April 18, Thursday
Chapter 13
Caught
-=ALAINA=-
English time! Last subject… Whew. Good I was able to finish the poem last night. Or I'll be dead in the next few minutes…
Well, my poem is nothing but pure nonsense. I don't know why but I can't seem to focus these past few days. That baka kitsune annoys me so much, he gets on my nerves…
And yeah, I'm on Hanamichi's side! Rukawa is a kitsune… an airhead jock… nothing but a walking iceblock.
Look at him, sleeping again. I wonder why I can't see the drool. But I faithfully believe it's somewhere there. He just got a nice position to hide it. Hehe…
"Konnichiwa, minna-san!"
Ooh… Sensei Kakuta miraculously came late. Better start focusing…
"Gomenasai for being late. I just had a meeting with the principal… Now, with the activity… I suppose you did what I assigned you..?"
"Hai, sensei."
"Good, because I'll be pairing you up with another student to read what you have written in front of the class. In short, you'll be exchanging assignments. Understood?"
What?? Is he jesting? I'm not even planning to let anyone read it! And now he has the right to do so? And in front of the class?? Hell let it lose...
"Fuji, exchange with Asuka."
"Jun, you with Yui."
Okay. Just please let it be someone understanding enough and kind enough not to sabotage my creepy poem…"Rukawa, you with Alaina."
Oh dear. He really IS kidding! This is a joke… A big, flat joke…
-=RUKAWA=-
I'm not really sleeping. Just pretending to be… And yeah, I heard who my partner is - that klutzy Alaina. Of all people! Why does it have to be A HER? Or particularly, HER??
I slowly raised my head.
But frankly, it seems to be not a bad idea. At least I can see her work and let her squeeze herself in her seat, ready to flush herself. Good thing she can't criticize mine because I've got nothing to pass… No harm for me… Haha… What a sweet revenge…
I can almost sense her reaction right now…
Nah, that girl is practically good in hiding it. Once, I thought she was imitating me but oh well, let her be herself…
-=ALAINA=-
"Satoru, with Saemi."
"Kristin, you're with Hasekagi."
"Miyuki, exchange wi- Yes, Alaina? Rukawa? You may exchange poems now."
I shut my eyes. Count to three. Breathe in, breathe-"I have no assignment, sensei."
What?? So I actually expected Rukawa to have one. Great. Just great. To think this is my favorite subject! How fast are karma boomerangs, anyway?
"As I've expected. A 70 percent for that, Rukawa. Alaina, just let Rukawa read your poem. I'll call him soon."
Uh-oh.
No choice. I stood up, walk slowly to his side and gave him my notebook. I wish I would disappear!
-=RUKAWA=-
She lazily walks towards me.
Weird. I thought she would object, but oh well, this is Kakuta sensei, better be good.
Hmm… She owns this??I didn't know she could manage to have a neat, well-kept notebook.
I opened it and found out that her handwriting is legible. No, very legible. No doubt about that. But what about the poem, that should be a kind to actually laugh my ass off.
Caught in his eyes…? That's the title?? Must be maudlin. I wonder what's it about…
There's this guy I had a thing on
A love poem… she's still a girl. What do you expect?
So cool, he's got all the attention.
That rhymes… Mitsui, maybe?He seems to be aloof and mysterious
Huh?Yet every girl is caught with his looks.
Nah… Must be another guy. Mitsui-sempai isn't aloof.
Almost every girl wants him.
That was all that it seems.
Poor you.The cold façade which makes them fall
Cold, huh?And his moves when he plays basketball.
Another jock?Though every guy hates him
His character, he wouldn't trim
Who is this guy??He wants the goal all by himself
Selfishness, it's in his shelf.
Weird.
The icy glare he would always give
The plain remark we always receive.
Sounds familiar...
Comes nothing but a deadpanned face
Emotionless, puts us in a maze.
No way. It's…
But there's something that's bothering me
When I look in his eyes, there's something that I see
What's she talking about?It seems to say I'm sorry
Yet he can't let it free.
She knows...
Beneath his eyes is a trapped gentleness
Under his mask is a true caress
Am I that obvious??He wanted to escape life's cruelness -
The reason of his fake callousness.
How can she possibly know?To hug him tight, that's what I want to do
To let him see just what is true
Alaina… I…Set him free from all of these
And care for him, make him at ease.
I'm sorry if I…If only he would let me
Enter his world of naivety
I would…Then I'll have the chance, maybe
Even a cold mask has a destiny…
I… I want so too.
I couldn't believe my eyes… She ACTUALLY cares for me.
I'm stunned.
I looked at her direction… Tough luck. No emotion - too hard to read.
Just like me.
Maybe that's why she understands…
Is it really possible? There's someone who understands. And… it's her.
-end-