Chapter Eight

RECONCILIATIONS 1 - May and Drew

One week before the wedding.

May slumped on the swing seat, clutching tightly on the rehearsal script until the paper was crumpled and torn. It wasn't the heat from late morning sun that greatly upset her mood, nor was it the incessant intolerable bantering of the wedding coordinator—well, maybe a bit of that. But it was—well, a lot has been going on. May had hoped that this day would have been the best for the wedding rehearsal. She did not foresee that the bride-to-be was going to have mood swings attributable to "blood moon" days, Paul was about ninety minutes late because of traffic, and Reggie had to head back to Veilstone since he forgot the rings.

May unfolded and smoothed out the creased paper, relieving herself of the deeply held sigh she wasn't aware she was holding. Her lips pursed into a tight thin line as she held back tears. She had surmised stress and exhaustion but did not expect a supplement of distress from feeling envious seeing Drew together with Serena at the cocktail table—too much for her soft heart to bear.

The swing set she sat on was hidden away in a garden maze, just outside the church where the rehearsals were brought to pause. Even from way over where she was, she could hear Dawn throwing a fit. She didn't want to deal with that right now, even if it was her responsibility and even if Dawn was nothing less of a best friend. May pushed herself up a bit, allowing the swing to slowly move in its back-and-forth pace and in that small comfort she sought, found herself sheepishly smile.

Why am I even jealous? She frowned inwardly. I thought I hated him…

"The mystery of love is more mysterious than that of death," she's read once before. It was something that she couldn't quite fathom at the tender age of ten, and maybe not even quite so at twenty-seven. Misty had told her it was about patience while Dawn encouraged her to seek its truth. It was frustrating that she couldn't grasp what her friends meant and hardly connect it to what love was. Perhaps the wedding day could clarify some answers for her.

Thick clouds hovered over the harsh sunlight, and May knew it was her cue to head back inside. Jumping off the swing, she stood for a moment, realizing that she had forgotten how she got through the maze. Her Pokémon were back at the church, and she did not even bring a jacket. Cursing under her breath, she simply made her way to the first path she saw and, crossing her fingers, prayed she would make it out before Dawn rages over her absence.

Thirty minutes passed, and May still hasn't found the exit. "Oh, Arceus, what do I do now?" Panic began to rise, and she felt her throat go dry and heart palpitate. "It's okay, May. Someone's going to notice you're gone and they're going to send some help… there's no reason to worry or lose your shi—shells."

"Shells? That's the best you can come up with?"

Having heard of a person's voice behind relieved her of the woes from being pathetically lost in a manicured garden maze, albeit from its familiarity, found herself at a state of dizzying shock. Hesitantly, she turned around to face Drew Hayden and look him in the eye. "Oh! Uhmm, ignore everything you just heard—you know how I am, talking to myself and all. But I should be asking you what the hell are you doing here?!"

"So Miss Maybel Maple could actually swear," Drew mused, pocketing his hands.

"What? You mean 'hell'? T-that isn't a bad word!"

"Sure is, May. Well, for your standards, it is. Anyhow, I noticed you were heading inside the maze earlier and I… uh, it looked though that you were upset, so I followed—!"

"You followed me?!" May bellowed, anxious that he may have heard everything she said about love, mystery, and him.

"I got lost trying to track you, actually. It was just fortunate that I was able to find my way back, then I asked Masquerien for help to find you. I'm sorry if you wanted some privacy, but it also seemed like it was going to rain."

"What…?" May muttered. Was Drew concerned for her? "Did… Did Dawn tell you to come fetch me?"

He shook his head. "I came here on my own."

"I don't believe you. You—!"

Drew stepped in and, swiftly yet smoothly, took hold of her free hand. The soft roar of thunder hummed in the skies, but May was too surprised even to spare any attention to the impending rain. "Didn't I tell you before that I was trying to be better?" he told her. He was smirking, as he always did, but his eyes spoke with a gentleness uncharacteristic of him. "For one second, May—just one second. Think that I'm doing something right for you."

"If you weren't with Serena—" she muttered, louder than expected, and May's eyes grew wide with surprise and nervousness.

"Did... Did you say 'Serena'?"

