Summer!
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Can You Keep A Secret?
Aminatsu032
And then, right at that moment, everything came back to me. From last week until a few hours ago – everything. Natsume was from the airport. Now he was here. And then I hear a girl's voice.
My eyes suddenly flopped open to search for her when I spotted a tall and slender raven-haired girl. Her hair was dark, but I noticed Natsume's hue was darker and more vivid than hers. She had pretty silver-black eyes and full, red lips. She was so beautiful I could only look at her with awe. Every part of her matched her yellow dress and brown stilettos which amplified her beauty.
So this was her. This was Nobara.
IX: LIES
I inhaled all the air that could fit into my lungs and held it for a moment before I spoke. "It's good to see you again, Igarashi-sama."
Kaoru nodded once at me and turned to Natsume who remained silent, icily looking at his mother. "Am I not getting a good greeting from my own son?"
Natsume pressed his lips together into a firm line. "Would you still consider it a good greeting if you knew it was a lie?"
Judging from the expression of the maid standing behind Igarashi Kaoru, she was disappointed at Natsume's impolite answer. "Excuse me, Sir, but Milady…"
Kaoru raised one hand to signal her to keep quiet. "Leave, Yuna."
Yuna nodded and slowly turned around, hesitating and giving an unusual look to Natsume. One that said, 'You shouldn't have been so hard on her.' Natsume seemed to notice, knowing him, he ignored it. I was the one who looked back with an apologetic look towards her, and Yuna seemed to take it in. She smiled slightly, her emerald-green eyes showed off an expression of relief and gratitude. She nodded once at me before she finally stepped out of the room.
"Why don't we all take a seat?" Kaoru suggested. I slowly sat down on the floral white sofa across her chair after she did, but Natsume stayed standing, glaring at her mother.
"Why don't you tell me what we're doing here?" he snapped back at her.
For a fraction of a second, I could've sworn I saw Kaoru frown at his son's reaction, but she quickly went back to her emotionless and composed expression.
"Well since I've announced your engagement to the public," Igarashi Kaoru started, "it's only necessary I know my future daughter-in-law."
When her ruby-red eyes met mine, I felt a shiver up my spine. They were the exact replica of Natsume's, I observed. Only, they were colder, but more in-depth with emotion.
I tugged Natsume's shirt slightly, telling him to sit. His eyes narrowed at me for a moment, but he finally gave in and sat down.
"Why don't we start off with how you two met?" Kaoru asked, crossing her legs.
I glanced at Natsume, who was beside me. He acted like he didn't notice, but I assumed he did when I felt his warm hand squeeze mine slightly, as if telling me to do most of the talking. I knew why he wanted the story to be one-sided. I've seen many pretend-to-be-my-girlfriend-slash-fiancée-slash-wife movies and TV shows, and I've seen the terrifying and hazardous effects of answering questions together. The kind when the interrogating antagonist asks both the place they met, and the two of them blurt out two entirely different places – it kills.
"It was on a plane." That wasn't a lie. I remembered that glorious day like it was yesterday.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"I was on my way to Tokyo from Hokkaido to respond to Flame's recommendation letter. He was sitting right next to me, and I felt oddly attracted to him the moment I saw his face," I said, my voice fading in embarrassment. I could feel the heat up my cheeks. Nothing in what I answered this time was a lie, either.
Igarashi-sama shifted her crossed leg with another. "I see," she said. Almost like a cue, I heard a phone ring. At first I thought it was Kaoru's, but when Natsume stood up and wordlessly excused himself, I felt my heart beat twenty times even faster.
At first, Natsume was just murmuring from the distance and I couldn't decode what he was saying, but I was suddenly surprised when he raised his voice to who he was talking to.
"I can't go. I'm doing something important," he said. I froze. Go? Did Natsume say he was going? Involuntarily, I cast a look at him with a twisted expression. Only thinking of a day spent with Igarashi-sama was hell. God, what did I do to deserve this?
