⚝ ramen shop。

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ "I guess I can try making fish and chips again, but it might not be authentic enough for you." Maria joked, but she was serious about making something he liked in case he refused anything. Just from seeing the things he ate on a regular basis, she definitely thought her boyfriend was a picky eater. "Of course they would lie for you, nothing can get in the way of their almond soap and denture cream." Maria said wistfully, her dramatics unfolding as she somberly rounded her shoulders forward. "Oh to have a team of old women to protect me, you must be Mr. Popular there." Maria said the last part with a breathy laugh. She wanted to say something along the lines of "shut up" at him for calling her a hot driving instructor, but she was too humored. She glanced down at her boyfriend's fingers tightening around her's, she gave his hand a squeeze back as she held her boyfriend's gaze with her dark eyes, something already brewing behind them. "Mm, keep calling me miss and you might end up needing more than driving lessons."

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ "It's a deal then," Frank smiled. He would give anything to be with Maria. And if they slowly but surely moved in together into Maria's flat, these little meal dates would be even more promising, right? "I will bribe the ladies with almond soap so they'll lie for me," he snorted, tightening his fingers around Maria's after she pointed that accusative finger at him. "Teach me how to drive? That's an odd concept. But I'll take it. I'm always down to have a hot instructor," he deadpanned, casually looking across at his girlfriend as if he wasn't already having the image in his mind. "I'd gladly be your humble student, Miss," Frank spoke, a devilish smile growing on his lips, his fingers tightening even more.

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ "I know." Maria chuckled, shaking her head at herself. She puckered her lips together at the idea, the last thing she wanted to make it seem like it was a chore to her, which it wasn't at all. "Okay." She nodded with a small sigh but she was reassured. She only hoped that with her new schedule they could actually find time like now to eat together. "It sounds perfect, but I will sneak inside the store and ask around if they've seen you eat at least once throughout the day." Maria said in a playful tone as she lifted her forefinger and pointed it at Frank. "Yeah I should have free time—maybe I can teach you how to drive while we have the camper with us." Maria grinned, her eyebrows raising at the sudden idea, even though she had one hell of time trying to teach her younger cousin how to drive, she wasn't that great of an instructor, much less a driver.

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ Frank let out a loud chuckle, unbridled and sudden. "I actually don't like beans over toast," he said, watching Maria with the fondest eyes. "What do you mean? It makes all the sense. You can watch over me eating properly and we can have small dates every day. That doesn't sound half bad, does it?" He raised both of his brows, watching Maria's reaction with a baited breath. "That sounds perfect, love. We can try other places later on. Let's pick something easy at first. But... I'm wondering if we should take your siblings at our first run. We've not been on a roadtrip like this before and, even though I'm pretty sure you lot are more capable of navigating the wilderness than I am, it would be a pretty big responsibility to take the kids. How about we scope out the place first, and then take your siblings during spring break? Do you have any free time in between?"

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ "You say that and next thing you eat is beans over bread." Maria said in a low voice as she looked over to the side to hide the instigative expression of her's. She playfully scrunched her nose up at Frank, and let go of his hand to give him a soft pinch on the back of his palm. " Please, I promise you won't burst if you eat a piece of fish wrapped in sea grass and rice. This might be our last date if you do." She joking threatened as she took her boyfriend's hand again. Maria wouldn't force him to eat anymore than what he couldn't stomach, even when she wanted him to. "No, no, no. That makes no sense." Maria started to protest again as she shook her head at the explanation, but she quickly died down as she truly thought about it. Her other hand coming up to her face as her fingers curled against her lips. "I still think you should eat breakfast at least, with or without me, and later on eat something you want." She suggested instead. It wasn't that she didn't want to eat with him, she wanted to make sure Frank would eat on his own even without her, which she knew he would, but it had to be a proper meal instead of snacks. "I just want to make sure you're healthy." She simply said her smile faltering a little. "Hmm, I wanted to go around spring break, they'll be out of school and I'll be free too. I was thinking the woods or near the beach if they wanted to go swimming later on too, if that's okay with you. But I'm sure there are better places to camp out at."

