The university cafeteria buzzes with lunchtime activity as Rosa sits alone at her usual corner table, her muscular frame making the standard plastic chair look almost comically small. She's dressed in a fitted white blouse and black slacks that accentuate her impressive physique, her long black hair with auburn ends neatly braided down her back. Her square-rimmed glasses slide down her nose slightly as she focuses on the textbook in front of her, occasionally taking small bites from her protein-rich lunch. As she notices {{user}} approaching, she adjusts her glasses nervously, her brown eyes darting between him and her textbook. Her thick thighs shift under the table as she straightens her posture, trying to appear casual despite her rising anxiety. "Oh... hi," she says softly, already reaching for her backpack. "Let me guess - the calculus homework from Professor Martinez? Or maybe it's the chemistry lab report this time?" There's a hint of resignation in her voice as she continues. "I have my notes right here, just... just give me a second to find them." She starts fumbling through her bag, her muscular arms tensing as she moves. "You know, speaking of chemistry, I was watching this fascinating documentary last night about molecular gastronomy and how they use chemical reactions to create these amazing culinary experiences..." She catches herself starting to ramble and stops abruptly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "Sorry, you probably don't care about that. Which assignment did you need help with?"

Rosa blinks, her surprise evident in her wide eyes behind the lenses of her glasses. She clears her throat and sits up a little straighter before continuing. "Well, this chef I saw on the show, he was using a combination of enzymes and acids to create these perfectly textured and flavorful meats without resorting to any sort of traditional cooking methods. It was really fascinating."

"Anyway," she continues quickly, realizing she's talking too much again, "let's see... yes, you need help with the lab report for chemistry. I can look it up for you if you want?"

The university cafeteria hums with activity around them as they work on their assignments. As she helps Daren with the chemistry lab report, Rosa can't help but feel a little guilty about her assumptions regarding his motivations for coming to see her. Despite herself, she begins to open up about the documentary again, her voice growing more animated as she discusses techniques and recipes. "So this one time," she says, "the chef used an enzyme called protease to basically melt a steak right in front of you! And it wasn't even raw or anything, just perfectly cooked on the outside but super tender on the inside." Her brow furrows as she continues, "I wish I could get my hands on some stuff like that. It'd be amazing to experiment with it!"

"I'm glad you found it interesting," she says, glancing up at him briefly before returning to her own work. "There are so many fascinating things about chemistry and biology when you start looking outside the traditional classroom settings." Her cheeks flush slightly as they continue working side by side, their legs occasionally brushing against each other beneath the table. The sensation makes her nervous but also oddly pleasant; she tries to focus on that feeling instead of her self-doubts and insecurities. "It's like a whole new world opening up," she says with a shy smile, "and I wish more people would give it a chance."

A faint blush colors her cheeks at his compliment as she tries to focus on the homework in front of her. It's hard not to feel appreciated when someone finds even her ramblings interesting, but then there's that nagging voice in the back of her mind, telling her that he only comes around for something... else. She takes a deep breath and forces herself to let it go, enjoying the moment instead of ruining it with self-doubt. "Well," she says, smiling shyly at him, "maybe if I ever get good enough, I'll try my hand at being a chef someday."

The offer takes her by surprise, and she hesitates before responding. It's one thing to daydream about learning more about food science; it's entirely another to actually think that someone like Daren might be willing to teach her. "Really?" she asks, peeking up at him through the lenses of her glasses. "I... I wouldn't want to bother you with my questions."

Her mind races as she tries to process this unexpected turn of events. It would be amazing to learn from someone who actually enjoys cooking and has experience working in a restaurant setting. And yet, there's still that nagging voice in the back of her head, telling her that he's just humoring her or using her as some sort of distraction from whatever it is he's really here for. "I mean," she continues hesitantly, "if you're sure I won't be too much

...and I promise not to be a pest about it," she says, her voice soft but determined. There's a sudden shift in the air between them as their eyes meet; for just a moment, there's an unspoken understanding that this isn't just about food or even just about her. It's about taking a chance on something new and possibly discovering something wonderful along the way - together.

Her heart flutters anxiously in her chest as she contemplates what this might mean for them moving forward, but there's no denying that she wants to see where it leads. "Thank you," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really appreciate it."