Natsume went on, with his arguing and I went on with my dark, grim thoughts. I suddenly got back to my senses when Kaoru suddenly spoke, without really looking at the person she was talking to.
"Work is work, Natsume," she said. "You are now the President of Flame and you must take responsibility for your company." – Kaoru, by this time, looked at Natsume – "I wouldn't let myself be the reason for you failing your job," she further added.
My eyes widened at her, then to Natsume. "NO! NO! NO!" I wanted to shout. "Natsume, don't leave! No, please no!" I wanted to yell at Natsume to stay, but I knew very well I couldn't.
"Well," a teeny-tiny part of me that was still left optimistic said. "Natsume wouldn't leave you. He loves you." – WRONG. But that kind of made me feel better.
I held my breath at Natsume opened his mouth to talk. He's gonna say no. He's gonna say no. He's gonna. Say. No. "I'm going," he said to who he was talking to.
And at that moment, all that was left of me was a pessimist.
I bit my lower lip at Natsume who looked back at me, still expressionless. I could almost imagine how I looked like right at this moment. I was that shocked, haggard and confused little girl who just lost her most priced candy bar. I SWEAR, I would never wear these polka-dotted panties again – THEY NEVER WORK.
Natsume's expression suddenly changed when he ended the call. He looked worried – for what, I did not know. Slowly he walked towards me and placed a hand on my cheek and – OH MY GOD, I can't freaking believe this is happening – he kissed me gently on the forehead.
"Be careful," he whispered to my ear, right after. "I'm going back as soon as possible."
I nodded, my mind out of this world. His lips felt like fire on my skin. Truth be told, every time we made physical contact was like burning already – and what just happened was a thousand times hotter.
Natsume cast one final glance at me before he finally left.
The next seconds after were silent and slow. Kaoru just sat down, elegantly taking a sip from her tea and I was sitting across her. I wanted to be gone, evaporate – be teleported somewhere away from here, but I knew very well that I couldn't do that. I realized – Natsume chose me to be his pretend "girlfriend" because he trusted me…and I was not about to break that trust, especially not that we've gotten this far!
"Igarashi-sama – "
"Tell me, are you scared?" Igarashi Kaoru suddenly asked, her piercing eyes seeing right through me.
I was taken aback. "E-eh?"
Kaoru sighed quietly as she put down her tea and stood up, poised and graceful. She slowly walked towards the window and stared out blankly.
"Tell me, Sakura Mikan," she repeated, "how much has my son told you about me?"
I fell silent. I knew nothing to where these questions came from. It was like she was picking up random questions from somewhere. But no matter how irrelevant and unexpected they were, if they came from Igarashi-sama, they needed to be anwered.
I leaned back to my seat and stared at the ceiling before answering. "Not much," I began. "Natsume is the silent type of person – he doesn't talk much. But he did tell me you were persistent."
When Kaoru didn't respond, I kind of guessed she had been angry about what Natsume said about her. So I was suddenly surprised when she laughed. It was not as loud as a normal laugh – but it was a laugh altogether. This was the first time I actually realized where Natsume got his looks – Igarashi-sama looked like a goddess as she laughed. She looked like a completely different person.
"I have kept a quite convincing façade, haven't I?" she asked, still giggling.
My brows furrowed. I suddenly didn't understand what was going on. I suddenly heard an engine roar to life from the outside. I figured Natsume was already leaving the mansion. It was also at this time that Kaoru finally turned to face me.
"Did you know, Sakura Mikan, why I set an engagement for my son?" she asked me, her face now serious.
I honestly didn't. "I'm sorry. But no."
Kaoru smiled. "Up until now, my son wouldn't do anything unless I said so. And when the news about him risking his life to save an employee – I was shocked, truth be told."
My eyes widened at her. "You knew that?"
Kaoru laughed again. "Of course I do. I deserve to know everything that happens to my son," she said.
"And knowing he did that," she continued. "I was determined to know how far he'd go and I didn't expect he'd go this far…" – Igarashi-sama paused before she spoke again – "…just for one girl."
