I was on vacation these past few weeks, but I'm back now. Hope to finish this soon.
Rule #9: He misses you when you're gone.
"I don't get it." mutters the man on the pokenav.
Groaning, the purple haired champion has his head in his arms on his desk. "Are you done yet?" He would've hung up a long time ago, but he feels for Drew right now. Drew has been saying the same thing for the past 10 minutes. Nevertheless, anything beats having to help out with the wedding, which is in a few days.
Drew sighs. "Paul, you were always good at listening. I appreciate it."
After separating from May the other week, Drew has been traveling alone. He hasn't contacted her because she wants her space, though he's disappointed she hasn't even tried to reach him. Did she really want him gone that badly? Is she relieved now? Does he mean nothing to her? Feeling very lonely and hurt, Drew called Paul to vent. He's surprised that Paul picked up, but Drew figures Paul wants a distraction from the wedding.
"Hm."
"But can you give me some advice? Just this one time? I don't know what to do." exasperates Drew.
"No." the last person he gave dating advice to, he had to painfully cut from his life a few days ago. The champion is done giving out advice on this matter.
"C'mon, Paul! Tell me why May wants me gone so badly!"
"That's something she can answer." Paul figures it's because Drew is too annoying. Drew's persistence is admirable, though Paul would hate it. He didn't hate her persistence. The champion quickly shakes the thought from his mind. "I can't read minds."
"But you can read behavior, Paul. You helped me get so many numbers when I was in Sinnoh." Drew reminds him. Paul wonders how Drew can pine over this May girl when he can get any girl. The saying must be true. Players fall for those they can't have.
Drew and Paul haven't spoken in months due to them mostly being acquaintances. Drew does have friends, but they know May. He wanted someone else's perspective on the situation. Also, he didn't want his friends judging him. He knows Paul won't hold this judgment against him for too long. Paul is a good listening ear.
"Paul?" Drew curiously asks. Paul never hangs up on him without saying bye.
"Hm."
He's only been saying that a lot today. "Is everything okay?"
"Hm."
Drew lets out a long breath. "What's wrong, man?"
"Nothing." grumbles the champion.
"Sad that your brother is getting married? You're gonna be all alone?" teases the green haired man.
Alone. That's exactly what she had said to him when they argued. Feeling his chest tighten, Paul mumbles, "Bye."
Before Paul can hang up, Drew quickly says, "Sorry, Paul! I didn't mean to tease you." For Drew's relief, Paul stays on the line. The green haired man rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "I don't know what you're going through, Paul, and I won't make you tell me." Drew knows how much Paul hates talking, especially about feelings. "Just know I'm here for you, man."
Despite being annoyed with Drew's pity, Paul doesn't say anything. A part of him feels comforted with those words. Yes, Paul Shinji doesn't have friends, but he's surrounded by so many people who care about him. He isn't lonely. He's far from it, which is why he was fine with his life. However, lately, he's been feeling very lonely despite his life soon returning to normal.
After a few silent minutes, Drew sighs. "I miss her. Ya know?"
"No." How would Paul know how others are feeling? He's not a psychic.
Drew chuckles. "It's a rhetorical question."
"I know."
Rolling his eyes, Drew finds himself feeling slightly better just by venting. "Thanks for listening, Paul. I needed that. I'll let you go now-"
"Am I an emotionless loser who's gonna die alone?"
Drew blinks in confusion. Paul never cuts off anyone from talking, especially when it means the conversation is going to end. "What?"
"Nevermind." mumbles the embarrassed champion. "Bye."
"I don't think you're an emotionless loser, Paul." Drew cuts in now that he's comprehended Paul's words. "And you're never really alone. You have Reggie and Maylene. I'm sure they'll give you a niece or nephew or two soon too. You won't be alone." While Drew has no idea what's making Paul behave this way, Drew understands that Paul is going through a rough time. Like Paul has continued to do for Drew, Drew will support his former colleague.
Paul nods despite this being a voice call and Drew not seeing. "Bye."
"Bye, Paul."
