Chapter Text
Flashback, March 2026.
Jess Brownell may be a stellar showrunner, but she absolutely would make a fantastic party hostess if she ever decided to switch careers, is what Luke thinks as he basks in the lively chatter and ambiance happening in Jess's flat. Tonight, the entire cast and crew of Bridgerton have gathered at the showrunner's London home to celebrate the conclusion of the film's press tour. Many moments into the party, with a wine glass in hand, and after he's partaken of a few savory snacks, he has found himself in a small corner with some people from production as they nostalgically recount their journey that led them to this night. A small part of him gladly participates in the conversation, because any opportunity to tell and listen to stories of Bridgerton’s success, along with its humble beginnings, is time well spent. But the rest of him recalls mainly the laughter — while filming, while keeping in contact in between schedules, while premiering the film, while touring the world for press. All of which he shared alongside his most enamouring co-star. He couldn't have asked for a better companion in this massive, sometimes taxing project, truly. He honestly believes that he wouldn't make it out of their press tour alive if she wasn't by his side through it all, very much so that he does not remember his life before he met her. He sighs under his breath then. Such strong feelings for a person who has held so much meaning and value in his life like nobody else has; feelings that he has been mulling over on whether or not he should fess up to. For months. His prolonged hesitation on the matter are grounded in reasons he'd rather not think about at the moment, not wanting to hinder himself from enjoying the event.
And then an all too familiar melodic laugh from across the room greets his senses, and his eyes cannot help but follow the sound.
There she was, surrounded by her fellow cast members, head tilted back as she laughed at something probably one of the girls said, the pure, beautiful joy radiating off of her face. Yerin is in her element, he realizes. All the socialization occurring around her, but she clearly leads it with gentle command. She is right where she wants to be, and she has once again rendered him awestruck by her, like so many times before, and she does it with minimal to no effort like usual. His daydreaming is cut short when their eyes meet, and Luke finds he does not care about anything else. The smile on his face naturally appears, one that he always gladly presents to her. She returns it with a shy one of her own, with a small wave of her hand with it, the returned greeting doing wonders to his nerves and causing little flutters in his stomach. He raises his glass to her with a slight nod of his head, a small congratulatory gesture as if to say, cheers! We did it! And he thinks she got the message, if the knowing glint in her eyes and the returned nod of her head are anything to go by. Their eye contact and unspoken exchange linger for a few seconds before she returns to her conversation with the girls. He does the same to his own existing conversation, but his awareness of her remains.
Luke excuses himself from the group moments later, walking towards the installed bar in the dining area. He settles onto one of the stalls and orders a glass of whisky, in need of stronger liquor to maybe calm his nerves. As he resumes drinking, he recalls the brief exchange he had with the Korean-Australian actress. Obviously months and months of working so closely together does a friendship so good that it has them knowing what the other one is thinking without having to use words. Every part of him wants to nurture that, and maybe, if he decides to be brave tonight, this strong connection of theirs could develop into something more committed and permanent. LIke growing old together permanent.
Woah. The whisky is dominating his inhibitions much sooner, it seems. That last thought is charting unfamiliar and dangerous waters, and he schools himself before it materializes into something too risky for anyone’s liking.
“Is this seat taken?”
His amusement reaches him before his words do. He could recognize that playful tone anywhere. With a smile he turns to the person in question, and Yerin greets him with an expression of her lips curled inwards seemingly to suppress a chuckle. “Please,” he says as he gestures for her to take the seat beside him, and she gladly takes the offer.
“You looked like you could use the company.” She starts as she settles in her seat, earning her a chuckle from the man beside her. She glances and sees him circling the rim of his glass with his finger. “Now,” she resumes, regaining his attention, “why would an important person such as yourself be cooped up in this little bar instead of mingling his way through the party that celebrates him?”
Luke straightens up at that, clearly caught off guard by the phrasing of her question as he turns to face her. “Don’t you mean the party that celebrates the both of us?” He retorts, and everything in him wants to shift her perspective, and that he has clocked how she sounded genuinely in belief of her own words, however subtle. “Every person involved in this project deserves to be celebrated,” he continues before his eyes properly meet hers, “and you and I both know that you’re a part of that as much as I am, Yerin.”
