Oh well, Jaehwa supposes that he deserves that jab and even more of them. He has not exactly been the best partner โ any kind of deep feelings or problems trigger his fight-or-flight reflex, but the problem is that it usually ends up with him running away. Then he is more than happy for his job because at any given time, there is always something to do. "So you are just a bargaining chip for your mother?" That probably sounds harsher than it is, at least Jeahwa hopes so. It is not exactly what he expected, though, but still, the thought leaves a weird feeling inside his chest.
"Do you want me to run a background check?" He mirrors the question back. Would he really do it? Out of curiosity. Jeahwa doesn't want to pin more feelings to it. "Maybe you should do it before you meet him. Now you can find almost anything on the internet anyway." His gaze does not really leave Layla, even when she starts to strip right there. It is nothing that he has never seen before, but it does take him off guard for a second. He steps closer to Layla, his fingertips brushing against her waist. So close, he can basically taste her perfume like this.
"I was busy with work," the usual answer. "And then it felt like too late, anyway. That it would not be wanted. What would I even say?" There are too many things that he should have said, that he still could say. 'Sorry, it is my fault. I should have talked instead of disappearing.' There is a whole list. Slowly, he drags the zipper of the dress up. And because he has completely lost any kind of sane thinking, he presses a fleeting kiss against Layla's bare shoulder.