00 That Hangover
Mikan's eyes went wide. Her arms blossoming with goose bumps as her face glazed with shock. She stared at the person before her eyes. She felt something tight pulling against her chest as the said person looked back at her, his perfectly arched eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Who are you?" her voice was shaky, halting. Damn it, her throat was completely parched. Suddenly she felt her head throbbed painfully. She grabbed it with a groan and too soon the sheet she had securing her chest fell off and she quickly grabbed it with a yelp.
She heard the sound of a soft chuckle and turned to glare at him menacingly. "Honestly, who the hell are you?" she asked again, this time, raising her voice a little higher. The pounding came again and she cursed with a cringe, "Damn it. My head hurts like hell."
"That's probably what we often call a hangover," he said, inching closer and putting a hand on her head, he pat it softly, very likely trying to calm her down. When Mikan gave him a tense look, he awkwardly retrieved his hand. Out of habit, he rubbed his neck in an uncomfortable manner and shrugged. "Sorry. This is new to me. So I really didn't know what to do exactly."
Mikan narrowed her brown orbs at him. The man's devastating. His raven hair was a mess but it was a good looking mess. His eyes were sludgy crimson, but bright and way too intense as he stared back at her. He was sitting up so the sheets were pooling around his waist. Mikan tried not to gaze downward, below his neck but the sight of his bare chest was really tempting. Mikan gulped, trying to find her determination.
She tried to remember what actually happened. She recalled Hotaru dragging her to Sumire's party. Met a bunch of people there, though she couldn't remember any of their faces now nor their names, and they were partying quite hard. She remembered seeing Koko sneaking in some booze. Mikan immediately felt her jaw ticking. That dumbass Koko definitely threw some in the punch bowl. She must had taken a few glasses before she knew the punch was actually hijacked. "I take it we were both drunk to the extent of being like this the next day. Extremely drunk," she pressed while motioning at the state of undress they were both in right now. Good lord, can the man at least put on something to cover up? Has he no shame?
"Most likely," he answered nonchalantly as he leaned back. Mikan watched at the corner of her eyes as his lean cut upper body flexed. "I don't have any recollection of what really happen." When he woke up, he was already on the bed with a dreadful headache. And beside him laid a stranger whom he knew nothing about. Despite that, he was horribly calm, even he was surprised at himself.
Mikan sighed. Then they were both at fault. It would be no point pointing her finger at him when she too, was drunk. Plus, as much as she wished it didn't happen and it was all a dream, the reality stretched far from it. It did happened and there's nothing she could do to fix it back. Time travel does not exist after all. Though she certainly didn't plan on getting drunk at first. Mikan mentally scowled. She would have to hunt down one breathing human being by the name of Kokoro Yome. And she will torture him to quench her thirst for retribution.
Her trail of thoughts was disturbed when she saw him moving around. "What are you doing?" He ought not to move around so much. Every move he made, she felt like the sheet was about to fell off. They were sharing one sheet after all. And she needed most of it so she could cover herself up. When he tossed his body to the side, wanting to reach something on the floor at the bedside, the sheet was pulled. "Can you not move around so much?" She hissed. "I'm naked!"
She heard a throaty laugh before he responded, "You're not the only one naked here in the room." He picked up a piece of cloth.
"Well…" Mikan halted her words, trying to find a reasonable counter. What he did say was indeed true. Both of them were naked and both of them needed the sheet as much as the other. "You don't have boobs! So I need the sheet more than you do to cover them up!" Well done Mikan. That's the best respond you could give him? Mikan scowled at herself. Now she felt like a loser.
The corner of his lips curved. "That's a very smart thing to say, lady." It was a sarcasm, Mikan noticed.
"Oh shut up," Mikan huffed in irritation. "I'm out of things to rebuff you."
"I'll take a shower first."
Mikan watched he slipped the boxer he just picked up, under the sheet. He moved around a little so Mikan assumed he was putting it on. Pushing the sheet aside, he got down from the bed. He brazenly strutted to the bathroom with nothing but his boxers on. Mikan gaped. Not because the sight was tantalizing but because he did it without any embarrassment at all. The man's completely bold and he's not ashamed of it. The door closed behind his back and Mikan kicked her feet in frustration.
Now what is she supposed to do? She ended up toss and turn on the bed after came up with nothing.
Mikan abruptly sat up when she heard the phone rang somewhere in the room. She knew the ringtone. Wherever You Are by One OK Rock was playing. It was definitely her ringtone. Gathering the sheet, she wrapped them around her body and then got down from the bed. She looked around and walked to where she thought the sound came from. Now she could see where all her clothes were. They were all over the room. She managed to found her phone under her sweater. Hotaru's name appeared on the screen.
"Yes, Hotaru?" Her voice sounded chirpy on a force. Even she cringed at her own forced voice.
"Where are you?" There was a pause before Hotaru finally spoke again. "Bad hangover?"
