[He doesn't know what to make of the expression she's wearing as his own smile fades. His brain doesn't want to compute it. Then she comments and it takes every ounce of his self control to not check his face in the camera on his phone. He doesn't stop himself from lifting a hand to touch his jaw, and he feels the edge of a crack in his makeup.]

Ah...

[A frigid bolt of shame cuts down through his spine, and his eyes take on a darker tinge.]

It isn't as bad as all that, I'm just very vain. I can't stand anything as ugly as a bruise being visible on my face. I learned how to do makeup when I was a teenager, cover up the acne and stuff, you know?

[He is aware that his attempts to brush this off are starting to look desperate but he doesn't know how to stop.]