I felt my cheeks flush. "N-no! I'm just – I mean, he doesn't - !"
Kaoru shook her head slowly before she sat across me again. "I saw the way he looked at you, Sakura Mikan. Almost like how he looked at Nobara."
I blinked twice. "No…bara?" I asked, curious.
Kaoru looked surprised at my reaction. "You mean he hasn't told you about Nobara yet?" she asked.
I shook my head at her, curious.
"He shall be the one to tell you about her."
I frowned slightly at Kaoru, disappointed. I guess I was supposed to be happy because Kaoru wasn't all that bad, but I couldn't help but wonder who this Nobara-girl was and what she was to Natsume.
- xx –
I sat at my desk, quietly drumming my fingertips against the wooden table, Natsume eyeing me from one corner of the room. I was surprised that when we came back from Kaoru's mansion, my table was already inside his office. I need not to ask – it was obvious why he did it. It was for publicity and deceit – that's what always ever matters in this sad, sad, deceiving world.
It only took a matter of minutes before he finally spoke. "What happened while I was away?" he asked, scanning the files on the folder he was currently examining.
I was kind of surprised with his question, and though he wasn't looking, I knew he noticed my expression changed. "Nothing." Lie.
Natsume's expression hardened. His lips pressed into a thin line as he eyed me suspiciously.
I looked away, avoiding his red ruby orbs. "Seriously," I assured him.
He rolled his eyes before he closed the folder he was holding and stood up, walking towards my direction with it. He leaned forward slightly across of me and with a thud, he placed the folder above my desk. "Has anybody told you that you're a bad liar?" he asked. I could smell him again. That seductive sandalwood smell – it was killing me!
I finally decided it was no use arguing with him. My expression was already a dead giveaway.
I turned to him, our faces only inches apart. I pressed my lips together before asking. "Who is she?"
Natsume raised an eyebrow, standing up straight and crossing his arms. He looked taller than he normally was when I was sitting, I noticed. Or maybe he was really just getting taller with late puberty or something – I couldn't care less. I knew what I wanted.
"Who?" he asked, smirking, with a tinge of confusion and curiosity in his deep, bass voice.
I chewed on my lip to control myself. "Nobara," I finally said after a while. "Nobara – who is she?"
I watched as his smirk slowly vanished. Now, he was glaring at me. I looked away. If I stared into those angry eyes any longer, I might burst and cry.
"The old hag told you about her?" he asked bitterly.
I inhaled heavily before standing up. "If you're going to make me part of this dramatic act, I should know!" I yelled at him.
Natsume turned around, looking outside the gigantic glass window in his office. "You don't need to know," he said quietly.
At last I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to get out of the office right away or I might do something insanely stupid. Heck, why am I even THIS affected to what was happening. Nobara was none of my business, Natsume was right, but I felt I wanted to know – no, I needed to.
I saw Yakako's shocked expression as soon as I opened the door. I figured she was about to knock when I suddenly barged out. She must've heard what just happened, but I didn't give a damn. Let as many people hear, like I care.
"Sakura-san, are you oka – "
"- I'm not okay," I immediately followed, increasing pace. I heard my voice crack and that was a bad sign I was about to cry. I began to walk faster towards the elevator and pressed the open button hastily. After about five seconds of waiting, I finally got pissed off and began using the stairs, taking two steps at a time. At that moment, I didn't feel tired considering how fast I walked towards Flame's rooftop.
I felt the damp air against my face as I opened the door and then I finally let the tears flow out of my auburn eyes. I didn't cry because I was sad. I was crying because I was angry. Ranged, distressed and freaking mad. And since I was, I was glad nobody dared to follow me in here and invade my privacy.
I took a few steps more before finally closing the door softly behind me as I let my hair loose and stared at the sky.
- xx –
"An engagement party?" I asked in a monotonous tone, listing down Hyuuga-boss-guy's schedule for next week.
Natsume continued on typing on his laptop, not bothering to look at me as he spoke. "Next weekend, yes," he said.
