Disclaimers: I don't own KWMS
A/N: OMG, can anybody believe it? Kiss and Tell is finally over. Haha. Actually, I want to cry for such a successful series. (T_T). Thanks, everyone. It was all because you've been pretty supportive of me while I was writing that. :D. I was editing the last chapter again due to the errors I've seen—and making it extra longer—but since I've promised on my last note that I'd update this first—after days of not updating—I've decided to write on this first. :D. Sorry for the very late update! We've been spending the entire week transferring back to Manila that I couldn't have the time to check out the stuff I was supposed to write. :D
Well, here goes nothin'!
Read on!
AndyBunny
-;-
When the lights fade out, all the sinners crawl
All family has its secrets
Death is only the beginning.
-;-
No one was able to know how much pain Ayuzawa Misaki has seen, how much torture she had undergone and how many deaths she had witnessed.
-;-
The Grim Reaper
.
The Grim Reaper
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The Grim Reaper
Five:
"I told you to be careful, did I not?"
I had to hand it to Shizuko for being such a pest just when I need her to be less nosy. But what can I do? The woman just spits out whatever's in her mind and since she's more vocal than me—on some unnecessary times—I couldn't help but listen to her because if I don't, God knows she might end up gobbling me into unidentifiable pieces. Hideki was already done bandaging up my foot and is already signing the list with his and my name since there weren't any nurses around to treat me thus, giving her the liberty to speak with me this way.
I tried moving my foot but it sent electrical sparks on my entire leg. Bad move. Looking up at Shizuko again, I smiled. "You did, didn't you? We were face-to-face when you said that."
"So, what's that stunt all about?" she lolled, her face still voided with emotion. And I wondered how she could be so irritating even if she's not giving away anything. "God knows Kaon Umekoji isn't really the nicest person here in Miyabigaoka. Of all people you should hit with that marvelous spike of yours, why does it have to be her?"
I scowled. I really have to hand it to her. The woman takes my entire attention by mentioning things that didn't need mentioning. Would it be considered a crime here if I kick Shizuko on the face? The reminder of Kaon Umekoji and the words she said against me before we left the Gym sent shivers in my spine. Why would she say those kinds of things when God knows I didn't do that in purpose? We were playing volleyball and for God's sake, anyone could get in trouble!
I eyed Shizuko again. "I didn't do it in purpose. You know me better than that. I would never dare hurt anyone. Not even when I suffered—" I quickly cut myself off when her sharp grey eyes narrowed with interest. I cleared my throat. "I would never dare hurt anyone." Not even if I've suffered enough in their hands.
Shizuko stared at me, but I could almost feel annoyance radiating off her skin that she quickly pushed aside when Hideki-kun started trekking back to us. I sighed, and thought some more of Kaon Umekoji. Shizuko already admitted she wasn't the nicest kid in school so, why? Why was she kind to me the first day we met? Was she faking it? Did she actually see right through me that I was nothing but a pathetic person who couldn't even protect her own family? Or was she just finding an excuse to act mean on me to make me look bad in front of other people? I sighed again and decided to jump off the stretcher and wobbling down a bit, nearly planting my face on the ground had Shizuko not around to guide me. Her fingers were cold against my skin and I wondered if it was the air conditioning unit or just my anxiety making my systems dysfunctional that made her grip on my arm extra colder than necessary.
"I know you're hiding something."
That statement snapped me out of my unintentional travel to the world of reveries and caused me to flip my wandering eyes towards the spot where the girl who spoke stood with such primness and carries the correct posture of a well-bred and proper lady. I should have known that there were many translations to the words she's spoken but I still gave her the benefit of the doubt because no matter how intelligent Shizuko Kaga is, there's just no way she'd be able to grasp any information with regards to the life I previously lead—and is continually leading. But one look in her cold and pale and definitely intelligent grey orbs made me doubt my own doubt for her.
I sank back on the bed again and tried as much as possible to act natural. "I already said I'm fine, Shizuko. I'm not hiding nor lying about anything."
She dodged my response away with her own scholarly responses. "You are lying about something, Misaki and I advise you that it is best to spill out everything before I find it out myself. You can't go on lying forever."
"I'm not lying—"
"You've got a secret you don't want anybody to find out." I gave her that kind of look that simply confirmed the secret I've been holding for such a long time now. And the way she raised an eyebrow at me made me aware that I've been found out and there was a risk to get revealed. Shizuko obviously took my reaction as ratification to what she's asking me. "Misaki, this is Miyabigaoka Academy. This wouldn't become such a high profile university if the students here are nothing but scums of the Earth."
