It was ridiculous to think that Farron lived in a gym attached to a motorcycle showroom. Cora knew that, but she was still surprised to look at the three-story apartment complex and confirm that its primary function was not, in fact, for working out, nor for displaying two-wheeled death traps. If anything, Cora's own building, with its broken elevator, would provide better exercise and near-death experiences, but that was about the only difference between their living situations.

Farron's building was surprisingly close to Cora's, and it had only taken her a fifteen-minute bus ride, a quick five-minute panic break, and a ten-minute walk to get to. Their neighborhoods had similar vibes too: nowhere close to middle class, but not a crime scene you'd see every week on the evening news. Still, Cora didn't lower her guard. She knew she looked like an easy target, and her height coupled with her spindly limbs made her akin to a newborn giraffe, just one strong breeze from toppling over.

Much to Cora's relief, a familiar rumbling of an engine neared, and the small rider atop the approaching motorcycle probably wouldn't throw Cora against a wall and steal her belongings. Well, maybe not the second part, but Cora wouldn't say no to—

"Sorry I'm late!" Farron said as they rushed up to Cora, a grocery bag in one hand while they tugged off their helmet with the other. "I'd forgotten how crowded places are in the afternoon."

Cora shook her head and tried to smile, only to realize the expression was already on her face. "It's no problem. Thanks for readjusting your schedule for me."

When they initially agreed on a second date, they hadn't realized their days off would only coincide when the stars aligned—or rather, when the sun and moon aligned with the Earth. Since neither of them wanted to wait until the next full moon to meet, and Darlene was being extra stingy with the Cool Beans schedule, Farron worked their assistant manager magic to move their own shifts around instead.

"Of course. I would've worked a clopening shift if I had to." Farron nodded at the grocery bag in Cora's hand. "Did you have any problems getting anything?"

Cora was too shocked over Farron's admission to hear their question at first. "Huh? Oh, no! Everything was fine. But...working back-to-back closing and opening shifts? You don't have to go that far."

Farron chuckled. "If it means I get to spend more time with you, I'd be happy to." They tucked their helmet under their occupied arm before holding their newly freed hand to Cora. "Shall we?"

If Cora hadn't been internally screaming already, that would've done the trick. She must've looked ridiculous, judging by how much her cheeks hurt from her wide grin, but she didn't care as she accepted Farron's hand and followed their lead to the elevator. She didn't bother to mention that she was fine with taking the stairs. After all, of the two methods of transit, one was clearly more conducive to hand-holding.

It had only been five days since their last date, but Cora was still a combustible combination of excitement and nerves. Sure, they had hung out during their lunch breaks since then, but this time, it was just going to be the two of them. In private. In Farron's apartment. Cora was surprised she wasn't shaking—or maybe she was, but Farron was absorbing the tremors with their solid, toned arms.

"By the way, I'm she, her today," Farron said once they were in the elevator.

"O-okay!" Cora said, her voice clearly shaking. Were her palms clammy too? Was she sweating through her clothes? Did she remember to wear deodorant?

"Hey." Farron bumped Cora's arm with her own, and the warm pressure snapped Cora out of her thoughts. "I'm glad you're here."

Farron's husky whisper, coupled with her gentle smile and soft hands, was enough to send Cora into a mental frenzy again.

Maybe the stairs would've been safer.

Luckily, Farron's apartment was much more spacious than the old elevator. In fact, it was at least twice the size of Cora's cramped studio, and there was actually a separate room for sleeping. At least, that's what Cora assumed, judging by the sight of a closed door leading away from the main living area with no other bed in sight.

Not that Cora was thinking about Farron's bed. That would be inappropriate...right?

"Sorry, it's not as clean as your place," Farron said as she hung her helmet and keys next to the door before turning towards the kitchen. "I probably should've spent some time straightening up—but not too straight, of course."

Cora continued to gaze around the apartment, trying to soak up every possible detail, as she set her own grocery bag on the kitchen bar. "No, it's perfect."

