"...he couldn't marry someone who didn't bring merit to his family, but wouldn't it be nice if love sprouted instead." -Hatori Bisuko

" 'That's a very intriguing notion in its own way.' "


Chapter Two: Attack on the New Kid!


Difficult part about needing help is to be honest and ask. Shortly after the conversation, I was escorted to my first class. Mr. Suoh continued to speak a bit of English, until other students were around. My uncle told me there would be a car when school ended and he would see me home later. Students had filled in the classroom. I played with the hem of my T-shirt. I hadn't gotten my uniform because I might not have been accepted. I didn't want to waste money on something I would want to burn every time I looked at it.

Even though it's not my money.

The students were clustered into small groups. A few would migrate between the circles. I sat down at the desk near the front. There I was in a fog. A mental fog. They spoke towards each other. I did not want pity from other people for not knowing the language. So my game plan was to be silent. Use the body language and slowly grasp to understand it.

"Hello."

Three figures walked into the classroom. Two of them had the same thin, pale completion, and tall compared with the other figure. The two gentlemen stood on each side of the smaller figure. All three wore the same lavender and blue tone uniform. The middle figure had short dark brown hair and enormous bronze eyes.

Uproar happened with the young ladies. Conversations seized. The ladies surrounded the three figures, multiple voices clashed. The gentlemen seemed to welcome the figures.

Happiness? I would think they know each other. But … why do act like they haven't seen these people?

"Ladies …" that was from one of the three figures. The one of the left? Right?

The amber eyes glowed back with similar ones on the other side of the smaller figure. Similar nose, facial expressions, and the only difference were the hair color. The gentleman on the left had light-tone auburn while the one on the right had dark brown.

"Haruhi! …" one of the ladies said. It sounded more of a name than a title, the middle figure turn their body to the lady.

The two gentlemen who held similar appearance laced their arms close. They were leaning on each other for stability. All of the people spoke earnestly. There were words I tried to jot down in my small notebook. Just the way the words sound to the ear, I could ask uncle if any of it formed a word or a coherent sentence.

A middle-aged man walked into the classroom holding a book in his hand. He wore glasses that were sliding down his nose. His voice carried over the students talking. I guess, he said on the lines of: sit down, or go back to your seats. The students did exactly what he said. I pulled out my notebooks from my sling on bag.

I felt a presence on my left. It was the middle figure that stood there. With his big eyes gazing at me, his hand held out their book like he was going to put it down soon. He let out a "oh" noise.

Shit.

I was in his spot. His giant friends were right behind him. Asking him a question, the inflection in their voices detected.

Could almost feel their pathetic glares toward me. It held a sharp edge, but their distance from me created a safety net. The middle figure gently smiled at me with his eyes shut. His muscles seemed to relax. He was not in a fighting stance. His voice was peaceful and friendly.

I shot up from the seat and began to find another spot. In the back of the room, there was one empty seat. I beelined for it not gazing into the nice gentleman's eyes. They reminded me of doe eyes. Weird.

My head was looking down at the sycamore desk. I've created a scene. I don't like attention. I don't like the confused stares.

"Welcome students," the professor began. The only thing I could comprehend. He continued on with his welcoming speech. From past experience at my other school, he probably hoped we have had an excellent summer and make new "memories."

The gentleman, who's seat I was in, kept glancing back at me. I never made eye contact.

Why does he keep looking back here? He has his seat back. Problem solved.

" … Penelope Soriano …" The professor mentioned my name. I didn't grasp what he said before and after. Now everyone's eyes were on me.

Is this the time to introduce myself? That's the assumption, since the classroom was quiet. Gradually I got up from my seat. The palms of my hands were sweaty.

Oh no. Which hello do I say? There are four different types to say. In this social gathering, the appropriate choice to say hello would be the common one.

"Hello."

It was soft because I was afraid I pronounced it wrong.

The professor opened his mouth, but I sat back down before he asked any more questions. I pulled out my voice recorder and tried to focus.


My head throbbed. The language was making feel like I'm in a mist. I could see and feel it, but I could not control it. I began to rub my eyelids. The textbooks they passed out were in Japanese; I stared at the few pictures within the books. Every hour, we would switch into a new class along with subject.

I thought mathematics I wouldn't have trouble in. Which was half true. For the most part, I could follow what the professor was doing even though I didn't know what number he was saying. Therefore, at the end of the discussion he would say the answer, I try to write down how he said the number.

I needed a break. Luckily, there's lunch.

I had packed because I didn't want to have to figure out what the cafeteria was serving and make everyone wait. Though, the food the staff prepared made my stomach churn. The cafeteria was spacious with the enormous glass windows all on the right side. The sunshine streamed through the glass and brightened up the hall.

Not a lot of people were sitting in the sun. Prediction, it was too warm to.

Against the popular vote and evidence I should've accepted, I sat near the windows.

This was a perfect spot. I can observe the students from all years, the interaction between staff members and students, and gaze at the substances. Another possibility, I could turn around and watch what was happening outside. The small garden with fountains and shrubbery filled the space.

Excellent. I am away from people. I've shown no interest in a gathering. Total seclusion.