"What do you want with me? Why do you want to know things you're better off not knowing?" I looked away, trying my best to show displeasure over our conversation and thought of walking away. But then again, I shouldn't forgot that I badly sprained my ankle and I don't really want to get permanent injury and occupy a wheelchair to head to school just because I wanted to temporarily escape a situation which would haunt me back as soon as I've recovered.
Shizuko was unexpressive before me and I felt as if I was some kind of insect for microscopic viewing underneath her eyes. "How long do you plan to run until you tire and it comes back disconcerting you again? Don't you trust me?"
"I've got trust issues, Shizuko." I answered her truthfully. "I don't easily trust people. Not when they've… not when I've been abused—damn it." I clenched my fist tightly because even after the abuses was way back from the past, I still couldn't bring myself to bring it up and talk about it with other people—especially people I barely know. "What do you want, Shizuko? Tell me."
"I want you to stop lying."
I clenched my fist again my nails dug against my skin it was almost fearful that my skin would break. "I need to lie."
"Tell me the truth."
"I can't."
"Then I demand an explanation for that kind of response."
"I am not necessitated to give you an explanation—"
"Do you want this to get bloody, Misaki?" she cut off; annoyance colored the tone of her voice. "I've approached properly and this is what I get? Couldn't you even understand that there could probably be a reason why I'm doing this kind of thing?"
Once again, I looked away and tried to avoid her eyes that seemed to be tantalizing me to spill my guts out. I can't… I just know that I can't do something as reckless as this. This kind of secret wasn't supposed to escape the four corners of our clan—I wasn't supposed to spill it out to anyone no matter how much they oppressed me. I am never allowed to speak or it would cause great misfortune not only to me but to people surrounding me—and I can't simply allow Mom and Dad to get in trouble just because I've done something as stupid as trusting anyone. Memories flooded my system—those times when all we ever did is ran away to seclusion, Mom crying and Dad nursing his wounds after getting nearly stoned to death. I was unable to do anything for them but watched them watch me sleep and guard me without even resting. It was such a nightmarish life I've lead and I've sworn from that day onwards that I will never experience that kind of life ever again.
That's why I left and tried to lead another life by coming here—but it seemed as if no matter what I do, my past and fate would continually haunt me until there is no more but endless misery and despair. I left home and lived in solitude with the hopes that by disappearing, Mom and Dad would be in peace… but it seems like happiness is indeed temporary. I could never run away forever.
Shizuko sighed in defeat and decided to adjourn our conversation. "I hope you'd get to trust me one day, Misaki. Just so you know, not all people are going to crush you and betray your trust." She nodded at Hideki-kun who finally arrive—and I wondered how we were able to make a discussion in such short time—before helping me up again as though nothing transpired between us. "Help her up, Suzuki." She ordered him gingerly. "And then let's head back to class."
Hideki appeared before me, a warm smile was already on his face. "Feeling better, Misaki-san?"
"Yeah. Thanks. And sorry for bothering you."
"Come on now and don't be a stranger."
.
"Ah, there goes plenty of trouble."
I had to laugh at that even if what I wanted to do is really kicked Sakura for being as sarcastic as ever. I took my regular seat on our table and paused momentarily when my sight caught the tall figure of Usui Takumi seated on the corner of our table while he was making small conversations with Aoi Hyoudo. He shot me a glance too but that look of displeasure quickly put me off that no matter how many times I wanted to stare at him—I don't really know why—I had to look away because he looked like he doesn't really want me looking at him.
And somehow, I thought my heart sank at such thought.
Sakura snickered again. "So," she smiled at me—more like sneered—while placing her hand underneath her chin. "—how is our ace volleyball player? I heard it's a good spike."
I scowled at her. "Stop that."
"You hit Kaon Umekoji on the face." she reminded me, still grinning. "I thought she's kind… and that she's the only girl in this place who was kind to you?" she cackled again and I thought she really looked like a nasty witch doing that—but I thought better than informing her about it. "Psh. What friendship."
I frowned at her; looking down on the food Hideki-kun and Shizuko got for me and started playing with the meatballs. "Clearly, she isn't my friend." I whispered with obvious displeasure. Because if she thought I was, she wouldn't have thought otherwise that I spike the ball on her face purposefully.
"What was that? I didn't get to hear it."
