[Don't you miss her?]
Chapter five - Open doors
Time seemed to be passing at a very different speed. What was a single hour felt like a slow dragging day for Drew; then six hours were almost a whole eternity of waiting...
However, it wasn't a bad sensation at all.
For some odd reason, his mind was light and clear as the skies that divided Kanto and Hoenn. The teenager traveled across the continents without thinking too much - he spent the eternal hours watching the landscape in silence and listening to the wind blowing his hair away from his face...
...Somehow being surrounded by the color blue gave him tranquility and equilibrium.
It was definitely an uncommon moment - but his senses were really working more than his mind. His brain was resting from a stressful and panicking morning and his heart was aching and, at the same time, trying to calm his nerves down by dreaming about the moment he would finally meet his rival. He was worried about her health conditions yet the thought of finally seeing her again was... A great relief.
He missed her.
Everything worked as planned: Drew stopped the air trip twice, retreating the tired pokemon back to their pokeball and calling the next rested partner to the field. Checking the GPS map in his PokeNav once in a while, the boy smiled to himself. It was the first time in the day that nothing unexpected had happened: finally something was following the regular protocols. No surprises.
But routine wasn't the reason that made him so calm now.
The last part of the trip was the easiest and fastest one. Solidad's team doesn't disappoint anyone: Pidgeot was as obedient and efficient as Flygon and Lapras managed to swift calmly through the waves of Hoenn's warm seas. It was kind of sweet watching Lapras sing and have fun exploring a different ocean - who would say that docile creature was the same pokemon known as a scary powerhouse beast on stage...
Lapras are very rare pokemon and even more unusual in this continent - a pod of friendly Wailmer followed us in curiosity, helping us avoid wild and aggressive pokemon underwater.
After a tiring day flying and sailing from Kanto to Hoenn, I finally landed nearby the harbor and stretched my legs for a long and painful time.
This city makes me feel nostalgic. I'm not sure if May remembers some details of Slateport besides being a lively city and the host of Hoenn's Grand Festival... But I do remember the fancy hotel on a cliff nearby that beautiful beach and the special fireworks show.
Ironically or not, I think some stories in our life can be described as a full circle... This is the place where we first met. Beautifly and frisbees, berries, Torchic versus Roselia, Team Rocket.
My body was fully functional again - I walked to the bicycle parking zone and opened my PokeNav. I memorized Harley's password and started searching for his bicycle.
Obviously, Harley's bike was the most flamboyant and exotic one in that area. It was impossible to not stare at that... Unique thing.
I know Solidad confirmed it wasn't a lie but I couldn't avoid being surprised when Harley's code worked and I unlocked that purple bike with green polka-dots and a Cacturne head basket (don't ask).
It was a strange sensation to be helped by that crazy man... I wonder if gestures like this is what make Sol and May trust him even though he's completely nuts.
Well, whatever. I don't want to muse about that guy...
I think there's some kind of automatic safety alert in Harley's security system - after few minutes I used the password, my PokeNav screen blinked with a new message.
[Please take care of HariWheels with love!
You owe Harley a big favour now, sweet grasshead!
Don't you dare ignoring our call in a few hours or else you will feel our wrath
S2 Kiss Kiss Kiss! S2]
HariWh—Uh... Whatever.
Route 110, 103, Oldale Town, Route 102. Petalburg City is located in southwestern Hoenn - not too far away from Slateport if you ride the Seaside Cycling Road.
It's been a while I don't travel alone by myself. Until Kanto's Grand Festival, that how I used to work; I'd travel across the continent together with Roselia, my pokemon team and no one else. After meeting May again in Johto, it became a normal habit traveling around the world with some other people...
That's all her fault, isn't it? You know, it's a big irony to figure out how much you've changed not only now, but also in the past, because of one single person.
Cycling in the sunny roads of Seaside, I watched Taillow and Swellow chirping and singing on the top of the trees. It was perfect like a dream. That long run didn't tire me, I was too pleased with my ride in Hoenn to bother about physical stress. Signs of peace in my silly quest, finally.
