Please Friendzone Me! Chapter 25: I Want You, a dragon ball z fanfic

Please Friendzone Me!

Chapter 25

I Want You

Gohan looked up from his phone, the screen still glowing with Videl's contact photo from their field trip. A wave of longing washed over him as he gazed out the window. He missed her so much… He leaned back in his chair and let out a deep sigh, massaging his temples just as Goten burst into the kitchen, brimming with his usual youthful energy.

"There you are, Gohan! Let's go fishing!" he exclaimed.

Gohan looked at his phone, the screen dimming. "Well… I kinda… There's something I want to do first…"

"Oh? What is it? Can I help?"

What a sweet kid…

"Maybe, yeah… You know how I told you about Videl?"

"Of course! The girl you like, right?"

Gohan felt his cheeks heat up as he nodded.

"You used to spend so much time with her! But you've been around more lately, and it's been fun!"

A pang of guilt gripped Gohan's heart. He had become so wrapped up in his feelings for Videl that he had inadvertently sidelined his adorable little brother. He promised himself he would make a conscious effort to strike a better balance moving forward. Goten deserved as much.

"Sorry about that, lil' bro…"

"Oh, it's okay! I'm excited to meet her. If you like her, she must be super cool!"

"That she is…"

Goten hopped up onto a chair at the kitchen table. "So, what's going on?"

"Well, she's been away for a while, and I really miss her… But she'll be back in two days, so I should just wait, right? It's just… Aah… I miss her so much… I was thinking about texting her, but I don't want to bother her; she's on a meditation retreat. So… yeah."

Goten's brow furrowed in concentration as he considered Gohan's dilemma, chin in hand. Then, his expression brightened. "Alright! I thought it through, and I think you should just tell her you miss her! I bet she'd love to hear from you. She probably misses you too!"

Gohan glanced at his phone. "You think so?"

"Definitely! I'd miss you loads if we hadn't seen each other for a while – even if I was busy!"

"Aww, thanks, Goten. I'd miss you a whole lot too."

Gohan reached over to tousle Goten's soft, spiky hair, bringing a big smile to his brother's face. He felt so fortunate to have such a sweet little brother.

"And besides, if it's just a text, she can read it whenever she has the time, so you don't have to worry about bothering her, right?" Goten added with a grin.

"Heh, I guess you're right." Gohan took his phone and turned on the screen, his expression softening as he looked at the beautiful girl in the picture. "Here goes nothing, I guess…"

After a few moments' thought, he decided to be genuine and wrote straight from his heart:

"I miss you, Videl. I miss you so much… I wish I could hear your voice."

A deep blush crept onto his face as he typed those words, and before he could second-guess himself, Gohan hit send.

The faint golden light of dawn began to filter through the curtains of Gohan's bedroom. His phone, still in his hand, emitted a soft beep as the battery finally gave out. He blinked his eyes open, feeling the warmth of the phone pressed against his ear, though the call had ended a while ago. The digital clock beside his bed blinked 6:12 AM.

Rolling onto his back, he sighed, a gentle smile forming on his lips. The familiar feeling of grogginess tugged at him, but it wasn't enough to dampen the warm sensation lingering from the night before. He had spent hours on the phone with Videl, their conversation stretching late into the night. She had called him the moment she saw his message, just before heading to bed. She'd mentioned that she always checked her phone at night in case something important came through, but kept it off the rest of the day.

They had talked about everything and nothing – school, training, her meditation retreat, or even silly things like what her favorite food was as a kid. He had never felt closer to Videl. The way she laughed stayed with him, warmed his heart, and the recollection brought a grin to his face.

Never had Gohan been so comfortable just listening to the silence, when simply knowing that person was on the other side of the line was enough to make him happy.

It had felt effortless, natural, perfect.

He stared at the ceiling unseeingly, and let out another sigh, bringing his hands behind his head. Then, the words came to him as naturally as breathing air and, for the first time, Gohan admitted to himself:

"I'm in love with her."

It was so much more than a crush, so much deeper than simply "liking her". Gohan was truly, hopelessly, painfully, utterly in love with Videl. She was the one for him. She was his ideal girl; his perfect fit.

