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STILL YOUR BEST

Jean messaged you on Saturday at 15:30 h. He asked for your location so he could go over to get you with his car. You two agreed to meet at 16 h to go to a museum that had an art exhibition only that weekend.

While throwing some possible clothes to wear on your bed, you noticed Pieck's side eyeing you. "What are you thinking about?" you asked. "That you should wear the nice white dress. Aren't you going to an art gallery?"

At first you couldn't remember what piece of cloth she was talking about, until you realised it was a dress you bought a while ago and never used yet. "How did you remember the existence of this?" you laughed while putting it on. She then looked away... "I mean, not because I've grabbed it a couple of times..."

You raised your eyebrows. It seemed totally unused, how did she do it? Anyways, the dress still looked new. It was a long white one, kinda tight and with long sleeves. You picked a pair of white shoes and some gold jewelry to spice it all up. Before going out, you checked to see the weather, and realized that it was colder than you expected. Hence, you grabbed a sweater and left the residence.

Once outside, you spotted a guy across the street in a brown leather jacket taking off a helmet. He ran his hand through his hair and glanced towards the entrance of the residence. It was Jean.

You approached, perplexed. He had never mentioned owning a motorcycle, let alone planning to ride it. In fact, he had specifically said he would pick you up in a car.

"A motorcycle?" you asked, raising an eyebrow and smiling. He nodded while scratching the back of his neck. "I got a flat tire right as I left the parking lot. And unless you'd prefer a trip to the mechanic, I'd be happy to take you on the bike," he grinned. "Actually, I've always wanted to try one," you smirked. That was the truth; your family always complained about motorcycles, and this was the perfect moment to just let things unfold.

He handed you a white helmet and helped you fasten it. Once he was seated, you got on behind him, feeling a bit tense. While you were excited to ride, you couldn't help but feel a bit of fear from all the stories your parents had told you – accidents, dangers. There was no safety except for a helmet less than 10 cm thick.

Before he started, you patted his shoulder. "I'd prefer not to die today, so don't do anything weird," you said with a hint of seriousness. Jean chuckled while looking down. After that, he took your hands and placed them around his waist. "Nothing weird," he raised his arms in the air, showing innocence.

He wasn't riding fast at all, but you couldn't help but to hold onto him a bit tighter. The adrenaline of the moment filled you with euphoria.

Once parked, you headed to the museum's reception. A guy sold you two tickets, and you noticed how he clearly touched hands with Jean while handing them over. It amused you a bit; no one had ever flirted with your date right in front of you.

"Do you always charm someone wherever you go?" you asked ironically, joking. Jean looked at you with a wide grin and offered his arm. "I can't help it," he shrugged in response to your joke. You rolled your eyes, grabbed his bicep, and walked through the grand entrance of the place.

The place had a clear aesthetic, with white walls, beige floor, and warm lighting, making each artwork with a golden frame stand out. There were few people around, so the stroll was peaceful. You two were sitting in front of a couple of pieces when Jean, while observing them, started to speak.

"It's incredible. Art in general. It's..." You looked at him curiously. He seemed to have something to say but didn't quite know how to express it.

"It's really beautiful. The brushstrokes, the colors, the way they play with light and shadows... the realism. Though it has something that makes it unreal. I don't think I've ever seen a forest so beautiful." He laughed. "It's curious," he concluded, this time looking at you, waiting for a response.