Okay. So I have received around many Yays and 0 Nays so far..
Thank you to everyone who answered the poll and reviewed!
If you have just clicked on to this chapter, might want to head back to chapter 13 and get caught up first before going here ;)
Here's the next part ;)
xoxo Lexi1989
P.S. Thank you for your prayers. My family there is thankfully safe. I am in a different city but of course my heart is where my home is. And I don't know anyone who was killed or hurt but it's still sad though. Very sad. :(
Previously:
Natsume clenched his fists. He was angry. He was jealous. He was conflicted. He wanted Mikan to listen to him but she looked like she wouldn't. Her mind was made up. She had cried earlier but now she acted like it wasn't a big deal. Maybe Sumire was right. Maybe Mikan didn't feel anything for him and was only doing that for show. Maybe she didn't feel for him the way he did for her. Seeing as how easily she had gotten him a replacement. He was expendable. And it hurt him. It hurt him real bad.
CHAPTER 14: ON IMPULSE
"Welcome dear Alice High students to our pre-homecoming dance! Get your masks at the registration booth and wait for instructions on when to put them on!" Narumi-sensei greeted the student population gathered at the ballroom of the hotel they had rented for the occasion.
It was the first time that the school held a 'pre-dance' for the students before the homecoming dance and they had decided to provide a theme despite it being announced as semi-formal. Everyone had come dressed in their very best suits and dresses that matched the theme which was 'Mardi Gras'. Personalized masks were provided to each student as they entered the venue, a reminder given by the committee not to lose them as they played an integral role in a surprise towards the end of the night.
The committee members each had their own stations and once the masks were given out, they were free to mingle and endorse the rest to the teachers who would take over so the students could have fun. Misaki was in charge of the masks along with Hotaru at the registration booth, Anna and Kitsuneme were overseeing the caterers spread of food and refreshments, Sumire took charge of the program, Yuu with security, Yura was put in charge of lights and sounds, and Wakako with photography and coverage. Mikan was in charge overall and any major concerns would need to be reported right away to her and the teacher in charge which was Narumi-Sensei.
Once the registration was completed, they all gathered together at their table where their dates were waiting. There was a strained silence. Everyone from the committee had known about the commotion yesterday brought about by Mikan's absence. They were quite shocked that Sumire came with Natsume to the dance, but she had all told them that Natsume had insisted even if she was perfectly fine with going alone. Not that anyone believed her. Though no one said it out loud, they were skeptical of her story, and felt extremely sorry for Mikan who never once spoke or looked at the new couple at their table.
They were also surprised when Mikan came to the dance on Ruka's arm. Anna had come with Yuu, Hotaru came alone, and Misaki had come with one of the members of the basketball team. Reo had gotten special permission to bring Yuri, despite her being from a rival school, since he was the MVP, the coach pulled some strings to allow it. Misaki handed out the masks, one by one to the committee members, and then sat down next to Hotaru who wasn't surprised that Ruka had brought Mikan. She already knew it based on her conversation with him (unknown to him) that morning. And after that, she had made it her mission for tonight to find out what exactly was going on with them.
She passed by Misaki and her date near the refreshments table.
"Did you do it?" She asked as she received the glass from the server.
"Yep. Whatever it is that you're planning I hope it works." She said.
"I'm working on a hunch here, so I hope so too." Hotaru said as she sipped her punch. Her plan was in place. She was hoping it works.
EARLIER THAT DAY
Hotaru logged on to FRIENDCHAT upon receiving a notification that Lapin Garcon had sent her a message.
Lapin Garcon: How are you?
Chantage: Good. A bit busy. You?
Lapin Garcon: Just chilling before the school dance. Thinking of someone.
Chantage: How's your friend? The one with you yesterday?
Lapin Garcon: She's doing okay, I guess. A little heartbroken, but she's coping.
Chantage: She got dumped?
Hotaru already knew who he was with yesterday so she decided to probe a little since he didn't know it was her to begin with. A little sleuthing never hurt anybody.
Lapin Garcon: Well, long story short, she pretended to go out with this guy, who's a friend of mine too. But they weren't really together for real. Up until she fell in love with him. She told me. I told her to tell him. But now, she caught him kissing one of her best friends in his car. Tragic right?
