Forever series. Book 1, by Arka Blanco. Chapter 3

  Forever series.  Book 1by Arka Blanco.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3. Two months later.

Sam was settled into her new home and studio, Nelly’s husband had delivered all the art supplies Sam had ordered online and she was surprised at how reasonable the prices were.

She had worked hard over the past two months and had completed a number of large works.

Sam liked to work on bigger pieces, though she had decided not to go any larger than two meters by two meters and to do smaller pieces, it would be a challenge to go smaller, but Sam was up for it.

A habit Sam had developed here, was to walk to the lake about fifteen minutes away and sketch, she loved the peace in the early morning she felt at the lake, it helped her to create, she would use pencils, watercolours and oil pastels to create wonderful dreamy patterns, making marks and shapes, she always got lost in the flow.

Sam was sitting on the warm ground, doing her patterns and mark making and she didn’t notice that someone was coming towards her, they were taking photos of the lake and the surrounds, they noticed Sam and wondered what she was doing.

It was a beautiful sunny day and Sam was dressed in shorts, t-shirt and a large wide brimmed hat and her hair was in a ponytail.

She was lost in the flow and did not hear the person come up to her and spoke to her in Korean.

Startled, Sam looked up at the person and said. “I don’t speak Korean.”

A woman was looking at her, she was dressed in white shorts and a pink t-shirt with Korean writing on it, a baseball cap and sunglasses.
“You are a foreigner, how nice, where are you from?”
“Australia.”

“Why are you here, what are you doing?”

“I am an artist and I have come to Korea to paint and be inspired.”

“Wow, that’s amazing, can I see what you are doing?”

“Yes, I am just sketching, totally inspired by the environment here, it is so beautiful.”

The person looked at the sketches Sam had done and looked at the beautiful environment and seemed a little confused.

“Wait, you have come to be inspired by the environment, these look nothing like the area here?”

Sam laughed. “I came to be inspired by the beauty here, not to paint it.”

“I don’t understand, what do you mean?”
“I am an abstract artist, I don’t paint landscapes or traditional pieces, your camera can do a better job of capturing the beauty of this place than me.”

“Oh really, you will have to explain it to me, what's your name, I am Chloe.” And stretched out her hand to Sam.

“Sam, my names Sam, nice to meet you.”

“Sam, is that short for something.”

Sam smiled and said. “Yes, Samantha is my name, it got shortened to Sam or Sammy as my mother calls me.”

“That’s nice, I like Sammy.”

“I haven't seen you in the village before, do you live here?”

“No, I live in Seoul and every chance I get I come out here to experience the quiet and the beauty of this lake district, so tell me about your self, where are you from in Australia?”

“I lived in Sydney and needed a change.”

“Coming to Korea is a big change, what made you decide to come here?”

“A bad marriage, a messy divorce and I was tired of Sydney.”

“Hmm, yes that would make you want change, where are you staying?”

“I have a small stone house near the edge of the village, nothing fancy at all.”

“Sounds nice, do you paint there?”
“Yes, there is a large shed attached to the house, which is my studio.”

A young woman came running over to Chloe and handed her a phone and Chloe said. “Excuse me Sammy, I need to take this call.” And started speaking as she walked away.

Sam continued to sketch and wondered who that person was and thought, she certainly liked to ask a lot of questions.

It was getting near lunch time and Sam wanted to paint this afternoon, so she picked up her watercolours, pencils and oil pastels and placed them in her bag, gathered all her sketches up and she could feel how warm the paper was from being outside and placed them in her art folder.

She started walking back to the village, a large black van passed her and stopped, Chloe stepped out of the van and waved to Sam.

As Sam got closer to her, Chloe said. “Come and have lunch with me, please don’t say no?”

“Are you sure you want to have lunch with me?”

“Yes, come and get into the van and we will go back to the hotel where I am staying, give your folder to Jenny she will place them on the back seat, everybody this is Miss Sam.”

Everybody smiled at Sam and Chloe said. “Most of them don’t speak any English, just Jenny.”

