Why Can't I Say It?
"Hahaha remember when Sharpener started freaking out when I found those pictures of him in his underwear?" Gohan said, laughing. We had just gotten back from the movies with Sharpener and Erasa, and he was taking me home. We walked hand in hand, in no rush, just enjoying ourselves.
"Haha, yeah, I remember! Who knew you weren't the only one with teddy bear underwear!" I said between giggles. He blushed and I smiled. I was so fond of that blush. I laughed, and he stuck his tongue out playfully at me.
"Yeah, well at least I look better in them than he does!" Gohan said, trying to defend himself. "Right, Videl?" I stayed quiet, trying to tease him a little.
"Videl!"
"Yes, of course you look better than Sharpener." I said, and I blushed a bright red when I realized what I had just said. We slowly walked up to my front door, and we stood on the porch, still laughing. I looked up at him, and then quickly looked down again, trying desperately to hide my face which was as red as a tomato. He swiftly pulled my chin back up so that he could look at me, and raised his eyebrows.
"What?" he asked.
"It's just…well…you look nice tonight, Gohan…" I murmured. He chuckled, and faster than I would've thought possible he pulled me into a warm hug. He wrapped his arms around me, and I nuzzled my face against his chest. He pulled away, and I stared into his eyes. Before I knew it our lips met. And then too soon, oh, much too soon, he pulled away.
"I love you, Videl." He whispered in my ear. I looked at him, and happiness expanded in my chest so violently I thought I might burst. I looked up at him and was about to tell him how much I loved him, so I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I tried again, but, something was stopping me from saying those three words. I tried again and again, Gohan staring at me the whole time. His expression turned from hopeful to hurt as the seconds wore on.
I grew frustrated, and tears started spilling. Why couldn't I say those three simple words? Gohan kissed me on my forehead, and turned away. I stepped forward, trying to keep him from leaving, but I was too late. He shot up into the sky, and was gone in a matter of seconds. I collapsed on the porch, and the tears wouldn't stop spilling. Why couldn't I say those three simple words?
I awoke in my room, and groaned, falling back on the bed. Daddy must've carried me up here after Gohan left…GOHAN! I shot up out of bed and checked the clock. It was…2 in the afternoon? How long did I sleep? I shrugged it off and ran to the phone. I immediately dialed the Son household number, I knew it by heart, and waited, the phone pressed tightly to my ear.
"Hello?" a frantic Chichi asked.
"Hi Chichi, it's me Videl, may I speak to Gohan?" I said, trying to keep the urgency out of my voice.
"Oh no! I was hoping he was with you, making my grandbabies! Oh where could he be, my poor Gohan! I hope he isn't around any gang members, oh no!" Chichi began panicking. I dropped the phone, and slid to the ground. Gohan was gone…because of me… Some tears fell, and I wiped them away quickly. I stood up, and thought about where he could be. I needed to talk to him, to tell him how much I love him; How much I'll always love him. I threw open my window and shot out into the sky.
'Okay,' I thought, 'He could be at the library…no…too obvious…not at the lookout…oh…I know…' I shot out towards a forest, where there was a small pond hidden inside. The place we shared our first kiss; the place where we had decided that we were meant for each other. Yeah, it was sappy, but it meant everything to me. He would be there. I was sure of it.
I touched down a little bit away from the pond and walked to the clearing. I saw him, and my heart skipped a beat. But then I felt like crying again when I saw his expression. He was hurting, because of me. I ran over to him, and embraced him, but he didn't hug me back. I cried into his shoulder. I was crying so much in such a short period of time. I then felt strong arms envelop me and my feet were lifted off the ground. I looked up at him, and he looked into my eyes.
"Videl, I have a question." He said quietly.
"Anything," I whispered, "Ask me anything."
"Do you love me?"
And then it hit.
I wailed. I cried and screamed and kicked and tried desperately to get out of his grasp. I felt like a toddler compared to him. I cried. And cried. And cried. I soon gave up trying to kick my way away from him. I cried into his chest, and he comforted me. He whispered comforting and loving words into my ear, which made me calm down.
"I…I really do, Gohan, I just…something is stopping me from saying the words and I don't know what! I want to…Gohan I just…I just can't!" He picked me up and carried me to a large boulder, and sat me down beside him. I leaned into his shoulder.
"Videl, I understand what's happening." He said softly.
"How is it that you understand when I don't?" I asked, frustrated. He smiled softly and continued.
"You know Vegeta?" he asked. I nodded and smiled.
"Short, grumpy, bitter?" I asked. He chuckled and nodded his head.
"To this day, he has yet to say the words I Love You to his wife, Bulma." I gasped quietly.
"They have a son though!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, they do. Just because he doesn't say it, doesn't mean it isn't true. He loves her deeply, but he can't say the words. Videl, I know it must be hard for you to have someone come along and break down those barriers around your heart that you put up since your mother's death, but you have to let me in. You need to know that the only thing I want to do is make you happy. I just want-"I cut him off with my lips. I kissed him with a passion that could've set the forest on fire.
I wouldn't have noticed.
He looked down at me and smiled.
"I…I love you…Gohan…" I whispered. He chuckled.
"Now, was that so hard?"
"No…I guess it wasn't…"
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this one-shot! I worked really hard on it, so please review! Thanks! More is to come! :D
