▲ Chapter 2 || Befriending Natsume ▲
"And this is your room!" Kaoru squeals excitedly; pushing the door open to reveal a large, spacious bedroom. Standing in it is a king-sized bed; draped in a white quilt and accessorized with hundreds of decorative pillows. The room, like every other room in the house, was clean, elegant and simply breathtaking.
"This is amazing, Kaoru." I say in awe as my eyes dance around the room.
"There's also a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite." She informs me proudly; walking over to the two doors on the left wall and swinging them both open, "Unfortunately the ensuite is joined to the room next door, so you'll have to share it with Natsume, if that's okay."
"Oh." I say, "Yeah, that's fine."
"You can use the main bathroom if you need, but don't let Natsume hog the ensuite, okay?" I nod my head and Kaoru smiles broadly at me in response, "If you have any problems, particularly with Natsume, come to me."
I nod my head vigorously and thank her. Satisfied, she departs the room; allowing me some time to settle in. I flop onto the bed and allow myself to sink into the mattress; breathing in the fresh coconut scent of washed sheets.
Staying in this house will be a breeze. Well, with one monumental exception, that is. Natsume. However, that might not be such a problem if I can somehow get him to open up to me. Then again it won't be easy, it'll be hard work, I can imagine.
For the next ten minutes I begin to unpack my suitcases; setting most of my clothes in the walk-in wardrobe, while packing my underwear and cozy clothes into my chest of drawers. I then put my makeup bag on the vanity, a laptop on my bedside table, a clock and photo album on top of my chest of drawers, and place some of my medications in the drawer that locks with a key, and a tired me plopped on the floor.
I am not suppose to tire myself too much because I can easily pass out, and not wake up for hours and hours. If Hotaru, one of best friends from school, found me like this or Sumire I would get a lectured. Not that I blame them because I am a bit stubborn myself. I lay for a few more minutes.
Once my heart-beat has slowed to a normal pace and I don't feel like I'm going to pass out any second, I stand up, slowly, and grab my laptop; setting camp on my bed. I haven't done any work over the week, which means that I have a fair amount of homework and assessments to complete; especially since it's four weeks till the end of school and our teachers have ever-so generously decided to make all assessments due within the same week.
I get to work and by the time I'm finished, it's 7pm. I wriggle my sore, cramped fingers and hop out of the bed; relieved that all the urgent work is out of the way. I head into the ensuite to take a much needed shower, being sure to lock both doors. I then undress and get scrubbing.
Minutes later, I step out of the shower and into a cloud of steam; wrapping a towel around my body. When I swing the door open, I almost scream at the sight of Natsume in my room.
"Hi?"
"Dinner's ready." He scowls, and I internally sigh. Will this guy be nice for once?
His eyes then travel down my body, to which I realise is only covered by a small towel.
Oh Goodness.
He stands up from my bed, a cocky smirk on his face as he walks to the door. Just as I think he's about to leave, he turns to me, "You look like a drowned rat." He smirks.
"Well- well you look like a greek God!" The words die in my throat as he slams the door shut, and I smack my forehead at my comeback. Wow, so insulting.
So befriending Natsume obviously isn't going to be a breeze, but I could do it. I hope. Everyone needs someone to be there for them; to support them, to hear them out, to care for them. I may not have my family to care, but that doesn't mean everyone should feel isolated. Natsume was lucky to have his parents, and friends care for him, me on the other hand have hardly anyone.
Natsume's friends were all tough bad boys. I doubted he and his friends would have heart-to-hearts; which is very important. Even for bad boys, it's important that you let it all out every once in a while. You shouldn't bottle up your emotions; it isn't healthy, especially when you are surround by the couple that care for you a lot, and will do anything to make you happy.
"Think happy thoughts." I hum to myself; inhaling and exhaling deeply. I just really hope he's happy. I hope he isn't miserable, because I know how that feels.
…..
The following morning I wake up; determined to start the long day ahead of me: Day number one of my mission in befriending Natsume. Stepping out of bed with a bounce in my feet, I get dressed and head downstairs into the kitchen where Kaoru is tipping a spoon of sugar into her coffee and mixing it. At the sight of me, she grins, "Hey Mikan! Awake already?"
