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It's Monday once again. The sun gently rises at the horizon as The Cosmologist and Deadly Dreamboat walk alongside each other. Although Vega preferred to stay inside, this time she chose to change her choices. Having fun outside was not a bad idea, after all. Plus, the opportunity to spend time with her close friend, Bones, was right ahead of him.
“This is surely a pretty lengthy trip for a cafe” Bones breaks the silence as they scrunches his blonde hair. “What is so special about this cafe anyway?~”
“You’ll see for yourself..” Vega grunts as they chuckles at her answer.
The awkward silences filled the atmosphere for a couple of minutes before Bones started to get bored. “Excuse me~ Mister, are we walking the right way?~”
“..Just trust me will ya?” Vega gruntly answer at their teasing
“You know that we’ve been walking for the last twenty minutes, right?” Bones dramatically brushes their clothes. “Who in the right mind travels this far just for a simple lunch?” The teasing grew more and more as they walked on the sidewalk.
“At least tell me where we’re eating, no?” Bones shook their head in a slow rhythm. “Are you sure you aren’t trying to feed me anything weird? Mhh~? I’ve heard about a story where a person is tricked to try a new ‘delicacy’ only to turn out to be a human meat, scary isn’t it?"
The Cosmologist swallows his breath hard at their words “...Ah, you’ll see for yourself okay?” One stares at the Dreamboat later, “..And to be clear it’s not anything near to your creepy and deluded fantasy...”
She pauses for a moment “...It’s a normal place that serves normal food with a normal ingredients"
“..Is that so? Mhmm, well this is your first time asking me to go out afterall, so I suppose its an extraordinary-place that serves extraordinary-food with an extraordinary ingredients~”
“Woah now, I don’t want you to have high expectations..”
Not so long after they’re finally arrived, it’s a traditional Chinese swell that has a red exterior with a dimmed light sign. The rich color palettes of red, black, and gold interiors, intricate dark lacquered wood flooring, and ambient lighting from red lanterns. The centerpiece, a large round table with a rotating Lazy Susan greeted them as they both entered the restaurant.
“Seems like we’re the first customer here” The Dreamboat said to themself.
Bones' eyes wandered around the quiet restaurant before settling on Vega. One brow slowly lifted. “Is this… Is this really it? I thought we’re going to a cafe?”
Vega blinked. “I never said anything about cafes!” The response came a little too quickly.
She approach the waiter while twirling her hair nervously “Table for two please” She said it with a nervous tone
The waiter nodded and guided them to the lower ground, it’s a floor-styled dining table. “This is the only table left, the others are already reserved” The waiter gently cleans the table with what it seems like a non-woven cloth.
“I’ll be back to take your order soon” The waiter informs them formally.
“Ah- yes that's okay” She nodded politely at the waiter before sitting. Bones pressed a hand against his chest dramatically, looking around once more as if inspecting the venue. The smooth flooring and the soft cushion felt welcoming. The dim orange lighting of a traditional Chinese lantern at the table softly embellishes the face of the Cosmologist in front of them.
“Who picks this kind of place for a first date..?”
Vega nearly choked on air.
“Pftt— W–What?! I’m sorry?”Her face immediately flushed red.
“...A date?!”
Across from her, Bones looked perfectly unbothered. If anything, amusement sparkled behind his eyes.
“Oh, was it just my understanding then? I mean..”
They rested his chin against his hand while softly gaze at the nervous Cosmologist in front of them. They chuckled quietly before continuing.
“First of all, I’m always the one who suggests where to hangout. Think about it for a second, you never asked me to go to anything like this before”
Vega quickly opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
“W-well! I just.. want to make this day more special..” The confession wasn't nearly the one she had intended to make, but hearing herself say it still made his heart pound.
Bones' smile softened.
“Ah, well that is so sweet of you then~” Their teasing was cut off by the previous waiter.
“Sorry, but may I take your order?”
“Ah yes, well two Mapo tofu, two Kung pao chicken and two Tsingtao” answers Vega with a broken pronunciation.
“Is that all?” The waiter adds.
“Yes that is all” The cosmologist cuts off the Dreamboat as they open their mouth.
