Definitely Not a Cinderella Story
So, okay…
I had actually persuaded Nanami into taking part in competing against the most Popular and talented guy at school, who went by the name Kanata Saionji.
But even as I watched from the other end of the pool (am actually standing to check whether both are touching the marble tile at this end indicating half a lap), I couldn't help but wonder why he'd wanna wager on something like that…
"I get to steal your very first kiss towel-girl…"
I felt blood rise to my cheeks again as I recalled his words.
That Jerk!
…
But I wonder…
What would it be like…?
What would it be like to kiss the most handsome and popular guy in school…?
As the thought crossed my mind, I shook my head vigorously, with my eyes closed and then opened them again just in time to see the same brunet touch my end of the pool and revert back into swimming towards the finish… only seconds later did Nanami touch this end…
I couldn't help but bite my lower lip in nervousness.
No matter how good Nanami is, he is just as good… maybe even more…
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to challenge him like this…
"You'd better say good-bye to your lip's virginity towel-girl!"
I felt heat rise through my body as I remembered the currently swimming (and possibly winning) brunet's threat as it echoed through my head.
Maybe it wouldn't be that bad…
And then suddenly—
My heart skipped a beat when I felt a pair of wet hands against my back. I didn't get a look when I fell into the cold water in the pool with a loud splash… As I plunged further into the water, I could barely see…
My hands and legs uselessly flapped at my side only in vain.
Bubbles emitted out of my mouth as I strained for more oxygen.
Everything around me grew darker and more blurred as I felt my mom's chain, which was around my neck, drawing closer to my neck, hurting.
My eyelids drooped and I remembered nothing more.
So, this is how I die…?
Drowned…?
Some death…
Hey… but at least I get to be with my parents again…
Chapter VII
The Popular and the Towel Girl
I closed my eyes as the cold shower came towering down on me, cleansing my body from all the sweet smelling pool water.
True…
I love taking showers…
Especially when I'm upset…
But today, I'm not upset…
I'm completely furious.
I'm furious as to how everything turned out today.
It was supposed to be a swimming contest between Nanami and Saionji. But it turned out to be a total chaos.
After I passed out, I woke up in the nurse's office, coughing the water from the pool.
I coughed as I got to a sitting position. I looked about myself and saw that I was wearing the dress I was wearing before getting to P.E. but I was sitting atop a bed in the nurse's office.
"Miyu…!"
I heard an exclamation and was at once blurred with total pinkness.
Christine had hugged me and was half-sobbing, half-laughing as she continued to chant my name again and again.
"Chris…?"
"If Saionji-kun hadn't turned at the right time…" she sobbed, looking at me with tears in her eyes.
"W-What…?" I asked, surprised.
"Yea…" said Nanami, "none of us noticed except him…"
"Everybody was too engrossed in the contest," said Santa, "because Saionji looked like he was gonna win it by seconds…"
"But he forfeited the contest to save you," said Aya cheerfully, "it was like the prince saving the damsel in distress… like a Shakespearean play…"
I could feel the corners of my lips rise as I heard the story of how I was saved.
By reflex I reached to the last of my mom's heirlooms—a silver necklace with half-a-dozen different pendants. I usually don't wear it to school but I wanted all the luck I could get before I saw the results that day. But the chain had proved to be lucky in some other way.
But as I graced my neck, all I could feel was my skin and nothing else.
Where did my chain go…?
"Where's my necklace?" I asked, the calmest way as possible.
They all exchanged nervous looks.
I dreaded what they had to tell me.
I didn't want to hear from them.
Well, my wish was granted.
I didn't hear it from them.
I had to hear it from someone else.
"I broke it".
I looked up and everybody else turned to see two of the Populars walk past the curtains beside the bed which Chris and I currently occupied.
"W-W-What…?" I asked with my voice breaking.
"Actually, it was stuck at the edge of the pool with the sewers or something," volunteered Ikeda in the place of the brunet who had spoken earlier.
"A-and…?" I asked, my heart beating hard against my chest.
"Err…" Ikeda nervously fidgeted, and it was obvious that she was unable to spit it out.
