Chapter 113 Could That be Chloe?
Chapter 113 Could That be Chloe?
Jasmine’s POV
I spent the last week, and some days, avoiding Bella.
More like we were both avoiding each other, and I think it’s better than forcing things.
This could be a way of giving me time to process things, and it’s really working out.
I’ve used this period to try to understand our situation more, and now, I might want to forgive her, and see how things pick up from here.
Besides, there are more good things she’s done compared to the bad ones.
The space was really needed, cause I’m now reminded of all the good memories we shared together, plus, our college days are almost over.
We’ve already rounded off our final exams, and it’s just five days to the final year exhibition.
I’ve been so excited that I even set up my art in the hall provided for us, before our exams started.
Every day, I make sure to go check on it, and today is one of those days.
Standing before my painting, I fight the urge to grab a paintbrush and add a few strokes.
I guess to a painter, a painting is never completed.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, just when I’m about to trace the skinny figure on the canvas with my finger.
Fishing out my phone, I see that it’s a video call from my mom, and a smile instantly plasters on my lips.
Speak of right timing.
She’s been begging to see the painting before the D-day, and she’s in luck today.
“Hello.” She chirps, applying blush to her face.
“Did you just call me to watch you do your makeup?” I joke.
She pauses to shoot me a playful scowl before saying, “We aren’t any different, you know.”
“What do you mean?” I laugh, noticing how much blush pigment she’s using.
“You have a brush, and I have one. We just paint on different things.”
“That’s good to know, artist. You might want to reduce your blush.”
I love how close we’ve gotten, and how easy it is to talk to her.
I can’t wait to make her proud on that day.
“Mind your line of work.”
“How is Timothy?”
“He’s fine.” She tries wiping the blush away but it smears instead. “Fucking hell!”
“Language.” I taunt, ready to see her shocked expression.
And she doesn’t disappoint.
“I see that roles have been switched.” She raises her brow before giving up, and wiping off her face completely.
Then she finally remembers that I asked about my baby brother.
“Timothy is fine, he’s been wanting to video call you, but he’s in school now.”
“Tough luck.”
“You haven’t opened up to me about what he told you the other day.”
My mom has been curious about the call I had with Timothy, and I know I should tell her about it, but I’ve been enjoying her curiosity.
“Siblings’ secret.”
She fakes a hurt expression, before trying to convince me,
“Come on. We don’t keep secrets.”
“I have something better to show you,” I change the topic, turning the camera to face the painting.
“Oh my good Lord! Did you paint this?”
“Yes.” I say, proudly, already enjoying the surprise in her voice.
“I’ve been speaking with the greatest artist of all time, and I dare compare my whack makeup with her blessed hands.”
Maybe in my next life, I’d be born as her real daughter, let’s see if I’d inherit how overdramatic she is.
“I just committed treason.” She continues, making me laugh.
“Will you ever forgive me?”
I roll my eyes, returning the camera to my face.
Her features soften, and there’s an undeniable proud smile on her face.
“You will definitely go far with this.” She says matter-of-factly. “I’ll always be proud to be mom to a renowned artist, a great one at that.”
“Don’t hype me up.”
“I’m not, baby. I’m just being honest with you, and…” she trails off, her eyes zeroing in on someone behind me, so I turn to see that it’s Bella.
She also looks a little shocked to see me here, but she instantly replaces it with a smile,
“Hi, Mrs. Hannah.” She waves. “Hey, Jas.”
I nod once, acknowledging her presence, while my mom chimes,
“It’s been so long since I saw you, Bells.”
My mom isn’t aware of the rift between us, and I don’t think there’s any use telling her about it since I plan on forgiving Bella.
“Same here. I’ve missed that nickname.”
“How have you been?” My mom asks, and I just hand her the phone so they can catch up on each other’s lives.
My mom has always loved Bella, she sees her as her daughter, especially after learning how close she is to me.
I use the time they’re talking to cover my canvas, and make sure everything is set right.
It takes a couple of minutes before she returns the phone, and I exchange goodbyes with my mom.
“Who is Timothy?” She asks suddenly. My mom must have mentioned the name, and she picked it up.
“My half-brother.” I reply, stepping out of the hall with her following me.
She seems taken aback by my words, before saying, “I have really missed out on so much about you. I hope we can still catch up.”
I turn to look at her for a while before answering, “Sure we can.”
I don’t need to make a bold statement telling her that I’ve forgiven her, and we can go back to how we were.
I want to take this one step at a time.
“I came to check on my painting.” She says out of nowhere.
Does she think I’m assuming she stalked me?
Have I really pushed her away so much that she’s walking on eggshells around me?
“That’s fine. I can’t wait to see your painting,” I express, smiling, which she returns.
“Same here, although I know that it’s going to be exceptional.”
She already saw some part of it, so it’s okay for her to think that way.
“Yours will be outstanding too.”
“Don’t flatter me, Jas. We both know that you’re the best.”
I’m about to counter her words when something, or someone, catches my attention.
I couldn’t quite make out the face clearly before the person enters a car, and drives off, but I can swear she looks like Chloe.
What is Chloe doing here?
An uneasy feeling settles in my gut, and I try to shake it off.
“Are you okay, Jas?”
“Yeah.” I say, absentmindedly.