It took me about two seconds to let the idea sink in. "Mm," I just mumbled, continuing with my work.
This time, Natsume sat back and crossed his arms on his chest. "That's it?" he asked, his expression showing a bit of annoyance.
Insert a long pause right here.
When I finally raised my head to look at him, I asked, "What's it?"
Natsume frowned. "Normally you'd start panicking by now."
I stared at his perfect face for while, my head blank. When I realized what I was doing, I immediately got back to what I was previously doing. "Oh," I simply said.
Natsume sighed. From the corner of my eyes (though I was not directly looking at him) I saw his expression soften a bit. "Look, Polka, if this is about Nobara – "
"`Tis not," I snapped and then shut my mouth when it dawned on me that I raised my voice at him. He was my boss. Therefore, I shouldn't. "I mean, it's okay if you don't want to talk about her."
And the conversation pretty much ended that way.
- xx –
We spent the next days, not talking directly to each other. Both of us kept quiet the whole time – well, Natsume was quiet most of the time, but this time, the atmosphere has gotten heavier and heavier and there was an obvious conflict going on between us, now.
Misaki-senpai and Yakako didn't stop at anything in asking what was wrong, but I wouldn't bother to answer them. I didn't know the appropriate answer anyway. I mean, what was I supposed to tell them? That we were having this silent war because of this Nobara-girl and I was jealous? Or I could tell them I was being betrayed by my boss for not telling me who this Nobara-girl is.
Well, obviously, I was not supposed to tell them the second statement because it would blow away the secret – and that would probably be the second time I'd blow off a secret. The first one was on the plane - the miserable near-death-plane-crashing experience that started it all. I shivered at the thought.
Anyway, I also couldn't tell them about the first statement. Mostly because they'd be saying that it's normal for lovers to fight and all and that was the point. We weren't really lovers. After all, this whole thing was just pretend, wasn't it?
Moving on, I found out Permy was going back to Hokkaido after what happened with the press at the announcement of the engagement. And apparently, Natsume was called to attend a meeting at Flame the time we were at Kaoru's mansion because he and the other authorities was going to discuss the person who would take Sumire's job.
I was half-happy and half-guilty. Happy, because the slut's gone. Guilty, because it was mostly my fault.
"Sakura-sama?" a high-pitched voice called from in front of me. "What do you think?"
I put on an apologetic expression. "Oh, sorry, what? I haven't been paying attention…" I trailed off.
Oh. Right.
I was at Kaoru's mansion – again – because we were discussing about the engagement party that would be happening tomorrow. Natsume was sitting across of me, his chin resting on his palm, looking outside the window, while Kaoru sat beside me, confirming the invitations of the media and the people she knew.
The blond girl smiled at me. "I was asking of your choice for the curtains at the hall." She held up two cloths of the shade of pink.
My brows furrowed at what she was showing to me. The two colors were almost similar, only the other was more peach-ey and lighter than the other.
"I, um…" I began, randomly pointing at one of the cloths. "This one's nice," I said.
The girl jumped in delight. It seemed like I picked her choice. "Excuse me," she said, as she bowed and walked out of the room.
Silence enveloped the three of us and the only thing that could be heard was the sound of Kaoru's ball pen against the papers she was holding.
"Natsume," Kaoru called. Natsume looked at her without moving his head and then looked out the window again, implying that he was listening. "Nobara just confirmed her attendance."
It was at the sound of Nobara's name when an expression flew across Natsume's face. It only happened for a while so I wasn't able to distinguish what it was. Natsume said nothing, I didn't, too.
If I hadn't been well-composed, I would've thrown a tantrum and run away again. But I knew better than that. I knew better than that.
At around six in the evening Natsume and I drove back to the Alice Hotel. And, of course, we drove in silence. This week was just like hell. It felt so WRONG to not talk to Natsume.
We were back in the hotel now, eating dinner silently. I was thinking about Nobara…and him. GOD! I can't believe I'm getting so upset about this! Am I really THIS in love with him now?
