Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran High or the characters in it. But i wish to be the mistress of Takashi's heart.

Chpt 2: Heartburn

The week passed in a flash. It was mostly spent drooling over a certain someone from the host club. Balancing studies and love life was no joke. Besides, the annual "Be Yourself Day" was coming, where each student would be dressed to their best to express their personality and Manami had not decided what her costume would be. The only idea that clouded her mind was going as Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) from Breakfast At Tiffany's. After all, a classic movie would be most safe. Manami bit her lip when she recalled how obsessed she was over Holly 3 years back when she first saw that film produced in 1961. And how she had swooned over men in black velvet suits with walking canes, eye glasses and fancy top hats.

"Good day class." Announced a round breasted Professor Drew, who walked out of class briskly. Then he trotted back, cleared his throat and boomed before shuffling off "I would like to remind the class that there would be a surpise quiz next Tuesday. I will not give you any hints. You will be required to write a paper on Macbeth. Most likely Lady Macbeth will come out."

One of the boys said "If it's a surpise, why did he tell us?"

"I heard that he's gone berserk and constantly sees moving toy cars that why recently he regularly visits Higoshi's dad, who is his shrink. Apparently, she peeked onto his record file." Injected a Yumiko who was always ever knowing and high on gossips.

"Gee... that's weird. He has a hair problem that's for certain." remarked another classmate. The entire class erupted into laughter.

Manami stuffed her books in her Gucci Babouska Satchel, a gift from her God-mother who had it specially imported from Paris. Supposedly, Heidi Klum was still on the waiting list for that bag. She linked hands with Yumiko and they headed or more specifically skipped to the dining hall. She listened to her friend prattle on about "that hawt guy from Korean band Dongdemum", her head still heavy with literature bits and quotes their tutor was previously lecturing about. Then she heard a familiar high pitched voice behind her. She turned and saw a cluster of girls crowding around what seemed like Honey doing some martial arts moves like Kung Fu panda. Takashi was next to him smiling and nodding at a brunette. She was touching his arm and twirling her hair with the other hand. Ahb-viously flirting... This was something which made Manami cringe.

She gasped and whispered to Yumiko, who was too busy gawking at the attractive pair, "I've gone jelliod. S.O.S.!"

Just recently, Manami's world seemed to stop and everything went all silent and slow-moving when she saw Takashi. Oo-er... Her heart fluttered and her stomach did a more gigantic flip-flop than how haivannaspls edit will hitting the rest of the world. Takashi spotted her and gave a little wave. Manami wasn't sure if that wave was directed at her but she grinned weakly and walked forward to make small talk to remind him she was still alive. She was probably possessed by a 'stupid cupid cherub'.

All of a sudden, she felt herself flying backwards. Closing her eyes in shame, she realized she must have slipped on a slippery banana peel-like object, her arms flew back to steady herself for the fall. Then she felt a strong arm grab her waist. Her eyes flew open and there was Takashi, her knight in violet uniform who had rescued her from the fall. It was practically a "Voila!"-worthy performance.

"You alright?" he asked with a nod of the head.

"Yes, thank you sen-pai." Manami answer breathlessly in what she hoped to be a husky sexy voice. (But in reality it sounded like she had inhaled the contents in a helium balloon.)

Around them girls cheered and ooo-ed ahh-ed so much that you would had though he proposed marriage to her.

Hani exclaimed wide-eyed "Takashi! You're a hero!"

Blushing furiously, Manami continued staring into Mori's eyes. (She had recalled in Teen Vogue that maintaining eye contact with your crush was a seductive measure and would make him more interested in you.) Her inner mind was going bonkers. Those perfect features of Mori enthralled her so much.

Those dark eyes, like Takeshi Kaneshiro...

And his high cheekbones, like Yutaka Takenouchi...

Mori cleared his throat loudly, jotting Manmai out of her daydream.

"Thank you senpai. I will never forget your kindness and this memoery I shall keep it close to my heart always till the day --" she stopped babbling when she saw the weird expression registered on Mori's face. Ooops...

"You're welcome." Mori flashed her one of his rare smiles, tucked his briefcase under his arm and left the hallway, walking alongside Hani who was singing a bunny song cheerily.

Reeling from her embarrassment and the sweet close contact between her and her crush, Manami vowed to keep this moment in heart forever. Manami had the tendency to sprout rubbish when she was nervous. True to her words, she replayed the scene in her mind over and over again after that.

At night, she stood at the spacious veranda of her luxurious penthouse apartment, in her T-shirt nightdress and gazed at the night scenery. Below, Manami could see the traffic lines of coloured ants moving in unison. The breath of fresh air she inhaled was contrary to the air from congested streets. Living in the 40th storey had plenty of advantages. Likewise, she liked to soak her feet in the family's hot tub kicking the froth wildly. She liked to imagine that she was a baby whale trapped in an alien tank. The unfamiliarity of being in a bizarre environment would be a challenge she would fancy handling. Raising her head, Manami noticed that there weren't any stars that day, as usual. The azure sky was filled with dark marshmallow clouds. This was her favourite way of spacing out. Suddenly, a jolt of panic surged through her. Manami gathered that she was one of those fan-girls constantly surrounding the host club members since she liked one of them. Oh no! I'm shallow, daft, bimbo-tic like a dumb blonde, all promiscuous, un-intelligent and clumsy!!

You're out of their league! A part of her tried to reason out. And would he even fancy you, if say, 20 percent of the girls in Ouran thrust themselves at him?

Why did I touch the fork he used in the cafeteria? Why did I get heart palpitations whenever his leg pants brushes against me during our sessions? Why do I often take the long route to the South-wing so that I can pass by 3-A?

In horror she realized that all the little actions added up in a direct conclusion: Manami Wantanbe is in lurrrrve with sex-gawd Takashi Morinozuka.

Manami tried to reassure herself and refrain from flapping her arms and making a fool of herself although there wasn't anyone present to criticize her on her realistic chicken dance. No, I merely think he is hawt. No secondary feelings!

The coy part of her answered back. Then why did you daydream about going above 6 on the snogging scale, eh? And why did you wonder how his muscles would feel beneath his shirt?

"I'm a pervert!" Manami cried out in horror, unable to accept the truth.

"Deary. It's fine to be a pervert. Now go to bed. It's past eleven. You need your beauty sleep." Her mother called from the second level of their home slapping on a large amount of Clarins moisturizer on her arms as if she was living in a desert.

"Ma-meeee! Don't interrupt me when I'm studying! I'm memorizing my Macbeth text, where Lady Macbeth says that..." Manami said in self-defence, crossing her arms across ample chest.

"Did she? Don't stay up too late. You know what they say about eye bags!" tittered her ever chirpy mother.

Manami puffed up her cheeks. "Nag.", she grumbled, but she shuffled off to her bedroom, and plopped down onto the bed of lurve where she once had a delicious dream of kissing Tobey Maguire (but woken up to find herself sucking faces with Mr Rabbit.)

Author's note: Snogging scale by Georgia Nicholson (or say, Louis R the acclaimed genius!)

Holding hands

Arm around

Goodnight kiss

kissing over 3 mins w/o a break (4.5- Hand snogging by Jas)

Open mouth kissing

Tongues

Upper body fondling (outdoors)

Upper body fondling (indoors)

Below waist activities indoors

The full monty! (you should know what I mean! *wink wink)

PSSS: Thank you for reading! Heart heart heart you guys! Oh this is a short chpt…. I will be continuing my story since I have already written several pages of possible future scenarios. And also the ending. :P Actually now when I look back, I realize that my story is a bit crap. Oh well….

Momo will appreciate it if you review! Thanks!