He swung his legs out of bed, padding over to the window. Pulling the curtains back, he watched as the sky grew lighter, the sun rising to greet a new day, full of promise. Gohan leaned his elbow against the window frame, his curled fingers brushing his lips as he stared out, lost in thought.

Her friendship meant the world to him – but it wasn't enough anymore. It would never be enough. He wanted Videl in a way that went far beyond the safety of friendship.

Every time she looked at him. Every time she smiled. Every time that twinkle in her eyes made his heart swell. Every time her lips caught his attention – his complete and undivided attention.

Gosh, he wanted to kiss her so badly it hurt.

Clenched his fists at his sides, He squeezed his eyes shut as a surge of frustration and longing rushed through him. He couldn't take it anymore – the pretending, the pushing down of feelings that had grown too big to hide.

He couldn't keep it inside anymore. He loved her, damn it. He just… He had to tell her, once and for all. He needed her to know how he felt. He needed to be honest – with her, and with himself. He wasn't just her friend, and he couldn't pretend to be any longer.

Whether he was her secret crush or not didn't matter anymore; whether she accepted or rejected his feelings wasn't the point. If Videl didn't feel the same way, he would deal with it. But at least he would know. At least he would have an answer. Because this uncertainty, this aching doubt, was worse than any rejection.

He opened his eyes, the decision solidifying in his heart.

"I have to tell her."

A sense of calm washed over him as the words came out, the weight he had been carrying for so long starting to lift.

He was doing it. His mind was made; his heart was set. There was no backing down.

Tomorrow, when school started back from the fall break and Videl returned from her retreat, he was going to tell her everything – about how he felt, about how much she meant to him. He wasn't going to hide behind playful flirting or teasing anymore. This time, he would be honest. Completely honest.

Gohan exhaled slowly, the morning sun now spilling fully into the room, casting light on his decision. His heart raced, but he wasn't afraid. He was ready.

Tomorrow, everything would change.

Videl entered the school building with a serene smile, her steps light as a feather. Her energy flowed effortlessly, a calm balance settling within her. The meditation retreat had worked wonders, leaving her at peace – with herself, her decisions, and her feelings. After spending hours talking to Gohan the other night, she woke up the next morning with a newfound clarity. Her bond with him felt stronger than ever, her feelings of friendship deep and unwavering. She was finally making peace with her feelings for him, and she felt ready to move on.

"Videeeelllll!"

The raven-haired girl turned to see Erasa running at her with her arms open wide, and she laughed gleefully as she caught the glomping girl and hugged her tight.

"I missed you sooooo much!" Erasa complained. "Why did you have to go away for the whole break? I had so many plans for us to have fun together!"

"I know, I'm sorry, Erasa. I missed you too. How about we spend the next weekend together, just the two of us? After two weeks of meditation and training, I figure I'm due for an actual break, heh?"

Erasa pulled back and looked at her with big baby blue eyes. "Oh, you mean it? You're finally taking a break from your relentless training regimen?"

"Hey, I'm not that bad. We had that party at my lake house a few weeks back, didn't we? It was pretty fun."

A blush appeared across Erasa's cheeks as her grin widened. "Yeah, it was a fun night for sure… Oh, I can't wait for the weekend! We're gonna have so much fun! "

"Sadly, it's only Monday."

"That's alright! I'll just use that time to plan us the best weekend ever! Oh, I'm so happy!" she squealed, hugging Videl again. Videl laughed in amusement as she hugged her friend back. It was good to see her.

They pulled back and, as they walked toward their lockers, Erasa leaned over with a suggestive tone. "You know who else missed you a lot?"

"Everyone?" Videl pretended not to understand.

"I was thinking about someone specific…"

"I know you mean Gohan. He texted me two days ago to tell me just that, for that matter, and I called him that night."

"Oh?"

Videl sighed dreamily. "We talked for hours. I don't even remember when either of us hung up, I'm pretty sure we talked until we fell asleep."

"Wow… And… How do you feel…?"

Videl beamed at Erasa. "I feel amazing. I feel like I'm finally getting over him, like I can just enjoy being his friend and be happy."

