Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Often we measure happiness by something big that might make us feel better than others. We think a luxury, great rank, top position and money can guarantee our happiness. But not so. Happiness is more than that because happiness is not determined by the material but by the heart.

Happiness includes many things, even the smallest things like sunny weather and love songs can be happiness. Not big things like diamond rings, expensive brand-new bags or popularity like idols. My happiness is just something small, something enough to make me smile all time. My little joy is being able to stay aside the people I care for and see them smile.

***

The day went on as natural. The air was gentle, the leaves swaying in the wind. The art class was started, this time Natty and her classmates were in the paint room and sat in a surrounding with canvas and painting tools in front of each of them. As expected, Helena was asked to sit in the middle of the surrounding and become a model for her friends to portray.

They focused on painting Helena from their perspective. Helena has perfect body proportions and a charming face that is why she is constantly called for to be a model. She can consistently get people to paint well, but among all the bodies who portray her Natty is the one who can portray her perfectly.

Somehow Natty can always give a unique nuance to her portraits, as if she is putting a new breath in the portrait of Helena that she is painting no matter she is painting from any side. Maybe it was because Natty was giving Helena a different look. No matter where she sat in her gaze, Helena always shone as if the light always followed her.

“Hm, your portraits are always as great as ever ... good job.” Praise Mrs. Gale, staring in awe at Natty's portrait while holding Natty's shoulder.

Natty smiled because she felt happy to receive praise from her art teacher. She also glanced beside her and her eyes looked at the face of her teacher right beside her face. Natty's views were shaking, she could feel that her teacher was trying to tease her. And Natty tried to hide her nervousness from being obvious.

“Thank you, mam ...” said Natty quietly.

Mrs. Gale smiled as she tapped Natty's shoulder and walked back around and looked at her students' paintings one by one. After circling the students one by one, she returned to stand beside Helena. Either it was just her feelings or an unfounded delusion, but Natty felt her art teacher was staring at her. A very different view that made her feel ashamed.

“Portrait is not just about dragging a brush onto the canvas and inserting the objects we see onto the canvas. But we also have to put our emotions into the portrait, which is why even though the object is the same, what we see in the portrait can be different. Put your emotions into your portrait so that your picture can be more alive and what you feel can be conveyed. Let's just say that you are expressing your emotions through a portrait, ” said Mrs. Gale, giving an explanation.

Everyone followed her direction and focused on adding feelings to her portraits, as did Natty, who was pouring her emotions into her pictures. In her painting Helena looks very shining, as if every eye will focus on looking at her because that's Helena in her eyes.

Time went, it didn't feel like 1 hour had passed and the art class ended. One by one the students left the paint room. Only Natty was packing her things and Helena who was waiting for Natty to come out together. Ma'am Gale approached the two of them, Natty.

“Natty, your portrait is excellent. It looks like you are very talented at painting. Do you want to hone your talents more by joining a painting club? “Said Ma’am Gale, inviting Natty to join the club she built.

“I'm not like that ... I've joined the basketball club. I'm not sure, I still have time to join the painting club. “Natty replied hesitantly.

“Hey, come on! Just reach in, and you paint well anyway. Just reach in, don't waste your talent. “Helena's words made Natty thought.

“You need not decide now, you can consider things over first. If you've done your decision and want to reach in, just go to this art room for the next painting club meeting. “Said Mrs. Gale, then left Natty and Helena.

After sitting still without moving at all and being a model for painting for an hour, Helena felt tired and hungry. As she always did, Helena would act so spoiled that Natty would buy her something to eat. Natty could only sigh because she could tell what Helena wanted just by looking into her eyes.

“Yes, let's go to the canteen.” Said Natty, who understood Helena's wishes.

Helena also smiled broadly because she was very happy that her friend could understand her to wish. With a cheerful stride, she smiled broadly walking beside Natty to bite something and fill her empty stomach.

All eyes were on her. Helena is a heroine in school which is why guys always pay attention to her no matter where her feet are in school. Her popularity was felt when people who were waiting in line opened a way for her to bite first. Then the men in the cafeteria, one by one, offered a chair so that Helena could sit with them.

Even though many men offered her chairs, so she could join, Helena was not the least bit interested until her eyes caught the figure of Drake eating in the canteen's corner only. Without the slightest hesitation, Helena stepped her feet toward Drake, who was eating alone, indeed though he was always with Alex.

“Why are you only here? Where's Alex? “ Asked Helena as she sat beside Drake.

“What else? Maybe Alex is tired of being buddies with useless people. It seems like Alex doesn't want to be buddies with him anymore. “ Said Natty curtly.

“You annoying girl, Alex is yet at home to be my friend, but now he's accompanying Ruby to the hospital.” Drake's words made Helena's eyes wide open because she was shocked.

“Even though you try hard to get him, I think he will still be with Ruby. You're already far behind her. “ Drake replied to Helena.