One Truth Prevails
Chapter One
'In Love'
It was the beginning of Spring, often known as the time of rebirth, renewal and awakening. The air held a tint of warmth, mixed with a feint odour of new growth. The Sakura trees bloomed beautifully, covering the vast landscape in pink hue that surrounded the school entrance.
The sight, the smell, the alluring atmosphere, precisely adorned the beginning of April, radiating a feeling of peace and love.
The first day of High school, also known to be the step towards your adult life. Everyone around seemed different than the year before. The usually tomboy Dawn Berlitz went through a complete makeover through the school break that was now turning heads. Long gone was her hat that shadowed her beautiful azure hair and was now laid freely, ornaments and accessories replaced her boyish wrist bands and gloves. Her usually pink lips now occupied the hue of tint redness along with her red skirt and white tops.
May, who was known to be among the fashion geek to begin with, looked more vibrant under her bright clothes and heightened makeups. Nails matching her shoes, oddly specific suiting her character, something that only she could pull off and not look like a circus clown. Perks of being gifted by genetics.
The boys seemed more forward, not hiding behind the make belief 'Girls are eww' anymore, rather making moves for their budding romance of high school.
Things had changed. Everyone was ready for the mysterious life and freedom of high school that was just up there to grab. Everyone but one.
Ash Ketchum was focussed more than ever before. He had a roadmap and he wouldn't dare to derail. His life wasn't easy like the rest to afford messing up his future prospects. Then there was that thing.
"-sh, Ash!"
Brown eyes fluttered in surprise, removing hastily from the books that laid scattered in the table. Brief yet short growl left his lips as he laid his eyes on the source of interruption from his peaceful study.
Serena Yvonne, looked blonde from root to tip, dazzling the onlookers with her beauty that transcended beyond teenage cuteness.
Sometimes you meet people that are devastatingly attractive, the kind of attractiveness that makes you do a double take, or trip over something because you're so preoccupied with their existence and it's not even always their physical attributes, it can be the way they smile, their manner, how they interact with others.
Well, Serena had it all. The smarts, the beauty, the riches and a good heart unlike most rich kids. Well, Ash wouldn't blame her if she was a little bit proud or arrogant, in fact he would welcome it with open arms. She was just dangerously perfect, too perfect to be suspicious about.
Serena furrowed her eyes, her ocean blue orbs held a tad bit of annoyance. She groaned, tucking the end of her dress to hold in place, she turned her heels before jumping on the table to seat. Swaying her feet that levitated inches from the ground, she glared at the boy.
"What are you doing here? It's our first day of high school! There are so many new faces to meet, things to do! It's fresher's week Ash!"
Ash looked at her with a straight face momentarily before going back to read.
She gasped audibly, something most would find cute watching her pout, yet Ash had no interest to fall for her mischief.
"Seriously Ash? You are going to ignore your bestestestest friend for... for... for stupid criminal psychology?!" She tried to pull the textbook away, but he was ready for it, expertly slapping her hand away as if swaying a bug off the table.
"I am aiming to be a detective, you should already know that, so it's not surprising enough that you should ask." He looked at her and noted her features, every single movement that he could scan at a glance.
"Hmm, tightened lips, clenched fist, your eyebrows are slightly furrowed and the shaky shoulders indicates your fist is tight enough to stop blood flow, everything indicates that you are angry." He announced proudly.
"What does this indicate?" She swung her hand in an attempt to slap the smug look off his face.
"Oh no." He grabbed her wrist easily, stopping her assault. "Though, I am kind of weirded out by the fact that you have highly dilated pupil."
She groaned and snatched her hand from his grip. "So?! Do you need all that to understand I am angry? Like seriously?"
"Yes, learning facial expression and body language is an intricate part of being a detective. Which is why I am kind of confused." He spoke, staring at her eyes like an owl.
"W-why is that?"
"I just told you, the dilated pupils doesn't show a sign of anger." He explained with a shrug.
"Oh? What does it mean then, Mr. Detective?" She asked with sarcasm.
"Well to put it into layman's words, you have a bedroom eye." He explained. Realising she had no clue what that meant either, he finally gave up.
"Well I tried to save you the embarrassment... anyways, this indicates that you are either aroused or interested in someone. Since we are the only one talking, I guess you are aroused." He finished with a smile.
He let out a nervous smile. "Ah... now you are really mad."
She had it enough. She jumped off the table, not before sending him a nasty glare as she stormed off, throwing a childish tantrum on her way out.
Ash looked at her departure and sighed.
'It is weird... everything indicates she is aroused or perhaps...' He shook his head. 'Not a chance. Let's get back at reading. Yush!'
(Scene Change)
Ash looked at his phone as the navigator addressed the destination. He looked up at the tall building and gave a nod of approval before stepping in through the automatic glass doors.
"Excuse me, I have an appointment with Dr. Sabrina?"