When the call ends, Paul's head returns to his desk where he groans loudly. This sucks. How long can he hide away in his room before Reggie forces him out? Will Reggie even notice him gone with how hectic everything is right now? Paul knows the wedding planner will, but she won't come get him. He already cut her out of his life the other day. Ignoring the ache in his chest, Paul tells himself this is how everything should be.
Kanto
"Ash?" the brunette curiously answers her pokenav. She hasn't talked to the champion since he informed her of his breakup. According to the news, Ash and Misty are still friends; thus, Leaf hasn't been as worried as she initially was. However, all of Ash's random calls are never good. It's usually an annoying League task since the League knows Leaf won't give Ash an attitude about added tasks.
"Hey, Leaf."
"Aren't you in Sinnoh?" She swore Ash told everyone he was attending his Sinnoh friends' wedding this week. Nevertheless, Leaf has been worried about her own problems to think about other people's lives.
"Yeah." sighs the man, making Leaf concerned.
While Leaf is a player who minds her own selfish desires, Ash has been a great confidant for her through the years. "What's up?"
Chuckling, Ash takes in a deep breath. "I've been thinking…"
"That's usually not a good thing." Leaf jokes, making Ash smile.
Everyone often teases his tenseness and correlates it with stupidity. "Good one, Leaf."
"I try."
With his smile falling, Ash defeatedly says, "I proposed to Misty last week."
Leaf raises a curious eyebrow. She knows Ash is against marriage right now, especially with him being single. "Why? I thought you didn't want to get married yet."
"I don't." groans the man. "But I want Misty, Leaf. I want her to be happy. I'm happiest being with her, so I proposed to make her happy."
Leaf furrows her brows. She doesn't get why he's calling her about this. Yes, she knows Misty, though that's mostly through a professional setting. Plus, Leaf is a notorious selfish player who doesn't care for the feelings of others. A flash of dark viridian hits her mind, making her shake her head. "What'd she say?" Leaf has an idea for the answer to this question because Ash is alone in Sinnoh, and he sounds so glum.
"No." Ash chuckles sadly. "She said no."
Leaf isn't one to console people when she genuinely cares about them. She'd usually console men so that they sleep with her. However, she isn't sure what to say to Ash who she views as a good friend. Closing her eyes, Leaf tries to pry at her cold heart - a heart that she recently froze over again.
"I'm sorry, Ash."
"Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong." he warmly replies, only aching her chest more.
She did do something very wrong. She turned away a man who she has feelings for for some other man who doesn't see her in the same way. Leaf chose to chase after old forgotten feelings rather than the new blissful feelings she's had, and she hurt him. She should have never pushed him away. Leaf only realized it fully after Silver rejected her yet again because he only came over to ask for first date advice. Apparently, he has a date with Whitney, the Goldenrod City Gym Leader. Yes. Leaf Green is the biggest player of Johto. She's such a player that she even played herself.
"Did she say why she rejected you?" Leaf asks her friend because it's something she asked Silver.
Ash frowns. "She said I'm proposing for the wrong reasons." He furrows his brows in frustrations. Ash had called May first since May is the closest female to him and Misty. However, May has been very difficult to reach. Ash wanted to talk to Dawn about it, but Dawn is too stressed with the wedding. Leaf is the next female friend who knows Misty, so Ash is trying his luck despite knowing Leaf and Misty have a professional relationship. "What does that even mean? I'm proposing because I want her to be happy. I love her!"
Leaf sighs up at the ceiling. "Did you tell her that?"
"That I want her to be happy? Yeah, of course I did. The ring is for her." He says matter-of-factly.
Leaf snickers slightly from his obliviousness. "No, Ash. Did you tell her you love her? That you want to marry her because you love her."
Ash sheepishly rubs the back of his head. "She knows I love her. I miss her." After the rejected proposal, it was too awkward for the two to be together, so Ash left for a hotel. Soon, he went to Sinnoh; thus, he hasn't spoken to Misty.
"You guys aren't together, remember?"
"But I know she still loves me! We still love each other!" Ash is certain of their feelings.