Jenny said. “Nice to meet you Miss Sam.”

“Please, call me Sam.”

“No Ma'am, I will call you Miss Sam, the same way we address Miss Chloe.”

They were close to the hotel and Jenny handed Chloe her sunglasses and a face mask, the van stopped at the front door.

Sam and Chloe stepped out, Chloe took Sam’s arm as they hurried into lobby and over to the restaurant and into the private rooms, followed by Jenny.

Once they were inside the private dinning room Chloe took off her sun glasses and mask and took off her baseball cap, her long black hair fell down.

Jenny took out a brush and started brushing her hair.

Chloe was very beautiful and Sam stared at her, she looked so different from their time at the lake, her skin was very pale and her piercing brown eyes made Sam feel as if she could look into her soul, she was a very beautiful woman.

Chloe smiled at Sam and said. “Thank you for coming and having lunch with me, I hope we can be friends, you are very beautiful.”

“Thank you, you are very beautiful also, who are you?”

“For another time, why did you and your husband get divorced?”

Sam thought, that’s very direct. “He was extremely jealous and I could not have children, his parents, who are very wealthy pressured him into leaving me to find a fertile woman, it was messy, I am free now and enjoying life.”

“That’s wonderful, I hope in the future we can enjoy life together.”

Sam thought, this girl gets straight to the point, lets change the subject.

“I am curious, tell me a little about yourself?”

Chloe looked straight into Sam’s eyes and said. “There is not a lot to tell, I only have my mother, my father died when I was very young and now I am involved in the entertainment industry.”

“That sounds exciting, what part of the entertainment industry?”

“Have you heard of the K-POP music over here?”

“Not really, I saw a K-POP girl group last October with my two nieces, they are madly in love with them and tried to tell me what it was all about, that is as much as I know about it.”

“What was the name of the group, do you remember?”

“I am not sure what it was, I think, oh, what was it, yes, Ever Love, my two nieces are very big fans and said that they are the biggest girl band in the world.”

“What did you think of the concert?”

“It was loud, surrounded by thousands of screaming girls, the music was different, all the costumes were gorgeous and the dancing was wonderful, it was a fun night with my nieces.”

“I will have to take you to a K-POP concert one day over here, we would have fun.”

“We will see, how often do you come to this lake district?”

“As often as I can, right now I come each weekend, soon I have to travel overseas for two months and as soon as I get back, I will come here again, as it makes me happy to be here.”

“When are you leaving?”

“In two weeks.”

She smiled at Sam and said. “Will you see me next week end?”

“Yes, if you would like to see me.”

The door opened and waiters entered with plates of food and large bowel of rice and placed them on the table and left.

Chloe looked at Sam and said. “I ordered the food before I left this morning, I hope you like it?”

“I am sure I will.”

The food was wonderful and Sam felt quiet at ease with Chloe as they ate and talked about themselves, the time went by quickly and Sam knew she had to get back to the studio and paint.

Chloe said. “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“I want to start some new paintings.”

“What, do you paint more than one at a time?”

“Yes, I usually work on three or four paintings at once.”

“Really, wouldn’t they all turn out the same?”

Sam smiled, “No, not at all, they are all different, it is just fun to be working on many projects at once.”

“We will drive you to your studio, can I come in and see your paintings?”

“I suppose so, my place is only a tiny home and very humble.”

“I want to see your paintings, can I please see them?”

“Ok, please don’t laugh?”

“I won’t laugh, I want to see where you live and work.”

Chloe took out her phone and sent a text, the door opened and Jenny came in, Chloe spoke to her in Korean.

Jenny immediately came over to her and started putting Chloe’s hair up in a bun on the top of her head and put her baseball cap over the bun and handed Chloe her sunglasses and mask.

Chloe said to Sam. “Come, lets go out to the van.”

She took Sam’s arm and they rushed through the lobby out to the van, once Jenny was inside the van, they drove off, Chloe asked Sam where her house was and then Chloe told the driver where to go.

