Chapter 21: Tension and Quitting

"Hey Mikan, you've been quiet for the past few days. What's wrong?" Yuu asked me as he sat down on the chair in front of me.

I smiled at him. "I have? Really now?" I replied, trying to hide the reason of it all.

"That's right, and I thought you and Natsume are working on the fashion show, but how come I see you going home directly after school? Aren't you supposed to ride with him like always to the fashion house?" Anna asked.

'Things are different now' I wanted to tell them. But, I don't want to worry them.

The week of the fashion show has arrived but there are still a few days away. Natsume and I haven't been talking since we fought. I have no idea why he is so mad at me. I called and texted him, but he never replied. I was always shoved out by his maids when I asked if I could talk to Natsume. It's already eating me up inside. For the past few days, my dad has scolded me and he's been asking me what happened to Natsume and I lately. It was hard enough for me to lie to him.

When recess time came, I heard a few of the boys saying that they were going to cut class. Along with them were Natsume and Ruka. I got pissed, yet I don't know why. I tried not to care. I minded my own business by going over to my friends and dipping in their conversation.

The boys stood up and I just watched them. I caught Natsume's glare and I just looked back at him. I clenched my fists. I headed for the door and followed the boys to the hallway. "N-NATSUME!" I yelled.

He and the rest of his friends turned to me. "J—JUST HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TREAT ME THIS WAY?" I asked him.

By this time, everyone in their classrooms and the hallway were looking at me.

"What are you babbling about?" he replied coolly.

"Why do you keep on ignoring me for the past few days? Why weren't you answering my text messages or cell phone calls?"

He didn't reply.

"Oh sure, don't answer me. That's what you're good at Natsume! No, I'm sorry, I was wrong. You're good at a lot of things. But you know where you excel the most? IT'S TORTURING PEOPLE!" I had finally snapped.

"I have always hated you, and everyone knows that. But when I became the owner of Sakura fashion and you became my partner, my views about you started to change. Then you start to ignore me for no reason that I can recall. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?"

My eyes were like waterfalls. He still didn't seem to care, he just looked away and said "You're wasting my time, little girl."

I was taken aback by what he said. "I…I can't believe you." I said.

I decided to walk away. Then I stopped at my tracks, " If making me hate you is your goal, then fine, you won already. I'm quitting Sakura fashion too. I don't want to be their Little Miss anymore, if it means seeing you everyday of my life."

"… Like what you told me, Natsume. "Get out of my face""

I walked away, I knew he wasn't going to reply anyway. I fished my cell phone from my pocket and dialed my dad's number. I wiped my tears away and cleared my throat.

"Hello, otou-san?"

"Ah, Mikan. Why call at this time? Don't you have classes?" he replied.

"I do, otou-san. But this is important..." I said.

"Okay then, what is it?"

"I'm…I'm quitting Sakura fashion. I don't want to run it anymore."

"What?!" he exclaimed.

"I know it's very irresponsible of me since it's only a few days away. But please otou-san…I can't run it anymore. I have a lot of things to deal with already."

"Mikan, what's wrong? You're not like this. You know how many people you're going to let down just by quitting? People are expecting you to represent the company. They have already grown to like you. Satoshi, the designing team, and the others…"

"I know. But I…just really can't. I can't. Please just represent the company on my behalf." I said and hung up.

I'm a coward. I'm a quitter. I'm everything you'll label as a loser.

I headed for the school grounds and I sat down on the freshly cut grass. I leaned against a tree and just sat there, thinking. I sighed. What have I gotten myself into? Was I wrong to yell at him in front of everyone? Well, a part of me thinks that I did the right thing since I doubt he'll listen to me in private.

But still…

"Am I the one who's wrong or him?"

"The both of you."

I turned to look and saw Hotaru. She leaned on the tree and looked up to the sky.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her. "It's class hours by now; I don't want your class standing to be affected because you're here."

"Mr. Narumi's absent. Everyone else is bumming around anyway." She replied.

"Oh…"

I hugged my knees and slapped my forehead lightly over and over again. "Why won't that loser just jump off a cliff, take a nose dive and break his bones or something?" I said.

She remained silent as she sat down beside me.