Letting out a breath, Leaf tells him, "Women are complicated, Ash. They like hearing these things. Maybe she does know you still love her, but she doesn't know that's why you want to marry her unless you tell her."
"What makes you say that?"
The woman pauses from her question. Women like hearing that they have someone's affection. Leaf loves it because it means she won that game. That auburn haired man pops up in her mind again, causing her to furrow her brows in frustration. She always knew Gary had feelings for her, but she wanted him to say it. Suicune, she knows she has some feelings for him too. It's why she misses him so much that he's constantly on her mind, though she can't admit it. It's not Leaf-like to catch feelings for the men she plays with. However, why does she want to tell that Professor's assistant her feelings now?
Standing up from her desk, Leaf replies, "Because everyone likes hearing that they're loved, Ash. Everyone likes knowing that their loved ones want them in their lives. Gary needs to know that he's loved and shouldn't be alone anymore."
"Gary?" Ash is very confused. Why is Leaf talking about him?
Nonetheless, Leaf is already running out of the gym she's closing early for the first time ever. She doesn't notice that she's talking to Ash about the wrong person, though the situations have the same response. "Bye, Ash! I gotta go!"
"Wait, Leaf-"
The call ends as Leaf hops on her Skarmory to make the short flight to Pallet Town. She's been moping since Silver's visit, and this time, it's not because of his rejection. No. It's because of her rejection towards Gary. She let her pride get in the way of her heart. Gary Oak has penetrated it, and she's glad he confessed first so that she can let go of her fear that he is toying with her. She'll apologize as many times as she needs to. She'll wait for him for as long as he wants before he lets her back into his heart. He deserves that much from her.
Sinnoh
"May! Ash has been trying to talk to you for weeks now!" Dawn quickly says when she answers her pokenav.
While the bluenette is focused on the wedding occurring in just a few days, she has had time to spend with her distant friends who are here for the wedding, like Ash. Talking to Ash caused Dawn to realize she also hasn't heard from May in months since Drew and May started traveling together. Despite not knowing what Ash wants to speak to May about so urgently, Dawn knows May has been almost unreachable.
"I know." May sighs, making Dawn stop what she's doing.
Walking out of the room, which leaves the other wedding helpers curious as they continue setting up, Dawn enters a secluded area of the building. "Is everything okay, May?" It's not like May to know and avoid her friends' calls when they're constantly trying to reach her. It's also unlike May's positive personality to sound this down.
May chuckles sadly. "I thought it would be, but it's not."
Sitting down against the wall, Dawn asks, "Why not?"
May puts her head in her hand. "I messed up, Dawn."
"May…" Dawn worriedly clutches her pokenav. She wishes she was with her friends during these times. "I'm always here for you."
"I know. Thanks, Dawn." It's why the brunette called her in the first place. Dawn is easy to talk to and a good listener. Plus, Dawn knows the other person involved in May's feelings. "I quit traveling with Drew." the Hoenn native finally breathes out.
Dawn raises her eyebrows in confusion. "What?"
Nodding, May continues, "We got into this huge argument because we kept losing the LaRousse City contests. I told him I hate traveling with him, and he left." May shuts her eyes painfully as her chest tightens. A week after the argument, she figured Drew would come back around and act normally around her. However, she hasn't run into him, and she misses him. Her attention is constantly on his well being rather than training, like it used to be.
Dawn knows May has been feeling pressured in not winning a Grand Festival yet. It's why May is still traveling while barely talking to anyone. "How do you feel now?"
"Shitty." laughs the brunette. "I feel like such an ass, Dawn. I said such mean things to him, and all he ever wanted was to spend time with me. I complained so much about it." Sniffling slightly, she adds, "He's been gone for weeks now, and I miss him, Dawn. I feel terrible! I pushed him away, and now I want him back! I don't even care about this stupid title anymore!"
Time with Drew had allowed May to have lots of fun. Many times, she felt like she was traveling to learn and explore like during her youth rather than traveling to win. Being focused on winning was draining and toxic to her mental health. Drew coming back into her life caused her to take a break from the stresses she was putting on herself. He was always looking out for her in his own way, but she found him annoying for that.
