EPISODE 28: A Not so ZEALous Confrontation!*

Awakened at five in the afternoon, I quickly proceeded with grooming my Pokemon in which I made Absol and Mawile jealous. They have a punishment and thus I won't be grooming them. It is as if they were begging for food and meals when in fact all they ever wanted is a belly rub with the comb. As a not so profound general trainer, I keep my words sincerely and now they are left with no choice but to stare at me with covetous eyes.

After a long time grooming them, I thought to myself about what other things could I do to pass out the time for a moment or two. Dusk is arriving, and as a bored woman, time feels slow. I'm not in the mood to draw, train, or battle. I am not a fan of music unless it belongs to the classical genre but the internet here is weak and thus searching is slow.

In my bed, with my Pokemon just fiddling on the floor, I stare to the ceiling, thinking deeply. They say, imagining things is one way to pass the time but I got sick of it so I dumped the idea. I got even bored, so I made the decision to stroll around the place instead. I feel like I'm in some weird spaceship with all the flashy lights and stylish grunts.

In one of the halls; coincidentally I stumble upon Zeal's room who has kept her door opened by accident. Nothing can be heard except for the tears of gloom and sadness. I can feel it even from outside the room. Her sadness is intense to the point it makes me want to cry as well. The inner feeling of being influenced by someone's emotion, I now experience it.

"Hey, is there anything wrong?" I peak my head to her room, observing how she hugs her pillow tightly while sobbing. Her air-conditioner is completely off. Her only source of air is through the open windows. I am also surprised that no matter how loud her sobbing was, no one would dare to confront her except for me.

She scowls after seeing me as deep grief turns into resentment. In one glimpse she immediately stands, shutting me off her room and locking the door completely. I then thought back about the words I told her. No one would be this dramatic unless something is entirely wrong.

"Is anything wrong?" I query again, knocking persistently on the door. She completely neglects me. Things are starting to get worse as I can hear her punching the wall. That does not normally happen and I am surprised even now, people do such a thing. Well as for me, I punch the wall when I'm bored as I imagine I'm some kind of fighter.

Taking matters into my own hands, I did a little trick in which Charlotte thought me. With a pin, I vigorously squirm it unto the doorknob until it unlocks completely. Team Rocket may be advanced and all, but doorknobs are doorknobs and with a pin, you can enter anyone's room.

"Excuse me?!" Zeal shouts bitterly to me after unlocking the room. That was expected since I would do the same if I randomly unlock someone's room with permission.

"Right, about the thing I said in our previous mission, I just want to apologize if I said something terrible or heart-crushing."

"What the? How did you get here in the first place? I believe this is my room and I need some time alone. It's called privacy."

"I used the pin."

"Sigh, of course, you did. A pin is one of the best ways of unlocking a door if you run out of ideas. It is also the most basic and simplest way not to mention there are more than fifty ways of unlocking a door from the outside."

"So in other words you're complimenting me right?"

"Never mind. Just please leave, this is my room, not yours. If you're lost there's a grunt outside who can probably help you." Zeal says in a bitter manner, completely the opposite of her name. Her name literally spells out ZEALous which means happy.

"Yeah about that, I'm not leaving unless you tell me what's wrong. I do not want to leave- oh who's this?" Almost finishing my words, something on the floor grabs my attention. A broken portrait of Zeal and two others. One was a male and the one in the center is a female. I took it from the ground and observed it furthermore when suddenly Zeal grabs it from my hand.

"That is none of your business."

"I'm sorry, those are your friends, right? Something bad must've happened to them."

"Sigh, you persistent little-" her voice calms and her anger turns into a frown. She continues, "Never mind. I had enough of entering arguments for once. Just please leave the room."

"I guess your problem is quite personal and I won't bother you. If there is by any chance my words have recalled something terrible, I want to apologize. I just came since I was curious about you." I solemnly say as I left the room. She did not dare to talk further but instead locked the door again. Even if I am curious about whatever lingers in her past, a part of me wanted to respect her and keep personal things personal. At least I somehow apologized.

I stayed further, leaning on the outdoor wall of her room as I listen to what is happening inside. Hearing nothing much but deep breathes and constant sobbing noises, I decided to stop and continue with other positive and lively things to do like watching the sea and observing the scientists work inside our warehouse.