Once Upon A Brainy Duckling
Mikan's POV
According to the girls in our school this morning, the prince has allowed himself into a compromising situation in the battle of mankind against the universal, monstrous threat that is far more powerful than any known species in this entire world.
The Greatest Fear was how they put it.
Other slightly more intellectual beings simply call it, germs.
In other words, Natsume is sick.
Well, some girls looked disheartened while some went overly dramatic.
I could have sworn catching his fan club undergoing some ritual mourning-and-praying session just a while ago just for the sake of Natsume to recover from his sacrificing yet courageous battle, once again quoted gracefully from the mad ladies.
I peeked into Sumire's class on my way to leave the corridor which linked all our classrooms.
Yup, there was no mistake. They were still praying. Oh my, are those tears escaping from the corner of their eyes?
"Sakura-san!" Ruka called out of the blue.
His voice sent me jumping and I turned to his direction, unable to structure any comprehensive dialogue for the moment, my heart was pounding hard against my chest wall and my reflex totally gave that away.
I swiftly gathered myself, knowing that there were more than a dozen of fan girls inside the class beside us, and reached for Ruka's wrist. That took him by surprise so it was effortless for me to pull him away before we get caught.
"Why are you so surprised? What were you doing back there?" Ruka asked when he noticed that I had slowed down our pace.
"It's the ceremony." My statement was pretty much self-explanatory, since it wasn't the first time that the fan club was having such a bizarre event.
"Oh." he simply replied. Though he wasn't saying anything else, I could sense him thinking from the sight of his thoughtful expression.
Immediately, it hit me - what was going on in his mind - hard. And I couldn't stop flushing.
"You haven't tell him, have you?" I asked, almost yelled, desperate to reconfirm that...
"Of course not, I've been keeping your secret for months, why would I expose it now?" He defended.
That moment, guilt eventually took over my embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, for doubting you." I apologized.
There was a short silence again between the two of us.
"You know, you should let him know about your feelings, preferably as soon as you get your complicated I-can't-face-him issue sorted out. I am his best friend and although I do not intend to be branded a betrayer, things could happen you know-"
"No!" This time, I yelled.
Ruka held his hands up in defeat, "Alright! Calm down, missy, I'm not going to jeopardize whatever progression you're having with Natsume. You'll confess to him yourself okay, right now, this instant."
"But I can't! I don't even know how he feels about me!" I over reacted, again.
"I can't say I know better, Natsume has never mentioned a thing. But you two have known each other for years!" He stated.
"That doesn't mean that he would- might see me as... as a love interest! Besides, it could be that I'm overly conscious about his every gesture, his expression when I'm around him. That's why I am getting these mixed signals." I said too much.
"Sakura-san, although I'm willing to be your ears every time Natsume accidentally touched your hand or stared at you, I'm pretty sure this dilemma of yours needs a cure..." He concerned look turned into a sly smirk, "and I might just have what it takes to make you take the initiative."
I had a pretty bad feeling about this.
There went the door bell.
It didn't take long before I was greeted by the sight of an indifferent Hyuuga Natsume.
"How do you know that I'm here?" He asked.
Well, so much for a warm greeting.
I pushed him sideways and entered his territory like it was the most natural thing to do. Then, I settled my paper bags on the couch, which was as far as I went before I allowed myself to look straight into Natsume's not-so-welcoming crimson orbs.
He was sick. Anyone possessing of a sensible mind would have noticed just by a look of his pale appearance, his pale skin, slightly messy hair and his weakened, yet still ominous aura.
Then, I caught him cursing to himself though it was not done intentionally for me to be able to hear.
I cleared my throat and spoke whatever I had rehearsed, "Ruka sent me here. He said he's unable to make it today. So I intend to take care of you this afternoon..." I noticed how cheesy that must have sounded, so I added, "as a favour of Ruka's."
"Tell me something I don't know." was his simple reply.
It wasn't just a statement. In fact, it was a demand and he was expecting an answer. Then, it hit me hard that he knew that I was coming all along. He should have reasoned that his best buddy, Ruka held the key to how I find my way to his living shelter.
Yet, he asked me how I found my way to his place.
"Huh?" I asked regardless, playing along with his game.
"I know that you're going to be here. Ruka called. Said you have something important to tell me." Natsume gracefully strolled over to the other end of the long couch.
It might be just me, from the fact that he was always making sure that there was enough distance between the two of us, I could sense that he'd never see me in the way I wish he would.
"I don't bite you know." I countered, in which he made no sense out of the words.
I shook my head at the dense man in front of me.
"Would you like to have porridge?" I asked, trying to distract him from...
"What do you want to say." It sounded like a warning instead of a question this time, his dark expression took over.
I tried as hard to convince myself that he wasn't angry, it was just his sickness.
"I'm worried." I said. There you go. I somehow stupidly brought myself to spill out the cheesiest words I had ever said to a male species whom I do not call dad.
