Chapter 90 - Cruise Restaurant Flirting

  We found ourselves in a lavish restaurant aboard the grand space cruise ship, where soft ambient lighting and the gentle hum of classical music set an elegant mood. Our table for two was situated at the edge of the ship’s dining deck, offering a breathtaking view of the sunset spilling across the endless sky.

  The horizon burned with hues of gold and crimson, blending seamlessly into the deepening shades of twilight. Below, the curve of the planet shimmered faintly, its atmosphere glowing as it met the black void of space.

  Unfortunately, the meals weren’t covered by the ticket, and for a brief moment, we both exchanged glances, relieved that we had brought some money with us. But before I could reach for my wallet, Myrrh flashed a confident smile and set her hands on the table.

  "Feel free to order whatever you like. It’s my treat," she said warmly.

  I hesitated, my fingers brushing against the menu pages. “O-okay… I’ll just have some beef curry and fresh sashimi, please. And one cup of rice,” I murmured, deliberately choosing the most affordable option. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to keep me full.

  "I’ll have a loco moco with karaage," Myrrh added cheerfully, then, as if on a whim, her eyes gleamed. “Oh, and please add a mixed berries parfait.”

  As the waitress nodded and disappeared with our orders, I turned back to the view beyond the glass. The sunset stretched across half the sky in a fiery embrace, while above it, the darkness of space had begun its quiet reign.

  The first stars twinkled in the void, a mesmerizing contrast of light and shadow. From this height, we were already breaching the edge of the atmosphere, caught between the world below and the vast unknown above.

  “The view here is good, right?” Myrrh’s voice was softer now. She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze reflecting the celestial canvas outside. “It’s even more beautiful than our secret place on the hospital rooftop.”

  "I don’t know," I murmured, my gaze lingering on the vast expanse beyond the window. "This is definitely more beautiful, but… I think I preferred the view back then. That rooftop had a different atmosphere—like time had stopped just for the two of us."

  I hadn’t realized I was speaking my thoughts aloud until I heard Myrrh gasp. A faint pink bloomed across her cheeks before she shot me a narrow glare, her lips curving into a mischievous smirk.

  "Eh? You’re throwing out pick-up lines now, huh?" she teased, tilting her head playfully. "Way to go! You have grown, just a little bit!"

  "Wha—?" My face burned. "I-I’m not giving a pick-up line! I was just saying what I really felt at the time!" I stammered, waving my hands defensively.

  "Heh?" Myrrh leaned forward, her smirk deepening. "So that’s how you feel about me?"

  "Shut up!" I cried, flustered. "I take it all back! The view here is far superior to your so-called secret place!"

  Before she could fire back another tease, our food arrived, granting me a much-needed escape. My plate of sashimi and beef curry looked mouthwatering, but as Myrrh’s loco moco and crispy karaage were set in front of her, I couldn’t help but glance at her dish with mild envy. Still, I stuck with my choices and took my first bite.

  The beef curry was a comforting blend of savory and mildly sweet flavors, the spice adding just the right amount of heat to warm my senses. Meanwhile, the fresh tuna sashimi melted on my tongue, its delicate texture enhanced by the sharp kick of wasabi.

  "Zaft," Myrrh suddenly muttered, twirling her spoon between her fingers. "I wanna try some."

  "Sure," I said, offering her a piece on my spoon. "But only if you trade me a slice of your loco moco and a piece of karaage."

  "Fine, just take as much as you want," Myrrh said, offering her plate as well. We exchanged portions of our meals, each getting a taste of the other’s dish.

  "Wow, this is amazing!" I said, savoring the hearty bite of her loco moco. The rich, savory gravy blended perfectly with the tender beef patty, while the runny egg yolk added a smooth, creamy texture. I took a bite of the karaage next—its crispy, golden-brown coating gave way to juicy, well-seasoned meat. "And this karaage? Super crispy!"

  "Phew! That wasabi was intense!" Myrrh cried, dramatically exhaling as if trying to cool the fire in her mouth. The sight of her fanning herself in distress made me chuckle.

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  "I'm honestly surprised you're willing to eat something from my plate," I said with a smirk. "I was sure you’d be disgusted by me."

  Myrrh shot me an indignant glare, her cheeks puffing slightly. "FYI, I don't really think you're disgusting! I know you’re actually pretty clean… even though you always look like a homeless thug."

  "Wow. That’s a next-level insult. I don’t even know how to take that," I grumbled.

  Before she could tease me further, the waitress arrived with Myrrh’s mixed berries parfait. It was an explosion of colors—red, blue, violet, orange, and yellow ice cream scoops layered atop a swirl of whipped cream and a medley of fresh berries. Myrrh wasted no time digging in, spooning one scoop after another with visible delight.

  Since I hadn’t ordered dessert, I just sipped on my soda, watching her enjoy her parfait. But the more she ate, the more my curiosity grew. Everything we’d eaten on this cruise had been delicious so far, and now I couldn’t help but wonder—what did that parfait taste like?

  "That looks delicious," I muttered under my breath, not really thinking.