I smile and shrug in response. Like my father, I'm an early riser, "I'm an early-bird."
"Ah." she nods. "How are you liking it here so far?"
"I love it. Thank you so much for letting me stay."
"You're such a darling. We're happy to have you." Taking a sip of her coffee, she slings her handbag over her shoulder and walks past me, "I have to go to work now. Make yourself at home! We have a pancake mix in the pantry if you want to make some. Oh! And please wake up Natsume for me," she says, hastily walking to the front door.
Is she trying to get me killed?
"Thank you, and sure thing."
"Thank you so much Mikan!" Kaoru calls over her shoulder. With her high-heels clacking against the tile floor, she opens the front door and struts out of the house.
I pause for a moment; cherishing the quietness of the house. The past 24 hours have been a little crazy to say the least, but a moment of silence is enough to power me into moving on.
I soon decide to get the hard part over with. I stumble back upstairs and head over to Natsume's room. Nervousness bubbles within me and I grow hesitant.
What if he gets angry and shouts at me?
Ignoring the anxiousness thriving within me, I knock on his bedroom door. Silence. I knock again, and once again hear nothing. Gingerly, I push open the door and peak my head into the room where I see Natsume laying on his bed; fast asleep.
My eyes then curiously wander around his bedroom. Natsume's room is much like mine; clean and basic. He doesn't have a lot in the room besides a surfboard standing in the corner, a football lying on the floor and 2 posters; one of a motorbike and the other of some blonde, voluptuous model who lays on the hood of a black Lamborghini.
I tiptoe over to Natsume, who is sprawled on the messy white covers, before nudging him, "Hey Natsume, wake up." I whisper, to no avail. "Wake up Natsume." I say; more loudly this time. He doesn't even budge. I pinch him and he stirs ever so slightly in his sleep.
Minutes pass by and nothing changes. Natsume is still slumbering peacefully in his bed. Without giving my plan much thought, I jog out of his room and return with a random old water sprayer I found in the kitchen.
I know what you're thinking. I'm crazy. But Natsume must have a sense of humor, right? Besides, I'm almost certain it won't wake him up anyway, and it's not as if I'm throwing a bucket of water onto him.
Clearing my thoughts, I spritz the spray onto Natsume's face a few times. Less than seconds later, he shoots out of bed with a loud yelp. I step away in surprise. To be honest I didn't think that would work, I just wanted to give it a go since people do it in movies.
Natsume's hands shoot over to his tightly closed eyes and he begins to rub them fiercely. "What the fuck!" He shouts; yelling a series of other profanities. My stomach drops at his enraged reaction. I did not expect him to be this angry. "My eyes!" He then shouts; still rubbing them furiously. My eyes widen in realisation and I quickly lift up the bottle. On it, is paper tape with 'Window Cleaner' written in permanent marker.
My head darts over to Natsume, "Oh God." I whisper to myself. "Oh no. Natsume! I'm so sorry! Oh my goodness. Are you okay? I can get you some water to wash your eyes out if that helps. You weren't waking up so I thought I might try wake you up with water and-" I stop myself and watch on anxiously. Fortunately he doesn't seem to be in pain anymore and just sits there; blinking furiously to clear his vision. " I didn't realise that it wasn't water because it was a plain bottle so I just assumed, and-"
My words die in my throat when I see Natsume's cold glare. His eyes are bloodshot red and his nose is flared in anger. He closes his eyes and lets out a breath, "Run." He whispers.
"What?"
"Run."
My eyes widen and I stumble backwards; panic rising within me. Natsume stands up instantly and throws the bed covers off him; stalking towards me furiously. I let out a yelp and immediately turn and dash out of his room. I race down the stairs and dive into the nearest room; closing and locking the door behind me. I slink down against the door and let out a deep breath.
Well that was a disaster.
Mikan: will that was not what I had planed.
Natsume: You are the worst disaster
Mikan: Natsume! That is mean!
Natsume: Hn.
Mikan: Kittykat, tell him to stop. (sad face)
Me: Baka, if I told that, do u think he would stop?
Mikan: Hmm….
Natsume: quite with the ugly face.
Mikan: Shut up Natsume!
Natsume: make me *smirks*
Me: Quite it, both of you
Mikan: Read and review everyone! Tell us what you think! Bye for now!
