I kind of get the hang of writing stories without NxM. Anyhow, I really love the plot of this and I just want to share it to you.
PICK-UP: This is not your usual nerdy and queen bee love story, tutorial sessions and of course, common break-ups. Still, I advise you to read this please. R&R. T for Tissues literally.
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PICK-UP
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"Please pick-up before I lose my way…"
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Sumire Shouda was the school's snob. She was the richest and the most beautiful girl in school. Everyone just loved to be with her. And without a doubt, she loves the attention people are giving. If you're just a 'nobody,' then, go on with your life but be sure you go on without waking on the wrong side of the bed with her. You see, Sumire Shouda respects people's statuses and that, dear readers, is another trait which made her more popular. As long as you respect her, she respects you too. It's just a case-to-case basis.
Even though she respects people's rank in life, it cannot be helped that Sumire or Sumi still hang out with her common rich people. Or her common beautiful and handsome classmates. That's just how it goes in reality. Rich hang out with rich and poor hang out with poor. Averages are in between. Unknown to them, Sumi only hang out with her rich friends in public. In private, she goes out with her common gang –Mikan, Hotaru, Anna and Nonoko. Including the two hottest boys, Ruka and Natsume.
Regarding the two lad, yes, they are part of the populars and rich kids too. How they live with their lives are the same as how Sumire lived hers. In public, they're with the rich. In private, they're just as they are. And they love it –they're freedom. However, both are actually more courageous than Sumire to shout out to the public that they're dating Hotaru and Mikan respectively, the school's nerds with rank average in their life statuses.
And yes, it got Sumire infuriated at first.
Why only at first? Well, Sumire valued friendship more than infatuation. So, she just let it all pass. She also thinks that maybe, the two are not just for her. Maybe she'd find the perfect guy for her someday, in the future –someone she can call hers and someone probably better than Ruka and Natsume. Besides, she's dating Mochiage, her first boy friend and the third hottest and fourth respectable man on earth. And right now, she considers Mochiage as that one perfect guy. He is sweet, caring and respectful. He's a replica of what girls termed as gentlemen, a junior copy of Natsume Hyuuga –having that mysterious, bad boy aura. Though physically, yes, he's still not as good as or better than Natsume and Ruka but who cares? She was his and he was hers. So, yeah, she just let it all pass.
Everything was just fine –her family businesses, her friendship with everyone and her love life until… he came.
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Kokoro Yome or known as Koko.
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"I'm sorry I'm late!" he yelled as he banged the door open.
The class was in the middle of discussing computer science when he barged in.
Trex, their CS teacher, merely looked up from the book he's holding before landing onto his bottom part –somewhere Koko's bottom part.
"Late in my class again, Kokoro Yome? I do hope you have an explanation for this. Anyway, take your seat now before I change my mind. But first, please do zip your zipper. We do not want the girls faint in their seats for watching something that is not supposed to be watched, right?" Trex said, gaining laughter from the people around.
"I'm sorry, sir," Koko apologized before zipping his pants up. He, then, fixed his glasses to the bridge of his nose, secure his back pack before going to his seat –next to Sumire.
You see, Kokoro Yome is a new student in Class 2-B. He had sandy yellow hair and big dorky glasses. It has been a week since he entered Alice Academy and within that week, he always gets late. Thus, he got the title 'late dork.' But he didn't care and just ignored all of it. As said, when Narumi, their adviser introduced him to the class, Koko was then partnered up with Sumire since she had no partner back then. Mochiage was in Class 2-C so yeah. But Sumire didn't oppose. She respects whatever their teacher says. After all, he's just a class partner.
Later on, during their first exams, Koko flunked in Math. He got the lowest score in class. So, to help him, Jinno demanded, yes –demanded Sumire to teach him being his partner and all. That time, Sumire was about to oppose but Jinno beat her to it. Teach him or I'll fail you in Math too. That was the only thing he said. The only thing that made her shut her mouth close. Without a choice, during dismissal, Sumire finally took the courage to meet up and talk to the school's new 'dork.'