These past few weeks without him haven't been the same. She doubts she can go back to a life of traveling and training again. He's reminded her of how fun Pokemon journeys used to be. She wants nothing more than to have that back. "The other day I was looking at the grass hoping he would be laying there." Green reminds her of him, which sucks because nature is all green.
"May, do you like Drew?" Dawn curiously inquires, making the brunette blush.
"No! Well, not romantically. We're just friends." mutters May.
Dawn smirks knowingly. "You miss him."
"Of course I do! I miss him and I miss you! I miss all my friends."
The bluenette shakes her head. "Nope. You miss him differently than you miss us." Before May can retort, Dawn continues, "Ash has been calling you for weeks, but you don't miss him enough to pick up."
May shyly scratches the back of her head. "Heh, uh…"
"And you miss me, but you only called me because of your Drew dilemma."
"Sorry." May feels like she's using her friends now. She really has been a terrible friend.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, May." Dawn softly says. The bluenette isn't mad at her friend, but Dawn wants May to understand what needs to happen now.
"I'll call Ash after this."
Dawn facepalms. Spending time with Ash this week reminded Dawn of how oblivious her friends are. She forgot May is dense too. "And who else are you going to call?"
May nervously takes a deep breath. "I know, Dawn. I'll call Drew." May would prefer to talk to him in person, but she isn't sure she'll be able to. She doesn't know where he is, and she's scared. A call doesn't seem as bad as face-to-face, though what if he doesn't pick up? What if he's upset and wants nothing to do with her now? May shakes her head. No. She won't know unless she tries.
"Good. I know he misses you a lot too."
According to the rules of dating, a man loves a woman if he misses her when they're apart. Dawn has always been able to see Drew's crush on May, despite May being too oblivious to notice his feelings. Therefore, Dawn knows Drew is missing May probably more than she misses him. Since the two of them miss each other, then Dawn has nothing to worry about. However, her chest aches thinking about these rules a certain purple haired champion provided her months ago.
"How?" May curiously inquires. "Did you talk to him too?"
Dawn shakes her head as a small smile creeps onto her face. "No. I just have a feeling."
"Your feelings are usually right...except in your choice in men." May sweatdrops. She's been on plenty of calls with Dawn where Dawn would complain about the men she's dated. May is glad to have read the tabloids showing Dawn in a happy relationship with Conway. "But your choice in men got better! Conway seems like a nice guy." May quickly speaks to cover for her earlier words.
Dawn frowns. Not because May just said Dawn's taste in men was bad but because May reminded Dawn of Conway. While Dawn likes her boyfriend, she doesn't feel fully satisfied with him. She doubts she's getting scared of being in a relationship, like she had told Paul a couple of weeks ago. It seems like she doesn't like Conway as much as she should romantically. "May."
"Yeah?" the nervous brunette weakly replies.
"You should call Drew."
"Are you mad at me, Dawn?"
"No. I'm not." Dawn chuckles. "No need to worry! But you really should go find Drew now! Tell him how you feel!"
May nods with newfound determination. "Thanks, Dawn! I needed this!"
Soon, the call ends, and Dawn shuts her eyes while leaning the back of her head against the wall. She lets out a long groan. With the room being cluttered with chairs that need to be set out, people don't ever come in here. Plus, the lights are off because Dawn didn't want to dig around for the switch. There is the dim lighting from the hallway passing through the small window in the door.
This call with May only makes Dawn feel worse. Dawn should be happy. She's a Top coordinator, she's in a relationship with a loving man, and she just talked to a friend she hasn't heard from in months. This wedding is about to be over, allowing Dawn to have more free time. However, Dawn doesn't want it to end. She knows that once it ends, she won't have any reason to bother the champion anymore. Well, it's not like she has any reason now anyways. He made it clear the other day.
Feeling her chest tighten as she thinks about him, she mutters, "I miss you, dumbass." She takes in a deep shaky breath to croak out, "I don't get you."