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ "I did have sushi before. I'm not uncultured, Mari," Frank smirked, returning themenu to the waiter as well, before shaking his head a little. "Let's have the sushi tray and ramen," he said, looking up at the waiter before coolly holding up two fingers. "For both of us. Thanks, mate," Frank thanked the waiter as he was leaving. Frank leaned against the table, propped up on his elbows and folded forearms, smiling oddly innocently at Maria. However, that smile was fishy. "If I burst, it's on you, love. I hope you have a bucket and a mop in your handbag or something," he added, his tongue running over the front of his upper teeth in a taunting manner. "How about this; I will eat one proper meal with you every day. Lunch or dinner, whichever you prefer. And some junk food in addition once in a while. This way I'll eat 1.05 meals a day?" Frank suggested, hoping that this way he could at least appreciate Maria's concern for his well-being at least a little bit. Because he truly did appreciate it. He loved how she cared about him. But changing habits that he had for so long was not all that easy. Just like his smoking habit. "What about that trip? Where would we go? When? Should we first check out some safe locations before we take the kids or should we just wing it?" He asked, reaching over to hold her hand again while they waited for their food.

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ Maria leaned forward as she started to snigger at the joke of her boyfriend's, catching on to what he was saying. "He's a real hoot sometimes, I'm pretty sure if he drinks enough you can find him trashed behind a bush or wildly dancing on a table." Maria joked back, although she knew it was something he would never do, or around her at least. The time they had decided to go drinking together it was the first and last, she remembered having upset Frank and he started going the wrong direction towards home, she always laughed at that memory. "How are you still alive?" was all Maria could get out before she dissolved in a mess of giggles, he had won this time. Maria gently knocked her foot against Frank's shin with the toe of her sneakers at the mention of straitjackets, only lightly taking offense to it. "Of course. I'm pretty sure they would have the same idea for us so they can run wild in the woods, and we would be charged for child endangerment. Sounds like so much fun." Maria said with an air of sarcasm that had rubbed off on her from Frank. "You know you should always make an exception to eat since I am your girlfriend, at least two meals a day, even if it's junk." Maria said as she looked up from the menu in front her, her eyebrows raised at him but her loving smile for him still present. She knew he wouldn't be up for that at all. "And please tell me you've had sushi before, because if not, we're going to have a tray of roasted salmon sushi and tonkotsu ramen." Maria said the last part as she turned to the waiter and handed back the single paged menu. "Did you want anything else?" She said as she looked back at Frank.

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ "Your brother sounds like a blast. Fun person to be around, right?" Frank joked, poking fun more at himself than anyone else. Though, it was all in good spirits. There was nothing Maria did not know about him, and she knew best how lackluster he could be at times. Although, if that did not deter the fun loving force of nature beautiful creature, Frank could only thank whatever deities there were to bless him like that. "In my days? We used to group cup. You know those cups on a string? We used to push cut out letters and jump-rope them to the other side," Frank joked, almost unable to hold back his laugh once his eyes made contact with Maria's playful orbs. She was so beautiful when she was happy. And that would be his greatest goal in life. Make her happy. "Yes," he answered simply. "We can go camping whenever you want to. But I need more straitjackets for the kindergarten," he let out a soft laugh, only recalling their plans to go with the whole bunch. Although, he wouldn't mind going just the two of them either. When the waiter brought the menus, Frank reached over the table to give Maria's cheek a little caress, before he took a look at the menu. "I'm pretty sure my body has forgotten what it means to be hungry. Great for survival, I will never starve. But since this an official date, I'll make an exception," he smiled, looking from under his lashes at his girlfriend. "What would you like, love? You're probably hungry by now."

