.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅ JJ wasn't ready for the emotional investment when you both decided to give it a try. he was always avoiding too much affection, talking about his feelings and being open. and you couldn't blame him, it was only natural after all he'd been through, but it was taking a toll on you. it was always a dead end with him, and despite loving him, he still couldn't find the courage to let you know him.

he'd sometimes snap at you for trying to get him to not bottle up and let you shoulder the weight he's carrying, or coldly returning your gestures of physical affection most of the time. and he never apologized for his actions. not that he didn't want to, he was dying to, but the words just won't come out, no matter how hard he tried to express his guilt.

and he'd distanced himself lately when he noticed that you've been brought down by his constant defenses, trying to get things right in his head. he just felt so lonely, trying to make sense of his own complexity of emotions, it was exhausting him, but he couldn't reach out for a little help, he never could.

you were hanging at a nearby coffee house by the shore, your phone dying as you searched for your charger in your purse, realizing you'd left it at the chateau last night when you stayed over because you were too tired to go home after the hangout. you were already done with your drink, so you got yourself together and left to head for the chateau. you parked and headed inside as soon as you did, the stillness making you almost certain nobody was home. you went to the living room, where you slept on the sofa last night, stopping in your tracks when you saw JJ's phone connected to it. you'd stared at it for a second before hearing the fridge's door closing, turning at the noise as you saw JJ's figure approaching, stopping by the doorframe at your sight.

"...hey." his voice took an unusual quiet tone, awkwardly leaning onto the doorframe.

"it's been a minute, huh?.." failed attempt to clear the tension.