"About?" He just couldn't spare me from shame.
"I'm worried about you, okay-" For a moment, I saw triumph all over his handsome feature, so I twisted my words, "like how every friend would!"
I thought I saw gentleness somewhere in between his annoying smirk but it quickly sank into his usual dark mood.
"I don't have a functional stove." He informed while leaning his head against the headrest.
But I was already making my way into the kitchen, as if I owned the place, "Oh really?" I turned on the stove effortlessly and looked at him in disbelief.
He looked at me from the corner of his eyes and let out a forced exhalation. Then, he leaned back while closing his eyes.
At that moment, I enjoyed my first victory of the day.
Normal POV
Natsume woke up on the couch. He moved from the last position. But he was now covered with his blanket all over his body and a wet towel over his forehead.
"How long have I been asleep?" He asked, after sensing Mikan's presence from aside.
"Three hours." She simply answered while attempting to reheat the porridge, seeing that Natsume had awaken.
Natsume took the wet towel which was still cold, the heat from his forehead hadn't been entirely transferred to the towel.
Damn, the towel was still cold. It was as if he needed more prove. Mikan had been constantly placing and replacing that damn towel on his forehead for the past… three hours?
Part of him was sure that this girl liked him, or at least, cared for him more than a normal friend would. But his deepest thought told him otherwise.
He brazenly stared at the lady who was preparing his meal without hiding. He allowed himself full access of the lady's full length, her creamy legs, which were exposed to her mid thighs thanks to her mini skirt, her slim arms, which were untying her apron; her auburn hair, which was tied into a messy bun...
"Do I need to carry you here myself?" Mikan pointed, still avoiding eye contact with Natsume's bold stare.
"As the matter of fact, yes, you do." Natsume answered almost too quickly, not giving her a chance to change her words again.
To his disappointment, his words didn't really affected her much. After settling her apron aside, she approached him like he asked her to.
Then, she helped him up, holding his arm over her smaller shoulders. Natsume never got the pause from her that he was anticipating. It got him puzzled for a while, how could a girl care so much about him, but was immune to his charm and words of seduction. A moment he was sure that she was interested, but the next thing she did totally told him off.
Why is she so hard to read? Why isn't she like all the other girls at all?
Mikan's POV
Okay, just like I've mentally prepared for the past three hours. Natsume is going to say something that will make my heart skip a beat and I'll have to suppress whatever he's making me feel.
I looked upward from the corner of my eyes. Our eyes met. Natsume still hadn't move his gaze away from me. I was about to turn away in reflex before my conscious sipped in and made me resist the Natsume effect.
"Are you feeling any better?" I blurted out, to distract my racing heart and my mixing thoughts.
In which he didn't reply. But he never turned away his glance once, until I settled him on the dining seat.
"I'm sure you're capable of eating on your own." I turned to the kitchen to grab another set of cutlery for myself, but was stopped by Natsume's firm grab on my wrist.
"Do you need anything?" I asked.
"Stay." He commanded.
I noticed that his grip was still as firm, he was cautious not to exert too much pressure but at the same time, he wouldn't let go.
"But I-"
"Did Ruka ask you to do all these?" He interrupted.
I knew for instant that 'all these' referred to the blanket, the wet towel and the porridge.
"No, Ruka just asked me to take care of you, that's all."
"You could've just left during my sleep."
"But you haven't had your porridge then."
"I would have it when you're gone."
I looked at him cynically, "Oh really, from what I observed, you can barely stand up." It sounded much more like a challenge.
Though I knew that this man was totally capable of walking to the dining table without my aid.
"What do you want?" He asked, looking straight into my eyes, daring me for answer...
Which I shall deprive him of.
"Another set of cutlery."
It's Natsume's turn to give off a blank expression.
"I'm attempting to get another set of cutlery for my own before you stopped me."
Then, he loosened his grip.
"Thank you." I said while letting a smile goes off the corners of my lips.
Soon, I joined him at the table and scooped the porridge into my own bowl. Natsume already had his in the bowl but he hadn't touch the porridge one bit. I was worried if he didn't like my cooking.
Then, he started eating little by little. I could tell that he didn't have any appetite though he was trying to be appreciative.
And he choked, followed by a series of weak coughs.
I rushed to hand him a glass of water while patting his back.
When he was slightly recovering from his cough, it was the awkward moment again – the one I was afraid of. This time, I couldn't hold on to his stare so I turned away. But he cupped my cheeks to halt my turning away.
The next thing he did was totally expected… and anticipated. He leaned toward me to close our distance. In fact, he was actually pulling me down towards him since he was sitting and I was half standing.
I was pretty sure that I was going to lose my first kiss in the next 5 seconds.
He rested his forehead against my left shoulder and knocked out cold.
And I thought he was faking his sickness, until I realized how wrong I had been.