She wasn't lying. While Cora's own place was like a dreary prison cell, Farron's was a warm home. Just from the doorway, the adjacent kitchen was visibly more used than Cora's own. A well-worn wok sat ready on the stove, and half-filled containers of spices and sauces lined the counter, most unlabeled.

On the other side of the apartment, clothes hung off the back of a blue three-seater couch, and one scratched-up corner of the chair was partially hidden behind a small Christmas tree plush on the floor. A wide TV sat on the opposite wall from the front door, and its stand and the matching coffee table were both adorned with vibrant photos and assorted trinkets.

"I can give you a tour later, if you'd like," Farron said as she disappeared beneath the kitchen counter, and the clanging of pots and pans followed soon after. "I have to clean up in here for a bit, so you can make yourself at home."

While part of Cora wanted to insist on helping, the rest of her preferred to explore. A second later, her curiosity made the decision for her, and she ventured into the living room for a closer view. Just as she neared the coffee table, squinting at the books on top of it, a brown jacket on the couch began to move.

Cora yelped as she spun around, only managing to cut off the tail end of her exclamation. By then, her brain had identified the jacket for what it truly was: an old, fat cat.

Farron was already rushing out of the kitchen. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry," Cora said, embarrassed but still breathless as she watched the animal stretch. "I just didn't realize you had a cat."

For the two seconds that Farron stared at the animal, Cora wondered if she didn't realize she had a cat either.

"Oh, right, I'm fostering." Farron laughed as she scratched the cat behind the ears. The cat, in return, yawned. "This is Augustus."

Cora remembered the bright advertisement in the mall. "The Third?"

Farron turned to Cora, eyebrows raised and smiling wide. "Yeah, the one and only. I offer to foster cats every now and then, and I figured Augustus and I bonded during his photoshoot. Well, when he wasn't sleeping."

With her initial shock worn off, Cora squatted next to the couch for a better look. The brown tabby had just finished washing his face when he yawned again, blinked slowly in Cora's direction, then closed his eyes entirely.

"He's so cute," Cora whispered, her hand itching to scratch the cat herself.

"You can pet him if you want," Farron said as she returned to the kitchen. "He likes attention, as long as he doesn't have to work for it."

Cora was more than happy to oblige.

By the time Farron returned, Cora was lying on the couch, her sock-clad feet hanging awkwardly off the edge while the old cat curled up on her stomach and her hand dutifully scratched his head.

"I swear, he didn't leave me a choice," Cora insisted as Farron grinned down at her.

As if to emphasize her point, when Cora's hand stopped its ministrations, the cat nudged his head against her fingers, his eyes remaining closed all the while.

Farron crossed her arms, smirking. "Should I leave you two alone then? I wouldn't want to interrupt whatever you've got going on over here."

"No!" Cora exclaimed. As much as she wouldn't mind lounging around and petting cats for the rest of her life, she wasn't about to let that ruin their date. "It's just... Can you help me?"

"I know he's fat, but he's not that heavy, is he?"

"It's not that. It's..." Cora winced, then lowered her voice to a whisper. "I don't want him to be mad at me."

Farron chuckled, but she still stepped closer to assist. "So he can be mad at me now? Terrific."

As Farron bent down, Cora realized what a terrible mistake she had made. She hadn't been prepared for the sight of Farron leaning over her, nor for the feeling of Farron's fingers brushing against her midriff. The sudden touch sent a chill racing up her spine, and while Cora managed to clamp her mouth shut just in time, she couldn't keep her eyes from opening wide.

What's worse, that's exactly when Farron met her gaze, her eyes wide as well.

Seconds passed in silence—that is, until Augustus the Third let out a low grumble.

"S-sorry," Farron muttered, quickly straightening her posture as she held the squirming cat close. Cora wasn't sure if the apology was meant for her or the tabby.

"It—it's fine," Cora said, trying and failing to force herself upright. "Thanks."

Farron nodded, averting her eyes to the cat in her arms. "I'll just...be in the kitchen."

After Farron darted away and the sound of running water soon followed, Cora focused on calming her racing heart. She had just got there—how was she supposed to survive the next few hours? This was only the second date, not just with Farron, but in Cora's entire life. She needed to clear her mind and take things slow, that's all. She needed to relax—breathe. She couldn't risk embarrassing herself so soon.

