The climbing continues~

About half an hour passed since they started climbing up the mountain to the campsite. The whole time, Ash walked right beside Serena as she was not feeling well. Ash kept on looking at Serena every few seconds but was also careful enough not to be noticed. Misty and Alex were walking in front of them.

"Oh goodness." Serena whispered putting her left hand on her forehead.

Ash heard it. "What happened?" He asked.

"My head's spinning." Serena replied.

Ash stared at Serena for few seconds. She seemed all weary and tired. "Can you walk?" He asked.

"Huh?" Serena looked at Ash.

"Can you walk properly?" Ash repeated himself.

"Yeah, I think so. My body doesn't feel really strong enough though." Serena replied.

Ash put his hand forward to Serena. "You can hold my hand if you want." He said.

Serena turned pink. "Are you sure?" She asked.

Without saying anything, Ash took Serena's right hand and held it tight. "Yes."

The crew reached the campsite and went into their tents for some time before the lunch.

"There." Ash said as he guided Serena to her bed.

"Thanks." Serena said and sat on the bed, leaving Ash's hand.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Alex asked as he walked towards Serena.

"Yeah, I guess." Serena replied.

"Serena, I can clearly see that you are all weary." Misty said sitting beside Serena. She put her hand on Serena's forehead to check if she has fever. "Your temperature seems alright, though." Misty said pulling her back to herself.

"I'm fine, really." Serena said.

"Don't lie. You don't look or sound fine." Ash said. In a quite loud voice by the way.

"You should rest. We'll manage the lunch." Misty said.

"Huh? What lunch?" Alex asked.

"Don't you remember? Professor gave the job of cooking today's lunch to us. And four others." Misty explained.

"Oh, I remember now." Alex said.

"Hm. Serena, get a good rest until the lunch time." Misty said and stood up. "Let's go, guys. Cooking time."

"Coming!" Alex said as he and Misty walk towards the door.

"Get well soon, I can't see you like this." Ash whispered near Serena's ear before exiting the tent with the other two.

Serena was all pink hearing what Ash just said. "I don't know why but... he-he's acting strange recently." Serena said to herself. She then removed her shoes and lied down on her bed, dozing off to sleep right at the next minute.

"Do you even know what I was going through?!" He shouted. "Do you even know how bad it feels when someone you love so much is not before your eyes?!"

My eyes slammed open. "What?" I asked.

"For few more seconds, let me stay like this." He said near my right ear.

I heard him just well and he said that it hurts when someone you love is not before your eyes.

The question is, why would he say this to...me? Does this mean, he...

He pulled himself away from me. I could see tears in his eyes.

"Why did you do such a stupid thing?" He asked me.

I didn't answer, just stared at him. His words still had me in shock.

"Hey?" He asked.

I came out back to the reality. "I had to- I had to find you." I said.

"Don't ever do that again. You got super worried, you know." He said wiping off his tears.

I looked at him with no expressions. I kept asking myself why did he say that to...me.

"Come on, let's go back." He said and stood up.

I too stood up cleaning the dirt off my clothes. We then started walking, side by side. I kept looking at him.

"Ash?" I spoke up and stopped walking.

"Yes?" He asked facing me.

"Why did you- you say that to me?" I asked with my eyes down on the ground.

"Say what?" He asked.

"That thing. You said that it hurts when someone you... you l-love isn't before your eyes..." I said, still looking down. I was already blushing.

He didn't say anything for a minute. Then, he asked me, "Don't you already know the answer?"

It was like an arrow pass straight through my heart. I looked at him. He had a normal look, nothing special really.

"I-I'd like to hear it from you.." I said.

"I care for you, Serena." He said.

This time, my heart skipped a beat. My face got all apple red and my hands started shaking.

There was silence. None of us spoke. Until he walked towards me and took my right hand in his.

"Let's return back. I bet everyone's worried about us." He said and started walking. I just followed him, not moving my hand one bit. I was quite unsure of what feeling I felt. I was happy, as well as a little worried. And we headed back to the campsite.

"Serena? Hey, wake up." A voice spoke up.

Serena opened her eyes to find Misty in front of her eyes.

"Come. The lunch is ready. You'll feel better if you eat something." Misty said.

Serena got seated. "Yes. I'm coming." She said.

Misty nodded and walked out of the tent.

"He did say all that when we were in the forest." Serena whispered to herself. She then got her shoes on and walked out of the tent.

~To be continued~

So, guys! The mystery of Chapter 23 finally got solved! Yay! What did you think about it? I'll wait for your reviews!