Hey guys, Jeff here!
First of all, I just want to apologise for not uploading a new chapter yesterday. I hope you guys understand that I have to write this as well as deal with my exams, which are very important right now :D
Also, I am going to make an announcement on Twitter as well as here about my decision of what I am going to do with my other story - Unexpected Unity. Please, if you are curious, look it up.
Without further ado, let's get to reading...
(Ash's POV; with Ash and Professor Oak)
I nodded. "All right then Professor, I'm listening."
I paused for a moment, waiting for the Professor to say something, to speak a word. Who knew that this is a serious situation that I am under in, who knew that there was seriously wrong about Serena that the Professor wanted to eagerly talk about, who knew that I have to know all of this, just because I am her guide, but I know that it was my duty to know, since I will be the one who will be taking care of her during this school year, so I will be the one responsible.
I glanced at the Professor once again. He looked worried, more worried than usual, which is an odd thing I am witnessing right now, in front of my eyes. His face expression worries me too, how he is trying to look serious, but at the same time, he is also trying to be noticed, trying to capture attention, probably at me; but what tops that the most is how is nervous. Normally, he isn't this nervous, since he you can see him shake a bit, which is definitely not his normal self, so I wonder and ask myself some questions…
What is it about Serena that I need to know about? Why is it important that Serena doesn't hear this? Why am I the only one going to be told this information? All of these questions are circling my head, going around and not leaving my head. It's just messing up my mind, but I can't give up, not for Serena, since we all need to support her if she does have a problem.
Professor Oak coughed, emphasising his authority. "So Ash, do you know the reason why I made you stay here with me?"
"Yeah. You want to talk about Serena with me, right? Since I am her guide and all… that's what you said." I replied quite politely.
Professor Oak nodded. "Yes, that is correct. But Ash, do you promise me to not tell what am I about to tell you to anyone?"
I clenched my fist and then put it on top of my heart. "Yes, sir. I promise not to tell anyone, not even my friends as a matter of fact."
"Okay then." Professor Oak agreed.
Wow, I'm surprised. I feel that I am trembling, how I am feeling nervous too, just like the Professor. I mean, I can tell that he was, but me, I don't even know, but what I do know is that I'm ready for the Professor's explanation of Serena's past, which is most likely the subject that we are going to talk about, and I can confirm that too. To be honest, I'm not nervous to find out anything, but I am nervous to tell anyone, otherwise the Professor is definitely going to punish me, since he is the principal of this school after all.
"It's all about Serena… when she was still in her previous school. You see, Serena had a perfect life a student would wish for, what any student or anyone else would want whilst they are still studying. Lots of friends, lots of people to talk to everyday and all that, she even had a boyfriend as a matter of fact. But…"
I titled my head, confused about the Professor's brief pause. "What went wrong, Professor?"
"But then, one day everything turned for the worst for her. Firstly, her boyfriend decided to leave her for good, leaving her for another girl, who he had actually got an affair with."
I shrugged. "Wow… that is so low…"
"But it does not end there for her. After this ordeal, she was depressed after finding out the truth; she decides to isolate herself from her friends, who she had such a great bonds with, because she said that she just wanted to be left alone, but also she couldn't face them with full of shame. Soon after, she started to then lose her friends, right up to when she hasn't got one at all."
I turned my head towards the ground. "Well… I can't say anything about that…"
"Now, since she didn't have any more friends, everyone at school thought it was right to bully her, to tease her that she didn't have a relationship anymore, to do what you do when you bully, such as taking her lunch away from her leaving her with nothing or stealing her belongings for themselves."
I clenched my fists out of anger. "How… how could they have done this… to her?"
"Every single night, she spends most of it in her bathroom or maybe her room, crying… sometimes even crying herself to sleep… she was definitely forgotten by everyone in her school. Some of them are even classing her that she was invisible, how she is all alone with no one to turn to."
I looked up, looking like I was going to cry. "I can't believe this, Professor. I can't believe what you're telling me. How can they be so selfish? How can they be so mean to her?"
Professor Oak approached me. "Look Ash, you understand now the pain she had been through~"
"Pain?! I think it's more than that!" I yelled, not controlling my emotions that are within me. "Serena's a nice, gentle and kind person. She's always smiling on the outside, but she was actually suffering inside!"
Professor Oak placed his hands on my shoulders. "Ash? Look at me for a minute. Serena doesn't want to make the same mistake once again, so that's I want to leave this up to you and your group of friends."
I paused for a moment. I couldn't believe the information about Serena, how Serena's suffering from the inside that we in the group didn't know about, how everything had just gone wrong with her life. She was the person whom I have just been introduced to by Lyra, the person whom I am friends with already, the person who is going to the same classes as me, the person whom I am supposedly to be a guide to, the person whom I…
I shook my head. What was I thinking? I can't, since I just knew what had happened to her not a moment ago. I don't know what I was thinking, but it was just something that popped out of my head all of a sudden. I'm sure though that it was nothing, but I bet myself that it's going to bother me for the rest of the day, since it's really not something that I would be thinking about.