Deeper in the room, and behind more chairs, the purple haired champion rests his head on his knees. He retreated to this room to hide, but he didn't think she would do the same. Hearing her talk to May about Drew reminded Paul of his call with Drew the other day. Paul expected the bluenette to leave already, but she's still here, and he can hear everything she's saying. Furrowing his brows, Paul hopes his pounding heart will stop aching so much. He knows he misses her too, but they can't be friends anymore. That's not how the rules of dating work.
Kanto
"Hey, Red!" grins the auburn haired man as he speaks on his pokenav. He hasn't spoken to Misty in a few weeks. Usually, he'd see her more often due to her relationship with Ash. However, after the breakup, Gary only sees Misty when their businesses require them to. Moreover, he needs someone to talk to. A girl's perspective who he knows won't just be telling him what he wants to hear because they want to sleep with him. There are only two women who he can confide in like this, but right now, he only has one because he's talking about the other.
Curious about the call, Misty asks, "What's up, Gary?" He rarely calls. If it's work related, an email suffices.
"I got a question."
"Uh huh?" Lately, Misty has been lounging around in her house when she's not doing her gym leader duties. Ever since Ash's proposal, which she rejected, she hasn't seen or heard from him. A part of her feels bad for rejecting him, but she needs to stick with her resolve. He shouldn't want to marry her because she wants it. He should want it too. It still irks Misty knowing Ash thought that she'd take him back when that is his reasoning. Just how dense is he?
Gary nervously scratches the back of his head. He had found the courage to finally call Misty, though now he finds his breath getting caught. This call and this behavior is very un-Gary-like. Nevertheless, Gary is grateful that this is a voice call, so Misty can't see how nervous he is. "I have this friend…"
"I don't wanna hear about how you can get her in your bed." Everyone knows Gary is a notorious playboy. If he's calling because Ash told Gary to check up on her, Misty won't listen to Gary's stupid way of getting her to talk. Gary never calls her for girl advice. He believes he doesn't need it since all he does is sleep with women.
The man rolls his eyes. "No, Misty. My friend is a guy."
Misty raises a curious eyebrow. Gary only uses her name when he's serious. "You have friends?" She isn't sure how to talk to a serious Gary Oak.
"Yes, I have friends. I have you and Ashy Boy."
"If your friend you're talking about is Ash-"
Gary shakes his head. "It's not. Ashy Boy is a big boy. He can handle his own problems." Does Misty think Gary is calling for Ash's sake? Last Gary heard, Ash and Misty were friends with benefits.
Frowning now that she's reminded of Ash again, Misty asks, "Okay. What's your question then?" She might as well help Gary since he never asks for help. Plus, he isn't talking about Ash.
Gary's nervousness returns as he is reminded about his reason for calling. Awkwardly clearing his throat, he says, "My friend likes this girl."
"But you slept with her?" Misty replies with disinterest.
"Are you gonna let me finish?" Although Gary is annoyed with Misty's assumptions, she isn't wrong. He is a playboy.
Sighing, Misty tells him, "I'll be quiet, but if this is something stupid, Gary, I'm hanging up."
"It's not! I just need some advice. You know. From someone who's not a player. I wanna help my friend." insists the man.
"Fine."
Taking in a deep breath, Gary finds some courage to continue. He called Misty for a reason, so he can't back out now. "Uh. Well, my friend likes this girl, but she's a player."
"Uh huh."
"And, uh, he is also a player cuz ya know, we players stick together." Misty rolls her eyes but chooses to remain quiet. "Well, the girl he likes likes someone else."
"I thought you said she's a player?" Gary's story seems to have some holes in it.
"She is!" He frantically replies. "But she likes this one guy. She's liked him since they were kids."
"Does he like her?"
"No." Gary frowns. "Not that I know of, but according to her, he's rejected her for years."
"Maybe that's why she's a player?" Misty shrugs while thinking about her sisters. "You know? Like she's being a player to make him jealous seeing her with other guys." Lily and Violet continue to do this all the time despite their age.
Shrugging, Gary says, "Probably."