I saw the city sign: "Petalburg City: Where people mingle with nature". I parked the bicycle at the Pokemon Center and started exploring the streets.
Last time I traveled across Hoenn, I didn't stay too long in this city. To be fair, Petalburg is a quiet town with not many attractive places to those who aren't pokemon trainers competing for the League Circuit. I'm from LaRousse and I find curious how our cities are very eco-friendly but in completely different ways. My city is known for its top-tier urban technology and Petalburg... Is very simple. It is almost rural.
It is kind of funny because I can perfectly see May living here in her childhood days. She would often talk about her beloved hometown, telling people how much she loved it - yet her dream at ten years old was to leave that place and travel around the world, because Petalburg was cozy yet too small for her adventurous spirit. Like a baby pokemon that wants to evolve and see the world with its own eyes, May's dreams were too big to stay in her city.
It all makes sense now...
I recognized the famous Normal-type Gym very quickly - a classic, wealthy and really impressive house in the main center of the city. I wonder if May's family comes from Johto. That kind of antique architecture reminds me a lot the one I saw in Ecruteak...
I presumed that her house should be nearby Norman's Gym. I could be wrong but that was the most likely option.
Any traces of her presence made my steps get heavier. My throat got dry and my heart began to race in anxiety.
Maybe somewhere in the—
—Then I saw her.
May was sitting on the doorsteps of a large house, arms crossed over her legs. Under a generous spot of warm sunlight, she was fidgeting with some hair locks while resting with her eyes closed.
She was wearing a simple yellow summer dress and her hair was quite long, longer than I remembered it was. It looked very different than usual because she wasn't wearing her usual hairstyle neither one of her classic bandannas.
Her breathing was calm and slow... She looked so tiny and fragile.
"May..."
May was resting in the bottom of the sea of lost thoughts and my voice awakened her conscience. Swimming back to the surface of reality, she opened her eyes in surprise then raised her head to me.
Ocean eyes.
She didn't move a single muscle yet she didn't stop staring at me, speechless.
"Hey."
Step by step, I walked closer to her.
Time stopped for May.
I took that moment to watch her and comfort myself in her eyes. I wanted to pay attention to every little detail before she snapped out of her dream world.
I wanted to know her... I wanted to hear her voice and hold her close. I wanted to drown after her and bring her back to the land. I wanted to protect her from feeling sad and weak, I wanted to see her smiling again.
Were I allowed to do that?
"Surprised to see me?"
However, as soon as she emerged from her shock, the frozen seconds in deep thoughts fast forward in a very fast and abrupt reaction.
Without saying a word, she entered her house and slammed the door in front of me.
The crashing waves suddenly exploded on the rocks and returned to the ocean, leaving me behind on the shore.
Time waits for no one.
Rejection.
How can I explain that feeling?
It's not hatred... It's a heavy stone in my guts and a lingering taste of bitterness in my mouth.
I thought I would feel annoyed. Upset, completely mad at this rude and blunt reaction.
However... That made me feel sad and hurt.
That's how she felt all the times I turned my back to her when I was angry or annoyed.
Many times I turned my back at her with an uncomfortable silence in the air. I remember she never argued back when I decided to cut our discussion by acting cold and distant. I even shouted at her in rage once. For Arceus's sake, I called her a wimp and lost my temper in front of her friends... She never retreated her face every time I acted aggressive and ignored her feelings.
"No need to worry", "it's okay", "I understand", "I'm sorry".
How could I be so stupid?
Those words... No, that is something to worry about, it is not okay and you shouldn't be sorry for that - I should be the guilty one here.
If people are nice and patient with you, it is disrespectful to abuse from their effort even though they let you do that with them. It is not funny and it should never be a lousy excuse for "it's just how rivals act around each other"...
I-I mean, I'm not blaming it on you. It's not your fault, argh!... Damn, why is that so complicated to explain?
I understand you now, May.
