Love on Strings

Eyes upon me

Just like that a week was over,
Just like that the presentation day arrived..

Sunny tried to shake off the lingering tension between her and Bella as they turned back to their project. They were supposed to be finishing up their mural, a vibrant piece filled with wild colors and surreal imagery—dreamlike scenes that seemed to leap off the wall. It was exactly the kind of chaotic, creative work Sunny loved. But now, even with the beauty of the mural in front of her, she couldn't fully focus.

"Do you think we should add a little more detail here?" Bella asked, pointing to a section of the mural with a coy smile, her voice returning to its normal, charming tone. The intensity from earlier seemed to melt away, but Sunny couldn't shake the unsettling feeling it left behind.

"Uh, yeah. Maybe some more shading could work," Sunny replied, her mind still spinning from Bella's earlier words. She dipped her brush into a vibrant purple paint, trying to lose herself in the work. But Bella's presence next to her was palpable—every movement, every glance felt loaded with something unspoken.

They worked in relative silence for a while, the only sound being the soft swish of their brushes on the wall and the distant chatter from other students working on their own projects. Sunny was grateful for the quiet, hoping it would calm her nerves.

"You're really good at this, you know," Bella said softly after a few minutes, her voice surprisingly tender. "Your art... it's so full of life. It's like you see the world in a way no one else does."

Sunny glanced over, caught off guard by the sudden compliment. "Thanks... That means a lot, coming from you."

Bella smiled, but there was something unreadable in her eyes. "I just hope everyone else appreciates it as much as I do," she said, her tone carrying a hint of that possessiveness again.

Sunny cleared her throat, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "So, uh, we should probably get ready for the presentation, right? I think we're almost done here."

Bella's smile widened. "Yeah, we are. And don't worry, I'll make sure our presentation is perfect."

As the time for their presentation approached, Sunny felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. Normally, presenting art projects didn't bother her—she was used to standing in front of the class and talking about her work. But with Bella's strange behavior and the unsettled energy between them, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The art classroom was buzzing with activity. Murals, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces filled every available space, a testament to the creative energy of the students. The class was made up of the usual cast of characters—Mica and Melo chatting in the back, TinTin brooding at her desk, and Jed standing with a few classmates, his eyes occasionally darting over to Sunny like he was waiting for his moment to swoop in and outshine her.

Ibri, ever the charmer, strolled into the room, flashing his easygoing smile at everyone. He caught Sunny's eye and waved, his smile growing even wider. Bella's gaze immediately locked onto him, her expression tightening for just a second before she masked it with a more casual look.

"Hey, Sunny!" Ibri called, walking over. "Ready for the big presentation? I can't wait to see what you and Bella came up with."

"Yeah, we're ready," Sunny said, forcing a smile despite the tension creeping up her spine. Bella, still standing beside her, stayed silent but her eyes never left Ibri.

"Good luck up there," Ibri added, oblivious to the silent storm brewing between the two girls. He gave a friendly nod and moved on, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Bella leaned in closer to Sunny, her voice low and smooth. "He's so predictable, isn't he? Always trying to get your attention."

Sunny tensed, feeling the weight of Bella's words. "He's just being friendly," she said quickly, not wanting to dive into that conversation again. She grabbed her sketchbook, flipping it open to review their notes for the presentation. "Let's focus on the project, okay?"

Bella's eyes lingered on Ibri as he walked away, but she didn't press further. Instead, she turned her attention back to Sunny with a sly smile. "Of course. Let's give them a show."

When it was finally their turn to present, Sunny and Bella stood side by side in front of the class, the mural behind them—a swirling mix of color, emotion, and surreal imagery. The other students watched with curious eyes, and Sunny could feel Jed's competitive stare from across the room, waiting for his chance to critique.

Taking a deep breath, Sunny began, trying to center herself in the familiar rhythm of talking about art. "So, for our project, we wanted to create something that feels like a dream. We used a lot of abstract elements and surreal imagery to capture the feeling of moving through different emotions and experiences."

Bella picked up smoothly, her voice laced with charm. "Each section represents a different stage of a dream—some parts are chaotic and colorful, others more serene and soft. We wanted to show how dreams can be unpredictable but still beautiful."

Sunny nodded along, finding her confidence growing as she spoke. "And the recurring symbols, like the birds and the spirals, represent freedom and transformation. They're meant to show how dreams can lead to personal growth, even when they don't make sense at first."

The class seemed engaged, a few students nodding along as they took in the mural. Even Jed, usually ready to jump in with a critique, looked thoughtful instead of smug.

But then, as Sunny was about to wrap up the presentation, Bella stepped forward just a bit closer to her, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. "And, of course, the most important part of this piece is the collaboration. When you work closely with someone, your energy and emotions blend together to create something greater than what you could do alone. It's about trust—trusting the other person to see the vision with you."

The way she said it, her voice low and meaningful, made Sunny's heart skip a beat. There was an unspoken message beneath Bella's words, and it wasn't just about the art. Sunny could feel the eyes of the class on them, but Bella's gaze was locked solely on her, as if they were the only two people in the room.

Sunny swallowed hard, trying to keep her cool. "Yeah, teamwork is... really important," she added, her voice a little shaky.

Bella's smile widened, satisfied. "Exactly."

The class clapped as they finished, but all Sunny could hear was the pounding of her own heart. Bella had turned their presentation into something far more personal, and Sunny wasn't sure what to make of it.

As they walked back to their seats, Mica caught Sunny's eye from across the room, raising an eyebrow and giving her a knowing smirk. Melo leaned over and whispered something to Mica, both of them clearly enjoying the drama unfolding in front of them.

Sunny sighed, knowing that her friends would definitely want all the details later. But for now, she just needed to get through the rest of the class without falling apart. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.