I was stabbing my food with my fork slowly when Natsume called me. Immediately, my head shot up and I looked at him, his face serious and composed.
"Polka," he said, pushing aside his plate.
I averted my gaze. "Yeah?" I asked.
He didn't say anything for a while, but spoke slowly and clearly after. "I thought about what you said before," he told me.
I raised an eyebrow at him, not really following what he was getting at. "That?" I said, minimizing my phrases so it wouldn't look as if I wanted to talk to him again.
"That," he paused, "that you deserve to know since you're already in this whole mess."
I pursed my lips, not really knowing what to say. It seemed that he took my silence as a cue to continue.
"Nobara," Natsume started, taking a deep breath, "is my senior. Her father's one of the major contributors for Flame. But she went away to the United States because of her father's job."
I said nothing. I had nothing to say, anyway. Now, Natsume was telling me that Nobara is just someone from his past. Oh yeah, he forgot the part that she was possibly his first love. I didn't care. I didn't.
Natsume continued at my lack-of-interest to what he was saying, "And now she's coming back."
I subtly rolled my eyes and stood up, taking my plate with me and placing it in the dishwasher. "Okay," I finally said, taking my necessities and heading for the bathroom.
- xx –
I woke up wanting to hurl. I felt like my body was so heavy that I can't move it and my head was throbbing hard against my skull. I felt bad, worst, even. And I was sure it wasn't just because today was the engagement party.
Standing up took all my strength. I didn't want to, but seeing Natsume was nowhere in sight, he must've woken up ages before I did and was now getting ready for, what, the biggest LIE in history? I didn't know what I was getting so worked-up about. I just hated this feeling. This EXPECTING and then DISSAPOINTMENT. It was SICK, DAMN SICK. I couldn't take it.
I headed for my clothes when I noticed an olive dress hung beside it and a note stuck unto it.
Wear this, the note read.
I sighed and took the dress with me to the bathroom and began to prepare, dazed. When I finished, I didn't have that much guts to look at myself in the mirror. I knew I looked horrible because I felt horrible. It was seconds after when I heard my phone ring.
"Yeah?" I said faintly.
"I've sent a car to get you to the mansion. I've got some things to do before I head there," Natsume said inaudibly. I couldn't understand him much because there were so many chatters from where he was from.
I was about to ask him where he was when I heard a loud engine roar to life. I knew that sound anywhere.
I bit my tongue before I could say anything rash. "`Kay," I simply said, shutting my phone and sinking to the floor.
I knew that sound anywhere. It was a plane. He was at the airport. He was waiting for Nobara.
I stayed in that position for a while until I heard the room doorbell sound. When I lifted my head, the throbbing worsened, but I forced myself to get up and get the door. It was one of the hotel staffs.
"Good morning, Miss," she greeted cheerfully. "Your ride is already outside."
I tried to return her smile, but I couldn't. I imagined what she was thinking – that I was a bitter, old hag who wasn't only feeling well about herself, but also about the world. And the fact that I imagined I thought that sucked. I mean, who knew I wasn't originally the pessimistic liar I was now?
After I took the keys from the coffee table, I headed for my bag and walked towards the parking lot of the hotel stumbling all the way. I felt the whole world was spinning and that I couldn't keep up with it. I stopped walking for a moment and pressed my palm on my forehead. No doubt, I was sick.
I recognized Natsume's car anywhere, and I thought I recognized the driver, but I couldn't get my hands completely to where I've seen him before.
I opened the car door and slid my way inside, sighing in relief when I got in the backseat.
"You don't look very well, are you okay?" a familiar voice asked.
I tried to shake the pain on my head aside to get a good look to who was driving through the mirror, and raised an eyebrow when I realized who it was. "You're that mind-reader guy, from the elevator?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
He smiled as the engine roared to life. "Kokoro Yomi," he introduced himself.
I laughed lightly. "Can you read my mind now?" I asked, jokingly.
He looked at me through the mirror and smiled again. "Can't. There are too many thoughts. How about resting for a little while?" he said.