I knocked on the door again, waiting patiently for an answer.
"May, listen to me."
No answer.
"May, I'm sorry..."
I deserved this.
"Can we talk for a moment, please?"
Steps. They're not coming closer to me, they're going far away from the door.
I refuse to let her go that easily. I know this isn't very polite-and-distant Drew, I know that not so long ago I would respect her choice and head back to Celadon...
"May, I won't leave until you tell me you don't want to see me... In my face."
...But I realized that I actually rather being slapped on the face than ignore my concern about her.
It's not about looking tough and perfect. It's not about losing or winning, either... I've learned my lesson.
Time doesn't stop. Choices build your future. Opportunities should never be wasted in vain.
And don't underestimate people... Never underestimate them.
Steps.
The door opened very slowly in a low and heavy sound.
"...Drew? Is that really you?"
May appeared in front of me then hid her timid face inside a heavy and large League jacket.
She was obviously wearing Norman's jacket not because of the sunny weather. Also, her question wasn't a mocking one - she was definitely surprised to see me there standing in front of her.
It was the first time in years since the last time we met and battled on stage. Actually, since we were far away from judges, crowd and spotlights, we allowed ourselves a mutual storm of strange glares and puzzled frowns. We were shocked with each other's presence.
To be honest, that stare battle wasn't what I would call a competition or a rivalry display... That was the only way we managed to communicate without collapsing in tension.
Spoken words in a moment like that were simply forbidden. She clutched her hands to her chest, looking sincerely worried about this situation.
Our bodies wanted to express all their mixed emotions - but shock locked our systems down, sewing mute lips together and creating a foggy thick cloud inside our minds. The world around our feet began to feel heavier and slower.
We were so close, yet so far away.
I wanted to yell and ask why she didn't tell anyone she was at home the whole time. I wanted to argue and point out how rude it was to slam the door on someone's face without prior warnings. I wanted to tell her how stupid it was to wear such big and hot jacket during the summer.
"...I'm sorry, Drew. I didn't mean to slam the door on your—"
I don't know why but only three angry words got out of my throat.
"...I missed you!"
"You..."
The young brunette repeated the words with a surprised look on her face.
"You missed me?"
Drew blushed.
"Yes..." The confused boy tried to hide his face in embarrassment; however, he clenched his fists in determination and didn't let her sapphire eyes run away from him this time. "I did... A lot. Where were you all this time?"
"I-I..."
May dodged her eyes away from him, feeling a heavy weight on the bottom of her stomach.
"I had to take a small break— Oh, I'm so sorry!..."
The brunette girl bit her lips, now clearly worried about her friends. She frowned her eyebrows in a sad expression, trying to find the best words to explain herself.
"Did I worry you guys too much? I didn't mean to... Aw, Drew, I'm so sorry!..."
"You're a big airhead, aren't you?" Drew frowned for a moment, then sighed in distress. However, he didn't look angry - it was an honest display of relief. "Thank Arceus, you're alright... Gosh, we were damn worried about you!"
"I'm sorry!" She bowed her head, staring at her own shoes. "It's my fault..."
"What happened to your PokeNav?" Drew picked up his own device from his pocket. "You didn't answer any of our calls."
"It broke last time I fainted and fell on the ground," May looked away, slightly embarrassed. "It dropped from my bike and nobody found it after I was rescued. Dad bought me another one but the memory chip from my old PokeNav is gone. I lost all my friend's number."
"Rescue?" Drew blinked in surprise. "What rescue?..."
"I'm so sorry, I totally blew our promise to compete together and against each other in Sinnoh..." The clumsy girl put her hands on her face, trying to hide the pinkish tones in her warm cheeks. "Aww... Ugh, I wish I could have done something. I feel totally guilty for worrying you guys so much, I didn't want to be a burden!..."
May sniffed, trying to hold down her feelings. It was a bad attempt to control her emotions - she started sobbing, tears flowing nonstop from her big and expressive eyes.
