Chapter Twelve
His Sinking Heart
The lunch hour was halfway through, yet neither Sharpner nor Videl had come back from their talk. Gohan checked his watch again, getting restless. He had no idea what to expect, but as optimistic as he had been about Sharpner talking him up to Videl, he wasn't so sure anymore. Their prolonged absence didn't feel like a good sign.
Glancing over at his blonde friend who was chatting with some of her friends from other classes in the courtyard, Gohan could see that Erasa wasn't sharing his growing worry. She looked as cheery as always, maybe even more so than usual, probably due to their talk earlier and the promise that Sharpner was going to ask her out.
Deciding that worrying wasn't doing him any good, Gohan went back inside the school building, intent on finding either Videl or Sharpner, whoever appeared first.
His eyebrows drew together as his senses tingled with something he hadn't noticed up before. Videl's ki was pretty high, way past its resting level. But nobody seemed to be around her to serve as a sparring partner, which meant she had suddenly decided to go for a training session in the school's indoor gym.
The fluctuations in her aura did not feel promising. Gohan's frown deepened, more creases forming on his brow. His worry was worsening.
Did it go that bad with Sharpner…? Surely, there had to be another reason for Videl to be so upset?
Gohan tried to stay positive as he went to the indoor gym, hoping that the bad feeling he couldn't shake away wasn't justified.
He found her beating the living hell out of a punching bag. Her hits were erratic and lacked the gracefulness Videl would usually show, on the times he'd seen her fight. Her teeth were grinding, sweat was dripping from her skin, soaking her baggy white T-shirt and the black bike short she was wearing.
His heart tightened at the sight. Her ki was such a jumbled mess of emotions that it was hard to pinpoint what she was feeling.
In any case, it was bad. Gohan felt himself grow nervous as he forced his legs forward, going toward the pigtailed girl.
"Videl?" he called hesitantly, making her pause in her assault, holding the pose with her knee deep into the sandbag.
She straightened herself up, and her eyes hardened when they locked on his, her mouth taut in a dark scowl.
"What do you want?" Her tone was as cold and harsh as the look on her face.
"What's wrong?" he couldn't help asking.
She scoffed. "Like you don't know. Whose idea was it, huh? Did you really think it was going to work?"
His heart sank at her words. So Sharpner had failed, then. "I'm sorry. I didn't think━"
"You know why I have to push you away!" she snapped, her voice rising, her tightly closed fists trembling at her sides. "I told you why, and you said you understood! Why would you…? Why did you have to make it all worse? I didn't want to know━ How could you?" Her voice was cracking, tears welling up in her eyes. "After I told you━ How could you send Sharpner to tell me you━ I didn't want to know you had feelings for me!"
Heat rushed to his face and his eyes widened. He couldn't believe his ears. "Wh… Wha…?"
"Don't play dumb!" She sniffed and swept the back of her wrist over her eyes in an angry motion. "You and Sharpner━ you planned for this. You told him you liked me and made sure he could deliver the message to me." She turned away in a huff. "What, did you think I would fall into your arms? Did you think I would just forget about how… about how I would end up if I ever let my guard down around you?"
His throat felt so dry and tight. "I… I'm sorry, Videl," was all he could think of saying.
"Save it." She turned back to him, her eyes unforgiving as she glared murder at the poor boy. "But I have to thank you, I guess. At least now, I'll know better than to let myself go around you."
This couldn't be happening. Why did Sharpner go and tell Videl about how he felt about her? That wasn't what they had agreed on! Sharpner had been supposed to convince her that she should give him a chance and at least agree to be friends with him. But now, all of his progress with Videl was flushed down the toilet. Now, she was so mad she wouldn't even be cordial with him, let alone friendly.
He had to explain his side of the story. He couldn't let Videl think he had anything to do with what Sharpner had told her. However true it may be, Gohan only hoped for them to be friends, nothing more. Okay, fine, he did wish for more, but he wasn't deluding himself into thinking that it was a possibility.
Videl whirled around without another word, her steps heavy as she walked away from him.
His hand was on her shoulder before he could realize that he had moved.
"Wait," he croaked out.
Videl swiftly shrugged him off and gave him a murderous glare, her blue eyes shooting daggers at him as she faced him once again.
