Chapter 4
Learning to Love Again
Mikan's POV
I was skipping to class jauntily while humming an exultant tune. Before I could turn the corner to enter my class, three boys stood in my way.
''Good morning! May you move out of my way? I got to head to class,'' I said, still jubilantly not realizing what the men had in mind.
One of them, with thick spikey red hair placed his large hands on the walls and trapped me while the two other boys stood on each side sneering.
''Has anyone told you, you look hot?''
''Uh, I don't think so,'' I answered, uncomfortable of the position we are in. ''Can you get off me now? I don't want to be late for class. I don't want to miss the new fun thing my sensei has planned for us today.''
''Aw come on, don't ruin the fun. How about you come over my room? We can have so much fun in my room,'' he evilly smirked.
''I really should be going,'' I slipped under his arm, but once I escaped, he seized my wrist and pinned me hard on the wall.
''Don't try to make this harder, love,'' he advised in a seductive attitude.
''Let go of me!'' I screeched growing feisty. ''Kevin!''
''Kevin? Who the hell is Kevin?'' the guy on the right side of the man pinning wondered out loud.
''That would be me.''
I shifted my amber orbs and gladly, gratefully see its Kevin. He cracked his fists and it sounded like loud firecrackers. His expression is plain and impassive, but in his eyes I could clearly see rage, protectiveness, and wanting to beat the crap out of someone at any second.
''The girl that you are pinning against the wall is my girlfriend.''
Once he got close enough to the red-haired boy, he punched the lights out of him and bye-bye bully. His two other pals scampered away wailing in terror while carrying their out cold comrade along. Cowards.
''Are you okay Mikan?'' he inquired.
I nodded my head.
''I'm sorry to make you worry Kevin,'' I said with a disheartened, depressed façade on.
''What if I wasn't there to punch the crap out of those assholes?'' he questioned with curse words which I have grown use to oddly enough.
''But you did come! You always come when I'm in danger,'' I exclaimed.
He grinned. ''Just next time, wait for me before you head to class. I want to walk in class with my beautiful girlfriend.''
My frown was replaced with a smile.
''Ok, boyfriend!''
Wow, who ever thought that Kevin Owens would have a soft side like this? I remember the day he became my boyfriend. It was at midnight, in the lake under the moonlit. It was a magically moment. A moment that I'll always hold dear.
Flashback
Normal POV
Buildings started to burst into flames and eventually, they collapsed. The fiery demon grew bigger and bigger. Black Shark searched for his partner, Magenta Thief. The blaze around him died out since he was using his Water Alice to drench the area around him. Suddenly he heard a desperate cry for help. He rushed quickly to the sound of the high-pitched scream. The Black Shark found the girl under several scorched wood. He hastily carried the timber off her and helped her stand.
''Are you okay?'' he asked, disturbed completely.
The injured partner coughed. Coughed up blood. She jogged her head.
''I have file 424,'' she murmured in throbbing.
''Good, now let's get out of here!''
''Give me…your hands. Hold on…to me. Don't...let go,'' she replied ever so softly from the exhaustion and lack of clean atmosphere.
''I will never let you go,'' he replied in short huffs.
A smile was plastered on the pair even though they were in a life or death situation. Soon,a white as snow light appeared. The partners held on to each other tightly. Few seconds after, they landed harshly in Alice Academy America's Northern Forest's Lake. They remained still, floating carelessly with their backs in the shallow lagoon not saying word since the two were exhausted and fatigued.
Mikan's POV
I never felt so happy to be back to the academy! Doing missions is still so hard even though I've been doing it for 2 years now. Yea, it's been two years since I left Alice Academy Japan. Two years since I saw my friends and him. Two years I have known Kevin. Two years ago I was this weak little 12 year old girl who cried if I got a paper cut. Now, I'm a stronger 14 year old girl who knows how to fight and use my Alices properly and effectively.
My entire body felt so sore and stingy. I felt all numb, inside and out. I'm so weary and frail. Scrutinizing pain was consuming my small figure. I glanced over to Kevin. He noticed me and stared at me as well. I gaped at the long cut on his neck, the blood on his arms and legs, and the wooziness in his cobalt eyes. I beamed at him. He beamed back at me. We were soaking wet in the lake, but none of us care since we have each other.
Once I had enough energy, I sat up in the large cold pond. Kevin followed.
''Are you okay?'' Kevin inquired concerned, but not displaying it.
''I'm perfectly fine, you?''
''I've been better,'' he remarked as he rubbed the back of his back. ''I've been doing this since I was 5 unlike you. You've been only doing missions for two years.''
''Yea, but I improved a lot! You got to admit that,'' I responded whiling healing both our scratches and cuts with the healing Alice I stolen from one of the guards when we were at the now crumbled structure.
''Sure you have,'' he uttered in an unserious, sarcastic manner, but then gave out a minuscular smile.
Kevin Owens doesn't smile. No, I should restate that. Kevin Owens only smiles when I'm with him. His smile is only reserved for me and me only. We have grown really close to each other over the past years. I learned how to love again because of him. He fixed my wounded heart from what Natsume did.
''Thanks for healing my wounds.''
''Kevin, thank you for healing my wounds,'' I said while gazing deeply in his sapphire pools.
''Huh? You usually heal me, not the other way around,'' he stated confounded.
''You healed my heart,'' I said before shifting my gaze to the luminous full moon.
''Mikan…..'' he took a deep breath.
''You were the one that fixed it over the years. I'm so grateful that I met you. You fixed the damage that Natsume caused me.''
''Natsume? Who the hell is he?'' he said with an envious and furious aura.
I giggled tenderly and explained the whole story. It was a long story. It took pretty long before I was completely done.
''You know, I would never do that to you. I know we fight sometimes, but I will never go that far.''
