Bittersweet Love

Hello guys! Miss you so much! I am sorry for going hiatus for a few months. It's because during this pandemic I can't reach internet to open the fanfic website these past few months. I am sorry and forever grateful for my lovely readers who still wait for this story 3

Hope this three chapters I upload would pay for my tardiness hahaha

Please, enjoy! :D

-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-

Disclaimer : I do not own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 28 : Living in the Moment

Mikan stretches out her body as she open her eyes. She lightly yawned and press the off button on her ringing alarm clock.

She turns her body sideways when she realized that she is not alone in her king-sized bed.

Her eyes widen at the last night's memories which rushed inside her brain, reminding the sweetest moment she ever has in her life.

Did last night happen for real? She still can't believe that her relationship with him can progress this far.

Watching the peaceful face of the handsome man who is sleeping right now in front of her bring her lips up into a soft smile as she carefully swipe away his bangs which covering his closed eyes.

"You sleep like a baby huh. You don't even hear my loud alarm clock." Mikan whispered, lightly touch his high cheekbones.

"I heard that."

Mikan screamed in surprise and jump back, holding onto her comforter as Natsume open his tantalizing crimson eyes and smirk mischieviously.

"Don't scare me like that." Mikan hollered, glaring at Natsume.

Natsume chuckles. He felt wonderful. His mood is at its best. Though its not his first time waking up next to Mikan, this time both of them properly sleeping, not like a few days ago where Natsume sleeping in sitting position, or when Mikan was scared of thunder and he has to take the couch and left the room early as to not scaring her.

"Where is my morning kiss?"

Mikan blush. Her heart start to pick its beat again. Being near Natsume definitely doesn't do any good to her heart. "Wh-What morning kiss?"

Natsume smiled. "If you don't want to give it, then.." He trailed off, slowly approaching Mikan and gently cup her cheeks.

Mikan eyes slightly widen. "What are you doing?"

Natsume grin mischieviously as he quickly give a peck on her lips.

"Natsume!"

"Taking my morning kiss of course." He answered, still grinning.

Mikan takes a deep breath to stop her erratic heart and cool down the blush on both of her cheeks. "I need to get ready. Hotaru doesn't tolerate any tardiness."

As Mikan fling her legs to the side of the bed, going to stand up, Natsume's arms instantly rounded her waist, pulling her back.

Mikan squealed in surprise, which earn her another chuckle from Natsume.

"Natsume Hyuuga! I need to go to work!" She protested, trying to untangle his hands.

Natsume lazily put his chin on Mikan's shoulder, closing his eyes and enjoying her scent which smells like flowers.

"Hmm. Can't you take a day off?" Natsume drawled, pulling Mikan tighter against him.

Mikan arches her eyebrow. She never knew that Natsume is this baby.

"Natsume, don't make my work performance bad please." Mikan said softly, though deep inside she hold back a smile. She can't help but find the spoiled act he does is endearing.

"I'll tell Hotaru. She'll let you." Natsume replied stubbornly.

Mikan sigh. "Don't you have meeting to attend too?"

"Well, I can always reschedule. Its still my birthday vibe anyway."

Mikan shook her head. "You are the one who said that you don't like your birthday to be celebrated aside from surprises."

"I think I can take it back now that you are the one who celebrate it with me."

Mikan rolled her eyes. "Natsume. I do remember your meeting are with important shareholders."

"Yeah." He mumbled, kissing her neck.

Mikan squealed again, this time she push Natsume's face away from her. "Natsume! Go away!"

Natsume chuckles. "I like the way my name rolled off from your tongue."

Mikan blush again. "Ugh, I need to go to work, pervert. Let me go."

"No Natsume again?" He ask, grinning. But he slowly let her go.

Mikan takes one of the pillow and slams it on his face. "Stupid pervert!"

Natsume slowly takes off the pillow from his face and laughs softly. He should have found her quicker. Never knew that having significant other would make everything different.

He sigh. Now he has to get ready to work too. He won't get any investment in his company if he bail out on this meeting.

"Okay, that's a wrap. We'll go over the documents tomorrow at half past seven before the meeting take place. Please prepare everything needed, manager." Hotaru said, closing the review meeting.

Mikan quickly writes a list of what she have to do tomorrow and looks up, nodding. "Of course, Ma'am. Everything will go perfectly."

"Good. Good afternoon, everyone."

As everyone fills out from the room, Hotaru's cold voice suddenly called for Mikan to stay back for a moment.

"Yes? Is there anything you need more, director?" Mikan ask, holding her folders.

Hotaru waits until last person went out and closes the door before facing Mikan, arms crossed. "How are your relationship with Hyuuga?"

Mikan instantly blushes. "Why asking out of the blue?"

Hotaru arches her eyebrow. "Just want to know the progress after his birthday."

"I.." Mikan avert her eyes. "I sleep with him yesterday. But not in that term of sleep, literally sleeping. Like in the same bed but sleeping."

Hotaru nodded. "I know baka. I know that you are not ready yet for that kind of thing."

