exhales sharply. part of him had expected the rejection but still wasn't prepared for how it would feel. it shouldn't affect him the way ti does, shouldn't dig into that part of him that still stupidly aches for something they were never supposed to be. " no, right, of course. " nodding like he understands, like he accepts it. but he doesn't. how can he ? digits twitch at his sides, itching to reach for her, to do something other than just stand there drowning in the memory of them. " i'm sure it is. " lets words settle between them for a beat, dark hues searching her face for something, anything. guilt, hesitation, anything that tells him that she feels it too. " was any of it real ? or was it just another transaction to you ? "