Chapter 23
I must have looked like a fool at that moment because tears were welling up in my eyes.
“I’m glad that you like it. I just want to see you happy.”
After Simon said that, he looked away, his ears turning bright red.
When we reached the beach, he told me to rest while he went to grab a few things. So, I found a chair and sat down.
The view was just as beautiful as Simon had described, and the temperature was perfect. I immediately felt my mood lighten.
From a distance, I saw Simon slowly walking toward me with an easel and paints in his hands.
I rushed over to help him, but he stopped me, saying the paints might spill and stain my new dress. I had specifically changed into this dress for the beach today.
“What’s all this? Are you planning to paint the ocean today?” I asked.
“Not the ocean, but a model more beautiful than the ocean.”
I glanced over at the beach and realized that it was just the two of us there.
He quickly asked, “Would you be my model for today? I think you look so beautiful right now!”
“But I’m not very good at posing. I modeled for an art class once, but the teacher said I wasn’t suited for it.”
Without even realizing it, I had shared my true feelings.
Though I had only known Simon for a short time, I found myself slowly lowering my guard around him. I started speaking my mind. And I could clearly sense that I was beginning to depend on him and trust him deeply from the bottom of my heart.
“It’s fine. Just sit there. You’re beautiful as you are. But you need to tilt your head a little. Yes! Turn it toward me. This angle is perfect! If you get tired, just move a bit. I’ll just make a rough sketch for now.”
As he instructed, I slowly moved into the position he wanted.
I used to think being a model would be tedious, as it involved holding a pose for long periods without moving.
But Simon always insisted that I take a break and stretch whenever he sensed I was getting tired.
As I looked out at the vast ocean in front of me, I didn’t feel tired at all.
Before I knew it, Simon said he was done. He carefully removed the canvas and handed it to me.
I couldn’t help but be impressed by his skill. The contours and the color handling were done beautifully. But what struck me most was the way he had captured my emotions in the painting. I could feel myself reflected in it.
This was something many artists strived for. The painting might be technically perfect, but what mattered most was the emotion it conveyed.
“So, what do you think, Serena? You’re the expert. Please give me your comments.”
Simon’s voice was filled with anticipation, and his eyes were lit with a dazzling excitement.
I knew he was hoping for praise, but I wasn’t very good at complimenting people. I thought for a moment before speaking.
“I think the color transitions in this painting are great. The way you’ve captured the expression in the eyes is very rich. Considering how short a time you had, it’s really impressive.”
Simon was pleased with my comment and placed the painting beside me for comparison.
“Actually, you’re way more beautiful than my painting. I really need to practice more.”
His words were so direct, and I felt a little embarrassed.
I pretended to walk over to pack up the paints, but the more nervous I got, the more clumsy I became.
In my haste, I knocked over a bottle of black paint. It splashed across his white shirt, leaving stains all over.
1 quickly gratbed a wet wipe from my bag to clean it up. The proximity between us was so close that I could smell the faint citrus scent on him,
It seemed like his favorite perfume.
My heart began racing, uncontrollably. The sound of my heartbeat was so loud that I thought he might hear it too.
I wanted to escape the tension of the moment, but before I could, Simon pulled me into his arms.
His sott lips brushed against mine. Noticing that I didn’t resist, he gently pulled me closer, lifting me onto his lap and deepening the kiss.
I couldn’t quite describe what I was feeling, but there was no doubt in my mind that I liked it.
I liked him, and that much was undeniable.
