Chapter 71: Childhood Serenity
"Okay I won’t talk with you anymore or else you will get late for your event.Don’t forget to notify me on how it goes.Okay?"
"Will do.Bye."Thea hung the call.
As Thea prepared to leave, she saw her grandma,coming towards her with a warm smile. "Take this with you." Grandm Grace said, handing her a small pouch of chocolates. "If you feel tensed, have one. They’ll calm your nerves."
"Thank you, Grandma," Thea replied, as she quickly looked inside the pouch and found her favorite chocolates.
"I want to go with you, but with my condition, I can’t." she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Don’t feel sad, Grandma.I know you’ll always be with me, no matter what. Even in your absence, I can feel your love and blessings surrounding me."As she spoke, Thea wrapped her arms around Grandma Grace, pulling her into a warm hug.
"Now you go to get ready for the event."Thea gently pulled away from Grandma Grace’s warm embrace before nodded her head.
"Wear a dress that will make my granddaughter shine like a princess."Grandma Grace caressed her face before urging her to go to her room to get ready.
She walked into her room and took out the outfit she had chosen before for the art competition. .She wore an emerald green colour dress with a fitted, lace-trimmed bodice and a flowing, layered skirt that fell in soft, ethereal folds to her ankles. The dress was adorned with intricate, hand-beaded floral patterns that shimmered and shined in the light, catching the eye and drawing attention to her beauty.
A delicate, sparkling silver belt encircled her waist, adding a touch of modernity to the overall design. Her hair was styled in a low bun, with a few loose strands framing her face and highlighting her bright, shining eyes.
On her feet, she wore a pair of elegant, high-heeled sandals with delicate ankle straps and sparkling silver buckles. And around her neck, she wore a beautiful, diamond pendant with a tiny, shimmering crystal -this pendant was a gift from her grandma,a symbol of her grandmother’s love and support.
Two days ago,She had already submitted her artwork. She quickly went downstairs, carrying a sling bag. "Grandma, I am heading out." she announced.
Kissing her grandmother on her cheek before she went out. Grandma Grace smiled at her enthusiasm, her eyes shining with warmth. She was happy when she saw her granddaughter was happy, and it filled her heart with joy.
As Thea stepped out of the cab and onto the bustling streets, her eyes landed on a massive, eye-catching banner draped across the entrance of the stadium hall. In bold, vibrant letters, it read: "Artistic Expression: Unleashing the Power of Creativity".
The words seemed to pulse with energy, surrounded by swirling patterns of paint, brushes, and canvases that appeared to come alive in the morning light.
Below the main title, the banner announced the details of the competition: "Showcasing the Best of Emerging Artists" and "Celebrating Innovation and Originality". She felt a surge of excitement and nervousness, knowing that her artwork was about to be seen by judges, peers, and art enthusiasts alike.
With a deep breath, she shouldered her sling bag and joined the crowd of artists and spectators flowing into the hall, ready to immerse herself in the vibrant world of artistic expression.
While entering the Stadium Hall, she was immediately struck by the sheer scale and grandeur of the venue. The high ceilings, sprawling stage, and sea of chairs seemed to stretch on forever, filled with a buzz of creative energy. She made her way through the crowd, her eyes scanning the rows of seats until she found her spot.
Slipping into the third row, she settled into her seat.She took a moment to absorb her surroundings, gazing up at the stage where the judges’ table was set up. The podium stood at the center, flanked by a stunning backdrop of colorful artwork and sponsor logos.
To her left and right, she saw fellow artists, some chatting nervously, others lost in thought, all united by their passion for art.
The lights dimmed slightly, and a hush fell over the crowd, signaling the start of the event.
As the lights dimmed further, a murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. The judges, a panel of renowned art experts, critics, and curators, began to take their seats at the table. Each one was a respected figure in the art world, known for their discerning eye and wealth of knowledge.
First to take her seat was the esteemed art critic, Rachel Kim, followed by the celebrated curator, Dr. Julian Sanchez. Next came the award-winning artist, Maya Ramos, and the art historian, Professor Marie Chen. Finally, the chair of the judging panel, the illustrious art dealer,Ariel Rebel, took her place at the center.
As the judges settled in, the front rows of seats, reserved for VIP guests.The event started soon, followed by the display of the art submitted by various participants. The judges were observing and giving points to the artwork. Based on these points, the first 5 winners’ names would be announced at the last.
The display of artwork was a feast for the eyes, with each piece showcasing the creativity and skill of its creator. The judges, esteemed experts in their field, moved methodically through the exhibits, their trained eyes scrutinizing every detail.
With clipboards in hand, they meticulously evaluated each artwork, assigning points based on technique, originality, and emotional resonance.The participants waited anxiously for the judges’ decisions.
As Thea’s artwork was being displayed to the judges, her hands began to sweat nervously. She quickly reached into her bag and retrieved the chocolate she had stashed away earlier. With trembling fingers, she unwrapped the sweet treat and popped it into her mouth. The familiar taste and texture brought a fleeting sense of calm to her frazzled nerves.
For the first time in her life, she was participating in a competition of this magnitude, where renowned art experts and critics had gathered to judge her work. The weight of their scrutiny was daunting, and Thea couldn’t help but feel a sense of trepidation as she watched the judges deliberate.
As she savored the chocolate, her mind wandered to the countless hours she had spent perfecting her craft.She was aware that she had poured her heart and soul into her artwork, and to her, that was all that truly mattered.
With the chocolate melting away, she felt a surge of determination course through her veins. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and focused on the judges, who were now engaged in giving points to her artwork. The outcome was far from certain, but Thea knew that she had given it her all, and that was all that mattered.
Finally, the moment of truth arrived. The emcee took the stage, a warm smile on their face, and began to announce the top 5 winners. The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the stage, as the names were announced.
The emcee slowly declared the winners of the event.
"And the second place winner goes to ...’Childhood Serenity’ by Alethea Klein."
When she heard her name being announced by the emcee, she could not believe her ears.She looked around and wondered whether she heard correctly or not.
The emcee finally completes announcing all the top five winners names for the art competition.At last ,he concluded, "Now the winners are requested to come up on this stage for receiving the prizes." The audiences erupted into a huge round of applause, cheering for the winners.
Thea slowly stood up from her seat.She was nervous yet excited, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. As she made her way to the stage, she couldn’t help but notice that she was the only female artist among the top 5 winners.
Before stepping onto the stage, she paused to verify her contestant number with the event staff. She discreetly showed them her contestant badge, which read "AK-021," to confirm her identity and the authenticity of her artwork, "Childhood Serenity."
The staff member nodded, smiled, and gave a thumbs up, indicating that everything was in order. With that, thea took a deep breath, smoothed out her dress, and stepped onto the stage.
The winners stood beside each other, arranged in order of their rankings. Thea, being second-place winner, stood to the right of the first-place winner, Jackson Hall, whose face shone with triumphant joy.
