Chapter 14: Precious pasts

The projector is currently working but it is blurry. "Hotaru, what's happening? Why is it that we can't see it clearly?", Ruka asked her girlfriend. "There's nothing wrong with my projector, it's just… it's just…", she paused as she looked around and found Mucho doing something. "It's just Permy's stupid boyfriend that's stepping on the wire that's why the electricity won't work!", Hotaru shouted as she holds Mucho sleeves up. "Hey, be careful with my boyfriend!", Sumire demanded. "Ok, here it goes! Go!", Hotaru said as Mr. Yamato started producing his Alice. At that moment, they saw a young Mikan talking to a young Natsume that's reading a comic book under a tree saying, "Hey Natsume! Can you go with me at the Central Town? Please! Please!"

"No!"

"Why?"

"I'm busy reading? Can't you see?"

"You can read that while walking to through the Central Town."

"Keep your mouth shut! I can't concentrate!"

"I'll only keep quiet if you go with me!"

"No!"

"NAAAAAATTTTTTTSSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!"

"Fine! Fine! Fine! Just shut up!"

"You're going to go with me already! Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?"

"Ya!"

"We're going to the Central town! We're going to the Central town! We're going to the Central town! We're going to the Central town!"

"Shut up!"

"Hehehehe! I'm glad you can come!", Mikan said as she smiled at Natsume making him blush.

"Stupid video!", Natsume said as the others can hear it. "I didn't know my brother is so, so, irritated by a girl! This is going to be a nice video!", Aoi said. "Sshhh… keep quiet, here comes the next!", Yuu said to the others. The next video reveals the lovebirds that are under the Sakura tree with Mikan sitting beside Natsume.

"What are you reading?", Mikan asked

"Secret."

"Why do you still have to hide it from me?"

"Keep quiet! Do you hear something?"

"No!"

"Cause you are deaf!"

"Natttttttttsssssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuumeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"

His fan girls heard it; so, they ran over the Sakura tree to give Natsume their gift for the Valentine's Day. Luckily, Natsume was fast that he carried Mikan (bridal style) away from his fan girls. Natsume brought her to his room, laid her in a sofa and said, "Are you alright?" Mikan, shivering, said, "Wha-t wa-s th-at? Sta-mpe-de?" Natsume laughed and laughed and laughed as Mikan said, "Why the hell are you laughing?" Natsume paused and said, "Nothing", then continued laughing again as if there's no tomorrow. Mikan stood up as she walks to the door and said, "I'm leaving!" Natsume who is giggling said, "Ok! Ms. Stampede!", then he laughed again. "I don't know why you're laughing so hard because of that stupid stampede thing but…", Mikan paused as Natsume shut his mouth. Mikan continued, "but, I'm happy because I did not only make you smile, I made you laugh too!", then she giggled and said before she went out of the door, "By the way, thank you for saving my life form your fan girls!", then she went out of the room. Natsume, on the other hand, smiled and said, "You're the only one who can make me smile and laugh even just for awhile. I feel happy whenever you're with me and I just hope that you'll never give up on me even though I keep on pushing you away."

"My brother is a heartthrob!", Aoi shouted. "Why do we still need to watch that moment? We should go straight to the scene where Mikan and Persona talks! Idiotic videos!", Natsume said angrily but blushing. "Maybe it's about time to keep your walls down so we can be connected. We will accept you for who you are and what you will be! Don't be afraid to trust us! We're your friends!", Koko said. "It's about time, Natsume!", Ruka said as he pat his bestfriend's back. Natsume turns around to see Mikan, sighs then he said calmly, "Just go on with the video."

The next scene reveals a Mikan of teenage years that is sitting under the side of a tree while Natsume is also sitting at the other side of the tree. There had been a long silence when Natsume said, "I didn't know you know how to keep quiet Polka Dots." Mikan, on the other hand, had a deep sigh and said, "I don't have anytime for arguments Natsume."

"Whoa! Polka has a problem!"

"Are you teasing me?!"

"No, I just want to hear your problem."

"I don't think you're the right person to hear my problem."

"I just want you to know that I only lend my ear to the people who I am already comfortable with.", with that Natsume Natsume stood and started walking away.

"Wait! Are you mad at me?"

"No."

"Then why is it that you suddenly walked away."

"I'm not good in persuading people especially the hard-headed ones."

"Are you saying that I'm one of those?"

"Why? You're the one who said that, not me!"

"NATSUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"

"I'll be in my room if you need me.", then he walked away while Mikan was left under the tree thinking if what had she done is wrong. The whole afternoon passed by and there was no sign of Natsume everywhere. When she asked Ruka, the animal-tamer just said to her that the flame caster is on his room and wouldn't want to come out. With this, Mikan was badly disturbed – knowing that she can be the reason for it. She decided to go to his room to pay him a little visit. When she was already facing the door, she knocked on it and entered. She saw Natsume, standing at the front of his big window, gazing at the plants outside. She then asked, "Why is it that you're spending your whole day here, inside your room?"

"I just don't want to go out."

"Am I the reason?", Natsume didn't reply then Mikan repeated, "Am I the reason Natsume? Answer me!" Natsume bowed his head and simply said, "No" "Liar!", the crying Mikan shouted as she approached Natsume briskly and shouted at him, "You're not telling the truth!"

"That's the truth! I don't have anything to say anymore!"

"No! You just won't admit that you're mad at me!"

"Why should I be mad at you!"

"Because I didn't tell you my problem! Because I insulted you awhile ago! Because… Because…"

"Because what!"

"Because you think that for all this time I still don't trust you!", there was silence all over the room as Natsume stood there shock of what he has heard and thinking, "Why would she think that way? And why is she so concerned to me? I'm just a student being used by the academy to do their dirty works!" "What! Talk to me Natsume! I'm right! Am I? Answer me!", Mikan said then paused.

"Darn it! Talk!", Mikan continued.

"Why should I tell it you?.", Natsume said calmly as he looks at Mikan eye-to-eye.

"Why? It is my right as your friend?! Darn it!"

"Did you tell me your problem?"

"But that's a different story Natsume!"

"Yeah it is! But it is also my right to know whatever it is! "

"Fine! The bathroom in my room has a leak. Satisfied? Now, tell me yours!"

"I don't have anything to say."

"Are you making me stupid? We just agreed awhile to know each other's complaints or problems. I've already told you mine, now it's your turn!"

"But, I've told you I don't have anything to say!"

"Say it!"

"No."

"Say it!"

"No."

"Say it!"

"No."

"Fine. If don't want to tell it, I won't force you. I'll just go ahead. I still have many things to do."

With that, Mikan walked away leaving Natsume there, still holding on with his pride. However, before Mikan reached the door, Natsume suddenly said, "Because you're the only girl who knows me as I am and not as the person who does the entire academy's dirty works. It just made me sad to know that I trusted you with all my heart and yet you're not doing the same to me. That's my only reason. I understand if you will get mad at me." Mikan, who was hearing all of this, was astounded because she didn't think that Natsume treats her like this. Tears rolled down her face as she turned her back and face Natsume who is bowing his head in disappointment. There was silence, then, "You can go now if you like.", Natsume said as he turned his back and faced his big window in despair. Mikan, on the other hand, walked slowly to him until Natsume is just a child's step away. She stopped then leaned on his back and said, "I'm sorry. If only I knew that it would hurt you, I shouldn't d-" Before she could even finish her sentence, Natsume already turned around and hugged her tightly.