This new piece of information brought to light something she had noticed earlier on in Natsume and Mikan's relationship. How sudden it was. How convenient after Reo met Yuri. And she was surprised to learn that Mikan had fallen for her own scam. At the same time she felt sorry for her given what happened with Sumire. But given that she had seen Natsume with Mikan, there was something completely off about the situation.
Chantage: Wat a scumbag. I feel sorry for ur friend.
Lapin Garcon: yeah, well I thought he was pretending to go out with her to make his ex jealous but looks like he was after someone else. And the girl he kissed isn't even cute.
Chantage: Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Lapin Garcon: Physical beauty is, personality wise, that girl is a bitch.
She couldn't help but smile at his reference to Sumire. It was true.
Chantage: Language.
Lapin Garcon: XD Sorry. I'm just being honest here. But to end my story, I'm taking that friend to the dance.
Chantage: Oh. How nice of you. You like her too?
Lapin Garcon: Not in the way you're thinking. It's more of a friendly date. She worked hard to make this night a reality and I'll be damned if I let her sit on it with a heavy heart. Though I would have loved to ask somebody else.
Chantage: Who?
Lapin Garcon: Well, remember the girl I told you about?
Chantage: the scary one that you liked?
Her heartbeat began pounding the moment he mentioned it. Suddenly the conversation took a different turn than what she had intended.
Lapin Garcon: yeah. Well, I was mustering up my courage last week, to ask her to the dance, but since the fiasco with my friend happened, I didn't get the chance to ask her.
Chantage: Oh. That's unfortunate. I have to go now. IM soon.
She logged off and began to pace without waiting for his response. She needed to do something to get this confusing mess straightened out. She wanted to talk to Mikan about what happened, but knew that she couldn't say how she knew she had been faking the relationship with Natsume. She couldn't also ask Natsume or Sumire either. So she had to devise a way to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Maybe by then, she would have also figured out how she can come clean to Ruka without having to embarrass herself by admitting that she had lied and known all along that it was him. She wanted to know the truth. And she needed the distraction to her her mind off of Ruka Nogi.
She dialed a number, and once the other person picked up, began to take charge of the plan forming in her mind.
"Hello?" The other person on the line said.
"We need to talk."
AT THE DANCE
"Okay my lovely students; can I have your attention?" Narumi-Sensei was on stage. The music was stopped and the students turned towards their teacher onstage.
"I would like to announce the instructions pertaining to your masks. Come eleven thirty, we will be switching things up a bit. We've distributed one piece of a specific kind of mask to each student here. For the last half hour of the dance, you are to find your partner with the same kind of mask and dance with them from the moment you find them until the last dance. We have verified attendance and ensured there are only two pieces of the same kind of mask and also, an even number of people so no student shall be left out. Also, no switching. We've recorded every mask provided to each student. We will also announce the nominees for Homecoming King & Queen! Enjoy the mystery! Ja!" Despite a little skepticism, there was a positive response from the crowd. People were looking forward to dancing with their mystery partner.
Hotaru noticed that Sumire was being ignored by most of the people at the table, which was clearly irritating the latter. Natsume just sat idly by, trying hard but failing to undetectedly sneak glances towards Mikan on the dance floor with Ruka while Sumire tried to get his attention to focus on her. He hasn't even asked her to dance yet. And clearly it was frustrating for Sumire.
Hotaru's eyes swept through the dance floor until she caught sight of Mikan and Ruka dancing. A slow song was on and Mikan had her hands around Ruka's neck while he had his in a respectful hold of her slender waist. Mikan was smiling at him, yet she could see that despite that, there was a sadness in her eyes. Sumire was finally able to pull Natsume to the dance floor and they were dancing a few feet away from Mikan and Ruka. She could see Natsume looking at the other couple's direction when Mikan's head was turned away and she could definitely see something there. A look of longing. If that wasn't a confirmation of her suspicion of Natsume's feelings, then she could be shot straight through the head.
