Capítulo 35: Chapter 35: Romantic Dinner in Pewter
The soft flicker of candlelight cast a golden glow over the restaurant table, making the silverware gleam like polished jewels. Alisha leaned forward, her eyes catching the light in a way that made them seem even more alive, brimming with mischief.
"I knew you'd keep your word," she said, her voice carrying that familiar, playful challenge.
I kept my gaze steady, not giving her the satisfaction of seeing me react. "What do you want to eat?" I asked, trying to keep the focus where it should be. But Alisha wasn't one to let a conversation go so easily.
Before she could answer, the waiter arrived, sliding menus onto the table. Alisha ignored hers entirely, her attention fixed on me. Her lips curled into a smirk that made my pulse quicken.
"What about my kiss?" she asked, her tone light, but with an edge of insistence.
I blinked, looking away briefly, focusing on the gentle flame of the candles. Anything but her. The air felt charged, like before a battle, except this wasn't one I could win with strategy or power moves.
Clearing my throat, I ordered the appetizers. "For starters, we'll have the Luvdisc Ceviche and Roselia's Rose Petal Salad." The waiter nodded and disappeared, leaving me alone with the weight of Alisha's words.
"Wow, so romantic," Alisha teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm, though her eyes softened for a brief moment.
I met her gaze, unflinching. "I keep my word," I said, my voice even. But inside, I felt the tension growing between us, like the slow build before a storm.
Her expression shifted, mischief dancing in her eyes. "I have a question."
I raised an eyebrow, inviting her to continue.
"Why did you promise this? I didn't ask for it."
The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to answer, then hesitated, unsure how to explain something I wasn't sure of myself. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice lower, as if saying it quietly might make it less true.
Alisha's grin widened, her playful side rearing its head. "So, you love me after all?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She was relentless. Instead, I smoothly changed the subject. "What's your next plan?"
"Cerulean City, of course," she replied, not missing a beat. "We have to pass through Mt. Moon, and I need a Pokémon that can only be found there."
"Which Pokémon?" I asked, leaning forward slightly, genuinely curious. But Alisha just stuck her tongue out at me, her playful nature in full swing.
The appetizers arrived, breaking the silence with the clinking of plates. The vibrant colors of the food were almost as striking as the flavors. I took a bite of the ceviche, the tang of citrus dancing on my tongue.
"This is good," I said between bites, trying to fill the silence with something less charged.
"Expensive, too," Alisha muttered. "No way I'd be able to afford this on my starter trainer loan from the Pokémon World Bank."
I smirked, signaling the waiter. "For the main course, we'll have the Seared Magikarp Fillet and Tauros Steak with Béarnaise Sauce."
Once the waiter left, I turned back to her. "You still haven't told me which Pokémon you want."
She grinned, leaning back in her chair, her fingers tapping the edge of the table. "Guess."
"Clefairy," I said with certainty, the word leaving my mouth before I could stop it.
Her eyes widened, caught off guard for the first time that night. "How did you know?"
I couldn't help it—I laughed. It was loud, and probably inappropriate for the setting, but seeing her surprised expression was worth it. The other diners glanced over, but I didn't care.
"You forgot why you attacked me in the first place, didn't you?" I teased. "You wanted my Pikachu because it was cute."
She flushed, just a bit, her hand smacking lightly against my arm. "You're so annoying."
"And you're so predictable," I shot back, a smirk pulling at my lips.
The main course arrived, and for a moment, we both fell into a comfortable silence, the earlier tension fading as the night wore on. The food was incredible, each bite bursting with flavors I hadn't expected. I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoyed these little moments, even with Alisha's teasing.
But the quiet couldn't last long with her.
She looked up from her plate, eyes sparkling with curiosity again. "Now that your Ivysaur's evolved into Venusaur, what's your plan? You won't be able to just casually walk around with him anymore."
I frowned slightly, the thought of my newly evolved Venusaur too big to accompany me like before. "Yeah, but it was bound to happen eventually. Your Squirtle will evolve into Blastoise soon, too."
"I know," she said softly, her fork tracing idle patterns on her plate. "But there's always one who can stay with us, right?"
I nodded, though my mind wandered. Venusaur was powerful, no doubt, but I couldn't help but think of the Pokémon I'd need next, the one that could keep up with the growing challenges ahead.
Dessert came and went in a blur, and soon I found myself signaling for the bill. The waiter returned, and as I glanced at the number, Alisha peeked over my shoulder.
Her eyes widened. "You just spent 30% of what I got from my loan!" she whispered, sounding both impressed and horrified.
I handed over the ₽29,000 without a second thought, adding an extra thousand for the tip. As we stood and made our way toward the elevator, she was still shaking her head in disbelief.
"Why did you tip so much? A thousand PokéDollars?" she whispered as the elevator doors slid closed behind us.
I shrugged, the corners of my lips twitching upward. "The service was good."
She laughed softly, the tension from earlier melting away completely. But there was still something in her gaze, something lingering, as the elevator descended.
"So, which Pokémon are you hoping to catch on this trip?" she asked, her voice quieter now, more thoughtful.
"I haven't decided yet," I replied honestly. "I'll know it when I see it."
She nodded, her expression softening. "You always know what you're doing, don't you?"
I met her gaze, feeling the weight of that question settle between us. I wasn't sure if it was true, but for now, I'd let her believe it.
As the elevator doors opened, I couldn't help but feel that something had shifted tonight—between us, and in the journey ahead.
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