I waited with bated breath. This did not sound good.
The chain's broken…?
Tell me it's not true…
Oh god… Please tell me it's not true…
"I had to break it to get you out…"
The world around me kind of stopped in the midst of time. Everything seemed blurred.
Before I knew it, I was running out of the infirmary, barefooted, headed towards the pool, my eyes streaming down with tears.
The second I reached the pool, my tears stopped.
I heard everybody else stop right behind me.
"M-Miyu…" panted Aya, "don't do that…!"
"They drained the pool…?" I whispered.
My knees felt wobbly. I couldn't take it anymore.
"It's just a necklace…" I heard his droning voice say.
SLAP
Everybody gasped except him.
He stared at me, shock evident in those auburn eyes of his.
I knew my face would have been a sight to see. I'm sure I was red with all the fury that I had bottled up inside of me. I know that I was glaring at him with all my strength, delivering a message without the use of words, as to how much I hate him right about now.
"Miyu…!" Chris said with her hand over her lips.
"You wouldn't have made it if he hadn't broken it…" said Nanami, almost angrily.
"THEN HE SHOULD HAVE LET ME DIE!"
I sighed as I closed the tap to the shower. The water stopped as I stood there, regretting everything I did. I shouldn't have slapped him. It was unfair.
"Not unfair at all!" I voiced out, as if arguing with my own conscience.
"That idiot broke my most precious treasure and acts as if it's no big deal!"
But he didn't know…
I sighed.
He was acting on my best interest.
This time, acting for what was best to save my life.
I should've thanked him.
Instead, I slapped him.
How much worse could I get…?
But the chain's gone…
My eyes throbbed.
I don't wanna cry again.
I don't wanna think about mom and dad.
Not right now…
Mom…
Dad…
Please come back…
Knock
Knock
I blinked back tears.
Did I just hear someone knocking…?
Who could it be at this time…?
Karen and Mai never bothered with me at this time. Even Sûn would be busy with her "beauty" sleep at this hour.
Knock
Knock
There it is again.
Who could it be…?
I wrapped my towel around myself and without even bothering to dry my hair, I headed out of my narrow bathroom and ended up inside my small bedroom.
My hair stuck to the parts of my shoulder and my arms which were still uncovered by the towel (which reached above my knees) and opened the door to my room and poked my head out.
Nobody…
"Hmm…?"
I headed back into my room and closed the door with a snap.
What was that…?
I then realized that I was still in my towel and headed towards my closet to get dressed at once.
What was I thinking roaming around in a towel…?
Did I actually forget where it got me the last time…?
"I'm here to see Ms. Sûn Yukihira"
Stop thinking about that jerk!
I was just about to open my closet when I heard it again.
Knock
Knock
I turned and came to face my window.
And what I saw made my jaw drop.
"What the hell are you doing here Saionji?" I whispered with the best possible glare that I could muster as I opened the windows.
He jumped through the window in a swift motion and landed before me.
He titled his head sideways and said in his usual droning voice, "forget about that… Why are you always in a towel when I drop by…?"
…
…
…
AHHHHH!
"Go away you pervert!" I shouted as soon as I realized what he meant.
I turned away, with him facing my back.
"Tch..!"
I turned lightly to see that the brunet had turned away as well, and was currently scratching the back of his head as if he was nervous.
"Why are you here?" I asked lightly hoping that nobody else at the manor would hear or see that Karen and Mai's friend is inside my room.
The same person whom Karen and Mai had tried ever so hard to get into their room but only in vain was inside my room with me standing with our backs facing each other in a towel.
"Don't you think you have something more important to do than ask me that question?"
I could almost see that ignorant little brat smirking at me.
Oh how I wish I could slap or punch him right now!
"Don't turn then…" I whispered lightly.
The atmosphere inside the room suddenly changed as I notice him nod in assent.
But then—
Knock
Knock
Geez…
Who was it this time…?
"Miyu…? You in there…?"
Karen?
Or is it Mai?
"Yukihira…?" I heard the brunet say under his breath.
Karen and Mai are outside my room!
And Saionji's inside it!
Shit!
To be continued
