[ there are plenty of ways jaejin could answer that question, i'm fine among them. it isn't true in most senses, especially with the chasm between them, but part of him can't help but wonder if it was always meant to be there — almost, but never quite enough. things have been so complicated that sometimes even he has trouble pinpointing where any of it really started, something that he feels shows itself in the way vie presents him with an out. the sting of it doesn't really go unnoticed.

he lets out a sigh of his own and sits up again, untangling their hands so he can shift to reach for the cutting board with the breakfast he bought vie. when he brings it around to him, it's a careful move so he doesn't accidentally spill anything. ]

I wasn't sure how tender your throat still was, so I tried to pick things that are a bit softer and easy to chew. [ when he sets it down on the bed, he does it so it's between them and within easy reach for vie. ] I ran into a woman a couple of days ago who said the parfaits at this one place are good, but I hadn't made it in time before they were all sold out until this morning.

[ it's a simple fruit and yogurt cup, pretty and homemade. he'd spent a few moments waffling over whether or not to actually buy it because of the bits of granola through it. the rest of the breakfast is just a soft bit of brioche and a still warm cup of coffee how vie likes it, the lid still intact. ]

I hope she's right.