Secret Heart

Chapter 7

Videl was feeling wonderfully good. The beautiful view she had, the refreshing wind blowing on her face, Gohan's powerful arms holding her… She had never felt that good. She snuggled a bit more against him, closing her eyes, breathing in his scent, making the most of this moment of bliss.

Gohan blushed, speeding up. Feeling her so close to him was a true calvary for his nerves, but on the other hand, it was extremely pleasant. He wanted to arrive at his home as soon as possible, and at the same time, he wanted this moment to last forever. He was a little confused by all the feelings this girl was awakening in him.

After about half an hour of flying, they saw the Sons' little house appear in view, and Gohan slowed down, starting to fly down. He landed in front of the little dome that was his home, and put Videl on the grass.

"That was fast." Videl said. Gohan thought he heard a hint of disappointment in her voice, but that had to be his imagination.

He smiled at her, putting his Saiyaman outfit back in his watch. "Come on, let's go see my mother."

"I can't wait!" Videl said.

Gohan chuckled, and then went to open the front door, letting Videl enter before entering himself.

"Mom! We're here!" He shouted in the house.

Chichi came out from the kitchen, drying her hands with a towel, and she smiled when she saw her eldest son with a beautiful girl.

"Oh, you must be Videl. I'm so glad to finally meet you." She said.

"Hello, Mrs. Son. It's an honor to meet you." Videl said, bowing respectfully.

"Oh, you're so polite. But please, call me Chichi."

Videl smiled. "Okay, Chichi."

Gohan looked carefully at the exchange between the two women. It seemed to go rather well. Very well, actually.

"I really like this girl, Gohan! She will really be perfect for you!" Chichi then said, clapping her hands.

The two teens blushed.

"Mom! You promised me!" Gohan cried.

"But I really think so!" Chichi insisted. She put her hands on her hips. "Why, you don't find her to your liking?"

"I never said that!" He exclaimed, more red than ever.

"So you like her?" Chichi asked.

"I didn't say that either!"

"Do you like her or not?"

Videl looked at Gohan, curious. What would his answer be?

"I…" He stopped, looking away, his face on fire. "I'm going to do my homework."

Not waiting for a reply, he went to his room. Videl didn't know why, but she was disappointed that he didn't answer. She would have liked to know what Gohan was feeling for her.

I think you're really beautiful.

She blushed when she thought of those words he had written to her. And yet, those words were all she needed to answer her question. Gohan was in lo-

"Do you want something to drink, dear?"

Videl blinked. Then she smiled. "No thank you. I think I will join Gohan and do my homework, too."

"I will lead you to his room."

"Thank you."

Chichi smiled. She definitely liked this girl. She was really perfect for Gohan.

Gohan had started to do his week-end's homework. But he had a hard time concentrating.

Why does Mom just have to embarrass me all the time? And in front of Videl, on top of that! It seem as though it amuse her… And it's certainly the case.

His thoughts were interrupted when his bedroom's door opened. He turned his head toward it, seeing his mother and Videl at the door.

"Gohan, your friend came to do her homework with you." Chichi said.

"That doesn't bother you, does it?" Videl asked.

He smiled. "Of course not."

"Then I will leave you. Be good." Chichi said, before going back to the kitchen to continue to make diner, leaving the two teens alone in Gohan's room, which he shared with his little brother.

Videl's eyes looked around the room. It was rather small, but comfortable. There were two beds, side by side, a night table between them, a desk – where Gohan was doing his homework at this moment – a closet, and a bookcase.

"Whose is the other bed?" Videl asked.

"To my little brother." Gohan replied.

"I didn't know you had a brother."

Gohan smiled. "His name is Goten. He's seven. There's a picture on the night table, if you want to see what he looks like."

Videl sat down on one of the beds, and took the frame which was on the night table, looking at the picture. There was Gohan who had his little brother on his shoulder.

"Aww… He's so cute…" Videl couldn't help but say.

"Isn't he?" Gohan said, smiling.

Gohan isn't bad either, in this picture. Videl thought, a light shade of pink covering her cheeks. This navy blue gi suits him really well…

"He went to his friend's house today." Gohan said. "But he should be back for diner."

Videl put the frame back on the night table, then got up from the bed, going to sit down on the spare chair before the desk.

"So, with what you began?" She asked.

"Math."

Videl grimaced. "Ugh. I hate math."

"It's not that complicated, when you know the trick." He said. "Here, I will explain it to you."

They spent the next hour studying, Videl listening attentively to Gohan's explanations.

"See, you can do it." Gohan said, smiling warmly at her.

Videl blushed a little. "It's thanks to you. You explain so well."

"You think so?" He asked, rubbing his neck.

She smiled. "Yes. You would make a very good teacher. Did you ever think of making it your profession?"

"I'm still thinking about it." Gohan replied. "Actually, I'm still hesitating to what I want to do."

She lifted a brow. "Between what you're hesitating?"

"Between becoming a teacher, a scientist, and… a doctor."

Videl grinned. "I can see you as a doctor. Doctor Son Gohan. Sounds good, don't you think?"

Gohan chuckled. It was true that it sounded good.

The room's door opened abruptly, nearly making the two teens jump.

"Big brother! Is it true that your future wife is here?" The new comer, who was none other than Goten, said.

Gohan and Videl blushed.

"Goten! Videl is not my future wife! Who put that idea in your head?!"

Goten looked at him innocently. "It's Mommy who told me that. It's not true?"

"No!!" Gohan cried, more red than ever.

Videl got up from her chair and came near the little boy, her cheeks going back to their normal color.

"You must be Goten. I'm Videl." She said.

