Please Friendzone Me!
Chapter 6
The Way He Sees Her
His steps were brisk and he kept his head down as he rushed through the crowded hallways, unwilling to catch even a glimpse of the many images of his father displayed all around him.
He didn't think it would still hurt so much. Gohan thought he had gotten over his father's death, that he had made peace with his grief and his guilt, that he had moved on.
But, seeing his father as a kid, who looked basically like a Goten-double – being surrounded by so many pictures of him from when he was a kid – it was a painful reminder that he would never get to take a new photo of his dad. That he would never get to see how his father would have turned out as he got older.
Erasa's innocent inquiries had struck a chord.
Gohan let out a deep sigh as he stood outside. Looking around with half-lidded eyes, he spotted a flowerbed surrounded by a low wall. He trudged toward it and sat down, his shoulders slumping.
Videl probably explained his reaction to Erasa and Sharpner. He never told her outright about his father's death, but Gohan knew she had read between the lines. At least he wouldn't have to tell them about it himself – having to bring it up once in a day had been more than enough.
The boy took out his wallet from his pants' back pocket. A small, wistful smile formed on his lips as he looked inside. There it was, the last photo ever taken of his father. It had been right before the Cell Games. His mother had insisted they posed all together in their normal form for at least one picture. It was at his birthday party, and his grampa and Krillin were also in the shot.
Gohan turned his gaze over to the other side of his wallet. It was filled with small pictures of Goten, from his baby years to just a month ago.
His eyes clouded over. Goten really was the carbon copy of their father. He was such a great kid – the sweetest, most precious little boy. Watching him grow up every day was such a joy. It was like a balm to his heart.
And their father was missing it.
Because of him.
No, stop that. Gohan shook his head sharply. He couldn't allow the guilt to overtake him, not anymore.
But his chest felt tight and heavy as he gazed at the pictures of his adorable little brother. If only he hadn't let the power get to his head, if only he had just listened to his dad and finished Cell off when he had the chance… Then Goten wouldn't have to grow up fatherless.
Gohan closed his eyes and pressed his fingers and thumb against his eyelids. How long had these thoughts been living rent-free in his head? He couldn't let his past mistakes shackle him down like this, he knew that. He had to break free of them somehow. Move forward, focus on the present. Nothing good could come out of rehashing the past again and again.
He lowered his hand and gazed at the photos in his wallet once more. The boy sighed and put it away in his back pocket. It was hard, letting go of the guilt. He knew he had to, but that didn't make it any easier.
Staying there on the low wall, his back hunched, his head hung, his forearms resting against his thighs, he stared at his joined hands. He didn't know how long he sat there, grieving, missing his dad, missing his family.
Whenever he would feel like his guilt was gaining in on him, the presence of his family was what usually helped. Goten would give him a big hug and everything would feel right with the world again. He would catch a glimpse of his mom, watching them with a fond smile and his heart would feel lighter. Piccolo would pat his head in a rare show of affection, and Gohan would feel protected. And whenever he saw his father's friends who had also become his own, they would always offer kind words of comfort and show him their love and support any way they could.
It was going to be rough, being away from them for three days. Gohan hadn't so much as spent one night away from home since he found out his mother was pregnant with Goten. Did he depend on his loved ones too much to help him deal with his issues? How was he supposed to cheer up without them around?
He sighed yet again. This trip was supposed to be fun. He'd been so excited about going to the exhibition. Why did things have to turn out like this?
He sensed a familiar presence moving closer, but Gohan didn't feel like seeing anyone right now, not even Videl. Yes, she was his friend, and while he felt comfortable with her under normal circumstances, this was too personal to involve someone he had known for only a few weeks. He would rather she hadn't come out to find him. Right now, Gohan just wanted to be left alone.
Without a word, the pigtailed girl sat beside him on the low wall. She let a few moments pass before she spoke.
"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it."
Gohan didn't say anything in reply, showing her that he indeed didn't feel like getting into it.
Videl sat in silence for another minute before she went on, her voice soft and hushed.
"I don't know if you've heard about it. Probably not, since you're not really into pop culture."
The change of subject made him look up. His head tilted to the side, a slight frown creasing his brow, he observed the girl sitting next to him. Videl's eyes were dimmed as she cracked a small smile.