His throat was so dry, his voice was barely working. "I'm sorry about Sharpner, but I swear I didn't ask him to tell you about…" His face flushed and his eyes averted to the side in embarrassment.
"Oh yeah? And why should I believe you?" She crossed her arms, her defensive walls so high around her that Gohan would almost feel them pushing him back.
"Because it's the truth." He looked back at her, his eyes screaming honesty as they locked with hers. "I swear to you, Videl, I didn't ask Sharpner to tell you about how I… feel." Gohan pushed through the embarrassment and didn't let his gaze waver as he admitted to his crush on her. "I didn't even realize that I had those feelings until Sharpner spelled it out to me."
"Okay, fine, so that's not what you asked Sharpner to tell me," she conceded, believing his word at last. The harshness in her eyes still hadn't receded, however. "Then what was Sharpner supposed to talk to me about, huh?"
"I… I didn't ask him, but he offered. I told him I wished we could be friends. That's all. Sharpner said he would talk some sense into you. He agreed to only help convince you to be friends with me, nothing more."
"Well, that's not what he said to me!" Her voice was rising once more, her anger taking over all of the jumbled emotions that radiated off her ki. "He told me you had feelings for me, that you told him yourself, and that I was stupid to push you away."
His face burned once again, and Gohan rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm really sorry, Videl, I never asked him to tell you about that…"
"Well that makes no difference, does it?" she remarked bitterly. "And you knew. I told you what I was risking, just being friends with you. I told you. You know how it would change me, how I can't let that happen. And you still let Sharpner talk to me, even if it was only to convince me to be your friend. You knew full well what I would be risking and you still went along with it."
He closed his eyes. She was right. It had been selfish of him, hoping that Sharpner could change her mind, wishing they could be friends, and maybe more eventually. Videl had told him how having him in her life would change her into a person she didn't wish to become. She had admitted that she wished things were different, but that the risks were just too big.
But he liked her so much. Videl was the most incredible girl he'd ever met. She was so beautiful, and brave, and determined, and fiery, and strong, and righteous, and kind-hearted… How could he not like her? How could he not wish for them to get closer?
Gohan swallowed thickly. How selfish of him, imposing his own desires on Videl when she told him exactly why they could never be friends.
"You're right," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He opened his eyes, locking them with hers. "I'm sorry, Videl. I shouldn't have tried again. I do know why you're pushing me away, and I still accepted Sharpner's offer to talk to you. I just…" He swallowed, his face burning as he gathered his courage to keep going. "I really like you, Videl. I'm sorry, but I can't help it. I kinda wish Sharpner didn't make me realize how I felt about you, but it's here now," he said, hitting his chest with the side of his fist, just over his heart, "and I can't make it go away."
He liked the way her cheeks reddened at his confession, and how she broke eye contact to look sideways. If Videl felt even a little flustered by him telling her how he felt, surely it was a good sign, right?
"And you think it's been easy for me?" she muttered bitterly. "Knowing what it would be like, how amazing it could be ━ but having to turn my back on all of it because of how it would change me?"
He didn't reply, observing the girl with a thoughtful frown. The way she spoke, the words she was saying… Something in his head clicked.
Could it be…?
His heartbeat picked up all of a sudden. Just what kind of relationship did they have in Videl's visions? Were they just friends or… Could it be that she had seen them… together? As in… romantically involved?
"Do you like me too?" he blurted out, unable to stop himself.
Her face flushed completely, and she tried to hide her bright blush with her hands. "Gah! What the hell!"
He swallowed. "You do like me," he breathed out, his own cheeks burning up at the realization.
"Just leave me alone already!" She turned her back to him, maybe to try and hide how she felt.
But it was too late. Her reaction was only confirming his assumption. Videl liked him back.
"But…" he tried to protest. Surely, there had to be a way to make this work. If he liked Videl and she liked him too, surely, they should try and see where this could go.
Okay, so Videl did see where it went, and obviously she didn't like what she saw… But couldn't they find a way around it somehow? If she liked him as much as he liked her… Surely it was worth a try?
"You promised you'd stay away from me, Gohan," she reminded him, still unwilling to face him. "I keep your secrets and you let me be, that was our deal. So keep your end of it."
His throat tightened. She was right. He did give her his word.
Was it really hopeless? This couldn't be the end of it. This couldn't be how his first crush was supposed to go. Surely, they could work it out.
