The Professor's Secret

30. Lysandre's Café

There was something uniquely special about a winter wonderland that escaped the tumult of holidays and dispensed the pressuring socialization imposed by it... Thoughts drifted easily along with the light snowflakes swirling in the sky in Snowbelle City!

I wasted the morning away by sitting on a bench next to the gym from where the city's limited movement could be watched, and there I mused about Sycamore – about the word he used last: love. Had I ever admitted to that? Had I ever... allowed him to know? All the eight badges were mine, as I had planned, and now what else was there to do? ...My clock beeped: it was time to go!

"Strange choice for a place..." I sighed as I sat down. I had easily spotted Professor Sycamore from the door as the handsome gentleman on the back of the café who ran his fingers through his messy hair and enjoyed a regular black coffee while he read the newspaper. And was I so late? He seemed quite engaged in the chosen distraction.

"I figured it would be the last place you would have chosen to willingly enter..." he explained without having to pick up his eyes from his reading to recognize me "Therefore, the one café in Lumiose you had yet to visit!"

He folded the paper between unhurried fingers and placed it by his side as he leaned on the table and finally looked me in the eyes: he had a warm welcome smile, but not much beyond that.

"So now you have it! And was I wrong?!" he scrutinized.

"No..." I affirmed, looking around me "I would definitely not have come here if I could help it..."

Everything from the outside in was exceptionally red! And yet, somehow, it seemed to be the darkest, gloomiest place I had been inside in all Lumiose: the lamps that hung on the wall struggled, barely enough to light up the crimson room! However, the unnerving choice of décor was not the reason behind my unwillingness to linger: The sign outside read "Lysandre's Café".

"Why, darling?" Sycamore's hand running across my face pulled me back to his eyes "Does the color of passion intimidate you now?"

"Nothing like that..." I gently pulled his hand away, judging, by the strange atmosphere the place inspired me, that I needed all my senses in check "Although I have to say it's pretty unpleasant..." and here I looked at the bartenders: together with the waiters, they all seemed to keep an eye on me! I cringed a little, and leaned forward to whisper and be heard "But are you sure it's okay to bring me specifically to Lysandre's place?!"

"There will be no safer place on earth today!" he smiled, picking up his cup and enjoying a sip "Knowing Lysandre as I do, he would allow no tongue to wag unpunished. That, and they have the finest pastries: I do intend to begin enlightening your palate!" he seriously acknowledged, lifting the menu from the small round table.

"But tell me, dear..." he delicately cleared his throat after a moment's silence "why have you offered me such a cold reception? No kisses or smiles from Miss Anne, now that she has beaten all of Kalos' gym leaders?" And he winked at me.

I blushed and couldn't keep the proud smile from crossing my lips.

"My congratulations!" Sycamore bowed his head.

"Thanks..." I embarrassedly replied.

All eyes were on me. They all weighed heavily!

"A perfect opportunity for a celebration, wouldn't you say so? Allow me to think up of something for today..." Sycamore smiled tranquilly as he went through the menu. I tried to emulate his calm: if he was this composed, why should I be beating myself up over a bunch of strangers looking at us – or at me, as it specifically felt? I limited myself to watching him and trying to move and sit as he did: elegant, composed and relaxed. The least I could do was to look good on the cameras, lest someone might catch us...