LOVE PAINTED IN LIES

d adrian walked the hallways together, shared lunch, exchanged notes with silly doodles in the margin

warnings long before it s

rst, adrian cancelled two study se

it up to yo

love teaches tr

e the lat

thread during art club break, she watched him across the courtyard he laughed really loud, the way he used to laugh with her but he wasn't alone, selena stood with him, close enough that her arm brushed his, selena, her deskmate since junior year selena, beautiful in a soft, e

hed and continued painting minutes later, another message lit the screen but not for her it was a post in the school chat group a picture adrian and selena at the school cafe smiling, drinks in hand, Close too close for coincidence her heart froze not shattered just paused, like the world inhaled and forgot to exhale she stared at t

cting normal "hey," she gr

ke a light about to go out "oh we just met by chance she needed help with maths eliana nodded slowly, searching his eyes for honesty she found a wall instead selena passed them, wavi

aring at the ceiling fan questi

dn't he

make him lau

maginin

e we f

ing hands while one slowly slipped away she didn't name them, but she knew who t

istant lately things are complica

word it tastes like a hal

he replie

e out" but deep inside, she f

ne was soft. "What about eliana? Does she know?" adrian exhaled, tired "no and don't tell her yet. I don't want drama" eliana froze behind the door, breath trembling the notebook nearly slipped from her hand, selena spoke again, quieter "so... was last

imes it whispers while you crumble silently, she didn't confront them immediately no shouting, no tears spilled in public, betrayal deserved more than a reaction it deserved pa

spa

ise to

ly she would rise in colour they never expected, she stepped out of the bathroom

ng of a transformation, a storm brewed quietly in her ches