I'm Dimitri Kouris . The artist," echoed repeatedly in my mind as I gazed at him in wonder. It was unbelievable that I was standing face to face with the creator of these remarkable masterpieces. The mere thought seemed incomprehensible. "So, you're the artist?" I managed to utter, struggling to process the reality. He nodded, his emerald green eyes fixed on me, carrying an indescribable expression. As I held an empty glass of champagne, he took it from my hand and replaced it with a glass of wine, pouring one for himself as well. "I appreciate your description of my paintings," Bradley remarked, taking a sip of his wine. "It makes me feel like I've achieved something."
I responded with a hum, moving on to the next painting. He followed closely behind, observing my reactions intently. "Achieved what, exactly?" I asked, stealing a glance at him from the corner of my eye, captivated by his focused gaze.
"It's about evoking specific emotions in people when they look at my art. I would be concerned if it left them feeling nothing at all," he chuckled softly. "What emotions do you see in this one?"
My eyes roamed over the painting, absorbing the colors and the subject. Unlike the others, this painting revealed only a fraction of the person's face, with just a corner of their eye visible. Yet, it didn't require the full face to understand the emotion portrayed; the body language spoke volumes. "At first glance, the various shades of blue suggest melancholy, hinting at sadness. But upon closer inspection, it transcends any notions of sorrow," I explained, sensing myself rambling. With hesitation, I turned my head to face him, unsure if I had grasped the true essence of the beautiful artwork.
Once again, his eyes held an inexplicable expression, evoking a new kind of nervousness within me. "How have our paths never crossed before?" he inquired, a faint grin playing on his lips, as he took another sip of his wine, the crimson liquid accentuating the fullness of his mouth.
A soft laugh escaped my lips as we continued walking together, realizing that I had reached the end of his paintings. "I'm here with a friend who knows your friend Adrian," I revealed, receiving a nod and a gentle chuckle from Dimitri. "I rarely go out, but I decided to tonight, and so far, I have no regrets."
"That's always good to hear," Dimitri chuckled, his simple laughter causing my heart to flutter. We strolled and conversed, with Dimitri occasionally pausing to greet people along the way. I spotted Elian and Adrian standing together while Dimitri engaged in conversation elsewhere. Seeking a brief respite from the crowd, I approached them. laughed at something Adrian said, and I didn't intrude on their conversation.
"You're back! How did you like it?" Adrian greeted me with a smile.
"Dimitri's art is incredible. I've never seen anything quite like it," I admitted, receiving a nod of agreement from Adrian. He then placed his arm around Elias's waist, and a blush crept onto Elias's cheeks. The three of us engaged in small talk as the crowd gradually thinned, indicating the lateness of the hour. Dimitri was nowhere to be found, and I caught myself scanning the crowd for him more than once. "We're about to leave. Would you like to join us?" Adrian offered, and I pondered whether I was ready to depart. I still desired to speak with Dimitri for some reason. He seemed like such an intriguing person, and I longed to hear about his sources of inspiration. "No, you two go ahead. I think I'll stay a bit longer," I replied after a moment's hesitation. "It was lovely meeting you, Adrian! I hope we can meet again soon."
"Likewise, Calliope. Don't stay out too late," Adrian winked, as if he sensed my true motive for staying behind.
Elias bid me farewell with a hug, taking the empty wine glass from my hand. "No more for you. You've already had three tonight," he whispered in my ear before walking away. I chuckled to myself, waving goodbye to them as they departed hand in hand. As I awaited Dimitri's return, I decided to take another stroll, eager to immerse myself in the paintings once more. With only a few lingering individuals present, I could leisurely absorb the artwork, allowing my thoughts to wander freely. Each painting possessed a breathtaking uniqueness, but one in particular intrigued me.
This painting depicted a street filled with people, sheltering themselves under umbrellas, signifying a rainy day. The distant Eiffel Tower stood illuminated in the background. What captured my attention most was a couple in the midst of the street, devoid of an umbrella. They simply held hands and engaged in conversation, seemingly oblivious to the pouring rain. Sitting down on a nearby bench, I removed my shoes, fully engrossed in the painting's intricate details. Every element of the artwork revolved around the couple, despite the chaos unfolding around them. People hurriedly sought shelter from the rain, eager to reach home before it intensified. The illuminated street, lined with lights, suggested a late hour. Words failed to capture the emotions stirred within me by this painting. The easiest way to describe it would be happiness, although it evoked a profound sentiment surpassing mere joy. Oh, how I longed to experience a love like that.
"This is my favourite one," Dimitri's voice broke the silence. I turned to him, realizing he had quietly taken a seat beside me. "I captured this scene during my time in Paris, and it inspired me to paint it." "What were they doing?" I inquired, earning a puzzled look from him. "The couple in the painting."
"They were standing in the rain, as if it weren't raining at all. They wore the biggest smiles and seemed utterly carefree in that moment. While everyone else rushed to escape the rain, they appeared as though they could stay there forever," Dimitri explained, his eyes sparkling as he reminisced, a faint smile adorning his lips.
Though I didn't voice it, I concurred. This painting resonated with me the most. "What was Paris like?" I asked him, perplexing him momentarily. "I mean, your experience of it."
"It was breathtaking. I had never witnessed anything quite like it. Leaving was difficult," he confessed."Then why did you leave?" He chuckled, diverting his gaze back to the painting. "You certainly ask a lot of questions," he remarked, evading my query. I shrugged, stealing a glimpse of his profile. "I'm naturally curious"."Well, that's a secret I prefer to keep to myself," Dimitri replied. I nodded and, biting my lip, averted my gaze, looking away from him. "By the way, I never caught your name."
"Oh, it's Calliope."
"Calliope," he smiled, my name rolling off his tongue, sending delightful shivers down my spine. "Like the goddess of inspiration and creativity?"
"Yeah. My mom adored Greek mythology and Calliope was of the nine muses that were goddesses of inspiration, creativity and arts. She loved Calliope so much because because of her association with epic poetry and eloquence, that she named her first daughter after it," I recounted, shaking my head at the memories of the arguments my parents had over her decision. "I remember dressing up in a Greek goddess attire when I was younger, reenacting the story with her."