The actress on the other hand is stunned to a loss for words, and her heart swells with astonished honor as she processes her co-star’s words. Before she can manage to articulate a response, Luke presents his hand to her on the counter in front of them, palm up. He looks at her with knowing expectation, and she sighs in endeared acquiescence as she slides her hand across his palm to intertwine their fingers together, her thumb naturally rubbing his knuckles. Luke squeezes her hand in appreciation before he rests theirs on his lap under the counter, hidden away from everybody’s view, and Yerin leans against his side and rests her head on his shoulder, welcoming the comforting calmness which the atmosphere between them has changed into, and both tuning out the rest of the world as it maintains its idle chatter in their temporary noninvolvement.
He started this little gesture with her some time during filming. They both had moments in the green room when the mental fatigue got to them in ways that stiffened their bodily functions, and by extension, their ability to begin their work for the day. Luke found her having that kind of moment, and he knew he would not be able to forgive himself if he chose to look the other way. That was the first of a few more times thereafter that he’d offered to hold her hand in his, along with the comfort of his company, while she slowly regrouped herself. And she had found him in a similar situation once, and in turn offered him the same comfort of touch and presence. An unexpected development of their working relationship, but it had deepened their bond all the same.
“I’m sorry.” Yerin says after a beat, thumb still absentmindedly rubbing her co-star’s knuckles. “We’ve reached the end of this project’s promotional schedule, and we have seen the success it has garnered on a global scale, yet I still have a hard time convincing myself that I have access to all of that because of the hard work we all put into it and not just because I lucked out.” She takes a breath before leaning back slightly to face him, her words a mixture of sheepish and apologetic. She takes a breath as she braves herself before her co-star’s intense gaze and body angle that allows him to take a better look at her, one that she sometimes dares to assume is the kind of attention he presents only to her. “Ever since I booked the job, a part of me has always thought that this is already as far as I am going to get in my career.” Right on cue she sees her co-star’s unimpressed look, and she is quick to relent, “I know, I know, it’s such a terrible and negative notion for any actor to have. It’s difficult to unlearn, I'm afraid.”
He initially just hums in response. He doesn’t have it in him to contradict her words, and knows that doing so would invalidate the myriad of experiences she has had throughout this project. A newfound feeling emerges, the strong urge to reassure her to the best of his abilities. He acts on it, enclosing his free hand around their already clasped ones under the counter in hopes that she feels the full-fledged support he is always ready to provide for her, especially in a vulnerable moment.
“Can I be honest?” Luke asks, and Yerin is quick to affirm and tells him, “Always.”
At this point the festivities in the room have shifted to something calmer, including the music choices in the backgrounf. The chatter remains, but with less moving around. The cast members have retreated to the living area, different groups of the production team have dispersed — some went out to the balcony for a smoke, some have gathered around the mini-pool table. Everyone is in their own little fun bubble, including the lead stars themselves. From climax to denouement.
“It’s been what? Almost an hour? Since I arrived. That’s how long it took before I could steal a moment of your time.” He declares, his lopsided grin a natural appearance on his face. “And I’m not bringing that to your attention to say you have been ignoring me. I’m saying that’s the effect that you have on everyone in this room, Yerin. They all seek your presence because you are such a wonderful revelation to this ensemble. You lead all of us with the right mixture of command and compassion that I think I speak for everyone when I tell you,” a breath and an eye contact before the actor continues. “We could not have asked for a better leading lady.”
He stops momentarily, allowing her to process his words. The surprise is evident on the actress’s face, not expecting the direction that their conversation has gone. Her co-star is earnest in his resumption, the intense sincerity in his gaze unwavering.
“It is a difficult notion to unlearn, yes, and I won’t be so dismissive and say that you’re overthinking it because that is far from the truth of who you are and the life experiences that have led you to this moment.” Luke continues, and Yerin smiles at that in appreciation, proceeds to squeeze his hand in their grasp to convey the message.
“I won’t convince you otherwise even if I could, but as your friend, I can offer a different perspective. Not to impose on you what opinions I have about it, but to provide words of reassurance and hopefully, some sense of companionship.” He hears her soft intake of breath, no matter how low in volume, his hopes for his own words to take effect growing. “Would you allow me to do that?” He poses, and it is now his turn to squeeze her hand when he notices her nod her head and hum lightly in affirmation.