"My mom, she was a singer, and a pretty famous one. When she married my dad, it made a lot of noise at the time."
That look. He knew that look. He saw it every day in the mirror when he missed his dad most. The boy felt something heavy press down on his chest, on his heart and his lungs, making it hard to breathe.
Did Videl also…? He clenched his fists on his lap, clutching the fabric of his pants. No. He didn't want that. He had hoped nobody would have that in common with him. Even if it meant no one could understand how he felt, that was better than sharing this pain with someone else. Especially someone he had come to care so much about.
He swallowed. "Is she…?"
Videl slowly nodded. "She died four years ago."
A lump rose in his throat. His voice cracked slightly as he murmured, "I'm so sorry, Videl. I really wish you didn't know how that felt."
"But at least you're not alone."
Gohan shook his head. "I'd rather be alone."
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No, that… That's not what I meant." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's just, I miss him so much, every day, all the time. It's like an open wound that won't heal properly. And every time I think it's starting to scar, the stitches just pop out again." He looked deep into her eyes. His chest felt tight and heavy. "But you know that. You have it too, that open wound."
"I do," she whispered.
"I wish you didn't."
"I wish you didn't either," she said back. "But it is what it is. We both went through something terrible, but at least we understand each other. And you can lean on me, Gohan. You can share some of your pain with me so it doesn't feel so heavy, carrying it all on your own."
His eyes softened. The hint of a smile started curving the corners of his lips. Videl reached over and put her hand on his. Gohan felt a pleasant tingle on his skin at the contact.
"I mean, what are friends for?" she offered.
"Yeah…"
He felt a little bit lighter, just being in Videl's presence; just knowing that she understood, that she knew what it was like, what he was going through, how it felt. That he wasn't alone.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," she said once again, giving his hand a squeeze before slowly letting go. "But I'm here if you ever need to share."
His fingers twitched, his skin still tingling from her touch. Gohan let his gaze drop to the gap between them on the low wall, to the spot her small, dainty hand now rested.
He turned his head away briskly, feeling his cheeks heat up. His train of thought was taking an awkward turn, and the Son boy didn't really know what to make of it.
Redirecting his focus on his friend, he was met with a gentle and patient smile. Gohan felt his own lips start to curve upward in response. It was a wonder how the simple sight of this girl smiling at him could make his chest feel just a bit lighter.
"I appreciate it, Videl," he finally replied. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome. I mean, you're always so nice to me – to everyone really. I'd like to return the favor and do something nice for you for a change."
It wasn't just her smile, Gohan observed. It was everything about her – her presence, her aura, her kindness, her affection. Little by little, the weight in his chest was easing off – just sitting next to Videl and talking to her.
"There is something you could do," he blurted out without thinking, and then his eyes widened and his face flared up as he realized what he was about to ask. "N-Never mind," he added in a haste, shaking a hand in front of him while his eyes darted away.
Videl leaned closer, tilting her head to try and catch his gaze. Gohan felt a lump rise in his throat – she was too close. He was becoming much too aware of her body heat.
"What is it?" she asked.
Still reluctant to meet her eyes, Gohan focused on a random spot on the pavement while massaging the nape of his neck, trying to unknot the tense muscles.
"Well… um… it's just…" he tried to say, but the words had trouble getting out.
This was so embarrassing. Why did he have to open his big mouth? What was he supposed to say now? What possessed him to even want to ask something like that?
And why was the thought getting him all flustered anyway? It wasn't anything unusual or weird between friends, yet for some reason, his heart wouldn't stop fluttering at the idea.
"Yes…?" Videl pressed on.
Gohan swallowed thickly. Nope, no such luck; that lump in his throat wasn't going down. "W-W-Well…"
He peeked at her. Her vibrant, deep blue eyes pulled him in. The blush on his face deepened.
"I… uh…" He sighed and averted his gaze, running his fingers through his spiky locks. "Whenever I feel down, I usually… um… It's silly, really, but it does work every time…" He let out an awkward chuckle.
"What does? If it can help make you feel better, I'm willing to give it a try."
He shot her a sheepish smile. "I… I get a hug," he finally admitted. "From my little brother or my mom, or any of my close friends – and, I don't know, it's like, poof!" He gestured an explosion with his hand. "– and everything's good again."
