#and this got away from me but i did try to incorporate some tension -- chiyo's just not entirely aware of it? bc she's upset

[quietlyblooms]

"you see what happens when you don't listen to me?!" ( from jai . . . OOF now listen... jai is one of those guys who can NEVER hold back an 'i told you so', so i feel like an argument could have potentially built from that? maybe he warned her abt something, she got inconvinieced by smth and now he's just being ass about it 😭 could end in some tension 👀 or not ! i dont mind either way~ )

confrontations & arguments | @metrictita picks a fight!

she doesn't want to hear this right now. she didn't come here for this, and now she's wondering what else she expected from jai. it's frustrating -- the fact that he was right, and the fact that he can't let it go while chiyo babies her feelings for a little while. even worse, her throat feels tight as disappointment and anger swell in her chest in a terrible, overwhelming mixture that makes it difficult to keep her mask on. she can't pretend she doesn't care. her misty eyes will give her away soon enough.

" i didn't come here for you to rub it in, " chiyo replies, tone pointed and sharp. she isn't facing jai, having turned around with half a mind to simply leave when he began his bout of i told you so, but the artist whips around then, gaze narrowed and tears clinging to her lashes. she advances upon jai and roughly prods his chest with her pointer finger, growing more heated as she speaks.

" i came here because for some reason, seeing you after a shitty day sounded like a good idea. i don't need to be told how right you were and how stupid i was because i fucking know that, jai. i know, and i--- "

chiyo's chest heaves as the words catch in her throat, tripping over each other to make it past her lips first. she hates herself for going against her better judgement, hates people for letting her down, hates that she can't seem to connect with others like a normal fucking person. she should stop trying, stop attending parties and mixers because jai is right. she doesn't like them, and nothing ever comes of them anyway. she often doesn't enjoy herself. she gets in a mood afterward. she...

she should go home. this entire day has been one, big mistake.

chiyo's hand curls into a fist, and it collides with jai's chest in a firm but harmless hit. her teeth sink into her bottom lip, and as she cranes her head back to meet his eyes, chiyo realizes she's much closer to jai than she meant to be. there's shame in knowing she doesn't want to move away, even as angry as she is. there's shame in knowing she still wants him to embrace her. there's shame in knowing she would swallow her pride for a minute if he'd just hold her.

" if you're upset with me, then fine. " chiyo hits jai again, weaker this time. her eyes stray to his beauty mark and then to his mouth before she's able to make eye contact again. " but you don't have to be an asshole about it. "