Bittersweet Love
Hello guys! I hope you are still energized and healthy till today :D
I am going to do mass upload again, 5 chapters! Andd.. sadly because of my city going to do lockdown for 2 weeks, I must do a short hiatus because I can't access the proper internet to upload stories. So.. I am going to do another upload 2 weeks from now, but I hope these chapters can make it up to you ;)
Happy reading! :D
-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-
Disclaimer : I do not own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 23 : Experience
Another whole new world once again spread in front of her.
Mikan's head unconsciously bobbing following the music beats which booming throughout the room. Her hazel eyes bright with anticipation as she and her friends walking in the Road 97.
Sumire said that the night club is the most famous in their city, and she can see that. Although it is still 9.00 PM, the place is already packed with people. Some of them dancing on the dance floor, some sitting in front of the bar or sit with their group with several bottles on their table.
"What do you think of this, darling? Its fun right?" Sumire hollered over the booming music.
Mikan grin while nodding. "Yes! Thank you for bringing me here!"
"The fun hasn't start yet, Mikan! Wait for it!" Anna chimed in, pulling her hand.
Koko has open a table for them and order two tower of beer.
"We should play something!" Nonoko gushed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Ruka chuckled. "Shouldn't we start slow? Mikan is new here."
"Don't make any stupid things." Hotaru warned everybody on the table. "I don't want to be responsible for anyone."
Nonoko lean towards Mikan's ear. "There are a few times where we all drunk and Hotaru has to take care of us one by one." She whispered, grinning.
Mikan chuckles. "How about her?"
"Oh, that girl is strong. She live up her name as the ice queen. She drink everyone under."
Mikan arch her eyebrow. Well, that's not strange. Her best friend is good at everything.
"Here are your order." A sexy looking waitress with long and curled black hair approach their table, bringing two big dispenser filled with yellowish liquid.
"Too bad we doesn't have any single man here." Koko commented, winking towards the waitress.
The waitress smiled alluringly and wink back. "Victoria's the name. I will be at the bar."
Sumire rolled her eyes and casually smack her fiance hard on the head before going back to analyzing her long, painted nails. "Quit being such a playboy. Do you want me to break off the engagement?" She said, coldly.
Koko immediately hug Sumire. His eyes pleading. "No, sweetie. I don't mean that. Don't do it please. I won't do it again."
"That what you've been said for the third time. Hm. Should I?"
Koko looks panic. "No, no, no. Please Sumire. I love you! This time I promise for real that I won't do that kind of thing again. I'm joking I swear. I did say that there is no single man on this table."
"Yeah sure. Keep going, Kokoroyomi."
"Sumire. Please!"
"Just ignore this guy. Let's play now. Whoever lose have to drink a glass in one go." Sumire said, grinning, ignoring her fiance pleads.
Mikan slowly lean towards Nonoko. "Are they going to be alright?"
Nonoko smiled. "Yes. Of course. Its usual between Koko and Sumire relationship. They love each other too much to broke of the engagement. They've been together for almost 10 years. There is no way she would do things like that over something like this."
"I hear that darling." Sumire commented, chuckling while shuffling the cards that she brought. "I think this relationship is precious thus I don't want any jokes around it."
Mikan look towards Nonoko worriedly while Nonoko just smiled offhandedly.
"Sumire, I think you need to calm Mikan down." Anna chimed in, looking at the frown Mikan constantly have these few minutes.
Sumire chuckles while distributing the cards evenly. "Ignore it darling. It'll be okay whether we choose to pursue this relationship or not. You'll still be my favorite girl."
"Sumire, please." Koko pleaded again.
"Who told you to play with fire?" Sumire replied sharply.
"Ouch." Ruka commented, snickering.
Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Are we going to play or not?"
Anna laughed. "Let's go before Hotaru change her mind!"
Natsume take a glance at the ticking clock before turning off the Netflix he has been watching and stand up from the couch, going upstairs to check on Hiro.