Mikan smiled. "You always know me so well."

Hotaru scrutinizes Mikan with keen eyes as if searching for something.

"What is it?" Mikan finally ask, shuffling uncomfortably

"How are you feeling right now? About your relationship?"

Mikan smiled again. See? Although Hotaru did live up to her title as ice queen, she is still the best friend in the whole world for her. Behind the cold mask, Mikan knows that Hotaru always worried about her.

"How do I say it." Mikan think for a moment. "I.. actually liked this relationship right now. We're going slow, but I trust Natsume and he has been nothing but sweet to me."

"You like him?"

Mikan slowly nodded. "Anna help me to realize it, but yeah. I'll admit now that I like him. Maybe later I'll learn how to fall in love with him."

"I said you should give it a try but not force yourself into it."

Mikan chuckled. "I know, Hotaru. I won't do that to myself."

"How about the past? I don't intend to dig up what's in the past, but I need to make sure that you are okay about this."

"I understand your worries. I keep asking myself about it these past months, and turns out I think I already forgave him. I don't want to hold grudge too long after all."

Hotaru scrutinizes Mikan again, before letting a sigh and lean back on her chair. "That's good for you then."

Mikan beamed at Hotaru. "You know Hotaru, after choosing to let go of the past, I feel so much lighter, and happier. Thank you for your advice back then."

Hotaru smiled a ghostly smile. "Sure baka. Enjoy your life now."

Mikan nodded, still smiling. "Thank you Hotaru. I'm going, bye!"

Hotaru watches Mikan's figure vanish behind the door as she turns off her computer. She really hopes that her best friend would find happiness now. Her life is already hard enough till now, so its time for her to be happy.

"Hello?" Mikan put her phone on her ear as she slide her falling bag back up to her shoulder and press the elevator button to ground floor.

"Little girl."

Mikan's eyes widen and she pull her phone to see the screen.

Natsume Hyuuga. Of course.

"Natsume?"

"You didn't see the ID caller before picking the phone up?"

"Yeah, my bag was slipping and I just slide the screen automatically."

"Are you at office right now?"

"Yes, going down the elevator, and, arriving on the ground floor."

"Okay. That's good."

Mikan frowned. "What do you – "

Mikan holds her tongue as she see who is standing a few meters in front of her, wearing a navy blue suit and holding a boquet of red roses. Oh, and a soft smile which compliments strongly to his already dashing looks.

"You always look beautiful," Natsume commented, still holding his phone.

Mikan blush. "Why are you here?"

Natsume smirk as he step forward, approaching her. "Let's move somewhere first shall we? I don't fancy being the center of attention despite the fact that I'm already used to it."

Mikan blinks and looks around, finally noticing that a lot of female employees whispering among themselves. Some dare to point at Natsume, some just give him shy glances or look with blush on their cheeks, and even some give her jealous looks.

"This is your fault though," Mikan said as they walk towards the parking lot.

Natsume arch his eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"The attention. It's all your fault."

Natsume chuckles. "What do you expect for being too handsome?"

Mikan rolled her eyes. "Narcissistic."

Natsume grinned, he slid his arm around her waist sneakily and pull her closer to his side. "What do you feel of having a boyfriend like me?"

Mikan blush at the instant PDA Natsume did, but she doesn't make any move to get away from him, which made Natsume smile to himself. It means that she is quite comfortable with him now. Mikan did change in several things after declaring that she wants to officially in a relationship with him.

"Tired I guess? Being glared by a lot of women?" Mikan shot back, chuckling.

Natsume arches his eyebrow. "I'll make sure that won't happen in the future."

"No, no need. I can hold on my ground."

"Sure, sure. Just tell me if you need me." Natsume replied, opening the shotgun door for Mikan.

Mikan slid inside Natsume's car, and before he close the door, Natsume gently put the bouquet on Mikan's lap. "Here are red roses to show my love to you."

"You are so corny!"

Natsume grin. "Well, it's worth it if its for you."

"Stop it Natsume. I'm getting goosebumps."

Natsume chuckled as he closes the door and rounding the car, sliding behind the steering wheel. "Don't forget your seatbelt."

Mikan smells the bouquet and slightly smiled. "Thank you for the flower Natsume." She said quietly while putting on her seatbelt.

Natsume smirk. "Anything for my princess."

"Natsume!"

What do you think?

A big thank you for MomoGly for reviewing every chapter! Thank you so much! Your support is really appreciated sweetie

layliaman98 : Lol. Maybe the chapters in the future would step further towards the sleeping scene :p hahaha thank you very very much as always for staying with me and keep supporting this story, love you!

seemasakura : Hi girl, is it you the one with the guest? Thank you so much for leaving a few cute reviews here. I hope you are well and safe too :D She is wearing make up because of Natsume's birthday party hahaha and its being held at her apartment so, she wears it in her house :) Hope that's clear up the confusion :D

SmallPenguin19 : Hi there, thank you for the sweet review, and thank you for the recommendation. I'll change the warning right up :)

Thank you for reading!

Aquabluemarine