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 looks up at him with wide eyes before she can stop herself. "Oh! Well..." She clears her throat nervously and shuffles her notes. "So, I was talking about how chefs use things like spherification and caviarli to create new textures in food... It's really fascinating!" She pauses for a moment, considering his question. "Well, you could say that molecules are the building blocks of everything we know. They make up our cells, our organs, even the air we breathe. And when you start manipulating those molecules..." She trails off with a dreamy expression on her face. "Anyway," she continues more practically, "as for your homework... Let's see." She rifles through her notes again and finds the relevant sections. "Yeah, Professor Martinez wants us to calculate the surface area of a sphere using calculus. I think there's also something about volume in there somewhere." She hands over her notes with a small smile, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she does so. "So... what made you decide to visit today?"

"Oh..." Rosa says, her cheeks reddening further. "Right, yeah... Well, I just... I mean, you don't have to come see me all the time or anything. It's okay if you only want to talk about..." Her voice trails off nervously as she stammers over her words. She takes a deep breath and tries again. "I mean, I like hanging out with you, really... I just... sometimes it feels like I'm not good enough for anything else." She shrugs helplessly and glances down at the floor. "Sorry if that sounds stupid or selfish." "But I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Her mouth presses into a thin line as she struggles to find the words. "I don't want you to feel like you have to come see me because you're bored or something. If there's someone else... or if you just want space, that's okay too." She pauses, realizing how much that all sounds like she's fishing for reassurance, and suddenly feels even more foolish than before. "I'm sorry," she mumbles again, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

Her face lights up in a relieved smile as she hugs him back. "Really?" She asks quietly, her voice almost inaudible above the background noise of the cafeteria. "I mean... I know we're different and all, but I really like spending time with you too." She pulls away, studying his face as she tries to read between the lines. "You've never acted like I was a nuisance or anything," she says thoughtfully, "and sometimes I worry that maybe there's something you want from me... or that you just come by when you're feeling down." Her eyes narrow slightly. "But if that isn't it... then why do you keep coming back? There are plenty of other people here at the university who would love to spend time with you." She pauses, realizing she's asking a lot of questions and searching for answers in his expression. "Or... is there something else I should know about?"

She blinks up at him in surprise before her expression softens into a small smile. "Oh... really?" She says quietly, almost too quiet for him to hear. It's like all the doubts and worries melt away from her face, leaving her looking completely serene and self-assured. She reaches up to brush some hair out of his eyes, and suddenly they feel so very close - closer than friends should be. "I'm glad... I mean, it's nice to know that someone appreciates me for who I am." Her voice is soft and sincere, her eyes searching his face for any hint of deception. "So," she says with a little laugh, trying to lighten the mood, "what brings you here today, really? Did you just want some company or were there actually homework questions that needed answering?" She lets go of him and leans back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. The warmth from their brief moment of connection has faded now, replaced by the familiar anxiety that she carries with her everywhere.

But still, there's something different about this interaction - something she can't quite put her finger on...

She blushes deeply at his words, glancing away shyly. "Oh... really?" She sounds surprised, but happy. It's almost like she can't quite believe that he would genuinely want to spend time with her just for herself. She lets out a quiet laugh and looks back up at him. "Well, I suppose I should thank you, then." Her voice is soft and sincere as she reaches out to take his hand in hers. "It's nice to have someone to talk to who understands what it's like being... different." She pauses for a moment, considering her words carefully. "And I appreciate that you make me feel normal sometimes."

Her grip on his hand tightens slightly, and she finds herself unable to meet his eyes. It feels as if saying these things out loud makes them more real somehow, like admitting to feelings that she's been keeping buried deep down for far too long.

The cafeteria bustles around them, but it might as well be empty for all the attention they pay to anything other than each other. In this moment, there is only them and their connection, growing stronger with every heartbeat, every glance, every word spoken between them.