Had she not had a plan, Hotaru would have strode straight towards Sumire and asked to cut in before navigating Natsume to Mikan's direction and cutting in to dance with Ruka before leaving the two alone. It was a good plan, but her own plan was better. She sipped her punch and leaned back on her chair with a sigh. It was almost time.
Mikan glanced at her watch. It was almost eleven thirty. She was still dancing with Ruka. Though she noticed a few times that he was distracted and accidentally stepped on her toes.
"Gomen, Mikan." He blushed as he apologized for stepping on her toes for the second time that night. She had caught the direction in which he was looking at.
"It's fine Ruka. It's a small price to pay for your offer to take me to the dance." She laughed. When he didn't respond yet again, she finally found out who he had been staring at.
"Hey Ruka." She gently squeezed his shoulder where her hand was placed while they danced.
"Yeah?" He said, startled that she had caught him.
"You've been dancing with me the whole night. Maybe it's time you ask Hotaru to dance with you."
"P-p-pardon?" Ruka blushed yet again, this time an even deeper shade of red.
"Go ask Hotaru to dance, silly. I'm beginning to feel guilty even if it was you who insisted you take me to this dance." She said, letting go of him now.
"What do you mean?" He tried to play dumb but she could see right through him.
"You've been staring at her the whole time we were dancing. Even I can tell a crush when I see one." She said and he decided there was no use denying it.
"You sure you're going to be okay?" He asked as he led her to the committee table and she nodded.
"I'll be fine." She sat down on her seat and watched as he approached Hotaru. She was pleasantly surprised to see Hotaru accept Ruka's invitation to dance and smiled to herself when she saw them start to dance. She thought they'd make a pretty good couple and felt good that she had at least been able to urge him to dance with the girl he intended to invite before the mask event would start.
Mikan had not been informed of the surprise mask event until she arrived earlier that afternoon to the venue. She wasn't opposed to it, but she didn't feel like dancing with a random guy for half an hour either. So a minute before eleven-thirty she put on her mask and pretended to mill around the crowd until she got to the backstage area. She'd decided she'd had enough dancing for one night and slipped away through a small nondescript door to the side. She had been to the hotel a few times the past month, for viewing and inspection if it met their needs, and was told of a passageway that led to a balcony overlooking a view of the city. Since barely no one was aware of its presence and it was well hidden at the back of the stage, no one was there to disturb her isolation. And it was just what she needed.
"Uhmm, Imai-san?" She looked up to find Ruka Nogi standing in front of her.
"What is it Nogi?" She pretended to be disinterested but deep inside, she could feel her heartbeat accelerate.
"Would you like to dance?" He had his hand outstretched towards her.
"Where's Mikan?" She asked.
"She said she wanted to sit down for a bit." He said. He blushed profusely with the white lie he had just told. He was almost at his limit, even daring to ask her to dance. A confession of his interest in her felt like a bit too much for him at this point.
"He had prepared himself for rejection. Even before he had eventually asked Mikan to the dance, everytime he thought of asking Hotaru something, he always steeled himself to hear her say the word 'No'. So he was surprised when she did the opposite and said 'Okay' and placed her hand in his. He quickly recovered, and led her to the dance floor, their presence making the people already dancing, stop and stare.
They were an odd looking yet stunning couple. The bossy and sometimes scary, president of the A/V club with the cute but somewhat rebellious golden boy. But despite their conflicting personalities, they looked quintessential. He in his dark suit with gold embellishment in the under shirt, and she in her purple sequined bodycon dress and heels that made her lavender eyes pop. The crowd couldn't take their eyes off of the two as they danced.
The song ended, and she was reluctant to let him go. But Narumi-Sensei already came onstage, announcing it was time to look for their mystery partner. She bid him goodbye to grab her mask and settled on her seat to wait for the unlucky soul who would be paired with her.
"Looks like it's going to be me and you again." She turned towards the sound of the familiar voice to see Ruka standing behind her. He had the same mask as hers and hidden behind his mask, despite his false bravado of being comfortable he was blushing like crazy.
"Didn't you have a different mask earlier?" She inquired, eyebrow raised. She had seen the mask he was holding and it definitely wasn't the one he was wearing right now.