“As someone who has had the privilege of front row access — quite literally — to your talents and the level of commitment you exert for your craft, I can attest with complete and unbiased confidence, that this isn’t the farthest you have reached in your career just yet.” The glint in his eyes is evident, the vision his mind has concocted is igniting a new kind of excitement and anticipation in him: his ever talented co-star years from now, thriving. He doesn’t doubt it happening at all. “You have a bright future ahead of you, and I, for one, cannot wait to see it, Yerin.”
It’s the whole damn circus wreaking havoc in Yerin’s insides. She sighs deeply as her eyes dance in his, at the same time internalizing his words. “Those eyes and those words are going to be the death of me one of these days, I just know it.”
That earns her a chuckle, and it doesn’t take a lot for her to join in. And then she squeezes his hand once more. “Thank you, Luke, truly. That means everything, especially coming from you.” She tells him, and color his interest piqued as he asks, “‘Especially’, huh? Would you care to explain why?”
A brief moment of silence, and then Yerin’s gaze holds his as she counters, “I’ll do you one better; why ever not? Acting alongside you was a professionalism and dedication crash course condensed all at once. You say I am committed to the craft? That you witnessed it firsthand? It is indeed something I try to live by in thought, word, and deed, but it’s you who made me realize I could hone that even more. You approach the work with intention and care and love that it’s impossible not to emulate all of it. If anyone’s a revelation, it’s you, Luke Thompson. You will always make me want to become a better actor.” Right on cue she sees the blush coloring his cheeks, which slowly spreads all the way to his ears. She smiles warmly, her thumb brushing across his knuckles in endearment. “So when I do get farther in my career as you have declared with conviction, then do know that it will have been partly your doing.”
“Damn.” Luke mutters under his breath, but it is audible enough to his co-star nonetheless, his inability to form an immediate response making him scratch the back of his head with his free hand. “Now it’s my death you’re allowing with those words.”
Yerin doesn’t even resist her laugh, her head tipping back as she does. Luke’s eyes could only follow her every movement in admiration, her joyful disposition doing wonders to disarm his inhibitions even further. He waits for her to recover and return her gaze to his before continuing.
“Well, if you insist on my awareness of my own contributions to your career, then do know that I will pray to all the deities that they let me be there to witness your inevitable stardom.” He alludes to her previous statement. But if he’s going to be honest, the one thing that’s inevitable is the fact that he’ll always be her proud spectator, no matter where he is in the world. No prayers needed.
“Thank you for believing in me.” Yerin tells Luke in finality, and the actor smiles at that. A thought comes to him then. He musters up enough courage, and then raises their interlaced hands to plant a brief kiss on the back of Yerin’s hand with his eyes closed. When he leans away and looks up, he sees that his co-star’s face has been colored in crimson. He could only grin in response, but really, a huge part of him is relieved that what greets him isn’t some sort of disdained expression. He would never be able to forgive himself if it were the case. “I want to thank you as well,” he starts, which breaks her from her flustered state. Luke continues, “For the kind words. I’ll carry them with me forever. I only hope to return the same kindness. I meant it, okay? I’ll be here to reassure you in your vulnerable moments if you’ll have me.”
The actress nods to affirm, then counters, “Same goes for you, Mister Thompson.”
Luke shakes his head in playful disapproval at the formality, one that she sometimes uses on him when she means to tease. The smile on his face does not go away as he responds, “We’ll do as we always have, don’t you think? Voice notes and all.”
Yerin giggles before agreeing, “That’s right. But I also don’t mind the type of conversation we just had. Words of reassurance from you, as I have discovered, work on me in whatever channel they are conveyed.”
Luke chimes in, “I feel the same way. We’ll just reassure each other then, one voice note at a time, one heart-to-heart at a time.”
With their hands that aren’t securely intertwined under the counter, the Bridgerton leads clink their glasses at that last statement, as if toasting to an irrevocable pact, before taking a sip from their respective drinks.