Mikan sighed on a groan. Hotaru saw through her this time. "A very bad one," she admitted honestly.
"Very well then. Meet me at the usual place at 10 for a spot of breakfast. I'll bring you some advil for that hangover of yours." She hanged up.
Always a concise person, that Hotaru. Mikan heaved a heavy sigh. She heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. Looking at the clock on her phone screen, she pondered for awhile. Gathering her stuff from here and there inside the room, she quickly dressed up, leaving the sheets back where it was, on the bed. Not bothering with a shower, she had plenty of time to stop by her house to take a proper bath. She crinkled her nose in disgust at the faint smell of alcohol. And a change of clothes as well, she added drily.
She picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and carefully folded them before placing them on the bed. Retrieving her bag from by the door, she checked inside. All her stuff seemed to be in it. Standing by the door, she took one final glance at the room. Hearing the shower stopped, she jumped in surprise. "Blimey!" She closed the door behind her back just as she heard the doorknob of the bathroom twisted and saw a glimpse of a foot stepping out. She quickly ran to the elevator.
. . .
"You're late," Ruka commented drily, "As usual."
He watched as Natsume pulled a chair across him and sat down sluggishly. He gave Ruka a look. "Stop being a mother so early in the morning, Nogi. Hearing your voice nagging at me made my ears bleed," Natsume grunted.
"Bad hangover?" Ruka queried.
"Damn yes." He rubbed his temples. The throbbing wasn't as bad as this morning but it was still there. A mild one though. A bit of annoying, actually. He pulled the menu from Ruka and opened it. He scanned the long list of the first page. "I need coffee. With extra shot."
Ruka pulled the menu back. "You need advil." Not an extra shot bloody coffee. Even if caffeine does help a little.
"Later." Natsume gave him a dismissal wave. He raised his brows at him. "I see you're doing extremely fine. No hangover?"
Ruka shook his head. "I'm lucky the punch I drink was alcohol free. Hotaru had a great nose." He grinned.
Natsume smirked. "You make it sound like you have a dog as your girlfriend."
"Your jokes are lame, Hyuuga." Ruka tossed him the menu over the table while glowering. "Order something else too. Don't just get a coffee. You're not a freaking machine. You need food to have energy."
"I don't need energy. I'm not doing anything today anyways," Natsume mumbled, looking back at the menu. When he sensed Ruka giving him a disapproval look of a mother hen, Natsume sighed. "I'll get the breakfast set A, okay mother?"
Ruka rolled his blue eyes at Natsume's endearment of him. Nonetheless, he paid it no mind. Natsume pushed the menu away and held up his hand to get the waiter's attention. Ruka's brows shot up when he saw the watch Natsume was wearing. He squinted his eyes a little for a better look. It was a G-Shock Frogman. He had not seen that before. Especially in such colour sporting on Natsume. "New watch?" He didn't know Natsume fancy pink. One in a softer tone, that is. "Nice color by the way." Ruka smirked.
"Shut up, Nogi." Natsume took the menu and hit Ruka's head with it just as a waiter came to their table with a memo pad and a pen. He returned the menu back to the waiter and gave him his order. After Ruka finished giving his, the waiter left to give the orders to the kitchen before making his another round when another customer raised his hand. "You should call me next time you wanted to buy a watch. I gotta be honest to you, man, pink is definitely not your colour," Ruka continued, snorting in the process.
"It's not mine."
Ruka's face turned blank. "It's not?" Now he's confused. He furrowed his brows. "But you're wearing it," he argued.
"Yeah but it's not mine," Natsume pressed. "You think I would waste my money on something pink?" He asked incredulously. The waiter came to deliver their coffees and left just as quick. Ruka's left unattended infront of him on the table while he waited for Natsume to continue his words but instead, the man just casually blowing his hot coffee over the rim of the cup as he held it up. Now he wondered if Natsume just did it deliberately to tease him or he just had no intention to continue what he was gonna say earlier.
Realization dawned on Ruka's face when he noticed Natsume's clothes were the same as last night. Even if it looked clean and crisp, he expected Natsume had it dry cleaned this morning. He leaned back against his seat too casually and the corner of his lips curved maliciously. "You didn't go home last night," he stated with a cunning smile. It could only meant one thing now. And if the puzzle earlier fit, the watch must belong to a girl. Obviously pink is a girl's colour. In addition that Natsume is the most straight guy Ruka had ever known.
"I crashed at some hotel last night. Didn't remember how I got there though," he replied nonchalantly.
"You didn't go home last night, you were at a hotel too, and you're wearing a girl's watch the next morning…"Ruka's words trailed off as a provocative smile began to form on his face.
"We were both drunk," Natsume pressed, replying way too quickly to defend himself. He knew what Ruka meant earlier. His best friend could already figure it all out.