But he did make her a promise, and Gohan couldn't go back on his word. It was physically impossible for him to break a promise he had made.
… As much as right now, the boy wished nothing more than to go back on his word.
Videl didn't wait for his reply and walked away. Gohan stood there, watching her go into the locker room, slamming the door behind her.
His heart felt heavy and tight, like something had grabbed it and was squeezing it in a vice-like grip, harder and harder.
A hand rose to his eyes, covering them. This was it, then. His first crush ━ over before it could even begin. Videl may like him back, but she still rejected him. Worse, she made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him.
He stood there for a while, trying to compose himself, to get over what just happened. Eventually, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break. Gohan rubbed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
It was fine. It was going to be okay. He had been through worse. There was nothing time couldn't heal ━ even as broken as his heart felt.
The situation seemed to have resolved on its own, somehow. On the row behind the four teens concerned, Paige observed the new dynamic between the group. At the end of the row, Gohan was now sitting next to Sharpner, then Erasa was on the next seat, then it was Videl. The girl in question seemed particularly moody, and she had even snapped at her best friend, Erasa when the blonde had tried to ask why she was suddenly changing their seating arrangements.
Gohan looked particularly gloomy. Every now and then, he would glance over at Videl, now three seats away from him, and heave a deep, pained sigh.
Paige raised an eyebrow at the new development. She definitely needed to bring her crystal ball to school, because something obviously happened during the lunch hour today and the red-haired girl did not enjoy ignorance. Screw the risks, she needed her damn crystal ball to keep a closer eye on Videl.
At least, a good thing came out of whatever happened, because Gohan and Videl went back to avoiding each other. Things were back on track.
Did Gohan confess to Videl and got turned down or something? With the way he was looking at her, the longing and heartbreak so evident in his coal eyes, it was the only conclusion she could come up with.
Well, that meant he would need a comforting shoulder to lean on, and Paige was more than happy to provide. Surely, now he would agree to hang out with her after school without a fuss? She could always push him to agree, but Paige would rather he accept of his own free will. It would make things a lot easier if Gohan grew to like her on his own.
When the bell rang for the afternoon break, Paige was quick to take action. She followed Gohan out of the classroom and called out to him.
His smile was half-hearted as he waited for her to reach him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, hoping to find out more about what happened during the lunch break.
"Yeah, I guess." His eyes trailed behind her and he swallowed thickly. Paige turned around, a frown taking up her traits as she saw Videl hurry off, not waiting around for her friends.
"Did something happen?" she pried. "I couldn't help but notice the mood between the four of you… Not to mention, the change of seats."
Gohan dug his hands into his pockets, his eyes downcast as he gave a shrug. "We'll be okay. Thanks for your concern, Paige."
She bit her lip. "I hate to ask for your help at a time like this, but our math class is kicking my ass, and with the test coming up this week…"
He looked at her with a kind smile, running a hand over the back of his neck. His bicep bulged with the fold of his arm, making his sleeve tighten around the defined muscle. Paige felt herself blush, her green eyes glazing over as she let them run over the unsuspecting teen.
Damn, he was hot.
"Yeah, sure," he agreed. Paige smiled, pleased that she didn't even need to use her power of persuasion on the boy. "We can meet up after school."
"Thank you, Gohan! You're the best!" In the excitement of her triumph, Paige gave him a peck on the cheek.
He blinked at her, a slight frown of confusion creasing his brow. Paige flashed him a sheepish smile, her cheeks burning.
She really liked him. This wasn't just about pulling Gohan away from Videl to better exact vengeance on the other girl. Paige was genuinely starting to develop feelings for Gohan, and she was determined to make him like her back.
Unknown to them, Erasa had watched the scene unfold with a deep frown, not liking what she saw in the least.
It was Wednesday. Things weren't getting any better between Sharpner and Videl, who had not spoken to each other since the lunch break on Monday.
Sharpner had apologized to him for not keeping his end of their deal and for not doing what they had agreed on. While Gohan wished his friend hadn't gone rogue on him, he knew that Sharpner had only tried to help. It obviously backfired, at both of them, for Videl had been shutting everyone out ever since that infamous lunch break.
She wouldn't even speak to Erasa, who had nothing to do with any of this, which really wasn't fair. But if this was Videl's way of dealing with the situation, there was nothing either of them could do, least of all him. Videl had made herself quite clear, and Gohan's word bound him to abide by her wish. He had no choice but to stay away from the girl he liked.
