Thanks for waiting!
Tohru turned in her bed and cringed. She woke up because of a terrible headache. She touched her head. At first, the events of last night was just like a bad dream for her but when she looked at the mirror, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. She checked her watch. It's already late. I still have to prepare breakfast for them but what would I say? No amount of concealer or make-up could hide the sorrow in her eyes. Is this my punishment? Tohru paced back and forth in her bedroom trying to come up of a lie. What would I say? Mother, please help me. I could say that I developed sore eyes and just wear shades or I could say that I'm sick or whatever. Suddenly, she was struck by a brilliant idea. Eye drops! Tohru smiled as she fumbled her cabinet to look for an eye drop.
The first thing Tohru did upon entering school was to go to the faculty and drop from the play. She can't bear to face Kimura. Kimura, that bastard! Tohru plastered a smile on her face as she saw her teacher.
"Tohru!"
Tohru whirled around to see Uo-chan and Hana-chan behind her.
"Something's wrong with your denpa…" Hanajima said.
Tohru laughed nervously. "Um, I'm just a little tired from last night."
"Speaking of last night, what happened?" Uo asked not noticing the face of Tohru.
"It was fine." Tohru replied. She doesn't want her friends to know or there could be more trouble. The beating Kimura received from Yuki was already enough.
"Fine?" Uotani repeated. "After all the waiting and trouble you've been through—all you can say is 'fine'?
Tohru grew angry. "What else do you want to know?"
"Hey, I'm just curious." Uotani said defensively.
"If it's fine then it's fine." Hana said quietly.
"I just want both of you to know that I think Kimura-san is not the one for me after all. I also dropped out from the play." Tohru said.
"What?!" Uo exclaimed. "Why?"
"Kimura-san and I are not compatible at all." Tohru explained lamely. Fortunately, the bell rang for their next class before the two could prod further. Hanajima and Uotani looked at each other knowing that there's something Tohru is hiding from them.
After their last period, Tohru was understandably tired. I just want to sleep. But of course, she can't because she still had to go to work. She went to her locker to get the books she'll need when she saw Kimura going her way. Kimura also spotted her and stopped in his place for a second then he made a turn. Good.
She closed her locker then walked to the school gate. She watched as some students carry some Christmas ornaments. Ah, Christmas is coming soon. Yuki-kun might be working late tonight at school. As if on cue, Yuki and Reiko appeared. Tohru watched them as Reiko flirted with Yuki. Yuki does not respond but he was smiling and his eyes are dancing. Yuki and Reiko? They would never be an item. Akito-san will surely forbid this. Tohru thought confidently. But deep inside Tohru was bothered by the thought. Tohru scold herself. Yuki-kun helped me. I am indebted to him. I should treat him more with respect. Yuki-kun did not even notice me. She thought as she walked past them.
Tohru was in a bad mood after seeing Yuki and Reiko. She was walking in the street where all people are happy with smile across their faces. They play the worst music at Christmas time, she thought. If I have to hear Santa Claus is coming to town one more time, I'll scream!
She continued walking when she heard someone call her name. "Tohru-san." A soft voice said she turned and saw that it was Ritsu-san. The monkey cross-dresser. I don't know who's worse Haru or you, she thought amused by her wickedness. "Hi, Ritsu-san. What are you doing here?"
"I just came out from the store; I ran errands for my mother." Ritsu looked embarrassed.
"I see and how's your mother?" Tohru asked politely.
"She's fine. By the way, where are you going?"
"I'm going to work."
"Work?"
"Yes. I work in that building." Tohru pointed at the building one block from them.
"I see. Sorry, I must have forgotten."
Tohru just smiled. "I'll get going now."
"Okay," Tohru replied. Finally!
Tohru was dragging her feet. I'm so tired, she thought as she walked home. I hope that all the people in the house are asleep. I have no more strength to act. The heaven must be listening to her prayer because when she got home it was completely quiet and dark. She started to climb the stairs when she heard some noises in the kitchen. Tohru froze in fear. Someone's in the kitchen. Gathering all the courage she has, she spotted a long umbrella and got it quietly. She started to walk towards the kitchen with the umbrella firmly in her hand. She opened the divider to see herself face to face with Yuki.
Tohru and Yuki sat at the dining table facing each other. "I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" Yuki asked apologetically while he ate a slice of cake.
"What do you think?" Tohru was having mixed emotions. Anger and Relief. But then she remembered to be nicer to Yuki. "Sorry for my tone. I was just scared." She explained. "What were you doing in the kitchen with no lights on?"
"I was hungry and I figured that the refrigerator will have its own light so I did not open the kitchen light." Yuki explained.
What a weird guy!, Tohru thought as she watched as Yuki ate his cake.
"What?" Yuki asked her.
"What what?" Tohru was confused.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Tohru blushed. "Why were you and Reiko-san together?" she blurted out.
Yuki was surprised at the question for a second but then answered with another question. "Why do you care?"
Tohru did not know what to say. "Ahh…."
Yuki chuckled, stood up and left leaving Tohru to herself.
Tohru watched him leave. Yeah, why do I care?, she asked herself.