Chapter 7 : Flashback part 2
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As soon as we got near his car, I was awestruck by its beauty. I couldn't understand which brand it was but it sure was expensive. It was a red convertible with left hand drive and I sure was impressed. Ash noticed my reaction as I had raised an eyebrow, although I didn't mean to.
"It is my uncle's, he is crazy about new cars. It is an imported one," he smiled.
I nodded and gave him a smile. There is something exciting about going on a ride in a imported car with an attractive guy.
"But it is not that I can drive it any time I like. I mean LaRousse is kind of busy," he said.
"I know, my parents live there," I said, trying to establish something in common with him.
"Then why are you here instead of LaRousse?" He asked.
"The same way you are here instead of being there in LaRousse!" I said. He shrugged and entered the car. I followed him.
"My aunt and Duplica had almost arm-twisted me on spending my vacation here. Since the day I started on my journey, I hardly took any break. This time, they won. I don't regret coming here though," he said and smiled at me. I wonder if the last comment was for me.
"Same here, I can't wait to start my journey when I will be 18! This place is like my home. I hate going home for vacation."
"You don't live with your parents?"
"No, I study at Rosewood Boarding School. Ever heard of it?" I innocently smiled.
He smiled broadly and said,"Are you kidding me? It is one of the best boarding school in Sinnoh!" I grinned widely.
Trying to know about his life, I asked,"What about you? I just know that you're a trainer."
"After I graduated from PearlHigh academy, I knew what I wanted. I started my journey to become a Pokémon Master." He smiled and softly said,"I guess I am lucky as my parents wanted the same."
"I don't even know what I want in my life, I like coordinating but I don't want to be like my mother. I will never follow her footsteps," I immediately cursed myself for letting go of such important information.
"You still have time to figure out," he smiled and pulled the car in Misty's driveway. I welcomed him inside.
"You are not afraid of pokemon are you?" I gave him a innocent and sweet smile. He laughed at raised his hands in defence,"Hey! Am a trainer!" I laughed at his actions.
I brought the already cooked Pokémon food from the kitchen and placed it where they were usually kept. Then I went and brought the Pokemons from their resting place.
"This is Piplup, and that is Vaporeon. Gyarados and Mamoswine are taking rest in that corner. Cyndaquil, Staryu, Buneary and Aipom are busy playing with pachirisu." Ash looked at me with wide eyes,"You take care of all of them?"
I shrugged it off,"Not all the time, whenever I am here."
I petted them and told them to behave and take care of the surroundings. Once I thought they understood what I was telling, I came back inside.
"Want some coffee?" I politely asked Ash. He agreed.
As I poured some coffee into the coffee mug, I found Ash standing by the door, leaning against the wooden frame. I handed him one cup and headed inside.
"You can try modelling you know," he suggested and I nearly laughed. He was referring to such a career I never thought I will consider.
"There is nothing to laugh. You sure have the looks and height for it!" He seriously said. I stopped laughing to give him a weird look.
He shrugged again, "In fact that was the first thing that came in my mind when I saw you. I didn't tell you right away as I thought you will think I am hitting on you or something."
"Who knows whether you're not hitting on me right now?" I smirked.
He gave me a small smile,"Firstly, I suggested as because you were clueless about what to do with your life and secondly, I don't do relationships."
"That's absurd! What if you fall in love?" I impatiently asked.
"Relationships are not stable, for example my Mom and Dad claimed they loved each other but they don't stay together now. Nothing is permanent," he said a little harshly and I felt a little bad, not because of his behaviour but because how hurt he was because of the situation.
"May be all you saw were unhappy marriages. My parents don't stay together too but still there are some perfect lovely couples, like Misty's parents." I tried to reason with him.
"What tells you they are happy?"
I know they are happy, or rather I want to believe they are happy. I don't want to know whether they are facing any martial problems or not and I am not sure if I ever want to know.
"Sorry if I said too much," he apologized. I instantly told him it was okay. For a moment our previous conversations flashed in my mind. I almost wanted to swap my place with his. His parents wanted him to become a trainer, mine were not even bothered.
