love element

It had been a few days since their trip to the beach, and things between Emilia and Jaden were... different. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made her second-guess herself. Every time they talked, there was a new layer to their dynamic—something unspoken but present.

Emilia sat in her studio, staring at her latest piece. It was nearly finished, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to put the final strokes on it. It felt too personal, too exposed.

She heard the familiar knock on the door before it opened.

"Didn't I tell you to knock?" Emilia called, but there was no real annoyance in her voice.

Jaden stepped inside, grinning. "I figured after all these weeks, knocking was overrated."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, yeah." He glanced at the painting she was working on, then back at her. "You're avoiding it again."

"I'm not avoiding it," she protested. "I'm just... taking my time."

"Uh-huh. It's been a week. At this rate, the art's going to come to life and finish itself."

Emilia chuckled. "If only." She set down her brush and walked over to the canvas. "I just... don't know if it's ready yet. It feels too... vulnerable."

Jaden raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Vulnerable? That's the point, isn't it? The best stuff always is."

"I don't know if I can handle that much... exposure," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual.

He tilted his head, looking at her with an intensity she wasn't used to. "You already are, every time you pick up that brush."

Emilia paused, the weight of his words sinking in. It wasn't the first time he'd pushed her in a way she hadn't expected, but something about his confidence made it hard to ignore.

"You make it sound so easy," she said, almost bitterly.

"Nothing's easy," Jaden replied. "But it's worth it. And so are you."

She looked at him, surprised by how his words landed. She had heard compliments before—hell, she even got some praise from her own family—but from Jaden? It felt different. Real.

She exhaled slowly, letting the tension slip away. "I guess I'll finish it today."

Jaden grinned. "That's what I like to hear."

The Showcase Looms

A week later, Emilia found herself in a whirlwind of final preparations. The gallery was just days away, and every time she thought she had everything ready, something new needed to be done. She barely had time to eat, let alone think about anything else.

But then, there was Jaden.

He hadn't been around as much lately—he was busy with his own work, she assumed—but when he did show up, he was always a calming force. He'd bring coffee, crack a joke, and somehow, everything felt manageable again.

On the night before the showcase, Jaden showed up with dinner in hand.

"You're really doing this last-minute thing, huh?" he said, setting the takeout down.

"It's the only way I work," she replied, not looking up from her laptop.

"You know," he said, watching her, "you don't have to be so stubborn all the time."

Emilia finally looked at him. "I'm not stubborn. I'm focused."

"Sure, focus," he said, grinning. "But if you burn yourself out before the big night, what's the point?"

She paused, feeling a bit of guilt creep in. "I'm fine. I can handle it."

Jaden sat down across from her, his expression softening. "You don't have to do this alone, you know."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, trying to hide the effect his words had on her. "I'm not alone. I've got my art."

Jaden's eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, before he stood up. "Right. Just... don't forget to take care of yourself too."

The Night Before

Later that night, after Jaden left, Emilia stood in her studio, staring at the final piece she had been struggling with. She took a deep breath and picked up her brush. This time, there was no hesitation.

Her strokes were confident, her mind clear. She poured everything into the painting—the fears, the doubts, and the small victories. The piece was more than just colors on a canvas; it was a reflection of everything she'd been working through in the past few months.

As she finished, she stepped back, her heart racing. It was everything she had wanted it to be.

But it wasn't just the painting that made her feel alive in that moment—it was the thought of sharing it with the world.

And maybe... just maybe, it was the thought of Jaden seeing it too.