Life With You

Part 37: All About Gohan

I never thought I'd see her again.  

It was surreal seeing Leska. Gohan hoped to meet again but knew it wasn't likely. The summer after Leska's visit, Aki's kids spent the summer with Leska in Okla City. She was mentioned briefly when they returned but there was no indication of Leska returning for a visit. The next year, he heard Leska got a job and was busy with her senior year of high school. Gohan was busy that year starting his brief time at Hoyt High School. He thought of her then but accepted their summer as something of the past. He cherished their memories, especially their kiss. He wasn't shamed the first thing he did after looking at her pretty face is stare at her lips.

She's prettier Gohan thought to himself as he sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen of Leska's apartment. Even though they were alone, Gohan still wore his helmet. It allowed him to secretly admire Leska as she tossed fruits, chocolate, nuts and almond milk into a blender. She'd grown a couple of inches and filled out her dress around her breasts and hips. In some areas, Leska looked the same. In others, she looked different but she was as Gohan always found her: pretty.

Leska placed two empty glasses on the counter and poured the blended smoothie into them. "I know who you are, Gohan. You don't need to wear the helmet."

Blushing, Gohan removed his helmet. So much for admiring her secretly. "Sorry, but how did you know it was me?"

Leska sprinkled granola, goji berries and hemp seeds on top of the chocolate drinks. "I know it's been three years and your voice was changing but I still recognize your voice, Gohan." She placed glass straws in the glasses and pushed one to him. "You still like chocolate and hazelnut milkshake?"

Gohan accepted the milkshake with a smile. She made that for him a few times during her summer visit. "I remember." He sipped nearly half his drink. "It's still good."

Leska sat beside him and slowly sipped from her straw. "I was never sure if you liked it. I thought you were being nice because I'm vegan and Kala always teased me about it."

"No. It's really good. I like it." He shyly scratched a cheek as he confessed. "Mom makes it for me sometimes." He left out the part of ChiChi teasing him for wanting it since his crush made it.

"How are your Mom and brother? Aunt Reia told me about your Mom's investiture. I wanted to come but it was so sudden and I couldn't schedule off work. Aunt Reia said it was a beautiful ceremony and your Mom looked so regal."

"It was great." Gohan had reservations about what it will all mean for them but Gohan knew how important it was for his mother to do this and despite his feelings, he supported her. "Mom has always been Mom to me. She cooks for me, cleans my clothes, and takes care of Goten, but that day, I saw her being more than my Mom. She was someone other people admire and respected. I thought it was only me, Dad, Grandpa and Goten who love Mom. I realized other people do too."

"You finally saw your Mom being someone with a life and dreams of her own and understood you have to share her. Took you long enough," Leska stirred her drink while giving Gohan a sly smirk. "There's hope for you yet."

"Huh?" Gohan wondered what Leska meant. "Hope for what?"

"Hope for seeing women as more than mothers and wives. Some of us want to have an interest outside the home. Some of us want more than one companion in a lifetime. You couldn't see that when Kenji sniffed around your Mom."

"Oh, don't bring him up," Gohan groaned.

"My point," Leska clarified, "you saw your mother as someone who should only care for you and your brother. Now you see she can do other things. I think she'll be an amazing Queen."