TITLE: B.A.R.F. (School Really Sucks!)
PURPOSE OF WRITING: No purpose at all! HURRAY!!! ^O^
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Slam Dunk or any of its characters…so don't sue me k? ^_^
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
~karen: TY for reviewing.
~tensaispira: At least you got to review ne? Mwehe. GAH! I hate mosquitoes…and red ants.
~sLL: I also like that pathetic guy…don't know why though. Maybe because I'm also pathetic? Mwehe. I haven't been online lately 'cause our pc had some problems and I was very busy finishing school-related stuff. Anyway, hope to chat with you and everyone soon!
~kuroi-neko-kun: TY for the e-mail! Me really touched…^_^v.
~akuma-tenshi: Nevermind…mwehe. Sus…if I know, the only reason you liked this chap was because you can relate to it 'cause of your very soap opera-ish love life. Ehe. PEACE! ^_^v
~mitchy: Here is my update! Sorry if took so long…^_^
~yasu: Before anything else, I just would like to tell you that I find your name really cute…don't know why. I can't help but smile everytime I see your name…mwehe. Oh…and thanks for wishing me luck.
~karen goddess: Er…thanks.
~hisashi loves yelen: Nice to know I made you smile…or laugh again. ^_^
~blue-blood: OI! Long time no hear eh? TY for the reviews…me really touched.
~kylie: Here's my update…after a very VERY long time. Ehe ^_^v
* Now on with the story, shall we…
CHAPTER 9: Lies and Deception
"Have you heard the latest?!?!?!?"
"What?"
"THE Akari Matsumi and his long-time girlfriend, Kaze Rika, already broke up!"
"REALLY?!?!?"
"Really."
"And want to know why they broke up?"
"Why?"
"Because apparently, Matsumi-sama is just not good enough for her anymore! And that she already has a new prospect!"
"Ouch."
"Yeah…"
"…………………………………"
"…………………………………"
"Want to help me spread this juicy stuff to everybody?"
"SURE!"
***********************************
YURI
Why the heck is everybody so damn noisy…?
I just arrived in our classroom and it seems that everyone decided to show up really early because as far as I can see, almost all of my classmates are already inside, making a racket as usual.
I made a bee-line to my seat. As soon as my butt touched my chair, Nayuki appeared in front of me and was wearing a silly grin on her face.
"What?"
"Have you heard the latest???"
Then, she began ranting on and on about Akari's supposed break-up with his 'bitch' girlfriend. And, being a good girl that I am, I didn't pay too much attention on what Nayuki said because frankly, I don't really care who broke up with whom. And besides, I think it's not right to talk about someone's personal life behind their backs.
"Look, I'm not really interested ok?"
"But Yuri, this is your chance! I mean--"
"I'm busy. I still have to review my notes."
Nayuki pouted and was about to lecture me again on how to become more 'socially active' when Sara came in. I take it that she found another victim to pester. And so, the class went on buzzing and buzzing until finally, the topic of their conversations came in…followed by Mitsui.
Mitsui…of all people. The one who's supposedly the new 'eye-candy' of Akari's ex-girlfriend.
I smell trouble here…
MITSUI
Something's wrong here…
As soon as I entered this building, everybody stopped whatever they're doing just to look at me. And as soon as I entered our classroom, everybody froze. Everybody's whispering with each other. Everybody's staring at me.
What the hell did I do now?!?!
"I see you've got some nerve to show your ugly face to me."
I looked for whoever said those things and was not really surprised to see that it was the Oh-So-Mighty-I'm-The-School-President-So-Bow-Down-To-Me guy. After all, he greets me like that everyday so nothing's new.
"Akari…good morning to you too."
"…………………………………………………………"
"By the way, where is that girl who has taken residence around your neck? I don't see her around you today…"
The class gasped. Akari seems to be truly ticked off about my comment. I saw Nayuki slap her forehead, Sara turned pale, and surprisingly, Yuri stopped reading her notes and looked up.
