EPISODE 5

Clara finished her drawing, a sense of satisfaction settling over her. She glanced at the clock and realized it was still early. The idea of spending the entire day indoors didn’t appeal to her. She wanted to go out, maybe visit the park or a nearby café.

She found her mother in the kitchen, still busy with her cooking. “Mom,” Clara began, her voice tentative. “Do you think I could go out for a bit today? Maybe just to the park or a café?”

Her mother looked up from her pot, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Of course, sweetie. It’s a beautiful day outside. Just make sure to take your phone with you and be back before dinner.”

Clara smiled, relieved. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll be careful.”

She quickly got dressed, choosing a comfortable outfit for her outing and bring her sketchbook. As she stepped outside, the crisp air filled her lungs, and she felt a sense of freedom. The park was her first stop, a place where she could relax and maybe do some more sketching.

Clara strolled through the park, her eyes scanning the familiar landscape. The morning sun cast long shadows across the grassy expanse, illuminating the dew-kissed leaves of the trees. The air was filled with the chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves.

Her gaze fell upon a wooden bench nestled beneath the shade of a large oak tree. It was the perfect spot, offering a view of the lake shimmering in the distance. She settled onto the bench, her sketchbook resting on her lap.

"This is it," she whispered to herself, her fingers already itching to capture the beauty around her. "This is what I've been waiting for."

She opened her sketchbook, the blank page a canvas waiting to be filled with her vision. With a deep breath, she picked up her pencil and began to sketch, her hand moving with a practiced ease. The gentle sway of the oak tree, the rippling surface of the lake, the vibrant hues of the flowers blooming nearby – she captured it all with meticulous detail.

As she drew, her mind wandered, lost in the rhythm of her strokes. She muttered to herself, her words a stream of consciousness reflecting her thoughts and feelings.

"The sun is so bright today, almost blinding," she mused, shading the sky a brilliant blue. "The air is so crisp, it makes me feel alive." She traced the outline of a bird soaring overhead, its wings outstretched in flight. "It's like the world is waking up, just like I am."

Clara continued to sketch, her pencil gliding across the page, her words a symphony of observation and reflection. The park, once a familiar backdrop, now felt like a new discovery, a source of inspiration and wonder.

Finally, she finished her drawing, a sense of contentment washing over her. She closed her sketchbook and stood up, stretching her legs. It was time to head to Sarah, her bestie house.

Clara was enjoying the scenery in the park, not paying attention as she walked, and she tripped, bumping into someone in front of her.

"Ouch!" Clara cried out, her hands instinctively reaching out to catch herself. She landed with a soft thud on the grass, her sketchbook flying open and scattering its contents.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She scrambled to her feet, her eyes searching for the person she had bumped into.

There, standing before her, was a young man with a mop of dark hair and kind eyes. He was tall and lean, his features softened by a gentle smile. He was holding out a hand to help her up.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice warm and concerned.

Clara took his hand, her heart pounding with a mixture of embarrassment and a strange sense of attraction. "I'm fine, thanks," she said, her voice a little shaky. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

Clara's knee was bleeding, injured from the fall.

"Your knee..." the boy said.

"Wait, You Ken?? What are you doing here??" Clara asked.

"You're Clara, right? Nothing, I'm just walking here by myself."

"Are you really okay??" Ken asked.

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