A DIFFERENT PORTRAIT - PART 5 (Patreon)

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Part 5: Strolling Together

Azure Haven Town knows no such thing as “scorching sunlight.” Meanwhile, Luminous City, from around ten in the morning until five in the afternoon, resembles nothing less than a colossal furnace imprisoning its hapless urban dwellers. I shrugged, telling myself that at least I had a few days of reprieve from that inferno, though the air in Azure Haven Town, as I remembered it, was perhaps even more stifling by far.

The evening sun softened, casting a pale golden hue over Narek's garden (the garden of his brother, who was fervently praying not to return for the next few days). As the so-called “best friend,” my noble duty was to assist some contemptible fellow in organizing a few essentials for his wedding—only to be rewarded with a sly, mocking grin. Not a single coin was offered, of course, with the excuse, “You're my friend, aren't you? Friends are supposed to help each other.” That said, I didn't really mind. Consider it a bit of practice for my own future wedding, though I wasn’t entirely sure when that day would come.

My hands moved swiftly, arranging decorations for the wedding of Narek and Lina, but my thoughts were far from the task. I found myself gazing absently at the swaying blooms, their gentle dance carried by the wind. Everything in Azure Haven Town exuded an uncanny tranquility, and yet, as in years past, a strange, suffocating unease crept into me—awkward and inexplicable. It was the exact feeling I always had whenever Aiden Chandler was around. But that couldn’t be right. He wasn’t here. So why? As I reflected, it seemed as though everything had started when I caught sight of Sylvia, Narek’s sister.

Thinking back to lunch earlier, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Whether by sheer coincidence or some fictional twist of fate, our hands had brushed against each other two, perhaps three times. And each time, she would pull hers back as if shocked by an electric current. Why was it always her hand, when statistically, I had a much higher chance of bumping into Narek’s instead? Setting that aside, the truly awkward part was how we both turned bright red, fumbling out a few clumsy excuses but failing to say anything else of substance. Naturally, this was the favorite topic of the soon-to-be-married duo. I was certain that once we returned to Luminous City, those two mischievous friends of mine would spread this tale to every corner they could find.

It was Sylvia’s gaze that unsettled me the most. The fleeting shyness in her eyes seemed like a mere surface layer, concealing something deeper, something more profound. At times, her eyes carried an unspoken weight that I couldn’t quite define. It was a feeling—vague, inexplicable, yet strangely familiar.

I sighed, rubbing my temples lightly. “I’m only here for a few days. Once the wedding’s over, I’ll be back in Luminous City. Why bother thinking too much about a beautiful girl who’s merely passing through my life?” I told myself. And yet, from somewhere deep within, another question surfaced unexpectedly: “If it feels so suffocating, why not leave earlier, like last time?” Yes, why not? Why, indeed?

I was certain that as I indulged in this ridiculous inner monologue, my face must have looked utterly foolish. Proof of that came in the form of Narek, sitting nearby, who wasted no time in teasing me. “What’s going on in that brilliant vet’s mind of yours? Not feeling well? It’s only been a day, and you’re already itching to ‘disappear’ from here? Don’t tell me my ‘sister’ bothers you as much as my brother does?”

I shot him a glare. “Wild speculation isn’t something a groom should be doing before his wedding! Don’t start spouting nonsense—I’ve got nothing going on with your sister.”

Narek squinted his eyes into crescent shapes, his lips pursed in an attempt to mimic the adorable expression of a cat. Yet no matter how one looked at it, all it exuded was sheer mischief. “Oh… is that so? If you’re really feeling uneasy, then I must applaud your ‘intuition’!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” I asked, genuinely puzzled, because the truth was, I felt the same suffocating unease as I did whenever Aiden Chandler was around.

To my surprise, Narek just shrugged, “No idea! You figure it out yourself. I’d rather not get kicked in the shins again—hurts like hell! My ‘sis’ may look petite and shy, but when she gets angry, not even three thugs would faze her. Once, while she was on duty at the ranger’s guard post, she knocked out a guy built like The Rock!”

“What?! Your sister’s a forest ranger too, like your brother?!”

Narek looked flustered, his eyes darting around. “Uh… yeah. Let’s just say that!”

“‘Let’s just say?’ What’s that supposed to mean? Things should be clear-cut!”

“Well… she is a ranger… when my brother isn’t around… like today, for instance.” Narek exhaled deeply after saying this, as if he’d just narrowly escaped some perilous situation. I more or less got the gist—forest ranger duties were probably divided by shifts. Then, out of nowhere, Narek asked, “But… you like her, don’t you?”

I stammered, “Like… what do you mean, like?! I just met her today!”

“Oh… is that so? Because during lunch earlier, it felt like I was watching a Korean romance drama starring you and my sister. I was embarrassed for you two!”

“Enough, stop talking!” I shoved Narek instinctively, feeling the heat rush to my face. Despite carrying the title of “doctor,” I couldn’t deny that his words had hit uncomfortably close to home.

That evening, Narek and Lina were busy visiting both sets of parents to finalize the wedding script. Naturally, this part of the preparations didn’t require my presence, so I planned to stay back and relax at Narek’s house. Out of nowhere, Sylvia approached me, still as shy and reserved as ever. In a soft voice, she asked, “Would you… like to take a walk in the forest… with me? The forest is so beautiful at night—it’s one of Azure Haven Town’s most unique features, the firefly woods! I remember last time you didn’t get the chance to see it in the evening.”

I was surprised. “How do you know I didn’t visit the forest at night last time?!”

Sylvia bit her lip, clasping her hands tightly together. “Well… Aiden Chandler told me!”

So, it was Aiden Chandler again? Why would Narek’s brother care so much about my movements? Could it be that he disliked me to the extent of remembering every single thing I’d done, just to plan ways to avoid me in the future? But whatever—this wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

I hesitated for a moment. Part of me wanted to decline, I still feeling a bit tired from the journey. But when I caught sight of the hopeful sparkle in Sylvia’s eyes, I found myself nodding instinctively, as if compelled by some unseen force. “Um… sure, that sounds fine.”

Together, we strolled into the forest. Sylvia walked ahead, leading the way. Though petite in stature, her steps were steady and assured, as if the woods had long become an extension of her being. Her long black hair swayed gently with the breeze, catching the fading light. I followed behind, my heart pounding in a restless rhythm. A thought crept into my mind—was I overestimating myself by thinking she was trying to grow closer to me?

That old thought repeated itself—there’s no reason a beautiful girl like her would go out of her way to approach me. This was probably just the natural kindness of the people of Azure Haven Town. Back then, Aiden Chandler seemed aloof, yet his hospitality was beyond reproach. He always cleaned up my room (just like Sylvia had done earlier this morning) and prepared meals that, according to Narek, he’d never bother making so meticulously for his own family. I still vividly remembered that time when Aiden Chandler couldn’t hide his concern for an injured wildcat, revealing a genuinely compassionate side. It proved he was a good person. But then again… being “kind-hearted” doesn’t necessarily equate to being “approachable.”

Sylvia pointed toward a clearing in the forest, her voice soft and gentle, “This spot is the most beautiful part of the forest at night. When it gets dark, the fireflies will appear, layer upon shimmering layer.”

I sat down on a nearby stone slab, gazing up at the towering trees and the last rays of sunlight slowly fading away. The silence was so profound that only the rustling of leaves and the calls of birds returning to their nests could be heard. Sylvia hesitated for a moment before sitting down near me, though she kept a respectful distance. Her hands were clasped tightly together, as if she was trying to suppress some quiet restlessness within. “How cute,” I thought to myself, observing her in that moment.

PART 6 >>