Her heart fluttering with excitement and nervous energy, she nods eagerly in agreement. "Fried rice sounds amazing!" She glances down at her notebook before continuing, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Maybe we can start simple and move on to more complex dishes as I get better? Like... uh, stir-fry or something?"

As they finish up their assignments, Rosa feels herself growing increasingly giddy at the thought of actually learning from Daren. It's been so long since she's felt this way about anything - excited and hopeful, but also terrified and uncertain all at once. She tries to focus on the positive aspects of this new venture, telling herself that everything will be fine as long as they take it one step at a time.

Her heart pounds in anticipation as she gathers her things together and makes her way to Daren's house. She can't help but feel a little nervous about finally taking this leap of faith, especially since it means spending more time with him outside of the familiar confines of Average Joes Gym. But the thought of learning from him and potentially developing new skills overwhelms her fears; she reminds herself that she's smart and capable, even if she doesn't always feel like it.

As she arrives at his doorstep, she takes a deep breath and knocks hesitantly. "It's Rosa," she calls out, her voice quivering just slightly from nerves and excitement. A few moments later, the door swings open, revealing Daren in sweats and an apron, holding a frying pan. He flashes her a warm smile that sends butterflies

Trembling with excitement and nervous anticipation, she follows him inside. His home is smaller than she expected; it seems to reflect his simple and uncomplicated nature. The kitchen is spotless, with state-of-the-art appliances and an impressive array of cookware hanging on the walls. As he leads her over to a stool at the island counter, she can't help but feel awed by his cooking setup.

"This... this all looks so amazing," she whispers, her eyes roving over the gleaming surfaces and organized cabinets. Her heart races as she thinks about what sort of things he must know to make all of this look so easy. "Thank you for inviting me here, Daren."

Her heart pounding in her chest, she nods eagerly and takes out her notebook and pen. "Lead the way," she says softly, trying to quell the nerves that have suddenly taken hold of her. As Daren begins to explain the basics of cooking rice and how to properly measure ingredients, she listens intently, scribbling down notes as he speaks. It feels strange at first; it's not often that someone takes the time to teach her something so thoroughly, especially when they don't have to. But soon enough, she finds herself becoming more comfortable in his presence and begins to relax a little.

The hours fly by faster than she expected as they move on from fried rice to making simple stir-fries and other dishes. Her hands tremble at first as she takes up the wok, but with Daren's patient guidance and encouragement, she soon finds herself growing

Her cheeks flush with pleasure at his praise as they sit down to enjoy the meal she's just prepared. Despite her initial hesitation and nerves, the cooking lessons have been nothing short of transformative; not only has she gained a newfound appreciation for food and cooking, but she's also discovered a sense of confidence and accomplishment that she hadn't expected to find. As they eat in companionable silence, she can't help but wonder if this is what friendship feels like - sharing an experience together and growing closer as a result.

The thought makes her heart race; it's been so long since anyone has taken the time to truly get to know her or make her feel special in any way. But with Daren, everything seems different somehow; their connection is easy and natural, despite their differences. It's intoxicating, leaving her feeling lightheaded and hopeful for whatever might come next between them.

She hesitates for a moment, her mind racing with the possibilities. She's never really hung out with anyone outside of Average Joes Gym before, and the idea of doing so now feels oddly liberating. "I... I don't actually have anything planned," she says quietly. "If you're sure I won't be in the way, I'd love to stay." Her cheeks flush a little at her boldness; usually, she prefers to keep to herself and avoid situations where people can get too close. But with Daren, something about him makes her feel safe and comfortable in ways she can't quite explain.

There's an undeniable thrill coursing through her veins as they clean up the kitchen together; their bodies brushing against each other occasionally as they reach for the same dish or tool. It sends a shiver down her spine, making her heart race faster with anticipation

"Yeah, I go to Average Joes almost every day," she says with a shy smile. "It's part of my daily routine." The real reason she goes there is more complicated than that; it used to be her refuge from the stress of her old life and the mob-related troubles that came with it. But now, it serves as a reminder of who she once was - someone who needed to keep herself strong in order to survive.

She blushes again as she realizes how much this admission might reveal about her past. It's not something she usually talks about with anyone; even Daren, despite their growing closeness, doesn't know the full extent of what she's been through. But for some reason, she feels compelled to share this small part of herself tonight. Perhaps it's because he's shown her that there's more to life than just surviving;