"So I was right. You did ended up sleeping with somebody from the party," he smiled winningly. He hit the right mark. Now curious, he leaned forward. His elbow on the table, he placed his chin on his palm. "Did you get her number? She's the first girl you slept with after all. That's something she should be proud of. She took your virginity too." Ruka added amusingly. The first girl Natsume Hyuuga slept with, Ruka mused. When nobody else could even get close to him, she landed it while she was drunk. No matter, if things work out great, he could see his best friend holding a girl's hand and called her his girlfriend in the near future. He had always wanted to find Natsume one. Now he didn't have to feel bad whenever he left him behind when he's with Hotaru.
Natsume gave Ruka a glare, signaling him to shut up when the waiter came with their food. A plate of pasta placed in front of Ruka and a plate of scrambled eggs, sausages and toast placed in front of Natsume. The waiter bowed his head and left. Ruka waited. When Natsume forked his eggs, Ruka gave him a look. "So?" he prompted. "Did you get her number or not?" He asked again.
Natsume shrugged his response. "She was gone after I got out of the shower."
Ruka furrowed his brows quizzically. "She just left?"
"She paid for the hotel room though," Natsume added nonchalantly. He thought they should talk, discuss whatever needed to be discussed because hell, he was sure none of them knew what they needed to do after that, or what stood after that; their status and everything. He was sure it was a first time for her too. He may not had any experience in stuff like this but the way she reacted, holding the sheet so tightly to cover herself up like her life depended on it, he's positive that it's her first time too.
But after he got out of the bathroom, she wasn't there anymore. He remembered there were clothes scattered on the floor before he went for a shower but then, her clothes were gone and he found his folded neatly on the bed. After he got his clothes dried-clean, he went to the front desk to pay for the room, thinking she would just left it for him to bill. He was surprise to found out it was already been paid. She just left him perplexed. Even now.
"Aren't you too calm about it?" Ruka stared at his best friend incredulously. "She slept with you and gone the next morning so she's one of those one-night-stand kind of girl. She must had aimed you beforehand at the party." Ruka frowned. "I don't like her." The thought of having the girl as Natsume's girlfriend immediately died out.
"You're not my mother, Ruka," Natsume pointed out grimly. Cutting the sausages in smaller pieces, he took one into his mouth. "I'm bloody sure it's a first time for her too," he muttered while chewing. He remembered her yelling at him, asking for his name when she first saw him there on the bed next to her. Aaah now that he thought about it, he didn't give her his name. "Why do you think she ran away?" Natsume suddenly asked. His face remained impassive but he's really curious though. It was a first time for him and having a girl leaving so quickly, it wasn't supposed to be like that right?
"Isn't it better that way?" Ruka asked back with his mouth filled with food. He chewed the pasta and gulped down. "Or would you rather having her sticking to you like a glue, demanding for you take responsibility?" Ruka froze. His blue eyes widen. "You guys did use protection right?" But then his forehead creased. "But you said you guys were drunk so..the chances of not using one is.." he trailing off, mumbling to himself.
"We use one," Natsume replied. He saw Ruka gave him an odd look and so he explained, "I found a used one thrown on the floor in the hotel room." He shrugged, "Although I have no idea how we managed to use it in the drunk state, but I'm certain we use one."
Ruka sighed in relief. "Fucking hell. I can't imagine you being a father at this age. You'll scare your own kid." Natsume gave him a menacing glare but Ruka just shrugged it off with a laugh.
"Oh Hotaru's finally here," Ruka informed. Pushing his plate next to Natsume, he switched his seat. Not understanding what he's doing, Natsume gave him a look. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Hotaru brought her friend," Ruka answered flippantly while pointing to the entrance door. "Oh right, you guys already met last night. She was at the party too."
Natsume looked at the door and found her cousin walking in with her usual icy impassive expression on her face. Her cold amethyst eyes sent shivers to the waiter she was passing by. She was pulling somebody's hand, more like dragging somebody behind her back. Natsume saw a glimpse of brunette hair and thus quirked his brows at Ruka. "You said we've met last night?"
"Yeah. Hotaru brought her. She'll be attending Alice Academy with us next term so Hotaru's bringing her around to introduce her."
"I can't imagine why my cousin would go such lengths for troublesome matter like that when she hates it so much. Imai being nice to other people, the end is near."
Ruka rolled his eyes at Natsume's remark. "Mikan Sakura is Hotaru's best friend."
"She is?" So her name's Mikan Sakura. "So Imai actually has a best friend who can tolerate her cold quirkiness. That's rare," Natsume added with a smirk. "I hope she doesn't extort money from the poor girl."
Reaching the table, Hotaru countered coldly, "I take everyone's money, Hyuuga." She pushed the brunette to get in the seat first before she took hers after that. Settling down on her seat, Hotaru grabbed for the menu on the next empty table and casually flipped the pages. Meanwhile the brunette was sluggishly sitting beside her with her head on the table, face directed towards the glass window. Natsume silently raised his brows. Did she not notice him?
"Don't mind her. She's having a bad hangover right now," Hotaru said. Closing the menu, she held up a hand to the waiter.
TBC.