But hadn't Farron been nervous too? If even Farron, as cool and collected as she always was, had been just as flustered as Cora, then maybe she had nothing to worry about. Maybe there was a chance that Farron felt the same way she did. Maybe the circus tricks Cora's heart was performing weren't abnormal at all.

With that in mind, Cora steeled her nerves and hurried to the kitchen.

"Alright, Chef!" Cora announced, earning her a startled look from both Farron and Augustus at her feet. "What's my first assignment?"

After a pause, Farron grinned. "First, we wash the vegetables."

Within minutes, the kitchen's atmosphere was just as comfortable as one of their lunch breaks. Once the vegetables were cleaned, and Cora admitted to being terrible with a peeler, Farron gladly skinned the potatoes while Cora volunteered to cut the onions. After several breaks where they laughed about the tears streaming from Cora's burning eyes, they sliced the potatoes and carrots side by side. And if they just so happened to let their arms brush in the process, then so be it.

"Now, it's time to make this extra fun," Farron said as she rummaged through a drawer, then pulled out a container of metal cookie cutters. "We can make shapes!"

Cora grinned as she picked up one from the top—a flower. "These are so cute! Will they stay like that after cooking?"

Farron shrugged as she picked a star out of the pile. "I've never tried it before, so I guess we'll find out. And even if it doesn't work out, it would still be fun to try, right?"

Cora paused. Maybe Farron had a point. Maybe it didn't matter if everything Cora attempted was a success or a failure. Maybe what mattered was how she felt along the way.

That date was one of those things. So in a moment of bravery, Cora stepped closer to Farron, pressing their arms together.

"You're really fun to be around," Cora said, her gaze locking onto Farron's.

In the span of a few seconds, Farron's lips parted, her eyes widened, and a grin stretched across her face. "You're really fun too."

***

While it took a lot longer than the estimated cooking time of half an hour, dinner was eventually served: two plates of Japanese beef curry surrounding small mounds of fresh white rice. Potatoes and carrots shaped like flowers and stars stuck out from the sea of sauce. A few of Cora's potato-filled carrots even made it through unscathed, where the starch filled the hollowed orange shells they cut out. Translucent onions dotted the dish, and the savory scent rose with the steam and filled the apartment.

Cora and Farron carried their food to the living room and settled on the floor between the couch and coffee table. Augustus the Third was occupying the middle cushion, and both women agreed he was better left undisturbed.

"This is so good," Cora said after her third bite. She had been too busy stuffing her face to comment earlier.

Farron grinned. "It really is. I feel like the fun shapes add to the flavor. And these potato carrots you made? Ingenious and pretty." She winked. "Just like you."

The unexpected compliment made Cora avert her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile as she stirred her curry around. "You did most of the cooking, though."

"You still helped out a lot." Farron chuckled. "We make a pretty good team, yeah?"

Cora's smile widened, and she gathered enough courage to return Farron's warm gaze. "Yeah. We do."

With a random TV show playing in the background, the clinking of their silverware against their ceramic plates, and the idle chatter between them, it almost felt like their daily lunch breaks. It was...natural. Comforting. It was safe.

Cora wished she could hold onto that feeling for the rest of her life.

"So...Saturday," Farron began, her eyes pointed to the remains of her rice as she chipped away at it with her spoon. "I forgot it was Moon Festival."

With that one sentence, Cora felt her chest hollow, and the comfort she had just been basking in vanished without a trace. That was supposed to be their next shared day off, and they had planned on meeting for another date. Judging by Farron's tone, that wouldn't be the case anymore. Cora knew just how important the holiday was, and Farron probably planned on spending it like everyone else: with food, family, and friends. That was how it was supposed to be.

"Oh," Cora said, also turning her attention to her meal. "That's fine. We can plan for another day."

As much as she tried to hide her disappointment, she wasn't sure how successful she was. The last thing Cora wanted was to stand between Farron and her family, especially since her stories made them sound fun and supportive. Still, Cora hadn't expected to hear the holiday mentioned, and she couldn't keep her memories from flooding her mind and threatening to spill from her burning eyes. After years of trying to forget about the occasion, Cora had finally succeeded, only to have a reminder thrown at her when she least expected it.

