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chapter o5.
(o1/1o)
when we parted !

preview:

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"Serena? Serena. Serena!"

The words pierced the monotonous language hour, the most boring class of my academic life. French was always a charming subject, especially the Kalosian slang version. However, it was more or less equivalent to swallowing a mouthful of broccoli (I hate those) - bland and unappetizing.

"Serena?!"

"Mhm!" I lowered my notes, and wheeled around in my place to look at the owner of the persistent voice. "What is it, Ash?"

Ash Ketchum, a friend from the past and my current classmate, sat right behind me.

I frowned at the lack of response. Miss Olympe was dictating, and missing a second would cost me the pain to ask Misty or Calem for help. "Ash?"

His lips curled up in grin, but he offered no explanation. Perhaps, I was dreaming about the entire ordeal; I returned my attention to Miss Olympe, who ensured if I was following her instructions. I gave a quick nod, and the lady continued with her work.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Calem looking at me. 'What?' I mouthed. He shook his head, and went back to his notes. What is going on?

"Serena? Serena!"

And there was Ash-

"Serena! Don't you hear me?"

Not to mention, Miss Olympe's gaze was almost palpable.

"Oi. Oi! Serena!"

I was beginning to feel like a Volturb-

"Sere-"

Calm down, girl. You don't wish to be punished, do you?

"-na!"

But Ash's calling!

Okay, just a glance at him, and you're back to Miss Olympe.

This time, I craned my neck to look at the troublesome boy I had grown to admire. He was lazily sprawled on the desk, still grinning and hair disheveled, but his brown eyes bore into mine. "Serena!"

"Miss Yvonne? Are you following?" I turned around quick, almost spraining my neck in the process, and nodded fervently. It was hard to escape Miss Olympe's eye.

"Serena?"

Damn it.

One last time, I shot Ash a glare. Who would know it would literally be the last time he would ever set his gaze on me?

"Serena? Earth to Serena! Are you there?"

A familiar voice penetrated through my thoughts, and my vision focused on the letter I was supposed to be writing. I did not have to look up to know who was leaning against my desk.

"Yeah, I'm physically here." I dabbed at my moist skin before she could see me in the dreadful state that I had put myself into.

She plopped down on the seat beside me, jostling the bench in the process and sending my pouch tumbling to the floor. "Sorry! Lemme pick it up for you."

"That's fine. I can do it." Both of us bent down, bumping our heads, eliciting a laugh from Shauna.

"Guess your clumsiness is rubbing off on me."

I shrugged and closed the book. You never know how much something means to you until it's gone. There was no use trying to jot a note of positivity when I was not filled with any.

"You're still at it?" Shauna asked. "You're still writing Ash?"

Heat rose to my cheeks, and I rushed to silence her. "Ssh! He could hear you!"

Shauna's eyes widened momentarily, before her shoulders sagged and she sighed. "Oh, c'mon. Why do you feel the need to do that when he's fervently ignoring your existence?"

I glanced over at Ash, feeling a pang of frustration. "Just look at him. He looks so...blue."

"So?"

"I-I don't like it when he's frowning!" I protested, my voice wavering. "He's my friend from childhood!"

"Does he reciprocate the friendship now, though?" She leaned back in her seat, and gave me a side-eye. "And you are noticeably red."

I turned away from my teasing best friend to look out the window. Clusters of students were bustling about in the corridors, chatting happily. It was to be expected, seeing as the lunch break was in progress.

"Forget that!" I felt Shauna shuffle beside me, before she linked arms. "Have you seen the latest episode of Pokémon?"

"Um, the main series? Didn't it end?"

"No!" She responded, before her face turned funny and she began twirling her hair. "I mean Horizons. The second episode was released today!"

"Oh?" I was clueless, but her enthusiasm was infectious. "Tell me about it!"

"There's this girl, who's a picky eater, who goes along with Liko, Roy, Cap, and the others! To make sure she actually eats something, the Chef makes her delicious donuts!" Being a passionate anime fan myself, I very well understood the urge to spill the beans of a new episode, but that did not mean I liked being spoiled.

"Shauna-" I tried to interrupt, but she cut me off.

"I'm not spoiling you. I just wanna have delicious donuts in peace." Without warning, she grabbed my hands and looked at me with wide, imploring eyes. "Can you... Can you please make me some?"

"Donuts? Me?" I deadpanned, backing away with a nervous smile.

"Yeah!" Shauna bobbed her head eagerly. "I wanna eat a choco-strawberry flavoured donut, and I bet on my Ivysaur plushie that you are the only good chef in our friend group who can manage it!"

I wanted to decline, but she asked so earnestly...I've never seen her eyes sparkle so much while asking for something..if donuts can make her smile, maybe... I should go for it.

"Okay, but only two," I agreed, genuinely taken aback when she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Woo, what's up, girls?"

We broke our embrace, and I felt the fresh air rush into my lungs. "She's going to make me donuts."

My head snapped to who Shauna was talking to. It was Trevor, Tierno, Calem and Lisia. The boys and we have been classmates for the longest I could remember. Although Lisia joined late, she stuck fast.

"Is that so? Darn, you're fortunate enough to get Serena to make you donuts!" Tierno commented, looking wistful. It made me feel rather awkward.

"Cheer up, Tierno. I'll buy you some from the corner bakery!" Trevor piped in, trying to lift his friend's spirits.

"Why get them from the corner bakery?" This time, the teal-haired Lisia spoke up. She clapped Calem's shoulder before looking at me with a mischievous grin. This was bad. "Serena, you can make a few more, can't you?"

No! I was definitely not ready for a bunch of people to taste my poor cooking skills!

"Make what?"

Great.

"Oh, May! Dawn! Serena here agreed to make us some donuts!" Lisia announced, as if I had already agreed to the plan. I shook my head violently, but apparently, everybody was blind.

"Really? That's so cool! Could you count us in as well, Serena?" Dawn pleaded, clasping her hands together. I looked at Shauna, who, by now, was looking anywhere but at me. My eyes wandered over the rest of them: drooling Tierno, doubtful Trevor, enthusiastic Lisia, cheerful May, hopeful Dawn, and finally, an apologetic Calem.

Would they feel happy if they eat what I make? But what if I mess up? What if they didn't like it?

"Sounds delish, Sere. Mind adding me in as well?" This time, it was Gary, smirking and finger-gunning.

Something blue blocked my vision, which I quickly identified as Calem. "I'm sorry, Serena, but I think you might just have to bake for eight people." And I lost it.

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Hey guys!
Just a short author's note!

Chapters with "💌 | " preceding the number mean stories, such as this one. Such chapters will vary from medium length to long ones (900 words to 1.5k). In addition, the next letter will continue with o5 (that is, the fifth letter Ash will receive), so please don't get confused as to why I published two parts with the same number. :]

That's all for now. We finally got the reason why Ash is receiving letters ;)

Are you guys liking the way this story is going? Comment!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x