Yerin looks down and something catches her eye, and her heart beams with excitement. She locks eyes with him then. “You’re wearing the Birkenstocks I gave you.” She points out with enthusiasm. Luke glances at said pair briefly before affirming, “Ah, yes. How could I not, though? If it’s from you, I’d gladly not take it off for the rest of my life if I could.”
“You and your hyperboles.” She jokes, and he only shrugs, not looking to hide the smirk on his face. “This is the first gift I’ve received from you. II’ll have you know, Berry, that I will guard these with my life like they’re my own children.”
Ah. There it is again, the nickname he uses on her in their private conversations. Berry. The way he calls her with it in the most affectionate tone evokes her innermost curiosities. He started the nickname a couple of months into filming, and she’s been pestering him for its meaning ever since but to no avail. Still she takes her chances, “You still won’t tell me the reason behind the nickname?”
He is quick to shake his head with a playful grin. “I will take it to my grave, thank you very much.”
“Alright, fine.” She relents. “Maybe I’ll come up with a nickname for you and never tell you what it means, just so we’re even. How’d you like that?”
“Oh, I’d like to see you try actually.” He jokingly dares her, his chuckles uncontrolled. She smacks him lightly on the shoulder, the movement causing their interlaced hands to finally detach, and right away his skin tingles as it seeks her touch in its absence. He resorts to resting an arm on the back rail of her seat, this way he’d still feel her warmth near him.
He stares forward as another comfortable silence passes between them, taking another sip of his whisky. From the corner of his eye he notices his co-star send a quick text message before switching to her home screen, and he is delightedly surprised by what he sees.
“You still have the same phone wallpaper on?” Luke has now leaned against Yerin’s side with his chin hovering over her shoulder to take a better look at her phone on the counter. He senses her inhale a bit sharply from their proximity, and his smile is quick to return upon his lips, his senses in full awareness of her scent.
“Yes. It was a special night and I intend to keep it close to me for as long as I want. Is that okay with you?” Yerin is back to facing him, their faces now just a few centimeters away from each other. She sees his eyes dance across her face, pausing on her lips, and then back to her eyes. He gives her his signature crooked grin and tells her, “You can do whatever you want, Yerin.”
Damn, Yerin thinks in surrender as she gazes at his handsome face in pure adoration, her thoughts reflecting her dazed expression as she mutters under breath, “Jalsaenggyeotda.”
Luke is visibly amused by the code switch. He makes sure to keep the exact word deep into his mind so he could look it up later. “Well, I obviously do not understand, but I sure hope it translates to, ‘thank you, Luke, you’re the best.’
The actor takes pride in the fact that he has made his beautiful co-star laugh her heart out tonight, the reaction causing the actress to lean her head against the crook of his shoulder for purchase. He naturally joins in, more than willing to share the joyous moment with her.
“We’ve managed to distract ourselves from reality well enough, haven’t we, Berry?” Luke speaks when the laughter has died down, his finger drawing mindless patterns on her bicep over the fabric as his hand hangs from her shoulder, then sending a knowing look to Yerin, and because they are so attuned to each other’s tendencies, she gets the implication. They’ve been trying their best to ignore the disheartening pressure of the day being their last working day together, all before they go about their personal lives. She leans back against her seat to properly look at him. She doesn’t ask to confirm. Instead she says in the imperative, “You’ve been feeling it, too.” He hums to affirm before he encloses his hand in hers, feeling the familiar urge to hold her. “I’m just glad that it’s you I’m with, that we get to be saddened by the inevitable together. Makes me feel that I’m not alone, you know?”
“Frankly speaking, that does not have to be the case if you promise to stay in touch after tonight.” Yerin tells him, her tone low and serious. “I know it wouldn’t be the same as working together and seeing each other in person everyday, but it’s the best route moving forward, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Luke is quick to agree. “I will be in touch, Yerin, I promise.” He mirrors her seriousness, squeezing her hand to express his sincerity. Then his face breaks into a smile as he jests, “But no promises for tomorrow because I might sleep in the entire day.”
She giggles at that. “Not gonna lie, I envy that a bit. I fly out first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Oh? Where to?” He’s curious so he asks.
“Florence.” She reveals, and then thanks her co-star when he wishes her a safe flight on her trip after expressing that he’s always wanted to go there someday.
