Yay! I already got this far in one week! Well, I'm pursuing myself to finish this fic. Well, this could be the first time I'm going to complete a multi-chaptered story. XD I already deleted two of my uncompleted fics and for those who have read "Mornings with you", don't worry on not finishing it, it's the same as this one but I twisted it a LITTLE bit. Umm..what the heck?! Let's just say, A LOT! I forgot to disclaim, so here:

Disclaimer: GA belongs to Higuchi Tachibana. Fic: Mine.


II. Unexpected news

Normal POV

It became soundless for a moment. Every individual soul was frozen solid and nobody actuated even a single inch. WHAT A BOLD MOVE.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! Damn you, freaking King of Perverts!" Mikan shouted as she broke the awkward silence.

"How unlady-like. Rather than shouting 'Gaaah', shouldn't it be 'Kyaa'? And shouldn't you be growing boobs right now? How come it's plainly flat?" He said nonchalantly.

"WHAT THE—?!" Mikan started to protest.

"Cross-dresser." He smirked.

THAT HIT A NERVE.

"I'M NOT GAY, DUMBASS!" Again, she attempted to slap him in the face as twice as hard than the one she gave awhile ago. But, with her own gracelessness combined with her soaking body, she slipped and fell against her face, hard.

Everyone cracked with laughter. But not everyone was enjoying the scene; Mikan was extremely embarrassed that she didn't consider this as a laughing matter. She can't take the humiliation anymore and tears are starting to flood in her eyelids. She wanted to cry and her throat hurts so badly. She stood up clumsily and glared at Natsume. Everyone stopped laughing for a second as they wanted to witness her feelings of chagrin. But they were surprised on the move she made: she placed her forefinger under her eye and exposed her tongue and said a loud "BLEEH!" and walked away.

'Ha! You think I'm going to cry in front of you and surrender? Think back because I'm not a coward! And for your information, Mr. Hot-shot, I'm a girl!' Mikan thought.

At the same time…

"Natsume, are you still going to continue this?" a beautiful blonde boy with aquamarine blue eyes told him.

"I'm going to let her feel a mouthful of regret." Natsume answered. His answer is full of anger but his face shows the opposite. He looks like he's enjoying this.

'I think she's just safe.' the blonde boy thought as he smiled in relief.

"That guy! He stole my first kiss! This way, I can't get married anymore!" Mikan cried animatedly. Still feeling upset and embarrassed, she decided to cut class for 2nd and 3rd period. Cutting classes is a thing she never done and she always hated to do it.

She decided to get some fresh air and walked aimlessly. She was wondering on how to deal with things starting today. People hated her, her friends ditched her, and she got a conceited enemy. Can't her life become more decent? Oblivious on the path she was taking, she arrived on a small Sakura tree which caught her eye. Even though it's small, that particular tree shines the most and surprisingly stood out from the others.

"I get it. Even though you're small, you never let anyone underestimate you. You stood strong and firm and let no one underrate your ability that's why you stood out. I GOT IT!" Mikan said as she looked at the tree.

She realized that she's still dripping wet that's why she felt somewhat cold for a late summer day. After a while from pondering, she went to the bathroom and dried herself up.

One thing she didn't notice, behind the Sakura tree, a certain raven-haired boy was listening to her all along.

"She really is something." He said as he yawned and took a nap.

MIKAN'S POV

Good, I'm all clean and neat and I might as well attend 4th period. Ugh, that guy. I still can't forget what he did to me! Stealing my first kiss and calling me a cross-dresser! Wait, I just realized, he gave me a lot of firsts.

One, he's my first enemy.
Two, he's the first one to touch my private part!

Three, he's the first person I've been with a fight with!

Four, he's the first one to call me a cross-dresser.

Five, he's the one who gave me my first-kiss! No, not gave, it supposed to be stole.

Six, he's the first guy who I slapped my hand with.

Seven, he's the first person who I hated to death.

I hope there won't be an eighth one! Well, enough with that. I went back to class and luckily my fourth period is gym. The class is again beginning to get normal. That's not a good sign. I bet there's another prank that pervert's been planning. I cautiously looked over my steps and expected for something to occur.

"Don't worry. There's nothing bad that'll going to happen to you again." I turned around and saw a cute girl with long, straight black hair. I saw her smiling at me. Is it really…over?