"Koko!"
Huff…
Puff…
Huff…
Puff…
"Wait up will you?" she yelled, finally catching the lad's insensitive ears.
Noticing him being the one called, Koko stopped his tracks and turn around to better see his caller. Much to his surprise, it was Sumire.
"What is it, Shouda-chan?" he asked, fixing his glasses to the bridge of his nose. He still had no idea why Sumi called him or what will happen next for it was only Sumire whom Jinno had called to come to the faculty's main office moments ago.
"Jinno –pant –called me –pant – and told –pant –me that I'd teach you –pant –solve Math. So, -breath in –I'm here to –breath out –to ask you where should we meet this afternoon?" she said.
"Eh? D, does I, it have to be n, now?" he stuttered.
"Yes," Sumire replied.
"Can we do it in your house?" she added.
"Argh, no!" he answered, quite loudly and abruptly.
"Um… sorry. It's just that I'm shy. We're poor and with your status and all, it might not be a good place," he continued, "anyway, maybe we should not do the math tutorial at all. I could ask help from my dad. It might just be a hassle for you since you know school's still there."
"I value my math grades Koko as much as how I value orders. Anyway, just go to our house 4pm sharp. Session ends every two hours. So, I guess it wouldn't be that dark when you reach back home. Here's my address and cell phone number," she said as she hand to him her calling card.
Coincidentally, after that, "Sumi babe, let's go!" Mochiage called from behind.
"So, see you later Koko," she said with a wave and a smile before running back to greet her boyfriend's hug.
Koko was still left petrified in his place. Sure thing, yes, he had a crush on Sumire since his first day in school but he'd never say it out loud. Although all she does is to offer him kindness and friendship but he value social differences too much. He knew that if he'd ask her out, she'd decline him or if not, people would not approve of it. Hello? He's just nobody while Sumire, well, she's somebody.
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When 4pm came, Koko was already standing outside a white-coated house filled with green plants and flowers. After minutes of turning left and right, he finally found her house from the address she gave him –and of course, after asking tons of people by the sidewalk.
Clad in his checkered polo, skinny jeans and green and black Nike shoes, he got up the flight of stairs before ringing the doorbell twice. He got nothing else with him besides his books, pen, sheets of unused papers and his ever-trustworthy dorky glasses. Well, he's just there for a math tutorial so no need to dress nicely or formally.
After moments of waiting, a shadow finally appeared on the other side. He, once again, fixed his glasses to the bridge of his nose and made sure his clothes stayed fine. Might I tell you, he only fixes his glasses every time he gets nervous.
"Oh, are you Kokoro Yome?" a girl by mid-thirties asked as she opened the door wider for the lad.
"Um… yes," he answered.
"Come in. Our dear Sumi had told us that you'd eventually come. She's upstairs, second floor, first room to the left. I'm her mom by the way," she said.
Koko then bowed low as a sign of respect.
"I'm Kokoro Yome. Pleased to meet you ma'am," he greeted.
"Pleased to meet you too, Koko. Go ahead then. Sumi's waiting for you."
He did what he was told. Second floor, first door on the left. When he reach the place where he should be, he knocked on the door thrice before a voice from the other side asked him to come in.
"Shouda-san," he started, opening the door wider.
"Oh, please come in Koko. Sorry, I was just preparing, looking what better page I should start for this session."
"Er –I'm sorry to bother you Shouda-san," he apologized.
"No, it's alright. Please call me Sumire or Sumi," she answered.
Wanting to get this all over with in an instant, he immediately marched inside.
Yes, her room is actually pretty big for just one person to sleep. Technically, her room is not just an ordinary room based on Koko's observation. She got a library, a queen-sized bed, walk-in closet, a mini fridge and a door which probably leads to her own comfort room. So it actually looks more of a house than just plain bedroom overall.
