THE SELECTION

G.A. Version by Crimson Flares

#ChapterSix

01/27/18: REVISION. (chapter still short. i must cry) (also, this chapter is not necessarily important. i'm not sure about the things that passed through my 12-yr-old mind anymore)

Nobara and I were cheerfully leaving my room for the event when we heard a bunch of girls talking urgently.

I was clad in a beautiful crimsom dress, vivid like Natsume's eyes. It fit me perfectly, unlike the snug fit of the jacket he lent me last night— the one I clumsily stashed inside a cabinet where Nobara can't see. To simply put, since I was pretty bad with details, the gown had an illusion neckline that plunged into literally nothing because I had a flat chest and it had a poofy skirt with a LOT of glittery layers over a thin petticoat.

I thought I looked positively lovely. With light makeup, of course. Once I felt satisfied, Nobara and I exited my room together, and as I was saying, we heard a pair of servant girls talking like the end of the world was nearing. I wasn't the type for gossip, but it seemed really important, because even Nobara paused to listen.

"It happened just — sob— last night," One girl whimpering. "Believe me, Yuki, every hair on my body was on fire. It was so wrong."

"Continue, Lily. I'm listening," The one called Yuki urged.

"I was — sob— I just happened to pass by his room." Lily gulped her bile down, as if she was about to say something really big. "He— His Highness, Natsume Hyuuga, the prince, he— he was—" She took one deep breath and the following words quavered with her voice. "He was laughing."

At that moment, everything was suddenly still.

Lily, Yuki, and even had Nobara stopped breathing.

The curtains ceased dancing. The air stopped blowing. The birds halted singing. There was no sound other than my heavy breathing. Suddenly, the one called Lily was hyperventilating.

I blinked.

And there was a cry of pure terror.

I was rigid as I limped down the grand staircase, holding the banister for support. I was still fazed by Yuki's scream of anguish, Lily's deathly palpitations and Nobara's difficult breathing.

"Oh, Lily, please calm down," Yuki hushed with a trembling voice. "M-maybe it was just a wild dog's bark...?"

"No— it was him." The hyperventilating girl said, shaking her head. "I'm sure of it."

Lily and Yuki's panicky voices died down as they continued to stagger along the corridor, so deep in conversation that they barely noticed Nobara and I.

"What's going on here?" I asked Nobara. "What's the big deal about Natsu— the prince's laugh?"

I heard him laugh many times last night, but I wasn't about to inform Nobara about my... little adventure. It seems to be a big deal around here, meaning I have to be extra careful as to not cause unnecessary panic. Plus, I gave my word to Natsume last night, didn't I?

Nobara shook her head. "Prince Natsume is the coldest person to ever walk this earth. There was no such emotion that draped his face aside from adversity, Miss Mikan. It was probably traumatizing for poor Lily's heart."

"Wait... she wasn't exaggerating?" I asked. Nobara shook her head once more, her icy curls bouncing around tragically.

What on earth is the big deal about that jerk's laughter?

Or a better, more intriguing question yet...

Why the hell was he laughing. Don't tell me that it was because of me. I am so gonna murder him.

Right after Lily and Yuki's small episode, Nobara asked me if I needed help to walk down the stairs. I assured her that I would be ok and be safe without tripping— which was of course, a blatant lie, because I could hardly walk a step down without clutching the banister.

Somehow I managed to reach the floor safely, to my relief. I walked on until I found the room where the other girls were.

Each one of them looked phenomenal. At this point I felt very, very dressed down.

Some had their hair pulled up into intricate braids or curls, unlike mine, which was simply combed down. Some faces were completely covered with ridiculously heavy makeup, very much unlike mine. Most of them wore heavy jewelry— also unlike mine, because you could even tell by the red marks sinking on their skin. The dresses were beautiful. The most common color was blue, like they immediately assumed it was Natsume's favorite color, but there was a good number wearing black and purple. Two girls came in and noticed that they were clad on nearly similar dresses and hurried back upstairs, embarrassedly, to change.

I just shrugged my insecurities away because it wasn't like I had anyone to impress, anyway. I had a hearty chat with Nonoko and Anna as we waited. The two were really quite inseparable— it was easy to mistake them as very fraternal twins.

After another half an hour, Officer Andou clanked into the room and winked. A fit of flirtatious giggles ensued and it took Misaki Harada, who followed the officer a few seconds behind, to calm them down. Another series of murmurs occurred, including queries regarding Misaki and Tsubasa's actual relationship, which had me confused. I mean weren't they so obviously friends...?

"Dense moron..." A mind-reading girl boy hissed as he passed by, passionately rolling his eyes at me. Now I'm even more confused.

Misaki-senpai clapped her hands the way Serina-sensei usually does to catch our attention. It was pretty effective.

"Good morning, girls! Serina-sensei's got caught up in something pretty important this morning, but let me disclose a message she wishes to pass to all of you: BE ON YOUR BEST MANNERS. Remember every admonition you were taught regarding the prince before you were brought to the Royal Palace. The prince will be coming in shortly, so I suggest that you all each take a seat in one of the chairs ready yourselves. Remember, first impressions do last!" She announced, and then chattered a bit more about manners, appearances and other stuff I didn't bother listen to, because honestly, don't they ever get tired of repeating the same thing over and over again?

