[He looks at her when she approaches, something unreadable flashing over his eyes. Just like he's trying to hide the worst of it, he can tell she's also trying not to express too much worry over him.

Honestly, it's painful. More than he expected. He thought he'd just bear with it like he has with everything else, that he would be able to set it all aside and proceed with a hardened heart. Yet whenever he sees her up close, it's as if she's the flames that continue to melt it down. Many times he thought about coming clean, about warning her...

But if she's like this now, then he wouldn't be able to bear seeing her if she knew. He knows it's wrong of him, but he just keeps it to himself.

So he just gives her a tired smile.]

No, it's fine. I've...just been working on something and I overdid it a little yesterday.

[Not quite a lie. But he pulls back so he can stand.]

Let me help you finish up and then we can go in together.

[Small compromise? In truth he'd rather be with her than be alone, not wanting to waste whatever opportunity he had.]