She gave me a stern look and questioned, 'What makes you think you can just ask something like that?' Feeling a bit nervous, I explained that I was simply curious.
Unexpectedly, she took my hand and shook it, revealing her bionic hand. My heart raced as I felt the metal texture and heard the mechanics. I found it unique and cool, and I asked why she hid it.
She replied, 'It's not your concern,' and then she wheeled her wheelchair back into the classroom.
I couldn't help but wonder if I had upset her, so I asked Nana, her old caretaker. Nana described Loraine as an extraordinary woman, mysterious and not willing to share much about herself, but deeply devoted to the things she liked. She also seemed lonely and suggested that I spend more time with her.
Over the course of a week in Minolva, I spent a lot of time with Loraine and her students, going on walks to paint outdoors with their foldable easels. The first time I ever visited the infamous beach in Minolva was with Loraine and her students, and I had a conversation with Steven, a talented 14-year-old painter and one of Loraine's students. Steven told me about the day he first saw Miss Loraine lying on the sand, bleeding and wounded, two years ago. He shared how she had become a helpful tutor in arts for him since then. This revelation made me question and think even more about Loraine.
One Sunday afternoon, I was taking a walk in the flower fields when I spotted Loraine's painting, capturing the beauty of the summer field.
This time, she had removed her gloves, revealing her right bionic arm. From a distance, I observed her, finding her enigmatic or, more accurately, indescribable. I didn't know what I felt toward her; it was something inexplicable.
When she turned around and caught my gaze, I couldn't resist walking towards her, and to my surprise, she smiled at me. 'You seem like a spy watching my moves,' she said playfully. I replied, 'What? I'm just taking a walk.' She then explained that it was easy for her to feel any gaze.
She asked me to be her muse, to sit in a chair and face forward, and I complied. As she humbly smiled and concentrated on her work, it felt like time flew by, and I enjoyed how she constantly looked at me. She asked me why I was here in Minolva."Well, my parents and I have been constantly moving from place to place due to the aftermath of the war. When my uncle suggested the idea of settling in Minolva, it seemed like a refreshing opportunity, and my parents agreed with the decision.
I had come to know that Loraine was two years older than me, making her 22 years old. She even commented that I looked older than my actual age of 20, which surprised me even more.