Erasa blinked. "Huh… So you… You did it? You really did it?"

"Yep! And I feel so good about it. By the way, have you seen him yet? I can't wait to see him!"

"Talking about me, babe?"

"Oh, Sharpner, hi! I'm gonna let that "babe" slide because I'm actually happy to see you. Come here you, I missed your stupid blond head."

Sharpner blinked as Videl hugged him, before stepping back, still all smiles and sparkles.

"What happened to you during that retreat? Did you get possessed by a happy spirit or something?"

"Ha! That's a good one. I'm just happy to see you guys; I haven't seen you for two weeks!"

"No… Something's different. Did something happen?"

"Hehe, wouldn't you like to know? You know what, because I'm in such a good mood, I promise I'll tell you all about it someday. Now! Where's Gohan?" She turned her head left and right. "Is he running late this morning? That's not like him."

Sharpner leaned toward Erasa and whispered: "Hey, is she high or something?"

"No, silly, she's just happy. She's been going through some stuff that she finally overcame during her retreat, so, yeah, she's extra happy."

"Oh. So, that "stuff" you're talking about… that's the thing she'll tell me about someday?"

"Looks like it."

When they got to class and went to their usual seats, Gohan was still nowhere to be seen. Videl frowned as the minutes ticked by. Where could he be? Of all days to be late, why did it have to be on the day she really really looked forward to seeing him? She had hoped to spend time with him before class, but now that plan was out the window.

She stared at the clock on the wall when barely a minute was left before the bell. The door opened at that moment and Videl perked up, but it was only the teacher getting ready to begin today's lecture.

The bell rang and class started, and yet, still – no Gohan.

"Where is he?" she whispered to Erasa.

"He's just running late, sweetie. It happens to everyone, even to him."

"I guess…"

Four minutes into class, the door burst open, almost flying off its hinges.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Mrs. Potts!" Gohan's voice echoed through the classroom.

"Not the best way to start the first day back, Gohan." The teacher's sharp words made him freeze in place, but then she smiled softly. "I'll let it slide this time, as it's your first offense. But don't make a habit of it, yes?"

"Yes, ma'am! I promise! Thank you so much!" he replied, relief flooding his face.

Videl couldn't help but beam as she watched him make his way up to their row. His eyes found hers, and despite the tension of being late, Gohan's easy, carefree smile returned. He mouthed a quick "Hi, guys," to her and their blond friends before taking his seat next to Erasa.

Videl leaned forward over her desk, catching his attention again. Gohan chuckled, motioning to the blackboard with his head as if to remind her they should be focusing on the lesson. But she couldn't resist – after two weeks of not seeing him, she needed this moment.

"I missed you," she mouthed silently.

The light in his eyes shifted, glowing with such warmth and tenderness that it sent a familiar, subtle ache through her chest. "I missed you too," he mouthed back, adding a soft, "So much."

She giggled quietly, her heart swelling at the sweetness of his words. Seeing him again, however, something felt different. That usual rush – the butterflies, the nervous excitement that used to flare up whenever they exchanged a look like this – it had faded to such a faint whisper that it felt almost nonexistent. She supposed she would always have feelings for Gohan – after all, he was her first, big crush. Still, the ache she had carried for so long didn't feel quite the same now. It wasn't yearning anymore, just… appreciation.

Yes, this was it: Videl felt certain. She had finally let go of that deeper, confusing part of her feelings for Gohan. Seeing him in person now, it only confirmed what she already suspected. She had gotten over him.

And it felt good… It felt like freedom.

For the first time, Videl felt completely at peace with her feelings. Now, at last, she was ready to fully embrace their friendship.

When the bell rang for the morning break, Gohan gathered his school supplies – as well as his courage.

He was doing it. He was going to ask Videl if they could talk just the two of them, and he was going to confess his feelings to her.

As he rose from his seat, their eyes met, and his heart melted at the way she smiled at him. The genuine affection she had for him gave him a boost of confidence, and he took a deep breath to gather his thoughts.

"Videl, could I—?"

"Videl?" Mrs. Potts called from her desk. "May I see you for a moment, please?"