And then an idea comes to her. An incredibly bold, incredibly left-field idea. It takes her about a minute of contemplation and internal argument of should I or should I not? — before she ultimately decides there’s no better time than now. She gives herself an internal pep talk as she musters the courage.
“Would you like to come with me?” There. She finally asked him. Cat’s out of the bag. In contrast to Yerin’s thoughts going haywire, Luke’s own leave him, evidently confused by her question, so she follows with, “to Florence?”
Luke doesn’t respond, not yet. His silence is making the actress nervous, so she rambles on. “I know you were planning to sleep in tomorrow, and I don’t like that I’m taking you away from your well-deserved rest, but I feel like this could be a good reward for the both of us, you know? Unwinding in a foreign country I mean. It’s a good project-ender I think, and it’s a place where we could be as we are without being conscious of the paps and—”
“Yerin Ha.” Two words, her name. Luke utters them softly to stop his poor co-star’s nervous rambling while he holds her face with both hands, the lead actors now seeing eye-to-eye, literally. “Breathe, Berry.”
And she does, the pout on her lips appearing in shyness, along with the visible blush on her cheeks. When he sees her settled, he lets go of her face and returns his hand around hers. He smiles at her then, the warmest he could manage as he seriously tells her his next words, “I’d very much like to come with you to Florence.”
Yerin could not contain her excitement as she practically jumps from her seat to angle her entire torso towards him, happy tears forming in her eyelids. “You’re sure?” He nods. “You’re absolutely sure?” Another nod. “Even if it means not sleeping in for an entire day?”
Luke cannot help his laugh, briefly leans his forehead against her temple, impossibly endeared. “I believe there’s an obvious choice when one is presented with options such as Florence or bedroom.” He tells her before chuckling. “And besides, traveling with your year-long co-star-slash-friend to unwind in a foreign place can be a form of rest, too. So please don’t worry about the sleeping in part anymore, okay?”
She searches his eyes for any sign of teasing, and she doesn’t get it, eventually convinced that her co-star, someone she has so much respect and admiration for, someone who has come to hold so much importance in her life — has willingly agreed to travel with her to a foreign country, from an invitation she had come up with on a whim. She should count her blessings that this wonder of a man has not felt weirded out by her quirks just yet.
Yerin takes a deep breath then, nodding to express her affirmation. “Alright. I won’t worry anymore. I’ll instead look forward to admiring the Italy sunset with you at the Piazzale.”
“Good.” He grins in approval. She cannot help but giggle at the turnout of the conversation, relieved beyond measure that it went better than she could have ever expected. The urge to express her gratitude easily comes to her. With a smile full of warmth, she tells him, “Thank you for being game. Truly.”
He squeezes her hand for the nth time this evening, not breaking their eye contact. “Anything for you.”
They continue to gaze at each other, and there’s mutual affection silently exchanged between the lead actors, all while the anticipation that tomorrow brings scores deeply into their minds.
Their staring game is cut short when someone clears their throat over the microphone for everybody in the room to hear, and Yerin and Luke follow the sound. They see Jess Brownell by the tech booth situated on an elevated platform.
“Good evening once again, my dear friends. Sorry to interrupt the fun, but since Luke Thompson gladly opened our little gathering with a speech, I think it’s time for our leading lady to give her own, am I right? Miss Yerin Ha, speak into the microphone, please.”
The crowd immediately chants in agreement, the chatter went from idle to loud and cheerful.
“Duty calls.” Yerin jokes before turning to Luke. “Thanks for agreeing once again. I’ll make it fun for the both of us, I promise.” Without thinking of the consequences whatsoever, she quickly plants a peck on his cheek. “Let’s discuss the details later, okay?” Right away she notices the faint blush on her co-star’s cheeks, and she resists the urge to tease him, settling instead with a brief caress on his jaw before dismounting from her stool to acquiesce the showrunner’s request for a speech.
With Yerin on her way to the center of the room, she doesn’t see that Luke’s hand has taken up residence on the part of his face where her lips had just been, the reality of what just happened slow to sink in. But his loveliest co-star is about to give a speech, so he schools himself, wanting nothing else but his full attention on her. He can be flustered later.