Before May could give her delayed response, large drops of rain quickly splattered all over as if they were in a race to see which would hit the ground first. "Hold that thought—let's get out of here first. We wouldn't want the maid of honor to get sick before the wedding now, do we?" Drew was holding her hand as they hastily made their way through the garden maze with Masquerain at the lead. At times, he would glance back at her with a smirk, as if asking if she was all right. May would shyly return his smile, her heart palpitating within her chest.

The rehearsals ended just before it turned six. After eight long hours of arranging the set-ups, waiting for Reggie, perfecting the dances, making any last-minute adjustments, the wedding entourage was more than thrilled to finally head home. Sleepily, Dawn bade her best friend good-bye as she hopped in her fiancé's car. May wished them a safe journey and was admittedly a bit surprised to see Paul acknowledge her adieu with a wave of his hand.

On her far left, she could see Drew escort, Serena, opening the car door for her before she said farewell in her native language, landing quick peck on the man's cheek. Before Serena could roll up the tinted window of the car, May was able to briefly gaze at the charming beauty the Kalos woman possessed. She could take the heart of any man she desired, but why did it have to be Drew? He was all that she wanted, and she felt so convinced, for a moment in her life, that he could be the one for her. Surprised by her sudden self-confession, May trudged on her way towards the port, hoping she could get home to Hoenn before dark.

"Hey, May!" his ever-familiar voice called to her. Drew flashed her a smirk before flicking his hair. Even under this warm late-afternoon weather and the uncountable hours of repetitive rehearsals, he looked fresher than a Lum Berry. "My mother's finishing from her conference here at Sinnoh, and she's planning to pick me up. We should head back to Hoenn altogether."

"Thank you, Drew. But I should—"

May felt him gently reach for her elbow, sending shivers throughout her body. Unexpectant of her surprised reaction, Drew withdrew his hand and coughed out an apology. They found themselves under the heavy air once more, until Drew decided to break the ice. "Come on, it's no problem, really. We could get coffee while waiting. My treat?" he offered, gesturing towards the nearby café situated beside the busy road.

May thought about this for a moment. At least, she could spend some time with him, not as a rival, this time. "Sure. But I'm paying for the cakes."

His small smile made her romantic heart flutter all the more. "Deal."

The café was a bit crowded, both with people and Pokémon. At this, Drew suggested that they take out their warm beverages and wait by the single wooden bench outside. May agreed, telling him her order before waiting patiently outside, thoughts of their last meeting replaying like a broken record in her head.

"Well, there's this engagement… it's kinda big… a commitment, of course…"

"Of course it would be," she sadly mused to herself. She kept her gaze towards the busy street, the late noon haze giving a warmness of color to the faces of the tired people and Pokémon who had just come from work. May wondered if these people were going to return home to their families and beam at the excited faces of their spouses and children, all the tension from work washing away. It could also be that these people were still unmarried and lived alone. Statistics from this morning's newspaper did fail to bring her any comfort, reporting that Hoenn, among all other regions, had a large percentage of young women—about sixty percent—who were still single and live alone until their mid-thirties. Who the hell comes up with those numbers anyway? Barely passable for quality research—!

"You know, sometimes I worry about you, May," Drew's voice caught her off-guard, and the woman almost sprung from her seat. "How long have you been staring at the fire hydrant?"

May shot him a glare. "I was deep in thought, just so you know! There's a lot to think about and—" She cut herself short, reflecting on her earlier musings and how embarrassing it would be if he had found that she was thinking about him, his engagement, and marriage.

"And?"

"Nothing. It's nothing," May shook her head and took the warm cup of creamy goodness with both hands. She blew the small white mist swirling upward and brought the lid to her lips in a quiet sip. From the corner of her eye, she could see Drew mirror her movements in the way he drank his flat white, only he did so more meticulously.

Drew gently laid the paper cup onto his lap, resuming his query. "Not even a hint? I won't tease you for it." He sounded serious.

"Promise?"

"Hm… well…"

May playfully nudge Drew by the shoulder, almost spilling the cup off his hands.