He slowly opens the door and step in, making sure that Hiro perfectly wrap in blanket since the night weather tend to get chilly these days, before he step out and goes into his own bedroom to change his clothes.
He pull on a white t-shirt and jeans jacket over his bare upper body, and pull off his jogger pants, changing into a comfortable dark colored jeans. He jogs downstairs, slipping on a pair of sneakers before grabbing his car key, and walk towards the garage.
While he pulling out from the garage, out to the gate, Natsume push his speed dial to his cousin who he is sure as hell would be very much sober.
She answered on the third ring with a cold voice. "What is it?"
"How is it going there? I'm going to the club right now."
Hotaru glance at her wristwatch. 12.30 AM. "The twins and Ruka passed out. They never can hold their alcohol after all."
Natsume smirk. "Your boyfriend is still lame as ever huh."
"Watch what you are saying Hyuuga."
Natsume's smirk become wider. "How much further he can hold compared to the twins?"
Hotaru sigh. "Quite far and I don't want to elaborate further. You want to know how's Mikan doing? No?"
"Yeah. That would be good."
"Permy ask Mikan to accompany her to the dance floor an hour ago, and they still dancing their ass off. Oh, and should I tell you that both of them are drunk, though not enough for them to passed out yet."
Natsume frowned. The prospect that Mikan dance in a drunken state doesn't really meet his taste. "Where is Koko?"
"Beside me, sulking because his girlfriend doesn't want to talk with him all night."
"Can you tell him to accompany the girls?"
"No. You tell him yourself. I don't want to get any idiotic germs."
Natsume rolled his eyes. "Whatever. 10 minutes and I'll be there."
Loud shouting and people voices greet Natsume's ears as he step into the club.
He easily make his way with a lot of greeting here and there since well, what do you expect from a devilishly handsome face like Natsume in a popular night club?
"Imai. Koko." Natsume called when he spotted their table. He take a seat while looking around the dance floor searching for a brunette girl.
"Natsume! You came!" Koko instantly brightens up. "Everybody here are mean to me." He whined, wiping his tears.
"Its because your stupid act isn't it?" Natsume replied coldly. His eyes still looking around.
"She's there." Hotaru pointed to the corner of dance floor.
Natsume frowned. Though Mikan is not his woman yet, he sure as hell doesn't like two men dancing really close to her, with one of them clearly hugging her waist and whispering bullshit words.
He rush down to the dance floor immediately as the sea of people automatically parted feeling his deadly aura.
"Mikan." He called, bumping one of the guy harshly.
Mikan turn around with bright eyes and a big smile plastered on her red lips. Her cheeks tainted with red which clearly shown her drunken state. "Natsume! You are here!" She greeted cheerfully.
Natsume arch his eyebrow, taken aback. Is this the real Mikan? The Mikan he knew all this time is a strict and rigid woman. Obviously, she never give him a sunny smile like this. "Hi there darling." He greeted back, slipping his arm around Mikan's waist, swatting the other guy's hand in the process.
"Hey man! You are disturbing our fun times!" The guy who are being bumped protested.
Natsume glared at the guy which effectively make him shrink. "Shut up. She is mine." He growled low.
"She said she is single." The guy stubbornly said, though he wisely take a step back.
"Now she is not." Natsume said again, glaring harder.
"Hey, let it go man. It's not worth it. Do you even know who he is?" The guy whose arm being swatted away pull on the other guy.
"All I know he is just a pretty face." The guy sneered.
If only Mikan isn't in his arms right now and hugging him affectionately, Natsume happily would have make this guy's face unrecognizable.
"He is Natsume Hyuuga!" The other guy hissed, still pulling his friend's arm. "Don't you know? The famous fighter back in our high school days?"
"So you know me. Did you both went to Gakuen Alice High?" Natsume ask, coldly. His crimson eyes staring deadly at both of the men.
The stubborn man glance at his friend. "N-Natsume Hyuuga?"
The other man smiled nervously. "No we weren't. I apologize for everything. We are going to go right now."