It didn’t take long to get to Sam’s house and studio, Sam was nervous, as her house was very humble and she did not know what Chloe would think.

Chloe walked into the small house she looked around, smiled and said. “This is just like my grandparents house, where I grew up, it was warm and full of love, this is so nice Sammy, I love it.”

Sam was relieved and smiled and said. “I am happy here, it’s just me and my imagination.”

Chloe touched Sam’s arm and said. “Well, I want to become part of your life, please show me the studio and your paintings.”

Chloe took off her baseball cap and her hair fell down, Jenny went to brush it and Chloe said. “It’s ok, lets look at the paintings.”

Sam had four unpainted canvases on her easels ready to start to work on and the finished paintings are all leaning up against the walls.

Sam held up each painting to show Chloe and told her the story behind each one, it took some time to show all the paintings and when Sam finished, Chloe said. “Can we see those two paintings again?”

“Which ones?”

Sam pointed at a pink toned painting and Chloe said. “Yes, that one and the blue one over there.”

Sam went over and took out the blue painting, she took two unpainted paintings off the easels and placed the two paintings on them.

Chloe was chatting to Jenny in Korean while staring at the paintings and said in English. “Is it ok to touch them?”

“Yes.”

Chloe walked up close to the pink toned painting and put her finger on it and slowly drew her finger over the surface feeling the texture of the paint and the brush marks, it was as if she was caressing the painting.

She walked to the blue painting and did the same thing, she turned to Sam and said. “I like these two paintings Sammy, can I buy them off you?”

Surprised, Sam said. “I suppose so, but I didn’t expect you to buy from me?”
Chloe pouted and folded her arms and said. “Why, won’t you sell them to me?”
Smiling Sam said. “Yes, yes, I am just surprised, that’s all.”

“Well, I love them, you are very talented Sammy, but if I buy them there is one condition and you can’t say no.”

“Ok, what’s the condition?”

“You have to have dinner with me tonight.”

“Are you sure, we just had lunch together?”

“Yes, I am sure, I want to have dinner with you also.”

“Ok, I will have dinner with you, tell me what time to be there?”

“My van will pick you up at seven and Jenny will be in the van.”

“I will be ready, whats the dress code.”

“Jeans and t-shirt, don’t get dressed up as we will eat in my suite, so only Jenny, the girls and I will see you.”

“Ok, sounds good.”

Looking back at the paintings Chloe said. “Now how much are these paintings?”

“Well, in Sydney I would charge one thousand dollars each for them, over here I am unknown, so I would probably charge less.”

Chloe clapped her hands with delight and said. “Wonderful, a thousand dollars each is a good deal, do you want the equivalent value in won or do you want dollars?”
“Won, is fine I will give you my bank details.”

“Give it to Jenny, she will transfer the money to you, I do love these paintings, I think I am becoming a Sammy fan.”

Chloe said as she smiled at Sam, who was now feeling a little awkward, but very happy with her first sale in Korea, well really her first sale for some time.

The driver came into the studio to carry the paintings out to the van after Sam bubble wrapped them.

Chloe sat down on a chair and Jenny put her hair back into a bun and placed Chloe’s baseball cap over it.

Chloe said. “I look forward to seeing you tonight Sammy.” And gently touched Sam’s arm.

Sam said. “Yes, I will be ready when the van comes.”

She waved goodbye as they drove off and wondered to herself what just happened, she meets a stranger and now feels like she has known her forever, oh well, she thought, I must start painting.

The afternoon went by quickly and Sam realised that she had to get ready for dinner, so she had a quick shower and put on a black t-shirt and her jeans.

After dressing she went into the studio to look at the new paintings she had started, she liked three of them, but knew she would have to change one of them, the colours were a little jarring, so she picked up a black oil stick and started to draw lines over the surface of the painting, that’s better she thought.

She heard a knock on her door and she went into the house and opened the door and Jenny was standing there smiling and said. “Ready?”

Sam replied. “Yes, I will just get my bag.”

