Araceli POV
I worked at Eclipse Group for an afternoon. After work, I went to Brizela Daycare to pick up Krish and Valeria.
"Ms. Chancey, can I have word with you?"
Mayra pulled me aside and said with a smile, "We had a painting class today. The painting teacher wants to take Valeria as a student. Here is her card. If you are thinking about it, you can call her."
I had received many of these cards and had heard from others that Valeria was artistically gifted, but her eyes...
I hesitated and took the card anyway.
On our way back, I saw Valeria leaning against the car window through the inside rearview mirror. She reached out and drew something on the fogged window.
She looked so focused. Her eyes seemed to have a look of anticipation and excitement.
I was a little surprised, but didn't show it.
"Krish, did you have a drawing class today? How was the teacher?"
Krish said, "She's nice. Mom, she said Valeria was doing very well and wanted to take Valeria as a student."
"Did she say that to all the kids?"
"No. She said she never wanted to take on a child as a student. Valeria has a great artistic talent." Krish said thoughtfully, "Mommy, I think Valeria is also interested in drawing."
I was even more surprised.
When Mayra handed me the teacher's card, and I assumed that the parents of every student in the class had received it.
In other words, this was not an advertisement, but the painting teacher really wanted to take Valeria as a student.
"Valeria, do you want Mommy to send you to study painting?"
I looked at her face in the rearview mirror and asked softly.
Valeria lowered her head and didn't answer me, her eyes full of worry and anxiety.
If I hadn't really heard Valeria with my own ears that night, I would have thought it was a hallucination...
After Raphael left, Valeria became reluctant to talk to people again, as usual.
I consulted the doctor last night. The doctor said it was progress. We needed to take it step by step and cure Valeria's autism slowly.
If this had to be involved with Raphael, I really don't know what to do.
If I could get Valeria to learn to draw, maybe that would help her to open up. In any case, drawing was also a way to express emotions.
I turned the car around and drove to a nearby art supply store. I remembered that it sold all kinds of paints, paper, and some drawing materials.
Just as we walked in, I noticed a bright light in Valeria's beautiful pupils.
The doorbell softly jingled. The air was filled with the faint scent of oil paints and wooden easels, giving a warm and artistic atmosphere.
It seemed that I was right.
"Hello, Miss, what can I do for you?"
A lady greeted me warmly.
My eyes were drawn to the wide array of art supplies in the store.
The walls were covered with all kinds of paintings, colorful and different styles, each one seemed to tell a unique story. The shelves were neatly lined with paint tubes and palettes of different colors, from bright reds and blues to soft earthy yellows and browns, which tantalizingly displayed endless creative possibilities.
"Hello, I would like a set of 36 colors of Winsor & Newton paints, please."
"Okay, please hold. Miss, you're so lucky. This is the last set we have in the store."
A footstep came. It was a woman, wearing high heels.
"Araceli, what a coincidence."
I turned around and immediately frowned when I saw the woman.
Melany walked over on her heels, looking arrogant.
She looked coldly at the brushes and paints I was holding in my hands, and there was a cold chill in her eyes.
Melany and I studied painting together back then. As a result, every time I took a drawing test, I did much better than Melany.
Melany was jealous of me, so she asked Zackary to change the painting teacher. The first time that teacher came to class, she showed her strong affection for Melany. For more than ten years after that, my grades were lower than Melany's every time.
Zackary said that Melany had a talent for drawing and that he would send her abroad for further study.
Melany was so afraid of being found out that she refused on the grounds that she wanted to be around her family. After that, I became the successor of Eclipse Group, so we stopped painting.
When I saw Melany now, all those memories came back to me.
I raised my eyebrows and gave a cold laugh.
It was really a coincidence.
I put my arms around my chest and said, "Why are you here?"
"I want this set of paints." Melany pulled out her bank card and handed it over. "Here. Thank you."
The clerk hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, but the lady came here first. In fact, we have a lot of good products..."
"No, I want this one!" Melany sneered, "I'll pay double the price."
The lady explained, "It's not about price. It's true that this lady came first..."
"I can pay three times the price for this set of paints. Now, swipe the card."
Melany waved the card in her hand impatiently.
I suddenly laughed, "Okay. Since you want this paint set so much, I give up."
After hearing my words, the clerk stopped persuading and took Melany's card to the counter.
Melany sneered, "Get lost."
I calmly glanced at the store, not feeling any annoyance.
The paints and brushes were good, but of course I could get better ones, and it just took a little time. I wouldn't have come here to buy paints and brushes for my daughter if it hadn't been on a whim.
What a fool Melany was to pay three times the price for this set of paints to piss me off. But instead of feeling angry, I found her ridiculous and pathetic.
I gave Melany a cold look and turned around to leave.
When I came out of the painting store, the two kids were holding hands and sitting in the doorway, waiting for me.
Immediately upon seeing Melany, Krish came in with Valeria, eyes alert.
"Mommy, didn't you buy anything?"
Krish asked, looking up.
I was about to speak when my phone vibrated in my pocket.