Flummoxing Reverie

Rrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnggggg!!

'thump'

"Yaaawn.." I let out a sleepy sigh as I suddenly remembered the cause of this early slumber wake. "First day of my not-so-new school." I stated.

Ah, Gakuen Alice. One of the most sought after alma mater of the 21st century, and has been proudly rooted at Tokyo's environs for exactly a century for this year. 99 of its alumnus are successful and most are now world prominence. To claim that you are a student of the said school is like saying, "Hey, I'm your future boss." This prestigious institution is high in standards when it comes to education, good-grooming, proficient and well mannered educators, state-of-the-art school facilities regardless the school division which is composed of the elementary division, middle school division, high school division, and the top most, the college division. Now tell me what else could you wish for?

And I Mikan Sakura, an average high school graduating girl with not so average dream, studies there for more than a decade now. And my dream? To travel globally. Not as easy to achieve as it sounds eh. To tell you the truth, I'm still in qualm whether I could really do that even for the remaining 40 minutes of my life as a death wish. But who knows? Maybe on the way to school I'd unknowingly pick up some random lamp on the street then after dusting it, whoosh! A genie would suddenly appear telling how grateful he is to me for finally unleashing him from his 4,000 years of slumber, therefore granting me 3 wishes. Yeah yeah. I know. Wild imaginations sometimes really get the better of me.

Well you could say that I'm as mundane as the word "boring" but, at least I can muddle through with my studies as I can compete for the top rank. And no, it's not natural talent. When people say how admirable my acumen can be, a line always pops up in my mouth and swank "It's all fruit of hardwork." Yep, hardwork. Not that I want I want to work hard on my studies. It's just that my folks, which is composed of my mom and jii-chan, made me grow up that way. And also, I see studying as a mere obligation of children. Having the phobia of disappointing my love ones is another heck of a story.

My dad left us when I was little. Taking with him all the riches. Fortunately, my mom, being the heiress of wide ranges of lands and buildings of money, saved enough 'cheeze' and launched a new business. So I won't deny that we're insanely rich. But we don't like bragging about it.

In actuality, we live our lives as ordinary as an average family does. Mom cooks the food, jii-chan doing the gardening, and I walk to school. Although we have maids, gardeners, a driver, and also a trusty butler named Reo, we merely address them as assistants only they're under different categories. Let's just say we see normalness as a means of sheer bliss. Though we can't avoid getting dressed and show up like royalties when the situation calls for it. And I must say, money really can't fill in the emptiness within.

Urgh! What I reviled the most is waking up so darn early in the morning just because of this so-called "obligations of mine." Especially when I got used to sleeping at 7 in the morning and waking up 4 in the afternoon just because of reading mangas. I hate fictioned, thousand paged, reading-between-the-lines books. I'd prefer manga anytime because, well, mangas are, different. If you know what I mean. Come to think of it, manga is the only reading material I bother to read (well if don't count physics, algebra and other school crap books). But you know what? Of all the mangas I've read, I never finished any. I don't know why but, there's something that prevents me from reading the last chapter of every story. In short, I don't know any of their endings. That's that.

As I came downstairs, I saw my mom Yuka cooking breakfast while humming in a soft tune and our butler Reo assisting her. People usually say that she's a spittin' image of me. Well… I couldn't agree more. And I'm proud to be, 'cause she's undeniably attractive. I didn't turn out to be as pretty as she is though.

"Ohayo okaa-san. Ohayo Reo-chan." I greeted groggily.

"Ohayo MIkan-sama." Reo greeted back.

"Oh! Ohayo Mikan-chan! You better get ready for school or you'll be late. And you better fix that grouchy look on your face or else you won't make any new friends." For a mom, she sure is the one more keyed up than her child being the one to go to school.

"It's 6 in the morning mom. School doesn't start until 8. And I don't need new friends my friends are fairly enough for me." I said aggravated.

"Why it's your last year as a high school sweetheart. You should gather more acquaintances because as they say "the more the merrier." She said with a wink.