I don't remember May being so fragile. Maybe she was always like that... And I didn't notice it.
I always saw her as a clumsy but very strong girl. Explosive, expressive and sweet...
Now I see how a tough and dedicated strength co-exists with vulnerability. I think that's what happens when you open your heart and fight life without hiding your emotions.
"W-Wait... May..."
It hurts. Unlocking your heart hurts and there's nothing that can be done about that... Why does she do that, then?
My stomach sank. Oh man, she's completely adorable. Is she really feeling bad for that?
"May..." I opened my bag and offered her a handkerchief. "Don't cry, please."
Instead of taking it from my hand, she ran to my arms and buried her face into my chest.
"D-Drew..."
"Yes?..."
"Waaaaah, I'm so sorry!..."
Although I was feeling guilty for being a heartless bastard, I wanted to protect her. She was warm, frail and beautiful... And a willpower I should never underestimate again.
"I'm not crying!..." Between sobs and muffled sounds, May tried to justify herself to me. "I'm just too confused..."
"It's okay now... It's alright, shhh..."
Just then another little voice came from inside the house.
"Sweetie, who's there?"
Jumping away from her rival, May swept the tears away from her eyes.
The green-haired coordinator touched her shoulder, trying to encourage his rival. She took a long breath and stopped sobbing - he retreated his hand as soon as she controlled her emotions.
"Come in, Mom is here." The shy girl coughed a bit then opened the door to her rival. "Let's sit on the couch, it's more comfortable there than standing up here outside. We gotta talk..."
"Yeah, we do." Sweating in anxiety, Drew removed his jacket. "We really gotta talk..."
The two coordinators entered the house and sat down on the sofa in silence.
Caroline watched May enter their house hidden inside one of Norman's large jacket, teary-eyed and slightly embarrassed.
She couldn't help but stiff a knowing giggle.
"Hi, Drew." May's Mom smiled softly, holding an empty bag in her arms. "How are you, dear?"
"I'm good... Nice to see you, Mrs Caroline."
Drew wanted to bury his head under the ground. To his relief, there were no mentions about their weird video conference call.
"Nice to see you too! That's a great reason for a small celebration, I bet you're hungry, aren't you?" She clasped her hands together then looked at her daughter. "Drew, please stay with us for dinner! May, I'm going to the market, alright?"
"Mom!..." The young brunette hid her face deeper inside the jacket. "Eh..."
"Well, make yourself at home, Drew." Caroline pretended to ignore her daughter's embarrassment and waved goodbye to the two teenagers. "Take care of my little May, will you?"
"T-Thank you," the other teenager answered, bowing politely while trying to sound relaxed. "Don't worry, I'll."
Before closing the door, she winked motherly to the green-haired boy.
"I had this feeling we would meet again sometime soon..."
Caroline gave Drew a warm and hopeful smile. Her eyes clearly showed how happy she was to have him at home.
Drew blushed, hiding the insecurity slip by coughing quietly, dodging his eyes to the floor.
"Uhhh..." May hesitated, hiding her face behind the heavy sleeves of her jacket. "I don't know what to say now."
Drew opened his mouth to say something but then he changed his idea - he kept to himself whatever went on his mind that moment and quietly heard everything she had to say first.
May noticed he was waiting for her. She sank her body in the sofa then took a long breath.
"I'm being serious when I'm saying I don't know what to say now..."
The green-haired coordinator shrugged lightly, watching his rival trying to control her mixed emotions. "Maybe you should start by the beginning. What happened last year?"
"I actually tried to get the boat to Sinnoh but I fainted before I could reach Slateport City..." The brunette lowered her head, looking at her own feet. "I could barely leave Petalburg because I kept tripping and panting all the time while I was on my bike. Drew... I got really sick, you know?"
"Remember when I was complaining how tired I was after Johto's Grand Festival? It got worse with time." May sighed, rubbing the corner of her eyes with her sleeve. "I thought I was just being fat and lazy as usual, it was probably nothing serious, so... Since I'm stupid and stubborn, instead of looking for help, I ignored my dizziness and kept forcing myself to reach Slateport, I didn't want to get late and lose the registering day."