Videl looked like she was holding her breath, and maybe that was why her face got so red. That, or it was his dumb request that got her all flustered and she didn't know how to respond without hurting his feelings or something.
Gohan let his head sink between his shoulders, his eyes dropping to the asphalt ground.
"B-But – well, I mean… You already made me feel better. Just knowing that you're here for me, that I'm not alone is enough." He gave a nervous, half-hearted laugh while scratching his hair. "I don't know what I was thinking, honestly, asking you for something like that. I mean, we've only been friends for a few weeks." He shook his head. "That was stupid. Forget I said anything."
Gosh, why did he have to go and make a fool of himself? And in front of Videl too, as if this wasn't mortifying enough. What a time to forget he needed to think before opening his mouth! Gohan wished he could just vanish out of thin air right this moment.
Ironic, considering that, technically, with his super-speed, he actually had the ability to do just that.
"W… Well…" Videl uttered, her voice a little shaky. She cleared her throat. "If… If it can help… I, I mean, it's not stupid at all – hugs are known to make you feel better, you know? There's nothing wrong with asking a friend for one."
Gohan glanced her way; Videl caught his gaze and cracked a sheepish smile, her cheeks a lovely pink hue. He let slip a nervous chuckle as some of the tension in his muscles eased away.
She started scooching closer; Gohan straightened up and pivoted his upper body to face her. Videl did the same and raised her arms – but then she paused and moved her head back slightly; her attention seemed to shift between his shoulders and his stomach, her hands following the motion of her eyes, as though she was unsure where to look – or, maybe she didn't know where to hug him…?
Her awkwardness made him feel less self-conscious about his own nervousness. He gave a titter and Videl met his gaze with her cute sheepish smile.
He leaned closer to her. Videl seemed to have made up her mind, raising her arms toward his shoulders. Gohan slowly reached over, his hands hovering about her waist.
Why was his heart pounding so hard?
Videl clasped her arms around his neck, and Gohan let his eyes slide shut as he pulled her against him and held her close. Videl's nose brushed his shoulder, and he found himself nuzzling her hair, breathing in the sweet, fruity fragrance that emanated from the silky raven locks.
It was as though a warm and cozy blanket was enveloping his heart snuggly. Or as though… as though it had just come out of the oven, all sweet and soft and fluffy and still steaming – like a freshly-baked loaf of bread, its enchanting flavors floating around the kitchen.
Gohan's lips curved into a smile as he tightened his arms around Videl's small frame. Her aura glowed, bathing his being in its pleasant light. It was a healing balm to his soul.
It really was like magic – the power of hugs. Any negative emotion he had just went poof, and everything was right with the world again.
Videl couldn't make sense of anything right now. She lost herself in the embrace – in Gohan's warmth, in his strong arms, in his refreshing and spicy scent, in each and every soft breath he blew, brushing her neck, and in the delightful shivers it gave her, coursing up and down her spine.
She was completely lost in it all – just, nowhere to be found.
She felt so… safe; so content, so peaceful. Here, in Gohan's arms, it was like the outside world couldn't get to her. Her worries, her fears, her frustrations, her grieves, her losses – everything that was weighing down in her chest, it all just… floated away.
Her arms tightened around Gohan's neck as she took another long whiff of his addicting scent. Goodness, how was she supposed to ever let him go?
She didn't know how long they stayed like this, but when Gohan started to pull away, it felt much too short. Unwilling to let go just yet, Videl held onto him, bringing him closer again.
He gave a half-awkward, half-amused chuckle as he easily gave in. Videl flushed at her own action, but right now a little embarrassment seemed like a small price to pay if she could just stay in Gohan's arms a little longer. She kept her eyes closed, pressing her forehead against the side of his throat, basking in his intoxicating warmth.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "I… I think I needed a hug too."
One of his hands moved to the back of her head while his other arm, still around her waist, kept her firmly against him.
"It's alright." His voice was low and hoarse, his breath grazing her neck as he spoke. Videl shivered slightly. "I don't mind… I don't mind at all."
And so Videl let herself get even more lost in Gohan's warm embrace. At that moment, she forgot all about her plan, about asking him what he thought of her, about whether he might like her back, about the whole friendzone ploy.
At that moment, there was just Gohan, and the way her heart soared as he held her close against him.