I wasn't even sure if he was serious to what he was saying, but I followed and closed my eyes. I knew he was fake because I was thinking that I didn't want him to say it out loud and I wanted to just sleep all my thoughts away.
- xx –
The moment my eyes opened, I knew I was wide awake. I realized that the throbbing in my head had stopped. My eyes examined my surroundings. I was in a huge peach-colored room and was lying on a huge bed. Wait, wait, wait – last thing I remembered I was in Natsume's car with that mind-reader-guy and then he told me to go to sleep and I did and the next thing I know I'm alone on a bed and –
OH MY GOD WHAT THE HECK WHERE WAS I AND WHAT THE FREAKING HELL DID HE FREAKING DO TO ME –
Almost automatically, the shouting in my head stopped when I heard footsteps approaching and my instincts told me to fake sleeping right away.
I closed my eyes and remained unmoving until I heard the door open and I heard the footsteps coming closer and closer to me.
I was about to get up and karate-chop whoever the person was the moment I felt a warm hand on my forehead when I suddenly heard and unmistakable voice.
"Her fever's gone down," he said. He said. Natsume did.
Suddenly, all those thoughts of sexual harassment vanished and my head was filled up with thoughts of Natsume and how he must've been reacted when he saw me sleeping in that car and how he was with me right at these moment to check up on me. It was like an angel came down and took me back to heaven with him.
"That's a relief."
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Who was that?!
The voice was a girl's. It was high-pitched an musical and her statement sounded fully with genuine concern.
And then, right at that moment, everything came back to me. From last week until a few hours ago. Everything. Natsume was from the airport. Now he was here. And then I hear a girl's voice.
My eyes suddenly flopped open to search for her when I spotted a tall and slender raven-haired girl. Her hair was dark, but I noticed Natsume's hue was darker and more vivid than hers. She had pretty silver-black eyes and full, red lips. She was so beautiful I could only look at her with awe. Every part of her matched her yellow dress and brown stilettos which amplified her beauty.
So this was her. This was Nobara.
Nobara smiled when she noticed me staring. "Sorry, did we wake you?" she said apologetically.
I didn't answer back. I didn't. I couldn't. All I could do was stare.
"How are you feeling?" Natsume asked, standing beside where I was lying.
I shifted my gaze towards him. He looked tired. Haggard, even. I didn't answer back. I just sat up and looked outside the window when suddenly, I felt the throbbing in my head start again and then the whole room was spinning.
"I'm fine," I said simply.
Natsume's eyes narrowed a bit. "Good. The maids will be here to help you dress up in a bit," he said, turning around and starting to leave.
I could've sworn I saw Nobara and Natsume's eyes meet for a split of a second, but I tried to forget about it and continued on trying to get absorbed into looking at something beyond the glass window I was staring at.
When the door finally shut with Natsume's departure, Nobara sighed softly and sat on one edge of the bed, looking at me.
"Are you really feeling alright?" she asked, examining my face.
I sighed, too, looking at her. "I'm fine," I said again, assuring her.
Nobara smiled and placed both her hands on her lap, clasped together. "That's good," she said.
I said nothing. Truth be told, I didn't want to be talking to her now. I felt too sick to talk to anyone, as a matter of fact.
"Natsume was really worried when he found out you were sick," Nobara added, tilting her head to one side.
I rolled my eyes. "I could see that by the way he walked out of the room after I told him that I was fine," I said through my teeth.
Nobara laughed. "If he chose you as his fiancée, what makes you think he wouldn't be worried?"
I shrugged but added mentally, The fact that he only chose me as his bride-to-be because he didn't like Permy.
Nobara stood up, straightening her dress. "Just call on me or anyone when you start to feel bad again," she said, heading for the door. I could see she realized that I wanted to be alone.
I nodded at her, looking, again at the window.
I could see now that I was so blinded by the lies I didn't realize what was really in store for me. Right now, all I wanted was a reset button.
EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS LUNA. GUESS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. HAHA. KIDDING. FEED ME WITH YOUR REVIEWS!
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