Eva laughs, shaking her head and shooting him a mischievous smirk before sipping her broth again, “Is that a challenge, Matias?” she likes challenges, but he knows that.

She follows suit, using the chopsticks to stir around her noodles and pop a few rogue veggies in her mouth. The silence that comes along with eating allows the mind to wander. Hers also drifts back to the short conversation before the food arrived. It’s still so fresh and without closure. The feelings fester.

“I’m glad you like it,” she smiles, “I was worried I may have talked it up too much or something.”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"it is, eva."

neither of them have backed down from a challenge before. he doesn't expect this one to be any different; it's just a matter of who cracks first. it might be him, honestly.

he reaches for a napkin, then brings it to dab at his lips.

"you didn't. there's a vegan restaurant in lilycove you'll like. i'll take you sometime."

once again, the line blurs.

"next week?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

A challenge, of course. An involuntary excitement stirs within her. Her heart flutters in response. Naturally, she accepts with a grin.

He makes another statement, doesn’t ask a question. He expects them to continue this, whatever this is. She considers it for a moment, finishing the bite in her mouth before leaning back in her chair. The feelings that linger and the comfort he brought before, regardless of her fears, still gives her the strength to be honest and curious, “Like a . . . date?”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]options loom before him, all of them full of uncertainty. does he give her an out? saying no would make them nothing but colleagues, but saying no would also mean lying. though dangerous, he decides for the truth.

"a date."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

“Hm, A date. The prospect scares her, but also excites her. It’s an implication wrought with danger. It meant willingly giving in, letting him in past the barriers she’s built. He’s already broken them down and has rooted himself there without her noticing. Ultimately, it could be the greatest thrill of her life, “Promise me I won’t lose you,” it’s an impossible promise, but she needs to hear it to quell the fear.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]rising to his feet, he closes the distance between them, reaching a hand out towards her as he nears. he lowers to his knees, arms resting against her legs as he peers up at her, finding her gaze.

"eva."

his touch is gentle, reassuring.

"i promise you won't lose me. never again."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

She doesn’t expect him to get up and move closer, just simply answer. The gesture and sincerity make the promise feel more real. She’s not stupid, she’s seen too much bad shit to know how unrealistic it is. Still, she knows he’ll try. She gravitates towards him, hands seeking him. Her palms gently cup either side of his face as she looks into his eyes with a small smile, “I believe you,” she leans in to kiss him tenderly.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]tension washes off his shoulders, allowing his expression to break into a smile. it's warm, genuine, but it always is with her. he moves his hand to the side of her face, meeting her tender kiss with one of his own.

it seals his promise, binding him to her.

but it's what he's always wanted.

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

It’s a different kiss this time, a telling one that has a lot of unspoken truths hidden in it. She’s unable to parse through them all but perhaps that would come with time. What she can recognize is his promise. She makes the same promise, but without words. A part of her feels more whole as she pulls back with a smile. Her lips find his forehead, pressing into it gently, “Next week then, it’s a date.”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"it's a date."

warmth lingers even as he pulls away. he reaches up to plant a parting kiss on her forehead before stepping away. he reaches for things, trash, then starts heading over to the sink to clean up.

he's given some form of privacy with his back turned to her; not that he's looking for it, but it allows a smile to overcome his features, bright and happy for once.

"i'll clean yours too when you're done. but no rush."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

For the first time, she doesn’t feel emptiness when he pulls away. The warmth of his kiss lingers, and she’s comfortable despite the conflicted feelings she still buries. A few new ones surface. She’s content, happy even. Her focus turns back to her food, she’s not quite finished yet, “You don’t have to do that, I can get it when I’m done. Thank you, though,” she’ll likely have leftovers she’ll need to put away, she always does, “Relax,” she grins at his back, “We’ve had a long day.”

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"we really have."

soon, the sinks stops flowing, and he's drying his hands off with a nearby hand towel. he walks back over, stopping by the counter for his unfinished bottle of water from hours ago.

"not sure if i know how to do that, though."

he steps next to her, brushing a hand against her shoulder as he passes.

"i've never been able to relax."

[attr="class","noodles"]Eva Morales

A few more veggies find their way into her mouth as he continues. She laughs after swallowing, nodding in agreement, “Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes relaxing feels more stressful,” His touch makes her smile, glancing up towards him, “I’m almost done, then I’ll keep you occupied,” she throws a wink in there for good measure.

MATIAS SILPH