It still didn't feel like nearly long enough, but Videl also realized that she and Gohan had been glued to each other for quite a while now. So, reluctantly, she started to pull back, and Gohan followed her lead. He didn't seem to be in any rush, however; little by little, inch by inch, he let her much smaller frame slip from his grasp, moving so slowly it had to be deliberate.
She had her elbows on his shoulders, her forehead close enough to his chin that she could feel his exhalations brush her skin; that was when she glanced up at him. And Gohan met her gaze.
Her throat closed up – and Videl could only hold her breath.
The light in his onyx eyes had shifted. His brow was slightly furrowed as he seemed to study her with the utmost attention. His intense stare made her stomach quiver and flutter and do incessant flip-flops. All of her strength sipped out of her being, leaving her defenseless against that look. That look, pulling her in, tugging at an invisible cord – toward him, irremediably.
She inhaled sharply, her survival instinct taking over seeing as she forgot to breathe on her own. Her chest heaved; Gohan brushed her bangs from her eyes.
She couldn't take the way he looked at her. It was too much, too… intense. And yet she couldn't tear herself away from his piercing gaze.
What was happening? Why was Gohan staring at her like that? Why would he…? What was he…?
Just… What…?
Her heart skipped a beat then. Did he just… glance at her mouth?
And then he gave a start and his whole face caught fire while his eyes tripled in size. Gohan jerked himself away, putting enough distance between them that a whole new person could fit in that spot – and not someone small either. He coughed into his fist and kept his hand over his mouth and nose, only partially hiding the bright blush pigmenting his skin down to his throat.
Videl could only blink dumbly at him.
"S… S-Sorry. I-I mean, thanks. For the hug, that is," he stumbled. "It… It was, um…"
He trailed off, his eyes unfocusing, staring into space, as though he lost his train of thought.
Her heart was all over the place – erratic, panicked, excited, terrified.
What… What was that about? The way Gohan had looked at her just now… The insistence, the intensity in his pitch-black eyes… Could it be that he…?
She brushed her fingers over her forehead. It still tingled from his feather-like touch.
Her chest felt tight as she watched him. He was still all flustered by what just happened – or, perhaps, by what almost just happened.
Videl looked away, putting her hand over her mouth. This couldn't be happening. Gohan wasn't supposed to… No. No way. Just, no. Gohan did not see her that way. He couldn't.
But how could she keep acting blind after the way he…? How could she keep deluding herself when, as much as she wished it weren't true, there really was something between Gohan and her? It was so obvious, so transparent. The attraction between them had been palpable. No amount of denial could ever be enough to pretend not to notice that Gohan had wanted to kiss her just now.
She clenched her fists on her lap, her shoulders tensing up. Damn it. Was her plan to get Gohan to friendzone her doomed to fail? Did Gohan actually like her back?
Her stupid heart jolted and fluttered at the thought. Videl pursed her lips in a tight line, cursing the damn organ for causing this whole mess to begin with.
What then? If Gohan really did see her as more than a friend, how was she supposed to get closure over her feelings and get over him? And if he ended up confessing to her, would they even be able to keep being friends? Was she going to lose him too?
She exhaled slowly, trying to calm down. This didn't have to mean her plan was going to fail. It was just physical attraction. Gohan was still a guy, and his body simply reacted to being close to her. That didn't mean he had feelings for her and wanted to be more than friends. Videl still believed Gohan was too pure and too innocent to think about romance at all.
The girl sighed, looking around aimlessly, hoping she wasn't deluding herself and that things could still go her way somehow. She caught sight of a gray-striped cat striding along the adjacent low wall, and a small smile curved her lips. She could use the distraction.
As the stray got nearer, the girl reached out slowly in an attempt to draw its attention and maybe pet it. But the cat hissed and spat at her, viciously swatting away at her with its paw, and Videl snatched her hand back.
Next to her, Gohan let out a muffled laugh. She blushed. He saw that, didn't he?
The unruly cat was still hissing angrily at Videl, obviously outraged to be approached by some human who had the audacity to try and pet it.
"Fine," Videl huffed, turning away from the cat with her arms crossed. "I don't like you either."
Gohan's shoulders shook and he pinched his lips together to contain his mirth.
"Aww, I'm sure this cat's not so bad," he offered. "Let me try."
He stood, walked past Videl and crouched down to be on the same level as the aggressive stray on the low wall.
