The hallways were alive with the sound of chattering students and the occasional locker slamming. Amidst this controlled chaos, Leni maneuvered through the crowd, her notebook clutched in her hand. Known for her keen eye and nose for a good story, Leni was a star reporter for the school’s newspaper club. Today, though, her assignment was pulling her into unfamiliar territory—the art club’s studio.
The task was simple: cover the upcoming art exhibition. Leni sighed, tugging at her navy hoodie. "Bakit naman ako pa? Wala na bang iba?" she muttered under her breath. Arts and crafts weren't really her thing, but a job was a job.
As Leni approached the art studio, the smell of paint and a mix of chatter and laughter greeted her. She hesitated at the door, peeking inside. Students were scattered around, working on their pieces, some with intense focus and others chatting animatedly. A massive mural in progress caught her eye—a vivid blend of blues, greens, and golds, forming an abstract yet captivating scene.
“Uy, sino ‘yan?” a voice called out, pulling Leni from her thoughts.
She turned to see Risa, the art club’s star member, walking towards her with a paintbrush in hand, her jeans speckled with paint. Risa’s warm smile was instantly disarming, though Leni couldn’t help but feel a pang of self-consciousness in her unassuming attire.
“Hi,” Leni started, clearing her throat. “I’m Leni, from the school paper. I’m here to cover the exhibition.”
“Ah, ikaw pala yun. Come in!” Risa beamed. “I’m Risa. Gusto mo ba ng tour?”
Leni nodded, stepping inside the studio. As Risa led her around, she explained each artwork’s inspiration and the techniques used. The mural, Risa’s piece, was her pride and joy.
“This one’s special,” Risa said, her voice softening. “It’s about seeing the beauty in the chaos. Parang sa buhay, di ba?”
Leni felt a strange pull towards Risa’s words and the mural. “Ang ganda. You have a way of making things… feel alive.”
Risa’s eyes sparkled. “Salamat. Ganyan din ako sa mga articles mo. They bring stories to life.”
Weeks passed and Leni found herself returning to the art studio more often than she expected. Her initial reluctance was replaced by genuine curiosity and a growing fascination with Risa’s world. They shared afternoons critiquing each other’s work—Leni’s drafts for the newspaper and Risa’s sketches.
One late afternoon, they were huddled in the studio, rain pattering softly against the windows. Risa was working on the final touches of her mural, while Leni sat nearby, jotting down notes for her article.
"Alam mo, Leni," Risa began, glancing at her with a thoughtful expression, "you see things differently. Hindi lang yung surface. You look deeper."
Leni blushed slightly, looking down at her notes. "Hindi naman. I just… like to understand things better."
Risa set her brush down and walked over, her eyes never leaving Leni’s. "I think that’s what makes your writing special. It’s like you see the soul of a story."
Leni met Risa’s gaze, feeling a flutter in her chest. "And you, you bring emotions to life with your art. It’s like… you paint feelings."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated by laughter and shared silences. The connection between them deepened, blossoming into something neither had anticipated.
One afternoon, as Leni typed away on her laptop in the art room, Risa sat beside her, sketching in her notebook. They shared a comfortable silence, broken only by the sound of keystrokes and pencil on paper.
“Leni,” Risa said softly, looking up from her sketch, “naisip mo ba ever na… minsan, yung pinakamalapit sa puso natin, di natin napapansin agad?”
Leni paused, her fingers hovering over the keys. “Ano ibig mong sabihin?”
Risa’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she held Leni’s gaze. “Like, sometimes we’re so focused on what we’re doing, hindi natin napapansin yung mga important things right in front of us.”
Leni felt her heart race, understanding dawning on her. “Risa, are you saying…?”
“Ewan ko,” Risa said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Pero feeling ko, meron akong something na nararamdaman para sa’yo.”
The room seemed to hold its breath as Leni absorbed Risa’s words. She reached out, placing her hand over Risa’s. “Risa… ako rin. I feel something too.”
The days leading up to the exhibition were a whirlwind of activity. Leni poured her heart into her article, capturing the essence of the art and the emotions behind it. Meanwhile, Risa worked tirelessly to complete her mural, each brushstroke infused with a blend of excitement and nervous anticipation.
Finally, the night of the exhibition arrived. The school gallery was abuzz with students, teachers, and parents admiring the array of artworks. Leni moved through the crowd, her notepad in hand, making notes and capturing moments. Her eyes kept drifting back to Risa’s mural, now complete and illuminated by soft gallery lights.
As Leni approached the mural, she marveled at the scene it depicted—a breathtaking landscape that seemed to capture the journey of two souls finding their way to each other through a maze of colors and emotions. She felt a lump in her throat as she recognized elements of their shared experiences subtly woven into the artwork.
Risa appeared beside her, her eyes shining with both pride and vulnerability. “Gusto mo ba ng konting behind-the-scenes scoop?” she asked, her voice tinged with nervous laughter.
Leni nodded, her heart pounding. “Sure.”
Risa took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the mural. “This… this mural is about us. About our journey together. I wanted to show how we found each other in the chaos.”
Leni felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. “Risa… it’s beautiful.”
Risa turned to face her, taking Leni’s hand in hers. “Leni, gusto ko lang malaman mo… I care about you. More than a friend.”
Leni’s breath hitched, her heart swelling with emotion. “Risa, I feel the same way. I’ve been trying to find the right words, pero… mahalaga ka sa akin.”
A soft applause erupted around them as the audience admired the mural, but in that moment, it felt like they were in their own world. Under the glow of the gallery lights, surrounded by art and memories, Risa leaned in, her lips meeting Leni’s in a tender, heartfelt kiss.
The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of their shared connection. As they pulled away, their eyes met, and they shared a smile that spoke of new beginnings and endless possibilities.
The exhibition continued around them, but for Leni and Risa, it was just the beginning of their own masterpiece—one painted with the colors of their shared dreams and the promise of a future together.
°.✩┈┈┈┈∘*┈┈୨♡୧┈┈*∘┈┈┈┈✩.°
risa as an artist naman this time <3
happy 13k reads, sincerely lenrisa!
thank you so much, guys. i am really grateful for each and every one of you. mahal kayo ng puso ko <3
YOU ARE READING
Sincerely, Lenrisa
Hayran Kurgu✎ Compilation of LenRisa One-Shots AU Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, intended only for entertainment.