The Korean-Australian actress starts out by checking in with everyone, and then starts to recall her humble beginnings with the cast and the production team, with the crowd enthused as they are reminded by their shared moments with the leading lady.
In the middle of it all, Luke spots Yerin’s mom for the first time this evening, where she’s standing beside Tom Verica, the Bridgerton director. He sets a mental reminder to greet Mrs. Ha when her daughter finishes addressing the room. And then she spots another figure standing on the other side of his co-star’s mother. A man, tall, blonde, and seemingly in his late 20s to early 30s, if his abilities to gauge other people’s ages were to be trusted. With Mrs. Ha being comfortable in exchanging words with the man, he goes to assume that they know each other.
So he’s with Yerin then.
Luke is unable to fixate on his inference because Yerin at present has directly addressed him in the middle of her speech.
“And of course, to the best partner in crime, thank you with all my heart, Luke Thompson. You know the rest.” She tells him as their eyes meet across the room, the glint in her eyes evident, and he knows that it mirrors his own. And he’s all too aware that everyone has turned their attention to him, but he pays it no mind, because all he could think about is the woman with the microphone. His leading lady.
And he does know the rest, if the voice notes they sent to each other this morning are anything to go by. They’ve become masters of the art that is exchanging words of affirmation, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He only hopes he does it well enough that their routine remains mutual for the rest of his days.
His mind wanders. This Florence trip could be an opportunity for him, he thinks. Maybe he can finally tell her how he feels and ask her to allow him some time to properly court her. Given that they’ve wrapped up press, it would be a good time to show her his sincerity and genuine intentions since they wouldn’t be preoccupied by promotional obligations anymore. It would be time spent together without the obstruction of the public eye and and its scrutiny. A friend would advise him that it’s too soon, but he cannot help but think that he’s waited long enough. Tomorrow isn’t promised, and if he’s presented with the chance to fess up now, he should take it. He wants to be decisive and intentional for Yerin, because a woman as magnificent as her does not deserve hesitation when it comes to matters of the heart.
Then the room erupts with applause as Yerin ends her speech. She comes down from the platform and right away Jess meets her in an embrace along with exchanged words of what he could assume are gratitude and celebration. The lead actress receives the same treatment when she reaches her mom, and Luke cannot help but feel proud. She is so well-loved by everyone, and deservingly so.
Yerin gets to the man he had spotted before, and right on cue, Luke’s heart drops to his stomach, feeling his facial muscles recoil as the smile on his face completely disappears.
Luke clocks everything with laser focus. The prolonged kiss that the man plants on his co-stars’s forehead. Her demeanor not changing after the gesture, which tells him that this is something that happens normally between the two. The prettiest smile on her face in reaction to the forehead kiss. The immediate embrace right after. Her arm rubbing the man’s back soothingly. It lasted fifteen seconds, their hug. Again, laser focus. While their bodies sway from side to side. While he whispers sweet nothings into her ear. Mrs. Ha admiring the entire exchange from the side. Again, something that happens normally.
Luke realizes then that in the entire time he was contemplating on the decision to make his feelings known, he failed to raise the question to himself whether or not Yerin was emotionally available for that kind of conversation imposed upon her.
It pains him to conclude that he has completely misread all of it, that he mistook her common courtesy for romance. She meant to travel together as friends. He’s been emotionally preparing for a romantic gesture when really, someone else with a headstart had already won the race, all while he was still striving to get to the finish line.
Another realization comes to him. He doesn’t have the heart to burden her with information as heavy and as unnecessary as a single man’s feelings for his co-star who was already involved. He cannot ever do that to her. He’d be ruining the friendship, making the atmosphere awkward, and wasting months and months of established connection. A second thing he failed to have a foresight for, the possibility of their friendship being ruined. To hell with his feelings. This is bigger than him already. His realizations make it easy for him to forgo the gesture and the fessing up.
And so he decides then that he’ll take everything to the grave and simply love his friend from afar. He’s a grown man. He’ll live. And he’ll teach himself to outgrow this insistent urge in him that desires to have her all to himself. Reality does that to you. He’ll learn. He has to.