Misty rolls her eyes at his lack of response. "Continue."
"Well, he, my friend that is, confessed to her, and she rejected him."
"You can't force someone to like you. You should know that best, Gary." he is a player who toys with women.
"Not me! My friend!" Panics the man.
Misty raises her eyebrow again. She was talking about people in general. Not him. "What?"
Seeing as how Misty has no idea what he's saying, Gary lets out a relieved breath. "Uh. I know. But like, he was seeing her a lot and he thought they were both serious about each other."
"You did say she is a player."
"He is too. They both knew what they were getting themselves into."
Why is Gary so concerned about someone else's love life? This is all suspicious to Misty. "Okay. So these two players were seeing each other, but she likes someone else. When your friend confessed, she rejected him."
"Yeah." Gary nods. He's glad Misty is now caught up to speed. "He hasn't seen her since she rejected him, but it's weird. As a player, we don't fall for people after we are players. It's why I see how she likes her childhood friend, but then my friend caught feelings for her. He really thought she felt the same way, and it's not just because she's a player. Players know the game, Misty."
"Gary, what do you want from me?" Misty sighs. Gary has yet to ask her the question that started all of this.
Nervously running a hand through his hair, Gary replies, "Is it stupid for him to want to see her again when it's a good chance she just played him? Is it stupid for him to miss her. To want to hug her and be with her? To fight for her?" He has been reflecting on this for weeks now, and it makes him feel terrible for playing all those women in the past. This must be what he put them through.
Misty smiles reassuringly, though he can't see it through the voice call. "It's not stupid to love someone, Gary." A flash of warm chocolate brown hits her mind, but this time, she doesn't shake it away. "It hurts when they don't feel the same way back, but you shouldn't give up."
"Uh, my friend shouldn't give up." Gary corrects her.
Nodding, Misty lets out a breath. "Yeah. Your friend." She's lucky to love someone who loves her too, though Misty has been selfish by wanting more from him. There are people in the world who aren't as fortunate as her. "Look, Gary, love is complicated. I'm struggling with my own relationship-"
"You mean lack of?"
She narrows her eyes in annoyance. "Whatever. It's okay to miss someone, but if you don't do all that you can to let them know how much they mean to you, then that's your fault. Follow your heart."
"My friend."
Misty rolls her eyes. "Yeah. Your friend. Tell him that Leaf is confused. She's too focused on her childhood crush to see you have always been there." While Gary's jaw drops in shock and his face heats up, Misty starts throwing clothes in a duffle bag. It doesn't take a genius to know Gary is talking about himself. Plus, Misty has been friends long enough with Leaf (and she dated Ash for years) to know that Leaf has been crushing on Silver, the Elite Four member. Leaf and Gary are notorious players who everyone knows have been seeing each other.
Despite Leaf's rejection towards Gary, Misty knows Leaf feels something for the professor's assistant. Leaf behaves differently around him compared to her past boy toys. Leaf seems more genuine with Gary, so Misty knows there is more to Leaf's rejection than meets the eye. Besides, Misty will let Gary handle his own relationship problem since she has one of her own. She's such an idiot.
"Misty…" whispers the man.
"Hm?" Misty zips up the poorly packed bag.
"Thanks." He knows Misty won't tell anyone about this weak point for him. She isn't like that.
Smiling, Misty swings the bag over her shoulders. "No. Thank you, Gary." Without this talk, she wouldn't realize how selfish she is. She loves Ash Ketchum, and she'll love him regardless of a ring. He's already shown his utmost love and loyalty to her, though she's been greedy. Misty should know better than to force someone to fit her ideals. It's not why she fell in love with Ash. She needs him to know this before it's too late and she loses the love of her life forever. She already misses him so much after not hearing from him for all these days. "I gotta go!"
"Bye, Red." Gary has no idea why Misty is thanking him, but he is busy. He had arrived at his destination a few minutes ago but was still talking to Misty. Looking at the door, he takes in a deep breath as he strengthens his resolve. It's not stupid to fall in love, and love is worth fighting for.