Love is like snow. It is indeed very beautiful but it melts very quickly.

---

The next Monday morning...

Serena

*MAY IS CALLING*

*MAY IS CALLING*

*MAY IS CALLING*

My handphone kept on ringing non-stop as I was changing to my new clothes in the bathroom. Silly me, I left it on my bed. Ugh, why is May calling me at this time?

Frustrated by my annoying ringtone May the other day set for me, I donned my clothing and dashed out of the bathroom to pick my handphone up. Do you know this feeling, this Monday morning blues? The worst part was that the water that was still lingering on my hand caused my handphone to slip off my hand and it dropped on the ground.

UGHHH

I quickly picked it up from the ground and checked frantically for any cracks,  damages, scratches, dents or whatever shit happened to my handphone.

Thankfully, there's wasn't any and slid to receive the call. "Hello?" I asked patiently.

"SERENA SERENA, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG TO PICK UP?" a familiar voice shouted into my ears such that I had to distance my handphone away from my ear.

I replied, "I was changing, May!"

"Have you seen the pictures uploaded on the school social webpage??? Have you seen?" May bombarded me.

"What is it so big? You know I don't really care about this kind of stuff." I nonchalantly replied.

"BUT THIS IS REGARDING ASH!" May yelled again.

That last word of hers brought my alert level to the highest.

Ash??? What did he do??? It must be news breaking to be at the top of our school social media!!!

May added, "SERENA YOU THERE?

"Yeah?"

"JUST TAP ON THE LINK I SENT YOU, QUICK!"

From May's tone of voice, this matter must be really big.

I quickly tap the 'End Call' button and navigate my way to May's conversation. I saw the link and tapped it.

Not sure if the internet was slow or I was too eager to know about Ash, the webpage took forever to load. If this was to continue, I would just throw my phone away.

I glanced at the top right of my phone to check the timing. Holy chap, I quickly rushed to school while still waiting for the webpage to slowly load. This is how fast 4G+ speed is...

When I finally logged into the school social media site, I found out that nearly everyone from school was online there. Oh, one more thing. If you think that I have finally loaded the website, you are wrong. THE IMAGES ARE STILL LOADING!!! WHY SO SLOW?

I frantically tapped on the photos, hoping to see them quicker. Thank god, they do.

I could not understand. It was as if my brain had broken down. I could not believe my eyes. Are they deceiving me? Who is this girl? She looks like our age. How come they have a child? Are they very close? Why? Why? Why?

I wished that the pictures were never loaded. I wished that May had never told me the existence of these pictures. I wished I never cared about Ash. What is this feeling?

*sob*

Throughout the whole morning, I avoided Ash. Even when we were in the same class, I would avoid eye contact with Ash. 

It was finally lunchtime and May joined me in the queue. May asked, "Serena you okay? you don't look like yourself today!"

"No, no," I frantically replied and adjusted my looks, "I'm fine, don't worry."

She whispered into my ears, "Ms Obvious, you cannot hide from me."

I sighed in defeat as May could read me like a book. However, that's what I thought. She asked, "Serena, actually, what's the matter?"

My eyes widened as I looked into her blue eyes. She wasn't lying. She really didn't know what's going in my mind. I was contemplating on whether to tell her for seconds and I decided.

I whispered into her ear, "I will tell you on one condition."

"What is it?" May's curious face lit up.

"Don't tell others," I said.

"Ok!"

After we finished our lunch, I told her everything about Ash and me from elementary school to present time.  May exclaimed, "Interesting,"

"Shhhh," I said, as I placed my index finger on my mouth.

She did a lip-sealed motion and we parted ways to our lockers as the first bell rang.

I quickly took out the books I required for the second half of the day and placed them on my hands.

As I turned around, I felt a sudden push force.

*BANG*

---

Ash

Books and papers flew everywhere around us after the collision.

As I massaged the area where it hurt the most, I slowly opened my eyes to see who I knocked into. 

Serena.

"Serena!" I called.

"Ash?" she muttered.

No questions asked, I quickly grabbed her hand tightly and dragged the honey-hair girl to the nearest classroom.

She tried to struggle but I was too strong for her. 

Using my spare hand to push the door open, I made her enter.

 She questioned me after I released her hand, "What do you want!"

I could tell she was angry, but I had no choice.

"Shhh," I placed my index finger on my mouth.

She repeated, only this time obviously louder and angrier, "Why do you want me-?

"Keep your volume low," I cut her, "I don't want anyone to hear us."

"Fine." Serena placed her hands on her hips.

I asked, "Why are you avoiding me?"

"Nono, I wasn't, the lesson was very interesting today," she spoke quickly.

Something was wrong this morning. When I stepped into school, many were pointing fingers at me. I couldn't make out why they do so. I also tried to ask them why and they just gave hints that I couldn't comprehend at all.

I asked, "Serena, do you know what happened today? Why am I getting lots of attention today?"

"I don't know," she replied quickly as she shrugged her shoulders.

She turned around and planned to walk away, but I wasn't going to let it happen. I grabbed her by her hand. 

I asked again, "Just what happened, Serena, tell me."

"Can't you just ask other people? Can you just leave me alone?" she raised her voice as she released my grip.

Serena definitely knew something. I could tell from her tone. I just needed to convince her to tell me. "Serena," I paused as she was still back facing me, "Please let me know, no one will tell me except you."