"Really?" I asked to be sure. I hope this is not another trick.

"Yeah! By the way, I'm Ogasawara Nonoko. Welcome to the class, Mikan-chan." She raised her hand halfway and asked for a handshake. Even though, I can feel her warm welcome, I peered over her hands and looked for any electric buzzers or something. Suddenly, she giggled softly.

"Don't worry, I'm not one of them. They're just like that because they wanted to please Natsume."

I can tell she is really kind. I grabbed her hand and shook both of our hands. She smiled at me and I can tell that we could be really great friends! At that time, I felt like all the heavy load in my chest are washed away in that mere second. Happiness flowed back to my body. It was really exhilarating.

After all the classes end, I saw Hotaru and Yuu standing outside my classroom. For a while back then, I forgot about them. Just then, I realized that my mind was full of thoughts about that arrogant pervert. Oh, and I haven't seen both of them for the whole day. Where were they?

"Hotaru! Iinchou!" I shouted and am I so glad to see them!

Baka! Baka! Baka!

"Step away, moron." Hotaru said nonchalantly.

"B-but…I missed you guys! Where were you?! I haven't seen you for the entire day?! Do you know what that devil did to me?!" I cried. Of course, they should care!

"Mikan-chan, we knew everything. What you did was sort of…umm…well, all over the school. Oh, and about not being on class for the whole day, the Principal called us to attend a seminar outside the school. Ten students per school are chosen to go to that seminar and we really wanted to let you know before we go but you weren't inside the class and we can't be late, so…" Oh, so that's the reason.

"Well, that's okay! Did you guys have fun?" I asked.

"The food was good." Hotaru answered.

"But Hotaru-chan, all you ate are only crabs." Iinchou said. I smiled at them. This day wasn't that bad after all.

(---)

I went home with Nonoko and Anna-chan, Nonoko's best friend, because the three of us live near to each other. Hotaru and Yuu have some things to do at school and told me to leave first.

"Mikan-chan, I really admire your courage because you stood up to Natsume like that. You're the first." Anna said but I really can't accept that as a compliment. How should I know he's that dangerous?!

"I agree. I myself have been in the same class with Natsume-kun since the 2nd grade yet that's the first time I saw him treat a girl like that." Nonoko said.

Really?! "Well, what does he normally do when someone pisses him off?" I asked.

"Well, he orders someone to beat him up until he says stop regardless of age or gender. There was one rumor, he ordered a person to violate a girl and after that, we didn't see her anymore. He did a lot of different things that's why people are afraid of him and tried to please him as much as they can. If you can't, you'll be dead." Nonoko said.

I gulped hard when I heard that. What if something like that will happen to me? I really need to be careful next time.

"But, what happened a while ago surprised us. His face suddenly changed like it became more gentle and softer." Anna said.

Huh? THAT face looks gentle?! It even looked like an old-man's angry face hollering for food!

"And the fact that he kissed you, doesn't that mean that he likes you?!" Nonoko said.

What the hell?! No way!

"Yeah, I agree! Natsume never dated anyone. I heard him talking about how much he despises girls because they're all so loud, clingy and crybabies. And, if he never dated anyone, so it could be possible he never kissed anyone before! I bet you're his first kiss, Mikan-chan!"

No way. No way. No way!! I reckon he does that to all the girls! That psycho maniac.

"I bet he molests all the girls he's pissed off with. Girls don't like that and will hate him for sure." I said. Of course, who wants to be kissed by that moron?!

"Well, I think you said was the opposite from the real thing. Girls will love that. Natsume and Ruka-kun has a secret fan club and half of the girl's population of the school are loyal members of the club. When they heard that Natsume kissed you, they were raging in jealousy. And he doesn't kiss girls he doesn't like." Anna said.

"I really think you're the key to the freedom of the students." Nonoko said.

(---)

I arrived at home late because I took a stroll to the park to cool myself down. All those things happening in one day makes my head dizzy.

"I'm home." I called out. I saw grandfather stick his head out from the kitchen.

"Oh! Welcome back, Mikan. You can start eating dinner; I made my specialty and your favorite dish, Beef Stew!"

