The group sat around the table, the earlier chaos replaced by a strange sense of calm. But as Fren looked around, he noticed something odd.
"Uh, where's the food?" he asked, his tone both curious and slightly concerned. "Is it supposed to float in, or... I don't know, pop out of nowhere?"
Ress laughed and leaned back in his chair. "No, no, no. This isn't one of those fancy magic shows. Tina is the one cooking for us, and trust me, her food is top-notch."
Fren tilted his head, intrigued. "Who's Tina?"
Kai, who was already lounging lazily, perked up. "Oh, you haven't met Tina yet? She's in the kitchen right now, finishing up lunch. You'll see her in a bit. Let me tell you, Fren, back when I was recovering here, I stayed for a week—barely able to move—and Tina's homemade meals? Absolute perfection." He held his hands up like a chef's kiss. "And she's beautiful too!"
Fren blinked, slightly taken aback. "Oh... she sounds nice."
Just then, the kitchen door creaked open, and Tina stepped out, carrying a tray of steaming dishes. Her presence immediately caught Fren off guard—she had a warm, calming beauty and an air of kindness about her.
"Lunch is ready!" Tina announced cheerfully, placing the dishes on the table. Her eyes landed on Fren, and she smiled warmly. "Oh, we have someone new here. You must be Fren, the one everyone's been talking about. Nice to meet you."
Fren froze, his words caught in his throat. All he could manage was a sheepish nod, his cheeks faintly pink.
Kai, noticing Fren's reaction, smirked and whispered loudly, "Careful, Fren. Tina has that effect on people."
Before Fren could stammer out a reply, Ress interrupted, clapping his hands. "Tina, you really outdid yourself today. Thanks for preparing so many dishes for us and our new guest."
Tina waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing. I actually made extra today since I figured you'd have a guest." She turned back to Fren. "I hope you like it."
Fren's First Bite
As the group began digging in, Fren hesitated, unsure of where to start. He picked up his utensils and carefully took a bite of the nearest dish.
Before he could even swallow, Tina leaned down slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "What's wrong? Does it not taste good?"
Fren nearly choked on his food, flustered. "N-no! It's not that—it's amazing!" His eyes widened as the flavors burst in his mouth, and he let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a groan of delight. "This is... this is the best thing I've ever eaten in my entire life!"
Tina's face lit up with a pleased smile. "I'm glad you like it! I was worried it might not suit your taste."
Fren shook his head vigorously. "No, it's perfect! Like, unbelievably perfect!"
Ress laughed, clapping Fren on the back. "Told you, didn't I? Tina's cooking is unbeatable!"
Delivery for Dave
After a while, Tina stood up, picking up a smaller tray she'd prepared earlier. "Alright, I'm going to deliver lunch to Dave. He's probably still napping."
Fren looked up, mid-bite, and managed to mumble, "Okay... thanks again!"
Tina gave him a little wave. "Enjoy your meal, everyone!" She disappeared down the hallway, leaving Fren to stare after her for a moment before realizing Kai was smirking at him.
"What?" Fren asked, wiping his mouth.
Kai leaned back with a mischievous grin. "Nothing. You're just really enjoying yourself, huh?"
Lighthearted Banter
As everyone continued eating, the table buzzed with conversation.
Liesel, her mouth full, pointed at a plate. "Hey, pass that over!"
Arem grabbed it first. "This one? Nope, mine."
"Don't make me start another fight!" Liesel growled.
Vanessa sighed. "You two are impossible."
Fren, caught in the middle, chuckled awkwardly but was quickly distracted by another dish. As he took a bite, his eyes widened again, and he leaned toward Ress. "Are all meals here like this?"
Ress grinned. "Pretty much. Stick around, and you'll get used to it."
Kai laughed. "Oh, you'll get used to more than the food.
To be continue..