The girl in question gave him an apologetic smile, before hurrying down to the teacher.

Gohan's shoulders slumped, a heavy sigh releasing from deep within his chest.

Okay, it was just a small setback. Hopefully whatever business Mrs. Potts had with Videl would be done quickly, and he would still have the time to talk to her before the bell rang again.

He waited patiently outside the classroom, trying not to check his watch too often. What was taking them so long? At this rate, he would have to wait until lunch for another chance at speaking with Videl alone…

"What'cha doing?"

"Ah! Booker! You startled me!"

"Hm. You don't usually get caught off guard. What's up?"

"Videl's with the teacher, I'm waiting for her so I can talk to her."

"Oh? What are you gonna talk to her about? Seems important if it makes you that stressed out."

Gohan sighed, some tension leaving his shoulders as he ran a hand through his spiky hair. Am I that obvious?

"I'll tell you about it after I've talked to Videl first."

For a few long moments, Booker observed his friend with a pensive look. Then, his features relaxed and he simply shrugged.

"Alright. See you later, then."

As he watched the other boy walk away, Gohan got a good look at him, and he noticed that Booker's frame seemed… bigger. He looked more mature than the last time he'd seen him, and he even grew a few inches.

Booker would often complain that he was a late bloomer, or at least he hoped he was because he didn't seem to be growing much anymore. Well, it seemed like he hadn't needed to worry too much after all. Booker may have been a late bloomer, but hey, better late than never.

It was finally lunchtime. Gohan didn't get a chance to speak with Videl during the morning break in the end, for the teacher had monopolized all of their free time, but no matter: Gohan wasn't going to let any setback bring him down. He was more determined than ever to open his heart to Videl, regardless of what she intended to do with it.

"Videl," he spoke, maybe a little too loudly as he seemed to attract his classmates' attention. Ignoring the stares and the blush on his face, Gohan cleared his throat and went on: "I need to speak with you. Do you mind having lunch with me?"

No interruption this time. So far, so good.

Videl's smile at that moment eased all his worries. It was going to be alright. No matter the outcome, everything was going to be alright. He knew he wasn't going to lose her, even if this ended in a rejection. Their bond was stronger than that. They cared about each other too much to let this ruin their friendship. It was going to be alright.

So, he forgot his lunch this morning in his hurry to get to school. No matter; his stomach was way too knotted up to try and digest anything right now anyway. As they sat together at a picnic table in a secluded spot in the courtyard, Gohan could barely control the tremors in his hands. He clenched them into fists, trying to will the butterflies in his stomach to stop fluttering all over the place.

"Are you sure you don't want half of my sandwich?" Videl generously offered.

"No, I'm fine, thanks."

Really, he was. Eating was the last thing on his mind right now.

"So, what did you want to say to me?" Videl asked.

For a moment, Gohan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Okay. This was it. He was doing it. He was going to tell Videl how he felt.

"Right…" He swallowed, his eyes darting away, unable to hold her gaze. His heart was hammering so hard against his chest. "I've been struggling with this for a long time. I didn't think telling you would do any good, but I just… I can't hold it back anymore. I have – no, I need you to know how… how I–"

"BIG BROTHEEEERRRR!"

Quick steps accompanied the familiar voice that cut him off. Gohan turned his head in the direction of the noise and blinked as he saw his little brother running toward them – holding a tower of bento boxes over his head.

Videl perked up. "Is that Goten?"

"Gohan!" Goten exclaimed when he reached their table. "You forgot your lunch! I told Mommy I had to bring it to you – otherwise you'd be missing a meal! That'd be too awful! Mommy said okay if I was careful not to show my powers too much, so I flew only up to the city entrance – with that big welcome thingy that has Mr. Satan doing the peace sign, he looked silly! Then I ran all the way to your school and until I reached your ki! Here's your lunch!"

"Um… Maybe don't yell out all the details when anybody could hear you, Goten?" Videl suggested in amusement.

The little boy paused and blinked at her, then blinked again. Then, he emitted a loud, dramatic gasp, hands rising to his mouth.

"Oh! Are you Videl?"