"What happened to you?" Drew asked with a concerned voice, one hesitant hand almost touching her hair.
"It was so scary. Max started his journey last year and I was alone..." She lowered her head for a moment, holding her hands close to her chest. "I fainted and thank Arceus someone found me before something worse could happen."
The green-haired boy had no idea how big was the mysterious problem that made his rival stop leaving her house.
"I found out I got a small heart condition."
He gulped in horror. May frowned in answer, trying her best to calm down her shocked rival.
"Surprise!..." She forced playful but lame laugh. "Hahaha... That plus my silly habit of running and overextending my limits equals fainting on the road and missing the registration day for the Grand Festival. I'm not dead, please stop staring at me like this."
"How bad it is?..." The boy frowned, crossing his arms over his chest in tension. "Doesn't sound any good."
"Well..." May rubbed her temples, shaking her head slowly. "It doesn't have a cure... It sucks."
"See?" She forced a small smile, showing her sloppy clothes, the scattered pillows and blankets around the living room and the small colorful pill case on the coffee table. "Hehe, it's been a while I don't leave home. Intensive treatments are over but... Yeah, I'm glad I'm good now."
Silence.
Drew was lost in a mix of confusion, guilty and annoyance. He wanted to bury his head inside the ground, shake his rival's arms and yell at her denseness in reprehension, hold her close and never let her go... Everything at the same time.
May tilted her head to the side. Her friend was acting strange - he seemed to be struggling against himself.
"Drew?"
"You should have told m—" he mumbled the last word in an angry tone, quickly correcting himself with a louder voice. "—us. C'mon, at least Solidad or Brianna, I don't know!..."
"...I didn't want to be a burden to any of you. I... I don't want to face everybody, not now... Please, understand my side, Drew. I'm sorry."
"Don't you feel bad not telling anyone these things you've just told me?" His voice was tainted with a subtle bitterness. "That's really reckless!..."
"I was afr—"
May opened her mouth to answer Drew immediately but, oddly enough, she silenced herself.
After a couple of seconds thinking about her original reply, she changed her mind and also her answer.
"What would you do in my place? Would you call me? Would you ask me to wait for you and skip Sinnoh's Contest Circuit?" The brunette pouted. "...I-I know my place and I know what should I do, Drew. I can't be a wimp anymore!"
The real May reversed that question that the fiction May made Drew all the time inside his mind - his heart wrenched after hearing those words. The strength of real May's words were much more intense and devastating.
The silence was so intense that, for a long and uneasy minute, quiet moans and irregular breathing sounds were the loudest noises echoing inside the room.
"You were never a wimp..." Drew frowned, now being very careful with his words, thinking twice before speaking out loud his frustration. "You know that, right?"
"Well..." She closed her eyes, dodging them away from his grave stare. "I'm definitely not sure about this..."
[Beep beep! Beep beep!]
Drew's PokeNav started vibrating and ringing out loud, interrupting the grave tone of the conversation.
May raised her eyebrows in curiosity. "...Is that yours?"
She didn't mean to sound offensive - but it was really uncommon to hear her rival receiving any phone calls during the day. Drew was the type of coordinator who would make the call - he would never receive them. Drew never shared his number with anyone... Was that an urgent call?
[Beep beep! Beep beep!]
Drew quickly checked the screen to see who was trying to contact him.
Should he answer it or should he ignore it?
He rolled his eyes out, slapping his forehead and cursing under his breath in a strangled voice.
[Beep beep! Beep beep!]
"I hate being in debt with people..."
The green-haired coordinator sighed out loud. He flicked his hair from his sweaty and hot forehead.
"I'll regret it but... Promises are promises, pfff."
"Huh?" May tilted her head to the side, clearly confused. "What promise?"
He picked up the phone and handled it to his rival. She pressed the voice call button and was immediately showered with loud and worried cries.