His shoulders slumped in dejection as a deep sigh slipped through his lips. Sometimes, he really did wish Sharpner never made him realize how he felt about Videl. If he had stayed blissfully unaware that he liked her as more than a friend, then he wouldn't be so hurt by her rejection. He wouldn't have confessed to her in the first place, for that matter.
Training with Piccolo in the evenings helped distract his mind. He was making good progress, his natural talent making up for his lack of practice over the years. It was nice, too, not to be training because some new enemy was putting the universe in jeopardy. Trying to hone his skills for no other reason than to get better, not because some evil monster wanted to kill everyone, it really was nice. And spending time with Piccolo was always a plus.
He glanced at Sharpner, who was sitting next to him since the infamous lunch break on Monday. He felt bad that Videl had a fight with their mutual friend about him. Even though Sharpner should have just followed the plan instead of blabbing about Gohan's feelings to Videl; even though he had been supposed to only try to convince her that she should give Gohan a chance and be friends with him, and only friends, he still felt awful that their friendship was strained because of him. They had been friends since they were kids, and now, because of him, they wouldn't even look at each other, let alone speak to one another. And even Erasa suffered from it as collateral damage. And this was all because he had hoped Sharpner could convince Videl to be friends with him, resulting in a big fight that left their whole group of friends strained. If not for him, none of this would have happened.
Gohan sighed again, hating how helpless he was about the whole situation. With all of his strength, he couldn't even help Sharpner and Videl make up when they were fighting about him.
The bell for lunch sounded off, and Gohan followed the crowd as they all walked out of the classroom to get their lunch boxes in their lockers.
"Hey, Gohan."
He smiled at his friend. "Hey, Paige."
She beamed at him. "Thanks again for all your help. I think I might be ready for tomorrow's test, and it's all thanks to you."
"Glad I could help."
"If it's not too much to ask, could we maybe meet up again after school today?" she asked, joining her hands together to accompany her plea.
"Sorry, Paige, but I'm busy today."
Which wasn't true ━ well, not completely. He planned to go see Piccolo for some more training, even though they usually met after dinner. Still, Gohan had already made up his mind as to what he wanted to do after school, and as nice as Paige was, he would rather be left alone right now.
"Oh…" She hung her head in disappointment. Gohan felt a twinge of guilt ━ but not enough to go back on his words.
"I'm sure you'll do fine on the test," he offered in encouragement.
She bit her lip, her cheeks reddening. "I guess… But I was looking forward to spending time with you again."
Something Erasa had mentioned before tickled his brain. She affirmed that girls had been hitting on him since his very first day of school, but Gohan had yet to notice it himself.
Had Paige been flirting with him from the beginning? The boy frowned. Was she hoping for more?
He observed the girl more carefully. He figured she was pretty, with vibrant, thick, wavy red hair and mischievous emerald eyes, the light colors contrasting nicely with her tanned skin.
And yet… He felt nothing. When Gohan thought of the way Videl would make him feel, the way her smile would make his chest glow, the way her beautiful blue eyes would twinkle as she looked at him, before Monday, before getting his heart stomped on.
He still liked Videl, and he wasn't ready to move on with someone new. He didn't want to get involved with anyone, really. Paige was a nice girl, but he couldn't force himself when he just didn't have any feelings for her. It wouldn't be fair to her, and it wouldn't be fair to himself either.
He closed his locker. "Sorry. See you later."
He didn't wait for her reply and hurried away, isolating himself on the roof so as to be left alone during the lunch hour.
It had only been a couple days, Gohan reminded himself as he munched on his lunch with little enthusiasm. He just needed more time. It took months, years even, to get over the death of his father. And this was just a little crush. It should be nothing in comparison. Sill, it was going to take time until the ache in his chest finally lessened.
He just needed to be patient.
"You should talk to her."
Sharpner's lips pursed in a thin line, his handsome face hardening at her suggestion.
"It's been two days. You guys are going to make up eventually anyway, so why wait?" Erasa reasoned.
They were in the courtyard, sitting together under the shade of a tree while they had lunch together.
"She was ready to throw away our friendship like it was nothing," Sharpner grumbled bitterly. "If anyone should go talk to the other, it should be her."