"You know me mom. I'm not into social jamboree. I'd rather sit at the back of the classroom beside a stinky trashcan than to mingle with other people. Socializing is so NOT in my list."

"Hmm.. Socializer or not. You're still my daughter so I won't force you to do something against your will. And I know you know your limitations." she claimed with a pointing hand. "And so I wish you a blasting final year in high school!" Then hugged me.

Being a loving daughter, I hugged her back. My mom and I had a wonderful mother and daughter bonding moment when she, to my dismay, suddenly embraced me so tight she lifted my body a little and started screaming in a very animated voice, "OH MY GOODNESS!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE ONE YEAR STEP FROM COLLEGE! TIME SURE IS FAAASSTT!! I EVEN REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN I USED TO READ YOU FAI.."

"ugh..mom…I can't breathe..ugh." I said struggling for air.

She let go of me in the sudden realization. While Reo sweadropped and twitching a smile.

"Oh. Sorry dear. Chuckle. Well you better get changed we've wasted much time already."

"Ok then." I sighed with a smile. Leave it to my mom being really, well, motherly. And that's why I love her so0oo0o much! She's simply the whole package. And I couldn't ask for more.

And so I did my morning routines. Taking a bath, brushing my teeth, fixing my long auburn hair, that reaches my lower back, into a high ponytale and secured with my favorite hair ornament. It's a plain cotton rubberband that's decorated with a median sized tangerine colored ribbon with a ruby elegantly attached to its center.

I'm not really that conscious when it comes to my corporal appearance. Just some powder on the face, perfume, a little straightening up of my uniform then tada! I'm done! Not so normal for a high schooler huh.

As I looked at the clock, it says 7:35.

"Still have plenty more time. But I want to see Hotaru-chan and the others already." So I went outside and bid my mom goodbye.

"Itekimasu!"

"Iterashai Mikan honey!"

"Iterashai Mikan-sama."

Morning walk to school sure beats my sulkiness. Fairly cold morning breeze washed across my skin. Sakura petals drop delightfully as the wind carries them with its glory. The sun is just about to show its grandeur thus painting the once dark blue sky slightly golden.

I scanned my surroundings to check for anyone's presence. But came to find that I'm all alone.

Seizing the opportunity, I smiled then closed my eyes. Tilting my head above a little, I inhaled the morning scent of peacefulness with arms widely spread on my side while walking in a slow pace.

"Wish this could last forever."

There's not one sound around but the sweet chirping of the birds and the walloping of the leaves with each other.

I could only feel the wind brushing my soft smooth skin.

It's intoxicating. The smell of the flowers that lingers through my nostrils. Wonderful morning dew that could make you say, "life is so wonderful." The oh-so nice scent of Calvin Klein Euphoria parfum…?

"Huh?" But before I could even half open my eyes I bumped onto something, or rather someone and fell flat on my butt.

"Ow!" I complained, rubbing my sore bottom.

"Tch.. Does idiots really walk with their eyes closed and vulgarly show off their underwear." a husky voice said. Sarcasm really present in his tone.

'What the..' "What the hell did you just…." I was just about to shout out my colorful vocabulary of iniquity but to my utter dismay, my eyes beat me to it.

In front of me is what I think Zeus' long lost sons. Two godly figures stand before my bungled state.

First is the guy, judging by his arrogant appearance, whom just called me an idiot. About my age wearing our school uniform with a façade worth displaying in every art exhibit for. Poise that would surely intimidate the heck outta ya. His raven tresses matches perfectly with his bloody crimson orbs that you'd be mad enough to look away from. His hands in his pockets as if saying "I'm bored but still mightier than you."

Then stood beside him is another flawless sight. Also my age and wearing the same uniform but unlike the bum one beside him, he's looks are more kind and serene. Sexy blonde locks hang carelessly covering the sides of his smooth face. Blue-as-ocean eyes that could leave you gawking and drooling at the same time. Just looking at him makes you wanna picture him in a potent prince outfit shouting at your window "let thou hair down."

'Gawd are they even real?'