My mouth curved into a warm sincere smile. I was touched by his genuine, heartfelt words.
''I know Kevin. First, when I met you, I thought you were exactly like Natsume.''
''Don't compare me with that guy,'' he demanded, irritated.
''Let me finish, Kevin,'' she said. ''I thought you were like him, but then I'd grown to know you much better, I realized you are not like Natsume at all. You're so much better than him. Do you know that?''
''Well of course I'm better than him. I'm better than everyone,'' he commented flattering himself.
''Hey hey, don't go getting a big head. You are not that great,'' I teased.
''Psh, sure I am.''
We continued gazing at the moon. What bright light! I stared down at the water Kevin and I are perched in. I notice the moon's reflection in the pond. I poke the moon's reflection and the water rippled. My lips, on their own form into a smile.
''Sorry I transported us in the lake,'' I apologized while moving my left hand in the cool water.
''It's ok.''
''I'm kind of glad we landed in the lake. It's where you first protected me. Remember, from Victor?''
''Oh yea. I still hate Victor, you know,'' he declared with clenched hands.
''I know you do, everyone in the DA class does including me.''
We chuckled. Chuckled contently with each other. As the laughter fades away, the sound of the wind blowing, the trees waving, and the grasshopper chirping grew louder. Without thinking, I started to hum the melody that nature composed.
''Two years already passed huh. It feels like yesterday you came here at this dreadful school and I met you. Even though I only known you for about 2 years, I feel like I have known you my entire life. Do you feel like that?''
My humming and the piece Mother Nature created stopped. All I can hear now is Kevin's calming voice with the sound of my rapidly beating heart.
''Yea, I do. I feel the same way Kevin,'' I responded while my soaked palm on my heart.
''Hey, I need to tell you something. Something that I wanted to say for a really long-''
Unexpectedly, I positioned my head on his shoulder. ''I'm sorry. I'm just really tired. Can I stay like this for just a minute? Please?''
He tossed a quiet and low chortle before answering.
''Sure,'' he replied then deeply inhaled.'' Mikan, I've been meaning to say this for a long time. We have known each other for two years already. And in those two years, I...''
''Kevin...''
''I have fallen in love you! I know you are really exhausted from our mission, but will you except my love and be mine, Mikan?''
My eyes amplified. A confession? Oh my. I was speechless. I never thought he would have said that. I have dreamed that he would tell me he was in love with me, but I never thought my dream would actually become reality.
I slowly shift my weight from his shoulder and kindly look at his cobalt irises. They were priceless. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. In them I can see is embarrassment, passion, lust, desperate, and most of all love.
''Yes, I will. I love you, Kevin so much more than anyone else. During the two years I've known you, I have fallen in love with you too. I will be honored to be your girlfriend,'' I answered while tears formed in my chocolate orbs.
''Really?''
''Really,'' I responded with a small nod and a huge smile.
Surprisingly, he enveloped his arms around my hips and begins spinning me around like a little child. How could he have energy to do this? Isn't he tired like me? I hold on to his neck securely, not wanting to plunge into the water like how I transported us from our undertaking. Once he was contented with my pleading, he placed me back safely on the ground.
''What was that for?'' I asked twittering a bit.
''Sorry, I'm just so happy. This means so much to me,'' he answered.
He bended down and reached for my cheek with his palm. It was just like last time when he tried to kiss me. But only this time, he succeeded. His warm, soft lips were pressed against mine. He gently began to nibble on my lower lip, so I granted him entrance. His warm tongue was placed against mine. The touch of his lips made me a bit woozy and lightheaded.
Because were humans and we needed air so we stopped.
''Damn humans for making us have to breathe air,'' Kevin swored. ''Next mission, make sure to steal an air/wind Alice so we can do this longer.''
I snicker. ''Roger that!''
Flashback Ends
''Hey Mikan, are you just going to stand there and zone off into space? Don't you want to go to class?'' Kevin questioned, interrupting my precious flashback.
I twisted my pelvis and see already Kevin opening the door to our class.
''Huh? Oh yea! Sorry!''
I dashed towards him and he placed his hand on my hips. We meandered in and of course, my fan club started to curse silently at him. Of course silently because who wanted to get beat up by my boyfriend or have water in places you never thought possible. I can hear girls envy me. Either saying,'' she's so lucky,'' or,'' I wish I was her!'' It made me smile. We took our seats. I glanced out the window. I loved the view from here.
Suddenly, a different scene appear. There was still the tree, but instead it was a sakura tree. I didn't know sakura trees grew here too. I noticed two figures lying on the tree. Their hair was covering their faces, so I couldn't see who they were. Once the wind came, their mane blew from their facades. My eyes broadened when I realized who they were. It was me and Natsume. My heart skipped a beat. I promised myself that I would forget Natsume, but I couldn't bring myself to that. When I was with Kevin, he helped me forget him.
Do I still have feelings for Natsume? No, I can't! I love Kevin and that's all. I don't ever want to hurt Kevin. I'm so lucky to have a boyfriend like Kevin who takes care of me and loves me so dearly. He is always there for me and I'm going to be there for him forever and always!
I glanced over to Kevin. His face read, ''I'm so bored! Get me out of here!'' I snickered and tittered quietly. Kevin only comes to class because I do. He told me before I came to America Alice Academy; he would have ditched class and remained in his bedroom if it wasn't for me. I changed him. I changed him for the better. I'm so glad I came here to this school.
But soon everything would start to fall apart and slip away.
''Mikan, the principal wants to talk to you in his office,'' Ms. Asami remarked.
''Oh um, okay,'' I responded timidly and arise from my seat.
''I'll come with you Mikan,'' Kevin offered, well, more like demanded.
''Thanks, Kev!''
And with that, we headed to what awaits us at the principal office.
