Yes! Finally a temporary break from school. I've just had lots of one-shots I made during my daydreaming sessions in class and I had to write one down instead of updating Seconds of Rejection, Thread of Affliction, Shadows of Before to let you know that I, Ashia Yifei, is still active in fanfiction. Yeah, what a reason!

Note: I'll update this as soon as possible. This will be two-chaptered. I'm already sleepy so I can't really finish it now. So, stay in tune! Please read until the end.

Disclaimer: I don not own Gakuen Alice ( how I wish..but never ouch!)

"You don't know how afraid I was when you started stealing everything from me"

So, here's the thing…we are actually rivals in every thing we do. First, the food that we eat in the cafeteria ,that I really have to finish all my school stuffs so that I'll be the one to avail of my favorite dish, miso soup! See how naïve I am! And you know what, I can't ignore the fact that he might be giving only a little interest to my food! Because a lot of times, actually, often, he would just stare at it there on his table while smirking like a man boasting his victory for taking possession of the most delicious food in the world. Can't he just give it up?

Second, in popularity. Given the fact that I'm a brunette, I still appear stylish and admiring in the eyes of other guys and though it sort of "asphyxiates" me, I'm starting to love it because the election for the Supreme Student Government is fast approaching and I need to win every vote coming from those jerks. Yet, it isn't my fault if the academy is dominated by girls who are head over heels with Natsume, except for a few like Hotaru. I still have no idea where on Earth he could get that charm that makes him..irresistible to take no notice of – as what those girls say, the words are not originally from me..take note! And even when he gives them the death glare, hell, those dim-witted girls still keep their hopes up. Don't they know that no matter how high the hope you are willing to bet on a single thing is, if it's really something beyond our reach, then everything would just simply fall apart!

Lastly, the grades. Since elementary, I reigned in our academy. I always got Straight A's in my subjects but not all..except for Mathematics which has really been a steel knife in my life. I think even tutoring sessions won't do me a favor. But I was contented then because nobody was better than I. Even if I'm just an average in that Math field, the other students are well,say, can only make it below that average level except for Hotaru. She's the same as I am in Mathematics and honestly, she could have replaced me as the Princess of Excellence in our school if not for her nasty attitude towards Jinno-sensei. That's our big difference, she says what she wants to say while I just keep everything to myself. She's my best friend but I never shared my secrets to her or to anyone else before. Perhaps the reason is I don't know what my boundaries are – what to give and what to keep. Yet she understands and most of the time doesn't try to get her edge on it. That's why I love her.

So as I was saying, I was the perfect student in our academy until out of nowhere, dungeon I could say, he appeared. One day, Narumi-sensei introduced this guy to our class and the next thing I knew, he's already in the due process of stealing everything from me – from my food to my fame and worst, to my position. In every achievement test or any test given, he always ranks first and I'm the second. And please take into account that, his triumphs are always mixed with my well-built plans like distracting him from his studies by inviting him to the park, to Central town or to our dorm trips (with my friends of course). One time, I even dared putting a sleeping pill into his drink if not for Mr. Bear ( sure, summoned by Ruka who was not brave enough to confront me)glaring at me with an ax from a meter distance.

But in every way I create problems, he also has his ways of finding solutions and even outsmarting me without my prior knowledge.

The most painful thing that has ever happened to me is people comparing me with him. They always say that it really is true that men are more intelligent than women and that I exemplify it perfectly. They say that I can do a lot of talking unlike him but he always has something more to give while my effort is never considered enough.

And I loathe it. For one, I am a girl and he is a boy. Of course in all areas of performances, we would excel at different rates. And for two, I can't have all, and the same goes for him but it always seems that he can have it all..which is partially true. My weaknesses are his strengths. My strengths are his specializations. Imagine that! He's exceptional.

I also hate myself for admiring him because of his unusual skills. I will never be at my best if I were to linger on the notion of him being the best already.

I tried not to be his friend. As much as possible, I want to consider him as the most sinful man ever born. I want to detest him to have more sufficient power and stamina to fight against him and to win back everything he has stolen.

But he never avenged. He just keeps on teasing me with what he sees underneath that I'm sure he really doesn't because as a High School student, I know now the importance of what they call cycling shorts.

He's even the one who tries to approach me though he never plasters a genuine smile, it's always a smirk and he doesn't even talk a word!

But there are times that whenever I'm gloomy, he'll just come and give a playful tap on my back dismissing me from my thoughts..from my emoness of going absolutely insane over my grades lower than his.

And then he will say, " Polka, got a period today?" See, what a jerk and to think everybody believes he truly deserves the position: Prince of Excellence better than I do as a Princess. It's not fair.

Whenever he says that, I don't give him an answer or an expression, I just simply drag out my time reflecting on myself. Anyway, I never responded to him even when I'm his seatmate. Have I mentioned it before? We are seatmates yet I feel awkward around him.

But, it's positive, it's changing. I'm changing and I can't stop it. Hell.

One time, we were assembled into a group of five. My group mates were Anna, Nanoko, Sumire, Wakako and guess who? Natsume. And then of course, there was this rule given to choose the leader of the group. Of course, I was prodding him to be the one, to let him taste the sacrificial attitude he should have if he wants to be the President of our SSG. And I wanted him to be humiliated in case he lost grip of the reality as the leader.

But he didn't move until I raised my hand and told sensei that I would be the leader. Volunteering would save my group from cleaning for one week.

