Please Friendzone Me!
Chapter 8
The Way He Looks at Her
Sharpner and Erasa had quickly followed Videl into the sea, but Gohan stayed behind. He didn't feel like shedding his clothes and possibly drawing unwanted attention to himself, so he simply took off his shoes and socks and sat down on the blanket that his friends had laid out on the sand.
Without meaning to, his eyes kept seeking Videl.
She was laughing with Erasa; the girls had teamed up against Sharpner and were splashing him with a vengeance. He was the one who started it, but now he was trying to get away from the girls who were having none of it. They followed him through the waves and kept splashing him, not giving him a chance to catch his breath.
Gohan rested his chin on his forearms, a small smile curving his lips as he watched the scene. They seemed to be having fun. His gaze lingered on Videl, detailing her lovely traits from afar as she laughed at poor Sharpner who couldn't get away from the girls' combined splash attack.
He liked looking at her. He always had, even before they became friends, even before the first time they shared a proper conversation. And the more he and Videl got to know each other, the more Gohan found himself drawn to her. He wasn't really sure why his attention seemed to always find its way back to her, and until now he never questioned it.
That girl was one of a kind, there was no doubt about it. He was glad that Videl wasn't so guarded with him anymore, and that they were growing closer every day. She had become very special to him, and Gohan felt lucky to be friends with someone like her; to have someone who made his life just a little bit sweeter.
He continued to watch his friends play in the sea, and as his gaze shifted to Videl yet again, a soft sigh slipped through his lips.
The way the sun shone on her wet hair, the way her smile lit up her face, the way the fire in her eyes made him want to get burned… Videl was seriously way too beautiful. It shouldn't be a surprise that the mere sight of her affected him so much. And while it was indeed a little strange that she was the only one his body reacted to, that probably just meant that she suited his personal taste more than any other girl.
He must be quite picky if it had to take someone as stunning as Videl to provoke any kind of reaction out of him. That was all there was to it though, wasn't it? It was only physical attraction, and surely his teenage hormones weren't helping.
But was there possibly more to it?
His brow creased deeply at that thought. What did it even mean, "more"? What would that feel like? What was he even supposed to do with "more"?
Gohan plopped back on the blanket and heaved a sigh. He tried to find the answers in the sky, but the white clouds went along their way, uncaring of his inner turmoil.
He wished there was a class he could take for that kind of thing. Learning, studying, absorbing information – that was where he excelled. Figuring out social connections on his own? Not so much.
Oh, well. There was no point in racking his brain about something he was so unfamiliar with. It wasn't like him to overthink things like this. Surely, when the time was right, eventually, he would figure out what it all meant.
The young man closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of the sun on his face. It felt nice and warm, like a gentle caress. A small smile tugged at his lips as he basked in the feeling. His breathing slowed down, little by little, and soon enough, he lulled himself to sleep.
His subconscious led him back outside of the gallery, to that low wall where he sat with Videl. It replayed her hesitation when she went to hug him, undecided between putting her arms around his back or his neck. She gave him a sheepish smile, her cheeks a lovely reddish hue, and he felt his nervousness ease off as he leaned closer to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist while Videl chose to hold him around the neck. All of his muscles relaxed as he breathed in her hair, basking in her warmth, in her aura, in the way her small, soft frame was all pressed up against him.
Lying on the blanket, a sleeping Gohan cracked a small smile as his dream allowed him to relive that wonderful memory.
But his subconscious didn't stop there. It went on and replayed what happened when he and Videl finally started to pull away. When their eyes locked and it felt like time stood still. He found himself unable to look away. His heart stirred.
This close up, he could see all the little details in her irises; the way her pupils dilated as she stared back at him, the way tiny specks of light glittered golden in the deep blue of her eyes – the way they glistened with something he couldn't quite place yet awoke a vivid fire within him. Her bangs were a bit in the way, so he reached over to brush them away, the tip of his fingers grazing her forehead.
He let his gaze glide over her every trait, studying every little detail of her lovely face: the gentle arch of her eyebrows, the elegant line of her nose and its cute, round tip, the fullness of her cheeks, the subtle squareness of her jaw, the soft curve of her chin…
And then his stare stopped on her lips, and from that moment, it was all he could see.
