Chapter 10

Mia added, "People can read it from the beginning.

"It's different with my painting. The lighting will affect the colors."

That was her usual logic.

Her painting was different, her opportunities were different, her sadness was different, so it was fine if my article lost a paragraph.

It didn't matter if I gave in a little, because I was the one who supposedly had everything.

I said, "Move your painting," I had nothing more to say to her.

Mia's eyes welled up with tears.

The classmates nearby shifted uneasily, not knowing whose side to take.

The classmates were still awkwardly unsure who to help when Alex walked in, breaking the tension.

Noticing Mia's upset expression, Alex immediately asked, "What's wrong?"

Mia shook her head. "Nothing, really.

"I should've checked the location beforehand.

"I'll move my painting to the corner."

Alex glanced at the easel blocking my article and quickly caught on to what was happening. "It's only blocking a bit.

"Is it really a problem if it stays here?"

I gestured toward the display board. "You're blocking the ending.

"That's the most important part of the whole article."

Alex walked over and glanced at the display. "It's all connected. Missing a paragraph won't really change anything.

"Mia's painting needs to be fully visible."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Her painting needs to be fully displayed.

"My article doesn't?"

Alex was trying to stay calm. "That's not what I meant.

"It's only a school exhibition.

"Your article has already been recommended to the Riverdale Arts Center.

"Giving her a prime spot doesn't affect you."

Here we go again, he says it doesn't affect me.

Back then, every time I let something go for someone else, he'd always say it didn't matter to me.

Turns out, all those so-called 'little things' are what make up a person's life.

Giving up a spot, turning down a school, quitting a job, postponing an opportunity, by the time I looked back, I had nothing left.

I walked around Alex and grabbed the easel.

Mia's hand shot out instinctively. "What are you doing?"

I made sure not to touch her painting.

I simply moved the entire easel over to an open spot off to the side.

The lighting there wasn't as good as in the center, but it was still bright enough to see the whole painting clearly.

I said, "This is part of the school exhibit area.

"It's not covering anyone else's work.

"It fits perfectly."

Mia stood there, tears streaming down her face.

Alex's expression turned icy. "Sophie.

"She wanted a little space. Did you really have to be so harsh about it?"

People in the auditorium started looking over.

I squared up my display board, making sure it was perfectly in place. "I put her painting in an open spot.

"It's not like I ruined it or took it down.

"Seriously, how is that being out of line?"

Alex said, "You know full well she didn't get the city's recommendation.

"Do you really have to nitpick over something this trivial?"

I turned to him. "Of course it's a small thing to you.

"Because it's not your work that's getting covered up."

Alex was at a loss for words.

I pointed at the last paragraph on my display board. "I spent three months writing this article.

"I revised it seventeen times.

"It's here because the teachers and judges chose it.

"This isn't some empty space you can hand to anyone you like."

The whole place went dead silent.

Mia choked out, her voice trembling with tears. "Alex, please, stop.

"I'm sorry, this was all my fault.

"I shouldn't have thought that because Sophie already had a city recommendation, she wouldn't care about her spot in the school exhibition."

Her words sounded like an apology.

She was really implying I was being stingy.

Like I already had my shot, but still couldn't spare even a corner of my display board.

Alex looked even more disappointed. "Sophie, you never used to get so hung up on stuff like this."

I looked at him. "It's not that I never stood up for myself.

"But every time I did, you called me childish."

Alex's expression flickered.

I didn't look at him again. "The setup isn't finished yet.

"Let's not hold up the others."

Alex grabbed Mia's hand and led her out of the auditorium.

As they passed the door, Mia glanced back at me.

There were no tears in her eyes.

Only that stubborn unwillingness.