"Hey! Watch it. All right, all right, fine—I promise I won't tease," he smirked, recovering himself from the incursion. "Really, May. You should learn to cease your hostile temper—"

"Are you going to listen or not?"

"All right then. I'll remain as still and silent as the evening."

May rolled her eyes. It seems that she had forgotten about the pressure she has brought herself—and eventually, upon remembering such made her stomach queasy and her heart palpitates a thousand folds faster. She pursed her lips tightly and in her panic, hastily sipped more of the hot liquid, accidentally singeing her tongue. Her eyes began to water at the pain, and Drew felt an odd sense of concern as he watched the poor woman in her distress.

"M-May, are you all right? Did you burn yourself? Let me get you a glass of water—" Just before he could stand, May latched onto his arm and shook her head, telling him it was unnecessary. "Are you certain? You really looked like you hurt yourself there."

"I'm fine, Drew… but thank you, anyway, for the um… concern."

"Anytime, May," Drew smiled, fixing a loose strand of her chocolate hair and gently tucking it behind her ear. He stifled a chuckle when he saw her blue eyes widen in her surprise, a vivid contrast from the pink flush on her cheeks. "You were saying…?"

"Oh! Uhm… uh… uh, about the… well…" May couldn't precisely pinpoint the source of her nervousness. Was it because of what she was about to say? Was it because he was here with her now? Was it because he looked so perfect when he smiled at her and felt him so close even if it were mere seconds? This rare rendezvous sparked some vestigial instinct within dormant courage in her was awakening, and she knew it was the right moment to ask.

"You know, it's fine. We don't have to talk about it now if you don't—!"

"It's about your engagement," May finally managed to utter. She silently released a deep sigh through her nostrils as her heart threatened to pound out of her chest. She kept her gaze locked at his and allowed her warm blood to color her face. There was no turning back now. "I was… curious about your engagement. You never told me about it—never told me to whom you were engaged. But then, I guess it was only natural—I mean, you and I haven't spoken in a while, and I guess it's fine if I wouldn't be invited and…"

She stopped herself when she saw Drew place a fist against his curved lips, hindering himself from chuckling. May furrowed her brows, demanding what he found so amusing in her query. Before she began to fume and accuse him of insensitivity, Drew flicked his hair in an effortless act of self-recovery."May, when I said 'engagement,' I did not mean that I was engaged to be married!" His clarification seemed to have shocked but also assuage his companion's edginess. The flush from her cheeks may have slightly dwindled, but her dazed eyes were still as wide as before. He turned to her and continued to explain. "I'm still far too busy for that, anyhow. Plus, I don't have anyone special to share my life with as of the moment."

"So you're… oh…" May fiddled with the paper cup in her hands. "I'm so sorry, Drew! I didn't realize what you meant, and I… urgh, I'm just making a fool of myself asking these questions."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, May! There's really nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm glad you actually asked—I mean, I couldn't imagine you dragging yourself through the mud, musing if I was engaged or not."

"That is a total exaggeration! I wouldn't be dragging myself through the mud, Mr. High-and-Mighty! Oh, it would be far less than that. Waaay less than that!"

Drew chortled. He had always found her little fits of rage a charming bit of her. "Really? Then do tell me why you were so flustered over trying to ask if I was engaged or not?"

"It was—it's naturally an embarrassing question! I mean, I see you and Serena together and—"

"Serena Hollihurst? You thought I was going to marry her? She was a Coordinator back when I met her in Kalos—a real competitive one, too. We became good friends since she decided to study Pokéstyling. And her father, coincidentally, is a business partner of my dad's."

May remained still, realizing that she was the one in the wrong. Not only has it been a long day—an arduous and taxing long day, at that—but it also was sort of eventful in a sense, she had learned more about Drew and, perhaps, herself. He really has changed. It was a pleasant change, and those changes she actually did come to acknowledge were his way of standing by his promise to be better.