"I said, I didn't do it purpose." I snapped at her, annoyed. "Why does everybody think I did it on purpose when I didn't? I know I'm not everybody's favorite person in this place but don't you think it's too much? I don't deserve this kind of treatment."
Sakura paused for a moment—along with the other kids in our table—and the paranoia of attracting lots of attention immediately emerged on me that I quickly transferred my eyes back to my food. But when I realized I don't really have the appetite to eat since it felt like people are about to launch themselves towards me to rip my head off, I pushed my plate aside and started shuffling through my wallet to search for my Library card.
I gazed up at Sakura again. "I'm going somewhere for awhile. See you all at dismissal."
I pushed my chair back at started walking out of the cafeteria. Clearly, everyone is indeed staring at the person who purposefully spike that damned ball against Kaon Umekoji's face. I sighed, and continued towards the infamous Library. I know where I wanted to go but I'm just not sure how to get there. Quickly, I fished out the always-ready map in my bag and realized the Library was on the further side of the campus. I mean, seriously, why would the Director of this school place such a major factor of studying on the furthest corner of the campus? He could have the friggin' library established right next to the academic buildings!
I started making my way towards the Library, absorbing the slight warmth coming from the faintly unveiled sun as it caressed my back but then, my injured foot had to slip through an unnoticeable crack on the pavement and I let out a startled curse as I crashed down the floor. Damn! Good thing there weren't any people around!
I got up, dusting dirt off my pants as I notice the new scathes on the heels of my hands. "Oh, great! What a good way to start my friggin' day! Why do I have to be so unlucky?!"
"Well, I wouldn't really start my day that way."
I paused, frowning at the voice that appeared behind me which was followed by a chorus of laughter. I turned around and inwardly scowled because I have to embarrass myself in front of the handsome-looking boys in campus. My eyes locked down on who seemed to be the leader since he was on a shiny white sports car—seriously, is that even allowed here?—and surveyed him and his pals suspiciously. The first thing that caught my attention was the blonde hair gelled into a messy disarray that suited him quite well, and that there was that spark in his gold-green eyes that seemed to have sparkled whenever sunlight would hit it.
He was handsome. Too handsome.
"Thanks." I muttered sardonically as I turned my back on them. I nearly sighed in relief when I heard the whiz of cars departing towards the food court and was more than glad to be left alone. The school was huge—too huge. And I had to wonder if I really wanted to walk the three kilometer Library from the food court with this kind of injury. Well, my sprain wasn't that major but still…
Don't they have service shuttles here?
I just have to be unlucky about everything, don't I?"
"Hey, you're bleeding, you know?" I frowned upon hearing that familiar voice again and gasped when I felt myself being tugged backwards only to pause when I was handed a wad of wet napkins. My forehead creased as I looked down on my hands and back to the boy with the blonde hair and smiling gold-green eyes that was holding out the napkins to my hand. Once again, he had that friendly smile ready as he met my confused gaze. "Here. Take this. Wipe your hands clean."
He even produced some from his pockets—this time, dry ones—and started wiping my knees clean.
I jumped back, startled. "Er, you don't have to do that." I said embarrassedly. "Thanks."
The guy straightened his back and smiled at me. "Well, I was just trying to help out. You look pretty frustrated awhile ago. Are you okay? Where are you going? Do you need a ride?"
I stared at him suspiciously since he was staring right straight into my eyes, and I wondered why wasn't he, in any way, affected. I used the napkin instead to wipe blood off my hands and forced out a smile. "I'm fine. I was… heading to the Library."
"Oh. The Library. That's pretty far from here. Can I give you a ride?"
One thing about him is he was immediately acting chummy with me. "No, thank you. I appreciate this," I waved the napkin on his face and immediately took two steps back. "—but I don't need a ride. It'll be a lot better if you let me go now before I start screaming."
He paused, still unabashed, but laughs my comment off anyway. "No, seriously, I don't mean you any harm. You look like you need help and whenever I'm seeing a damsel in distress; I couldn't help but rescue them."
"I'm not really in distress. But fact remains that I don't know you, okay?"
He gave me a victorious grin and suddenly exclaimed, "Finally!" before he lend out one huge hand and smiled at me in a real friendly way. "Igarashi Tora, Princess. Let's help you remember that, okay? What about you?"
I hesitated for a moment but he looked like he wasn't really the type to do something stupid in broad daylight—no, I'm not talking from experience just a week ago—so I accepted his waiting hands and smiled shyly at him. "Ayuzawa. Ayuzawa Misaki."
