It took me three weeks to finish seven of my paintings. Only three more to go, until I can declare my collection completed. It took a little longer than I had planned at first, but in the end, I was pleased with the result. I was delighted that I would finally start my shifts at the store, allowing my mother to focus more on her handwork and less on the store management.

Besides, I really needed my well-deserved break from all the rancid smelling paint smudged all over my face.

June has gone by so fast, leaving behind only humid air and foggy weather. It has rained almost the whole month, leaving me no choice but to paint inside of my bedroom. At least it provided melancholy atmosphere, an inspiration I gratefully soaked in. Although, this self-inflicted imprisonment by the four walls or my room was inevitable for the progress, craving for freedom started to slowly chip at me.

It was nine o'clock in the evening, when my cell phone rang, almost giving me a heart attack.

I frowned as I assessed the unknown caller. "Hello?" I spoke with a slight uncertainty. For some unexplained reason undefined calls always gave me a feeling of anxiety as I somehow managed to convince my brain something bad has happened.

"Korina?" A well-known loud, enthusiastic voice broke through the other side of the line.

My whole face lit up as I recognized the person speaking. "Lena? Oh God! Where are you? How have you been? Are you home?" I literally attacked her with questions, my heart pounding against the rib cage. I have missed my friends so badly.

"Slow down, will you? And yes, I've just got here," she said, trying hard to suppress the laughter bubbling out of her chest.

I glared at the phone as I imagined her completely carefree face. "I've sent you like dozen massages, you haven’t responded to any of them!" I snarled at her.

"Calm down scrawny! My old phone broke, besides, I have some delightful news." She sounded ecstatic.

"I told you not to call me that. Fine. Spill! Don't keep me waiting," my mouth curved into a smile. I couldn't be angry at my friend for long and she was well aware of the fact.

"I was in Spain for a month or so," she beamed, waiting for me to continue.

"All right,” I spoke carefully. “Were you on holiday or something?" I didn't really understand where she was going with this.

"No. I've met someone here, it happened a few months ago. I was tending the bar as he casually walked into our restaurant. I wish you would be there to see it! I swear sparks ignited as soon as he laid eyes on me. So long story short, we went on a couple of dates and decided we couldn't be apart when he left back to Spain. So....-” she made a brief pause. “-I kind of followed him there."

A muscle twitched in my jaw. Now I knew exactly where this was going. My friend was hopeless. A never-ending line of lovers she insisted she loved profoundly, never able to live without them. I felt something breaking in my heart for Mark. He didn't deserve this ‒ no wonder he left so far away, just to get away from her reckless “push and pull” behavior.

"Lena-" I started, mentally rolling my eyes, but she immediately interrupted me.

"-Aren't you happy for me? I really like this one Korina, he’s different you know." I could’ve sworn her voice held a faintly desperate tone, as if she wanted to convince herself more than me.

"Is he here?" I should've been happy for her, but I didn't feel an ounce of guilt when I wasn't. Mark and I were both used to short - lived romances always leaving her heart broken. Every single time.

"No, he's back in Spain. He’s this crazy genius businessman and knows every single important person. And all the fancy suits he has, it’s insane! Oh yeah listen to this - his family is loaded, they own like three houses and have servants! Servants can you imagine?" She blabbered dreamily, barely taking any breaths in between words. “He promised he would introduce me to some of his friends, they are like model agents or something.”

So, this is what it’s all about‒ money. I sighed out loud, forgetting she was listening to me.

It didn’t take a genius to notice she was hurt by my reaction. "This isn't fair you know, I don't have a choice like you or Mark. I have to stay here, work at my parents' place my whole life. I don’t want to be a waitress just because my father needs me to be. I am not like you, thinking of my family at every step of the way, I am selfish Korina. I want those fancy cars and overpriced wines I don’t have a clue about."

"You are not selfish," I understood where she was coming from. Lena dreamed of leaving this place since she was fifteen. But we were not fifteen anymore and things have changed. “What are you doing...I am sorry, but it’s incredibly dangerous. You meet some stranger who could be a sketchy guy and he miraculously introduces you to some model agency? Sure, maybe it’s true, but what if it’s all a scam?” I let out a long sigh. “I am not judging you Lena, I am worried you’ll get hurt.”

"But I am selfish and you know it. I am afraid of moving forward on my own, I don’t know how," she let out a soft whimper.

"So stop running Lena. Embrace your future and go for what you really want."

"If I do that, I may lose myself in the process," she whispered.

"What are you talking about?" My whole body tensed with worry. I’ve never heard her speak like that.

Her voice sounded broken as she continued "If I let myself love him back like he loves me - what if it won't work?"

"But you've just said you liked the guy," I was truly confused now. Have I missed something?

"You know I might have exaggerated what I've said earlier. And I am not talking about Roberto," she said slowly.

"Then what..." Recognition dawned on my face as I instantly understood. "Mark? You knew?"

"I knew," she breathed.

My eyes widened with surprise "But he's been infatuated with you his whole life Lena! Why didn't you say something?”

"I just couldn't. He's is mister perfect, and I am not," Lena spoke with a thin voice. “Mister dream big and fly high.”

"That is bullshit and you know it," she couldn't possibly be thinking like this about herself. "Everybody adores you, you’re full of life and fearless. How can he not love you?"

"I know what you’re trying to do, but it won’t work Korina. He’s kind of a “risk it all for love guy”, and I can’t do that." There was a brief silence before she continued. "We are supposed to meet Mark tomorrow evening, he's flying in today. He is excited to see us so please, I am begging you to keep this to yourself. Please?"

"All right, I promise," I let out an exasperated sigh. "But you are making a huge mistake."

"It is mine to make. I don't want to fight Korina. Not over a phone anyway and we've spent too much time apart. Will you come to meet us tomorrow?"

"Of course, I will. When and where exactly?" I inquired her.

"Eight o'clock in Rosa's pub."

"I will be there. And Lena?" My voice came out as a barely audible whisper.

"Yes?"

"I love you and I will support you no matter what you decide."

"That means a lot Korina, thank you. And I love you too. Have a good night."

"Goodnight," I gazed at the screen as it went black again.

I didn't expect this, hell, I thought she always liked him as a friend. Was I such a bad friend that I missed all the signs? But I was certain there weren't any to miss. And why was she telling me this now?

"What do you think?" I said to the big dog curled into a ball at my legs. Barica just looked at me strangely for a second and resumed with his nap. “What a help you are big guy.”