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chapter 5o.
(1o/1o)
under the starry skies !

preview:

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The night was calm. People chattered all around happily, and setting the perfect atmosphere for a bonfire.

I lay on the fresh and soft grass of the mountain. The chill breeze pinched my cheeks, and I wrapped my arms around myself in an attempt to warm myself. "Hey?" I turned my head to look at the source of the voice. "You okay?" Ash asked, as he moved closer so that our shoulders bumped.

He's so so so close!

"I'm alright," I replied. He smiled, and I heard the thud of my heart. "It's so calm."

"Better put, I feel serene with Serena by my side," he teased, a small smirk growing on his face. I bit my lip. Keep it down, girl.

"What, why are you smirking?!" I whisper-shouted, nudging his side with my elbow.

He laughed, returning the gesture. "You're adorable when you're blushing, ma'am. I can't help but want to see you all flustered!"

"S-shut up!"

The air was filled with the sound of his insane laughter. I could not help but smile as a warm feeling lit up in my chest. The sound of his laughter.

"What are you smiling about, now, Serena?" His voice broke me out of my musings, and I turned to look at him staring at me with his head propped up by his elbow.

"Nothing. Just admiring your laugh," I replied softly, and it was his turn to clench his jaw in embarrassment. Before I could tease him about it, he got up and the warmth left with it. I pouted at him when he turned to look at me.

"I'm gonna go grab something to eat. Gary mentioned something about getting oishii waffles and drinks here," Ash said, standing up. He looked so tall as I gazed up at him. "Do you want anything, M'lady?"

"The same as you."

"Yes ma'am!" He made a silly action of saluting me, before breaking into a jog towards the stalls. I chuckled to myself, before my eyes went back to admiring the beautiful starry skies looking down at us.

I never expected the school road trip to go this well. I could hear the bonfire chatter to my right; it was probably both the sections combined, minus a few people, playing games and eating marshmallows.

The teachers' tents were pitched up to the left, where a similar bonfire was put up. I could see Professors Sycamore and Olympe laughing with the others.

Forward were the various stalls set up for pilgrims. I spotted Ash at the vending machine, scratching his head cutely. Look at him thinking the machine as something sent by aliens!

I returned my attention to the skies overhead. It was beautiful; lined by hundreds of thousands of stars. Another cold breeze blew, and I spotted Calem waving at me. Perhaps they want me to join them because I'm alone?

I waved back, unsure whether to leave Ash alone while he looked for food. To my relief, I saw him stomping back to me. "What's up?" I asked as soon as he neared me. His head automatically turned to where the gangs were playing some fun game, and I caught a hint. Is he jealous?

"What?" he asked, as he sat cross-legged beside me. I sat up, and straightened my clothes, grinning. "What's with the look?"

"Just hilarious seeing Ash get all jelly." He handed me my share of the food, pouting.

"I can't help it, you kissed Calem!"

"On the cheek, as thanks," I retorted, before looking warily at the drink. It wasn't canned, meaning he had bought it from a stall. "Are you sure this one's not spiked with gin?"

"But you did!" he insisted, his pout only growing. As much as I wanted to call it cute, I was thirsty. So, I glared. "Er, positive."

"Why don't you try it? The last time I tried a punch, it made me loose my consciousness and hang out with an unknown guy. Thought you ought to know." I added the latter as an afterthought. To my surprise, he showed no signs of jealousy. Did it only exist for Calem? 

"I see," he stated, nonchalant. "When are you planning to return my jersey? The coach is mad at me for playing with my winter coat on instead. You see, players of the team don't quite recognize which team I belong to without it."

Eh?

"Jersey? I don't have your jersey!" I replied, flailing my hands around when he took off his coat. Without a word, he draped it over my cold shoulders, and I gulped as warmth spread, tingling my skin. "Will you not feel cold?" I asked, my voice in a higher pitch than I intended for.

Keep calm!

"I could always hug you, but hey! I gave you my soccer jersey because you were as cold as ice in that backless dress of yours. Not to mention, red looks prettier on you. Of course, I liked the pastel pink too, but, y'know, red brings out your eyes."

My brain stopped working, again, and I gaped at him. Had he seen me at the ball? But I did not see him.

"What are you on about?!"

Ash looked at me as if I had sprouted an additional head, before shrugging and munching on his waffle. "Want a bite? Mine's Oreo-creamed." He pushed his dessert into my hand, and took mine, taking a great bite at it. "Mhm, I didn't expect strawberry to taste this good."

"Hey!"

"Oh. You can have this back as soon as you taste mine." The smirk was back. I took a small bite, feeling impish. Does it account as an indirect kiss—?

We exchanged out desserts, and I shot him a glare to spill the beans. "Right. I thought you would have seen past my cover. You know, the unknown guy you told me about," he air-quoted. "With hair tied into a ponytail and green eyes? That would be yours truly."

I didn't know whether to look mad at him for deceiving me or laugh at his proud look. "You have long hair? But your bangs-"

"I slicked it back with some hair oil-thingy Gary gave. Didn't you take a look at my drenched hair?" He wiggled his eyebrows teasingly, and I blushed crimson. "Don't worry, Serena. I'll manage to make you swoon over me with every avatar I take!" he declared, looking proud.

"But the jersey had 'HK' engraved on it?"

"Oh, the weaver mistook my name for H-A-S-H Ketchum. Y'know, hashtag it."

I burst out laughing at the look on his face. In a spontaneous turn of events, he leaned close, eyes closed. I felt my heart go berserk. What is he doing?

