Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
A/N: Hi! So, here's the next chapter. Sorry if it's a bit rushed though. I had to publish a story. Well, R&R! :D Thank you!
A Change of Heart
Chapter Two: The Bench under the Sakura Tree
"Just because something is beautiful doesn't mean it's good." –Beastly by Alex Flinn
-;-
"I hope you learned your lesson, Hyuuga," said a soft, monotonous voice over the line.
"Shut it, Imai," snapped a crimson-eyed lad as he ruffled his permanently messy hair in agitation.
"Admit it, Hyuuga. For once, your Casanova charms failed to enchant a girl," the soft voice continued and Natsume Hyuuga felt her smirk across the line. He gritted his teeth; he hated it when she's right.
"Just you wait, Imai. That big-mouthed woman would be mine soon," Natsume replied through his teeth, challenged.
"Don't make the same mistake twice, Hyuuga. She's not like the rest," the caller said before hanging up.
Then, Natsume Hyuuga rubbed his right cheek—the place where the brunette had slapped him hours ago in Anna Umenomiya's café.
-;-
The Next Day at School
Mikan Sakura was placing her books inside her bag from her locker when suddenly, someone rude slammed her locker close.
"What the-? Hey, what's the big idea, you bonehead?!" Mikan barked at the lad who was now leaning against her closed locker indifferently.
"Listen, you noisy pig, I'm giving you another chance," Natsume saw Mikan's mouth open to retort so he quickly continued, "if you go out with me then I might be nice enough to forget what you did yesterday. And if you won't, well, we'll get to that later. So, I need your answer."
"First of all, I am neither noisy nor a pig. Secondly, I don't regret giving you that slap because you darn well deserved it. Lastly, who would ever date someone as arrogant as you? "
"Every single girl in this school apart from you," Natsume declared condescendingly and smirked.
"Excuse me but Hotaru Imai's a girl and I don't see her ogle at you with such passion," Mikan replied.
"Imai's different," Natsume said robotically as he looked away. And Mikan saw, for the first time, his proud aura falter. Mikan raised a brow at him.
"Whatever. Now, would you get off my locker now? First period is going to start and I can't afford to get late," Mikan broke the silence first.
"So, you're not going to change your mind?" Natsume asked.
"No," Mikan said, now pushing Natsume's body away but he won't budge.
"I'm not usually nice like this, idiot, so if I were you I'd take the offer before something worse happens," Natsume replied, losing his patience.
"Do you have a dictionary?" Mikan asked out of the blue and Natsume was taken aback.
"What? Why? What for?"
"Use it and search for the word 'nice'. I think you've got the definition wrong," retorted Mikan as she carried her backpack and walked away.
"Oh, and one more thing, I'd rather kiss a sloppy frog than hook up with you," and she was off.
-;-
"She rejected you?" Ruka Nogi, Natsume's childhood friend, says with disbelief. It was already recess time and Natsume just finished telling his tale to his friends in the cafeteria. He was seated at the left of the circular table, his best friend next to him, and playing with a can of soda. Koko chuckled upon hearing Ruka's (loud) comment which earned him a death glare from a pissed crimson-eyed lad.
"Yeah, she did. Saw it myself. "I'd rather kiss a sloppy frog than hook up with you" she said. What a laugh it was," another guy, wearing a jersey with a number 10 on it, stifled a laugh. The others murmured their thoughts to each other which annoyed Natsume.
"Better watch out for that frog, Hyuuga. It seems it'll have a more promising love life than you," Koko said but immediately regretted it when Natsume suddenly jumps from his seat and gets him by the collar.
"Just another damn word, Yome and my fist would meet your face," Natsume said harshly, his eyes intent on its prey. Koko tried hard not to tremble and instead, gnashed his teeth. Natsume let go of him after a few seconds and left with his fists clenched inside his pockets. Ruka followed his best friend, trying to convince him to apologize to Koko who was breathing unevenly.
"You just have to push his buttons all the time, huh," Mochu asked as he approached his friend.
"Nah, we could all use some entertainment. All this angst about girls is killing me," Koko replied lightly as he fixed his cerulean shirt.
"Koko, I'm not stupid. I can tell what's really happening," Mochu responded, his voice not more than a whisper. Koko didn't look surprised but something in his eyes showed that he wanted to avoid this topic at all costs.
"Can you really?" Koko replied jokingly but Mochu knew something's up and he's eager enough to figure it out.
"Stop it, Koko. It's not his fault," said Mochu. Koko furrowed his brows in annoyance.
"Shut up, Mochu. You don't know anything," Koko replied, his tone was cruel and reproachful; something very unusual for the so-called "comedian of the club". Koko walked off without another word.