With that, both of the men vanished in the crowd.
"Huh. They have guts to molest her." Natsume grumbled while slowly half carrying Mikan towards the gang's table.
"I thought you would make a scene." Hotaru calmly commented, twirling her empty wine glass.
"I'm a grown up." Natsume replied briefly. "How much did she drink anyway?"
Hotaru shrugged. "I don't count after the fifth glass."
Koko chuckled. "Your girl can hold her liquor really good, Natsume. I think she drank like 20 glass?"
Natsume shook his head. She is definitely drunk. "You should check on Shouda, Koko. Last I saw her, she looks like hooking up with several guys. I bet she would sleep with one of them if you don't act soon."
"What!" Koko instantly stand up and run towards the dance floor, searching for Sumire.
"I'm going home. You take care of the rest." Natsume said, slipping his arm under Mikan's knees, carrying her bridal style while walking towards the exit door.
"I'm not going to do that."
"Up to you. I don't care. Tell Koko to do that then."
"Ugh. Why is this girl drank so much?" Natsume grumbled as he put Mikan slowly on the bed.
"Natsume." Mikan whispered, rolling on the other side.
Natsume sigh as he rake his hand. She is too cute. He can't hold it if he keeps being with her.
"Mrs. Florentine." Natsume called for his head maid through the phone.
"Yes, Master?"
"Would you help me with Mikan? She need to change her clothes." He paused. "Maybe also wipe her and erase her make up."
"I'll be there."
After waiting 15 minutes outside of Mikan's bedroom, Mrs. Florentine come out from her bedroom holding a basin of water. She smiled and bowed politely towards Natsume. "She is sleeping, Master."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Florentine. I appreciate your help."
Mrs. Florentine chuckles. "No worries. I'll be going now, Master."
Natsume nodded as he slowly step inside the room, wanting to check for the last time before he go to bed.
"You look so peaceful tonight." Natsume said quietly, taking a seat beside Mikan's sleeping form.
Even while sleeping, Mikan looks beautiful, just like 6 years ago. It is not a good reminder yes, he was being a jerk back then. But he can't just wipe off the memory of how gorgeous this woman was, or even now.
"Natsume." Mikan mumbled again.
Natsume slightly smiled. "You called my name a lot huh. Though when you awake its really hard for you to call by my first name."
"Umm. Natsume." She said again, stirring in her sleep.
Natsume shook his head. He better get back to his bedroom before he do anything inappropriate.
He stand up and going to walk to the door when her hand suddenly shoot up and grab his wrist, pulling him back.
Natsume frowned, stepping back beside her bed. "What are you doing, little girl?"
A lone tear escape from Mikan's eye as her forehead scrunched.
Natsume sigh. He gently pluck off Mikan's fingers and put her hand back beside her body.
"I'm scared, please. No. I will be alone." She mumbled, another tear escapes.
"What should I do with you?" Natsume sigh again, he sit on the corner of her bed and lean on the head rest. He slowly put his hand on her head, gently stroking her until her face void of any fear and she stop moving restlessly.
He knows that she does sleep talking. Back then when she was scared of thunder and lightning and ended up in his room, she talked a lot in her sleep too, he just didn't mention it to her since her sleep talking always consist something like this. Like a trauma, or bad nightmare.
Maybe he'll stay like this for a while. So that her nightmare won't come back.
What do you think?
layliaman98 : Hahaha the answers all revealed in these chapters :) hope you are satisfied with the storyline xoxo. Yeah, you too! Hope you are having fun in these quarantine time :D I am not a frontliner but, thank you so much for your care xoxo, you are amazing! Delighted to have such a supporter like you! Stay safe and healthy luv 3
RedVelvetLips : Thank you too for dropping a review! :D Yep, I'm going there right now, its because Mikan still confuse with her feeling back then, so she still isn't sure about being lovey dovey with Natsume, but now she already sure 100 percent with her feelings :D Thank you for your input though 3 stay safe and healthy!
Thank you!
Aquabluemarine