Part 7

"I don't think its right to be going with you while my heart is elsewhere," Misty said very quietly.

"…Why are you doing this?" Ash stammered.

"It was a really hard choice for me to do this, Ash, I'm sorry."

"Who is this guy?"

"…There isn't anyone," Misty hesitated.

"I don't think you'd be telling me this if there wasn't anyone."

"… Gary Oak…" Misty said quietly as she could under her breath.

Ash stared at her like he wanted to shake her and tell her she was crazy. But instead, he smiled slightly and said,

"Misty, it's a momentary emotion, so it will go away soon,"

"It isn't, Ash. I don't want to easily throw away what I've got in my heart."

"If time passes by, you'll eventually get over it," Ash tried saying.

"Time isn't what I need, Ash… I'm very sorry if I hurt you gravely, and I'm aware that I have just now, but please accept my apologies," she concluded and unhurriedly walked away, but Ash gently grabbed her hand.

"…Why him?" he asked. "Of all guys, why did it have to be him?"

"I can't control emotions," Misty said.

"Of all the pokèmon matches I have done, won, and lost, you have hurt my pride the most."

"Ash, I'm really very sorry, but I can't lie to my friends," Misty finished saying, and walked slowly away, as tear drops formed from her emerald eyes.

Ash stood there exasperated and mad at what he just heard from the girl he loved for a long time. He pretended he didn't hear it, but no matter what he thought, it was true anyhow.

"Misty…" he thought, as the wind blew gently along his jet black hair.

He walked away to the small pond that was two miles away from Pallet Town. It was the small lake where he met Misty for the first time. He remembered how she fished him out, slapped him and stole her bicycle. He smiled at the thought but then, out of nowhere, a drop made ripples on the clear blue lake among Ash's reflection. Ash was now tearing. He felt like a loser doing so, but he couldn't help it. He was hurt gravely and his heart was shredded to bits. He gave a heavy sigh and wiped away the tears. He gave a determined look and sat there for a very long time.

Meanwhile, Misty walked the way back home to Ash's house. She couldn't even confront Ms. Ketchum even if she was a very nice lady. She walked slowly upstairs like each step was like carrying heavy weights. I noticed she looked sadder than she ever did before, but I didn't want to bother her. "Tracey," she said, knocking on the door. "I told him."

"Told what to who?" Tracey asked.

"Ash."

"Wouldn't he be angry right now?"

"I was very surprised. I thought he'd shout at me but he seemed to absorb it like a sponge. I feel like crap for telling him. Gary is in my heart, but after what I did, I feel like such a criminal."

"It took a lot of courage to do what you did, Misty," Tracey said nicely, although it's really isn't nice to dump a person at all.

"Thank you," Misty said. She was standing there crying.

I sat on the couch, still wallowing in my loserness, feeling that I was the one depriving myself of being with her, but I still wanted to keep my pride and even my arrogant guts. I heard some crying and sniffing from upstairs, so I decided to see what happened to her. I walked quietly up the stairs and saw her in the hallway, crying her eyes out.

"Misty," I said quietly, not knowing whether to comfort her or just leave her alone. She rubbed her eyes, wiping the tears and walked slowly to me, her head bowing to the floor. I stood there with my hands in my blue pants. Tracey nodded to me to at least comfort her. I shakily put my hand on her shoulder and said, "Stop crying," and walked away into my room.

Misty reeled around to me as soon as I closed the door and shut it. I gave a heavy sigh and leaned against the door. I slowly came down on the carpet into a sitting position and stared hard at the wall in front of me. "What did she just do? Why is she crying? If Ash hurt her, I'll kick him," I thought. Then I heard talking in the hallway.

Misty was talking to Tracey.

"Why did you make this decision?" Tracey asked in a nice, but firm tone.

"Because, this may sound very blunt and weird coming from me, but because I really have feelings towards Gary," Misty said.

As I listened to this, my eyes lit up, and I was indeed, very shocked. "Misty…" I whispered. Misty finished talking to Tracey and closed the door to her room. I silently opened the door and saw Tracey standing in the hall like he was waiting for me.

"What?" I said in a blunt tone.

"I hope you heard that," Tracey pointed out.

I didn't say anything, but just nodded and sighed.

"Look, she's suffering emotionally, why don't you make her feel at least a bit better?" Tracey asked.

"I… I wouldn't do things like that…"

"Just go. I know you hatefully have feelings for her that you can't help, but she feels the same way." I didn't say anything and knocked on Misty's door. I slowly opened the doorknob, and walked in. Misty was sitting on a desk chair, staring at the table with puffy red eyes.

"Misty…" I started saying.

Misty gradually got up from her chair and just flaunted into my arms. I wanted to push her away, but I couldn't. She cried some more, and this time, I patted her on the back. I felt very deviant doing so, but did anyway. And I hugged her back for once. For once in my life, I had fallen for a girl despite the fact that I was an arrogant one who loved winning. And the girl was to my rival, Ash. Later on, Ash finally came home, wandering like he didn't know where he was going. He passed me, walked three steps and then turned back to me. I didn't like Ash and as much as I loved to make him look bad, this wasn't one of those times.

" Gary, I know already that you and I are rivals," he said to me. "But I'm not 'losing' Misty to you. I'm giving her to you. I want her to be happy with you even thought we both know the fact we don't like each other and fight half the time. So, go on and be with the one whom you desire to," he said, looking at the carpet.

I stared at him like he was lying, and I sort of joked by saying, "…You are Ash, right? Or are you some robot that looks like him designed to be nice?"

"No, I am not. Gary, there are many people for me, and I think there is one for me." Ash sounded like he had matured within three hours, and he probably did.

Ash knocked on Misty's room. "Misty, may I come in?"

"Yes," she said very quietly, afraid Ash would strike her.

"Misty, as you know, I can't treat you like property like I own you, and I know that. I love you dearly as a friend, and I'm letting you go."

Misty finally had the courage to look at Ash in the eye. "Thank you," she said gratefully.

Ash put her hand on Misty's shoulder and said, "I'm glad you said 'Thank you' to me instead of 'Sorry', Misty," and smiled, then left.

As time went on, it was really unbelievable at first, well for me, but Misty and I were together. We thanked Tracey for helping us in such a tight spot, and Ash had finally found another girl who appreciated him very much. I knew neither Ash or Misty had gotten over their breakage, but I kept quiet and subtle about it. Ash and I are still friend-rivals, we still challenge each other to matches, of course, and I usually win. As for Misty and I, well, we'll just have to see what comes next around the corner.

The End