"May, if this doesn't mean anything to you, I don't know what else I can say to convince that you're just worrying too much like you always do."
"Wha—" She frowned, getting more and more confused. "...Huh?"
"Drewbie, where's my sweetheaaart? Stop playing the magical prince, bring my Miss Tent here, NOW!"
"Harley?!" The coordinator girl clutched her hands tightly to the device. "Is that you?"
"May!" Brianna's voice squealed. "Oh Mew, you're there! Thank Arceus, you're alright!"
Loud voices disputed for May's attention on the other side of the phone line. They apparently were arguing to see who was going to talk to her first - meanwhile, a third person picked up the call.
"Eh?" The brunette blinked in surprise. "Harley? Brianna?"
"Yes, they are here too. I hope to see you again soon, May." Solidad's voice was soft and gentle. "We miss you a lot."
"Solidad..." She muttered with tears coming back to her eyes.
Drew couldn't help but contemplate his rival's excessively emotional reaction with a subtle grin on his lips.
"Silly..." He coughed, trying to sound as rigid and bland as possible. "You were always our burden."
"Don't be so harsh, Mr Drew. Well, I guess you owe me mountains of ice cream now," Brianna giggled then added with a kind voice, "would you like to have some too, May? Call me when you're free!"
May gasped in confusion. "Eh?"
"Drew suspended his ribbon quest for a while and he's on vacation right now," Solidad explained in a calm tone. "Could you take care of him for us, please? I think he want to talk to you with certain urgency, he disappeared from Celadon today as fast as a teleporting Alakazam..."
"D-Drew was in Celadon City today?..."
The brunette girl glared at her rival with disbelief looks.
"Drew, is that true?!"
He didn't look back, pretending to be paying attention to the portraits on the walls of her house.
"Mr Drew really cares about you!" Brianna sighed, sounding comtemplative and dreamy. "You're so lucky, you have no idea..."
"Now let's stop bugging him for a couple of hours, shall we?" The Top Coordinator suggested with a mildly playful voice to her friends. "He deserves some privacy now. May, Drew... Take your time, alright?"
"You should stop protecting that cabbage kid," Harley snarled in protest. "What if he lied to us? Instead of helping us find May, he might have just asked for our help so he could confess his stupid teenager feelings and seduce our sweet Maybelle! What if they decide to compete in a different region than the three of us on purpose?"
"Whaat?" Brianna shouted in shock. "Wait, I HELPED Mr Drew confessing his love to May?!"
"You three!" The green-haired coordinator broke the cold acting scene and stole the PokeNav from May's hand, blushing in bright red tones. "What the heck are you talking about?!"
"Harley," Solidad reprimanded her friend - yet she was obviously trying to hold her laughter. "That's not our business."
"Solidad..." Drew gnarled, glaring at his phone with a killing instinct. "We need to talk later."
"I'll love hearing the news," she answered in a neutral tone. "I hope you can offer me many details about it... But again, it's not my business."
"It is not, really! GOODBYE."
He closed the device in a harsh and violent slap.
"Geez, I am surrounded by crazy people..."
Talking to himself and mumbling in annoyance, Drew cursed the universe under his breath until he remembered May was right there by his side.
His rival stared at him, speechless.
"I can explain..."
Drew felt a sweat drop rolling from his forehead.
"I-I... Look, Petalburg is not that far away from Celadon. Besides, they were lying, I was in Pallet Town, not Celadon City—"
The brunette girl tried her best to keep a straight face - however, she couldn't hold herself and floods of laughter invaded the living room.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"...What?" Drew arched his eyebrows in puzzlement. "Why are you..."
The green-haired coordinator wasn't sure if she was laughing at his despair or how radically the serious mood in the air had changed after that five-minute phone call. Either way, that made him turn off his PokeNav in case of any other embarrassing interruption - that call did help him break the ice but now they really needed some privacy to talk.
"I trust your words now, oh my!... Hahahaha!" May swept a tear away from her eye. "Hahaha, Drew!..."
