Chapter 4

"Tadaima!" Natsume's grandma said as she opened the house.

"'I'm *sneezes* back." Natsume said with a hoarse voice.

Grandma reached out her hand to touch Natsume's forehead.

"When did you get a fever?" She asked Natsume worriedly.

"Yesterday. I forgot my umbrella so I walked in the rain." Natsume explained

"Seriously. This kid." Grandma was a bit mad

"I know you hate the rain that's why you always stay home when it's raining outside or you borrow someone else's. I wonder what happened." She thought

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Mikan came home carrying a sad look on her face. She headed for her room and lied on her bed and touched her forehed.

"What just happened?" Mikan thought, looking confused.

"Mikan, what were you thinking? Do you really think he won't agree if you said that? Now, you really have no right to love him. But.. you were just trying to get youself away from hurting yourself more." Mikan paused

"But, does this make it hurt any less?" Mikan looked down as tears started to fall from her eyes.

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The next day

"Ohayou class!" Narumi greeted

"I'll check the attendance, 'kay?" Narumi opened his class records and started to call out names.

"Luna?" Narumi called

"Hai." Luna shouted

"Ruka?" Narumi called

"Here." Ruka yelled

"Natsume?" Narumi called

"Natsume Hyuuga?" He called out Natsume's name once more.

"I guess he's not here. Let's proceed."

Mikan looked over to Natsume's seat.

"He's absent, huh?" Mikan sighed

"Mikan?" Narumi saw Mikan looking at Natsume's seat

"Mikan Sakura?" He asked again.

"Ah. HAI! Gomene Narumi-sensei" Grinning like nothing happened.

"Please stop your mind from flying away." Narumi smiled

"Will do!" Mikan nodded

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After dismissal, Luna went to Natsume's house.

"Konnichiwa Obacchan." Luna politely greeted

"You are.. Luna?" Obacchan asked

"Yes. I came to visit Natsume." Luna said

Luna went inside Natsume's room and sat on Natsume's bed and held Natsume's hand

"Mi..." Natsume was mumbling in his sleep

"Me?" Luna was confused. She immediately held tight of Natsume's hand

"Mi.. kan. Saku..ra." He mumbled in his sleep

"Mikan Sakura? Impossible. Maybe it was my imagination." Luna thought, pretending she didn't hear anything.

"How can you dream of her when I'm the one who's holding your hand? How, Natsume? How?" Luna was a bit shocked of what Natsume said

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"It's already saturday, huh?" Mikan looked at her calendar while her head lying on the table.

"Wait. It's already December? Which means. It's an almost happy birthday to me!" Mikan celebrated

"Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!" She yelled

"But to whom shall I share this special event? I better call Natsume-" She paused for a long while.

"I forgot." Mikan thought and started to have flashbacks. She snapped out of it and smiled.

"Hotaru will certainly-" She paused once more, "She has some business somewhere." She continued

"Ruka!" She shouted his name like she was relieved.

She dialed Ruka's number and grinned happily.

"Hello?" Ruka asked

"Ruka. Are you free the day after tomorrow? I want you to go somewhere with me-" Mikan was cut off.

"Oh! Did I forget to tell you? I'm leaving the day after tomorrow." Ruka explained.

"I'm sorry, Mikan." Ruka apologized

"Oh. It's fine. I'll just see you some other time, 'kay? Well then, bye." Mikan said trying to cheer up a bit.

She sat on her bed and told herself, "How unlucky."

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"Natsume." Luna called his name

"Hmm?" Natsume looked at Luna

"Tomorrow there's a couple event at the mall. Should we join?" Luna looked excited and really wanted to join

"Sure." Natsume smiled a bit

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Evening, the next day

"Miss. The Lady left a note for you." Obacchan said to Mikan.

Mikan opened the note and read it.

The note says:

"Mikan dear, I'm sorry I can't join you on your special day.

I will be having a deal with another company tomorrow morning.

It's a very important deal so I can't cancel it.

I hope you understand that.

You can throw a party at the house or at your favorite ice cream cake shop.

Happy birthday to you, dear."

Mikan sighed and said to herself, "You can't even stop working even at your only daughter's birthday."

Obacchan looked at Mikan whose eyes are filled with sadness, "Miss, would you like me to come with you at your favorite ice cream cake shop?"

"I'm fine, Obacchan. I'll just go there with some friends later." Mikan said to Obacchan so that she wouldn't worry.

Mikan wore a red dress and was off to go when she heard her cellphone ring.

"Hello?" Mikan answered.

"Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday happy birthday~ Happy birthday to you~

Happy birthday, Mikan." A voice from the other line greeted.

"Thank you, Ruka.. For remembering.. My.. Birthday.." Mikan was so happy that tears of joy were coming out of her eyes

"Are you crying, Mikan?" Ruka was worried

"I'm just too happy." Mikan replied back

"I'm sorry I won't be able to join you. Save me some cake, 'kay? I hope you'll have some fun today." Ruka apologized.

"It's okay. It's not your fault, right? And don't worry, I will." She answered Ruka

"Well then, bye." Ruka said goodbye and hung up.

"I hope I will." She told herself.

"I'm sure you will." Ruka smiled

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"Wait. What day is it today?" Natsume suddenly realized something.

"Uhh. It's umm. December 23?" Luna answered back.

"December 23? That means today is-" Natsume was shocked that he forgot a very important date

"That's so unlike you, Natsume. What's happening to you?" Luna wanted to know what Natsume was thinking

"You're losing your cool. I don't like guys who aren't cool." Luna continued.

"What? This isn't the girl I liked. Who is she?" Natsume thought.

"You're not the girl I knew. No, I'm not the boy you knew. You don't know me at all." Natsume left Luna standing at the streets.

And with that, fireworks are seen in the sky.

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Natsume looked at the clock and it's almost midnight

"I need to get to there quick." Natsume ran as fast as he could

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"Miss, uhh. Aren't you going home yet?" The waitress asked Mikan

Mikan looked at the clock and it's already midnight.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience." She smiled and bowed to them

"Happy birthday to me." She blew the candles of her cake and stood up

Mikan was suprised to see a certain someone open the door.

"Natsume..?" She forgot to breathe the moment she saw Natsume.

"I'm sorry but I broke my promise to stay away from you." Natsume told her

"Happy birthday. Mikan." Natsume held Mikan's hands

"You're late." Mikan smiled at Natsume teary-eyed.


Author's Notes:

I'm sorry if it's kind of short and the update is late. This is a busy month for me :)

Please be kind and Read & Review.