My Last And My Only

Chapter 114: Fine Arts Week

By Wednesday morning, the Fine Arts Building no longer looked like itself.

The usually quiet hallways had transformed into organized chaos.

Canvas frames leaned against walls.

Photography prints waited to be mounted.

Students hurried past carrying laptops, drawing tubes, cameras, lighting equipment, and half-finished props.

Every classroom seemed to have its doors wide open.

Someone was painting.

Someone else was editing a film.

Music drifted from one studio while another echoed with the sound of hammers and laughter.

Fine Arts Week was only a few days away.

Which meant...

No one was sleeping enough.

Aiah adjusted another photograph on the display board before stepping back to inspect it.

"...A little to the left."

Her classmate carefully shifted it.

"There?"

"...A tiny bit."

Another adjustment.

Aiah smiled.

"Perfect."

Her classmate sighed dramatically.

"I can't even tell the difference."

"I can."

"I believe you."

She laughed.

"You've said that five times today."

"Because perfection takes patience."

"It also takes coffee."

"I won't argue with that."

As if on cue, her stomach growled.

"...Okay."

"Coffee sounds nice."

Across campus...

Khae had just finished a meeting with Ms. Mallari.

As soon as she stepped out of the office, her phone buzzed.

Aiah
I think I'm becoming one with the Fine Arts Building.

Khae smiled.

She replied almost immediately.

Have you eaten?

Three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Then appeared again.

...Does coffee count?

Khae laughed quietly to herself.

It did not.

Twenty minutes later...

Aiah was still pinning labels beneath the exhibit when a familiar voice spoke behind her.

"I had a feeling."

She turned around.

Khae stood there holding a paper bag in one hand and two drinks in the other.

Aiah blinked.

"...You came."

"I said I would."