Chapter 17

" I'm fine.

" You want to take a walk, the weather is perfect," says Melek smiling.

Being on the shore, she is more animated.

" Is this your first time at the beach," I asked curiously.

She is very euphoric, enjoying the moment.

" I haven't been to the beach for years, thanks Max," says Melek smiling.

It's great to see her happy, she conveys her joy to me too.

"You know I always wanted to come here with my boyfriend and then have him chase me and write our names in the sand, like in romantic movies.

" You think you're in high school, that's kid's stuff," I reply mockingly.

She looks at me annoyed, clicking her tongue disapprovingly at my comment.

I then approach her and embrace her, lifting her in my arms and letting her fall gently to the sand.

" Hey, what are you doing," Melek answers over"jumped.

" You must catch up with me if you can," I say, laughing and running away.

" Cheater," says Melek.

As she chases me along the seashore, I'm running away from her but I don't notice her and stumble and fall to the sand giving her the advantage to catch me.

She pushes me into the waves breaking on the seashore, and my shoes get wet and part of my jeans.

The fat girl mocks me, so I go after her and she tries to run away but I grab her by the waist and lift her up and take her to the water as well so she can get wet with me.

" You would be able to put me in the water," Melek answers with a laugh.

" It is that you doubt it chubby."

She struggles with me making me lose my balance so I fall into the water and she is also dragged along with me, the waves hit us and I do not let go.

So we got a rollover and ended up soaked in salt water.

We get out of the sea and I throw myself on the sand.

And she lies down next to me and we both laugh.

" I almost drowned because of you, you're heavy, I think you made me swallow sand," I say in a mocking tone.

She looks at me annoyed, then smiles amused.

" You're a clown," she replies, smiling.

After laughter in a moment of silence, Melek asks.

" Have you ever been in love, Max?

" Yes, once, but not yet loved.

" How do you know how to tell them apart?

" Well, you can fall in love with someone's physique or personality, but when you love, you love the soul, the essence and you accept it as it is.

" It would be nice to meet someone who loves me like that because unrequited love hurts a lot," whispers Melek.

" Thank you for the experience.

She smiles as if relieved by my words, soaking wet she looks so beautiful.

" I think I've already shown you too much about me and I don't know anything about you," says Melek, sighing softly.

She stands up and looks at me excitedly.

I stand up too and look her in the eyes.

" I'll tell you one of my biggest secrets, but it's something I haven't told anyone.

" I killed my mother, after the separation from my father, we went for a walk one beautiful day, I will never forget what happened, we went on a picnic, my brother, my mother, and I, when we returned Noah was tired he had just been given the job at the university so I took the wheel and a dog ran into me and that made me hit a tree, the impact made one of the branches went through the windshield hurting his vital organs, " I say with a wounded look towards the horizon and shedding tears of pain.

Melek immediately hugs me, as my sobs get louder.

She wipes away my tears.

Making myself feel better, I look at her and tell her.

" You look a lot like her, you both make me laugh.

She doesn't say anything to me but her eyes make eye contact with mine and we are very close I have both her hands on my cheeks, and I divert my gaze down to her lips I have an impetuous need to kiss her but just at that moment, she moves away from me making that thought uncomfortable, am I going crazy.

" We all have secrets that we keep and they burn inside us," exclaims Melek.

Her look is sad as if she were suffering from the inside.

" You are right, but time fixes everything, even for you.

She just smiles at my comment.

One advantage of his "sided love is that he can say goodbye whenever he wants and that gives me relief and hope.

POV Melek

I must admit that Max is cute, attentive, and funny thanks to him the day was not a complete hell.

He brings me home, and we say goodbye, thank God my clothes got pretty dry on the way or it would be a serious problem to answer why I came wet.

My father is in the garage repairing the car and I know he saw us.

I go home, take a shower and get dressed.

I head over to where my dad is, my mom is making dinner but my dad has a look on his face that he wants to ask something.

" What is it dad, I know you, I know something is bothering you. "

" Do you like that boy," says my dad curiously.

" We're just friends, Dad, don't worry.

"But if you like someone.

" That's right," I answer, nodding my head.

" And the boy knows it, he knows you love him.

" No," I answered sadly.

" You don't know what he will tell you.

" You think I should tell him," I reply uncertainly.

" Sure, or you'll regret it if you don't.

" I can't do it, he likes someone else.

Then it's the good" for"nothing's loss, don't feel bad about it, you're great, any guy should feel lucky to have you, daughter.

"Thank you, Dad, you're the best.

My father is right it's important, to be honest, but I can't with Noah, he seems very happy with Emily, and confessing my feelings would just be a big problem, it's time to move on and move on with my life.

POV Melek

It's been a couple of weeks and today I have a presentation who would think that my drawings and realistic portraits would give me the opportunity to present my work in a gallery exhibition, there will be recognized artists and as a young talent I will be representing the university.

Caroline and Izy were overjoyed at the news, and my parents were elated when they found out, Max also knows but I have seen him so little about why his training has become rigorous, and why nationals are coming up.

He is a great swimmer, in simpler terms he is like a beautiful dolphin in the water at a beautiful sunset and I look like a clumsy circus seal, in the entries I always come out first or make a bad dive always being the laughing stock.

Max said he would help me improve my swimming, but with his very limited time, it's been days since we've talked.

My exhibition is at 3:00pm, in the center of the city.

Max is a great friend and support in this kind of moment and my tutor selected my realistic drawing of Noah to be one of the main works of the exhibition, although I made a painting of Max with me on the beach, it is a beautiful memory that I want to treasure, I thought it would be nice to give it as a gift because he has helped me a lot, he has listened to me and comforted me.

I think it would be a nice way to show my appreciation for your sincere friendship.

I am sending you a text.

>> I left the invitation for the exhibition in your room, I hope you will attend.

>> I will try to leave before training, I will be there.

>> Don't be nervous, Chubby, you're sure to win.

I smiled at his message.

I'm wearing a casual V"neck dress with short sleeves, knee" a lengthy navy blue ruffle, a gold brooch, and black heels, my hair gathered with small locks on the side and play with two blue earrings, Caroline took care of the makeup, as a participant of the exhibition I must look presentable because there will be important people as well as connoisseurs of art.

The girls are there supporting me and taking into account that there is free food at this event they didn't want to miss it either, many artists as well as students from other art universities present their works.

There is a small stage where they show the paintings and if there is someone interested they can buy it, it is not an auction but they use the money as donations without profit and if my work is sold they also give an interest in it, it is also the author's choice whether to sell it or not.

At the very moment they present my paintings, I can recognize in the crowd Noah and his girlfriend, how did they find out about this why are they there, if my painting is discovered at this moment Noah will know, he will suspect it, my feelings I don't want them to be revealed in this way.

But I was petrified of panic, they discover my painting without me being able to avoid it and many people begin to applaud others murmur, the evaluators take note and give me the highest score so they award me with first place in the exhibition, but more than happy, I feel embarrassed thinking about what Noah and his girlfriend will think when they see that painting, and it is that the work is of a nude, it is Noah, nude! Shit I know my face is a blush of how embarrassed I am, at that moment between the people I see Max peeking out, this is a fucking mess, I mean Noah didn't have to know about the existence of this painting now everything got complicated.