"But you know how Videl is. She's too proud."
"Well so am I. I ain't talking to her until she apologizes."
Erasa sighed deeply. Sharpner could be so stubborn. He and Videl were alike in more ways than one.
Despite his fight with Videl, Sharpner had still asked her out like Gohan said he would. Erasa had been elated and accepted right away, throwing herself in his arms, and they had shared a loving embrace to seal their new engagement.
She felt awful, though, because she hadn't been able to give all the details to her best friend, who had been pushing everyone away since her fight with Sharpner. Erasa had started dating someone whom she actually saw a future with, and she couldn't even tell Videl about it. Life could be cruel ━ giving with one hand and taking something with the other. She missed her best friend. Why couldn't Sharpner and Videl make up already?
Gohan had been especially gloomy lately, and while he affirmed that it was nothing, Erasa's intuition was tingling. Something had happened. Not just the fight with Sharpner. Something went on between Videl and Gohan, and it did not end on a good note.
"What do you think happened between Videl and Gohan?" she asked her boyfriend, moving on to another subject, even though Videl was still concerned.
Sharpner's frown deepened, but the harshness was replaced with thoughtfulness. "He wouldn't tell me, but I'm guessing Videl blamed it all on him and lashed out at him."
Erasa winced. "Yeah, sounds like her."
"She's being so stupid. Gohan is a great guy and he genuinely likes her. Would it kill her to at least be nice to him?"
"She's not being nice to anyone right now, though… Not even to me."
Sharpner wrapped an arm around her shoulder, offering some comfort. Erasa let her head drop on his shoulder and snuggled up to him, letting out a sigh.
"Sorry. I didn't think she would get so defensive when I told her how Gohan felt about her…" Sharpner mumbled in regret. "I wasn't even supposed to tell her about it… But how could I have guessed how bad she would react?"
"Gohan's such a sweetie, too. The poor guy."
"Yeah…"
The couple fell silent. They had finished eating so they just stayed like that, cuddling with one another, embracing the privileges of their new relationship.
"Hey, guys…"
They both straightened up at the new arrival. Videl wasn't making eye contact, shuffling on her feet, chewing on her lower lip.
"Look who's back," Sharpner bit snidely, rolling his eyes while he crossed his arms.
"Sharpner!" Erasa berated him. "Videl's made the first step; the least you can do is listen to what she has to say!"
He pursed his lips, his arms tightening across his chest, but said nothing else.
"Hey, Videl," Erasa said with a warm, relieved smile. "Come sit with us."
Videl obliged without a word. Her lips were pinched together, still avoiding eye contact with her friends.
"So, um, Sharpner and I, we're together now," Erasa said to break the silence, but also because she'd been dying to tell her best friend about it from the moment Gohan told her it would happen.
"Yeah, so I've noticed…" Videl said in reply. She gave an awkward chuckle. "I can't believe I never saw it coming… I guess you two always acted kinda flirty with each other so I got used to it and didn't look any further."
Erasa grinned. Man, it felt good to have her best friend back. "Is that so? To think the usually so cunning Videl didn't notice something even Gohan picked up on."
The raven-haired girl finally looked at her at that. "Seriously?"
"He's the one who made me realize I liked Erasa as more than a friend," Sharpner cut in, still not looking at Videl and still not forgiving her, since she hadn't even apologized properly after all, but offering his two cents anyway. "He's not as clueless as he seems ━ at least, not when it he's the one concerned."
"He said we reacted in the same way," Erasa added with a grin, "when he told Sharpner and then me that we should be together."
"Did he, now?" Sharpner smirked at his girlfriend.
"He did mention I recovered a lot faster than you," Erasa teased back. "Was it that shocking to you, to realize how you felt about me?"
Sharpner laughed. "You have no idea. I think I was gaping at him for a while before it finally dawned on me that he was right."
Erasa giggled. "I wish I'd seen the look on your face."
"According to Gohan, it was the same look you had. So, you know."
She punched him on the shoulder playfully. "You're so silly."
Videl watched her friends flirt and tease each other, a heavy brick weighing in her stomach. To think she'd missed it. Her two best friends became an item ━ and she had missed it. She had been too focused on herself and her own little problems to be a good friend and be there when it counted. And now she had missed a big milestone between her two best friends, and it was too late to go back.