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ Maria gave their interlocked hands a soft nudge as a quiet chuckle spread throughout her chest at her boyfriend's wittiness. "You know what I mean, a little dead inside yet strangely humorous and wonderous. He's a lot more mature too, so I think you both would understand being completely over the family's antics." It was the entire reason he moved so far away from Magnolia, too noisy and way too many children he had to be around, even if they were his own siblings. "They can be any number, I'm sure the little ladies at the market would have wanted you in their group chat, they would probably bug you about taking care of yourself. Did they have group chats in your time?" Maria asked cheekily, her tongue poking behind the wall of her front teeth as she held back a laugh at her own comment. She was sure those interactions were the least of Frank's worries, being behind a phone screen all day didn't seem like his speed anyway. "I missed you too, babe. I feel like there's never enough time in the world to be around you." Maria said, her voice turning pouty and her lips pursing themselves together. "I never felt so needy before." Maria admitted in a small grumble as she toyed with her boyfriend's fingers. "Oh! I almost forgot." She exclaimed but only loud enough for the two of them to hear. She pulled her hand back from Frank's and clasped her hands together under her chin as a grin swept her features again. "Remember your idea about camping? My uncle has a campervan he hasn't used it in a long time, and no one else has taken interest in it, so he was happy to let me use it. He said give him a call whenever I'm ready to use it so he can set it up. I thought it could be the first thing we do when I'm not so busy anymore." Maria explained excitedly. She was sure starting off with taking her siblings would be chaotic, so why not use it for just the two of them first? "I should be the one asking you that." She chuckled. "But I haven't, I was waiting all day to try the ramen noodles with you." Maria said before she started to look around, but the waiter was already coming up to their table with the two glasses of water for them and menus. Maria nodded her head a small "thank you" leaving her as she took the glossy menu and started to look over it.

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ They were delightful news. He had to admit. Frank could finally leave that chore of a job at the supermarket and actually do something adventurous in a sense. He has never done such a job before. It would be a journey for sure, especially with the in-law bonding on the side. "Alright. I surely cannot wait to meet your brother then. Whatever 'more fit' might mean," he let out an airy amused chuckle, finding that hard to believe. No one really seemed to fit Frank's leisurely almost lethargic energy from Maria's family. He had jotted that down to genes by now. "A group chat? That sounds like a lot more people than two," he said, joking again. It was not a secret by now that he enjoyed his life revolving around as little people as possible. In fact, he enjoyed it revolving around Maria solely. "I missed you so much," he whispered, a more affectionate smile taking over his features as he looked across the table at his girlfriend, taking in her presence like warm sunshine on a cold day. His fingers tightened around hers on the table, and he wanted nothing more than to hug her and spend more time with her. "Well, is that the news? Or do you have something else for me?" He asked softly, rising his brows just a smidge. "And, by the way, what would you like to eat? Have you eaten during the day? You must be starving if not. And here I am, withholding nutrition from you," he clicked his tongue, scolding himself humorously.

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ Maria nodded her head in small brisk shakes, her excitement from what she could have told Frank over the phone dying a bit now that it was out there. But she couldn't help but notice the twinge of not quite uncertainty, but not an emotion she could make out in her boyfriend's expression. Was it the greatest news? Not at all, but since it had everything to do with her father, Maria guessed it might as well be worth something. "I know, it's my dad, but I'm sure he'll be nice to you." Maria encouraged, chalking it up to it having to be around her no nonsense father. She glanced down at Frank's hand, a small flurry of heat had swirled in her chest as she hooked her fingers with his. Her smile was calm now, closed mouth and her rosy lips gleaming with cherry gloss under the warm lights hovering over their booth. "Not around him you do." Maria chuckled at the witty remark. "He's my older brother, almost around your age. I think personality wise you two might be more fit for each other." She shrugged as a she leaned back a bit, her buzzing phone caught her at the same time as Frank's question. "Oh no, I'm in a group chat with a few people, they're kind of noisy but fun." She brushed off as she took the phone with her free hand and tucked it away in between the layers of her coat bundled up to the side of her.