Looking at him, yeah... that infamous smirk again..hell.

I was exhausted that time and in real panic and major disaster. We had to construct a DNA replication model and I messed it up by pairing Adenine with Cytosine and Thymine with Guanine so we had to detach them from being glued. How did I know? I let my group mates cut the nucleotides and color them and I assured them I would do the constructing because I do know it that much. Natsume was just there sitting watching us, I offered an opportunity for him to help us for his individual participation but he continued analyzing us! Just what kind of analyzing was that?

It was a destructive analysis! I got distracted and ended up doing the biggest mistake for that day.

I could see then the disappointment and disbelief in the faces of my group mates and I felt so ashamed and downcast. And then I remembered, there were these seven questions to be answered. I was not able to go over the questions because I was busy with reconstructing our model. I was asking them to answer it or to discuss the questions by themselves but they were hopeless as in they felt like the lesson was not for them to digest or else indigestion would occur. Only three minutes left before the submission time and I felt tears rushing over to my eyes. I couldn't fail in that thing. I couldn't fail my group who was counting on me. I tried to seek for any solution faster than the time remaining but I couldn't concentrate..my mind went black-out and I didn't know what to do anymore aside from breaking down right then and there.

And then there was this group who even had the cheek to laugh at our work and at my foolishness. When I was losing hope, Natsume suddenly spoke.

" Polka, continue the work, don't bother the questions, I'll take care of them," his voice was deadly serious and in a swift he grabbed a pen and the activity sheet. And as the countdown to 0 started, he was busy writing the answers while I was busy correcting the pairing.

And at exactly 0, I finished my work and Natsume also did. Jinno-sensei checked the works of all the groups and announced,

" Your DNA Replication models are all correct and I congratulate you for that, but unfortunately, only one group got a perfect score in the questions, and I could say the student who answered it all is really a genius. Congratulations, Mikan's Group! You're now exempted from the first three quizzes of the semester!"

That time, the feelings churned inside me. Didn't know if I should feel happy for our group 'cause of that achievement or feel grateful for having Natsume or feel disappointed with myself for I had no contribution in answering that or feel envious with Natsume's exceptional ability: answering biology questions in less than three minutes without any reference, or get angry at him for boasting again his talent or feel regretful for being so mean to him and for pulling him down.

I looked at Natsume expecting him to meet my eyes but I'd never seen him so cold. He was head down and his bangs covered his eyes. I was frozen for a moment noticing the features of his face that I couldn't describe.

When classes were over, I made sure that everyone had gone home because I needed privacy or else my reputation would really crumble and I needed to rebuild it until I have my chance of getting hold of my supposed to be victory.

I approached him because it looked like he fell asleep with his head partially reclined and the manga book he had read for nth time covering his face. I needed to talk to him for a reason I couldn't decipher.

I removed the book from his face and there in a close-up, I saw his face and perhaps it is no wonder that girls can't simply fall out of love with him. But I'm not also the kind of girl who easily falls in love with someone like him.

Like him. I don't even know what he is like. I only know a few of his characteristics: arrogant, likes to smirk, feeling cool, nonchalant, pervert and other adjectives that you think are synonymous to these traits.

The moment I closed the book and placed it on the table, I suddenly felt my wrist caged. And I looked at him giving me those piercing eyes and pulled me closer.

" Planning to kill me while sleeping? Or taking advantage of my condition. Tch. If I know, you can do everything you want," his voice was teasing and really provoking me to do something I shouldn't like slapping him right on his face.

I retrieved my wrist and inched away from him, regaining my composure.

" Well, I'll do neither of the two, stop being so cocky, you're really disgusting," I replied trying to sound as firm as I could.

He stood from his seat and started walking towards the door.

And then he looked back at me.

" If that is so, you shouldn't be here..you'll just be disgusted over and over again," he used that cold serious tone which sent chills to my body. And there was a hint of upset.

I decided to spill it out instead of beating around the bush and reaching the peak point of the argument.

I walked closer to him to show my sincerity which was really sincerity.

" Natsume, I just want to thank you for helping me lately. If not for your help, I would have failed in living up the expectations of people around me. And I know I'm not that good to you but you still opted to assist me, thank you. I appreciate it," oh my, I couldn't even look straight into his eyes. I just hoped I was not like a red tomato that time.

He tapped my head and his hand ran over the side of my face.

" I just hate people who can't even recognize and appreciate the efforts of other people. And the very reason why I did that?"

His hand moved towards my eyes and ordered them to close and then he pulled me and whispered,

"I don't want to see you cry…,"

And then I sensed that he moved back. I still couldn't open my eyes because I thought I would have a fever.

And then I heard him say before he opened the door,

" Unless it's because of me,"

Since I'm already tired, again..proofreading was not accomplished. I'll really correct the flaws next time. So, sorry! And haven't you noticed, the plot kinda resembles the plot of Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama or Special A. Yeah,but I just had to use my favorite pairing.

I'm craving for reviews! Please give me some! I love you! Thanks!

Sorry for the oh-so-short chapter!

Feb.8,2011- yeah..what a number of errors! i edited it already and there were some missed words..i also inserted an additional line and that's in bold face, and that quote up there which is supposed to be a part of my literatures but i failed to put it when i published this story - see, how sleepy i was back then! as of now, this is what my knowledge in grammar can apply. so, when i grow older, i'll still be editing this.

for the next chapter, i know..it's kind of late again, but i'll be updating this very soon!