A grin crept up to her lips. "Yep. Your brother's told me all about you, and I was very anxious to meet you, Goten."

"Oh, me too! Gohan's been so happy since he met you, so I'm really happy too!"

"Aww…"

This was in fact a collective reaction. Indeed, Goten's big entrance had drawn the attention of the teenagers around them, and they got closer to find out who the adorable little boy was. Needless to say, Goten's cuteness instantly won everyone over.

"Oh! Um… Hi!" Goten grinned awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, and effectively melting the hearts of all the people present.

"Aw, he does the same thing you do, Gohan," Videl pointed out. "So cute!"

Gohan let out a nervous laugh, releasing some tension as he exhaled, and inadvertently mimicked his little brother's pose.

And, on cue:

"Aww…! They're so cute!"

Gohan and Goten looked at each other and shared a small laugh and a giggle. Gohan ruffled Goten's wild, spiky hair, his eyes softening.

"Thanks for bringing my lunch, lil' bro. You're a lifesaver."

Goten beamed. "I'm glad I could help!"

And, once again:

"AWWW…!"

Nobody seemed in any rush to go about their business, in adoration of the brothers and especially the chubby little six-year-old.

"Hi! I'm Goten!" he introduced himself, as his mother taught him to. "Nice to meet you! Are you all friends of Gohan's?"

Some laughter followed the innocent question.

"Well, those of us who aren't in his class don't really know him that well, but I always thought he seemed like a nice guy," a girl said.

"I'm Stapley," another girl introduced herself. "Nice to meet you guys."

"I'm glad my brother goes to school with nice people like you," Goten said. "Please take good care of him!" he added with a respectful bow.

And, again, the gathering crowd around the little boy went, "Aww…"

"Your mom did a great job with you two," Videl whispered to Gohan. "I'm excited to meet her too sometime."

Gohan's gaze lingered on Videl, a twinge of regret swelling in his chest as he reflected on yet another missed chance. With Goten drawing so much attention, finding a moment alone with Videl was not going to be possible for the rest of the lunch hour. Unfortunately, his confession would have to be postponed yet again.

"After school," he whispered to Videl. "The lake house. You up for some training?"

Videl's face lit up. "You bet!" she whispered back excitedly. "I can't wait to show you my progress!"

"Me too… And I still have something I need to tell you."

"Sure, no problem. We'll have plenty of time to talk at the lake house."

Gohan sighed in relief. Okay, good. Next time he tried to talk to Videl alone, there would be no interruption for sure. It would be just the two of them at the lake house, just like before. And, this time, nothing would stop him from telling Videl how he felt about her.

As they said, third time's the charm, right?

The jet copter zipped smoothly through the sky, the landscape below a blur of green and blue. Despite the nice music playing on the radio and the beautiful scenery all around them, the air was tense in the jet copter. Heavy, even. Videl's eyes kept flickering to the boy in the passenger seat, sitting quietly yet unable to stay still. His eyes were darting around, as if searching for something that kept eluding him.

Gohan had been this way all day and, try as she might to figure out why, Videl had no idea what was on his mind. It must have something to do with the thing he wanted to tell her, so Videl figured she would know what was making Gohan so nervous soon enough… Hopefully, it was nothing bad.

"There we are," she announced, getting ready to land. Gohan only nodded quietly in response.

"… Everything okay?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Uh, sure… Why, err… Why do you ask…?"

Videl focused on the controls as she landed the aircraft. She leaned back and sighed softly. Glancing at Gohan, she couldn't help but notice he seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

Her chest gave a pang. She missed his usual easy smiles…

"It's just… You don't seem like yourself today. Should I be worried?" she added in a joking tone, trying to lighten the mood.

He let out a chuckle, some tension releasing off his shoulders as the breath slipped out his lips.

"I don't think so, no."

Finally, a smile. A warmth spread through Videl's chest at the familiar and comforting sight. Although, the light in his eyes wasn't as bright as usual. There was a thin veil dimming his usual spark, something that felt like… yearning?

"What's my usual self anyway?" Gohan asked lightly as they climbed out.

