Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Natty raised her face, dried her wet face with a handkerchief from her pocket, and then turned her gaze to Mrs. Gale. She didn't know why her art teacher was so interested in her. He was even more confused when her said something as if her knew what she was feeling. Natty's eyes trembled as she tried to deny her feelings.

“ What do you mean? I don't understand at all. I have to go ... “said Natty, trying to run away from her art teacher. But Gale says something that stifles her steps.

“I know very well how you felt about that person you call a friend. I'm not playing around when I say a painting can convey emotions. Everything you think is visible in your painting. “ Mrs. Gale's talks made Natty stop walking

Natty was silent for a moment. She didn't see how to respond to her teacher's words. It feels like all the secrets she keeps have all been exposed. She was confused and panicked because her teacher had touched the deepest limits of her heart. She kept everything so that no one would notice what her true heart was.

Natty was feeling scared, she was scared of her heart. All this time she continued to deny her feelings and tried to deceive herself that what she felt was nothing. Convince herself that all she feels is love for friends. She is always anxious to admit that what she feels is not love for a friend, but admire. She is scared of crowds who will judge her and anxious that nations will point their fingers at her when everyone knows she is a girl who is in love with another girl.

Yes, she is anxious of the harsh reality that awaits her if they know everything her feels to others. She was too scared to endure it all that she was a coward and still cover her feelings with the status of a friend. She always stands by the women she loves, watching her fall in love and listening to all her stories about the boy she loves. It hurt, but he could only hold it in while showing a smile, pretending that she was happy too, pretending that she was fine.

Although sometimes it feels exhausting, there are even times when she can't stand it, so she has to hide in the toilet and cry herself, then wash her face so that it wipes her tears off without a trace. But it also gave her the cut because she didn't have to worry about losing the one she loved. But now that calm is in danger of being destroyed, because Mrs. Gale knows it all. She was afraid that they would expose her feelings until everything went awry, and she could lose her best friend.

“What do you want from me? Why are you so interested in my life? “ Asked Natty, slightly annoyed.

Natty was very upset because she thought that her teacher was too meddling in her business. From the beginning she had felt something strange from her teacher as if her teacher had paid extra attention to her until she got uncomfortable as if she was being bullied by a stalker. But Mrs. Gale smiled and then held her head and rubbed it gently until Natty opened her eyes wide.

“I did not come to you to upset you or judge how you feel like other people do.” Said Mrs. Gale with a faint smile.

“Then why are you so attracted to me? You even find out about my feelings, don't say you are only doing your duty as a teacher because no teacher meddles with the private affairs of her students.” Said Natty with a suspicious look.

“I only know what it feels like to step the road you are on. And I see how painful that road can be. I don't want you to feel the same pain I have felt. “ Replied Mrs. Gale and Natty could only be silent without being able to say anything.

“Just go the easy path with me, I will show you all the stars in the sky. You can think about it before you decide.” Replied Mrs. Gale while whispering in Natty's ear.

Natty just sat there dazed and mute like a statue as she stared at the smiling face of her art teacher with one corner of her lips lifted at her. For some people it may be just an ordinary smile, but for Natty, from the way her teacher looks at her, that smile has a different meaning that makes her feel confused.

***

Meanwhile, Drake is sitting side by side with his girlfriend in class. He was already intoxicated with love, and we saw it from the way he stared Stellar's eyes. He stared at her as if the girl sitting beside him was his world. He didn't even pay attention to about his surroundings anymore. He doesn't pay attention to about his friends who look at him with jealous eyes because they sees him making out with his girlfriend.

They are just happy with their company. There is nothing serious they communicate about only short things like their lessons and activities. They even talk about short things that are not necessary, they are just in love and want to spend more time together.

They are busy with their togetherness until Alex comes and disturbs the lovers who are together. Alex, who is pleased because his morning started with something great, becomes very excited to enter his class and tell Drake about the good news, which makes him very happy.

Alex was so enthusiastic that when he was right in front of the class and saw Drake from a distance, Alex ran over to Drake and hit his head without realizing that Stellar was sitting next to his friend. Whereas Stellar can only be silent and shocked because everything happened so fast, and she did not see Alex coming, maybe this is because of all her attention on Drake that she did not realize the surroundings.

“Hey, what a beautiful morning today. As long as I'm not at school nothing happens? You're not a troublemaker, are you?!” said Alex while slapping Drake's shoulder as usual, but it made Drake embarrassed because Stellar saw him.

“Of course I didn't cause trouble, but you got me into trouble,” Drake whispered as he glanced at Stellar as a sign for Alex.

Alex just stared at Drake with a confused look until a few moments later, and he understood and turned his head in the direction Drake was pointing. Alex became even more complicated when he saw a girl sitting next to Drake. He didn't know what to say because he didn't see the girl and it was his first time seeing her. Drake who knows Alex's confusion stands up and introduces Stellar as his girlfriend to Alex.