Disclaimer: All recognizable character from Maid-sama! Rightfully belong to Fujiwara Hiro

A/N: I don't think I'm in love. I think I'm obsessed with someone else. I'm going gaga for him. If you have questions about my other stories—especially on Heiress—go on and ask me. With me changing the plot, I know you already have those crazy ideas inside your head. :)

-;-

Could this be out of line?
To say you're the only one breaking me down like this
you're the only one I would take a shot on
Keep me hanging on so contagiously

Oh you're everything I'm wanting
Come to think of it, I'm aching
On account of my transgression..
Will you welcome this confession?

-;-

Ten: So Contagious

"You're crazy."

I ignored Sakura's whining and proceeded on dumping cereal on the cart before walking onto the next bar. She was arguing with Shizuko—half an hour ago—about her boyfriend and it seems like Shizuko's really annoyed at her. She has been in a bad mood ever since the two of them arrived here in the grocery mart and with a lot of things inside my head; I can't really risk minding the two of them fight.

I have lots of things in my head.

Thoughtlessly, I grabbed a pack of spaghetti and exhaled when suddenly, I heard something crashed behind me. Immediately, I turned to the direction of Shizuko and Sakura and saw a bottle of cheese spread broken into pieces on the floor. My forehead creased at that as I looked up at the two of them and saw them all frozen too.

I rolled my eyes at that and immediately left my cart before placing both my hands on my waist. "Now look at what you two did. This is such a waste." I picked up the broken pieces and gasped when one piece sliced my hand—I hurriedly let it slipped and then growled at myself. "Darn it, I should know better than nosing around."

Sakura growled at Shizuko and then pushed the cart away. "Now that is completely your fault! I told you already that I don't want that cheese spread!"

Shizuko just ignored her before revealing her wallet and slamming her credit card on the chest of the arriving personnel and finally walking away. "Do the grocery on your own—I don't have time for your stupid childish acts."

"Why you—"

I wiped the blood on the hem of my shirt and then glanced at Sakura. "Seriously, you two are getting on my nerves, care to control your attitudes? We're on a public place, Sakura." I smiled at the personnel when he returned Shizuko's card on me and then walked back on my own cart. "You should apologize to her—she was being mature to you." I pushed the cart to the next counter and walked thoughtlessly there when Igarashi-kun suddenly appeared before me. I froze upon seeing him.

"Igarashi-kun…"

"Hey." He smiled at me and then turned his head forty five degrees and nodded at someone before turning back to me. "I'll catch you later—have to do some emergency errand for Takumi."

Takumi…

I nodded at him and then watched him as he walked past me and checked on the still fuming with anger Sakura. Maybe he wasn't here—there is no use getting all agitated with the person who will never dare appear in front of me again. All that he said back in school—those are all just his nasty ways to play with me.

Right, I'll just think that Usui's just playing with me.

I square my shoulders and walked towards the next counter checking for some fresh mangoes. The market was lively due to the many people that were also doing their groceries. They all seem so happy—doing grocery with their whole family. I exhaled at that. The thought of my Dad suddenly appeared before me.

Back then, Dad and I will also do the grocery together along with Mom and Suzu. It was really one of those family bonding I'm treasuring the most since all four of us were really plunge into our own happy world.

We are happy.

But now I'm dead broken.

My dad's gone, my Mom's forbidding me to get near to someone I terribly like and the one I like hates me.

Fuck, life could be so fucking insensitive sometimes, throwing me one problem after another. I wander around the market aimlessly and while thinking of my other problems—ridiculously wallowing in self-pity. This was irritating—I know. And I'm fucking irritating since I was letting my problems ponder me down.

I walked towards the fruit section and growled when I saw Dad's favorite fruit—the apple.

Back then, we use to make bunny apples and Dad was the greatest on cutting those bunny shapes. While he was almost good on everything, I sucked and often destroy the bunny ears and then he'll laugh at me—I miss those times.

When I was feeling so down, Dad would pat my head and then tell me—

"Hey."

I froze as I looked up from behind me and met the gaze of someone I really least wanted to see. With my forehead creasing and with my cheeks slowly flaming red, I growled at Usui, brushed his hands away and checked on the apples. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking out on you." Usui said and then stood beside me and grabbed one red apple before taking a bite on it. "This one's delicious; can you buy this for me?"

