A DIFFERENT PORTRAIT - PART 1 (Patreon)

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Part 1: A Visit to Close Friend's Home

Damn it! The second time to this godforsaken place, I had to force myself to suppress my frustration and walk along the lively red dirt path, which resembled a swamp, a victim of months of relentless rain. Seeing the scowl on my face, my so-called close friend walking beside me couldn't help but chuckle obnoxiously. Who was I putting up with this for? For this damn guy, of course!

After four years of dating his girlfriend since final year of college, he decided to settle down with her at the age of 26. They were both from the same hometown, Azure Haven Town, a village nestled on the edge of a vast firefly forest. One thing to be said for this place was how peaceful it was, and the night views were absolutely stunning, especially for dreamers like me who loved stargazing. But the road from the bustling Luminous City, where I lived and where all three of us (myself, him, and his soon-to-be wife) studied and worked, to Azure Haven Town? That road was nothing short of a nightmare!

Since both of their families were from Azure Haven Town, naturally, the wedding would take place there. As for me, Ace Vernon, as the “best man” for the groom Narek Chandler and the “trusted friend of the boyfriend” of the bride Lina Dyer, I was forced to attend. Does human rights even exist?

Granted, as close friends, attending the wedding of my two friends was the right thing to do, but to be honest, I didn’t want to go to Azure Haven Town at all! The rough road was just a minor factor; the main issue was that this small town didn’t have a single guesthouse for travelers. I had no choice but to stay at Narek’s place until the wedding was over. It wouldn’t have been a problem if it weren’t for the appearance of Aiden Chandler.

This guy was Narek’s older brother, four years older than us. I’m not sure how many siblings Narek has, but the last time I visited his house, it was just him and his brother living there. Narek’s parents lived in another house nearby. I’d also visited them, but aside from the two of them, there was no one else, so I assumed Narek only had this one older brother.

Aiden Chandler was a forest ranger for the woods bordering Azure Haven Town. Although the forest wasn’t home to any wild animals, the winding trails were easy to get lost on, so it required someone to keep watch. I’m not sure if it was because he had to live alone in such a remote place year-round, but Aiden Chandler was quite cold and his behavior was somewhat rude. During my previous visit to Narek’s house, it seemed like his older brother didn’t like me very much. Every time he happened to cross paths with me, he would just scowl, looking irritated. Even though he never did anything directly to me, Aiden Chandler’s lack of hospitality made me feel uncomfortable.

So, when I came back for the second time, I was really worried. Every day spent in that house felt like a day I had to endure an awkward situation. Knowing there was no hope, I still tried asking Narek, “Hey! Your brother... is he still living there?” Narek nodded, “Yeah, that house was given to the two of us by our parents. It’s just that I moved to Luminous City for school and work, so I had to rent a place there. But... is something wrong?”

“You know, your brother... seems like he doesn't like me much.”

“Doesn't like you? Why would you say that? That's not true. He and I still text each other all the time. My brother even said he has a good impression of you!”

Perhaps Narek was just saying that to encourage me. Who could have a “good impression” of someone whose gaze and attitude seemed like they were about to “eat them alive”? But at this point, it wouldn't change anything. I told myself that I just had to endure a few days, and then I’d return to the bustling Luminous City and the days spent next to... Damn it, there’s no one there!

Unlike Narek, I haven't had a single romantic relationship up until now. Both Narek and Lina think I’m too indifferent when it comes to love, but I don’t agree with them. Many times, I’ve tried using dating apps, but the problem is, no girl would match with me. After all, I’m just an ordinary city guy, with the only point of pride being the title of “best young veterinarian in the area,” a title that no girl cares about at first glance. I’m not as good-looking as Narek; I’m just not hard on the eyes.

But never mind... I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Crossing the wooden bridge over the river, Narek’s small house appeared before us. In front of the house was a large garden, where a wooden seating set was placed for guests. At that wooden table, two people were sitting, chatting happily. They must have heard our footsteps. One of them stood up quickly, waving at us with both hands. It was a very lively girl with jet-black hair cut to shoulder length. I knew her too—Lina Dyer, the future bride of the handsome guy standing next to me.

The other person remained seated, just staring at us without any particular reaction. In the eyes of someone who had never had a girlfriend, this girl was incredibly beautiful, no different from the social media influencers. Not to mention, those influencers' photos were edited, while the girl in front of me only had a light layer of makeup on her face.

The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating sparkling patches that danced on her long, curtain bangs. Her hair flowed as smoothly as the streams in the nearby forest. Her face was delicate, with porcelain skin, yet a soft pink hue lingered on her cheeks. When she saw us, her cheeks blushed even more, a clear sign of embarrassment.

She wore a simple yet elegant off-white dress, making her blend effortlessly into the bright morning light. As I approached, her eyes briefly glanced at me before she quickly lowered her gaze. In that fleeting moment, I felt my heart beat just a little faster.

Lina Dyer smiled and greeted us, or rather, Narek, because the way she addressed him felt a little unsettling to me, “Oh my, why is my darling only arriving now?”

“Because it took me quite a bit of time to drag our dear friend here to attend the celebration. This guy is awful! What kind of best friend doesn't want to attend their friends' wedding?!”

I quickly protested, “Hey! Don't accuse me unfairly! I’ve always wanted to attend your celebration, but not in this place!”

Narek lightly punched my shoulder, “What's wrong? My hometown is beautiful, and you're actually criticizing it?”

“Not at all! I agree that the scenery here is beautiful and peaceful... but I'm a bit afraid of running into your brother. He makes me feel uncomfortable.”

I’m not sure if it was just my imagination, but the expression in the eyes of the beautiful girl sitting next to Lina Dyer seemed to convey a sense of disappointment and loss, though it quickly returned to normal.

Narek kept looking from me to the girl, but his gaze always ended up back on me. “Huh? You still think he hates you? I told you, that's not true. In fact, he even...,” But before he could finish, the girl kicked him hard in the leg, making him yelp in pain.

I didn’t understand what was going on, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous about the situation. It seemed like the relationship between those two was really good. Even though I knew Narek was about to get married and couldn’t date this girl anymore, his charm with women really bothered me. I asked Narek, “Is your brother at home? I’d like to go greet him. Even if he doesn’t like me, I’m still grateful for letting me stay and eat at his place last time.”

Narek responded, “Huh? Isn’t my brother here…” But before he could finish his sentence, the girl kicked him hard in the leg again. I was left confused for the second time, while Lina, instead of paying attention to her boyfriend, giggled as if this situation was quite amusing. What on earth was going on?

PART 2 >>