Finally, she left the room with a wave, Tsubasa on her heels. I'm not sure if they were a couple or not at this rate or just partners, but each time Misaki is around, Tsubasa seemed to radiate a new aura . And speaking of Misaki, her words...

First impressions do last... Well, I just ruined every single chance I had last night. Natsume's just gotta have to put up with me, if he plans to keep me in here anyway. After all, I am only here for the food.

And finally, a fit of emotional giggles rang around the room, ranging from nervous to excited to hysterical. Anyhow, it was a signal that the person everyone has been waiting for was coming. One of the girls must have had an Alice of Super Hearing to hear him, but I didn't care the least. I have seen him already, these bunch of losers haven't.

Oh, what the hell am I even gloating about.

Regardless, I was so ready to murder Natsume because one, he was apparently laughing at me last night, and two, I am passionately hungry from waiting for him. Is he aware that people had meal clocks on their bodies?

The not-so-great Natsume Igarashi Hyuuga entered the room with his infamously rumored scowl, as expected. He appeared way tidier than he did last night because he kinda did look like and actual prince now. He was clad in a neat pair of pants, very handsome Oxfords, and his previously-crumpled polo was now a fresh one underneath a suit that fit him just fine to shape a generous amount of pectorals. His raven locks was shiny with pomade but still disheveled as ever.

Natsume's crimson orbs examined the room, almost like he was looking for something. Our eyes eventually met, red versus brown. Natsume must have seen the nerves popping out of my skin the moment our eyes locked, because the poker face disappeared as it was suddenly replaced by a smirk that was surreptitously meant for me.. His sneer was a vicious as ever, because fuck, I wanna kick his gloriously smug face.

If I was holding something similar to a stone right now, I will throw it at his face and murder him with it. Positively.

"Good morning, ladies."

I apparently had to cover my ears from the response his simple greeting drew from the girls. There were screams, flirtatious giggles, fainting, or nonchalance. I was part of the latter crowd. Yet the involuntary twitching in my left eye told me I was showing an expression that clearly stated that I was so not happy about seeing him in here.

His words were short and rigid, almost like he was reading from a script where he skipped the parts about being nice.

"It flatters me to find you all waiting, but do not expect me to be able to handle you all at the same time. I shall talk to you each once at a time— and unfortunately, it would have to happen before we have breakfast collectively."

There was a murmur of affirmation from the girls at his stoic introduction. I almost surprised that no upheaval happened because he kept straying us away from breakfast, but then again, I was the only person here looking forward to the food. Everyone else was looking forward to Natsume because he was the food. Nice metaphor, but gross.

Speaking of Natsume, he was really stiff as ever as I watched him walk over to the female nearest to him, Wakako Usami. He led her towards a makeshift studio set in a corner of the room, where there was a loveseat and a coffee table. The makeshift studio was fronted by different media associated with the Palace— anchors, journalists, and lots of cameras.

Silence hovered over the Selected girls as we watched Natsume and Wakako conversing under the record of every kind of media, trying to ready ourselves until it was our turn. The pair greeted each other, their expressions a bit contradictory, and talked about the simplest stuff that suspiciously seemed very scripted. Where do you live, Usami-san, do you miss your family? What are you looking forward to as a Selected candidate? Oh, Natsume-kun, I look most forward to spending my lifetime with you!

It took me and the rest of the girls some time before we realized that every single word coming from Natsume's mouth was guided by scripts written on slates by his knights behind all the cameras. I easily recognized Mochu, Kitsu, and the mind reader-guy. They looked pretty passionate with their jobs.

One by one the girls were called by Misaki-clones, retouching makeup that came astray before pulling them towards the studio. I watched as Natsume tolerated one, five, fifteen, twenty-seven, thirty-five girls for three minutes each until airing time was up. He didn't look very happy, just like he did on the day the Selected were announced. But I can see the effort he was trying to pull.

It was getting pretty boring as the cycle continued — Natsume takes a girl, bamboozling a conversation from his knights' instructions, let the camera take a commemorative photo, kiss her hand, take another girl. He looked grumpier each time it repeated.

On the other hand, the girls were beyond ecstatic. Sumire basically memorized every single word he uttered to her. Anna and Nonoko seemed pretty speechless after their turn. Luna looked proud of herself. And yes, someone had passed out already. I mean, well, that's taking it way too far. Natsume's not that great of a celebrity.

Finally, a Misaki tapped me on the shoulder and pulled me from my seat, signalling that it was my turn.

Imagine me planning my death in front of the media already. And right in front of Natsume, who perked up when he realized it was my turn.

Somehow, my feet managed to drag me towards him— and seeing that smirk on his face, I knew I was in for quite a ride.

Rest in Peace, Mikan Yukihira. But before that... May the odds be ever in your favor.

END OF CHAPTER 6

QUESTIONS (from you to me)

1. I thought girls weren't allowed to hurt the prince. And that she saw him so how come she didn't recognize him? (by Primo)

-Yep. She was just ranting her anger out plus Natsume didn't seemed to be hurt, plus he prolly didn't mind at all :D she didn't recognize him because mikan was never interested in the selection, let alone the royal fam, remember?

2. Is Natsume already interested in Mikan? *smirking* (by HQ-pyon)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA well let's see. ;)