THE SELECTION

G.A. Version by Crimson Flares


Chapter Seven


a/n: it was the shortest chapter so i kinda revised it a LOT, but pretty much same content. just more details u know revised 1/30/18


I could feel the other girls' eyes burning upon my back. I was almost aware that someone has been suspicious of the looks Natsume kept shooting me all this time, most of which I ignored. I wasn't too sure, but whenever I catch somebody's gaze, I see so much fervor into that small moment. I see passion— passion to bring me down, to get rid of me.

It's hard being a competitor when you're not even certain about what you're supposed to be fighting for. This girls see me as a prey. I'm supposed to view them the same way, but given my situation, I see them as predators. My goals within the competition weren't akin to theirs. But there was no need to care about that because, more importantly, I'm on the plank, just about to jump off to my death.

In less than a minute, Misaki had removed every glint of sheen around my face and successfully pulled me over to the studio. The next thing I knew was that I was on the couch, where Natsume was repositioning himself to a much better position where he could clearly see my face and the misleading script provided by his three guards. Mochu and Kitsu whooped the moment they recognized me and Koko seemed very amused for some reason, until I realized he was able to read my thoughts. My cheeks turn into the color of Natsume's eyes.

Natsume seemed to think that the blush was meant for him, because he bent down to my ear level with a smirk ghosting his unpimpled face. "Don't get to excited, Polka." He whispered. I lowkey hissed at his ceaseless panty jokes.

I pretended the fluff my hair as I discreetly pulled his face away from mine. Koko, Kitsu, and Mochu began scribbling madly on their slates, ensuing a seemingly formal conversation between me and this stupidly perverted Royal High-mess.

"So," Natsume began the conversation, subtly flitting his eyes back and forth from the script. "Miss Mikan Yukihira, is it? It's perfectly nice to formally meet you."

I nearly rolled my eyes at the inside joke. "Yes, Your Highness. You look as immaculate as ever." Unlike last night when you looked worse than a zombie.

He smiled in amusement. "It doesn't matter what you see outside— it's the inside that matters." Like your panty print, I could almost hear him say. I forced my mouth to smile in return.

Koko was having the springtime of his youth laughing.

For the rest of the conversation, we followed Mochu, Kitsu and Koko's instructions — except for the recurring dirty jokes Koko probably read in Natsume's mind. Our talk was terribly awkward — I wasn't exceptional with cameras, Natsume wasn't great in conversation. In short, we were both pretty bad at romanticizing made-up repartees.

In my peripheral vision, I found some girls yawning at the bleakness of our exchange. Hope blossomed within my decaying heart. Maybe they'd lose interest in me if they find Natsume and I incompatible with each other?

"Don't look to smug, polkadots." Natsume leaned into my ear once more when he realized I wasn't paying attention to him. "I thought talking was your inborn talent?"

"Not in front of cameras." I hissed back. "And here I thought being photogenic was your magical ability."

"Isn't it?" He whispered back.

"No, you look terribly ousted." I grumbled distractedly as a bee buzzed around my head, landing on my hair. I did my best to delicately pat it off my fucking hair and ended up failing as I accidentally dislodged a pin nestled somewhere in my auburn locks. It flew over to Natsume, who caught it perfectly with two fingers.

Where did the bee come from?

"Careful there, princess, cameras are present."

"Honestly, what a perfect torture chamber this is!" I passionately raged, forgetting to keep my voice down. I gasped in alarm at my accidental display of terrible manners in front of the cameras and whipped my head over to Natsume, who was chuckling so genuinely. I sat there, paralyzed as the gesture struck me more than the bee had. Now I see the big deal about Natsume's sincere laughter — it was rare as a diamond.

Cameras flashing non-stop to capture the very sporadic moment, but seconds later, the whole lot was burning. I recovered from paralysis almost immediately, eyes popping out of their sockets.

"FIRE!" I screeched. "FIRE, THERE'S FI—!"

"Shut up if you don't want to be the Girl On Fire." Natsume rolled his eyes, face a bit flushed. Oh, right. Royalty meant Fire Alice. He appears to be quite astonished by his own expression.

"Well, tell me that when you can set fire to the rain." I snapped back, trying to calm my heart. Now that we were not under surveillance anymore, Natsume seemed more relaxed. Our conversation was quick and precise as the media staff put out his fire— most technical equipments weren't damaged, thanks to the advancement of fireproofing. We stayed on our position on the couch as we watched the world burn.

The royal family should stop investing on fireproofing technology asap if they want their asses scandal-free. Natsume seems to be considering this too.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Uh, yes, I did. Thanks for the jacket." I reply, distracting myself with a loose thread on my dress. Ugh, spending years of not being near any boys except my family is beginning to take a toll on me. I'm being too conscious to construct a nearly flattering reply.

"Yeah. Brain surgery requires general anesthesia, I can't afford having you sleepless during the operation." He smirks at his own joke. I tried to bare my fangs slash milkteeth at him, but Natsume seems to be enjoying himself.

