Heart’s Appetite

Sofia opens her eyes and finds herself seated before an endless ocean.

She glances left and right, but there's no one in sight.

With a deep sigh, she wonders, What am I doing here?

Suddenly, Vesalius appears on her left, wearing a floral shirt and shorts, holding two drinks with a satisfied and happy expression.

"Hello, love. Brought you your favorite drink," he says, handing Sofia a cup as he sits next to her.

In a daze, Sofia asks, "What are you doing here?"

Vesalius gives her a puzzled look.

He replies awkwardly, "You're joking, right? We're on our honeymoon, enjoying life. If anything, it'd be weird if I wasn't here."

Sofia blushes, her heartbeat quickening.

In complete disbelief, she thinks, No way. Vesalius and I are married!?

Suddenly, the sound of a bell starts to play, growing louder every second, adding to Sofia's confusion.

She hears someone calling her, "Boss, please wake up."

She jolts awake to the sound of the doorbell ringing constantly.

She sees Emily beside her and realizes it was her saying, "Boss, please wake up."

Noticing that Sofia is awake, Emily informs her, "I believe Dr. Vesalius is here to cook for you."

Sofia sighs, a little disappointed that it was only a dream, thinking, I wish it wasn't a dream.

She blushes as she realizes where her thoughts are drifting.

Emily asks, "Should I let Dr. Vesalius in?"

Sofia responds, "What? No way! Tell him to wait outside for a bit. Help me wash up and get dressed first, please."

Emily steps outside, informs Vesalius to wait a moment, and then returns to help Sofia.

It takes them ten minutes to get ready, while Vesalius waits outside with bags in hand.

After ten minutes, Emily opens the door and lets Vesalius in.

Although Vesalius, Hiro, and Sofia had known each other for years, none of them had ever been to the other's house due to their busy lives.

As Vesalius steps inside, he is surprised by the wooden finish on the floor and walls, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Vesalius removes his shoes and walks further inside, admiring the clean and well-maintained hallway.

After walking for a bit, the hallway opens into the main room.

Sunlight filters through the large windows, casting a golden glow over the room.

A plush, deep green sofa sits to the left, where Sofia is seated, wearing clothes that make her look like any other girl—far from the boss of a gang.

Vesalius smiles and says, "Yo! Can't believe you still can't wake up early. Had me standing outside for a looong time."

Sofia replies, "Sorry, sorry, had trouble sleeping last night."

Vesalius immediately asks in a concerned voice, "Did your wounds reopen!?"

Sofia chuckles a little, finding it cute how Vesalius gets so worked up sometimes.

She can't tell Vesalius that the thought of him cooking for her and eating together was why she had trouble sleeping, so she replies, "Everything's fine. I was just bored, so I couldn't sleep."

The kitchen, partially visible from the living area, is a blend of rustic and modern—a marble countertop contrasts with wooden cabinets, and a collection of copper pots and pans hang neatly above the stove.

Vesalius then says, "Okay. Also, Hiro would die if he saw you wearing clothes that girly. He's asked you a thousand times, but you never listened. You look good!" He laughs as he heads to the countertop to unload the groceries while Sofia once again hides her blush.

Vesalius then asks Emily, "Just to confirm, you'll be eating here too, right?"

One glance at the ingredients Vesalius brought, and Emily can tell the food isn't going to be to her liking, as someone who loves fried and unhealthy food.

She also notices the atmosphere in the room and decides to let Sofia enjoy some alone time with Vesalius.

She says, "I don't think I'll be able to eat what you're cooking for the boss. I'd rather head to the cafeteria and grab something there."

Vesalius laughs as he pulls out one vegetable after another, "Yeah. Since Sofia had surgery not too long ago, she needs something light on the stomach."

Emily starts to leave the room, saying, "Boss, I'll be back in two or three hours. Good luck," while giving Sofia a thumbs-up.

Sofia thinks to herself, Cheeky little... is it that obvious?

She then gets up and walks toward Vesalius, saying, "Let me help you with the cooking."

Vesalius lets out a chuckle and says, "Oh? Didn't know you could cook."

Once she's in the kitchen, Vesalius pulls out a chair and asks her to sit, saying, "Listen, there's no way I'm letting you cook. You need to rest. Sit here and relax. I'll ask you where things are from time to time—help me with that."

Knowing she won't be able to convince Vesalius otherwise, Sofia takes a seat in the kitchen, watching as he cooks a meal for her.

Periodically, Vesalius asks Sofia for different utensils and makes small talk throughout the cooking process.

Sofia thinks to herself, This is nice. I wish I had the courage to tell him about my feelings so we could do this every day.

After he finishes cooking, Vesalius gathers the plates and asks, "So, where should we eat?"

Sofia tells him to bring the food to the dining table opposite the sofa.

Vesalius carries the plates and utensils while Sofia brings the food to the table.

He tells Sofia to take a seat and then sits directly across from her at the dining table.

He serves a portion for Sofia and himself, and they begin to eat.

Vesalius made some soup and mashed potatoes.

As soon as Sofia takes a bite, she's blown away by the taste.

She expected it to be bland and unfulfilling, but she thoroughly enjoys it.

"Wow, I can't believe you're such a good cook. I love the taste," says Sofia.

Vesalius replies, "No, no, no, I'm not that good. I can only cook stuff like this—nothing fancy."

He then smiles and says, "But thanks. I'm glad you like it."

Vesalius then compliments her flat, "By the way, I love what you've done with the place. The wood finish and color scheme are beautiful."

Sofia replies, "Thanks. I spent a long time designing this room. The people in Orion did a great job bringing it to life."

Vesalius then jokingly asks, "But I have to ask, there's no way you've read any of those books, right?"

Sofia acts offended, "What? Why do you think I can't read books as a hobby?"

Vesalius laughs, "I just thought you'd find books boring. I love to read in my free time too, but in my case, it's mostly medical books."

Sofia laughs, "Seriously?"

She then asks him in a semi-serious tone, "But seriously, V. Don't you ever want to take a break from the hospital? You've been working there for years on end."

Vesalius smirks, "The same could be said to you, no?"

Sofia chuckles and blushes as she says, "Well, then how about we both take a break soon? Spend some time relaxing."

Vesalius doesn't think much of it and replies, "Sure, after this Nexus ordeal is over, let's go on a much-needed vacation."

They both sit and enjoy homecooked food, taking in the moment and appreciating each others presence.