"It's going to scratch you," Videl warned when Gohan started reaching over.
"It's a she," he observed. "Hey there, you." He brought his hand closer to the cat, who gave him a menacing look. But that didn't deter the smiling boy, even when the cat started hissing at him. He didn't flinch, didn't pull his hand back; the cat flung her paw at him and Videl winced when her claws made three clean tears on Gohan's sleeve.
He didn't react to the scratching and his gentle smile didn't waver either. "It's okay, I get it. People aren't always the nicest, huh? But I won't hurt you, I promise."
He paused, letting his hand hover a few inches from the cat's furry head, and didn't break eye contact with her. Her fur smoothed down as she looked back at him. Videl blinked at the scene. How on Earth did Gohan manage to get that irate cat to calm down?
The feline lowered her head slightly, as though giving the boy permission to pet her. He beamed and ran his hand over her gray-striped coat, scratching behind her ear, and in a matter of seconds the once unruly animal was purring in delight and leaning into Gohan's hand.
"See?" he said gently. "That's not so bad, is it?"
The stray purred in appreciation. Gohan let out a chuckle. He moved to sit on the low wall, now on Videl's other side, and brought the small animal closer. She nudged his thigh with her head, her eyes closed, and Gohan placed her on his lap as he continued to pet her.
"Are you a Disney princess?" Videl blurted.
He laughed good-naturedly. "Heh, that's a good one. I'm just really good with animals. I grew up in the mountains, and I'm always making friends with them, sometimes even with wild predators, so this is nothing."
"Wild predators? Like foxes or wolves, you mean?"
"Sure. And bears and tigers and dinosaurs. Any animal, really. Some are trickier to approach than others, but they eventually see that I mean no harm and let me get close to them."
"You really are a Disney Princess."
He cracked up again, his shoulders shaking. "I guess I do fit the criteria, huh?"
She laughed along. "But aren't you scared to get your arm bitten off or something? I know you're strong, but it's not like you could win in a fight against a T-Rex."
He shot her a sideway glance, a slight tug curving the corner of his lips, almost a smirk. "Heh, who knows."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, don't tell me you've actually befriended a T-Rex?"
Gohan chuckled. "Well, they're rather ill-tempered, so I haven't succeeded yet."
She stared at him. "You've tried, you mean?"
"So far I always end up having to dodge their fangs, but I'm not giving up. I'm sure they're not all hunger and aggressivity. I mean, if I can befriend a pterodactyl family, why not a T-Rex?"
Videl blinked again, then she shook her head with a chuckle. "And I thought I was the reckless one."
He shrugged. "I know what I'm doing, so it's not really reckless."
"Riiiight. Trying to be friends with a T-Rex is totally safe."
Gohan chuckled in good humor, and Videl grinned at him in response.
"By the way, is your arm okay?" She glanced at his forearm where the cat had scratched him, but she couldn't see how bad the cat got him with his sleeve in the way.
"Yeah, I'm fine. She barely broke the skin."
"Are you sure? You're not just saying that, are you?"
He glanced at her and raised an eyebrow, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Now who's being a worrywart?"
She rolled her eyes. "Now who's being a smartass?"
They shared a look then broke into chuckles and snickers.
See, this was how it should be. Just two friends hanging out and having fun. Why did she have to complicate everything with unwanted feelings?
"She sure looks happy now," Videl commented.
"She's just guarded by nature and doesn't put her defense down easily." He gave her a pointed look. "Kinda like someone I know."
Videl felt her cheeks warm up. "I'm not that aggressive though."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I know." His eyes softened. "But I'm glad you've let me in. I feel very lucky to have a friend like you." He turned his attention to the cat, who was still purring happily on his lap.
A slight frown creased her brow as she considered his wording. Was that it? He just said it, didn't he? That he felt lucky to be her friend. That meant he wasn't expecting more, didn't it?
But… It kind of didn't feel like enough. Maybe it was too generic and not final enough. She needed Gohan to make it clear that he only saw her as a friend and would never feel any differently toward her. It was the only way.
Videl ignored the pinch in her chest at the prospect. She did not care that her heart wasn't happy with her decision. She was the one in charge here, not some stupid organ that only caused her trouble.