"Hahahaha!" She heartily hid her face from her rival, trying to hold down her amusement. "Oh Mew, hahaha..."
"Then you're listening to me now?!..." He crossed his arms in a defensive way. "Thank you, airhead."
"Nooo, that mean name again..." The girl slapped her forehead then placed her hands on her hips. "I thought you would stop doing that."
It was good to let their playful chemistry work like the old days. The two teenagers started arguing again - but this time in a way lighter and friendlier manner.
"Congratulations, you're going to be promoted to 'little monster' really soon." Drew smirked, staring at his rival with attentive eyes. "You're improving faster than I would ever imagined."
May stopped laughing, giggling quietly. She notice her rival was still a bit hurt about some issues between him and herself - so maybe that was the right moment to clear up some of his doubts.
She walked on the tip of her toes, staring at the ceiling. "Hey."
"Hm?" Drew's proud grin slowly shifted to a more neutral expression. "Yes?"
"I know you might not believe me, but..." The brunette girl tilted her head to the side. "Thank you for coming. I'm not mad at you."
Like the ocean that returns with gentle waves to the seashore, May eyes melted Drew's heart.
"Eh..."
The expression on his face got softer. It was impossible for him to not fall for her.
"...Don't restrain yourself. You've got dozen of reasons to be mad at me."
"But I have zillions of reason to be glad. This makes me really happy, I feel so special... So," she mused, trying to not reveal the over-excitement in her voice. "You said you missed me... You answered the phone call from our friends and I thought you would never, ever, do that. You crossed a whole continent to visit me... I'm shocked."
She stared at his enigmatic emerald eyes. "Shocked but it does feel really good. Thank you for caring... This is priceless, Drew. I feel great."
The green-haired coordinator was confused. How could that girl be so optimistic and sweet to him?
May was truly special... He was a very lucky boy.
"You felt alone and you distanced away from everybody... This is my fault," Drew opened his arms and whispered in a dying tone, trying to control his hesitant voice. "...I'm a monster."
The brunette coordinator sighed then gently hugged her rival, resting her head on his shoulder.
"...You're not a monster."
To her surprise, he didn't flinch or pushed her away. Instead of running from her arms, he hugged her back tightly.
It was weird. May had never imagined that someday she would be peacefully resting so close from Drew - it was like a distant fantasy, yet it couldn't feel any better or in a more appropriate place than his arms.
She smiled to herself, allowing herself to seize the moment.
"I mean... You may be a monster— only if I get promoted to little monster, deal?"
The two teenagers stood in that same place and position for a long time, listening to entangled breathing sounds and heartbeats.
"By the way... What about Kanto's GF?"
Drew was now sure that fragile hearts and cute words were dangerous - they deserved really good answers, or else...
"Kanto's GF is supposed to be happening in the next three months." Drew released May from his grip then shrugged. "But it's alright, I don't care."
"Today I officially skipped Celadon's Contest." Looking away, the prodigy boy declared the truth with a careless voice while crossing his arms. "I'll miss Pewter's and Cerulean's Contests very soon... Oh, also few others I don't remember the name. I don't care"
"No way you did that!" The brunette girl cringed in horror, covering her cheeks with her hands. "I-I'm sorry, it's my fault you're—"
"Stop."
Drew released his arms and touched May's hands.
"It is nobody's fault, this is my choice. I'm taking a break, shameful phone call, remember? I want to stay here with you."
"O-Oh..."
She slowly distanced away from him - yet he didn't release his hands from hers. Drew's arms were almost fully stretched now.
"I'm not dying or something like that..." May shook her head timidly, snuggling back closer to her rival and feeling his worried and warm breathing. "The doctors said now that I'm taking a couple of medicines and resting in a proper way— You don't need to wait for me! Someday I'll be back to Contests..."
"You promise me, then?"
He blushed, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. "...I miss you."
