2. Flashback, We Both Making Prejudice

“Huh, what is this?” she saw a small speck of earthen yellow paint polished on her cheek,

“Haha, is this paint no longer able to tell the difference between the canvas and my face now? But… I look like someone who hasn't showered yet,” she chuckled as he wiped her face with wet tissue.

“Is this my hand?” Jane spoke to herself in her hands.

Well that's how artists are sometimes too funny and a little weird. Jane also cleaned her face again, took her cosmetic purse and fixed her messy make-up to the end.

“Wow, I'm beautiful now. No… No… I'm really, gorgeous,” she said, chuckling at her reflection in the sink mirror.

'But something seems to be missing,' Jane thought for a moment and looked her reflection up and down again.

“I don't think this outfit is suitable for going out with that annoying Josh,'” Jane thought as she looked at herself.

“Hmm… He's going to keep insulting me on and on. Jane, do you want to go out or sleep? Are you sure about that outfit?” Jane rambled on following Josh's speech, still in front of the sink mirror.

“Josh, that guy really… is cranky,” cursed Jane, mumbling to imitate Josh's habit of criticizing her about clothes.

At that time, she only wore culottes with a regular short-sleeved shirt.

“I'd better ask Josh, is it okay only be like that or not?” she thought briefly and went back to the painting table not far from the sink and took her smartphone to made a video call to Josh.

Ttutt… Ttutt… (Josh calls out 1 video call go unanswered)

Ttutt… Ttutt… (Josh calls out 2 video calls go unanswered)

Ttutt… Ttutt… (Josh calls out 3 video calls go unanswered)

'He really is a disappointment,' Jane stared at her screen.

“Josh, pick up my call,” Jane typed in a message to Josh.

“Josh! You naughty man, call me back,” Jane texted Josh one more time.

The messages only end with a tick 2 which means it has been entered and has not been read.

'Damn it,' Jane cursed in her mind. 'What is this? He is online… Why isn't he responding when he's active?' Jane thought again in her mind.

“Hmm, that's annoying,” Jane muttered under her breath, confused by her own question.

Jane also thought about going back to the apartment not far from her private painting studio to change clothes and intends to follow Josh to his residence, which is 30 minutes by taxi or 20 minutes by subway. Jane was getting ready to put her smartphone, purse, charger, and AirPods into her shoulder bag. She also rushed out and did not forget to close her painting studio.

Jane walked slowly towards her apartment, which was only 750 meters from her studio. Until she reached a crossroads, Jane pressed the crossing button with other pedestrians who were also waiting for the red light to cross. Once again, she checked her smartphone again to make sure the message get answer or not by Josh. But, yeah, still Josh hasn't responded yet.

'Hmm. This one child, just watch out for you. How dare you make me worry by disappearing without a word,' Jane was struggling in her mind, really cursing Josh.

'Actually, are we going out to eat, aren't we?' type Jane again in their chat room.

“Hmm,” Jane cleared her throat and took a deep breath.

Two years ago, 2027, Art University of Nikhil.

Josh is a patient man who has accompanied Jane for 2 years stranded in downtown Nikhil city to pursue her dreams and aspirations to become a great artist like Leonardo da Vinci, who has always been her role model.

The beginning of their meeting, of course, was not as intimate as this, they misunderstood and prejudice each other at the beginning of their meeting. They met for the first time as junior and senior in the art community of the International Art University of Nikhil campus. Then Jane always saw him regularly in their department's lobby or canteen.

“Jane, look at that man,” Alina patted Jane's arm, asking Jane to pay attention to the two men who were walking into the main lobby.

“Who?” asked Jane, who didn't care about Alina's gaze.

“That's the man on the right,” Alina said to Jane.

“The one in blue?” asked Jane again, looking intently.

“On the right, Jane,” said Alina again.

“Ha, the brown shirt? Isn't that Josh's senior who collaborated with our class band on the art show last month?” answered Jane again.

“Oh, your memory is superb,” said Alina to Jane.

“So what's wrong Lin?” continued Jane again who still did not understand her friend.

“Just seeing him from a distance like this, can make my heart flutter,” said Alina, who was still staring intently at their senior.

“You crazy bastard,” Jane pushed Alina's shoulder, which continued to cling to her.

“He's the perfect man, do not you think the same?” Alina quickly defended Josh's senior again.

Jane doesn't have the same perception as the women on campus who are totally infatuated with Josh's handsome looks, his talent for sculpture and amazing pottery. Not only that, of course his shrewdness in playing guitar and piano as well as his melodious voice really made the women on campus go crazy.

“Gee, you're the only one who's blind,” Jane replied again, “You really don't learn from our friends who are victims of his inner wounds,” said Jane again.

Josh from Jane's point of view, Josh is just a heartless madman. Josh can easily break the hearts of many women with a sudden cold attitude, and does not hesitate to completely reject women who are chasing him. He can easily expose embarrassing facts directly to these women, until the women feel frustrated and embarrassed and then stop by themselves. Jane knew Josh that way. Simply like a man who pretends to be nice in front of many people but has another side of his personality that he hides. Jane at that time labeled Josh as a psychopathic man, of course because of Josh's mysterious and pretentious cool.

“Ah, it's just them who are crazy too confident asking Josh's seniors on a date,” again Alina praised and defended Josh.

“Anyway, if you're going to break your heart because of him, don't tell me,” Jane insisted so that her friend wouldn't act crazy.