-;-
"Natsume, Natsume! Hey, listen!" Ruka hollered as he tailed the young lad.
"What is it?" said Natsume, annoyed.
"You should apologize to Koko. I know he didn't mean it. He was just joking," Ruka reasoned out.
"I won't apologize, Ruka," Natsume replied, his voice was firm, indicating that he wasn't likely to change his mind.
"But—"
"—but nothing, Ruka. You heard me, I won't apologize. This conversation is over,"
"If you say so," Ruka's tone was obviously hurt and Natsume instantly felt a pang of guilt as he watched his friend retreat.
-;-
At the end of classes, Mikan headed for her usual bench. She used to sit there as a child and laugh all day with her dad, at least when he was still alive. Now, this bench under the Sakura tree was merely a place for her to rest when things get out of hand at home and a reminder that she still have some good memories left which she can hold onto during rough times.
But as she approached her bench, another person was already sitting on it. She scowled.
"What are you doing here?" Mikan asked rudely as she recognized the sandy-haired boy.
"Is it now illegal to sit on a bench?" Koko replied, his expression was surly and it was surely because of the incident earlier.
"Not really but you see, this is my bench you're sitting on," Mikan defended.
"I don't see your name on it," retorted Koko.
"That's because it's written in invisible ink," Mikan adjusted her shoulder bag.
"Are you attempting to be funny? Because it's really not funny, Mikan," Koko said, his lips curving upwards despite the anger he feels inside.
"Glad you still know my name. Now, will you scoot over so I could sit down?" Koko half-heartedly moved to the other side while Mikan occupied the other.
There was a long period of awkward silence and Mikan was the first to break it.
"So," Mikan hesitated for a moment then continued, "What's up?"
"What d'you mean, 'what's up'?" Koko answered, still upset.
"I mean, it's a bit weird for you to be alone here right now. You're usually out with your friends, laughing, drinking, partying, or whatever. So, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," replied Koko, turning his face away from Mikan.
"It's fine if you don't want to spill. It's not like it's so important," Mikan snapped. Koko gave a snort.
"You know, you're the least person I'd expect to be down in the dumps," Mikan said, "with all those smiles and that."
"Well, you can't expect me to be in high spirits all year round," Koko replied, the anger slowly leaving his body, "I get problems too, no matter how many smiles I show."
"Now, you totally changed my view about you. At first, I thought you were just a stupid jerk who can't even think for his own good. But now, I think there's a lot more in you than those idiotic comments. You're still a jerk, though," Mikan said, smiling.
"It would've sounded so much better if you left out the jerk part," Koko laughed, feeling nothing more than the bliss of being with a friend. It was this that he needed, the comforting feeling of a friend. A friend he barely knew yet he felt like he'd known for ages.
"That's better, isn't it?" Mikan sighed, "When I get problems, I just laugh. It feels better than brooding over it."
"Yeah, it helps. Thanks," Koko replied as a sudden thought hit him, "and about that time in the café, I—"
"It's fine," Mikan said, "I've talked to Anna. She said you apologized. It's good enough for me. But I still think you're so stupid to do that."
"Be that as it may, I was just having fun," Koko answered.
"You guys are so childish," Mikan replied while Koko mouthed a 'Whatever' at her.
"Hey, can I call you Mik?"
"Mik? Why?"
"Since you're now my best friend and I give nicknames to my best friends?" said Koko.
"Best friend? We've only talked for what, thirty minutes and I'm already your best friend?" Mikan asked; her tone full of doubt.
"Doesn't matter how long we've talked. What matters is what I felt while we're talking. It's like you're my long lost sister or something. I'm comfortable talking with you," Koko answered. His face was slightly embarrassed.
"Well, same," Koko smiled at this, "but don't call me 'Mik'."
"What, you prefer 'Kan'?" Koko chortled.
"No. I prefer 'Mikan', thank you very much," Mikan answered.
"Fine with me," Koko shrugged, "bye, Mikan. I think my mom's expecting me home early today."Mikan nodded. Then, he stood up, waved and smiled at Mikan, and left.
Mikan stared after him until his figure disappeared. She looks up and sees rose-pink petals raining down on her.
Suddenly, the bench weighed heavier in Mikan's heart. Her and her father's laughter filled her ears once more as she reminisced those times they had shared together under this Sakura tree for the last time. Because she knew she won't be looking back at those past memories again for a long time but rather, expecting more happy moments with her newfound friend.
Chapter 3:
"What are you planning, Natsume?" Ruka asks, his face covered in anxiety.
"What are you worried about, Ruka? I'm just giving her what she asked for," Natsume replied, his devilish grin plastered on his lips.
And Ruka knew, without a doubt, that Mikan's in big trouble.