What?! I was just stating facts here. Sheesh…
SENSEI
When I entered Room 3-3, I felt somewhat chilly…and bewildered. The room was quiet so I thought everybody decided to skip my class today. When I looked the other way, I saw almost all of my students huddled in one corner; Mitsui-san and Matsumi-san were glaring at each in the other side of the room while Shiori-san and Ozuna-san were pulling Ikeda-san out of her chair.
Weird.
"OKAY! BACK TO YOUR SEATS NOW."
As if woken up from a trance, everybody returned to their seats as quietly as possible and took out their books and notebooks without me begging first.
Really weird.
"Err…today, we're not going to use those. Instead, we'll have an activity wherein it can enhance your conversational skills. In this activity, I will give each one of you a set of questions, which you will ask your respective partners to answer. I will also give you the privilege of asking any questions that weren't given in the questionnaire. "
"…………………………………………………………"
"After that, I want you to report in front of the class what you learned about each other. Now, I want all of you to take a partner so that we can start and finish immediately."
And they followed me…no questions asked. Even the noisy pair, Shiori-san and Ozuna-san didn't utter any kind of absurd protest.
Am…Am I in the wrong room?
MITSUI
This class is getting creepier every minute…
I looked around for a partner. As far as I can see, almost everyone has a partner already. Then I saw Yuri looking around as well.
Looks like I found my – ack!
What's that asshole doing here?!
AKARI
I know that juvenile delinquent will ask her. So, as I promised myself, I will take whatever he wants as my revenge. Obviously, he has a 'thing' for Yuri. And besides getting my revenge, this girl's also the reason why this jerk's grades are going up. Might as well take her away from him before he gets even better.
"You still free?"
"Umm…yep."
"So…"
"Okay. We can be partners."
Take that, Mitsui.
~ After a few minutes ~
YURI
AH! Finish at last…
I glanced at Akari. He was still reading my 'profile' and was just finishing summarizing it up for the report later. I smiled to myself. He seems really nice when he's not around the 'popular' crowd.
"You're dreaming about me?"
I blushed. It appears that I had been staring at him long enough for him to think I already slept with my eyes wide open.
"O-Of course not! I-I was just trying to read what you're writing."
"And it's written all over my face?"
"Well…yes. Kind of…"
He smiled. I don't know if it's for a good reason though. Then he handed me his paper and took mine.
"Let's read our work to spare us the trouble of staring at each other's faces, ok?"
"Su-sure. Whatever you say."
Good job in making yourself look like a complete idiot Yuri!
AKARI
She's a bad liar…but in a funny way.
I began reading her work. As expected from a certified writer like her, she did a fine job in describing me. I looked at her and saw different expressions registering on her face. After a few more minutes, she looked at me incredulously.
"So? What do you think of my work?"
"I don't know but I suddenly had the urge to hire you as the author of my biography."
"Really?"
"Well…yeah. You got most of my descriptions correctly, except the part where you called me 'grade-conscious', a 'typical nerd', has friends who just escaped from the mental hospital, has a jerk for a lover, and your 'average high school girl'."
"Sorry…couldn't resist writing those. After all, that personality is what you show to the public."
She gaped at me and then rolled her eyes. She was muttering under her breath something like 'I shouldn't have expected better than this'. I couldn't help but smile.
"What's so funny?"
"That's only a joke ok? I wrote that just to irritate you. Here…this is what I'm going to say later."
She stared at me for a few seconds. I just shrugged. She grabbed the paper and was muttering something again. Too bad I can't hear it.
YURI
Trust Akari to do all the dirty tricks. And here I was thinking that he's nice!
I began reading his work. After a few minutes, I found myself smiling. It feels good to be described in a good way, especially by the most popular guy in school. I'm actually beginning to think that I'm falling for him again. I looked at Akari and saw that he was staring at someone. I turned around and saw the object of his glares: Mitsui.
I wonder what he's thinking right now…
~ Fast Forward: Lunch Break ~
SARA
Yuri-sama and Nayuki's still in our classroom. Akari called an emergency meeting for all the officers so I had no choice but to go ahead.
I was busy waiting for the two when Mitsui-kun approached me. He asked me if he could share the table with me first since his friends are still nowhere to be found. I know that Yuri-sama wouldn't mind sharing a table with him and Nayuki…well, I don't really care what she thinks.