"Do I look like the type to treat someone I barely know?" I asked of him and then moved on to the next fruit. When he followed me, I scowl at him signifying that I'm really annoyed now. "Will you just get lost? I don't need some chaperone whatsoever."

He smirked at that and then held my pushcart and pushed it on my behalf. "I was trying to make it up to you—I was kind of planning to help you do the shopping but it seems like you don't want it."

"I don't need your help."

"No, I think you'll need it."

I scowl at him. He seems to be rather really eccentric. But then, I just have to ignore it, did I? If he's planning to play house with me, then all I just have to do is walked past him and pretend like he wasn't really there. What he said to me, everything really had marred me. It was really annoying how he was still showing his face to me when he said and did all those.

He was annoying.

No, I am annoying.

Why do I keep thinking about it anyway? If I really want to ignore him then I should just act like what my mind tells me to do and follow my Mom's orders. Usui's dangerous. I don't want to entertain some kind of danger in my life if that means my family will fall apart.

By keeping near Takumi…I'm only breaking Mom's heart.

We did the groceries together—very simple. He never uttered any words after that and I never said anything either. We were quiet. We ignore people as we walked past them. We ignore the unrefined looks. We ignore the open gawking. We ignore a lot of people as if we are in a world of our own—a world where only the two of us exist. We walk through counters after counters and practically scowl at each other—well; I was the only one scowling.

But despite all those ignoring, he was all over my head.

I don't know why he had that stupid effect on me. In fact, I didn't know when he started appearing inside my head. I didn't know when I started thinking about him. I didn't know when I began accustomed of searching for him wherever I was that I thought that he'd be there too. I didn't know when I started to fucking be obsessed with him. I know it was rather freaky. But the thought that maybe I have also the right to love—everything else just didn't matter.

I didn't know when everything started.

But even if he was inside my head, I practically just ignored everything.

We ignored everything.

But when a time should come that my feelings for him would start to grow—I hope I could still ignore it.

He was priceless for me. I didn't know. At first I thought I was too young to think about this kind of thing. Like what I said, I don't fall easily and blond guys aren't my ideal dream of a guy. He might be your emblematic Prince next classroom but his attitude really sucks. I hate guys who have an attitude problem. But then, you could say I'm eating my words.

You can create that dream guy—ideal guy—inside your head, but that one person you're destined to love will always be an exception.

Does that mean I love him?

It's just a like, right? It's just some kind of plain crush that if he tries to show me the attitude again, I might start to chew his ears off. Maybe, he did something rather really ridiculous, I might get turned off. Maybe I was just going for the looks. Maybe, if Usui shaves his hair off, I won't like him anymore.

I laugh at myself inwardly. Maybe, he was so much worth of my attention that's why I was kind of thinking stupid things like this. Maybe…just maybe, I hope he could like me back too. And when that happens, I'd let him down the way he pushed me down the cliff of desperation.

And then that ends things.

Maybe, if we go out for three days—or make that a week—I'll stop liking him since I finally got his attention. You know that feeling when you already lose the thrill of crushing on someone because you already have him? Maybe, if I manage to make him mine for a day or two, I'll lose the resolve of liking him. Or maybe I was just waiting for him to reject me again and then the spark in my heart will finally disappear.

We checked on some fruits and then were held back by some of our classmates on some of our class. I practically ignored them and tried to pull my cart but Usui's grip was firm so I was left but to stand there quietly.

Some of our classmates were secretly staring at me but I ignored them. I was actually confuse why Usui was entertaining them when if he was at school, he was ignoring them and is exuding that deadly aura that he loves the most—he was annoying.

But then, you still keep on thinking about him.

Fucking right.

He was contagious. Usui is slowly breaking me down into pieces. It was weird how he can enter my head even if I was fucking furious at him and then control my system. Oh, yeah right, I couldn't evens stay angry at him. Mysteriously, really, I can't stay angry at him for even a minute. If I was feeling angry—and if it was directed at him—it would immediately disappear and then the next minute, I was already drooling over him.

Fuck, it was obsession indeed.