I took a deep breath. "Well, honestly, I slept too well last night, there was no mattress ever softer than the one I slept in. My maid literally had to drag me off the bed. I'm so sorry for being mean to you last night— I always get too cherry-tempered whenever I'm sad. But don't worry, I'm always too cheerful even for my own good. I hear you can't handle emotional women. I apologize for saying things about you and this stupid contest. It's not your fault you have to pick a wife through a Selection, right? And yes, it truly is a beautiful cage. I'm comfortable and cozy, thank you very much. Thank you for bearing with me last night, and thank you for not kicking me even when I successively abused you physically and earfully due to your perverseness. Thank you for trying to be nice when I was so rash, but honestly, it was because you're so arrogant—"

"Do you ever stop talking?" There was a hint of incredulity in his eyes. He looked like he was suppressing a laugh; but then again, he cannot afford another crucial mistake.

"I was apologizing!"

"Yeah, I got it."

"Okay, fine. Long story short, thank you and I'm sorry. Happy now?"

Natsume didn't reply, nor was he looking at me. I followed his line of sight and found that most of his fire was almost put out around the studio. The technical equipment were already being cooled, almost ready to record every move he makes again. If I didn't know better, I'd think Natsume was anxious.

"I'll take that as a yes then, Your Highness." I smiled softly, mainly talking to myself. He turned back to look at me, his face the poker-est I've ever seen on anyone ever.

Natsume's bloodred eyes stared right into my hazels, like he can see right through me. Overwhelming. This is the power of true royalty— they could kill with their looks or even by just looking. His eyes were very beautiful, so unreal. I was hypnotized. I'd be safe to bet that every one of the other girls he had spoken with has already fallen into the depths of his crimson pools.

Looking away was impossible. He was so near that I can almost hear the gears spinning on his brain.

"Polka."

"Uh…"

"Polkadots." Natsume repeated loud enough to snap me back to reality. His face was beginning to form a scowl. I pulled myself together, blushing in embarrassment.

"S—sorry, I got a wee bit distracted." I apologized. "What is it, Your Highness?"

"Call me Natsume when we're not in public. Don't forget that."

"Well, in that case, you have to know that I have a name too. Call me Mikan. "

"I will when you stop wearing polka-dotted panties." I opened my mouth to retort, but Natsume held up a hand to stop me.

"Listen, we haven't much time. I'd like to thank you for being very up front with me, regardless of our difference in position. It's a refreshing change for a while, knowing someone who doesn't treat me as the prince, which I am grateful for. You are here by terrible chance, so I am still assuming that you don't want to be here. But you said you needed to stay." He said in a serious tone. I fired up in curiosity about what he wanted to say, so I kept quiet and just nodded. "Therefore, there is a favor I wish to ask from you."

Wow, I'm actually crying because he spoke more than five wor... wait, a favor?

"A favor?" I echoed, my mouth turning into an 'O' shape. My eyebrows furrowed.

"Will you... help me get rid of everyone else? I promise to keep you in the running as long as I can, and when your time's up, I can guarantee a lifetime's financial support for you and your family."

Natsume Hyuuga's words cut right through me. I wasn't sure if he noticed. But they took a good while to sink in, even longer to push the insult I felt away. He thinks we're desperate, dirtpoor beggars. I took a deep breath— being angry won't solve anything with this guy. I gotta handle him with as much calm as I can manage. Anyway, I'm starting to think of a great idea.

"Natsume, to be really freaking honest, my family can provide enough to feed our mouths just fine." I began heavily. Okay, Mikan, keep your temper in check. "We need the stipend to lighten our burden, but I assure you, we can survive without financial aid forever. So, thank you, but I'll have to refuse that offer." He furrowed his eyebrows in discombobulation, but nodded. What a terribly insensitive rich guy. Regardless, I continued to talk.

"Based on my observations so far, I have noticed that you keep a hard, jerky shell outside. But the person you are inside is different— you are kind."

"Oh, believe me, I am not." He interrupted with a bitter laugh. I set that aside.

"You don't like showing off your emotions, nor do you like a lot of things. You pretty much hate everything. Correct, am I not? I have any sort of romantic inclination towards you like the rest of the girls over there, and I may not be able to accept your monetary help, but I can offer you a lifetime benefit instead."

Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Which is...?"

"Well, just throwin' it out there, but you know... I can be your friend?"

Instead of an appeal, my words ended up as a question hanging in the air. He just stared at me, his eyes debating whether he should send me to the mental hospital or just agree to shut me up. Again.

I would really prefer that he choose the latter. His silence was already making me very uncomfortable.

"Friend...?" Natsume snorted. "What a joke. Not a person can withstand me, nonetheless become my friend."

I smiled in response.

"We'll never know unless we try, right?"


THE END

of Chapter Seven


a/n: hooray. not a cliffhanger.