The next morning, the air felt unusually heavy, almost charged with anticipation. Anaya walked into the art classroom early, clutching her sketchbook as usual. The festival was just a week away, and every student was busily preparing their pieces.
Her heart skipped when she noticed a small folded note on her desk. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked it up. Carefully, she unfolded it:
"Your sketches are amazing. I can't wait to see them at the festival. Keep up the good work."
Anaya's eyes widened. She recognized the handwriting—or at least the careful, neat strokes—but it still didn't reveal the sender. Her mind raced. Could it be Kian? Or someone else entirely?
"Wow, you look like you've seen a ghost," Rhea's voice broke through her thoughts. She was leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirking.
"I… I just got a note," Anaya said softly, slipping it into her pocket.
Rhea's grin widened. "A note, huh? Do tell."
Anaya shook her head, cheeks heating. "It's nothing. Just… a fan?"
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "A fan? In high school? You're ridiculous. Come on, don't be shy. This could be the start of something exciting."
Meanwhile, across the room, Kian glanced toward Anaya. He had been trying to remain casual, leaning against the art supplies shelf with Veer.
"She noticed the note?" Veer asked, eyebrow raised.
Kian shook his head subtly. "I don't think so. But she might be wondering. I didn't sign it—I wanted it to be anonymous, at least for now."
Veer chuckled. "You're really overthinking this. Just talk to her already."
Kian's gaze returned to Anaya, who was carefully arranging her sketches. He felt a strange pull in his chest. She's… incredible. And she doesn't even know I noticed.
Anaya, meanwhile, was lost in thought. She wondered about the note repeatedly. Who could it be? How would she respond? Could she even respond without giving away that she knew it was him?
The day continued with classes, but Anaya's focus kept drifting back to the small piece of paper. Every glance at Kian's direction made her stomach flutter.
During lunch, Rhea nudged her again. "So… are you going to say anything? Or just stew in mystery all day?"
"I… I don't know what to say," Anaya admitted quietly. "What if I mess it up?"
Rhea smiled knowingly. "Sometimes the best things come from messing up. Just… follow your heart a little, okay?"
Later that afternoon, Anaya returned to her desk to work on her festival sketches. Her hand shook slightly as she drew. Each stroke carried both nervousness and excitement. She couldn't stop thinking about the note, and the mysterious admirer who had noticed her art.
And somewhere else in the school, Kian watched her from afar, curiosity and admiration warring with his desire to remain discreet. He didn't know how much longer he could wait.