Chapter 3 – Just Another Day

"Van you awake yet? It's already afternoon." Folken entered Van's bedroom. Upon seeing Van pulling the blankets over his head, Folken said sighing, "You're still in bed? Hey, I don't what you were doing last night, but you have to get up."

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm getting up."

"Have you forgotten Van? You told me you were invited for afternoon tea by Hitomi. Are you going or what?"

"Is there anything I'm supposed to do today?"

"If there was, I would have dragged you off the bed this morning. Get up. You should go."

"Okay. Okay. I'm going to get ready." Van finally got out of bed.

"When you're ready, go to the kitchen. There's going to be food waiting for you. Fill up your stomach, before you go." Folken left the room.

"He's acting like mother again." Van muttered to himself. He headed to the bathroom and started washing up, still tired and sleepy. He was unable to sleep last night, and only got to sleep at daybreak. Last night was another night where thoughts kept lingering in his mind which keeps him awake. Van can't decipher all that has happened in his life. He can't determine the reasons behind all the occurrences. He doesn't know what he really wants.

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Hitomi was sitting peacefully under the shade of the verandah, her eyes closed and her mind swimming in thoughts. Suddenly hands came up from behind her covering her eyes. Hitomi sighed. "Yukari, take your cold and clammy hands off my face."

"Awww. You're no fun Hitomi!" Yukari took off her hands and gave Hitomi a hug.

Hitomi returned the hug. "Where's Millerna? She said she was coming."

"She told me she'll be a bit late."

"Knowing Millerna, she's probably on another shopping spree."

"Yeah I agree. So what's happening with you?"

"You know the usual."

Seeing the maids lay down snacks, both Hitomi and Yukari started helping themselves while they're talking.

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"Bye Dryden. See you tomorrow." Millerna gave her fiancée, Dryden, a kiss on the cheek then got out of the car. She gave him a final wave, and then he drove off.

Millerna was walking on the Kanzaki's driveway when she suddenly spotted a black sports car with dark tinted windows that drove past her and parked at the side of the house. She stopped walking and waited for the driver to step out of the car. Upon seeing a guy getting out, she suddenly shouted "Nice Car."

The guy looked around where the voice came from, and then saw Millerna. "Thanks." He gave Millerna a slight nod and walked off.

Millerna continued walking towards the front door. He's pretty good-looking. I wonder who he is.

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'Millerna, you're finally here!" Hitomi gave Millerna a hug.

"Hey Hitomi, you're looking good!" Millerna hugged Hitomi back and in turn hugged Yukari.

Yukari hugged Millerna back, and then asked "So, why are u late?"

"Oh. Dryden came to see me this morning, we had lunch, and you know the rest."

"He took you out for shopping." Both Hitomi and Yukari chorused.

All three were enjoying themselves with their endless conversations.

"Sorry to interrupt girls. Miss Kanzaki, Van's here." Clarence entered the verandah with Van behind him.

"Thanks Clarence." Hitomi stood up and walked towards Van. "Hey Van, glad you made it!" She took his hand and pulled him as she walked back to the table where Millerna and Yukari are sitting.

"Okay guys, this is Van Fanel. I met him yesterday. He works for my dad part-time. He's filling up for Jose. Van, that is Yukari Uchida and Millerna Aston, my best friends. Sit down and join us."

Van shook hands with Yukari and Millerna then sat down.

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Hitomi stood up. "Excuse me, you guys. I need to go to the toilet."

"Hey Hitomi, I'll come too." Yukari stood up and joined Hitomi.

Millerna looked at Van and suddenly realized where she saw him before. She looked at him suspiciously and asked, "So why is a guy, who owns a sports car, mind you a very expensive one, be working part-time as a driver for Hitomi's dad?"

Van looked at Millerna and suddenly realized, oh shit! She is the blonde girl I saw a while ago. Van recollected himself and answered sternly, "Don't ask me those kind of questions, and I'll tell no lies."

"Does Hitomi know?"

"You think she does?"

