The High School Bad Boy
Chapter 40. Karma Has No Menu, You Got Served What You Deserve (2).

"It's so exciting, Max?"

Eloise noticed Max pacing back and forth and occasionally glancing towards the gallery entrance.

"Waiting someone?" ask Eloise who was astonished by Max's attitude.

"Yeah" he replied softly. "Maybe he didn't come" he muttered in disappointment.

Eloise stroked Max's arm attentively. "See your painting, Max." The girl pointed at the painting of a woman in black dress who was covering her face with both palms. "Either and what it is. J'adore (i like it)."

Max only smiled faintly in response to Eloise's remark. His mind was full of Wulan who did not reveal the trunk of his nose.

"You're very talented, Max. I'm sure the Sorbonne will gladly accept you as a student if you graduate. You might even get a scholarship. Some of my friends came in here on scholarships. They are just as talented as you are" Eloise chanted excitedly. Max just nodded. Then turn his eyes towards the entrance. There was still no sign of Wulan appearing.

"Oh, regarde, il est ici Monsieur Le Maire (see, Mr. La Maire is here)." Eloise pointed to a white-haired middle-aged man who had just emerged from the gallery door accompanied by two of her aides. Bruno Le Maire, Governor of Paris.

Max glanced at the man. Just this time he saw the figure of the Governor of Paris directly.

"Look how he reacts when he sees your paintings, Max," said Eloise with sparkling eyes.

"Yeah," chuckles Max while stroking his nape.

Monsieur La Maire was accompanied by several organizers walking around looking at one by one paintings on display while occasionally talking to their owners. The man seemed enthusiastic about diving scribbles on the canvas.

Max's chest firmed up when he saw the Governor's entourage approaching towards him and Eloise.

"Oh, very interesting painting." Monsieur Le Maire points to Max's psychedelic-themed paintings. "Who's the painter?" tanyanya.

"Maximilian Guillaume, Monsieur." Eloise immediately replied while patting Max's shoulder proudly.

"Owh, are you a student of the Sorbonne?"

"No, Monsieur. I'm Lycee Jean-Baptise Say's student. The final class" Max replied with a smile.

The man's eyes were round. "You're still in High School?"

Max nodded slowly. "Oui, Monsieur."

"C'est genial, trese tres genial (cool, really cool)," he said while re-examining the half-abstract paintings with bold colors. "Where do you get inspiration from, son?"

"Enmmm ...." Max looked at Eloise with a confused face. But the girl just put her shoulder. There is no way he told a Governor that he got inspiration when he consumed cannabis. "The complexity of the universe, sir. Natural energy is depicted in endless patterns, which intersect with each other." Max replied smoothly. "I named the painting We are the universe (the universe is us)."

Monsieur Le Maire looked at both his aides and some of the organizers with a look of disbelief. "It's so smart this kid," he murmured. "I'll buy the painting."

Max flabbergasted. So did Eloise. The two looked at each other while holding a happy smile.

"Call me what price you want, Maximilian. Claude will take care of it" Monsieur La Maire said, pointing to one of his aides.

"You have a bright future" he said later, patting Max on the shoulder.

"Merci beaucoup, Monsieur (thank you very much, sir)," Max said with an expression of disbelief.

The man nodded. He waved at Max and Eloise before continuing to tour the gallery.

"So, how much does the painting cost?" ask the Governor's aide called by Claude's name.

***

Max walked cheerfully while carrying two boxes of Salmon en papillote, which he bought from an expensive restaurant in downtown Suresnes. One hand held a red rose.

He pushed open an unlocked green painted wooden door and stepped inside and climbed up the stairs to Wulan's apartment.

He steadily knocked on the gray door and wished the woman was inside.

His eyes sparkled as the door slowly opened, and the look of the face of ayu he always longed for poked out from behind it.

"Max?" Wulan's face looked tense.

Wulan was silent for a moment. "I'm coming."

Max squinted his forehead. "really? Why don't you come see me?"

"I don't have to see you, do I? I came to see the painting." Wulan's tone sounded faint. His face looks sour too.

"Can't be, Miss. I was expecting you to come."

Wulan. "You don't need me, Max."

"I need you, Miss. I've been waiting for you throughout the exhibition."

"No need to overdo it" said Wulan coldly.

"What is this, Miss? Did I make a mistake?"

"Not at all."

Max scratched his now messy hair. "Can I come in?"

"can't. Why don't you just go somewhere else?"

"Other place?" Max is further astonished by Wulan's strange-looking attitude. Usually Wulan was only acting fiercely towards him, but not this cold. His teacher's mother also looked annoyed.

"Yes, you can go to Eloise's place, maybe," Wulan said, squinting her eyes.

"Why is it with Eloise?" ask Max. He's getting astonished.

"Look at you guys getting closer. Exactly like I told you. You guys fit in."

Max was silent for a moment. He tilted his head while throbbing. And then his laughter exploded.

"So you didn't see me because you saw me with Eloise?"

Wulan rolled both her eyes. "Not as you think. I just don't want to disturb."

"I won't be disturbed. Me and Eloise just ...."

"He likes you, Max." Wulan cut quickly the young man's words.

"Why did you conclude like that, Miss?"

Wulan sighed softly. He was silent for a moment. "She tidied your hair, very gently." Wulan cursed herself inwardly. He could not put the brakes on his mouth. "Anyway .. You go home. I feel tired" he said as he prepared to close the door.

"Wait, Miss. I brought you dinner and flowers."

"Merci, Max. But I've eaten. Bonne nuit (good night)."

"But, Miss .. I want to celebrate ...." Max's words evaporated just like that when Wulan had shut the door tight.

"It's my birthday, '" he continued. He just remembered that today was his birthday.

"The seventeenth" he said to the wind.

He breathed his breath violently. He lifted the food pack he brought with a feeling of disappointment.

Then squeeze the rose and scatter it into the air.

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