They would say that the sketches were proof
that I stole a look at Tiffany’s ideas and then
memorized everything in order to paint as a
blind person at the competition.
And just as I was acting like I was looking for
く
them in my bag, Tiffany, ignoring Ethan’s
warning, snatched them out of her bag,
waving them around in front of the camera.
She was so cocky, “The sketches are right
here!”
“Chung, you can stop pretending. You snuck
a peek at my sketches beforehand!”
The online comments shifted again, turning
back toward Tiffany’s side.
“Looks like Chung is the copycat in the end.”
“I felt bad for her since she’s blind, thinking
she couldn’t copy someone. I guess I was too
soft. You shouldn’t judge a book by its
cover!”
L
“Yea, it was all an act, it seems. The sketches
are in Tiffany’s hand, that’s pretty solid
proof.”
But some people in chat started to see
through things after they had time to process.
“I don’t think Chung had to copy. She’s blind,
people would feel bad for her and root for
her. She could have easily gotten more
attention by just being a blind artist who
could still compete.
That comment struck a chord with many.
They started to gang up against Tiffany in the
chat.
The situation was not going well for Tiffany
and her pretty face started to twist in anger.
<
She decided to play the victim card, “Chung, I
know you’re bitter that I stole Ethan away
from you. You’ve hated me from the
beginning.”
“I knew you snuck into my study to look at
my sketches that night. I’ve known all along.”
“I just wanted to give you a chance to see if
you would copy me or not in the competition.
If not, I would have ignored this issue.
33
“But you did. You stole my painting and tried
to blame it on me!
“Chung, I thought we were friends. But you
keep trying to stab me in the back. It’s just so
sad!”
Tiffany’s tearful acting and red eyes got a lot
<
And compared to her, a pretty young girl, I
was just a blind girl without any eyeballs.
“Chung, just apologize to Tiffany, this can all
end now.”
“We are giving you a pass since you are blind.
We are not going to keep blaming you, just
give an apology.”
Some of the people that had shown up
started to call me out too.
Ethan chimed in, “Yes Chung, people are
giving you a lot of chances. It’s time for you
to say sorry.”
Even though I couldn’t see, I could tell that
Ethan was getting smug, thinking that I was
at a dead end without the sketches.
<
But they were wrong.
In front of everyone, I turned my empty eye
sockets towards Tiffany.
Even though I was a vulnerable blind artist,
who couldn’t prove she wasn’t a copycat, I
stood tall, with an aura of power, and a voice
that thundered through the room.
“Since you have the sketches, you should
also have the original layered files, right?”
But Tiffany just froze up at that question.
“What….what are those?”
“Chung, what else are you going to drag up?!
I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
く
Tiffany thought if she ignored me, things
would just go back to normal, but Ethan’s
face immediately turned white, and he
clamped his hand over her mouth.
She struggled, her eyes darting all over the
place.