“Alright then, the food will arrive shortly. Enjoy your time here” The waiter heads into the upper floor.
“..You didn’t even let me order”
“Hey! Last time you ordered something you didn’t even touch the meal!”
“Well, rude” Bones playfully pouts.
For a moment, Vega found himself unable to look them in the eyes. Instead, she folds a napkin as a way to hide her almost-shaking hands.
“Does this place really suck that much?”
Bones laughed quietly. They leaned closer to get a better look at the person in front of them, who was blushing a soft red at their actions.
“People usually don’t hoof their partner for a whole hour into a chinese styled restaurant only for a breakfast”
The Cosmologist looks away nervously, almost as if hiding from their gaze. Seeing her, the Dreamboats’ face beams a genuine, soft smile.
“Well, now that I think of it I don’t really mind hm~”
The food arrived shortly afterward.
Steam curled from bamboo baskets while the smell of traditional dishes filled the center of the table. Diced chicken glistened beneath the smell of a rice wine, and cubes of silky tofu swimming in a fiery, glossy sauce infused with ground meat, aromatic garlic, and the signature numbing buzz of Sichuan rested in a fragrant broth.
Bones sampled at the steaming piece of tofu before their eyes widened slightly as the flavors exploded on their mouth.
“Wow, the tofu here is really tasty huh?” Bones commented before taking another bite. The moment those words left his mouth, Vega visibly brightened.
“I know right! People are all doubtful at first, but only one serving is enough to win their heart!”
Her earlier nervousness disappeared almost instantly as she launched into an enthusiastic explanation of the restaurant's specialties.
Bones watched him for a moment, smiling to themself.
“..You’re like a totally different person when talking about foods~”
Their observation made Vega pause awkwardly mid sentence. “Ah, well sorry I can’t help myself”
“No, it’s okay”
They both savored the meal in silence for minutes. Before the Cosmologist lift her head from the plate.
“..Well anyway, have you brought someone to a couple’s meal before?”
The question landed unexpectedly. For the first time that evening, Bones' expression shifted. “Ah~ You know.. That guy” His voice remained casual, though his gaze drifted elsewhere.
Vega lowered his eyes to his plate.
“You two seemed so close back then, I’m almost jealous...” The admission slipped out before she could stop it.
Bones blinked. Then, slowly, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
A few empty glasses later, the warmth from the alcohol had settled comfortably between them.
Bones leaned back in his chair, cheeks faintly pink. “I’m starting to feel tipsy.. I don’t usually drink at daytime you know~”
They laughed softly before looking directly at Vega.
“Ah it’s really charming to have grab a breakfast with you I’d tell you that”
Vega's heartbeat stumbled. Her fingers tightened around her glass.
“. . .” The silence that followed felt different. Softer, in a way.
Bones tilted his head. “So there’s gotta be a reason you brought me here… So what’s gotten into you?”
The question hung in the air as Vega stared down at the table at the half-empty dishes, at the condensation gathering on his glass. Anywhere else except at Bones.
“...Like I’d said I only brought you here to grab a breakfast, nothing more!” Even she could hear how unconvincing that sounded.
“I’m not guessing until I heard it from your very mouth” Bones didn't push like usual. Instead, they smiled gently.
Vega swallowed. She wiped her sweaty palms with the folded napkin earlier.
“..I– I’m” Her voice faltered. Then she looked up, straight into Bones' eyes. “S-sorry I need to go to the toilet first”
She quickly stood up and was about to run, if not for Bones grabbing her arm. Bones pulled her closely at their face as she squirmed. She can smell the faint aroma of the alcohol in their breath. They blushed faintly, but this time it’s not because of the alcohol.
“I like you.” The words escaped from their mouth.
Vega froze before blushing a deep red “–What?!” The confidence Vega had gathered immediately evaporated. Her face burned in a light shade of red.
“How about you..?” For the first time all evening, The Dreamboat’s expression looked natural. Their expression softened at the sight of the Cosmologist in front of her.
It’s almost as if the atmosphere of the restaurant and the concept of time itself froze at that moment. Speechless, Vega swallowed hard at the gaze of the Dreamboat.
The Cosmologist sighed, but this time it's in relief.
“..I like you too”