"And, um… A-About earlier…" Gohan bumbled, his cheeks reddening. "I'm sorry about… I don't even know." He sighed. "I honestly have no idea what that was about… But I know I made you uncomfortable, and for that I'm sorry. Especially since I really do feel a lot better thanks to you." He peeked over at her and massaged the back of his neck. "So, um… we're okay, right?"
"Of course. And I'm really glad I could help you feel better. Besides, um…" She bit her lip. "It's not like it meant anything… right?"
A thoughtful frown creased his brow as he lowered his gaze to the purring cat on his lap. "I'm not sure. I've been feeling kinda weird lately… I don't really know what to make of it."
Videl gulped. This wasn't the answer she had hoped for. Gohan was supposed to confirm that it didn't mean anything, even if it implied putting on an act. That boy was too genuine and honest for his own good.
"Weird… how?"
His face reddened. "I… I figure it's just… you know… puberty and stuff."
The knot in her stomach finally loosened up. "Right…"
What a relief. So then, earlier, Gohan just got caught up in the moment. As she thought, it was no more than a physiologic reaction. It had nothing to do with him possibly liking her back. And that meant things could still go her way.
Now, she only needed to get Gohan to put her in the friendzone once and for all.
But would asking him what he thought of her even be enough? He already expressed the kind of answer she had been expecting, and that still didn't do the trick. What else could she do to push Gohan to tell her he only saw her as a friend?
"Do you want to try to pet her?" he asked. "She might let you this time."
Videl cracked a smile. The way Gohan had tamed that stray was certainly impressive: she was like mush to his caresses now. It was hard to believe this was the same cat who tried to scratch her while hissing and spitting at her in outrage.
"She's all nice and cozy with you," Videl replied. "I wouldn't want to ruin the mood. Besides, seeing as she's female, she might see me as a rival for your affection."
Videl paused, tilting her head to the side as she considered what she just said. She focused her stare on Gohan's profile, taking advantage of the fact that his attention was on the cat on his lap, and surveyed his reaction. She hadn't thought of it as she said it, but if Gohan brushed her off and replied that the cat had nothing to worry about or something along those lines, that might be enough to put her in the friendzone like she hoped for.
Maybe that was the way to do it. Making allusions that others may get the wrong idea about them and think they were more than friends, and watch how Gohan reacted to that.
Right now, the thin smile on his lips wasn't giving her much to work with. Videl clenched her fists on her lap, her whole body tensing up as she waited for Gohan to say something. When he opened his mouth, she found herself holding her breath
This was it, right? It was really happening. Gohan was finally going to assert that she was just a friend to him.
"I guess that's a possibility. I do care about you a lot."
…If only that boy could just follow the damn script.
She wanted to groan in frustration, but instead she blushed like an idiot and gave a nervous laugh. Gohan turned his head and looked at her, his coal eyes innocent and genuine, while he distractedly continued to pet the cat on his lap.
"What? I mean it, Videl. I know we've only been friends for a few weeks, but sometimes you don't need very long to know that you've met someone special."
She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Okay, this was going the opposite direction now. It practically felt like Gohan was about to tell her he was falling for her! What the hell?
His expression softened. "You really are special to me, Videl. I can honestly say that you've become one of my favorite people in my life."
Abort. Abort. Mission failure. She needed to change the subject – she needed to do something. She had to stop him from saying another word.
But Videl sat frozen, her voice caught in her throat, unable to even tear her gaze away from his.
She couldn't believe it. Gohan was totally about to confess. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it! This couldn't be happening. He wasn't supposed to like her back! She was so sure that he didn't.
His gentle smile never wavered as he went on. "And I may be getting ahead of myself here, but I really, really hope that we'll have the kind of friendship that lasts a lifetime."
The alarms in her head all but fizzled out. The overflow of blood that had gathered in her face was drained completely, and her lips parted as she stared at the clueless boy.
He did it. Without any prompting, all on his own – Gohan actually friendzoned her. He really, properly did it. Mission accomplished.
And her heart shattered into pieces.
This may very well be my favorite chapter so far. Not only because of the cat, whom I planned to write into this scene well before I even started this story, but the whole thing came out even better than what I pictured in my head! Especially the last part with Gohan unknowingly friendzoning Videl lololol. xD
Well, I hope you enjoyed it too! Please don't forget to review — I'm super anxious to know what you think of the chapter! :DD
January 28, 2022