Goten stared at her with his big innocents eyes. "Oh, you're pretty."

Videl smiled. "Thank you."

"Why you don't want to marry my brother? You would become my big sister!"

Videl blushed, as Gohan dived his face in his book, also blushing.

"Well, to get married, you have to be in love." She replied.

"And you're not in love with Gohan?"

"I…" Videl stopped, not being sure of the answer herself. Gohan lifted his head from his book, staring at her, wondering why she seemed to hesitate.

"So, are you in love with Gohan or not?" Goten insisted.

"I…" Videl said again, hesitating.

Why isn't she answering? Gohan wondered.

"Kids, diner is ready!!"

"Yippeeeee!! I'm starving!!" Goten exclaimed, before dashing toward the kitchen, his question forgotten.

Videl stayed immobile, still blushing, the little Goten's question ever in her mind. Was she in love with Gohan?

"Videl?"

She nearly jumped when she heard Gohan calling her, and turned around, finding herself in front of him. When did he get up? She didn't hear him come near her, so much she was deep in thought.

"Yes?"

"Why…?" He stopped, hesitating to ask his question.

"Why, what?" Videl asked.

Why hadn't you answered? Why did you seem to hesitate? He asked silently. He shook his head.

"Nothing. Let's go have diner."

How do they do to eat so much? Videl wondered, staring at Gohan and Goten as they devoured everything that came to their hands. There were tons and tons of plates piled up around the two boys, and yet they didn't seem to have finished. She was so absorbed by the way they ate that she forgot to eat.

"You're not eating, Videl?" Chichi asked, not seeming affected anymore than that by the way her sons were eating.

"How… How can they eat so much?" Videl asked, having a hard time to take her eyes off the two brothers.

Chichi laughed. "Oh, you'll get used to it. After all, if you have to marry my Gohan, you'll have to cook for him."

Videl blushed, while Gohan nearly choked. He coughed, and hit his chest, making the food pass.

"Mom!! What are you talking about??" He cried. "How many times do I have to tell you that there's NOTHING between Videl and me! So stop imagining things!"

"And you want me to believe that you don't have feelings for Videl?"

Gohan blushed furiously. "Can we drop this subject, already?"

"Why do you always avoid the question? Don't you think it would be easier if you'll just tell her what you're feeling for her?"

"There's nothing to say because I feel nothing for her!!" He exclaimed, standing up abruptly from his chair, knocking it over.

A heavy silence followed this declaration. Even Goten had stopped eating, surprised for his brother to lose his cool like this. But when Gohan's eyes stopped on Videl, he was surprised by what he saw. She seemed… hurt? But… Why?

She lowered her head. I'm such an idiot. To think I really believed that he had feelings for me. At least, now, it's clear. But why does it hurt so much?

"Ex-Excuse me, I will go take a walk. I'm not very hungry." She said, getting up from the table.

"Videl, wait…" Gohan tried.

But she ignored him, and got out of the kitchen, then of the house.

"What are you waiting for?" Chichi said suddenly. "Go after her!"

"Y-Yes." He said, before getting out in his turn.

Videl didn't know where she was going, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to get away from this house as soon as possible. From him.

"Videl, wait!"

And he, like an idiot, he had followed her! Didn't he understand that she wanted to be left alone? She sped up.

"Videl, please, listen to me!"

"Leave me alone!"

"But Videl! You don't understand!"

"On the contrary, I understood really well! You made it really clear: you feel nothing for me!"

"But why does it affect you so much?"

"It doesn't affect me at all! I really don't care!

"Videl, at least stop walking, so we can talk!"

"I have nothing to say to you!"

"Please, Videl, listen to me!"

He caught her wrist, but she freed herself briskly from his hold.

"Don't you dare touch me!" She said, glaring at him.

"I'm sorry…" He sighed. At least she had stopped walking. "Listen, Videl, I…"

"You what?"

I love you! Why is this so hard to say? He thought.

"Just why did you follow me?" Videl asked, crossing her arms. "If you have something to tell me, say it now."

"I…" He sighed. "It's starting to get cool, Videl, we better go back."

"Go back if you want. I want to stay alone a bit."

"Then I'm staying too."

She rolled her eyes, and resumed her walk. The sun was starting to set, and it was a breathless sight. This sight seemed to calm Videl, whose face became more serene. But Gohan wasn't looking at the sunset; he was staring at Videl, always marveled by her beauty.

"Why are you staring at me, again?" She asked, having sensed his eyes on her.

He looked away, blushing. "I… I told you why. Well, wrote."

Videl blushed despite herself. "Oh…"

There was a rather uncomfortable silence between the two teens, as the sun was setting completely, and the first stars were starting to appear in the sky. Then, Gohan turned toward Videl, and smiled slightly.

"We're going back?"

She sighed. "If you want…"

Videl was installed in the guest room. Chichi had told her that it was supposed to be Goten's room, but he preferred to sleep with his big brother.

She prepared her stuff for her shower, then got out of the room, walking toward the bathroom. In her way, she passed the boys' bedroom's door, which was half-open. She heard voices coming from inside, and, curious, came near the door, listening to the two brothers' conversation…

"-hy was Videl mad?" Goten's voice asked.

"I don't really know…" Gohan's one replied. "I think it's related to what I said…"

"When you said to Mommy that you felt nothing for her?"

"Yes, I think."

"Is it true?"

There was a brief moment of silence. "What is?"

"That you feel nothing for Videl?"

Another moment of silence, this time longer.

"…Can you keep a secret, Goten?" Gohan asked.

"Of course!"

"Actually I…" Videl held her breath. "I'm in love with her."

To Be Continued…