she did not expect that.

"Umm...as you can see, there is one woman with her two shadows. Dark and light. It's just about a woman who is rigid and strong as everyone can see; well, that is her dark side. She is scary, annoying and scary again—" my classmates laughed, "But among all those darkness, there is light—which you can see from behind the dark shadow. The light shadow is something that everyone cannot see. We all know that the light color is more powerful than darkness especially when you put them together. When there is darkness, there is light. However, that light only shines for a reason. That is why the light shadow is that thing that you will not see if you will not observe or maybe even approach it. You won't see that light shadow if the darkness won't step aside for it. This woman in the painting is a mixture of darkness and light. She is lightbringer that not all can realize..." I said which made them clap their hands.