playing it cool never works for jaerim. he's not the kind of person who could act like he didn't care, or walk past someone he cared about pretending he didn't see them. even if he tried, it’d be a pretty lousy attempt that would only betray his façade and reveal the truth about how he really felt. he's always been someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, despite the countless times he had gotten hurt from that. just as a leopard never changes its spots, jaerim is the fool that never learns.
he had expected raon to avoid him after that night at the benefit. they had, after all, crossed the line they had sworn off all these years. there was a lot to unpack with that change in dynamic (he wouldn't want to call it a mistake, unless she thought of it as one) and he understands that it could've been overwhelming for her. he had called her a few times, all of which went to voice mail. maybe she was just busy. (he was too, with the gallery's opening, but why was she on his mind during every pocket of free time he had?)
after a couple of unread messages and a very incriminating gossip girl post, he finally understands why she was avoiding him. this is when he should've sent her another message, explaining all that was possibly running through her mind, but he realises that he had reached a roadblock himself too. if even he didn't know the answer to this quandary, how could he explain it to her? he misses her and contemplates showing up at the bar she works at, knowing she couldn't turn a customer away, but never plucked up the courage for that.
it was a reflex, showing up by her side when she had gotten wine all over her clothes. he had forgotten the cold war they were having (or at least, a war she had commenced and a poor defence on his end) when he swooped in to put his jacket around her, taking her away from the prying gazes basking in her demise. they left yutnori and he leads her into a staff lounge at the museum, where he had left an extra set of clothing and some toiletries to freshen himself up between breaks.
"i only have an extra suit, but i think the pants would be far too long for you. this should be enough, though." he hands her his white buttoned down shirt and the towel he had gotten from the trunk he came with in the morning. "most people had left for the refreshment party so the museum is pretty much empty. don't worry, just change into this."
SCANDALOUS ft. @ra0n