[ once he notices vie begin to follow him, jaejin does his best not to move around the kitchen too terribly much, choosing to make something simple and relatively light. he isn't sure if vie has eaten anything at all today, but knows more than anything else that he needs to. he needs to think of something that's somewhat substantial if that's the case, though.

listening to vie, there's no mistaking the way something in his chest loosens at the mention of him staying in tomorrow. he thinks it's relief, or it would be in another lifetime, but knows it's too heavy to truly be. ]

We could both stay in. Maybe watch some movies. [ it all sounds so easy, like they're just stepping around this chasm between them. is there enough to fill it? they could talk about nothing until they're both blue in the face and at the sight of vie trying to smile and tease him, jaejin almost wants to. ] How does kimchi fried rice sound? It's not exactly light, but we could share a bowl.

[ and because he can't help it, the worry so present in the way it presses against his skull, he steps close to vie, hands as gentle as humanly possible as he lifts him up to sit on the counter just to the side of the stove, touching one of his hands again when he retreats. if things were simple, he knows he could kiss him breathless, knows they'd share their meal with some laughter and careless touches.

now, he's just grateful vie is still here at all and he holds onto that feeling as he starts making their dinner. ]