"I swapped it out with an underclassman. He wanted to dance with this very pretty girl that was paired with my mask." He grinned at her. He was definitely feeling bolder today than any other day when it came to talking to her.
"You do know that defeats the purpose of the activity." She rolled her eyes as he shrugged and gave a sheepish grin. She let him lead her to the dance floor.
Her actions clearly contradicted her feelings. She felt elated that he had done what he did, even if she didn't show it. She also felt a twinge of guilt. She wanted to come clean to him but she didn't know how. The last half hour had been relegated to slow songs, so she placed her hands around his neck as he placed his hands respectfully on her waist, swaying to the melody of the music.
"You look pretty tonight, Imai-san." He murmured and she, in a moment of surrender, just placed her head on his shoulder. It was an intimate sight, but not uncommon amongst the sea of people dancing around them.
"Hotaru." She said. She didn't understand why she chose to answer that way instead of just simply thanking him.
"What?" He asked, momentarily confused. She lifted her head to look him straight in the eye.
"You can call me Hotaru." Only a few people called her by name, mostly the elites. And it was the first time she had let herself show her vulnerability. She didn't like to get close to many people. But she liked him. And she wanted to start somewhere.
"Okay." He could feel the heat creep up his neck. All he seemed to do today was blush whenever he was around Hotaru and he shook his head slightly. He needed to get it together.
She wanted to say something to him but she didn't want to ruin the mood either. Her mind (usually didn't have an issue processing words and planning a course of action) was oddly blank. She felt content to be like this, in his arms, even if it was just for half an hour. She leaned her head back on his shoulder and secretly smiled to herself. They stayed that way, just dancing in silence to the romantic music.
That feeling didn't last long though. She felt him stop and looked up. Her eyebrow twitched to find Natsume Hyuuga standing behind her. Ruka released her and she turned to face him.
"What do you need Hyuuga?" She said in between gritted teeth.
"I'm looking for…"
"Why?" She interrupted him before he could finish, knowing who exactly he was looking for.
"Does it matter?" He responded exasperatedly.
"It does. Because you've done enough damage for the past few days." He sighed, not bothering to respond and walked away with his shoulders slightly sagging.
"She's at the balcony." Hotaru said out loud, not looking at him specifically. "There's a secret door at the back of the curtains backstage." She knew he heard because when she glanced at his direction, he was headed towards the back of the stage. Ruka's eyes followed his best friend. He wanted to follow them and make sure Mikan would be okay, yet he wanted to stay with Hotaru too. He decided on the latter. Whatever happened between Natsume and Mikan was their own business. He didn't need to meddle in it. He just needed to be there if any of them needed him. He looked curiously at his dance partner and as they resumed dancing he couldn't help but ask.
"Why'd you tell him?" He asked as he looked into her eyes. It was the first time he did it so daringly. And little to his knowledge, his cerulean eyes had a riveting effect on her.
"I don't know what you know, but I believe they need to talk it out." She said.
"Why, what do you know?" He was curious now.
"Nothing really. You sure do ask so many questions." She wanted to kick herself. She was lying again. They began to dance again and she hid behind her mask in silence. She was beginning to hate this situation.
"Do you think they're in love?" Ruka asked and she responded almost automatically.
"Love is for saps." She felt more than heard Ruka's chuckle since her head was still leaning on his chest.
"What's funny?" She asked him and he seemed to have caught himself.
"Well, you sound just like someone I talk to on a regular basis." He said, unsure if he wanted to divulge his online activities. He wasn't doing anything he shouldn't be doing but still, he didn't feel like it's something he should share to a girl he likes. He knew how girls could get so riled up about things like that.
"Who?" She asked.
"A friend."
"Oh." She said.
"I would rather talk to you though than her." She looked up and saw his expression change. It looked like he was about to say something. And suddenly she felt something she had never felt before. Fear. She wanted to tell him the truth, but she was afraid he would get mad and judge her. She wanted to come clean, but she couldn't find the right words to say.
She couldn't just say 'Hey, you know that online site you're always on? Guess what? I'm Chantage!'. That 'friend you were talking to online? That was me! And you know what I like you. It all sounded so frightening to her. And suddenly she was overcome with the urge to just say it.
