Precious Virtue ✓

Chapter 39: Golden Lights

Precious Virtue

Chapter XXXIX: Golden Lights

[Adrien's POV]

It's only been a couple of days since Preston left to go back to his place, and I was already missing him. After he left Sunday afternoon, we've been texting each other every day since, but I still missed him.

The few days we spent with each other have been the best few days that I've had in a while. He helped take my mind off Luka and our breakup. He made my sleep better by laying next to me on my bed, even though it barely fit the both of us. And I was missing it, immensely. He told me that he was coming back to visit this weekend as my birthday was on Sunday, but that was still four days away, and four days felt like a year.

The last few nights I barely slept. Despite the exhaustion that clung to me, I wasn't able to get more than a few hours of sleep. Because I was missing Preston, and I couldn't stop thinking about Luka and how I hurt him, and how much I wished that he would just talk to me. But I understood that he needed space and time to heal. I just hoped that he still wanted me in his life.

Though, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't.

I released a heavy sigh. I perched my elbow on my knee, and laid my head against my hand, staring at my half-finished artwork. I've been sitting on the floor of my bedroom working on my midterm project for one of my classes for the last few hours now, and my brain was turning to mush. It was a realism piece in order to demonstrate my understanding of human anatomy.

Midterms as an art student were exhausting—while I loved painting and enjoyed it, I had so many art projects to get done for midterms in such a short amount of time. And from experience, creativity and stress did not mix well. Having little to no sleep didn't exactly help either.

I dipped my fine paintbrush into the oil paint dotted on my paint palette and applied it to the canvas. I had the base of the painting done, and now I was working on the shadows and details, starting with the skin of my figure. I kept working on it for another few minutes, distracting myself from my thoughts of Luka and Preston, until I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"Hey you, come on out, we're gonna make dinner and mocktails," Karsten informed me as he stepped into my room. I twisted my head to glance at him over my shoulder and nodded.

"Lemme just finish up and I'll come join you guys," I replied.

"Sure thing." Karsten smiled. He stepped back out of my room, closing the door on his way out. I watched him go and stared at the closed door for a few moments. With a heavy breath, I glanced back at my painting, finished up what I was doing, and stood up from the floor.

I washed my paintbrushes and palette in the bathroom, cleaning off all the paint, before putting my art supplies away and joining my roommates in the kitchen. Music lulled in the background from the Bluetooth speaker. Karsten prepped some penne pasta and bolognese sauce on the stove, and Luella helped Faryn with spreading garlic butter and cheese over the cut-up French baguettes.

"Adrien! There you are!" Luella beamed when I joined them, shoving a handful of shredded cheese into her mouth. Faryn slapped her hand away from the plate of cheese, and I smiled crookedly.

"Save some for the garlic bread!" Faryn scolded. Luella pouted at them, sticking her tongue out.

I walked past them and reached into one of the top cupboards, pulling out four tall glasses. Karsten glanced over, stirring the pasta around in the pot.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I turned my head and nodded, flashing a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, just tired."