He pulled a chair and sat right next to her tutor; not too close though. He values her privacy and he's not that bold to act immediately. He, then, pulled out his math textbooks, his notebook, his calculator and everything else he brought with him in his bag. Sumire laughed mentally by this action of his. Well, who wouldn't? Not that she's teasing him or anything but he just looked funny with that. After all, he is a dork. You get the picture.
Just then, a paper flew on to the floors. Koko didn't seem to notice since he's kind of busy with his things. Yet somehow, the words written on it caught Sumire's eyes that she decided to pick it up instead. After reading everything inside of it, she turned to the lad she's with before asking.
"What is this, Koko-kun?" she asked, waving to him the written paper.
Hearing his name being called, he straightened his body to look right up. Much to his shock -and horror, it was the paper he did not want her to see.
"What does 1-4-3 stands for Koko-kun and why is my name here?" she asked again.
"You mean you do not know the meaning?"
"Sorry, I'm kind of slow in relating math with words and alphabets. A-D-C doesn't also sounds right, ne?" she said, too naïve and too innocent. Feeling nervous and all, he grabbed the paper from her grip before stuffing it back inside his bag.
"Um… That's nothing," he was actually quite relieved when Sumire did not know of its real meaning.
When he's finally done taking care of his things and all, he faced back his math teacher back once again.
"So, let's start?" he asked. Sumire nods.
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The moment Sumire went back to her room, Koko was already seen sleeping soundly with his head atop his hands by her desk. She actually found it cute.
Well, you see, somewhere 5:30pm, Sumire was called by her mom for dinner. Her parents are out later by the night because a business partner of theirs died just recently –car crash was what everybody said. So, the family agreed to go visit the family to offer their condolences and thus, decided to have early dinner.
She actually invited him to dine with them but he refused to, said he already ate before he left for their tutorial. He'll just stay in her room and finish the problems she asked him to answer instead so he could finish at an earlier time. She did not oppose his decision and thus, went downstairs.
So, right now she's back –and had found him soundly sleeping already.
With a small smile, she went towards him and gave him a shake.
"Koko, wake up," she said.
"Five more minutes," he replied.
This is probably the reason why he's always late, she thought and shook him again.
"Koko, wake up."
"Okay, fine, fine," he replied.
The moment he opened his eyes wider, he flushed red in embarrassment.
"Sorry Shouda-san, I fell asleep," he apologized once again.
"No, it's fine. I guess you better go now. It's already getting late too," she replied.
Koko did just that. With a nod, he started fixing his things up and rearrange it all back in his pack. Sumire helped him to make the work seem faster... when something blue caught her eyes.
"What happened to your arm, Koko? Did you hit yourself somewhere?" she asked, curiosity taking all over her. She didn't actually notice that the moment he came so he probably just got it here, in her room.
"Um… This is nothing," he answered her as he rubbed his arm, unknowingly trying to bear the pain.
"Why? It's a bruise!" she answered as she went near her medic cabinet and got some weird cream. She, then, propped up his arm on the table before applying the herbal ointment herself.
"There!" she said as she turns the ointment cap close.
"Um… thanks Shouda-san," he thanked her as he got up and slowly walked out of her room. Sumire followed behind.
The moment they reach the bottom, Sumire's parents were already there, readying themselves. Being the respectful man he truly is, he bowed low once again.
"Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Shouda-san but I guess I'm going," he said as he walked out of the house.
"Okay, you take care young one," Mrs. Shouda waved.
"See you tomorrow, Koko," Sumire added.
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For a distance, Koko walked. But when he was finally sure no one was seeing him, he grabbed the phone he had in his bag before calling someone. For a moment, Koko waited for the receiver to answer.
Come on, please pick up before I lose my way, he thought, waiting almost impatiently.
Sooner though, someone thankfully picked it up.
And the next thing that happened was... he was already heading back home.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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Okay, tissues will have to wait until later. This is just a short story might I tell you.
NEXT CHAP: Koko's secret.