Wait, isn't that him?
Mia thought as she looked at the young man in the park. He was holding what appeared to be a painting.
Mia rubbed her eyes and placed the binoculars against them again, zooming in further. The young man's face now filled her entire field of vision.
I've definitely gone crazy. Have I fallen this low? How is it possible that he's here?
The person she was seeing was her most favorite person. Mia didn't know his name yet, she had never asked. But she was certain it was him.
How could there be another person with the exact same face and who also wore the same hoodie he always wore? Mia had seen him in that hoodie more times than she cared to admit. At some point, she had even wanted to buy him new clothes.
Or am I just imagining him?
Mia thought as she looked again. He was real and standing in the park, approaching people and showing them paintings. It seemed he was selling them. He carried a black bag that contained the artwork, and every once in a while he'd open it for a sale. He never seemed to miss one.
It appeared her most favorite person in the world was actually a skilled businessman.
With his talents, Dad would surely accept him into the family.
The thought crossed Mia's mind before she quickly erased it. He was just an interesting person, since when had she started viewing him otherwise? Mia didn't even know his name. Her cheeks flushed red, betraying her thoughts.
Should I approach him?
Mia asked herself as she curiously watched his actions, her heart pumping with anticipation as she contemplated the decision.
---
Zane had been selling his paintings for about an hour and now had only one remaining. He had sold them all for $500 each, except for the first. He currently had $3,700 in his cargo pants pocket, Zane had never possessed so much money.
He now had his sights set on his last customer: a fairly beautiful middle-aged woman with flashy designer clothes and yellow-tinted glasses walking through the park. In her hands, she held a dog leash attached to a Chihuahua that bounced across the grass with pride.
The woman herself was elegantly dressed in a cream-colored blazer that complemented her honey-blonde hair, swept back in a sophisticated chignon. Diamond studs glinted from her earlobes, and her manicured nails were painted a soft coral that matched her lipstick. Everything about her screamed wealth and refinement.
Zane already knew the sale was going to be successful.
"Excuse me," Zane said as he approached the elegant lady, holding the painting for her to see. "Could you please take a look at this?"
Zane watched as the lady's eyes swept over the painting.
"This rose," Zane began, pointing to the centerpiece of his artwork, "symbolizes the eternal cycle of love and loss that we all experience. See how the petals seem to glow with an inner light? That represents hope persisting even in darkness. The way the thorns curve around the stem tells the story of how beauty and pain are intertwined in our lives. This piece captures the essence of resilience, how we can bloom even after the harshest winters of our souls."
Zane knew that people always needed something to anchor their beliefs to. The lady would definitely buy the painting if she found meaning in it. He carefully explained how exceptional it was compared to others.
The lady gazed at Zane, her attention lingering on his face longer than she intended. The young man certainly knew a thing or two about art. Her focus was drawn more to the young man than to the painting itself. The artwork looked beautiful, but not more so than its seller. She didn't care one bit about the painting.
Meanwhile, Zane continued trying to explain to the lady how remarkable the painting was.
"...it showcases the beauty of life and how we should appreciate every moment we're given."
He finally finished the long explanation he had been rehearsing in his head. Apparently, the mentality stat had nothing to do with his intelligence or reasoning. A proud, confident smile was now plastered on his face.
Silence hung thick in the air. The lady realized Zane had finished speaking, and her cheeks turned slightly rosy, so slightly that Zane couldn't notice when he scanned her face for an answer.
"Ye—yes, it's really beautiful. I can tell it's a truly...uhm, well...spectacular painting," she stammered, letting out a soft, nervous laugh.
"I'm really amazed. I can't even speak properly," the lady added to clear the air. The Chihuahua circled her legs, wagging its tail.
"I'm currently struggling with financial issues. I even have to sell this gift from my mother to make ends meet. Are you willing to buy it?"
Zane said, putting on a desperate expression. The lady didn't seem particularly impressed with the painting, she didn't even know how to describe it properly. Zane decided to play the desperation card. Maybe acting desperate would help.
Zane was struggling to remain composed. He was terrified of women, especially beautiful ones like the woman before him. If it wasn't for selling the painting, he definitely wouldn't be here.
Without speaking, the lady opened her purse and pulled out several $100 bills, handing them to Zane without counting. The poor boy was really suffering, he was even selling a gift from his mother.
"Here, take this. Consider this a favor. You don't need to sell your mother's gift; you can keep it."
Zane was already preparing to count the money, but when he heard her words, surprise mixed with guilt washed over him. He didn't count the bills.
"I really appreciate your kindness, but I'm here to sell the painting. It wouldn't be appropriate if I took your money for nothing. Please take the painting, I insist," Zane said as he pushed the artwork toward her. He was tired from the day's sales and finally happy that he had completed his business.
Just then, a hand reached from Zane's side and grabbed the painting. It wasn't the lady, it was Mia.
Zane's mind reeled in shock, his heart thumping hard as surprise froze his entire body.