I looked up at the Professor. "Wait a minute Professor, why are you telling me this? And how can you tell of this in full detail? She just joined the school, right?"
"Well, it's because I told him everything, Ash." A figure spoke out of the corner of the room.
I looked around, around to where that voice came from. I didn't know that someone was actually there, someone was actually watching out whilst Professor was actually explaining what actually happened to Serena during her past. I mean, this person just came out of nowhere that it kind of scared me a bit, but then again, I'm guessing this person is somewhat connect to Serena, whom she know very well, since she did say that she was the one who told everything about Serena to Professor Oak and now this.
As this person came out of the shadows, I had a glance of this mysterious person. First of all, I noticed that this person is actually a woman who was wearing normal and casual clothes. Now then, I noticed how this woman might be as old as Professor Oak, or maybe younger, I don't really know, but what I do know is that maybe this person is someone who is close to Serena. It has to be and there is no other reason to it, since she knew a lot about Serena after all.
I looked around at her, but then looked at Professor Oak immediately. "I'm sorry, but who is she Professor?"
Professor Oak nodded. "Why don't you introduce yourself… Mrs. Yvonne?"
I leaned back out of shock. "What?! Is that who I think it is?!"
Grace nodded. "Yes, it's true Ash. I'm Serena's mom; feel free to call me Grace."
I raised my eyebrow quizzically. "Wait, so you talked to the Professor because of Serena?"
Grace nodded. "Yes, that is the reason why I am here. I wanted to meet the person who will be my daughter's for the rest of the school year, since I was just curious as I was the only one who actually took care of Serena after what you learnt what happened.
"Grace here wanted you also to know about Serena, so that you weren't going to notice anything if she tells something to you that you might not understand perhaps." Professor Oak added.
I nodded. "I see. I mean, it all makes sense now, how you want me to help her with my friends' help. After what she has been through Grace, I promise not to let Serena down. I promise not to let you down too."
Grace smiled. "Thank you Ash, that's very kind of you to say to me~"
"But, I wanted to ask you something first before anything else." I interrupted.
Grace titled her head out of confusion. "Yes, what is it?"
Now, this is my moment to ask her, to ask her about something that I should have asked the Professor in the first place, but I figured that asking Grace would maybe be a better choice to do. If I remember correctly, I wasn't actually told by Professor Oak about why I was asked to help Serena in the first place, I was just happened to be called by him in his office and immediately asking me if I would be interested to help a new transfer student, and without even answering back, I have found myself held responsible for Serena, Grace's daughter.
I gulped, out of nervousness. "May I ask… why I was chosen for this job? To be Serena's guide?"
Momentarily, Grace laughed all of a sudden, and then was soon joined by Professor Oak, but obviously not laughing as much as Grace was, but he was still laughing. On the other hand, I was just left without any laughter coming right out of me, so I used the time to wonder what they were laughing about, what they were finding so amusing. I mean, I need to know, but then again, I think that this is one of those kinds of subjects that you just need to figure out for yourself and go independent on.
Grace laughed. "Well, if Professor Oak didn't tell you by now, then you just have to ask my daughter or maybe you might remember it."
"Oh, come on." I complained. "Can't I at least have one hint from any of you?"
Professor Oak smiled. "It's up to you to find out, my boy!"
At that point, I was then dismissed by Professor Oak, leaving the room with the other two people that I was with. I then immediately checked the time by using the hallway clock located just above the sign pointing the direction towards the hall. I saw that it was nearing the end of lunch, about fifteen more minutes to be precise, so I have let my friends wait for me in the hall with Serena during the whole of lunch? Oh, what are they going to say or in fact do to me? Well, it can't really be helped. As long as I'm there, I'm sure they won't mind, and I'm sure that Serena would tell them the reason, so there's really nothing to be worried about; but I did decided to get there as fast as I can…
"Grace, are you sure you can let Ash take care of Serena?" Professor Oak asked quite politely.
Grace nodded with confidence. "Of course, Professor. In fact, I have complete faith and trust in him. I know that he will be good for the job."
Professor Oak raised his eyebrow quizzically. "Why have you got so much confidence for Ash? You just moved to this town with Serena, right?"
"Yes, Professor, but…" Grace replied whilst smiling. "…he has already saved Serena from before…"
"The past and present of Serena is all in his hands…"
There you have it, guys! Chapter 5 is done! Hopefully you have enjoyed this chapter! :D
Wow, what can I say with this chapter! Serena's past has now been revealed to us and especially Ash, but will he be able to keep a secret or will he reveal what actually happened to Serena? Also, the next chapter is when we're going to catch up with Serena and the group, so stick around for that ;D
Anyways, I'll see you all in the next chapter, but also please put your thoughts of this story in the reviews! Please show some support!
But also Private Message me for any story suggestions!
Also, please check me out on Twitter at jeff_amour if you can for updates of my stories!
So, that's it from me!
See ya! Have a great day!