The lady in the reception looked at Ash with a familiar smile. The type of smile that could only be seen when meeting someone familiar and close.
"She is in the usual chamber. Please go to room 7."
Ash took the note from the lady and gave a small thank you before making his way through the corridor that lead towards his destination.
'Dr. Sabrina, psychiatrist.' He read the note once more before he knocked.
He heard a few shuffling of what sounded like paper, before she alarmed him to enter.
The room was small, with a hospital bed on the right and a desk in the middle.
"Hello, I am Ash Ketchum-"
"I know that already idiot... it's not your first visit here remember?"
Right. This wasn't his first and certainly wasn't going to be his last. Not until he could fix himself.
"So? Tell me, what's the progress?"
Ash gave an embarrassed smile and took a seat. "Absolutely zero."
She gave him a 'I-am-not-surprised-one- bit' look while he scratched his hair out of embarrassment.
"Sabrina, I don't think the meds will ever work. I don't want any side effects." He sighed. "I am not really bothered by it." He continued, his fingers circling the surface of the table that sat between them.
"You are lying. It's just a way to not get a bad medical report." She spoke, her voice flat and stern while he looked at her with an apologetic face.
"I know I am asking a lot..."
"Yes you are." She groaned. "I am not going to hide your shit, but I will try my best to forget about it." She looked at him sternly. "Never come back. Leave."
(Scene Change)
Ash smiled at the onlookers as he made his way outside, masking his fear and worry and appear brave.
'Hear... someone.'
His eyes froze, a state of complete freeze momentarily made him go blank.
The ringing of the signal and a very annoyed truck driver brought him back to reality, briefly forgetting his surroundings it took him a few more seconds before he made a quick apology and ran across the road.
'That damn voice... someone please make it stop.' He gritted his teeth and ran, trying to fight off the torture and frustration that was evident in his face.
It all began on his Seventh birthday. The day he still vividly remembered as the worst day of his life. Strange things began to occur with him, mysterious voice of a girl from far distant would invade his subconscious mind, asking for things that he didn't posses. He wished it was schizophrenia or worse, at least then he could be properly diagnosed and deal with it somehow. But nothing worked. The voices were not the only thing that made his life a constant battle. It was strange feelings that he had yet to understand himself. Sometimes he would just get into a stance where he had no recollection of his memories and yet somehow experienced that passage of time. His decision making felt like they were somehow being corrupted by some unknown force. He had no answers. Ash was by no means weak, but being a insightful person who also had a clever mind and aspiring to be a detective, it was a harsh reality of not being able to solve the mystery that was so close to him and yet so unknown.
'Bring it on dumb bitch voice. I will not give up until I find you.' He tried to psyche himself up as he paced up, realising he had somehow ended up at the sports field of their school. He gasped for air, hunched over his knees trying to catch his breath. His throat felt dry and his blood pulsated through his veins at a popping pace.
"Water..." He whispered.
"Here."
He took the bottle that was visible in front of him and chugged the content quickly.
"Slow down, geez."
"HA... that was sweet." He grinned before turning his gaze towards his saviour. "What you doing here Serena?" He asked, but soon made a 'ahh' noise when he noticed her attire.
Serena wore a white Nike T-shirt with matching Nike skirt and Nike snickers. She was holding a tennis bat on her right hand, her finger wrapped in white tapes.
"Well, I am part of the team. What are you doing here? You aren't the type to jog..." She noticed the sweat on his temple and his rather dirty shoes. "Nor have I ever seen your shoes so dirty..."
Ash rolled his eyes, shaking off the breathlessness as he stood up from his initial hunched position. "Stop trying to act like me now." He groaned while she stuck her tongue teasingly.
"Hey, just observing. You know after all, one t-"
"Stop." He placed his hand in front of her to shut her up. "Don't misuse my cool catch phrase like this. It's not the right time to use that."
"Yeah, yeah~ Mr. Cooler." Serena bumped her shoulder with his as she walked back to the court where her impatient friends were waiting.
"If you gonna call me a villain, at least let it be Frieze! Not his knock off!" He yelled jokingly.
...
"Hey move!"
'Jerk...' Ash grumbled, watching Gary brush past him in hurry.
Gary Oak was one of those students that excelled in pretty much everything that life would throw at you during your High-school life. Being born with a silver spoon as the grandson of the richest businessman of the country, check. Looks that could kill? Check. The icon of the basketball team, double check.
Sigh...
Ash watched him smile at Serena, the way he spoke, his facial signs, everything suggested about his crush on her.
Serena laughed at something Gary had said, while a genuine laugh that had no indication of attraction towards the playboy of the school, Ash couldn't help but feel hopeless.
'I guess they are just perfect.' He scratched his head and walked away with slow strides dragging him. Away from them.
