v a l i a n t s.

      ‘ no. NO, i don’t think you should show them your moves. that is the exact opposite of what i think you should do. stay AWAY from them at all costs. no flirting allowed. do you hear me ? NO FLIRTING. in fact, why don’t we just go home ? you need to be protected. ’ 

      ‘ sure, OKAY. i guess you could say that she is my newest fascination. but don’t be too distraught with jealousy, i’ll make time for you from now on. how about tomorrow ? the only free time i have tonight is when i’ll be in bed sleeping  — —  unless you’d like to join me for that. ’

      ‘ it was  —  it was an ACCIDENT. i’ll work extra overtime for no pay, or work weekends, but  —  i just need this job. ’

      ‘ oh ... him. ’ her tone is flippant, but only because lilli still hasn’t gotten a good sense of who jace was as a person yet. she didn’t know if he was trustworthy ( most men weren’t ). ‘ anyway, i like when you get all dressed up for me. it’s cute. ’ the smile on her features surfaced almost as quickly as the flippancy had gone, giving eva the daintiest of pecks. ‘ but you look nice no matter what you wear. ’

      ‘ oh ... i  —  i didn’t know ... ’ arms wrapped around his frame, as if that would really protect him from the twang of slight panic mixed with an unnerving sense of distress. practically stumbling off of the bed that he was seated on, and despite knowing that he SHOULD and had every right to be furious, he’s instead just wishing the ground would swallow him up whole. ‘ i thought that you  —  you liked me. it’s fine if you don’t ... i should probably go. maybe. if you don’t have anything else to say ... ’

      ‘  — — huh. ’ it WAS just a little alarming, he could admit, that this was becoming his new reality. luca supposed he was being a little thoughtless, not having properly considered what would come out of him spending so much time with sungmin, and daewon by consequence. ‘ i  — i mean, it’s not the worst thing i’ve been called. have you told him that i’m NOT ? or ... should i pretend that i am ? i don’t know, i don’t want to confuse him so early on in life because who knows what kind of issues that would make later on ... i guess it could be worse ? ’

      ‘ i DON’T hate you. ’ he wouldn’t have a reason to act this way if he did hate her — it would have been a lot easier, too. ‘ it’s obvious that i won’t be able to talk you out of being with him. that’s fine, i’ve given up on trying. just be careful. and i promise, i won’t say anything about him to you. ’