"Uh..." She felt the base of her neck burn in embarrassment. "I... I promise. But I can't promise you things won't change a bit, I can't do exhaustive physical stuff all the time anymore, I need to take few medicine pills daily and I need from time to time to check my health at the hospital."
"That's... I'm really sorry." Drew lowered his head, thoughtfully. "...I understand this is very complicated."
"Oh, don't be sorry... That's life." She sighed softly, looking directly at his worried face. "I need to be glad that I am not feeling any pain and everything else is good. Overall, that's a good life."
"But... I'm not ready yet for this. I don't want to travel with you guys if that means I'll slow down everybody," the brunette coordinator murmured in a disappointing tone. "Please, don't stop competing because of me, I don't want to be a burden."
"I've told you already." Drew sighed. "You are our burden, always."
Perhaps not everybody's burden - however he was definitely sure she would always be his responsibility.
"I know, I know..." May muttered, scratching the back of her hot neck. "But still—"
"Let's travel," speaking in a reassuring voice, the boy quickly added. "Forget the Grand Festival. You don't need to rush or stress yourself with Contests. Besides being rivals, I think we might be... Friends, aren't we?"
"We... We are friends."
May suddenly became very reticent. For a couple of seconds, she didn't say any other words, lips repeating in silence Drew's last words as if they were going to be forgotten.
"We..." She pouted, blushing in reddish tones and sinking her head again inside the jacket. "I mean, I want us to be friends if you don't mind."
The green-haired Top Coordinator smirked. "If I don't mind?"
"Yes..." May nodded, still hiding her face in embarrassment. "Then that's what I want."
"Well then, I don't want to think about Contests and you don't want to compete for now, right?" The boy tried to reason with his rival, being honestly interested on her reaction to his plan. "No intensive ribbon hunting, no long exhausting walks in the deepest woods to cross the road between cities, no stress. Let's just have some fun, have some fancy food, take our pokemon to the beach, how about that?"
"I want... I want to know you."
After hearing his rival's timid words, Drew blinked, slightly puzzled. "Oh?"
May opened the jacket, trying to face her awkwardness.
"I want to have fun, eat good stuff, and... I want to know you, Drew."
He caressed her long hair in a very loving way.
"Well," The brunette girl muttered, feeling his tender and comforting touch. She slowly shifted her gaze from his face to the floor, staring attentively at her own slippers, sheepishly smile on her lips. "That's not a dream... Neither pity... Is it?"
He hit her forehead with gentle and playful tap.
"Little monster."
May giggled, heartbeats pulsing faster and louder.
"Hehe, I had to ask it..." Her smile got wider. "Better ask than feel sorry?"
"C'mon, I skipped a whole continent just to see you..." Drew replied while flicking the tip of his rebel hair. "You surprised me—"
The teenager girl gave him with a caring and longing look; that was enough to make him melt again.
"—You surprise me all the time," Drew corrected himself, in a sweeter voice. "...It's good to see you again."
May was about to joke about it lightly but then she felt his warm and soft lips touch her forehead.
He closed his eyes then whispered few cryptic words.
"Be still, my heart."
His heart?
She knew her damaged heart was "special", it was broken, different.
However, at that moment, it was not just special... It was really special. Still broken, different from everybody else.
But it didn't mater if her heart was unique or not; for the first time, she had finally found the door to Drew's mysterious secret. The path to his inhibited heart was unlocked.
It was fragile, insecure and beautiful... Different from everybody else too.
Imperfect, but just perfect for her.
Tracing a path from his lips to his chest with her fingertips, May closed her eyes and smiled.
..
A/N: Thank you for reading [Don't you miss her?]. It was a fun experience, I want to write another 1st person POV story again someday :)
I am burning in fever right now (flu season ftl) but I just had to finish this or else my conscience would shot me down D: It was really bugging me how this story was missing the last chapter. Next week I'll check if I wrote any absurdities lol... Going to hit bed now, goodnight~
Oh, I won't put this story as [completed], at least not yet... There's a really short epilogue, I'll upload as soon as I finish some irl emergencies.