When he was finally done with his chat with our classmates, Usui smiled at me—that smile of his that makes me all warm inside—and then ushered me forward the next counter. When his hands made contact with my skin, I shivered, not because it was cold but because he was so warm I feel electricity climbing up and down my body.

I wanted to scowl. Back then, when I'd read romance novels, that feeling when you made contact with the one you like—skin contact—you'd feel this electricity crawling on your body, signifying that he was your true love.

But then, this is no romance story. Its real life and Takumi couldn't like me back.

"What's with the long face, Ayuzawa?"

His voice sounded like velvet. Well, I know that velvet doesn't have any tone whatsoever but still, you know that texture called soft? It was soft to hear…pleasant to the ears. He was like heaven sent—too bad he wasn't sent for me.

Merely, I shrugged and still maintain that distance between us since I was trying to shy away from him. He was dangerous to my system—no, he was dangerous to me.

When we finally paid off for my grocery, I exited the mart and then turned to face him. Even if his rejection reply was really maddening, still, I couldn't bear to be impolite—I still have my manners.

I took the groceries from him and lower down my head before him. "Thank you for helping me tonight, I'll just take the next bus."

"You don't me to drive you home?"

He was giving me the choice to decline or accept. But then, Mom is there, if she saw me getting drive around by Usui, she'll surely be disappointed. The offer is tempting but I have to think practically. I maybe in love with him, but Mom still matters to me.

I looked away and just shook my head. "No, thank you, I can manage."

"Are you sure?" when I nodded, he merely shrugged and then walked me towards the bus stop. "Well, I wouldn't be sticking out too long, I need to get going. Igarashi's waiting for me."

"Okay." I nodded and then avoided his gaze, averting my eyes towards the empty road. I ignored him when he sneered at my awkwardness. But then, his next action surprised me. I gasped when he suddenly spins me around and pressed his lips—his soft lips—on mine. It was so soft I could barely feel it.

My hands stood frozen on both sides. I wasn't moving or anything—crap, I'm going to die. His lips moved the slightest—fuck, that was so fucking hot of him. There wasn't any pressure at first, like he was measuring my coming reactions. But then, slowly, he started to deepen his kiss—well, he was the only one kissing me literally since I couldn't move. I stood there frozen. I was too much intoxicated by him.

Fuck, I'm so fucking in love with Takumi.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and felt the softness of his lips. And even with my eyes close, there were so much light passing before my eyes—blinding light. This moment was too blissful—heck; I can stay like this forever.

I don't need the fucking air…I can stay like this forever with him.

The kiss was too soft—as if it wasn't there in the first place—and everything seems like to fall back on their rightful places. He pressed his lips on mine deeper—and hell, I don't want this moment to end—but when my chest started rise and fall due to lack of air, Usui chuckled breathlessly and finally lets go.

My mouth fell literally open because of the absence of his lips. I stared at him in utter disbelief and slowly, blood crept up on my cheeks—I couldn't move. He's mere presence freezes me. He chuckled at my reaction and then softly brushes his palms on my cheek.

"This is warm." He muttered and then smiled at me once again. "That reaction is beautiful…I'll see you later." He turned his back on me and then gave me an uncommitted wave as a sign of goodbye.

He disappeared back to the mart and I was left there with my mouth still gaping open—fuck, I probably looked like a fish now.

Slowly, my shaky fingers rose to caress my lips.

What was that for?

-;-

This time, he was the one to kiss me.

Does that mean he likes me too? Wait, I shouldn't assume, right? What if he was just playing around? He rejected me yesterday and up to now, I can still remember all the words he said. It still echoes on my sleep and it still breaks my heart into pieces.

But then, that fucking kiss just blew everything away.

He was so good in manipulating me—damn it, I didn't expected that. But still, what is that kiss all about? What the hell's with the fucking kiss? Crap, I can't think straight right now. My head's in fucking shambles.

"You look like you're about to vomit."

Growling at Suzuna, I plunge my feet on the cold river water and sighed. Unfortunately, Mom's not home—Suzuna said she has to run an emergency errand and won't be back until tomorrow. She said it was some kind of presentation for a seminar which she was chosen to conduct about animal care. It was rather disappointing since I didn't accept Usui's offer of driving me home but then, after that kiss, I doubt I'd still be able to face him. I don't know what kind of face I will show him tomorrow.

