|
C hapter XVII
On the next morning, Glasorden left Gardenia once again with a heavy heart. He knew that even though his body would be in Glacierbay City, his heart would always be right there with Gardenia-that was where he belonged, where he longed so desperately to be. When he looked back, he noticed Gardenia blowing him a kiss.
When he got back on the ship with Eldritch, he realized that he had some important questions.
"Hey, Eldritch!" Glasorden opened.
"Yeah?" Eldritch replied.
"Do you remember being a Sailor before you got your own ship?" Glasorden said.
"I don't talk about that a great deal," Eldritch said. "Why do you ask?"
"Do you remember a young girl with reddish blonde hair?" Glasorden inquired of Eldritch.
"Yes, I do," Eldritch said. "There was such a girl on the ship that I worked on. I had to detain her and then bring her out to be punished. I knew what my duty was, but she seemed so innocent...and honest...I couldn't bring myself to let her fingers get cut off! How did you know about this?"
"I'm desperately in love with that girl," Glasorden replied. "I hope to marry her one day."
"You're going to marry her?" Eldritch said. "It really is a small world after all! You must be one lucky guy!"
"Yes," Glasorden said. "Anyway, thanks for saving my precious Gardenia."
Eldritch could do nothing but smile.
After a while, he went back to the Eterna Gym. When he got there, he embraced Gardenia once again. They went to bed, told each other romantic things, kissed, and went to sleep. The next day, they went back to the restaurant that Glasorden remembered visiting the day after his shipwreck. Something about it was different this time, though.
Roark was chowing down on his favorite salami sandwich. Strangely, a woman was sitting with him.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Roark?" Gardenia asked him.
Roark looked up. He blushed-apparently, he was still trying to take in the fact that Glasorden and Gardenia happened to go to the same restaurant for lunch.
"Yes," he said. "I intend to marry her tomorrow."
"Oh, right!" Gardenia replied, turning to Glasorden. "We still have to get married! Are we going to do it soon, my laurel?"
Glasorden smiled. He looked forward to marrying the owner of the eyes that were now gazing at him lovingly from across the table.
Afterwards, they started to eat. Sometimes, Gardenia would lick her lips while Glasorden was looking. He grinned whenever this happened. All he thought about at that point was how much he loved her and how he desired to make it known to her that all he wanted was to make her happy. He continued to admire her from across the table. Never before had he ever seen a woman so beautiful...or compassionate...
When they got back to the Gym, Gardenia said to Glasorden, "I have a surprise for you. Come this way."
He followed her to a door. When she opened it, his gaze was met by a room covered in snow and ice.
"Now, you have a place where you can raise your Pokémon right here in Eterna City, my laurel," Gardenia said to Glasorden.
"You couldn't have gotten me a better gift," Glasorden replied. "I have a surprise for you, too, my Skitty."
With that, he pulled out a green Pokétch that was clearly Grass-type-themed with pictures of Grass-type Pokémon set in the display.
"I couldn't be any happier than I am right now!" Gardenia exclaimed.
"Oh, really?" Glasorden replied, pulling out another gift. Gardenia's eyes fell upon a Poké Ball.
"It's...a Poké Ball," Gardenia said.
"Not just any Poké Ball," Glasorden told Gardenia. "Open it."
When she did, she saw Shroomish emerge from the ball. Not long after, she embraced the Shroomish in a crushing hug. When she stopped, she looked at Glasorden again.
"That was so sweet, my laurel!" she said. "How did you know?"
"Sometimes, you just know these things," Glasorden replied.
"You're such a sweetie," Gardenia said before pulling Glasorden's head into a kiss.
That night, Glasorden wrote a letter to Michel making him the new Gym Leader. Although he thought that his Junior Trainers and the people at the bar might find him crazy, he didn't care as long as he had Gardenia. He smiled as the Staraptor carrying his letter took his past life with it before going back into the Eterna Gym.
Glasorden found himself in Gardenia's room one night. He knew what he had to do, but he wasn't sure whether he'd be able to do it. It seemed like his most difficult challenge yet.
As Glasorden got down on his knees, Gardenia's eyes followed him downward. He looked into them. They looked back lovingly. He forced the words in his throat to come out as he tried to fight his fear.
"The first time I met you, you took my breath away. Never in my life have I seen another woman as beautiful or sweet as you. I relish every moment when you're in my arms and cherish every kiss we share. I want nothing more than to keep you safe, happy, and warm at night. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I hope you feel the same way. Gardenia, will you marry me?"
As he held out Gardenia's engagement ring, his hand trembled slightly. He looked into Gardenia's eyes and thought that even though he would be heartbroken if she turned him away, there was no way in which he could possibly earn the heart of such a gorgeous, caring woman. Indeed, he wasn't good enough for her-she deserved someone better, someone who was more handsome and capable of love, not to mention that he could speak English with no accent. He blew it. He might as well just-
"Glasorden, I accept."
After Glasorden gave Gardenia her engagement ring, they both unleashed the excitement that they were trying so hard to repress in a passionate kiss. To Glasorden, no kiss was ever sweeter, wetter, or fuller of love. They both went to bed joyfully that night.
Chapter XVIII
Contents
Main
|