Her lips. Her beautiful, perfect lips. The fire Videl lit inside of him burned harder than ever, consuming everything in its path.
He wanted to taste them. It was the only thing his brain could register. He didn't understand what was happening or why he couldn't tame the urgency of this desire, but Gohan knew he wanted to kiss those lips.
But it was that very thought, clear and vivid as it went through his head – realizing what he was thinking of doing – that snapped him out of his transfixed state.
His face caught fire as he jerked himself away from Videl, sliding a good distance away from her on the low wall in hopes of calming down his raging emotions. He was absolutely mortified. What was wrong with him? Videl and he were just friends! Since when was it okay to want to kiss a friend?
But then his imagination took over the memory, inventing a different outcome. Videl moved closer to him again, so close that their arms were touching and her intoxicating body heat washed over him.
"Gohan…"
The hair at the base of his neck rose at the way she sighed his name. He gulped. What was going on? This shouldn't be happening. And why was Videl leaning even closer to him?
He felt her breath brush his ear when she said his name again, this time in a sing-song voice.
His fingers trembled. He felt weak.
His eyes followed the motion of her hand as it approached him; she placed it on his chest, right over his heart, and Gohan knew she could feel how hard it was pounding.
"You were going to kiss me, weren't you?"
A strangled squeak came out of his throat, and Gohan tried to put some distance between them again, but somehow Videl just stayed right next to him.
He swallowed thickly. "I… No, I… I wasn't… I wouldn't… I…"
Her hand on his torso slowly slid up, passing his clavicle, continuing along his throat, before going behind his neck. Gohan felt dizzy at the caress. She ran her fingers through his hair, and Gohan pinched his lips together to suppress a moan at the sensation.
"Why didn't you?" she asked in a whisper, her hands still buried in his thick spikes. She pressed herself up against his side, and the feeling of her soft curves against him was more than he could handle. His chest was heaving, deep breaths slipping in and out of his parted lips at a rapid pace.
"I…"
He finally turned to look at her. With her hand on the back of his head, she brought him closer to her.
"Vi… Videl…" He meant to protest, but the way he said her name sounded more like a moan of anticipation.
The scenery around them blurred. And then it took form again, but they weren't outside the gallery anymore but at the beach. Videl was wearing her swimsuit, and they were sitting together on the blanket Sharpner and Erasa had laid out on the sand.
"I saw the way you were looking at me." She leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "You want me, don't you?"
She put both her hands on his shoulders, before slowly letting them run down his bare torso. His skin twitched and burned at her touch. He couldn't think straight anymore. He couldn't stand this. Yes, yes, he wanted her. Goodness, he wanted her so damn much.
He suddenly grabbed her wrists, pulling her hands off his chest. But he didn't let go. He was panting, and he couldn't take his eyes off this girl. His body was on fire.
He pushed her down, pinning her wrists over her head, and as her back made contact with the blanket, it was on the mattress of a bed that they ended up – Gohan on top of Videl.
But he barely noticed the dark bedroom as he dove in and seized Videl's mouth with an urgency he didn't comprehend. All his senses went wild as he lost himself in the delicious taste of her lips, in the way her breath mingled with his, in the feeling of her skin against his… And her scent… Goodness, he was so crazy about her scent.
He let go of her wrists to hold her hands, intertwining their fingers; the kiss slowed down, becoming more gentle, more tender. Gohan could've sworn he was floating on a cloud. His head was in a haze of the most delectable sensations. It just felt so good. He was losing his mind. Kissing Videl… He couldn't get enough of it. He couldn't get enough of her.
He detached his lips from hers to dive in the crook of her neck, letting go of one of her hands to move his to her hip. Videl used her free hand to grip his hair, keeping his head in place while he feasted on her sweet skin. She craned her neck and tightened her fingers around his as she moaned his name.
That sound alone was driving him so crazy. He was losing it.
He rose, towering over her, holding her hand firmly over her head. He moved his spare one to touch her cheek, brushed her lips with his thumb. With the tips of his fingers, he traced the line of her jaw, letting them run down the curve of her throat. He kept going, reaching her heaving chest, and his fingers quivered when they paused at her cleavage. His throat tightened. The way the top of her swimsuit hugged her breasts…
"You're so perfect," he croaked out. He continued his course over her chest, lightly grazing the polyester fabric before getting to the top of her abdomen. He felt breathless. "So, so perfect…"
He ran his fingers along her belly; it was flat and firm, and he could feel the very subtle shape of her abs.