Sam went out to the van and they drove to the hotel, once there, Sam followed Jenny through the large lobby over to the lifts, getting out on top floor, they went over to one door and Jenny knocked, one of the girls opened the door and spoke to Jenny and Jenny said. “Miss Chloe is in the other room.”

Jenny opened the door and a table was set for two with two candles and Chloe walked over to Sam and said. “You look beautiful tonight Sammy.”

“Thank you, you look very beautiful also.”
Chloe was dressed in white silky slacks and beautiful silver lurex singlet that had Zoir across the front of it and her hair caught back in a ponytail, she looked gorgeous and Sam said. “I thought we were not dressing up, your cloths are stunning?”

“I just felt to do it, don’t worry we are not going out.”

Chloe took Sam’s hand and Sam thought how soft and warm it felt, and Chloe said. “Come, lets sit on the lounge, Jenny please bring us two glasses of wine.”

Jenny soon came back with two glasses of white wine and handed one to Sam and Chloe, she then left the room and closed the door.

Chloe smiled at Sam and said. “Did you get much painting done this afternoon?”

“Yes, I am happy with the results.”

“Can I see them next weekend?”

“I suppose so, if they are finished, yes, of course you can see them.”

“Good, how did you get into painting?”

“I always drew and painted as a child and my parents encouraged me to go to art school, to get a degree in fine arts, which I am not sure helped my painting at all.

I loved the art history part of the course and I learned so much about art and artists.”

“Did you sell a lot of work?”

“No unfortunately, most people don’t like my work, it is to different, to edgy for them, so they reject it.”

“I love your paintings, I think they are amazing.”

“Thank you, I appreciate your support.”

“I will show the people I work with, I am sure they will love your work also, I am a big fan now.”

Sam was a little embarrassed and didn’t know how to respond to Chloe and quietly said. “Thank you.”

“So Sammy, what kind of music do you like?”

“I only listen to music while I paint and, please don’t laugh, it is opera.”

“Really, you are the first person I know who likes opera, tell me why?”

“Well, when I paint I don’t want to be distracted by the words being sung, so with opera I don’t understand the words, so the singing is just part of the beautiful music and I get lost in the flow.”

“Interesting, I have never looked at it that way, what is your favourite opera?”

“Madam Butterfly.”

Chloe looked puzzled. “I have never heard of it, what do you mean by the flow?”

Sam smiled and said. “When you are doing something and time flies by, you look at your watch and hours have passed and it felt like minutes, you look at your work and you are amazed at what you have created, that’s what I call being in the flow.”

“Oh, I understand,” Chloe said, “yes, I have experienced that, I enjoy talking with you Sammy, I think we should eat, wait I will call Jenny.”

She picked up her phone and sent a text.

There was a knock on the door and Jenny came into the room and said, “Do you want me to tell them to send up the food Ma'am?”

“Yes Jenny and just bring it straight in when it arrives and leave the door open.”

“Yes Ma'am.”

Chloe said. “Sammy, lets have a picnic lunch tomorrow at the lake, you will love it, I will pick you up at eleven.”

“Are you sure you want to see me again tomorrow?”

“Very certain, and I can see the beginnings of your new paintings.”

Minutes later Jenny came in with the waiters and they placed all the food on the table and left and Jenny closed the door.

Sam said. “What about the girls outside will they eat?”

Chloe pointed at all the dishes, some with steam still coming off them and said. “Yes, of course, there is far to much food here for you and me, when we are finished they will remove the dishes and they will eat, trust me it will be fine.”

Sam nodded her head and they sat at the table and they began to eat, Chloe did not eat a lot and soon they were both finished and Chloe sent a text.

There was a knock on the door and Jenny and the other two girls came in and removed all the dishes and took Chloe and Sam’s plates away and then, Jenny came back in with two more glasses of white wine and Sam and Chloe went and sat back down on the lounge.

Sam was starting to wonder about her new friend, obviously she was well off to have four staff with her all the time, Sam thought, who is she?