I groaned. "Hotaru, was what I did earlier wrong?" I asked her.

"Yeah it was wrong. But… I'm used to you capturing everyone's attention anyway." She replied nonchalantly.

"It wasn't my intention to capture everyone's attention in the first place. I just…couldn't help but finally, seriously get mad at that idiot. Ugh. He makes my blood boil! EVERYTHING IS JUST FUN AND GAMES FOR HIM!"

Hotaru remained silent, as she listened to my complaints. When I finally calmed down and slowly got over the whole argument with Natsume thing, I decided to tell her about the time I was at the park with Ruka.

"Hotaru, I was with Ruka yesterday." I told her. Her cheeks seemed to turn red as I mentioned Ruka's name. That was odd.

"So?" she said as if she didn't care.

"I told him that I liked him a lot and he didn't feel the same."

Hotaru just looked at me. "He likes someone else you see, and that someone is pretty close to me."

"I cried when he told me who he liked yesterday. It was painful to hear him say the name of the girl he liked. But you know what's the most bizarre thing of all?"

"Crying over Ruka wasn't all that painful compared to crying over Natsume."

"You like him, right?" she asked me.

I almost gagged at what she said. "Of course I don't!"

"If you didn't like him, you wouldn't be like this, being glum about your argument; bothered by his sudden change of attitude and most especially, you wouldn't cry over him. He used to do this to you all the time, and it never bothered you at all."

"I don't like him, Hotaru." I stated.

"You're really stubborn." She said as she sighed.

"This is just a phase. I don't like him. I like Ruka."

"People don't know it when they're lying to themselves, Mikan. I know for a fact, that you're already falling for him."

"HOTARU, I JUST SAID THAT I DON'T LIKE HIM! I DON'T LIKE NATSUME!" I yelled angrily.

Hotaru stood up and walked away from me.

I slapped my forehead. "Oh God…I'm so confused." I uttered.

The next day.

"Mikan, wake up, it's time for school." My mom called.

I didn't get any sleep at all. The whole night, I kept on leaving apologetic messages to Hotaru's private line and cell phone, but she didn't answer a single call. It was already 6:00 am on my wall clock and I went to the bathroom to get ready for school. I went down the stairs and heard a number of voices. When I peeked, I saw my dad in the kitchen.

"Ohayou, Otou-san." I greeted with a smile on my face.

The next thing I knew, he and I were already in my room talking about what was happening to me and my reason for quitting.

"Mikan, you can't quit without talking one on one with Natsume as business partners." My dad said.

"Dad, he's THE reason why I'm quitting. I can't just talk to him after our big argument!" I protested.

"Mikan, please. It will be so embarrassing to Mr. Hyuuga if you just walk out, with me having to explain why."

"Dad, I understand you. But you have to understand me as well. It's already difficult for me to go to school; I can't stand it anymore to be in one room with him."

"Alright Mikan, but you still have to do one last thing if you really plan on quitting." He said.

"What's your condition?" I asked.

"You have to host the fashion show still with Natsume, then after that, you're free to leave the fashion house."

I gulped and decided. "Okay." I told him.

"Natsume, why don't you just tell Mikan that you like her?" Ruka asked his best friend.

"What are you talking about?" Natsume said in protest.

"Come on, I know you like her. You don't just rescue a girl from being locked in a bathroom if you didn't care about her."

"I was just looking out for her, she's my business partner after all." He replied.

Ruka sighed. "When you and Mikan were gossiped as a couple in news papers, you didn't seem to mind and care if people believe it. But when you and Sumire were gossiped here in the school as a couple, you became so irritated and you hated everyone who believed it to be true."

Natsume looked away. "Whatever, so what if I like her? That girl is gaga over you anyway."

Ruka smiled at his best friend. "Mikan wouldn't be crying in front of you the other day if she at least didn't think you were special."

Author's note: Guys, the next chapter might be the last, im not really sure. WAH. Writer's block hit me today. I dont know if i'll be able to end this story well, but I HOPE SO. you might all get disappointed with me at the end. :l i hope that wont happen. anyway, hope to receive a review from you guys. suggestions are welcome too:) THANKS O THOSE WHO REVIEWED THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER:)