"I must be going now," he said in a tone meaning,'I am saying this as I have too.'
"Please stay till Misty and Gary arrives,"I spoke too fast, too quick for my own taste. However I don't think he needed much convincing. He said he will make a call and dialled a number.
"Yeah, I am with a good friend.. I will.. Bye." He said and hung up then turning to me he said,"I told Duplica, she worries so much." I just nodded to imply it was not a big deal but I wanted to do a little dance to show how pleased I was. If course I did nothing of that sort.
We kept talking for about two hours. He loved travelling and eating. He even told me food and sleep and battles was all he ever wanted. I told him how I hated staying at home with my mother. I had to spent ten days with her due to the mandatory rules but except that, I used to spend rest of the vacation with Misty, in this home.
My Mom and Misty's Mom would often talk among themselves, discussing my behaviour and way of conduct. Misty's Mom often told her I was no trouble at all. In fact, she was glad I accompanied Misty in every vacation. I never knew what it was like to have a real mother but Misty's Mom, whom I called Mani, fulfilled all the gaps my own mother had left.
"You know what, I was not kidding about the modelling offer. You should give it a try," he spoke seriously once again. I said that I will think later.
"So after you were done with PearlHigh, you became a trainer?" I asked him. He nodded,"Yeah, I am currently challenging the Battle Frontier of Kanto. One more victory and I will be the champion!" I was stunned. It was not everyday when you meet an exceptionally talented trainer. I heard that the Frontier Brains were as tough as the Elite Four and here he was, almost emerging victorious.
He had started his journey when he was 18, the legal age to acquire and raise Pokémon. And now he was Twenty. Three years older than me. I am relieved he is not treating me like a kid as Gary does, who is as old as Ash is.
"You must be completing your educational course in a few months?" He asked and I nodded. He continued,"Well then, we will meet again in LaRousse city then, as by the time you will be done with your exams, I will be there at home. We can meet then."
I almost hugged him. He wanted to see me again! I guess this news was too good to be true and I felt I was going to pass out due to extreme happiness.
Ash told me how much troublesome his starter was and I laughed uncontrollably. He released a yellow rodent Pokémon who, on seeing me beside his trainer gladly jumped on my lap and let out a small chaa. I petted its head and scratched its chin. Ash looked at me with a grim face. I blushed a little and asked,"What?"
"That's not fair. He shocked me when I did it for the first time," he complained like a five year old. I hugged pikachu and placed it on the sofa. Then I put an assuring-cum-teasing hand on his gloved fingers telling there is something irresistible about me.
My hands were still on his and he was looking at me even without blinking an eyelid. I could feel the warmth rising on my face.
Misty arrived a second later and the sound of the bell saved us from any embarrassing conversations.
Gary and Misty thanked Ash for helping them and bade him goodbye. Ash did the same and before leaving gave me a small hug. Misty coughed a little too loud and we broke the hug, blushing. Ash turned to Misty and smiled,"You have a beautiful house as well as a beautiful friend." Misty raised her eyebrows and I just blushed.
Once he was gone, Misty explained everything, the journey to the ceremony. A little while later, Mani called too and she repeated everything again.
"So, what kind of man is this Ash Ketchum?" I asked Gary. Gary gave me a knowing smile,"Already fallen in love with him?"
I shook my head vigorously, hoping he won't see me blushing,"Curious, yeah just curious."
"He is a trainer and is strong too. I don't know anything else, we weren't the best buddies you see," he said and got up,"But he was in my team during a project submission. I think he is cool."
Misty smirked and poked my shoulders as soon as Gary left. I almost yelped.
"Anything happened?"
"No, nothing at all," I said.
Later at night, I was unable to stop thinking about him and ended up reliving all the time I had spent with him. My life was always confusing and twisted.
But something miraculous had happened, for the first time a choice was clear for me, a wish was there in my heart. I wanted to see him again, I guess I had already fallen for him.
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