Suzuna purposefully bumped my shoulders and then plunge her feet on the water too since the two of us were here in the dock—watching the sky together. "You're thinking about a guy, right?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Shut up, Suzuna. So what if I was thinking about Takumi? Can you remove him off my system then?"

"I didn't say anything about Usui-kun." she pointed out and grinned when I scowl at her. Suzuna can be so fucking sensitive sometimes, I wish she'd just shut her mouth. "Well, I heard what Mom told you days ago."

I turned to her and inhaled sharply. "You were eavesdropping?"

"It was unintentional." She reasoned and then looked up at the sky again. "I can't really fathom Mom's reason why she said that to you—I don't think Usui-kun's dangerous. Sure he was emitting that mysterious aura that pulls you like a magnet to him and I know it's definitely intriguing you but I think there isn't something wrong about you and him dating."

Surprised by her own reaction of Mom forbidding me to get near Usui, I turned to her in confusion. "You were eavesdropping."

"You don't have to repeat it." she told me and then grinned. "And you didn't deny that you two are dating."

I slapped my forehead and growled at her. "We're not dating—in fact, we don't have any relationship whatsoever, okay? We're just…classmates."

"Classmates that kiss."

My eyes rounded and literally, I almost tackled her down the river. "You saw him kiss me on the bus stop? That was fucking sly of you!"

She grinned even wider and tries to escape from my deathly grip on her neck. "So, he kissed you back in public? That was dirty of you, onee-san. On the contrary, the kiss that I saw was the one in your room. Misaki-nee, you're kissing a guy inside your room—do you know what that means?"

"Shut the fuck up."

"Since when did you start uttering those vulgar words?" she prompted and then smacked me in the head making me fall down on the river. She gasped at that and started laughing at me. "Oops, sorry, sis."

She grinned at me.

The nerve.

"That will be the last time you'll grin." I hissed at her threateningly and immediately pulled her feet so that she'd fall on the river too.

When she was wet from waist down to feet, she climbed up back to the dock and smiled at me. "But Misaki-nee, if you really like Usui-kun, then go for it. I think you two looks good together."

I scoffed at her and climb up the dock too. "I got rejected, okay?"

"You got rejected but he kissed you?"

"I was the one who kissed him."

"I thought he kissed you in public?"

I growled at her in annoyance. "I was the one to kiss him first but then he kissed me awhile ago in the bus stop."

"You two kissed in the bus stop?"

I flicked my tongue and then stand so I could finally jogged back to the house. "If you're planning to repeat after me and make me confuse, I'm out of here—see you later."

"Wait, Misaki!"

Note to self: Stay away from stupid Suzuna.

-;-

Sakura's in a foul mood ever since yesterday.

Well, it was too obvious that her anger was directed to Shizuko since she didn't utter any word to her starting in the morning and she didn't sit next to her during Homeroom. In fact, she was too angry that she has been grumbling to herself and looks like she's going to bite someone's head off if they try to get on her way. Even Igarashi-kun doesn't seem to soften her up. He was that angry.

On the other hand, Shizuko just ignored her and continued on with the day as if no one's trying to burn holes on her back if Sakura was insensitive, then Shizuko's indifferent. She could care less about her surroundings and go on with her life as if nothing's happening.

Such tactless friends—I'm so glad I have them.

Quietly, I walked towards the soccer field with Aoi and decided to watch the practice game between the M department and S hall. Both players from opposing teams were great—until my eyes focused to one.

Takumi was playing for his team and at the same time, of course he was playing for himself and is trying to score some few goals. He was on the shirts team but he was wearing such thin shirt that it was almost revealing the perfect outline of his body. He was well muscled, tall, fair and handsome—shit, I couldn't ask for more. If he could be my boyfriend, I'll die in bliss. But then you should know that that was just a very far-fetched dream. We can never be together. He was far too good for me—I don't deserve him.

Well shit, you know that stupid saying wherein opposites attract? I don't think that's true. Because the two of us came from a completely different world—he came from Pheromone planet while I was from Plainville—and it just wouldn't work.

I almost laughed at myself—I talked like we've been dating and just decided to go our separate ways. Talk about a dreamer who dreams impossible dreams.

