Disclaimer: GA, Gakuen Alice or Alice Academy is not mine. Higuchi Tachibana owns it.

Act Twenty-One: Denial

I found myself speechless for a few minutes after hearing that. I held onto his hand tighter then exhaled. I must set things straight. I thought to myself. I caressed his raven bangs just to check if his hair is still wet and to also decrease the awkwardness between us. He looked up to me as he grabs my hand that I'm using to check his hair. He stared to me again and without any further ado, he pulled me for a hug.

Nat… I wasn't even able to finish calling out to his name for I felt his hug tightening. I gently caressed his back in an attempt to calm him down. He still didn't say anything after that so I took that as a chance to say what I have in mind.

Natsume.. he looked up to me after that. I continued what I have to say, I.. We can't just.. le..leave. We have our school, our parents.. and we have Ichi.. we ca..can't.. his hand gipped mine after hearing his half-brother's name. I pet his hair to comfort him.

Mikan..he didn't let me finish what I have to say after all. He was whispering, as if only talking to himself. I only need you. He breathes. I hugged him again and answered, Me too, but we just can't run away because you're threatened with Ichi's presence. I loosen my hug then hold both of his cheeks, making him look at me. No one will ever take me away from you. I kissed his forehead after that, expecting that my reassurance was enough, but to my surprise, his fists balled then the next thing I know, he pushed me away from his arms.

Damnit, Mikan. You don't understand anything! He didn't shout, but I can tell that he's agitated from the tone of his voice. You always try to deny seeing the whole picture. I'm not stupid, Mikan, and neither is Ichi. His brow twitched as he mentions his brother's name. I know and I see that he likes you. God damnit. I didn't even get the chance to defend myself because after that, he stood up, and shut the door behind him, exiting the room. I can only hear his agitated footsteps from the hallway as, I presume, goes to the guest room next to mine.

I didn't have the courage to go after him after what happened so in the end, I laid down on my bed, defeated. I rested my folded arm on top of my forehead as I close my eyes. It stings a bit because I can feel tears welling up. No, I musn't cry. I.. I just need to understand him. I say, but it was too late. My tears are already flowing away from my eyes.

When I woke up the next day to get ready for school, Natsume was nowhere to be found. I assumed that he already left to go to school so I went ahead and got ready as well. When I got out of the house, Ichi was nowhere to be seen as well. I arrived just in time in class and Nonoko and the other's swarm at me as they realize that today, for the first time, I didn't walk with Natsume to school. They asked me if something happened between the two of us since Natsume was in class earlier than anyone else. I eyed him for a bit before answering No. his face was covered with a half-finished manga of Shingeki No Kyojin, obviously ignoring me. No knowing what to say to him, I decided to think about what to do first as I sit down on my assigned chair.

It was already past noon when our classes finished. When lunch time came, he was the first one to leave. I hurriedly pushed away my textbooks on the corner of my table to run after him. It was when he was drinking a carton coffee when I saw him again. I shouted his name, even approached him, as I tug the sleeve of our school uniform. Natsume.. I… but he slapped my hand away as he walked past by me treating me as if i'm someone who is invisible.

I tried to hold back my tears by biting my lower lip, but after hearing Hotaru's voice calling my name a few feet away from me, I can't help but run to her and cry my eyes out. She didn't say anything, but she gently patted my hair, as if petting an abandoned, cold puppy. I hugged her tightly after that, feeling safe in her arms and while she was comforting me still, Ichi called me out, Mikan.

I pulled away from Hotaru to look at him, he then gestured that I come close to him so that we can talk in private.