Is it good?" Kaida blurted out of the blue.
The sudden question caught Yuna off guard, causing her to jolt and inhale her saliva, leading to a fit of coughing. "Cough, cough, cough!"
Kaida's alarm prompted her to swiftly grab a water bottle and hand it to Yuna, who took sips to compose herself. Meanwhile, Kaida tenderly patted Yuna's back, offering comfort.
In that fleeting instant, time appeared to stand still, and Yuna's world narrowed to a singular focus: the gentle rhythm of Kaida's patting on her back, harmonized with the calming of Kaida's voice, creating a soothing melody that enveloped her senses.
"Are you okay?" Kaida's worried query pierced the tranquil bubble, jolting Yuna back to reality, her focused gaze snapping back into awareness.
"Hmm...I'm fine" Yuna finally worded
"You sure?" Kaida asked again to be sure, her brow furrowed in concern, and once Yuna assured her she was fine, Kaida took a seat across from her, her eyes softening with relief.
"You sure?" Kaida asked again
"Hmm" Yuna nodded reassuringly
Kaida observed with amusement that Yuna had devoured nearly half of the dish.
"Guess it was a real hit, huh?" She said, as she helped herself to the remaining portion
Yuna's eyes widened in embarrassment, her gaze fixed on the ravaged plate, the chicken bones and scraps –a testament to her voracious appetite.
"I guess so"
Kaida sighted Yuna's sheepish expression and unknowingly she began to smile.
"Well I'm glad you like it..." Kaida smiled "...it's my aunt's recipe"
Kaida's warm smile made Yuna feel an inexplicable flutter in her chest as at that moment time seemed to have stood still.
Shaking her head vigorously, Yuna quickly brought herself back to reality.
Yuna sat up straight, her index finger raised emphatically, and declared, "(Ahem), I'm quite certain my mother has informed you of the rules... but she most certainly have neglected to mention the most crucial one."
"Do not enter your room?" To Yuna's surprise Kaida had taken the words right off her mouth.
"That was the first thing your mom said" Kaida mentioned as she took her first bite of food.
Kaida's face instinctively broke into a smile as she gazed at Yuna's meek expression, a reaction that had become a familiar pattern since the time they met. Yuna's presence seemed to have a profound effect on her, inspiring smiles with ease.
"Yes, my room is strictly off limits" Yuna emphasized
Kaida responded with a cheerful "Got it!" and accompanied it with a playful salute, mimicking a captain's gesture, her hand rising to her forehead in a jaunty manner. For an instant, Yuna's lips curled into a subtle smile, but with a scoff she quickly regained her composure, erasing all traces of amusement from her face.
As Kaida ate, Yuna found herself gazing at her, taking in Kaida's striking features for the first time. She noticed Kaida's nose was long and slender, yet her lips were soft and feminine, painted a delicate pink. Her eyes were a deep brown, almost hypnotic, with an intensity that drew Yuna in. Kaida's jawline was angular, yet somehow still soft and gentle, framing her face with a subtle strength.
Kaida soon caught Yuna's gaze, realizing she had been staring at her for a while. She playfully returned Yuna's stare, causing Yuna to feel suddenly self-conscious. In an attempt to hide her embarrassment, Yuna quickly pretended to be absorbed in her phone, averting her eyes from Kaida's gaze.