"So, where's Yuri?"
"She's still upstairs with the other class officers. Nayuki's there too."
"Oh…"
I could see disappointment sparkling in his eyes. I was really intrigued on this interesting display of emotion. I was just about to ask him when I heard someone call his name.
MITSUI
Who the hell's screeching my name?
"Mitsui-kun…I think you should leave now for your own safety."
"What?"
"It's Kaze Ri- gah! Too late. She's already coming. Kami-sama…please don't let her see me…don't let her see me…"
I turned around and saw a girl approaching our table. I suddenly recognized her as the girl who always clings around Akari.
"Mitsui-kun! Good to see you here. I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"……………………………………………………"
"I thought you're with that ugly nerd Ikeda. I pity you for hanging around with her you know."
"……………………………………………………"
"AH…I see you're with Ozuna-san. Hmmm…I didn't know you were that desperate."
"……………………………………………………"
"Don't worry. I'm free now so you don't have to waste your time on people as pathetic as those two."
Geez…this girl sure has a vicious tongue and nasty vocabulary.
I was just about to answer back when a shoe came flying towards the face of the girl standing in front if me.
NAYUKI
Why this lousy piece of bimbotic bimbo…
"Oi! If you want to flirt with scar-face over here, do it in a place where they accept scums like you ok?"
"……………………………………………………"
"And who gave you the right to diss my friends like that?!"
"……………………………………………………"
"I'M THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO DO THAT BAKA!"
Rika stopped rubbing her face. She looked at me with disdain and then, threw back my shoe.
"Well, fancy meeting you here Shiori-san. I didn't know Shohoku accepts tomboy pigs like you."
This creature's really beyond my contempt right now…
"Eh? What did you say?"
"Duh. I said I didn't know-"
"Err…sorry. I don't think I can make conversations with a retard like you. And besides that fact, I didn't know you're capable of thinking. That really surprised me…"
Her face flushed with anger. Mitsui raised an eyebrow. I heard Sara stifle a laugh and Yuri was elbowing me to stop already.
That should teach her not to mess with my crowd.
AKARI
I don't know if I should feel bad or happy for Rika. Bad, because she's still my ex-girlfriend and Nayuki just annoyed the hell out of her. Happy, because that's just how she broke up with me: mocking me by saying into my face how useless I am now to her and her reputation.
RIKA
I've never been so humiliated like this in front of other people!
I looked at Nayuki's triumphant grin, which made me angrier and disgusted at her. And then, I noticed two other people standing behind her. I craned my neck and saw that it was Yuri and…
AKARI?!?!
MY EX-BOYFRIEND AKARI?!?!
"AKARI! Why are you with these losers?!"
"Uh…I was just…just-"
"This is just the reason why we broke up! You can be so annoyingly stupid sometimes."
I can't take this anymore…
"Mitsui-kun, I'll just talk to you later after basketball practice ok?"
"But-"
"See you there, handsome."
Mitsui gaped at me. Nayuki and Sara were making puking sounds in the background. I glared at them. I stole a glance at Akari. He was scowling at me…just as I want him to be. I looked at Yuri, my only rival for Mitsui-kun's love and attention.
"Oi Yuri! Don't get in our way or you're going to regret you ever existed. Mitsui-kun's mine…got that?"
Mitsui looked at her with questioning eyes. She just shrugged. Nayuki was struggling to get away from the grip of Sara. Akari gave me a knowing look.
This will be an easy battle to win…trust me.
YURI & MITSUI
That was really an abnormal behavior…
NAYUKI
I'm definitely going to beat the living daylights out of that girl!
SARA
Ugh. Nayuki's too hard to control when in berserk mode…
AKARI
Don't get on your way eh? Let's see about that…
~ Fast Forward: Dismissal ~
YURI
As I was packing my things, I suddenly remembered to remind Mitsui to do his worksheets and to hand me his homework for last meeting. I looked around the room and unfortunately, I found out that he already left for basketball practice.
Grudgingly, I trek my way to the gym. Of course, I didn't inform Nayuki and Sara because they'll just make a big deal out of this.