When our faces were inches away from each other, I shut my eyes, and felt his warm lips on my chin. It was gone the next second, forcing me to blurt out: "Are you blind?"

He looked taken aback; his eyes widened. "No. You had a cream beard. You thought I was about to kiss you?"

Embarrassment flushed my cheeks, and I struggled to take a deep breath. Looking down at my shaking hands, I lied. "N-no!" What were you thinking, idiot?

"Pardon. Am I allowed to kiss you?" His voice carried a smug air, and I screamed.

"Yeek!"

"Whoa, there! Calm down, Serena!" His strong arms steadied my shoulders, and I fluttered open my eyes, taking a peek at him – those chocolate brown eyes looked on in concern – before shutting them close, and covering my reddening face. "Alright, alright! I won't get any nearer!" He withdrew his hands.

No! What have I done? "No!"

"Eh? You don't want me to get near you, or you want me to?"

My mind sought for a topic change, and I quickly voiced out: "How did you f-feel reading those letters?" I didn't dare look at him, but it had been a nagging question all the while.

"What do I feel in my jellies? Those words tickle the hell outta my stomach, is all."

If anything, his response only made me blush harder. By his tone, I could easily spot how much he was enjoying teasing me. "Shut it!"

Ash burst out laughing, for no apparent reason, and I found within me the courage to look at him happily chuckling away. "Y-you want me to confess, but don't want me to tell anything!"

My eyes widened. "What confession are you on about?!"

He smiled, before running a hand through his hair. Why do I have the sudden urge to check if his hair is soft? "Nothing. Let me test the drink. They didn't mention the flavours, though, and I randomly picked the colors. Which one do you want? Green or yellow?"

I looked between the two cups holding the coloured liquids, glad for the swift change in the topic. The yellow one looks odd, and so does the green one. "Green?"

"Alright." And Ash took a great gulp from the yellow one before I could warn him about the possibility of it being spiked with something. He choked, and I had to pat his back, before he could swallow it completely.

"Why don't you take it slow?" I complained, worried. Instead of a response, he grinned. Suddenly, he cast his eyes down to the soft underground, and his face darkened. "Ash? Are you okay?" That thing is definitely spiked. Oh, why did I not take it?!

When he looked up, I saw a different emotion in his widened eyes; something alien. "Tell me, would you prefer a taste of the darkness within me or the bright side of my soul?" What?

"P-pardon?" I asked, backing away a little. His lips curled up in a mischievous smile.

"Choose one, and don't fear me."

My mind contemplated choosing to knock him down into a sleep, but him getting high was my fault in the first place. "The b-bright side."

He leaned in, and took my hand. "The bright side, you say? But I do need your help to get that one out." Strange, he wasn't slurring his words. Apart from his expression, and the way he flinched often, he showed no signs of being high.

"How?"

The next thing I knew, we were locked in an embrace, his whispers echoing in my ear, and sending chills down my spine. "I'll kill myself." He broke the hug, and grinned wide. "By laughing at this prank!"

"What in the name of — donuts?!" By now, Ash was laughing as if he had gone wrong in the head. As much as I wanted to tape that mouth of his, I couldn't bring myself to hate him. Instead, I resorted to punching his chest repeatedly. "It. Wasn't. Funny!"

"I'm totally not sorry!" He grabbed my wrists, so I narrowed my eyes at him. "Chill! The yellow juice is fizzy pineapple. Gave me hiccups." He flinched again. That's why he's flinching, eh? "Try yours!"

I didn't stop scrutinizing him under my gaze, nevertheless took a sip of my drink. Something crunchy entered my mouth. Broccoli. "Wot de 'ell?! 'Ccoli," I gurgled, trying to find a way to spit it out. It tasted horribly pathetic.

"Broccoli? Seriously?" I heard the boy ask from beside me. Who decided to ruin my life by blending juices of broccoli? "Serena."

"Wot?" I turned around, and that was the death of me. It happened quick. I could not process it at the beginning; Ash's lips against mine. His tasting organ dashed against mine, and I savoured his salty taste.

One moment, my stomach did a somersault, and everything turned fuzzy like a soda pop; next, the warmth had left, and Ash was munching on the broccoli.

"Eh? This is a strange blend. My bad. I should've gotten the blue one instead," he spoke, arms crossed across his chest as if rethinking his decision. Whatever he did seemed to have had no impact on him. He was the one who planned it, after all. "Do you want me to get the blue one? Or perhaps, the red one. For all I know, it could be strawberry. Serena?" he added, seeing as I made no attempt to reply.

Blank mind. Mouth agape. My worst nightmare of an elegant composure.

"Daijoubu, Serena?"  

Serena? Serena? Serena?

All I did was fall back onto the grass, a smile spreading against my face as I touched my lips. He tasted of pineapple, fuzzy and comforting. "Hey? Should I be sorry?"

"For the smooch you stole?" I asked, surprising myself. He arched his eyebrows. Guess I had taken him aback with my amazing eloquence.

He laid down beside me, before replying. "No, silly. For the prank."

"Right." I grabbed his arm, nuzzling into his neck as he gazed at the stars. I noted the corner of his ear to have tinged pink. I'm not the only one who gets flustered, it seems.

"Hey," he started, voice hoarse. "Shouldn't we go join the others?"

"We will, but," I looked up at him, but found that he was already staring at me, his cheeks coloured against his pale skin. "Give me a few minutes to live my teenage dream, will you, Ash Ketchum?"

He smiled, and I felt satisfied. Perhaps, I could fulfill the promise, after all.

~ Fin ~