  Myrrh paused mid-bite, her spoon hovering in the air. A slow smirk spread across her face, but her eyes held a dangerous glint—like she was plotting something. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was about to assassinate me… in the most ridiculous way possible.

  "Hey, do you want a bite?" she asked, her voice carrying that unmistakable teasing lilt.

  "N-no, I’m fine," I said quickly, waving my hand in refusal.

  Her smirk only deepened. "You just said it looked delicious. No need to be shy, Zaft." Without waiting for my response, she scooped up a spoonful of the blue ice cream and held it out toward me. "Here, taste this. It’s blueberry."

  I swallowed hard. "F-fine. I’ll have a taste," I muttered, feeling my face heat up. "But let me get an extra spoon—"

  "You idiot," Myrrh scoffed, rolling her eyes. "They won’t give you a spoon unless you order again. It’s the protocol in this cruise restaurant."

  "R-really?" I asked, hesitant.

  "No." Myrrh outright denied her own lie, her face turning a shade redder. "Anyway, this will melt if you don’t eat it soon. Say aaaaah!"

  She pushed the spoon closer and closer until I had no choice but to comply. Hesitantly, I parted my lips and took the bite. The ice cream was rich and creamy, the blueberry flavor bursting on my tongue with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. But honestly? That wasn’t the most memorable part.

  The thought hit me like a brick. That was her spoon. Her spoon.

  An indirect kiss.

  Somehow, the taste of that felt even sweeter.

  "See? It’s good, right?" Myrrh said, her voice laced with amusement.

  "Y-yeah. It’s… really sweet," I muttered, my face still burning. I couldn’t stop staring at her spoon, watching as she casually dipped it back into her parfait, scooped another bite of ice cream, and took it into her mouth—completely unfazed.

  Meanwhile, my heart was still racing. I couldn’t believe we’d just done that. And what was more shocking—Myrrh didn’t seem bothered at all.

  "I-isn’t that an indirect kiss just now?" I finally asked, my voice shaking slightly.

  Myrrh paused, then glanced at me with an exaggerated smirk. "You’re getting embarrassed over that?" She let out a short laugh. "Wow, Zaft. You really are pure and innocent… like the incel you are."

  I clamped my mouth shut. Myrrh was ridiculously passive-aggressive today. One moment, she was flirting, and the next, she was throwing insults like darts at a board. Was she teasing me? Mocking me? Both? I couldn’t tell. Frustrated, I simply pouted and turned away, letting my gaze wander across the restaurant to avoid her piercing, judgmental stare.

  That was when I realized something unsettling.

  People were watching us.

  Couples at nearby tables, waitresses passing by, even a few chefs peeking from the kitchen window—all of them were stealing glances at us, their eyes filled with amusement, admiration, or outright nosiness. The moment they noticed me glaring back, the waitresses quickly averted their gazes and pretended to return to work, bowing slightly as if they hadn’t just been caught.

  Before I could process the situation, a waitress suddenly placed a fancy, sparkling drink on our table—a tall glass filled with a fizzy pink concoction, topped with a delicate layer of whipped cream. But the real kicker? A pair of heart-shaped twin straws sticking out from the rim.

  "Here’s the complimentary couple’s drink for this cruise," the waitress said sweetly. "Belated Merry X-mas to you both. And Happy Xyraxis New Year!"

  "R-right. Thank you," I mumbled weakly.

  "Wow!" Myrrh clapped her hands together, eyes gleaming with excitement. Without hesitation, she grabbed one of the straws and took a sip. "Mmm! This is actually pretty good!"

  "Really?" I asked, leaning forward slightly. "Let me have a taste too."

  "Sure. Let’s drink together," she said nonchalantly, continuing to sip from her straw as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

  I stiffened. Myrrh was going all out today—aggressive, relentless, and clearly enjoying every moment of my embarrassment. And like an absolute fool, I kept taking the bait. But… it wasn’t like I hated it. If anything, it must have been obvious—to her and everyone else in this restaurant—that I was enjoying this ridiculous situation more than I cared to admit.

  Sighing, I gave in. If this was how things were going to be, then fine. I leaned in and wrapped my lips around the other straw, preparing to take a sip.

  But the moment I tried to drink, something felt… wrong.

  There was no liquid. No sweetness. Nothing.

  Instead, I felt an odd sensation, like the straw was pulling air from my mouth. Confused, I sucked harder—only for my tongue to get vacuumed into the straw, a weird suction force yanking at it like some kind of absurd prank device.

  "Uuuuuk!" I cried, jerking back and pulling the straw out of my mouth.

  And then it hit me.

  The twin heart-shaped straws didn’t connect to the drink at all.

  They connected to each other.

  Which meant…

  I snapped my head up, eyes wide with horror, just in time to see Myrrh on the other end, her own lips sealed around the straw, smug as ever.

  "Stop messing with me!" I roared, my face burning.

  "Hahahaha!" Myrrh burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as if this was the funniest thing in the universe. Her giggles rang through the air, bright and unapologetic.

  Meanwhile, I could feel the stares of every single person in the restaurant.

  I was never going to live this down.