Chapter 2: Her life
"And yes! 1,2,3,.. pose! I love that! Now one more!" The photographer snapped hundreds of photos as he tried on different angles. He needed perfection. His model was the current it girl so perfection was an absolute must.
There, posing with poise and attitude was New York's current It girl. Mikan Sakura. She was not just a model, she is also a singer, a dancer and an actress. She is the epitome of beauty and of perfection. "And Mikan, honey! We're done!" The photographer said
"That's good." She replied. She was so tired. She'd been posing for atleast 3 hours now. She really needed a rest
"Well, I'll go ahead and take these pictures to the department. Tata, Love!" The photographer said and quickly went out the door
Mikan sat on the nearby plush couch and stretched her feet.
"Hey babe." A voice startled her. She looked up and saw her boyfriend, the hottest model in town, Reo.
"Oh.. Hey." She said. Truth was, Mikan was planning on breaking up with Reo weeks ago. She felt that… something's not right. And she knew right then that it was time.
Reo sat by her feet. Mikan took a deep breath and dropped the bomb. "Let's break up." Reo looked at her as if she was crazy
"Mikan ha-ha-ha so what's the punch line?" He smirked. Mikan raised her eye brows
"There is no punch line. I said I'm breaking up with you." Reo's smirk suddenly vanished.
"What the fuck are you talking about?!" He shouted
"I said let's break up! What the fuck is hard to understand?!" Mikan hollered. Seriously, this guy's getting on her nerves.
"What the-You can't be serious."
"How slow can you get?"
Reo looked at her, anguished. Slowly, he stood up and headed for the door.
"You're gonna regret this." He said as he walked away.
Mikan slumped back on the couch. Regret? Yeah right. They've been only dating for a month. What's to regret?
"Care to explain why I just passed by Reo, fuming mad?" Hotaru suddenly appeared by the doorway holding her starbucks
"We broke up." Mikan said bluntly
"And why are you not crying?" Hotaru said puzzled as she sat opposite the chair from where Mikan was sitting.
"Because, I don't feel like it." Mika said as she played on her phone.
Hotaru sighed "C'mon Mikan. You're not sad because you didn't even like him. It was for publicity why you dated him. And besides, you made a good choice. Reo was a pain in the ass."
Mikan chuckled "Tell me about it."
"And you're sad because you know that after all these years, it's still emhim/em." Hotaru added quietly
Mikan stopped playing on her phone and froze.
"I'm right aren't I?" Hotaru smirked. Mikan shook her head, gaining back some sense into her.
"No. You are far from right."
"Mikan."
"Hotaru."
"Mikan, I know you. And I know that you never actually stopped loving him."
Mikan sighed. "It wouldn't change a things. Even if I did… Even if I still do."
"For God's sake Mikan! What the hell is wrong with you?" Hotaru shouted
Mikan was taken aback by her best friend's sudden outburst
"Okay chill. What the hell is wrong with you?" She asked nervously
Hotaru looked at her with her brows raised. Mikan huffed.
"Look, I did everything. Okay? You know that. I tried to reach out! I fucking tried to reach out! I fucking did everything to connect but.. he just.. fucking won't let me do it! He fucking cut all of my connections and isolated me, completely!" Mikan said her tone ranging from stress to anger.
"If you left me in the altar, I'd do the same. Plus kill you for it." Hotaru muttered. Mikan glared at her.
"Mikan, it's been 5 years. You're 23 for Christ's sake! And no one's stopping you. The only one who's stopping you is yourself. Trust me Mikan, I know that deep inside, you fucking hurt the way like you did before. Only this time, it's more painful. You know why? Because he's not the only part that's missing from you right now. She-
"COULD YOU JUST STOP? HOTARU PLEASE!" Mikan said as she was now on the verge of tears. Hotaru took a deep breath and reached for the brown envelope in her bag.
"Here. Ruka managed to sneak a copy. If you need me, I'll be at my office." Hotaru handed Mikan the envelope and walked out the door.
After a few minutes, Mikan sighed and opened the envelope. She pulled out a thick wad of photographs. She flicked on them one by one, savoring each. Suddenly, she felt tears glistening down her cheeks.
"You are such a beauty." She thought.
She got down to the last photo. That's where she stopped. That's when her breath hitched. That's when she felt her heartache over and over again. More than it already was.
Because there, in his drop dead gorgeous looks and tranquility, was Natsume Hyuuga.
