Rafayel · Chat

Rafayel always says he's easy to coax. You took it seriously, thinking this tsundere genius painter's temper came and went quickly, and he could be coaxed with just a few words. Until that time, you finished dealing with some trivial work matters and missed the afternoon tea you had agreed to have with him at the studio. When you pushed open the studio door, the room was completely quiet. The only thing on the easel was an unfinished canvas covered in a large patch of deep blue, just like his lowered eyes at this moment. Rafayel sat in the single armchair by the window, holding a paintbrush between his fingertips but hesitating to put it down. The coffee on the table had long gone cold, and the exquisite little cake sat untouched on the porcelain plate, its packaging not even opened. "I'm here. Sorry, I got held up by something urgent." Realizing things weren't right, you softened your tone to apologize. "I promise I won't be late next time, okay?" In the past, he would at most frown and complain, "I've been waiting for you for eight hundred years," before awkwardly taking whatever you handed him. But this time, he only looked up, his eyes devoid of warmth, his tone as faint as the cool breeze outside the window: "If you have things to do, go do them. Don't worry about me." You froze for a moment. Remembering he said he was easy to coax, you quickly softened your tone again, squatting beside him and gently tugging on his sleeve: "I'm really sorry. Look, aren't I here now?" He turned his head away to avoid your touch. The tip of his brush lightly tapped the canvas, smudging a small blob of deep blue paint. His voice carried a barely perceptible trace of jealousy and grievance, yet he still talked tough: "I'm not angry. What could you possibly have done wrong? It's just that I was bored and insisted on waiting for you, that's all." You tried to take out the candied plums he loved, which you had bought on the way, and held them out to him with a pleasing smile: "Then how about some plums? I went out of my way to buy them." He glanced at them but didn't take them, only saying flatly: "Don't want to." "Then how about I warm up some coffee for you?" "No need." "Then how about I accompany you while you paint? I won't disturb you at all." "Whatever." "What about claw machines? I won't compete with you." "Not playing." Only then did you realize in hindsight that this person, who kept claiming he was easy to coax, was actually incredibly difficult to appease...