Drew watched as May silently stood to throw the emptied paper cup. Under the amber sunset haze, she glowed like a mystical autumn goddess. Red did definitely suit her. Her soft brown hair gently caressed the curves of her cheeks, and her sapphire eyes stood out like stars in a cloudless evening sky. Subconsciously, he began to paint a picture in his mind of this woman waking next to him—her hair so alluringly disheveled and the sleepy, blissful smile she would always give as she slowly opens her eyes. Now, more than ever, Drew wondered to himself what took him so long to pursue May Maple. In their tender years as aspiring Coordinators, they were heated rivals who drew out the best in one another. After the days became months, and months turned to years, the luster of their friendship seemed to have withered away as Drew buried himself in his work, balancing life as a famed Coordinator and blooming businessman. The moment he caught a glimpse of her at the park, he just knew that he couldn't let her slip away. The reason for it, he wasn't so certain… until today.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed from his pocket, breaking him from his trance. Pulling it out, he read the text message from his mother that she was nearly there.

"What's up?" May asked, returning to her seat next to him.

"Oh, uh, mother is almost here. You haven't met her before, have you?"

"I don't believe I have," she replied. "It would be nice to meet your mother after all these years. They've never watched any of your matches in person?"

"They're far too busy for that," Drew answered, nonchalant. "Mother always makes time to watch on the television, though. She'd call everyone in the house to a single room in the entire house."

May smiled at this. Drew spoke differently when he talked about his mother. His emerald eyes would perk up at the slightest, and she could see the subtle curves of his lips form into a genuine smile. She wondered if his father was also as intrigued when it comes to his matches or performances.

Just then, a jet black luxury car pulled up. Ensconced in the backseat was the most perplexing woman May had ever seen. She was gracefully thin, with thick dark jade curls covering her collarbone, dressed in a marsala cocktail dress with matching pumps. Though her age would fall somewhere between the late fifties to sixties, she looked downright no day over thirty.

"Here's our ride," Drew said casually. May clutched on her bag as a uniformed chauffeur got out and opened the door for them. Drew stepped aside and gestured that she climb in first. With a shy smile, she greeted the woman, who beamed at her before giving Drew a peck on the cheek. He glanced at May, quite embarrassed that she had witnessed the scene. The chauffeur allowed some time for the individuals to settle down before driving on, and before May could actually realize what was happening, she found herself inside the Rolls Royce Ghost, sandwiched between Drew and the luxurious lady in the marsala dress and pumps.

"So, you're May Maple? The internationally-famed Top Coordinator from Hoenn?" the woman asked.

"Perhaps internationally-famed is a bit too much, Missus Hayden," May timidly replied. Only when she was seated did she notice the Mincito, seating poised beside her.

"Oh! Don't be so modest, dear. Drew here has been going on and on about your achievements, and I had to tell him that, for once, I'd like to hear what he's been doing with his life!" She ignored the deadpanned glance her son shot her, instead, keeping her head turned towards the pretty brunette. "And do call me Jewel, dearest. Missus Hayden is sickeningly overused, especially today."

"Mom, let's not bring up any cumbersome or cringe-worthy topics, please," Drew interjected.

"Beggars cannot be choosers, darling. You're in my car, I hold the conversations. And don't worry! It's not as if I'm talking about marriage—!" With an abrupt glistening in her jade eyes, Jewel looked at May, brandishing her pearly whites in a big smile and continued. "Speaking of marriage—aren't you the maid of honor to the Sinnoh Champion's bride, May?"

May was caught off-guard with the woman's sudden surge of enthusiasm but relieved Drew's mother was not implying about marriage with her son. "Uh, yes, I am…"

"That's going to be one for the wedding histories—I tell you! The Sinnoh Champion and the glamorous Pokéstylist who was once a Coordinator."

Drew leaned in a bit closer to May and whispered in her right ear, "Though this information may seem irrelevant before, you should at least know my mother is an avid wedding fan." May chuckled softly.

Their brief yet playful exchange did not go unnoticed by Jewel, who already had a behemoth smile plastered on her face and raised brows over teasing eyes. "My oh my, is there something I'm missing here?" She turned to May and smirked. "You know, dear, Drew has left so little time for everything else since he was called to business by his father and since moving back to LaRousse. I'd say he's rather lonely and misses the life he had as a Pokémon Coordinator."

"I still do performances sometimes," Drew made an attempt to mention.