I wish I brought my Discman and headphones. Music could dissipate this headache.

"Penelope, right?"

My nose scrunched up. There he was. The middle figure from first class.

Haru … something. Is it a "knee" or a "bee?" No no, it's something else.

He had said something. There was a lunch bag in his right hand. His other hand was gripping the chair. There was a silence between us. There was kindness in his eyes along with this patience.

I nodded my head. A smile replaced the indifferent facial.

He took a seat and started to eat his meal.

There was no indication he wanted to talk. His sole priority was to engulf the food. My eyes were waiting for something to occur like his giant friends to pop up through the ground and spill noodles on me, or he walked away. I took a bite on my sandwich.

"HARUHI!"

Red petals had confetti all around the table. A blonde gentleman threw his arms in the air. He pounced on to the kind man.

That's right! His name is Haruhi. A "he" not a "knee."

This over enthusiastic gentleman started to rub his cheek against Haruhi's cheek. He embraced Haruhi in a very friendly and intimate manner. Haruhi started to blush.

"Tamaki!" he replied back.

Isn't that Mr. Suoh's son?

Haruhi continued to speak in a stop doing that tone. He was looking around at all the other students, which some had noticed the public display.

My legs wanted to relocate.

This "Tamaki" guy whispered something into Haruhi's ear.

Haruhi's eyes widened. "Stop, you …" he had used the masculine form of the word 'you.' I noticed this because my uncle tried to explain when I had moved into his house.

There was a small chuckle from Tamaki.

In a bit of an airy voice, Tamaki replied, "You stop …"

This 'you' was different. It was indicating … Haruhi's a girl. Tamaki used a feminine form of the word. I tilted my head. Though Haruhi's hair was short, there was no evidence to point if Haruhi was a boy or girl. Haruhi was non-gender to the eye.

Interesting.

Tamaki had pointed at Haruhi's attire. Small inflection, he had asked a question.

In the kind voice, Haruhi replied like there was nothing wrong with what they were wearing. Tamaki started to twirl around and almost talked in a daydreaming voice.

"No," Haruhi replied. And something like a skirt? Dress? I couldn't translate it.

Tamaki shook his head.

Well, this is definitely a comic-drama scene playing before me. I focused back on my voice.

The table started to vibrate because the chairs were moving. The twins had sat down near me. At the same time, they acknowledge by saying "hello."

There were two trays with glorious, mouth watery food. Beautiful.

The blonde gentleman stood up from his position with Haruhi. He ran over to me. The close proximity overwhelmed me. Small stars danced around his face. His violet eyes stared at me. Why?

In the same voice he had with Haruhi, he spoke. No pause. It all seemed to flow right into the next word. His whole being screamed to me: emotion, passion. He didn't know me. I didn't recognize he stopped talking until he held out his hand for mine.

The twins laughed. I took my hand away from Tamaki.

Was he teasing me?

I glanced over at Haruhi. Haruhi was gently smiling, and shaking their head. Not in total embarrassment but in a 'you stupid dork' way.

"Sorry," I said. Through Haruhi, I knew Tamaki didn't mean any harm.

The one on the left held tense in his voice. Then the one on the right added another comment looking me straight in the eyes. Both eyes detained mischievous. But they have done no harm to me. The twins were more bark than bite.

I grinned. I wanted to see if their eyes shown confusion. The amber eyes flickered in surprise by my 'kind' behavior. Tamaki smiled towards me, speaking in quick tones. He sat beside Haruhi looking pleased with himself.

"…name?"

I turned to my right to see a black hair gentleman. He pushed up his glasses on the ridge of his nose. His body posture was sitting upright. His shoulders pulled back and yet his arms were across his chest. Grey eyes waited patiently for answer.

"Penelope Soriano," I said.

I've said my name many times now. I'm still not use to my uncle's last name. What would have my father thought?

It doesn't fit me. It isn't me.

"Soriano?" the same gentleman asked.

My patience was wearing thin. "Yes."

He pursed his lips. He wanted to say something. I could tell.

But he never did.

He was quiet, not chatty like the three guys. The twins were arguing about something with Tamaki. Their arms were moving a mile a minute. Haruhi was chuckling in their hands.

He wasn't like Haruhi.

He observed. His eyes would dart between his friends and then back to me.

He's analyzing me.

I don't like it.


Author's Note: Hello! I hope you enjoying the story! I wanted to let you know that I don't know much Japanese; therefore, I have that same experience with Penelope. But in this story, everything in italics within quotes means the person is speaking Japanese that's been translated in Penelope's mind to English.

However, there is italics by themselves to mean her personal thoughts.

She does not know much, but hopefully she will learn.

Also, sadly Mori and Honey were not in this chapter but I'm hoping the next chapter they will show up! :) I miss them dearly. I love them. And, Penelope does not know what Haruhi's gender is right now; therefore, at the moment, she's using non-gender pronouns.

I'm not exactly sure where the story will lead me. It's definitely a fun adventure! Thank you!

I apologize further in advance because I've already had this chapter done but I won't be able to write another chapter until next week. I have to write another ten page short story due Tuesday; I will need to focus on that first and then my stories.