"Oh! What's the occasion, Ji-chan? You seldom cook my favorite food!" Eh? That's right. I remember one time, grandfather cooked Beef Stew for his visitors but before they even came, the bowl was empty. Well, it's not my fault! I just can't help it! After that, he promised to cook Beef Stew only for me and only for special occasions as to refrain from spoiling me.

"Ah. That's right. I have something to tell you." He said from the kitchen. But the tone of his voice sound unusual.

"Huh? Okay." What is it that he wanted to tell me?

I satisfied myself by eating non-stop. Ah, bliss. After an hour, grandpa came in the dining table and sat beside me and I just finished eating at the same time. I noticed that his face looks quite pale and it doesn't look good.

"Jii-chan, is something wrong?" For a moment, I felt my blood rush all over my body and my heart is beating so fast.

"Mikan, dear, please don't be surprised, okay?"

"What's wrong?" I repeated.

"Well, I think it's time to tell you this…" I heard him gulp hard. There is something wrong. "…I know you understand our situation but we can't go on living like this anymore. A month after you were born, your dad borrowed a lot of money from the loan sharks and was chased knowing that he couldn't repay them. Your father panicked and didn't know what to do anymore. Your mother couldn't do anything since she was very ill at that time. The only person he could go and ask for help is his closest friend, Akito. Fortunately, he gladly helped him out. He is a kind and a generous person but he has this attitude to ask something in exchange…"

All of a sudden, he stopped talking. I still don't get the point but what is grandpa trying to say?

"Long ago, Akito and Haruka's bond is unbreakable. They've been best friends when they were still kids. When high school came, your mother came into the scene. Both of them fell in love with your mother but the one she really loved is your dad. Before Haruka confessed his love, he already knew that Akito is madly in love with Yuka. Yuka was aware of that too. Akito was hoping that his best friend would help him make a move and help him win her, oblivious of your dad's feelings. Haruka can't dare to refuse his friend that's why he promised to help him. After a while, their love became stronger and Haruka and Yuka became a couple, but secretly. Akito was unaware of this but became a bit suspicious. They decided to tell him the truth because they don't want to lie to him anymore. Your parents already expected what his reaction will be. Akito felt betrayed and decided to cut his ties between them. Feeling guilty of avoiding them, after a year, he told Haruka that he wanted to bring their friendship back between them. There, they became friends again but not the same as before for Akito still have feelings for Yuka even until your parents got married."

Love, huh? "So, what happened after that?" I asked.

Before he continued, he took a deep breath. "Months after you were born, Yuka got admitted to the hospital because she was known to have Ovarian Cancer. That time was the greatest depression they had. Your dad's salary wasn't enough to pay for your mom's medical bills and got tangled up with some loan sharks. There, he went to Akito for help. He let him borrow money but in one condition. If he can't pay his debt until you turn sixteen, you will be obliged to marry his son."

WHHHHAAAAATT THE HEEEEEELLLL?!?!?!?! Marrying his son?! I can't marry someone I don't know! But still, how can he...

"Your dad doesn't have any choice that's why he accepted the deal." Grandpa continued.

How can father do this to me?! How can he decide these things by himself?!

"You might be thinking that it is so selfish of him not to think about you because I too also thought that way, at first. But I saw how determined he is and worked so hard to pay Akito back and to buy back your freedom. At that, I trusted him on this one. A few months later, your mother died. He was so upset and miserable at that time that he was sometimes caught staring up in space. During that time, one day, he got in a car accident. His life was in grave danger that before they could bring him to the hospital, he died. With both of your parents in the sky, you are left to me. I tried to work so hard like your father but I can't do much in this age and my salary isn't that big. So…"

I get it. I feel my heart churn up and break into pieces. Why is this happening to me?

"Is it already decided?" I asked.

"Your 16th birthday is in 4 months and they already made a decision. Tomorrow, they want to see you."

I sighed. "I see." I can't say anything. I can't dare to object because I know that grandpa worked so hard for me. But, I know that there is still a way. I'll work so hard and I won't give up!


Heya! Hanaler87 again, here! Is this story so typical? Fiance's and stuff. But, don't judge yet. Check out the next chapter. ^_^

Please leave some reviews! During the first two chapters, I was happy that I got 3 reviews. I hope that you'll look forward for the next chapter!