"Nogi, I have something I want to say…." She said and he looked at her expectantly.
She closed her eyes, the words at the tip of her tongue.
"I…." She thought of his face. And then she imagined the scenario unfold before her. She would come clean and tell him everything. And then he would get mad and never speak to her again. If she didn't realize she had feelings for him, she wouldn't have noticed or minded. But now, the thought of him not speaking to her, felt sad. She didn't want to lose what foothold she had on this. She wanted to tell him but she didn't have the guts yet to say it.
"What is it Hotaru?" The sound of her name from her lips was her undoing. She broke down inside.
"I have to go. I'm sorry." She broke free from his hold and ran towards the exit to her car. She just couldn't do it, and she another new feeling made its presence known for the first time in her life. Shame.
She could still hear the music as the ballroom was just below her, and when the music stopped, she could hear Narumi-Sensei announce it was time to look for their partners. She felt sorry for the person she was supposed to pair up with, because in all honesty, despite the heartache she felt, she only wanted to be paired with one person. And he was there with somebody else.
It was heart wrenching. That feeling of hopelessness she felt right now. She didn't notice the tears that had started to fall until she felt them rolling off the back of her hand. Thank God for waterproof mascara. She still had her mask on. She stood like that at the balcony, her hair blowing behind her with the cool breeze. It was dark, but she was illuminated by the light of the full moon and the thousands of stars twinkling in the clear night sky.
It was how Natsume saw her. He found the passageway that Hotaru mentioned and now he stood behind her, watching her from the darkness of the stairwell leading to the balcony. He was unsure if he should approach her. He had been conflicted all night. She'd seemed like her normal self. Except she treated him the way she used to before they had started that stupid scam. Like he didn't exist. Just like how she had brushed him off when he tried to explain what happened to her yesterday afternoon. She made it sound like it wasn't a big deal. And that alone was enough for him to just give up. To accept the fact that she didn't care about him the way he did about her. What confused him was why she had cried when she saw the kissing incident with Sumire. Why did she run away? And why did she run to Ruka of all people?
These were the questions he had that he knew he needed the answers to. Maybe if she answered them, whether or not the answer was in his favor would be enough for him. Then he could finally let go. He didn't have a choice anyway. He had to let her go. Otherwise he could hurt her even more. And he didn't want that to happen. Sumire had made it clear that he had no say in the matter. It wasn't beneath her to do questionable things just to get what she wanted. He could easily bluff his way out of the blackmail she was holding over his head, but he couldn't risk Mikan's reputation just for his own freedom from Sumire's plans. He didn't care about Luna, but he loved Mikan enough to know what he had to do. Even if that meant he had to do things that would make her never forgive him.
He watched her in silence. She stood like a Goddess. A beautiful yet lonesome deity. And he was drawn to her. He was content in just letting it be. Watching her from afar, no matter how hard it hurt. She clearly wasn't in love with him. He wasn't angry now. He just felt empty. He heard Narumi-Sensei announce the last dance of the night and was about to walk away when a sudden overwhelming feeling came over him. As the soft, intricate melody of the piano wafted through from below, he let his heart lead.
'Just this once.' He thought to himself.
(Might want to search and play this song while reading this part 'Sayo' by 'Silent Sanctuary' [SONG IS NOT MINE AND USED ONLY FOR FEELS PURPOSES])
He took swift steps until he was directly behind her. She had been too preoccupied in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone was with her until he had his arms around her in a tight embrace.
She stiffened as she felt herself wrapped around someone's arms and struggled before he shushed her.
"Shhhhh.." He said softly and she stopped moving and turned to face him. She had recognized his voice and was surprised to find him here, much more so that he had his arms around her. Her throat suddenly felt parched. He had the same mask as hers, covering his face, but there was no denying it was Natsume.
She stood still, not responding to his embrace yet not pushing him away either. Neither of them found the right words to say to each other. Both of them hurting deep inside. Both of them conflicted. But neither having the courage to speak what's really on their minds.