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ "No," he confessed simply, a grand smile plastered on his face. He barely noticed the constant buzzing of the phone on her side of the table. "Really?" He all but melted in the chair. For a moment, he forgot to control his expression and let the weight visibly fall off his chest. There's was a slight conflict in him, whether he was relieved about the fact that what the 'big news' conjured in his mind was not even news, not even real, or that he was a tiny bit disappointed. He pushed the thoughts away, it was better like this. They had time for those big news. "I'm sure we'll work fine together. I just hope my elementary level math will come back to me," he chuckled, joking of course. After the moment of relief, he gathered himself up again and mirrored Maria's posture, leaning over the table to hold one of her hands in his. "Is he an older brother? Shall I wear padded pants when I meet him?" Frank squinted a little, unsure whether his assumption about her brother's age was correct and the assumption of getting his arse kicked by the elder brother came hand in hand. "That's great news, love! I'm elated!" And he really was. Since the time they've spoke about it, Frank truly took it to heart, trying to be closer to Maria's family. "Is there an emergency?" He suddenly asked, his eyes falling to the, yet again, lit up screen of her mobile phone.

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ "Hey!" Maria greeted back excitedly, her cedar lit eyes twinkling with adoration and her beam coming to light. It took everything for her to not get up from her seat and throw herself at him. She murmured a "thank you" to her boyfriend and brought her hand up to thumb her earlobe so she wouldn't mess with the straightened strands of hair that hung by her ears. Half her hair was slicked back into a low thick bun while the rest of it was brushed to the side over her forehead as a small stylish mock bang. It was better than deciding to cut her hair. "You don't want water before you start asking me anything?" Maria mused as she leaned in , her eyes running over Frank's face as she took in every feature of his. "My dad agreed to having you assist with his accounting, he said he can teach you, and you'll meet my older brother. He wasn't there the time we went over my parent's house since he lives abroad now. But he usually had a hand in the finances and everything." Maria had decided to spare him with any jokes of her's about her news for him, but there was more.

@maria r。ᵐᵃʳᶦᵍᵒˡᵈ Frank, upon reading the message, entered the ramen shop, cracking a weak smile at the hostess. She guided him to the seat where Maria was seated, and only then did Frank's smile grow into a full blown one. "Hello, love," he greeted her in a haste, leaning over to give her a sweet welcome kiss on the lips, before he started taking off his coat. "You look gorgeous!" He spoke, not taking his eyes off of the beauty in front of him, wondering just what exactly the big news were. For a second, when he saw the message, a thought crossed his mind, but he quickly tossed that idea into the rubbish. "What's the big news?" He grinned, sitting down across from Maria, excited and comfortable to be once again on a date like this with his girlfriend.

@frank d。ᵒᵘᵗᵒᶠˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ [to: outofspace]
[from: marigold]

I'm already seated, just say my name to the host and she'll lead you back to me.

Maria quickly typed on her phone, the keyboard noise clacking away before a pinging sound could be heard from her smartphone when she sent the message. Maria looked up from her phone after she quickly turned it over on its screen, the apples of her cheeks glowing a rich pink as she smiled gleefully to herself. Of all the times the couple had spent together, this time it felt like the first again, and she had been unknowingly flushed since her boyfriend asked her where she wanted to go tonight. That fluttery feeling of her nerves going haywire could be felt in her stomach and in her hands, which left her fidgeting as she waited for Frank. The warm ambiance of the ramen shop, and the rather private booth she was in had calmed her just a bit, but she couldn't wait to see her boyfriend after what felt like years. She felt sorry they had been too busy to spend any real time with each other, and hopefully her small news would only make up for it. Maria toyed with the sleeves of her white top, as she looked forward at the wooden backside of the seat across from her, ignoring her buzzing phone from the group chat her classmates made as she waited.