As far back as Ash could remember, Serena had always been the centre of attention, like a wildfire that captivated everyone, alarming by sound and poisoning by it's presence. Gazes of admiration and praise surrounded her entire being. Complete opposite to him.
'Come to think of it, how is someone like her even remotely interested in being my friend?' Ash thought back to the day he had first talked to her. It was something to do with something...
'What was it again?' He couldn't quite remember. But the more he thought about her, the more he was aware of the inevitable. A scenario that scared him. A feeling of hollowness and somewhat disappointed in himself.
'Someone as kind as her... is bound to end up with someone else someday.'
Ash quickened his pace, the urgency to get away from her sight and the noise of her laughter seemed to be the only way to get rid of the thoughts he so wished to avoid.
The image of Gary and her laughing, walking side by side, a perfect picture. A picture that he wasn't part of.
'Ah... I am jealous, right?' He laughed at his pitifulness.
He laughed. "I guess it's true." He stopped in front of his house, a smile present on his face, realising his feelings for his friend. Finally.
'It doesn't really matter though, someone like me is too dull for her bright world.' He opened the door and walked in, realising no one was home, he made his way to his bed.
Tossing his clothes off, he fell on his bed. His eyes gazing the white ceiling, he could feel his heartbeat in between the silence of his surrounding. He placed the back of his palm on his forehead, realising the rise in temperature.
'I guess, this is what they call... drunk in love.' He could feel his heart beat increase.
"Vasopressin, adrenaline, dopamine, oxytocin, its just chemicals..." He spoke, trying to focus his mind on the technical aspects of being in love to overcome his anxiety. But it didn't help.
"This is bad..." He sat up on his bed with his hand placed on his face, hiding the redness of his skin. "I need help... ugh." He walked to the bathroom and washed his face, drank as much water as he could at once, trying to calm himself down. He then made his way to his study desk, another attempt to 'sober' up.
'What do you have to do in order to get someone like her? Perhaps save a Kingdom in another world?' He shook his head and took out the thickest book that his eyes fell upon.
'This is bad Ash Ketchum, get a hold of yourself. She is out of reach.' He reminded himself, as he opened a random page of the book. 'She is not meant for me, she is my friend. She deserves better.' He slapped his cheeks one last time, shaking off the worry as much as he could.
'Yush, I can get over this. It just needs time.' He thought before focusing on the book.
(Scene Change)
The next day he walked through the school gate with sluggish strides. His eyes felt like giving up, his shoulder felt heavy while a ticking headache was slowly making its way. He could feel a horrible day ahead of him.
'I couldn't sleep one bit. This never happened to me. Freya was giving me weird looks in the morning too... mom seemed worried too...' His eyes scanned his surrounding in search of anyone with honey-blonde hair. He wasn't looking for her to greet and laugh with, rather trying his best to avoid her.
'With distance, feelings like this will die in no time.' He reminded himself of his master plan.
"Hey, looking for me?"
...
He slowly turned around, seeing the familiar smile that he was accustomed to seeing every morning.
'There goes my super bullet proof Master plan.' He opened his mouth but no words came out. 'I am zoning out, she has already noticed.'
"Is something wrong, Ash?" She asked, concerned eyes meeting his anxious ones. She pondered over the possibilities and everything suggested his lack of sleep, judging by the eye bags.
"Let me guess, you stayed awake all night reading one of your dumb books, right?" She asked.
'Ah... is that how she thinks I am? I always go to sleep on time.'
"Ha ha ha... yes." He lied, averting his eyes away from her and focusing on the finer details of the marble floor.
"What's wrong?"
He let out an audible gasp as she stood super close to him, stealing his focus back to her.
He took a step back and shrugged, trying his best to not show any signs of his marathon racing heart.
"I just said, I was awake reading books." He lied.
"Hmmm..." She looked at him with suspicious gaze. "If you say so."
'Phew.'
"Anyways! I was actually looking for you." She added.
He found her smile a little too infectious this morning. 'Stupid pheromones.'
"We are going out this weekend for Karaoke, you know to celebrate the fresher's week... well weekend." She twirled her hair locks, looking on her side shyly as if trying to find the perfect words to speak.
'What's got to her?'
"Everyone will be there, May, Dawn, Gary-"
'Ah... for a second I was thinking perhaps... pathetic me. It's for him of course.' He looked down sadly.
"Don't worry Serena, I will see you later."
Before she could speak, he had already started walking and the bell had already rung, bringing in the whines of the students.
'Why is he so distant today. Something seems off.' She was visibly upset. She walked past a few who had greeted her without noticing them, one of them being Gary.
'Is he mad at me for some reason? What did I do?...' She looked sad, anyone could see the shine in her eyes was missing.
"Hey I said hello."
...
"Huh? Oh, Gary... hi."
Author's Note: Hope you like this. This will be strictly Ash x Serena, in case you are wondering!