What in the hell is Mia doing here? Am I seeing things?
Zane's mind raced with questions and thoughts. He wanted to rub his eyes, but his body was unresponsive, frozen in place.
Mia looked at the painting with curiosity. Behind her, a man and woman dressed in exquisite suits stood with their hands clasped behind their backs in the classic bodyguard stance. Zane had seen these two multiple times, they always accompanied Mia.
They were her bodyguards, the ones who escorted people out of the gym before Mia entered to receive personal training from Zane.
Mia was an art enthusiast. Since she had discovered the beauty of life, she had started appreciating things like fine art, gourmet cuisine, and other sophisticated pursuits.
Mia had come to Aetherial Haven not only to view the park but also to enjoy meals from international chefs at the Ambrosia Restaurant within the complex. She hadn't even had the chance to savor the exquisite meal when she spotted him.
But now everything paled in comparison to what she was seeing. The painting in her hands was unlike anything Mia had ever encountered. It was highly detailed and realistic, yet looked like something born from pure imagination, an otherworldly masterpiece.
Mia had visited numerous art galleries and attended world-class museums where renowned paintings were displayed. She had seen countless works online from various artists. Yet none of them came even close to what she was currently holding.
Where in the world did this person find this heavenly painting? The artwork looked ancient, like something unearthed from a forgotten cave. It screamed museum quality.
"I'll be taking this from you. She clearly doesn't want to buy it,"
Mia said as she hugged the painting close to her chest. She wanted it desperately.
"Just give the lady back her money, I'll pay you ten times what she offered."
The lady wasn't going to let herself lose. She wanted to help the young man and perhaps get his phone number. Where did this other girl come from? Anger was now visible on her face.
"I'll pay double what she offered, and I'll take the painting. I was here first, you should definitely sell it to me."
Both ladies were now staring at Zane, who was still trying to figure out what Mia was doing there.
Zane's blood pumped hard. He could swear he would have fainted from fear, but the Spring of Vitality was keeping him in top condition. He actually wanted to faint, he didn't know how to handle this situation.
There was this kind lady he had personally approached to buy the painting, and then there was his crush, who was also the person he thought he hated the most. Who was Zane going to sell the painting to?
Zane wanted to ask Nyx, but he already knew what she would say. Nyx would probably mention something about profit and being a divine trader.
He didn't have to answer because Mia soon retorted.
"I personally know him. We're actually really good friends and come from the same place, so he's going to sell it to me. If you don't mind, please take your money and be on your way. Actually, didn't you tell him to keep it? Just let me have it,"
she said while stepping back with the painting clutched tightly against her chest.
The lady couldn't let her win so easily. She pushed back, anger clearly shown on her face.
"If you were his friend, you wouldn't have let him sell his mother's painting. You wouldn't even be trying to buy it from him. Are you even telling the truth? I bet you're just a stranger trying to take advantage of him. Do you even know his name? Tell me."
Mia averted her eyes to the ground. The question hit her where it hurt. Honestly, she didn't know his name. The lady had every right to scold her.
Zane wanted to bury his head in the ground, but the escalating chaos needed to be stopped. He finally found the courage to speak.
"Can you both please stop?" he said firmly.
Things were getting out of hand. Zane wasn't even sure if they were fighting over the painting anymore.
"What!" both ladies shouted in unison, staring daggers at him.
Zane took a deep breath, feeling the weight of both women's intense gazes. His hands trembled slightly as he reached out.
"Look, I appreciate both of your interest in this piece, but this is getting out of hand."
He said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Ma'am," he addressed the elegant lady first, "your kindness means more to me than you know, but I came here to sell paintings, not to accept charity."
He then turned to Mia, his heart racing as their eyes met. "And you... I don't know why you're here or how you found me, but you can't just take someone else's transaction."
The Chihuahua yapped at the tension in the air, causing its owner to gently shush it.
"Here's what we're going to do," Zane continued, surprising himself with his newfound assertiveness.
"The lady approached me first and showed genuine interest. She was willing to help me even without wanting anything in return. That's the kind of person who deserves this painting."
He gently but firmly took the painting from Mia's hands, ignoring the flash of hurt in her eyes, and handed it to the elegant woman.
"Please, take it. And thank you for reminding me that there are still good people in this world."
The lady beamed, clutching the painting with obvious delight. She quickly pressed the money into Zane's hands, he noticed it was far more than the asking price, and walked away with her Chihuahua trotting proudly beside her. She even forgot to ask for the digits.
Mia stood there, her bodyguards shifting uncomfortably behind her. For the first time in her life, she had been denied something she wanted, and it stung more than she expected.
"That was..." she began, then stopped, unsure of what to say.
Zane shouldered his now-empty bag and looked at her with a mixture of confusion and something else she couldn't quite identify.
"I should probably ask, what are you doing here, Mia?"
The sound of her name on his lips made her heart skip, even as she struggled to form an answer that wouldn't reveal she had been watching him through binoculars like some sort of stalker.