The High School Bad Boy
Chapter 42. Everybody Needs Some Time On Their Own.

MARAIS LES, SURESNES.

"Voil!" say Max while putting the last touch on the canvas. A painting of a middle-aged woman sitting before him at this moment.

"Can I see it now (can I see now)?" ask the woman with her American English accent enthusiastically.

"Yes, Madame." Max shifted his seat to make room for the woman to examine the painting.

"Wow .. very nice." praise the woman with a happy face.

"The painting will dry in twenty minutes, Madame. Do you want to wait here or do you want to take a walk first?" ask Max while tidying up the acrylic paint tube.

"Okay, I'll be back in twenty minutes (yes I'll be back in twenty minutes)." The woman smiled and passed.

Max continued to tidy up his equipment. Put it in his bag, then fold two folding chairs and lean it against the wall of the bridge. The day had begun and he decided that the woman was his last customer for the day.

He stretched out his stiff hand muscles. Then lean his back against the body of the sturdy Pont Marie crossroads while breathing the piercing cold air.

There were about fifteen minutes he was silent there watching his surroundings. This place is always crowded by tourists who want to enjoy the atmosphere and scenery on the banks of the beautiful Seine river.

"Hey, don't daydream!"

The cry of someone accompanied by a pat on the shoulder made him aghast. He looked to the side and found a sweet face was shining his big smile.

"Copy (hallo) ... Eloise," she said with a face that still looked shocked.

"Have you finished painting for today?" eloise asked as she looked at Max's large bag.

"Yeah" Max replied briefly. "You came here intentionally or ...."

"I came here intentionally. I used to spend weekends around Les Marais. Meet many talented street art artists. And I remember you had a stand around here, so yeah ...." Eloise throbbed while shrugging her shoulders.

"D'accord (okay)."

"How about we have coffee?" bargain Eloise while leaning her back next to Max.

"I told you I don't like coffee" Max said. "I'd rather have a beer" he continued.

"Well, then we'll have a beer."

"But I haven't been able to get into the bar. In Stalingrad I always told older people to buy beer, "he said.

Eloise. "Send me. I'm nineteen. I'm legal," she's.

Max took one hundred euros from his wallet and handed it to Eloise.

"I was waiting for the customer to take the painting," Max said as he examined the canvas still leaning on his mini easel. It will soon dry out perfectly.

"Okay, I'm going first. Cinq minutes, d'accord (five minutes, yes)," said Eloise with a glowing face. Then he took a carefree step looking for the nearest mini market.

Max glanced at Eloise's back. Then turned his attention to the woman he had painted, who was now in front of him.

"How much (how)?" ask the woman.

"150 euros." Every time he told the price of his painting, he always remembered the words of Wulan when the Mother Master knew the usual price he pegged for only 50 euros.

Too cheap for a painting this good.

Wulan's voice that was ringing in her mind made her faintest smile. Then his face was always tense every time faced with him. His always shrewd hands grabbed his hair when there was his speech that made Wulan upset. All about Wulan was indeed ravaging his heart.

First time in love, why is it so deep and complicated?

Wulan's attitude last night made her tired of chasing after the Mother Teacher, plus the burden of her life so far, peak. He did not blame Wulan. Maybe his attitude was too aggressive. It would be selfish to drag Wulan into this mess.

Everybody needs some time on their own (everybody needs their own time).

"Max!" Eloise's call made her gasp.

He came to his senses and saw Eloise standing next to the lady of his client who was holding out one hundred euros and fifty euros while shaking one other hand in front of his face.

"You daydreaming, son?" tanyanya while chuckling.

"Pardon (sorry)" he said shyly while taking a euro sheet from the woman's hand. "Merci" he said, giving him the canvas he had rolled on.

Eloise held up a plastic bag containing several cans of beer to show Max with her big smile.

"Where are you drinking?" ask Eloise.

"In Patrick's gallery" Max said as he put a large bag on his back and grabbed two folding chairs and his mini easel. "He's my acquaintance" he said then as soon as Eloise squinted her forehead.

"Ah, d'accord (okay). I helped bring the easel," said Eloise as she reached for a painting stand from Max's hand.

.

.

Max greets a glimpse of Patrick, who is busy serving buyers and takes Eloise upstairs. There, full of paintings Max some have been completed and some are still in the form of sketches.

Eloise saw three paintings she saw a few days ago at the Sorbonne exhibit. One of them was a painting of a woman in a black dress who was covering her face with a palm. He was interested in asking Max further about the painting, which he did not have time to do at the exhibition.

"Elle est qui cette femme (who is this woman)?" ask Eloise.

Max, who was putting the bag and other items he was carrying into the corner of the room, turned to Eloise. He stepped closer to the girl and pulled a chair for her and let her sit down. Then he took a chair for himself. He took a plastic bag containing a beer can from Eloise's hand, then took two pieces and opened it.

"A woman," Max replied as he handed Eloise a can of beer.

Eloise. "Yes I know she's a woman. But who is he?"

"Mon premier amour (my first love)" he replied as he stared at the black and white painting in front of him.

"Ah, d'accord (okay)." Eloise smiled her wry smile. He looked at Max's face carefully. How handsome.

"Where is he now?" ask Eloise while sipping her beer can.

Max flicked the child with the hair hanging from his forehead to the back of his head. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Alright," kekeh Eloise. The girl returned to her gaze to Max's handsome face with a full of cravings. "Max ...." He called the young man soft.

"Oui (yes)?"

Eloise leaned towards Max and slowly brought her face closer to touch her lips on the thin pink lips.

The surprised Max found Eloise's face so close to his face, hurriedly pulling her head back while holding Eloise's shoulder.

"Emm .. dsole (sorry), Eloise ...."

Eloise who understood Max's subtle rejection, stroked his nape awkwardly. His face was flushed with embarrassment. He immediately shifted his seat and faced forward.

"I ... who apologized," he said softly with mixed feelings.

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