Usui passed the ball to his team and then run towards the goal waiting for his teammate to pass the ball to him. Soccer's a dirty game—full of mud. Well, the players were full mud. But looking at Usui—heck, even if he was full of mud, he doesn't look like a mud monster. He just looks so freaking good.

I think I'm falling for him all over again.

I could die right now seeing him looking like that.

To be honest, no one's allowed to watch the soccer practice but since Aoi's kind of feeling lonely and I have free period next, I just decided to run off with him and sneak here in the open field. The suns scorching hot and hell, beads of sweat trickled down my spine as Aoi and I occupied the stone bleacher seat which was kind of hidden behind thick bushes and trees. I scratched my slightly sweaty arm since I felt like bugs were crawling on me before nudging Aoi on the rib.

"Are you sure it's all right to be here?"

Unfocused, he shrugged and then eyed the shirts versus skins players. "I don't really care much about rules and stuff—I'm a rule breaker. Trust me; if they caught you here with me, we're in deep trouble."

"Fuck."

"But I don't really mind being in trouble." He retorted casually and then placed his binoculars on so he could have a better view. "Sometimes, trouble is what makes us human. Without trouble in our life, we'll live under the delusion that everything is all rainbows and butterflies."

"You must try reading some novels to clear that foggy head of yours." I murmured which I didn't really intend for him to hear. But when Aoi threw me a deadly glare, I shrugged and then turned back to the field. "What, that's the truth. Life might not be all about rainbows and butterflies but sometimes, that is what all you've got. Look at me," I pointed out myself dramatically and then looked up at the sky, meeting the sun's blinding rays only to regret it. "—for all that is good and Holy, whenever I feel sad, I create this beautiful scene inside my head and then pretends that I live there with plain bliss and then, I'm happy."

Aoi rolled his beautiful dark crimson eyes on me. "You're delusional, Misaki."

"I'm not being delusional, Aoi-kun." I reasoned out and then snatches the binoculars off his grip. "It's some kind of escape place when I'm sad—you should try it out sometimes."

"And then what? I should start laughing too on the next second?"

"Baka."

He grabbed the binoculars from me and peeks through it and then suddenly curses. My forehead creased as I sit up straightly and glowered at him. "Did you just call me shit?"

"Do you look like a piece of shit, Ayuzawa Misaki?" I gasped when he suddenly grabbed me by the jaw and almost smack the binoculars on my face. "Look at that Takumi—fucking hot."

I pushed the binoculars off my face and then glared at him. "Did you just call your best friend fucking hot? Are you gay, Aoi-kun? Sure you have great feminine looks but still, you're a guy. That sounds inappropriate."

He merely shrugged and then looked back on the field again. "Well, I think you should stop pretending now. Because deep inside, I know you also think that Takumi's hot."

I blushed and immediately looked away. "I do not think that he's hot."

"Just steaming hot?" he added and grinned when I flushed even redder. "I knew you're a dirty girl inside."

"Hey, what the fuck—"

"Misaki, hey, get off—OW! That fucking hurts."

I gasped when I suddenly slipped off the bench and fall flat on my face on the ground with some few cuts on my elbow. I growled at myself. "Now I have a new scar—thanks a lot, Aoi."

"It was completely your fault, hag." He pulled me up and then pulled out his hanky and wrapped it around my elbow. "That should stop the bleeding—now just shut up and watch the game."

I grab my bag, strap it over my chest and then smiled at him. "Nope, I think I'll pass. I should go to the infirmary to have it cleaned and then I'll thank you later if this cut was way too deep—see you later."

"Fuck." Aoi immediately stood up and then pulled me beside him—hiding my wounded elbow. "Takumi's coming—shit, I'm in deep trouble."

I growl at me and secretly elbow him only to wince. "I thought you don't mind being in trouble?"

"That was a figure of speech."

"Bastard."

"Should I know what the two of you are doing here?" Usui asked when he finally reached Aoi and me. "This is a game where students aren't allowed—Aoi, breaking a few rules again?"

Aoi looked away and then bit his lip. "Sorry, I was just playing around with Misaki—we're just about to leave."

"If I didn't come here, you two won't leave." He concluded which wasn't really true on my part. I was just about to leave but he caught us because of stupid Aoi. I blush when he glanced at me and saw the dirt on my top. "Do you have a hobby of rolling on dirt?"

