[ still watching him, vie hides his slight frown by taking another deep drink of his coffee. he's more awake now than he had been minutes ago, which makes it easier to catch jaejin's cues. perhaps he shouldn't have asked him to share or brought up any of this, but he can't keep dancing around the obviously glaring hole that's growing between them. he wants it to be normal again, comfortable and relaxed. and even if it's unfair to think, he wants jaejin to stop looking at him like he's going to disappear one day. ]

We haven't had many opportunities to go out together, but we should. There are places I can show you, and I can teach you some things if you think it will make it easier. [ at least with navigating the area they're currently in. but vie stares at the paper and suddenly feels his appetite grow nonexistent. the pause is heavy before he speaks again. ] I'm sorry. We could have stayed in the country. I wasn't thinking.

[ but when has he ever really thought? the last several weeks have taught him that he's inconsiderate to those around him in the worst ways, and though he'd thought he'd been doing something good, he'd inadvertently created a different kind of problem. it makes him uncertain, as he has been since he'd made the choice to stay, and he doesn't like it. he doesn't like any of this. ]