"I don't think so. Do you prefer to keep it quiet?"

"Yes I do."

"I will keep it quiet. You seem to be a good guy with good intentions. Remember, if you break Hitomi's heart, you're dead. You have my word for it."

"That's fine by me. It seems we're going to be good friends."

"I think so too."

Hitomi came back with Yukari. "Van, is Millerna treating you well?" She looked at Millerna and giggled.

"Actually, we're getting along well." Van looked at Millerna and saw her smirk.

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Since there will be school the next day, at 8:00 pm, all four decided to end the gathering. Yukari and Millerna said their goodbyes and left together leaving Van and Hitomi behind.

Van and Hitomi were sitting next to each other, an inch apart, on the couch watching TV in the entertainment room. "Did u have fun Van?" Hitomi asked.

"Yeah. It was okay."

"That's good." Hitomi, feeling a bit tired, rested her head on Van's shoulder. "I got a bit exhausted."

Van surprised by Hitomi's actions, he asked, grinning, "From what? Laughing uncontrollably?"

Hitomi had her had upright again and looked at Van. "Oh shut up! Actually, maybe that's the reason."

Hitomi laughed when Van smiled at her answer. Upon seeing Van smile, Hitomi in turn stared at him, smiling as well.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

"No. It's just; I saw your genuine smile for the first time."

"I…I…see." Van feeling very awkward, looked at his watch and suddenly stood up. "Sorry Hitomi. I have to go."

"Oh, okay." There was a hint of disappointment in Hitomi's voice. "Thanks for coming today."

"Thanks for inviting me." Van gave Hitomi a smile and walked out of the room.

Hitomi stood up fixing up the room. "Okay the party is officially over. Well, not actually a party." Hitomi suddenly stopped at her tracks. "Oh my gosh! I haven't done my homework!" She started running upstairs to her room.

While running on the second floor hallway, Hitomi saw the door of the study room open and peeked inside. She saw here father sitting on his desk doing work. "Goodnight, dad,"

"Oh hey, Hitomi. Did you have fun with your friends today?"

"Yes dad."

Mr. Kanzaki stood up and gave Hitomi a kiss on the forehead. "That's good. Goodnight, dear. I'll be driving you to school tomorrow morning."

"Okay Dad." Hitomi left the room and closed the door. She headed to her room. It's good I don't have to wake up early tomorrow. I'll be cramming all night!

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Van, while driving, recalled all occurrences that have happened for the past few weeks. He has gone through but, he can't seem to pin-point the new feeling he obtained today. All this seems to be working out. I never really expected this. I wonder how this will continue. I will do the best I can for the family. I've got determination and all, but what the hell am I feeling right now? In my head, I can't stop picturing Hitomi, with her silky short brown hair, smooth complexion, emerald green eyes and that cute smile. Is this what I think it is? Am I infatuated with Hitomi Kanzaki? Maybe I forced myself to get infatuated. It has to be part of the plan. Damn it! I'm so confused! Come to think of it she is quite pretty. No, she's beautiful. (Van's eyes were in awe) I have to get hold of myself or else I might get caught in an accident!

Van tried taking Hitomi off his mind but he couldn't. It seems that thinking of Hitomi takes away all his worries, so thoughts of Hitomi got stuck in Van's head all night giving him another sleepless night.

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Author's note:

Okie…. Here's another slow chapter…sorry about that… well I have to go through the usual process… la di dah….i can't really find a better ending for this chapter without giving out too much information and without getting too fast with the plot….so….hope this chapter is ok! Thanks for reading! Reviews will be great!

To people who reviewed:

Sorry this chapter didn't answer your questions! Really sorry! I will really appreciate your patience! Well as you have noticed I drop clues here and there….you guys might figure it out….who knows…to tell you the truth you'll be surprised as I am with what will happen since I don't have a definite plan for this story….i just write watevr comes into my mind which is of course appropriate to the story… Thanks for the reviews!

Take care people! Byers!

-elena-maria-