Never Goodbye

Ash wiped his face with the sweat towels and sighed in relief. He could still hear the disappointed comments from the opponent. He laughed seeing them getting scolded by their fat coach.

'Suits you well for looking down at us.' Ash quickly walked past the mob of girls who had snuck out of their lectures to see their match.

He was quite popular here ever since he joined their soccer team. But he didn't want that type of popularity. He felt all their attraction towards him was based on soccer and not him. He doesn't like that at all. To him the definition of friends is those who loves you despite your flaws and shortcomings.

Serena. That was his definition of the best friend anyone could have. He loved her more than a friend. 'Loved.'

He didn't know if he still had feelings for the Straw hat girl he met all these years back. He was now 17, he had known her for almost thirteen years now. Well 16 if you ignore the past one year. He didn't know how she was now. How she looked. How was her new place, did she make new friends? Was anyone bullying her? Ash laughed at the last thought. 'Yea right as if anyone can bully her.'

He wanted to know a lot about her, but he couldn't. She was the only person he knew the most, but this past year felt like he didn't know her as much as he thought. His Serena would always talk to him, share her thoughts, ask for help… help him. Play with him, prank with him… her sarcastic comments when he would be oblivious to his faults. He missed her so much… that it hurt him to think about her.

'I wish I could forget her.' Ash sighed as he stood in front of his first… well third class. He slowly entered and was briefly congratulated by his classmates.

"You nailed it Ash, five goals vs those pros felt like a walk in the park for you."

Soon everyone showered me with flattery. I just kept my eyes fixed towards them, no one in particular and smiled. I didn't hate them, but they felt so fake. But then again, if I am planning to go Pro, I have to get used to these. I can't blame them much, after all when I root for a football player, I root for them because they are good. That's all that matters.

But I want someone to root for me regardless of what I am. I want her.

'Gosh I am thinking about her a lot lately.' Ash quickly took a seat beside Dawn's. Her seat was empty; she was still getting changed most probably.

"Ash!"

Ash shifted his gaze and smiled. Dawn smiled at him in return. "You really made five goals!" She chirped cheerfully, taking a seat beside him.

"I did tell you I was going to do it."

"Yes but I thought you were just joking." Dawn lightly punched her head. "Gosh I almost forgot Ash, some of the scouts were talking about you, I overheard them."

"Oh? That's good I guess." Ash replied, not to overly happy. He knew he would get a scholarship at some point from other Universities. It was almost nearing the end of his first year, which meant one more year before he joins a good University and their team.

"Geez, you can act a bit more shocked you know?" Dawn puffed her cheeks and looked away.

Ash looked at her thoughtfully. Before speaking up. "Dawn did you decide where you will be going after college?"

"Hmm? Oh… not really." She nervously laughed. She had thought about it, but she didn't think she will receive any offer from a good university. She wasn't really smart when it came to studies, nor was she athematic like Ash.

'Well my dad could just donate the university of my choice…' She thought with an innocent yet evil smile on her face. The perks to be from a rich family.

"But I can go wherever I want to." She added cheerfully.

"Oh." Ash replied, understanding what she had meant. He had visited her house with Gary once, and he could tell she was rich. So was Gary. They were both rich people. They didn't have to worry much about scholarship.

"So what about you Ash? Do you have any plan which Universities you will be looking for?" Dawn asked.

Ash knew the answer all too well but was his answer really what was right? Was it worth it? He didn't know.

"Yes I know. Tokyo University." He replied absent minded.

"Tokyo? That's far from here isn't it?" Dawn asked.

"Yes, and?" He questioned.

Dawn quickly waved her hand. "It's no problem I didn't mean to sound rude. I was just thinking if you would go far away from your home, that's all."

"Heh, it didn't stop her to leave." Ash quickly shut his mouth. What was he even thinking? Speaking like that all of a sudden.

"Her? Who are you talking about Ash?" Dawn asked innocently. Ash slightly flinched as Serena's smiling face flashed in front of him. He shut his house and breathed out slowly.

"A friend… I think." He replied.
"Do I know her?" She asked.

Ash shook his head. "She was from my previous school. She is currently attending Tokyo University, apparently they offer college too so that's that." He explained, not too enthusiastic about this topic. He avoided talking about her even in his mind, much less with someone else.

"Oh, do you have a crush on her?" Dawn asked with a smirk, but instantly regretted seeing his eye softened to a sad demeanour.

"Uh…"
"I don't know Dawn." Ash replied slowly. "I really don't know."

Dawn just nodded and didn't press the matter. She didn't want to pry on his personal life. They sure were friends but she didn't think Ash trusted her like he trusted Gary or Paul, who were his school mates for years.

"Please don't ask about her again. Okay?" He added.

"Oh sure! I am sorry about that." The shifted her attention towards the blackboard as the teacher entered. She still felt tad bit interested though. She still wanted to know who this 'she' was. Someone who can make Ash look so different. She was interested.

(Scene Change-Tokyo University)

"May… May! You listening?"

"Oh yes! What is it Drew?"

"You have been staring at him for a while now." Drew pointed towards an upperclassman. He was the President of the 'Music Club.' Son Hak.

"Oh was I?" May replied dumbly. Drew furrowed his eyebrows.

"May you do know he has a girlfriend right?" Drew pointed out causing her to let out a sigh.

"Yes I know…" She looked back at him and could see him smiling at his girlfriend. She was from her class, but was dating Hak who was two years older than her. May couldn't curse her own luck any more.

'Gosh I feel pathetic.'

"Well if you are done sulking, we should go meet them. Make sure your jealously don't lash out at Serena, she doesn't know about your feelings so don't blame her." Drew warned before walking towards the couple.

May sighed again. "Gosh don't treat me as a horrible person!"

(Scene Change)

"Serena, something wrong?" Hak questioned his girlfriend who seemed oddly busy on her phone.

"O-Oh nothing is wrong!" She quickly turned the phone off and hid it on her pocket. "Were you saying something?"

(THE END)

Author's Note: Here's the second chapter. If you are wondering, Son Hak is from Akatsuki no Yona J

Well let's see, Serena has a boyfriend now… poor Ash : (

But he will have his moment definitely! Cha!

Anyways, review!