But tonight, he’ll allow himself to feel, because the sight of Yerin and the mystery guy conversing with their faces just centimeters away from each other, in their own little bubble, is all too much. He cannot torture himself any more by staying for much longer.
He leaves the event without sparing anyone a glance.
۶ৎ
Yerin continues to entertain every person in the room who wishes to congratulate her after her speech. It doesn’t leave her mind that her male friend had just did what he did in front of literally everyone. Joseph, a friend she had met a year ago in London in the middle of filming Bridgerton, had texted her yesterday that he was invited to Jess’ party by someone from production. And now here he is.
Joseph made himself clear very early on in their friendship that he had intentions of courtship. She did not make any promises of reciprocation and explained to him that Bridgerton was her top priority before anything else. He was a good sport about it, fortunately, and instead told her he was willing to wait for her. She had no reason to dismiss him; it’s not like she minded, and he was a friend, so there’s really no harm in keeping him in her life.
Now that her obligations for Bridgerton have concluded, she should not have put it past him to pull off something like that, especially in a social space such as this party, with everyone’s inhibitions lowered, along with the laid back nature of the gathering. And in front of her castmates at that. In front of him. The irritation courses through her veins pretty quickly. She’ll have to address the matter with Joseph tonight before anything escalates for the worse.
“Joseph, can we talk? Preferably somewhere private?” She tells him, and right away she took notice of the hopeful look that appeared in his eyes. He agreed immediately, and she led him to a balcony at the back of the room. Yup. Called it. He definitely thinks I’m coming on to him. This won’t do, she decides one for all.
“What you did back there after my speech should never happen again, Joseph.” Yerin tells him straight away. To say that he’s flabbergasted would be an understatement on his facial expression. He asked if she was referring to the forehead kiss, and she quickly affirms.
“Oh, sorry, love.” The term of endearment should have made her feel good, but it just irritated her even more. It just feels wrong coming from him. He reasons out then, “You were pretty receptive of it back there so I thought it was okay.”
“Please don’t call me that.” She quickly expresses her thoughts on the nickname. “And I had to appear receptive because it was the decent thing to do, Joseph. I obviously had to school myself to avoid making everyone uncomfortable. But that does not erase the fact that you ambushed me.” She retorts. “You kissed my forehead without my consent, in front of my coworkers, in front of my mom. Please tell me you at least understand where I’m coming from.”
The guilt on his face is evident, and he is left speechless after her little monologue.
She breathes another sigh. This was her fault. She should have asserted her boundaries more firmly. If she did, he would not have been misled into thinking she was ready to accept his advances.
“I don’t want a repeat of that, okay? Especially not in a social gathering such as this. And if that makes you uncomfortable, you are free to disregard your plans of courtship.” She declares, leaving no room for doubt. She shakes her head at him then, disappointment evident. “Let me know what you decide, alright? But do it in a week. I’m flying out tomorrow and won’t be back until then.” She continues quite assertively and leaves her friend to reflect on his choices, not waiting for a response.
Speaking of flying out, she has to find her traveling companion. She simply cannot end the night without talking to Luke after what happened, because there is no way he did not witness the Joseph situation.
He’s the last person on this earth she wants misinterpreting the entire thing. The strong urge to explain herself to him overcomes her, and right away she turns to where he’s seated by the bar, but is met with a vacant seat instead.
In her panic, a huge part of her is in fear that she may have messed things up for good, her fingers now nervously fidgeting the ring she’s wearing.
Breathe, Berry. Then she hears his voice at the back of her mind, and so she takes deep breaths, willing to regroup herself so her mind clears. A few seconds later, in her resolve, she decides she can just contact her co-star so she can ask him for a chat. That’s what they’ve been doing so well this entire time — communicating. Something as trivial as this won’t cost them their special friendship, she’s sure of it.
What she didn’t know was that was going to be the last time they saw each other, before he would cut ties with her indefinitely, for reasons she had no way of knowing.
Later on, Florence will have been a beautiful city, and the sunset at the Piazzale will have been picturesque and aesthetically pleasing, but she won’t have been enjoying it, not completely anyway.
And despite the state of her broken heart in painful pursuit of a certain English actor’s company, taking a selfie with David’s statue in the background will have been her saving grace in Florence, and the tourists beside her will have been none the wiser.