All of a sudden, I sensed that someone was following me. I remembered Rika and her overwhelming threat this afternoon. Naturally, I walked faster. The gym was already in sight when a hand landed on my shoulder.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
AKARI
Sheesh…what a scaredy-cat!
"OI! It's just me."
Yuri turned around and I could see that she was pale all over and was gasping for breath.
"Maaaaaan…you scared me! And why are you following me anyway? It's not my turn to throw trash right?"
"No. But I have something to tell you… a proposal, to be more exact."
That sure got her attention…
"A…proposal? About what?"
"About us."
"Us? Err…ok. But I'll have to talk to Mitsui first. Don't worry. I'll-"
"There's no more time. I need to tell you NOW."
I looked around the place to see if anyone followed me. She looked around as well. I looked at her seriously. She stared back at me.
"I want you to be my girlfriend."
YURI
"Oh."
How nice of him…
He wants me to be his girlfriend…
Wants ME to be his GIRLFRIEND…
To be HIS girl…
THE HELL?!?!?!?!
"Wh-what did you just say?"
"Didn't you understand it?"
"Well, I perfectly understand everything- except what you're saying. Tell me, are you possessed by a retarded ghost right now? Cause you really seem like it."
Akari just smiled. HE JUST SMILED!
"Oi! Care to tell me why the hell are you smiling for? Because as far as I can see, this day is turning to be the weirdest day of my life! First, you're talking to me. Second, your ex hates my guts for unknown reasons. Third-"
"Okay, okay. I'll explain it to you… just shut up for a minute."
He's asking ME to shut up when he's the reason I'm ranting non-stop here?!
GAH! His ego's really something…
AKARI
Well, here goes nothing…
"I want to show Rika the disadvantages of breaking up with a great guy like me. I want you to pretend that you're deeply in-love with me and I'll act the same way too."
Yuri raised an eyebrow, as if doubting my reasons. Of course, I didn't tell her my other reasons like making sure Mitsui stays where he is right now or to show people that I can move on easily or-
"What's in it for me?"
YURI
Of course! I'm not stupid enough to just say 'yes' you know…
Akari seemed to be taken aback by my question because he's looking everywhere but me.
"Well, you'll gain popularity points…"
I don't need those. I'm already popular enough.
"…and…and I can share with you my position as president of the school."
Now THAT'S interesting enough…
"What kind of…sharing?"
"Well…I can ask for your opinions when deciding on some things. And you can propose as many projects as you can. Plus, you can even add it to your resume for college applications."
"Really? I can do all those things?"
"Really…and a whole lot more."
I looked at him. Then I noticed that people were beginning to go out of the gym and one of them is Mitsui. Then I saw Rika come out of nowhere and hanged around him like a monkey. He blushed of course and his teammates were teasing him non-stop.
"Why me?"
I glanced at Akari and saw that he's also looking at the racket his ex-girlfriend was doing. I saw pain and hatred dancing in his eyes.
"Because I know I can trust you."
"…………………………………………………………"
"Plus the fact that Rika is jealous of you because you have this 'bond' with Mitsui is a big help."
I thought about it some more. It would be a good way of getting revenge to what that girl did to my friends this afternoon…plus I can spend more time with Akari. Then a question dawned upon me. I don't know why but I just felt the urge to ask him this particular one.
"Will we…will we hurt Mitsui?"
"……………………………………………………"
"Because…because you know he's my student and it will affect our working relationship if I'm going to cause him pain or something. And if that will ever happen, I'm sure my conscience wouldn't leave me alone."
Akari looked at me and gave me an amused smile. He shook his head as a sign of disagreeing on what I just said. Seeing this, I finally decided.
"Ok. You can count me in."
AKARI
Kami-sama…
Forgive me for lying…
I promise to try ending this 'show' without hurting anyone…except Mitsui.
****************************************************************
~_^ MY! MY!
Ehe. After a long hiatus, I'm finally back. Was it 4 months since I last uploaded?! Wow… I bet the readers had already forgotten that this story ever existed. Well, blame it on this incurable disease of the world of literature…writer's block.
Yeah.
Love it? Hate it? Let me know!
Pls. Review! Ja. ^_^v
* P.S. I love Lei of Meteor Garden. ^_^