"You know… Carefree, easygoing, smiling all the time…"

He gave an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of his head. Videl's expression softened, finding comfort in the familiar gesture.

"I guess I'm not really "carefree" right now…" Gohan admitted.

Videl pressed the button on the vehicle to put it back in its capsule and caught the small item. Then, planting herself in front of Gohan, she faced the taller boy.

"Well, we're here now, and we're alone, so whatever you need to tell me – I'm listening."

He was looking directly at her, deep, pitch-black eyes locked onto hers… and it felt like the first time Gohan had faced her in forever. Her knees weakened at the intensity of his gaze, and for a moment, Videl forgot how to breathe.

Okay, so Gohan still affected her, but that was almost nothing compared to how it used to be. Gohan would always have a special place in her heart, and she would probably never get over her feelings for him one hundred percent – Videl had figured as much. He was too important to her. Nonetheless, Videl didn't lose control of herself in spite of how Gohan made her feel. And that was a huge progress.

"What did you want to tell me?" she asked, her tone soft and encouraging.

Gohan took a step forward and put his hands on her shoulders, still staring deep into her eyes. He looked flushed, and he swallowed thickly.

His nervousness was contagious. She bit her lip as she held his gaze.

"Videl, I…"

His voice was low and hoarse, but then he trailed off and closed his eyes.

"Yes…?"

"I… I want… No, I need you to know how much you mean to me."

She smiled, warm tingles enveloping her heart.

"I missed you too," she said, but Gohan shook his head, opening his eyes to look at her once more.

"No, it's more than that, Videl. I mean, yes, I missed you… I missed you so much – like you wouldn't believe. I was thinking about you all the time, everything reminded me of you, and every time something good happened you were the first person I wanted to tell. You've become so important in my life, Videl… I don't want to even imagine what it would be like if you weren't in it. I… I want to treasure you, Videl… In a way that's… that's more than…" He swallowed thickly. "Than… fr–"

Her phone rang at that precise moment, cutting Gohan off mid-word.

"Hold that thought."

Videl pulled out her phone and made a face when she saw who was calling.

"I'm sorry Gohan, I have to take this." She cleared her throat. "Hi, Dad! … Oh, you've been waiting for me? I'm sorry, I just thought I'd get some training done after school. … I know I just came back from the retreat, and I missed you too Daddy, but– … Yes, I know, but– …" She sighed. "Fine, I'm coming home, but I still going training after! … No, I know we have perfectly good equipment at home, but the lake house is better for developing my meditation skills. … Thanks, Dad. See you in a bit."

Videl sighed deeply as she pulled her phone away.

"I'm really sorry, Gohan, my dad insists I come home first…"

"No, it's okay, don't worry about it…"

"I'm coming back as soon as I can! He said I can go and train after we spend some time together, so, um… if it's okay with you…"

"I'll wait for you."

Gohan's firm tone made her smile.

"Thanks, Gohan, I'll try to be as quick as I can."

He nodded, and Videl turned away and took off, summoning as much ki as possible as she zipped through the sky.

Two hours later, Videl was still not back. Gohan had tried to use that time to meditate but he felt too anxious to focus, so he wandered around the house, trying to get his mind off while he waited for Videl.

This was fine. So they got interrupted again – that didn't matter. It was certainly not a sign that he shouldn't be doing this at all. No way. Rather, it had to be a test of his determination. But Gohan had made up his mind. He was going to tell Videl how he felt, today, no matter what tried to get in his way.

He had been so close, too…

He sighed, plopping down on the sofa. Even as he was trying to say it, Videl didn't seem to have a clue as to how much she truly meant to him. It was very likely that she didn't feel the same way and would reject his confession…

But that wasn't the point. The point was to be honest with Videl, to open his heart to her, to get everything off his chest. He needed her to know, because he didn't want to hide anything from her.

Truth be told, Gohan very much expected to get his heart broken. That was okay, though. Videl just didn't see him that way, and these things couldn't be forced. He would be okay, though. As long as Videl stayed his friend no matter what, he would be okay.