~Minsan oo, minsan hindi~ (Sometimes yes, sometimes no)
~Minsan tama, minsan mali~ (Sometimes right, sometimes wrong)
~Umaabante, umaatras~(Going forward, yet moving backward)
~Kilos mong namimintas~(Your actions that are criticizing)
~Kung tunay nga ang pag-ibig mo~(if your love is really true)
~kaya mo bang isigaw, iparating sa mundo?~
(Can you shout it out and let the whole world know?)
She finally mustered up the courage to speak after a moment. She looked at him, her eyes full of questions through the holes in her mask.
"What are you doing here?" There was more to her question than just that, but he felt like he could only answer it literally, knowing it was better that way. Her tone had no anger in it, only sadness. And he felt it. In fact, he wanted to rid her of the sadness. He wanted to see her happy.
"I'm your partner for the last dance." He said as he gestured to their masks that matched. He wanted to ask her a lot of things, but he couldn't. He stepped away from her and bowed before extending his hand.
"Can I have the honor of your last dance?"
She placed her hand hesitantly in his, and he pulled her close to him. They swayed slowly to the music on the balcony. Letting their body language speak for them instead of their words.
~Tumingin saking mata~(Look into my eyes)
~Magtapat ng nadarama~(Tell me how you really feel)
~Di gustong ika'y mawala dahil~(I don't want to lose you because)
~Handa akong ibigin ka~(I'm ready to love you)
~Kung maging tayo, sayo na ang puso ko~(If we get together, my heart is only yours)
She didn't know why, but she felt at peace. Despite everything that had happened, and no matter how hurt she was at what he did, it didn't seem to matter at this moment. What only mattered was that he was with her now.
~Walang ibang tatanggapin~(Won't accept anyone else)
~Ikaw at ikaw pa rin~(It's you and you alone)
~May gulo ba sayong isipan~(Is there anything bothering your mind)
~Di tugma sa nararamdaman~(not in sync with your feelings)
~Kung tunay nga ang pag ibig mo?~(If your love is really true)
They fit together like puzzle pieces. There was no awkwardness between them. Everything else was forgotten. He pulled her even closer, his hold on her tightening as the music continued.
~Tumingin saking mata~(Look into my eyes)
~Magtapat ng nadarama~(Tell me how you really feel)
~Di gustong ika'y mawala dahil~(I don't want to lose you because)
~Handa akong ibigin ka~(I'm ready to love you)
~Kung maging tayo, ~(If we get together)
They stopped swaying and stood still. She was looking down at her feet and he felt the need to look her in the eye for what he wanted to say. He gently tipped her chin up to make her look up and removed the strap of the mask on the back of her head. When her mask was removed, he removed his from his own face. They stood there in the moonlight, just looking at each other.
~Kailangan ba kitang iwasan?~(Do I need to avoid you?)
~Sa tuwing lalapit may paalam~(When I come near, you always have an excuse to leave)
~Ibang anyo sa karamihan~(We're different in the eyes of other people)
~Iba rin pag tayo, iba rin pag tayo lang~
(And it's different when it's us, different if it's only the two of us)
And at that moment, right then and there, the both of them didn't need words. Natsume leaned his head down and captured Mikan's lips in his own. He put everything he wanted to say to Mikan into the kiss. He wanted her to feel everything. His love for her. His wanting her in his life yet he also conveyed his regret for the mistakes he made.
~Tumingin saking mata~(Look into my eyes)
~Magtapat ng nadarama~(Tell me how you really feel)
~Di gustong ika'y mawala dahil~(I don't want to lose you because)
~Handa akong ibigin ka~(I'm ready to love you)
~Kung maging tayo~(If we get together)
~Kung maging tayo~(If we get together)
~Kung maging tayo~(If we get together)
~sayo lang ang puso ko~( my heart is only yours)
She responded to the kiss, his feelings seemingly reaching her like he had intended. But she was feeling happy and melancholy at the same time. She was ecstatic, her heart was pounding hard in her chest, and adrenaline surged through her. She deepened the kiss, wanting to rid of the nagging feeling pulling at the back of her mind. The kiss felt right and wrong at the same time. It was like he was saying goodbye. And when he pulled away, ending the kiss which was both sweet and bittersweet, she felt a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Natsume… I…" He interrupted before she could say anything more.