Chloe looked at Sam and said. “Where will you exhibit your art in Seoul?”

“I have no idea, I thought I would get a body of work together and then start to reach out to galleries.”

“Why get a body of work together first?”

“Well, my experience with galleries in Australia is they want to see some work before they will even consider you, so I presumed it would be the same here.”

Chloe thought for a few moments and said. “Let’s hope you can find a good gallery here, I want you to do well, I am so glad that I have met you, I feel so relaxed around you and you are so beautiful.”

Sam smiled and was about to speak when there was a knock on the door and Jenny came in holding a phone, she looked upset and she spoke to Chloe in Korean.

Chloe’s head dropped and she turned to Sam and said. “Sammy, unfortunately I have to take this call, I am so sorry, I will try and make it quick,” she put the phone to her ear and said, “yes Jules?”

Sam smiled and nodded her head as Chloe went out of the room, Jenny sat down on the couch and said. “It is one of the girls we work with, boyfriend problems.”

Sam nodded and said, “Understand.”

Jenny stood up and asked Sam. “Would you like something else to drink?”

Sam said. “No, I am fine.”

Jenny smiled at her and walked out of the room.

Sam looked around the hotel room it was large, she thought it had seen better days, the paint was yellowing on the walls, the windows needed paint as well, the carpet was nice, she noticed that it was a little worn in places.

It was fifteen minutes later that Chloe came back into the room and sat down on the couch and said. “Sammy, I am so sorry that happened, please forgive me, one of the girls I work with has broken up with her boyfriend again and she is quite devastated, I hope you will forgive me?”

“Of course, I do understand, it is getting late, maybe I should go?”
“No, I want you to stay a little longer, I do enjoy your company, tell me about growing up in Sydney?”

“There is not a lot to tell, I grew up in a normal middle class home with loving parents who were always very supportive and caring, my father died a few years ago and now my mother lives alone, I stayed with her after the separation from my ex, I decided that I had to get out of Sydney, really there is not much to tell.”

“I look forward to learning more about you in the future, I will let you go home and I will pick you up at eleven tomorrow for our picnic, Jenny will go with you in the van and see you safely home.”

Sam and Chloe stood up as Jenny came into the room and Chloe said. “Jenny, please take Sammy home, Sammy thank you for coming and I will see you tomorrow.”

Sam said. “I had a wonderful time, thank you for inviting me.”

Chloe gently touched Sam’s arm and Sam and Jenny left the room, the van was waiting outside and when they arrived at Sam’s home Jenny got out of the van with her and Sam said, “It’s ok Jenny I will be fine.”

“No Ma'am, Miss Chloe told me to see you safely inside your house.”

Sam smiled at Jenny and opened her front door and said. “Thank you Jenny, I will see you tomorrow.”

Jenny smiled. “Good night Ma'am.”

When Jenny arrived back at the hotel she told the driver that they would not need him again until tomorrow morning at ten thirty, then she went up to Chloe’s rooms.

She knocked on Chloe’s door and went inside, Chloe was dressed in a pink pyjamas and she said. “Jenny, please brush my hair.”

Jenny picked up the brush and started brushing Chloe’s hair and said. “Ma'am, you are quite taken with this girl?”

“She is so beautiful with her piecing blue eyes, auburn hair and her beautiful skin.”

“Ma'am, we still have some intrigues with you and some boy band members that need to be settled.”

“Jenny, you know that none of that is true, I have not dated anyone for years, after that debacle four years ago with Tee, no, this is different and I am in no hurry, I just enjoy being around Sammy, she makes me happy.”

“Yes Ma'am, she does not know who you are and what you really do?”

“I know and I don’t want her to know, I want her to like me for me, not because I am in Ever Love.”

“Well Ma'am, don’t take her to Seoul and she will never know.”

Jenny kept brushing Chloe’s hair and wondered to herself how will this all play out as Miss Chloe has never shown any interest in a girl before, she is surrounded by them, it was always been about boys, yet as she says, she has not dated for years.