"I'm so sorry," she blurted out, making the two blonds look at her. "Sharpner, I'm sorry about our fight. I have my reasons, but I went too far when I threatened to throw away our friendship, even if I didn't really mean it. And Erasa," she added, turning to her best friend in the whole world, "I'm so sorry about the way I've been to you when you had nothing to do with any of this. It's just… Things are so complicated, and I didn't want to see anyone, but now all I can think about is how I missed the moment my two best friends get together."
"Well, I can still tell you all about it," Erasa offered with an excited glint in her eye.
"I would love that," Videl said with a relieved smile. Then she turned her hesitant gaze to her other best friend. "Sharpner…?"
He smiled. "Yeah, okay. Water under the bridge. I'm glad to have you back, Vi. Didn't think you had it in you to apologize."
She blushed and averted her eyes. "Well, sometimes you have to push past your damn pride and do the right thing."
"Aww, Vi, you're growing! I'm so proud of you!" Erasa threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly, rubbing her cheek against hers.
Videl chuckled. "Thanks, E."
Well, that was one thing off her chest. Of course, the other thing was doomed to stay bottled down… She and Gohan would never have closure, no matter how much she wished for things to be different.
It was hard to believe that Gohan had been the one to give her friends the right push toward each other. He was usually so clueless, never noticing when a girl was hitting on him, and yet he had seen something Videl herself had missed, even as sharp as she normally was. There was more to Gohan than met the eye, that was for sure.
Her heart sank as she remembered his puppy eyes when he confessed his feelings to her. He had known that it was hopeless, yet he just couldn't stop himself from telling her how he felt.
To think he actually liked her… Videl had been so sure her feelings were one-sided. It had made things easier, because if Gohan didn't like her that way, then there was no point in wishing for things to be different.
But now she knew, no thanks to Sharpner, and she couldn't help the regret in her heart when she thought of Gohan.
He was such a great guy, and he actually liked her. He liked her for her, not because of who her father was. He was the only guy who would never bat an eye at the fact that she was Mr. Satan's daughter, for that matter.
Why did things have to be this way? Videl almost wished she never had those visions, warning her of what she could become if she let herself be in a relationship with Gohan. If she hadn't known what the future held for her, they would have at least been happy together, instead of feeling miserable because they were forced to be apart.
Erasa had let her go. Videl bit her lip.
"So…" She took a deep breath. "How is… Gohan?"
"He's been better," Sharpner replied, a frown of concern taking up his features.
"Did something happen between you two?" Erasa piled on, taking the opportunity to ask her friend about what she'd been dying to know.
"Yeah…" Videl admitted. "And it didn't go well."
"Yeah, we figured," Sharpner said.
"Gohan kinda…" Videl sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping while her cheeks burned up. "He told me he liked me. And I shot him down."
Sharpner hit his face with his palm, while Erasa shook her head in dismay.
"God, you're so stupid, Videl," Sharpner berated her.
"Hey! I have my reasons, okay!" she fired back, her fists clenching on her lap.
"Which are…?" he pressed on. Videl scowled, crossing her arms.
"I'm still not telling you. I'd rather never talk about it again."
"You're still an idiot," Sharpner muttered sourly.
"Hush now," Erasa told her boyfriend. "Don't go starting another fight when you two just made up."
"It's not my fault she's an idiot."
"I am not! I just don't want to end up━"
Videl stopped herself before she blurted out her secret. Erasa and Sharpner frowned in confusion.
"What is it?" Erasa pried. "You can tell us, Videl. You know we'd never tell another soul. You can trust us."
"I know that," Videl gritted out. Her face was heating up. "It's just… I'm so ashamed and embarrassed. I don't even want to think about it, let alone tell anyone about… about what I could become."
"We'd never judge you," Erasa said. "Whatever it is, you can tell us, Videl. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I know…" Videl sighed deeply in resignation. "Okay, fine, I'll tell you.."
Still frowning, their attention solely on their friend, Erasa and Sharpner nodded at her, encouraging her to confide in them.
Videl pinched her lips together. She closed her eyes, pretending she was alone as she was about to share her secret for the first time.
"If I ever get together with Gohan… You know those women who lose themselves in a relationship?" She swallowed thickly. "That's what I become."
"That makes no sense," Erasa disagreed. "Why would you think that?"