"I'm sorry Mikan." It was all he said before he turned his back on her and left her alone in the darkness of the balcony once again.
She stood there, her hands to her lips, her heart pounding and her mind even more confused at what had just happened between her and him. And what it meant for the both of them for the future.
END OF CHAPTER 14
Okay so for those of you who don't understand the lyrics of the song I used, it is from a local band called 'Silent Sanctuary' and the title of the song is "Sa'yo" which in English translates to "Yours". It would be best to listen to the song when reading this chapter. It made it so poignant in my imagination. AND I TOTALLY DISCLAIM IT. I DO NOT OWN THE SONG NOR AM I CLAIMING IT AS MY OWN. I DECLARE THIS CHAPTER INSPIRED BY THAT SONG ONLY.
I've included the English translation of the lyrics to the best of my abilities to make it easier to understand the feeling of that moment :D
And soooo…
How was it? Thoughts anyone? XD
newroz – You and me both dear. I guess I'm tired of making Luna always the villain and felt the need to switch things up ;)
jnrlove – Here ya go, enjoy! And thank you! :*
pennYnnep – Extremely important, right? Couldn't update like at that moment but I hope my being a little late isn't a bother! Enjoy this chappie!
Anilissa – I think some do have this kind of relationship, or beginning of their relationship. Dunno if you've seen Kimi ni Todoke but that anime was kinda frustrating (it thrives on misunderstandings) . Specially season 2 (if you have not watched, then watch it but prepare for frustration galore. XD Well Hotaru's definitely doing something, but it somehow ended up a little bit differently than she expected. Not that she knew what happened between Mikan and Natsume, but things aren't going so well with her and Ruka either. Stay tuned for the next update and we'll see what happens next!
SunBabyBoss – Thank you! Enjoy this chappie!
YoNaMe – Thank you for the poll answer and the prayers! And Enjoy the freedom before school starts again! Haha. Watch Orange. I've been watching it weekly and it's kinda interesting. XD And I felt that way too, writing this story. But I'm the author and we have to have some drama else if they get together right away it would be deeeyuuum boring … hahaha.. I am a bit sorry to have you frustrated but I'm a little bit not sorry since it meant my writing was able to get through to you guys ;)
ToukaKaneki Ulle – Yeah, been a while really. Gomen! Life has been busy and hectic. And Advance Happy Birthday! ^_^
Marissa – Hi ! oo, ok lang ako. Nasa Ceb kasi ako, family ko nsa Dvo. But high alert na din dito kasi nga marami na rin kalat balita dito daw susunod :( thank you po sa concern! Stay safe din wherever u are!
Jen – Thank you for the review ! And I hope, despite the sadness in this chapter, you will still like it! ;)
deviedra – no, you're not too late. And thank you for still loving the story despite our favorite pairings and characters suffering! Hahaha
blessifier – Slightly a poophead. LoL. And I'm kinda curious as to how you see it as her doing it for Mikan's sake? Send me a pm on that ;) And yeah, it's that kind of situation, mostly common in teenage/High school scenarios. Hahaha. I'm exploiting it, but hopefully, it's not boring for you guys to read. We all know how hard it is since there are a lot of stories to compare to.
anonreader – Thank you! For the review and well wishes. I'm in a different city but it's been high alert here as well as there are many bomb scares that are circulating. :(
HaCel – Well, he ultimately decided he couldn't do anything but agree to Sumire's proposal (thinking that there's something between Ruka and Mikan), however, do note that in the previous chapter, he hadn't shown up his face to school, thereby he didn't break up with Mikan per se. But Sumire is a devious person, and she made it look like Natsume kissed her in the car to which, Mikan saw. And yes, shame on her! Now she's being ignored, wonder what she'll do next? The Gold Homecoming Ceremony is just around the corner.
realive anime – definitely continuing ! Thank you for your review ! And here is the next chapter.
So just to remind everyone, I'll be going back to the story cycle once I've posted this so look forward to an update to 'Philophobia' in the next couple of days!
So story cycle update:
Philophobia (NEW) - Secrets - Fairie Tales - Starting Over Again - The Scam
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Ja Ne!
xoxo Lexi1989