"Yes, but after that, what happens? You fly back home and drown yourself with work! When you were a child, you always had something to tell about your competitors but none so much as a certain girl named May Maple." Jewel crossed her legs and placed a bangled hand under her daint chin. "Come to think of it, I wondered why you never dated her? I actually worried you'd be a celibate!"

Drew and May sat there utterly mortified, but in their own ways somewhat relieved. Though extremely shamefaced with his mother's choice of words, he was gladdened by how warm and approving his mother was towards May, especially since she had previously raised brows over the women who attempted to make business deals with him—Serena Hollihurst, for instance. There was a time when he invited her over for his father's birthday party and had been displeased when his mother told him, "Drew, as a businessman, you should know who to trust. This goes especially with women. There are many rotten gold-diggers out there, and you should be careful with the sort you associate with."

As for May, she was simply amused with Jewel's stories and surprised with how amicable she was with her.

The ride to the airport ended with Jewel's comical note. Overwhelmed with the torrent of unexpected—and awkward—occurrences, May was unsure of what to think or feel. After Drew's mother continued with her teasing that she and her son should start dating, they were escorted to the area of the airport designated for private flights. Like the car ride from earlier, May just had to snap herself awake that she was riding in a private jet with Drew and his mother on her way home to Hoenn. True enough, she had saved some time and money from not taking the cruise.

They arrived just on time for dinner, and while Jewel requested that May join them, the shy brunette politely refused and explained that her family had been waiting for her. Of course, Jewel understood this. She bade the young lady goodbye with a peck on the cheek and a whisper, telling her to think of all that she has said. When Drew saw May's flushed face, he folded his arms and simply climbed in the car that would finally bring him home.

Dinner at home was normally uneventful. The chefs would prepare whatever was requested of them by Madam Jewel, and the kitchen staff assured everything was ready before they could even take their seats. His father would sit at the end of the long table, his mother on his right, and his place on the left. They often would eat in silence, but occasionally, his mother would ask about their day. This evening, things seemed to have become far more interesting than usual as Jewel brought up the topic of having met the placid May Maple in person for the first time.

"May? Wasn't that the little girl with the Beautifly?" Edward Hayden asked, putting a spoonful of claypot rice into his mouth.

"Indeed! She looked so scared at first before—it was adorable!" Jewel gushed. "Now, she's this incredible Coordinator who still keeps her feet on the ground. I'm glad she and Drew became rivals." She looked at her son with a warm smile and continued. "She always did bring out the best in you. I've never seen you as driven before after she beat you at the finals. Don't you think she could actually be the one for you?"

"Not to mention, she seems different from all those other women who surround you—she's like a breath of fresh air," his father added.

"It's amusing how this aspect of my life suddenly concerns you both," Drew said dryly.

"What do you mean 'suddenly concerned'? We've always looked out for you, Andrew! We didn't want to be so pushy since we knew you're old and wise enough to assume control over your life. It just so happens that I've seen you with this young lady before, and since you've avoided pursuing her before, I'd like to moderate a bit. I remember you telling me the night before you headed to Johto that you looked forward to seeing her again—you wanted to see her again."

Drew sighed. This conversation was not meant to happen, albeit he knew it would have come sooner or later in the most unpredictable fashion. His mother was the inevitable, and when she initiates such topics of conversation during dinner with his father, the best he could do is either remain silent for the entirety of the night or simply admit his feelings to his parents.

And, finally, he chose the latter.

"Yes, I did want to see her again. The moment I saw her at the park, I just knew I couldn't let her slip away."

"It's a good thing you didn't." Edward smiled. "If your mother seems to like her, then I guess all you have to do is reel her in, right?"

"Oh, Arceus! This boy's reeling in all right. But not in the right way!" Jewel quipped as she finished the last of her Pinot Noir. "All you did at the car was tease and pick at the poor girl as if you were still children. Andrew, please! Awaken the quiescent romantic in you and ask her to dance with you at the wedding."

"I was already planning to mother, I…" His explanation came to a halt, and mother calmed in her enmeshment of maternal elation and castigation. Even his father paused from his finishing his meal. With a hefty sigh, Drew gave his parents a profound smile and with hopeful emerald eyes, pressed on. "I… I was hoping to ask her to be my girlfriend at the wedding reception."

…