"Is that what you saw in your dreams before you met Gohan?" Sharpner inquired, knowing more about the situation than his girlfriend.
Erasa's head whipped at him, her eyes wide. "Wait, what?"
"Videl had dreams about Gohan before they met," Sharpner explained. "And they stopped after she met him. Are they still gone?" he asked Videl, who nodded in response.
"Yeah. Haven't had any since I met Gohan. Which might mean I managed to erase that future from existence… unless it means that whatever psychic powers I stumbled on are gone, so I can't let my guard down in case that future is still a possibility."
"Is it really that bad?" Erasa asked, tilting her head, her forefinger touching her chin.
Videl nodded gravely. "It is. I…" She blushed in shame. "I lose my fire, I become mellow, I have no personality. The only thing that defines me is my love for Gohan."
Her friends winced. "Ouch," Sharpner said in sympathy.
"Does that mean… Like, you and Gohan, how far into the future did you see?" Erasa inquired in curiosity.
Videl looked away, her blush worsening, although for a different reason this time. "…Pretty far." She bit her lip. Well, she told them the worst of it, there was no point in hiding the rest. "We get married, have kids, and we're happy… But I just can't accept the price for that happiness."
"I find this hard to believe," Sharpner remarked, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "Gohan likes you the way you are. He wouldn't want you to change or to turn into the woman you're described."
"He didn't seem to mind in my dreams…" Videl muttered, her cheeks burning up at the reminder of Gohan's feelings for her.
"Are you sure they're all reliable? Maybe your dreams didn't get everything right," Sharpner offered.
Videl shook her head. "I can't take any chance. The stakes are too high."
"But why can't you be friends with him?" Sharpner asked, trying to keep his end of his deal with Gohan despite his initial failure. "I mean, if in your dreams you lose yourself in the relationship, then don't be in a relationship with him. That shouldn't stop you from being his friend."
Videl bit her lip, her eyes averted as she considered her friend's suggestion.
"He's right, Vi," Erasa said. "You can still be friends with Gohan. You owe him that much ━ the poor guy is heartbroken."
Videl winced at that. It wasn't like she didn't know how much she had hurt Gohan, but the reminder still felt like arrows being shot through her heart.
"I don't know… I… I actually like him. A lot," she admitted, her face feeling hotter than ever. "And if I spend more time with him, my feelings for him are bound to keep growing… And so would his for me. It wouldn't be fair to either of us."
"Gohan really wants to be your friend," Sharpner insisted. "He said that even though he likes you, he doesn't care if you guys are just friends."
She bit her lip again. "He said that?"
"Give him a chance, Videl," Erasa piled on. "At least as a friend. I get that you don't want to end up like in your visions, but that only happens if you get together with him, so you can still be his friend."
"I… guess…" she forced out reluctantly. Damn it, their logic was implacable. Nothing was actually stopping her from being friends with Gohan, as long as things never went further than that.
Damn it. Damn those two. Pulling at her heartstrings like that when all she wished was to agree with them.
"I'll think about it," was her final answer.
They were right. Videl had to admit defeat. She had nothing to worry about if she and Gohan stayed just friends. As long as they never got together.
Even as much as she wished she could just say the hell with it and throw her arms around his neck and kiss him and just be with him, like they had been fated to be.
Videl swallowed at the turn of her thoughts. Damn it. Why did she like Gohan so much?
Paige scowled at the image in her crystal ball, watching the scene unfold in an empty classroom that she'd locked herself in.
So now Videl was considering being friends with Gohan? What the hell? Things had been going perfectly for the past few days, and now not only had Videl made up with her friends, but she was thinking about officially adding Gohan in their group?
She breathed out slowly. It was fine. Even if they did become friends, Videl would never let things go further, and, like she said, her feelings for him would only grow yet she would have no choice but to never act on them, forever denying herself her big love story.
She smirked. Yes, it might be even better this way. The more Videl suffered, the happier Paige would be.
And she had been making progress with Gohan, too. Her smirk widened. Paige pictured how much it would hurt Videl to see the boy she loved with another girl. And if they became friends, he might even talk to her about his girlfriend! Oh, how delightful.
Yes, indeed. Things were turning out even better, in the end. Videl's agony was her priority ━ becoming Gohan's girlfriend was merely the cherry on top.