Something stirred within him. Gohan couldn't resist the sudden urge that gripped him; letting go of her other hand, he lightly held her waist and lowered his head, planting an open-mouthed kiss on that perfect stomach. He breathed in deeply, soaking in her addicting scent.
"G… Gohan…" she moaned, the intoxicating sound further fueling his lust for this gorgeous girl.
Gosh, she was so soft. He continued to feast on her stomach, kissing, licking, nibbling; he savored the way her muscles twitched, the way her breath deepened as he explored every inch of exposed skin, slowly making his way down.
Videl groaned when he teased her navel with his tongue. He ran his hand down her thighs, to her knees, nudging her legs open as he settled in between them. While his mouth got closer to the bottom of her swimsuit, he slowly moved his hands up to her hips. His fingers fiddled with the hem of her polyester boxers, tugging at it slightly, tentatively.
She moaned his name again and gripped his hair, pushing his head lower, urging him closer to the part of her that gave off the sweetest scent of all – and, goodness, he ached to taste it.
And then the barking of a dog jolted him out of his dream. Coal eyes darted from side to side in confusion. His heart was racing, his chest was heaving, and his skin felt hot and sticky.
Wha… What just…?
What?
His hands rose to his face, the tips of his fingers pressing on his forehead as he stared ahead of him with wide eyes. That was… a dream? Where Videl and he were… And he had been about to…
What was that?
Gohan rubbed his burning face with his hands and let out a muffled groan. What the heck was wrong with him? How could he objectify Videl in this way? Granted, he couldn't control what he dreamed about… but it was true that he had wanted to kiss Videl when they pulled away from the hug earlier today. And when he saw her wearing that swimsuit… it did ignite something within him.
But what was worse… That dream… he had enjoyed it. A lot. And a part of him was actually disappointed that it got cut short.
This was crazy. Even if he was attracted to Videl, that dream was just plain crazy. Was he becoming a pervert? How could he even think of her in this way? She was his friend, and something like this could potentially ruin everything between them.
He sat up grumbling to himself. Why was this happening? Everything had been going so well since he started high school. Why were his hormones acting up now?
Tugging at his collar, Gohan grimaced at the sensation of his sweaty shirt sticking to his skin. At least the self-indignation had been enough to cool off his crotch area…
He looked over at the sea and started to untuck his shirt. He could definitely use a good swim to try and clear his mind.
And that was when he caught sight of the most enthralling apparition that he had ever laid his eyes on. His body went limp and his jaw slackened as Videl stepped out of the shallow waters; she pulled her hairbands off and ran a hand up her forehead and down her long raven locks. His face ablaze, Gohan's breathing deepened as his gaze unwittingly followed the course of a single droplet of water down her throat; it continued past her clavicle, reached her chest, before disappearing in her cleavage. He swallowed thickly. The sight of her gorgeous body, barely clothed and dripping wet – it was making him thirsty.
As his eyes lingered on her flat stomach, Gohan couldn't help recalling his very vivid dream, and he found himself wondering if her skin tasted as delicious as his subconscious made it out to be.
The boy forcefully turned his head away and closed his eyes tightly. What the heck was he thinking? This was bad. He needed to get away from here. Seeing Videl like this was not good for his sanity.
He got to his feet and quickly took off his long-sleeved shirt and dress pants, now clad in his swimming trunks. Making a point not to look at the reason for his inner turmoil, Gohan went the other way to dash toward the shore so as not to cross her path. He welcomed the cool temperature as he entered the sea and didn't slow his pace as he pushed through the waves in the shallow waters; he dove in as soon as he was deep enough and swam away.
He was so done with puberty.
In her peripheral vision, Videl picked up Gohan standing up abruptly, but as she turned to look at him, her jaw all but dropped at the sight of him taking his shirt off. She thought she had had a good look at his chiseled muscles when he wore his purple gi for their spar, but nothing could have prepared the crushing girl for the mouth-watering perfection that was Gohan's bare torso.