Never in my 18 years wake of living have I seen such… eye candies.

Ok, I've read a series of fairytales when I was little. And the impeccable way the princes in those stories were described left even my most innocent mind with one word. Impossible. But, am I to scratch that word already?

I continued to space out until the mighty rude one spoke.

"Hey Polkadots. Are you just gonna sit there and drool."

'His sentence wasn't even an interrogative for pete's sake!'

"Hey!" I managed to yell out but was once again cut because a hand reached out to my face waiting to be held. I looked up and saw that the helping hand belongs to the angelic faced blonde.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"Uh..I'm..f-fine." 'Damn I'm stuttering!!'

I took the offer and stood up. "Uhm.. thanks." I managed to say him. But blood is starting to creep up my cheeks. I tried to hide it by looking at the other guy as I hear him mutter "tch."

"You're quite rude huh! Just who do you think you are?! We barely know each other and yet you called me an idiot!" I suddenly flared up forgetting the fact that he also called me polkadots and what I'm doing is a total turn off.

"Man the idiot has such big mouth she looks like (pokemon)." He said with an unfazed tone.

"(pokemon)?" then realization strucked me.

"YOU ASSHOLE!! I DON'T LOOK LIKE THAT YOU SON OF A BITCH!! JUST WHAT ARE YOU?! DEVIL IN THE FORM OF HUMAN?! WHY DON'T YOU….."

"Uhm.. miss." The blonde called out and slightly raised a hand. "I'm really sorry about my friend here.."

"Don't speak to her Ruka, she's an idiot, she probably couldn't understand our language." Said the raven haired guy in a stern voice and started to walk away. I bet popping veins are clearly visible on my head! But I calmed down when an actuality hit my head, big time.

'So his name is Ruka.'

The Ruka guy glimpsed at his retreating friend before returning his gaze to me once again.

"I apologize again miss." He said bowing slightly.

"O-oh uhm. 'Darn it! Quit stuttering will ya?!' No! You shouldn't apologize! You're not the one at fault anyway."

And then it happened.. The skies just opened and angels emerged from heaven blowing their trumpets. Angelic voices singing the hallelujah chorus filled my ears. The ocean split into two revealing mermaids playing the harp and other sea creatures dancing. And pigs fly!!

It's like the moment of perfectness.

'He smiled.'

To say that his smile blew me away is one huge understatement.

"Judging by your uniform, we'll be seeing each other at school." His voice suddenly snapped me out of my embellished reverie.

"Huh?" It took me a while before what he just said dawned to me. Then I looked at what I'm wearing as if doubting what I really wore.

"Oh! hehe." 'Aaaaaahh!! We're schoolmates!!' "Gakuen Alice? Well..uhm." 'Speak you dumbhead!'

"Ruka! Let's go! Leave the idiot behind!" His friend called out peeking through the window of his auto. 'Ugh! That dork ruined everything!!'

"Natsumewait up!" Ruka called out turning around his back already facing me when he suddenly glanced at me and wink then walked away with a saluting gesture.

Ok. That wink just killed me! Though not literally.

'Natsume huh. Oh like hell I care!'

I stared at the screeching red Jaguar sports car they just hopped in to. Really sexy car with Abercrombie godly creatures inside…sigh..

I stood there for who knows how long, registering everything that happened awhile ago. I unconsciously touched my right hand, the one Ruka held when he helped me up. That's when I noticed my heart is out of control! Damn I hate this feeling! It's like the feeling of being called by Jinno-sensei to answer his oh-so tough questions. It's like the feeling of getting caught by your mom raiding your refrigerator in the middle of the night. It's like feeling the desperate urge of call-of-nature but then you can't call back because the throne room's locked.

It kinda hurts already, so I breathed carefully to maintain my heart's regular speed again as I held my chest. Thankfully it worked. But not long enough as I glanced at my watch and it says..

"7:56!! I'm gonna be late!"

'Running is no use. It'll still take me 10 minutes to get to school. Oh God! Let there be a miracle!'

"Hey, Baka."

O.o O.o O.o O.o O.o