They seem fine. But each of them is breaking in silence.
Elena hides from mirrors. Lucas can't control his rage. Maya escapes into games. Alexander is vanishing behind perfect grades.
In a world that sees their success but not their pain, four colle...
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Lucas felt like a volcano on the verge of eruption, struggling to contain his explosive anger that threatened to shatter the fragile bonds of friendship he had cultivated with Elena, Maya, and Alexander. The past few weeks had been marked by moments of increasing tension, fueled by his unpredictable bouts of inner rage.
He stood alone on campus, absent-mindedly observing the students going about their daily routines. His mind was troubled by recent events: an argument with Elena over her sharp criticism of her own artwork, which had been a misunderstanding. Lucas was sitting on a stool near the window, silently observing the paintings with a contemplative expression. Elena, painting with intense concentration, felt Lucas's gaze on her. She noticed that he was quieter than usual, which troubled her slightly. She finished a brushstroke with precision before turning to him.
"Is something bothering you, Lucas?" she asked, her green eyes scanning his face.
Lucas took a deep breath, unsure how to approach the delicate subject. "Elena, I can't help but notice... You often criticize your own work quite harshly."
Elena held back a sigh, immediately understanding where Lucas was coming from. "It's just the way I see things. I'm a perfectionist, you know that well."
Lucas nodded slowly. "I understand, but sometimes your self-criticism is so harsh that it hurts me to hear you talk about your art like that. You are talented, Elena. Your work is magnificent."
Elena felt defensive. "Lucas, you don't understand. Being a perfectionist isn't something I can just turn off. It's like I see all the imperfections and mistakes, even when others don't."
Lucas stood up, his frustration rising. "I understand that you want to improve, but sometimes you're too hard on yourself. You should see the beauty that others see in your work."
Elena crossed her arms, her eyes showing both irritation and vulnerability. "And you, do you think it's easy for me? Do you think I want to be like this?"
Lucas felt guilty for upsetting her, but he couldn't help but respond with intensity. "No, that's not what I'm saying. But you need to learn to appreciate your talent. Stop underestimating yourself all the time."
The tension in the studio was palpable. Elena looked away, feeling her tumultuous emotions bubbling up. She cared for Lucas as a friend, but sometimes he didn't understand the complexities of her inner world.
With Maya, it was during an outing when he had abruptly left the group because of an innocent comment. Sitting at a table outside, Lucas was slowly drinking his coffee while listening to the lively discussions of his friends. He felt relaxed, enjoying the company of his classmates after a busy morning of classes. However, a seemingly innocent remark from Maya changed the atmosphere.
"Lucas, you look really tired today. Is everything all right?" Maya asked, her look full of sincere concern.
Lucas, already feeling defensive because of a restless night, misinterpreted Maya's comment as a personal criticism of his appearance. "Why? Do I look that bad?" he replied more sharply than he intended.