A lump rose in her throat. She couldn't take her eyes off his abs while he undid his belt and pulled down his pants, revealing his swimming trunks. They were green with golden streaks and stopped at his mid-thighs, showing off his toned legs.
Oh, God, why was he so hot?
Videl was glad Gohan wasn't looking her way. Her eyes followed his divine body as he darted towards the ocean. In her dazed state, she didn't question why Gohan made a detour and went around her to reach the shore or why he seemed in a rush, nor did she notice the very deep blush taking up his entire face. She only saw his broad back and defined muscles as Gohan entered the water.
She blinked when he disappeared under a wave. And then Videl raised her hands over her mouth as more blood gathered in her head.
It… It wasn't her fault, she told herself. Gohan was just that hot. And she wasn't only attracted to him – madly attracted to him – she also had real feelings for him. Which she could have done without, thank you very much. But they were there, and she was stuck with them until she finally got over Gohan. So, no, it wasn't her fault she couldn't take her eyes off of him. That was on Gohan for being too perfect, inside and out.
"Oh, boy, did you see that guy just now?" gushed some random girl, making a show to fan herself. "Mama mia…"
Case in point. Gohan was just that hot.
Videl stood in one of the outdoor showers, washing the salt and the sand off her body and hair. Once she was done, she wrapped her large towel around her shoulders and went back to her friends' spot. Sharpner had put his shirt back on, leaving his swimming trunks on as is, and Erasa had on a white cover-up dress over her bikini.
"Gohan's not back yet?" Videl observed.
"Still playing in the waves or swimming I guess," Sharpner shrugged as he and Erasa folded the blanket together. "Must've lost track of time."
Videl frowned and scanned the sea. The sun was getting closer to the horizon, and the people still in the water were steadily getting scarcer as the late afternoon was turning into early evening. As such, it shouldn't have been difficult to spot one teenage boy across the beach. Videl squinted, going slower as she studied each person still in the water. Where was he?
"How long has it been since anyone last saw him?" she asked her friends without taking her eyes off the horizon.
"Uhh, I didn't see him since we went to join you in the sea and he stayed behind," Erasa replied. The blanket dropped from her grasp and she put a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. "Wait, you don't think…?"
"No way." Sharpner folded the patterned cloth one last time and grabbed a bag. "The current wasn't that strong, and you said yourself that even you couldn't beat him when you two sparred," he reminded Videl while putting away the blanket in the bag. "If he's that strong, there's no way he could've let the current take him or whatever."
"It's been nearly two hours, and everybody's got a limit to their stamina." She didn't like this. Sure, Gohan was incredibly strong, but he was still just a guy, and he could get hurt like anybody else. Or worse…
Her gaze darted around the beach, searching for a way to go look for Gohan more efficiently than by swimming. She spotted a few men pushing jet skis out of the water. Yes, that would do.
"Wait…" Erasa croaked out. She raised her arm and pointed a trembling finger at the sea. "Is that… him?"
Videl whipped her head around, following the direction Erasa was showing. She squinted. "Where?"
"All the way out there…" the blonde whispered in horror.
A few of their classmates walked over to ask what was going on. Erasa kept pointing at the same spot. "I… I think that's Gohan."
Videl felt herself go limp. Far, far in the ocean, a silhouette was lying there, motionless. As though… As though…
"Oh, shit!" Sharpner cursed.
Her head was screaming.
It couldn't be. Gohan wasn't… No!
"Jet ski!" she suddenly exclaimed. She dashed to the men putting away the precious vehicles. "I need to borrow a jet ski right now! My friend went too far, it looks like he's drowning!"
Or drowned. Videl pushed that thought away. No, he didn't. He couldn't have. He just couldn't. He was okay. He had to be okay.
She didn't remember what they said or how she got on a jet ski – all Videl could focus on was the unmoving silhouette in the distance as she rode the jet ski. It felt like forever, reaching him, and her head was a jumbled mess of worst-case scenarios. She tried to stay positive, to keep telling herself that Gohan was strong, that nothing happened to him – but she couldn't shake the dread gripping her stomach as her eyes stayed fixated on his limp form that was steadily getting bigger.
She slowed down when she got close enough, so as not to make a big splash that could potentially make things worse.
And then, just as she pulled to a stop, she saw the body move. Gohan simply shifted from the lying position in the ocean, as though he was just getting out of bed. He looked at her with his head tilted, a confused expression on his face.
