B A O L I N had always been like that. had given in to the opportunity to make not only the people around him cringe, but himself too. he knew the joke based on observation was bad for many reasons, and was even more so embarrassed when it registered that the paint wasnât even red !!
nevertheless, the officer that swerved backwards as if he actively needed to watch out for the woman's hands to make sure she didnât lash out and stain his unsullied uniform. a smack in response to the pathetic attempt at making conversation, would have been well deserved and capable of keeping him from doing it again. âahh, art must be different than i remember⊠unless you are now the canvas instead of a piece of paper?â
keeping conversation light for the sake of remaining at least slightly professional in his current position as a working officer on the hunt, the man now slacking from his job to converse with an old flame he probably wished heâd not now just run into, was beyond concerned. sure, he believed areum when she had scoffed at the thought of being related to any sort of crime â but he wasnât so convinced the officers with their mutt whom was now tugging violently on the jacket of the student baolin had formally been suspicious of, would think the same.
paranoia worried the fact the girl had stopped to talk to him at all was enough to have corruption screw her over. ânot from here.â he replied heavily, his attention fixed on the scene across the cafeteria, making certain his colleagues were preoccupied with the holder. âdo you want to⊠talk?â the question came quiet and slow, a pause not long enough for her to answer resting between them before he proceeded to speak. an excuse heâd been forced to use often during the time they had previously dated, rolling off his tongue. âbecause here and now isnât exactly the best for me.â
It was bound to be awkward from the start, so Areum didnât know why she felt a small twinge of disappointment. Their relationship had been absolutely lovely, and even the break-up itself had been mutual and relatively unproblematic - but then he slowly faded away, and Areum couldnât deny she was a tiny bit bitter about it.
So the fact that he wasnât very talkative now was slightly irritating. âI am the canvas, but not for my current project, no.â Instead, she held up one hand to show him the small tattoo on her wrist of a bird holding a paintbrush. âGot a few additions since⊠then.â Areum had never been the best at awkward situations like these; she tended to talk too much when she was uncomfortable, which was the last thing she needed right now. This was her ex, after all, he should see that she was doing perfectly fine without him.
And she was, she really was, but seeing him brought back memories of loving touches and lazy mornings, and she missed that kind of intimacy with someone. She didnât lack people she could sleep with, but⊠it wasnât the same. Areum hadnât dated anyone since their break-up. But Baolin didnât need to know that.
She followed his gaze when she noticed heâd been looking off into the distance, raising an eyebrow. âAh, Minjun⊠figures.â The guy the officers were talking to wasnât a friend of Areumâs, but sheâd been to a few of his parties and heâd made the occasional pass at her. âYeah, youâre working, I get it.â She smiled, calm and easy. âBut we have to get together and talk. Do you have time later today? A client cancelled on me, so I have time in the afternoon or evening, whatever you prefer.â And when they met again, sheâd be sure to wear some of the expensive jewelry Taehyung had gotten her. After all, keeping up appearances had always been an essential part in the Gong household.
