26.
chapter twenty-six
red on his thumb

SmartAsh: Will be there in five. Running an errand for Nurse Joy!

My eyes glazed over the message for the fifth time in the span of ten minutes.

With my model sketch due in two days, I was really desperate to get it done by the evening—even if it meant staying back. But my model was busy—

The sliding door opened, and my head shot up to see the newcomer, a smile growing across my face before I caught sight of who it was. It wasn’t Ash. Rather, it was the boy I met in the hallways—the one in black who would wave randomly.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he apologized, taking note of my presence. He wasn’t in my class, that was for sure. But what called him here?

As if reading my mind, he continued, "I was just looking for a classroom to complete my physics assignment."

As much as I wanted to be alone with Ash when he arrived, perhaps a little company wouldn’t hurt. Who knows, Ash probably knew him already.
"That’s okay! This classroom is free anyway, and I’m here for the same. Only, for my model sketching assignment."

The boy quirked an eyebrow before he took cautious steps toward me. He stopped short a desk before, crossing his arms.
"Model sketch? Aren’t you supposed to have a model then?"

I nodded, feeling sheepish.
"I do, but he’s running late."

"A photo won’t do?"

Embarrassment clouded my cheeks. Technically, he was right, but I was unwilling to stare at a photo of Ash and work when I could get the real, interactive one to pose.

"It would, but—oh, where are my manners?" I hit my head, feigning forgetfulness. "I’m Serena. It’s a pleasure to finally talk to you face to face."

The boy’s lips quirked up in a tiny smirk as he leaned against the desk before me.
"The honor is all mine, Serena-chan."

"Oh, don’t tell me you’re into anime as well," I deadpanned, scratching my head. Honestly, I was done with putting up with Ash and May’s otaku-ness.

"A little." He shrugged helplessly. "Thanks to my sister, to be honest."

"That’s cute."

"Mhm, yeah."
A heartbeat passed as his twinkling green eyes bore into mine. Then, as if nothing had happened, he rummaged through his bag and withdrew a bluebook and a pencil case. Without a warning, he started on his assignment.

Perhaps he had a lot to write, I thought to myself, turning to my binder. The ribbon that I had been sketching ever since the start of the semester glared back at me playfully, urging me to give it an end.

"Say, Serena-chan."

I looked up, dropping my pencil to the desk. The boy—I realized I didn’t know his name—was still concentrating on his job.
"Mhm?"

"How about we—"

I flinched when the door slammed open. A familiar face strutted in. It wasn’t just anyone, though. It was Ash. A very big, jealous Ash, to be precise.

He totally caught me by surprise when he reached my desk and leaned down, crashing his lips against mine in a tentative lock that left me breathless. My hand flew to my chest, clutching the pendant underneath my shirt, its sharp edges grounding me. I tried to protest against the public display, push him back, but his grip tightened—and then a faint metallic taste entered my mouth. He was at it again.

The boy pulled back, his gaze piercing for a split second before he directed it at the other boy. To nobody’s surprise, he was uncomfortable, but something in his eyes told me there was something more to his discomfort than just what he had witnessed.

"Right, I see your model is here," he remarked, more to himself than to me. Pushing himself off the desk, he grabbed his paraphernalia and rushed to the sliding doors.

"Wait!" I exclaimed, bolting to my feet. I could feel Ash’s eyes burning at me, but I continued. "I don’t know your name..." I trailed off sheepishly, turning the pendant over in my hand awkwardly.

The boy regarded me for a second, his sharp features flickering with something unknown, before he ran a palm through his face and shook his head.

"You needn’t, Serena-chan."

With that, he left the entire room to us. The wind stirred the curtains before I turned to Ash.

The black-haired boy’s gaze was lowered to the ground. He was biting his lip, but I had no idea if it was just his blood smeared on them or mine as well.

"Why’d you do that?" I questioned, although my voice lacked the conviction needed. The bottled-up frustration over his antics threatened to spill. "Why are you so possessive over me when you know we’re stuck with each other?"

Ash didn’t answer for a long minute, and I briefly considered packing everything and returning home and basing the assignment on Misty or May instead. But then he answered lowly.

"I wasn’t possessive or jealous."

"Then why’d you kiss me when you don’t normally?"
He looked away, mumbling something so low that I couldn’t catch.
"Come again?"

"Because you’re my soulmate, and I’m ready to strengthen myself with the bond."

I couldn’t take his silent, cryptic responses any longer.
"Why?!" I burst out, clenching my fist over the pendant—the one he had given. "You know we’re supposed to stay low!"

"But he’s the one who’s behind me. Behind us."

"What do you—"

"He’s freaking Gladion Aether!"

I gasped. Like an insecure goldfish out of water. Like a fool.

"Why—"

"I wish I knew why he’s after you now," Ash mumbled, holding his head.

"Then why’d you do this?!" I exclaimed once I regained some sense, pointing to my lip.

"In case he wanted to close in on you or me, he’d know I’m strong. He would know I’m capable of destroying him."

I looked away, my mind reeling with the newly supplied info. Who would have thought that the boy who waved every morning without fail was the enemy himself? The one who had betrayed my soulmate, Ash, and Gary?

Not in my wildest dreams.

"Ash," I whispered, guilt creeping into my system and wrecking my insides sick. "I’m sorry."

But all he did was lean in. His fingers brushed my lips, and when he pulled away, I saw the fluid that was ruining our lives smeared on the meat of his thumb.