"Videl? Is everything okay?"
Anger quickly replaced relief. Videl gritted her teeth, her fingers clenching on the handlebars.
"You… idiot! What the hell are you doing all the way out here? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Everyone is worried sick about you! We thought you'd drowned!"
Gohan turned to look at the position of the sun and winced. "I guess I have been out here a while…" He sighed and ran a hand through his wet spikes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you guys… But I'm fine, honest. I wasn't in any danger or anything."
Videl saw red. "What do you mean, you weren't in any danger? Don't you realize how unpredictable the ocean can be? The current could pick up at any moment and pull you in, or you could get a cramp, and then you'd drown! And since you're so far away from the shore, nobody could get to you in time, and that'd be the end of it! God! I can't believe you! For such a big worrywart, you can be so reckless!"
Gohan pursed his lips. "I get that you were worried about me, and for that I'm sorry, but you don't need to lecture me. This isn't my first time swimming in the ocean. I know what I'm doing – I wasn't being reckless."
"Seriously? Are you seriously pulling that pride shit on me right now? Do you think you're fucking invincible? Last I checked, you need to breathe just like the rest of us!"
"But I'm fine, aren't I? There's no reason to–"
"You got lucky!" she interjected. "I know you're strong and all, but–"
"No, actually, you don't know," he cut her off in turn, and then let out a frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Forget it. Fine, you're right, I was reckless, and I'm sorry. Let's just get back to the shore."
Videl blew a long breath, trying to calm down, but her emotions were still all over the place. "Fine. Get on."
Wordlessly, Gohan swam closer to the jet ski and hoisted himself up, not even emitting the slightest grunt at the supposed effort. Videl purposely didn't look at him as he settled down behind her, and, thankfully, Gohan chose to grab onto the back of the seat instead of wrapping his arms around her waist, as was common when riding a jet ski in pairs. The last thing she needed right now was to be affected by her feelings for him. She was still mad at him for putting his life in danger and making everyone worry about him.
She turned on the engine and rode the jet ski back toward the shore. She was still seething. She knew Gohan didn't mean it when he admitted that she was right – that guy seriously thought he could overpower mother nature herself! How could he be so thoughtless? Did he not realize the hole he would leave behind to those who cared about him if anything happened to him? How could he not think of his family, of his mother, his brother, his friends – of her? How was she supposed to ever get over losing him? He said he hoped their friendship would last a lifetime, but his lifetime wasn't supposed to end already! It was supposed to mean years and years, not just one day, damn it!
She sniffled and quickly brushed her eyes with the side of her hand. The sound of the jet ski's engine and the water spraying them should be enough to cover up her tears.
That idiot. First, he made her worried sick about him, and now he made her cry. How could he be so insensitive?
Gohan felt his chest tighten when Videl sniffled again. He closed his eyes and pretended not to notice.
He felt awful.
He shouldn't have tried to defend himself when she started scolding him. She had every right to be upset, and she had every reason to believe he was in danger and to call him reckless. If anything, it had been reckless of him to make everyone worry about him when he was well aware they couldn't have known that he was perfectly safe. He should've realized swimming so far away in the ocean and for such a long time wasn't normal behavior.
He wished he had started school earlier, that he could already be accustomed to the social cues and to the things he should or shouldn't be doing in front of his classmates.
He wished he could tell Videl everything, explain to her that she had nothing to worry about, show her just how strong he was; if only to comfort her, if only so she never had to shed another tear because of him.
Videl stopped the jet ski before they reached the shore. She cleared her throat.
"Go show everyone you're alive," she said, her tone neutral. "I have to return the jet ski."
Gohan quietly assented. He raised one of his legs over the seat, getting ready to jump in the water – and paused. His fingers tightened on the leather, and he closed his eyes.
"I'm really sorry, Videl. I shouldn't have swum so far. It was stupid and reckless."
A moment passed before Videl spoke, her voice hushed. "Just go."
The tightness in his chest rose into his throat. Gohan swallowed. He looked at her again, wishing she would at least turn around.
"I'm sorry," he murmured once more, before jumping into the sea. As he emerged, Videl revved the engine and rode the jet ski away without a look back.
February 28, 2022
