WANDERLUST: Romance in F Minor

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

A HAPPY SMILE was immediately plastered on Kade's lips after he personally received a wedding invitation from Xanthie. His best friend since grade nine. And upon checking the invitation, his lips curved. "Best man, huh?"

"It's not like I have that many close friends," Xanthie commented as he casually cleaned Kade's messy art studio as if it was the most natural thing to do upon visiting. He was used to it.

"You have Jason," Kade reminded Xanthie.

"Just a neighbor," Xanthie responded lackadaisically.

"How about Stan?"

"Just a colleague."

"Emmett?"

"Just an agent," Xanthie remained indifferent. "You're not allowed to say no, so stop recommending other people. That's your spot."

My spot, huh? Kade mused as he tightened his hold on the wedding invitation.

Suddenly, Xanthie stopped tidying up when he passed in front of Kade's newly finished painting. "Your painting..."

"Hmm?" He glanced at Xanthie's back. "What about it?"

"It has become more disturbing." Kade didn't respond, prompting Xanthie to look at him. "You..." He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you okay?"

Kade's paintings had always been unsettling. Xanthie was not an art enthusiast, and he couldn't understand paintings the way others could understand, but these past few months, he had seen subtle changes in Kade's work.

From slightly unsettling to disturbing. It was like through the painting, the painter was being gradually swallowed by the darkness. Painting after painting.

"It's just a theme for my upcoming exhibit," Kade replied indifferently. "So, when's the bachelor party?"

Xanthie turned to Kade with a deadpan look. "Did you not even look at the date?"

"Oh." Kade intentionally did not look at it, but pretended that he forgot. He opened the invitation again to see the date. His eyebrow rose. "Seven months from now?" He looked at Xanthie. "Isn't this invitation too early?"

Xanthie shrugged and went back to tidying up. "Fey said she wanted to be prepared months before the big day to avoid any problems."

Kade nodded before putting the wedding invitation on his table then he returned to his seat in front of a blank canvas. "Just lock the door before you leave."

Xanthie couldn't help staring at Kade's back after he heard those words. He had changed. He and Kade had always been close, but these past few years, especially these past few months, Kade had been distant.

When was the last time Kade accepted an invitation to drink together?

Just like his paintings, Kade was gradually changing. The more disturbing his paintings became, the more distance between them grew.

"Kade?"

"Hmm?"

"Let's go have a drink tonight."

"I have an appointment."

Xanthie was not surprised anymore. "With whom?"

"Commission."

"At night?"

"Yeah."

Xanthie wanted to smack Kade's head. As if that lie would fly, but what could he do? "Whatever. Just call if you feel like drinking. I'm free 'till next week."