Maybe some music could help him relax. Gohan got up and went to the sound system, turning on the radio. Settling back on the sofa, he closed his eyes as he let the smooth tunes replace the jumbled thoughts in his head.

The next song started. It sounded old-timey, but the radio host had said it was a young artist who grew up with excellent musical influence. His voice was incredible, filled with love and yearning as he sang the lyrics…

This song was pulling at his heartstrings… It was like the singer was singing Gohan's very thoughts… Especially the chorus:

I will be your friend, but love you in my soul
I'll never feel another way, just thought I'd let you know
You've knocked me to the floor since the moment I saw you
Every minute, every hour, if you'll have me, I want you

What was the name of the song again…? Gohan quickly pulled out his phone. While helping with his pop culture and musical education, Videl had advised him to get this app that could recognize any song that was playing; Gohan zipped through his menu to find it.

"I Want You by Stephen Sanchez," he read, his heart thumping hard in his chest.

An idea was taking form in his head. Maybe… Maybe finding the words to tell Videl how he felt didn't need to be so nerve-racking. Maybe this song could help him express everything that was in his heart.

Just then, he sensed Videl's ki getting closer; she was on her way back.

Gohan took this as a sign.

He opened the front door just as Videl landed in front of it.

"I'm so sorry it took me so long! My dad can be such a baby… It's not like I wasn't going to see him later! We still live under the same roof as far as I know!" she ranted, huffing and puffing as she walked in. "But anyway! I'm here now, and I'm all ears. Do I need to sit down or…?" she added in a lighter tone.

He gazed into her bright blue eyes and felt a pinch in his chest. This… wasn't going to change anything between them, right? Even if Videl would most likely need some time to wrap her head around it and she might be a bit uncomfortable with him at first, their friendship would hold out, wouldn't it? Their bond was strong; they were best friends, so surely they could survive a mere confession of one-sided feelings, couldn't they?

"Gohan?" she called softly, head tilted to the side.

And then he pulled her to him and held her close, breathing in deeply as her intoxicating scent filled his senses. She hugged him back and Gohan just basked in the moment.

Things would surely be awkward for a while after Videl turned him down, so this embrace would need to sustain him until their relationship returned to normal… Hopefully, that wouldn't take too long.

Videl didn't comment on his impulse, but when they pulled back she shot him a questioning look.

Gohan took a deep breath. Okay, this was it.

Taking out his phone, which he had previously linked to her sound system, he turned on the screen and hit play, having set up the song prior to Videl's arrival.

The first slow notes started.

"I heard this song earlier," he said, "and it felt like it was saying exactly what I've been trying to tell you."

Videl looked at him as the song started. Her expression turned thoughtful the more she listened to the lyrics. Gohan held his breath.

I've been oversleeping so much
That I've been bored of dreaming
And just wake up not next to you

In this paper town where I live
Boxes pass along and I wish
That I was sitting in one with you
With you

Her eyes were widening – more and more. Gohan swallowed thickly. She pulled her hand from his hold; took a step back – away from him.

His heart sank. He had expected the rejection, but damn, it still hurt so much.

But, this was okay. The point was to be honest with his feelings.

The chorus came on, and Gohan's eyes softened as the artist sang his feelings with uncanny accuracy.

She looked away, wrapping her arms around herself. Gohan smiled sadly. He stepped forward again, reaching for her hand, their fingers just brushing together. Videl flinched, but he could see the surprise in her eyes. She met his gaze, looking so conflicted.

The lyrics seemed to echo their feelings seamlessly:

You've been overthinking so much
The traffic in your head, oh, they rush
At the thought of someone new

Lauren, why can't you accept it?
I love you and I'm not pretending
When I say those words to you, yeah

He took her hand once more and held it firmly. Videl wasn't breaking eye contact this time, all of her conflicting emotions easily visible on her face.

He had never seen her look so… vulnerable. So human. So real.

And so beautiful.

If I learn to love myself
Will it keep you from loving someone else?
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
If learning to love would cost my life
I'd spend it all on you and I

As the final chorus built, something he had never noticed before glimmered in the pool of Videl's deep blue eyes.

And in that reflection, he could see his own heart mirrored back.

October 29, 2024