Slowly, she digested my words. After a while of silence, she handed me her phone. The first picture that was on her phone was jaw-dropping. The more photos I swiped, the more flabbergasted I became. Who the heck took all these pictures? Who uploaded these pictures? What are his motives?

Knowing that I had seen all the pictures, Serena asked, "Ash, what is your relationship with that girl? Is the baby yours?"

I froze as if my brain had seized to function...

"Well, well well, Serena, let me tell you the baby is obviously Ash's!" a familiar voice travelled into our ears.

Serena

The doorknob was twisted and someone appeared from behind the door.

That, someone, was Gary, together with his sidekick, Paul.

"What are you doing here, Gary!" Ash yelled at him.

Given their competitive ties, it was no wonder Ash became very defensive.

"I just want to drop by and see how you are doing, that's all. With all the rumours going around, I just hope that you are still fine." Gary replied calmly.

"I'm fine, thank you, you may leave," Ash answered sarcastically.

Gary continued, "Ash, calm down, relax, let me tell you a piece of good news, I know who uploaded the picture using that anonymous account."

My face lit up, the account used to upload Ash's pictures was anonymous so we had no clue about who did it.

With a stern, angry face, Ash asked, "WHO?"

"Me," Gary laughed, together with Paul.

"Why you!" Ash groaned as Gary grinned with an evil smile as if he was born to be that mean, arrogant person.

"I thought you were just a playboy, I didn't expect you to really have sex and even have a baby," Gary continued. 

However, Ash could not contain his anger and charged like a bull, even Paul could not stop Ash and pinned Gary to the wall of the classroom by his neck, suffocating Gary.

Seeing Ash like this, I didn't want him to become a murderer or some sort. I ran up to Ash and shouted at him, "Ash, stop it, you are going to kill him."

Gary continued to gasp for air as Paul also was convincing Ash to let go of Gary.

Finally, Ash released his grip, still angry over Gary. 

*coughs* *coughs*

"You - bastard, you think -  you can - kill me!" Gary stuttered, gasping for air

"Repeat that and I will kill you!"

I shouted, "STOP IT YOU TWO!" 

"Ash, let's go, ignore Gary," I told Ash as I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the classroom. 

I could experience Ash's reluctance. I repeated, "Ignore him, he isn't worth it."

"Admitting defeat Ash?" Gary said, triggering Ash, even more.

"Well, never mind, Paul let me ask you an IQ question." Gary turned to Paul, "What is the name of a rubbish's son."

Paul quickly replied, "Rubbish!"

"Wrong," Gary corrected Paul, "Is Ash Ketchum!"

Once Gary finished his sentence, Ash broke free from my grip and dashed straight at Gary, pinning him down on one of the tables. Ash punched Gary in his fist, then punched him again.

"ASH!" I shouted.

Ash, however, continued his fists of fury.

"ASH, stop it!" a familiar voice shouted even louder than me.

Ash stopped and looked at the teacher. It was Professor Cynthia, our biology teacher. She entered the classroom and questioned angrily, "ASH, why are you beating Gary!"

She spoke louder in front of Ash, "How can you fight in school? Do you know how severe the consequences are?"

Just when I was going to open my mouth, she looked around in the classroom and said, "All of you don't argue with me, follow me to the principal's office.

"Yay, let's go!" Paul said happily.

---

"Ash, Gary, why are you two fighting?" Professor Oak, our Principal questioned.

I spoke first, "Professor Oak, actually the whole thing-"

Gary stopped me and said, "Ash, started it first, he punched me."

Paul added, "Yeah, I can be the witness, so is Serena!"

"Is this true?" Professor Oak asked me.

I nodded my head and said in defence, "But Professor Oak, R-"

I was cut the second time by Gary, this time, he complained, "You!"

Professor Oak asked Gary, "What's the matter?"

"My hand, it is pain," Gary lamented, "I think just now Ash punch me too hard, now my hand is injured."

Paul added, "Huh, if like that, how can join this year basketball tournament? Last year, you are the MVP, without you, our team cannot perform to our fullest."

I could not take this anymore, this Gary is obviously lying. He is trying to convince Professor Oak that he is the victim and the school will suffer, forcing him to expel Ash. I asked, "Gary, don't lie, your injury is not even serious."

"Ah, very painful."

Professor Oak finally spoke, "Gary, since your hand is in pain, do you need to see a doctor?"

"I need, I definitely need," Gary replied.

"This Gary!" I muttered under my mouth.

"Ash, say something," I turned my attention to the quiet Ash.

Professor Oak spoke, "Ash, I also would like to hear your explanation, Serena said that you were trying to-"

Ash cut Professor Oak, "Nothing, sorry that I punched Gary, yes I punched him first, I admit this whole thing is my fault."

His reply caught me by surprise, why didn't Ash just say that Gary was the one who uploaded the pictures of Ash, the girl and the baby? No, I must tell Professor Oak.

Professor Oak explained his stand, "Do you know that fighting is a serious offence and will affect your conduct in school? Do you have any special reason as to why you started it?"

Everyone in the room all looked at Ash. Gary and Paul were just afraid that Ash will talk bad about them while I was wanting Ash to speak the truth, about the pictures Gary uploaded. I could not take it and I had to help Ash.

Before I could speak, Ash grabbed my hand, stopping me. I was lost for words, my mind went blank. Why? Just Ash touching my hand!

He repeated, "Sorry Professor, just punish me."

---

If there is any grammatical errors or flaws, please tell me, Thankss  

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