"I...actually forgot I had scheduled vacation for the day before too." Farron chuckled, but it sounded stilted. "Some assistant manager I am, right?"

You're still amazing at your job, Cora wanted to say, but she was afraid that opening her shaking lips would release more than just those words.

"My family usually asks me to make mooncakes," Farron continued. "And...well, you probably know how long that takes."

Cora forced herself to nod as her vision began to blur through her tears. She knew exactly what Farron meant. Her own family wouldn't bother making them by hand, though. They would place orders at their favored bakery months in advance just to make sure they had enough to give to their friends and relatives. Cora would tag along when it was time to pick them up, and if she was lucky, she would be allowed to buy a dan tat egg tart or lou po beng winter melon cake to eat on the way home.

But those days were in the distant past, never to be seen again.

"I have to pick up some things for them too," Farron continued, "and I was wondering...if you wanted to come with me?"

It took Cora a beat to process the words, and when she finally did, she turned to Farron in a daze. "Huh?"

"To Chinatown," Farron said, her face blurry through Cora's watery eyes and hazy mind. "On Friday. You have that day off too, right? Friday and Saturday?"

Cora hummed in agreement, her brain too busy making sense of the conversation to form actual words. "So...it's a date?"

When Cora's vision finally cleared, it revealed Farron's warm smile.

"Yeah, it's still a date," Farron said, her voice suddenly soft. "Just a shopping date instead of a cooking one. But we can still cook after, if you want. I have a bunch of mooncakes to make, and I wouldn't mind an extra pair of hands."

Cora nodded slowly—it was the least she could do. While she wasn't sure how she would fare in such a nostalgic environment, she couldn't pass up a chance to spend time with Farron. Maybe it might even be good for her—a chance to replace those old memories with new ones.

Assuming she wouldn't start sobbing in the middle of Chinatown, surrounded by confused aunties and uncles. That wouldn't be a good memory at all. They would probably scold her for interrupting business on one of the busiest days of the year.

"And...only if you want to, of course..." Farron took a deep breath. "Would you...want to go to my family's house for Moon Festival? Only if you want to, though."

Just when Cora thought she had a handle on her emotions, they spun out of control once more. Was she ready to meet Farron's family? After only two dates? After only being relative friends for, what, less than a month? A few weeks? That was too fast, right? What if Farron's family ended up hating her?

Cora paused, surprised by her own train of thought. She had been so worried about the future that she had completely forgotten about her past.

Earlier, the slightest mention of Moon Festival had brought tears to her eyes from the nostalgia. But just then, when the discussion of family was as loud and obvious as Angie the Orange, Cora's eyes were dry. Maybe that was the secret: she needed to distract herself from her memories with panic and stress.

She never said her methods were healthy.

"O-okay," Cora finally managed to say, nodding along with her words. "If...that's okay with you and your family and all."

Farron's eyes widened before she broke out into a grin. "Of course it's fine! They'll love you, I promise. And don't worry about bringing anything. Everyone knows that the amount of work that goes into making mooncakes is enough potluck admission for a family of four, and I've been making them single handedly for years. Not to mention I make the jai for Lunar New Year. It's like going on a scavenger hunt through Chinatown every time."

As Farron continued to ramble about her past family gatherings, Cora was content with listening, partially out of amusement, partially to know what to expect for the weekend ahead, but mostly to calm the chaos in her mind. While she wasn't sure anything could prepare her for meeting her rival-turned-friend-turned-date's family, Cora was determined to try her hardest to make the best impression possible.

But she could worry about that later. Maybe it had something to do with listening to Farron talk, but Cora's sense of urgency seemed to dwindle with each of Farron's words. It wasn't long before Cora found herself leaning back against the couch and idly scratching Augustus's head, letting herself be absorbed by Farron's stories and the warmth that accompanied them.

Whatever happened, as long as Farron was with her, she would be fine. Everything was going to be just fine.