"What?" Immediately, I checked the part he was pointing and gasped when he suddenly grabbed the part that Aoi was trying so hard to hide.

Aoi scowl at me. "Idiot."

"Freak."

Usui rubbed his temples in annoyance and then glared heatedly at Aoi. "Aoi."

"Okay, okay, sorry, my fault." He scratched the back of his head and then gathered his things and nodded at me. "Ayuzawa, I'll buy you lunch later to make it up to you. I'll see you ditching in Chemistry again."

When Aoi walked out without me, Usui spun me around so I would be facing him and then shakes his head. "You aren't ditching Chemistry." When his grip tightened on my elbow as if he was trying to put pressure on my elbow, I turned to him with confusion on my eyes. Merely, he shrugged. "Will you stop keeping that moth of yours hanging open? I might end up kissing you again."

I blushed and immediately shut my mouth close since I wasn't actually used to my hobbies that includes my mouth always gaping open. I never thought he was noticing that.

I flushed even more when he brush his hands on my red cheeks and grinned. "This one's really good. I like it when your cheeks are all warm and red—it makes you look vulnerable."

My mouth slightly dropped open and then I hurriedly looked away—flushing beet red. "I'm not vulnerable, moron."

"Okay, you're asking for it."

I gasped when he suddenly grabbed my chin and leaned in closer—it wasn't a kiss. Yeah, it wasn't a kiss. He was just leaning forward as if he was trying to smell me.

Crap, I hope I don't smell like—

"You smell like dairy and cheese." He mumbled and then leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on my cheek. "I think I'm starting to fall for you."

He was about to turn away but then, without thinking, I grabbed his elbows and pulled him so he would stop walking. He turned to me with a small smile on his face. "Hm, need something else."

"You rejected me." I murmured but immediately regretted it. I flicked my tongue when I notice the dark look that appeared on his face. I wanted to frown—maybe, he was just really playing around with me. I bit my lip and fought against the warm sensation appearing from behind my eyes and gulping the bile forming in my throat.

He was indeed just playing with me.

"Okay." I muttered and then slip my hands off his elbow and slowly backing away from him. "Sorry for bringing that up—I was just confused. Just don't…don't do that kind of thing anymore. I hate it when I was being played by someone." I forced out a small smile and then slowly back away.

I won't cry—not yet, not now.

If he's just playing around with me…then maybe I should indeed do the honor of staying away from him. The thought made my heart lurched in pain and a soft sigh escape my lips. I wanted to laugh at myself. Fuck, this was fucking pain—

I winced when I got towed along by none other than Usui and then grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss. It was just a swift kiss that once again—I could barely feel it. Usui just pressed his lips on mine before he gently pushed me and held me both by the shoulders.

"Wait after the 29th of September is done." He mumbled and kissed me once again on the lips. "I don't want to reject your feelings—trust me—God knows how I was fucking in love with you. Just wait until that date and month is over…and then, and then I could love you forever."

"Wha—" did he just said he loved me? Oh, my good Lord. "But you said you—"

"If you were listening carefully, I said I wouldn't like you back…yet." I scowl at him and he just ushered me to shut up and then continued. "I won't like you back yet…Misaki. Just wait until that time I'm telling you is finally over."

"But—"

"Trust me, you'll thank me later." He said and once again, placed a swift kiss on my lips. "I'll see you later in Psychology."

He jogged away from me and then turned back once again to send me a thoughtful wave and then he was gone. Slowly, my fingers move up to caress my lips—fuck, that was the fourth time he had kissed me. He was fucking taking the initiative to kiss me.

I almost wanted to faint.

But then…he said he love me.

Bu what's with September twenty nine? Isn't that…my birthday?

-;-

Yeah it was done!

I know it's a little too late but I just finished it until ten chapters. I was kind of planning to make Heiress until to twenty to thirty chapters only.

Well, I don't know when I'll be able to update Cinderella. It was near its climax and I'm planning it detail by detail and bit by bit so please wait patiently. I'm currently working on on Heiress, Bias and Blue Mirage so I hope its good news.

Please review—thanks.

I won't be hanging out for too long.

See you on your reviews!

PP