"Well, now that we know each other, would you have accepted the ride from me now?"
I sighed, my resolve wavering. It was really a long way and I didn't really want to walk the long way to the Library… so, I stared back at his smiling golden green eyes and finally, I nodded. "Library, please."
He made jokes while we were in his car and I realized some people weren't really that bad if I get to know them better—such as Hideki-kun, Shizuko and the others. The jokes, I could take since they weren't that green and all and Igarashi seemed pretty friendly to me so I was laughing, too. And I haven't had so much fun on the company of the opposite gender for long. He stopped the car with just the Library on sight and I didn't know why I had this strong urge to suddenly leap out of the car so before he could fully parked the car, I was already reaching out for the handle and pushed the door open.
I turned back to him. "Thanks for the ride."
He returned it with an equally friendly smile like before. "See you around school, Misaki."
"Yeah." I lowered my head politely while he honked his horns and made a graceful U-turn back to the food court and when the car is no longer in sight, I spun around and started making my way to the library, its red bricked walls reminded me of that of medieval castles I'd imagine whenever I was out reading those books my Dad would bring me whenever he'd return from his short trips to the market.
I love books and I love daydreaming. It wasn't a crime. Sometimes, it was the only way to escape reality since I always find comfortable solace whenever I'd seat on the swing in our porch and daydream about whatever. Once again, it was never a crime. But my Mom couldn't see that. She didn't see a lot of things before ever since we left Sapporo. But she sees me, and somehow, I'm quite thankful of that. I continued walking; trying my best not to look like I'm limping because it actually looked ugly and it looked as though I was trying to imitate a zombie when I heard those footsteps, loud and clear, trailing after my wake.
I paused, pretending as though I was checking out my map, and resisted the urge to glance back because I sure didn't want my would-be assailant to take advantage of my current vulnerability. The footsteps stopped, too, and I cursed the weather for hiding the sun just when I need to see if it was a woman or not. I squared my shoulders casually and proceeded towards the Library again, biting the inside of my cheek when the footsteps continued on as though it was indeed following me. I got into the huge Library, making sure if it was indeed me the person was following or he was just simply taking the same way as me but when I rounded the corner and realized he had occupied the shelf right in front of me, it didn't took me seconds to know I'm being followed.
I continued walking around, being followed thoroughly, and leaned forward a huge-spine book, seeing a shuffle of brownish blond hair from the other side and without much thinking about it, I shove the spine of the book I was holding—which shove back the book behind it—and hit my assailant right straight in the face. A low curse echoed on the other corner of the shelf.
Hah! Didn't know I got such a good aim despite my anxiety!
I rounded the corner and glared at my stalker, and was more than surprise to see Usui Takumi standing on the other side of the shelf while caressing his forehead. I pursed my lips in annoyance as I glared at him. "You stalker!"
He straightened his back and said, "Hardly your stalker." He whispered, his voice was dull and unwavering.
I was annoyed. I was hardly ever annoyed when it comes to people around me and I hardly showcase my feelings but this person—no matter how remarkable he may be to the eyes of many—is still stalking me. I placed one hand on my hip. "If so, then why are you following me? I thought you're in the food court dining with the others?"
"This is a Library. Don't I have the right to come here?"
Well, when he puts it that way… I harrumphed. "Whatever. There is no way our paths would meet again. You go your way and I'll go my way. Don't follow me." I snarled the last three words and started walking towards the Fictional Section when I heard his footsteps tapping towards me. I turned to look on the spot where I left him and was startled to find him walking beside me. I jumped. "What are you—"
"So, you didn't do it on purpose, huh?" this time, his voice sounded amused, laced with something akin to enthusiasm. I didn't try to dwell much on the fact that he sounded enthusiastic speaking with me. It wouldn't do any good in my system. "You nailed Kaon Umekoji on the head."
I smiled sardonically at him and started scanning through thick spines of romance novels. "Why, oh, why do you have to bring that up just when I wanted to get over it? It happened a little about three hours ago. Can we all just go by our lives and forget that an accident like that happened? You're not being charming, Usui."
"I'm not trying to be."
"What the hell are you doing here anyway?"
"This is a Library. Don't I have the right to come here?"
I paused scanning and stared heatedly at him. Clearly, he was annoying the hell out of me and he was making a good deal out of it. I wanted to hang this person on the ceiling sometimes. He arched one delicate eyebrow at me, and I wondered why I have to put up with this guy who likes glowering at me as though he wanted to rip my head off my neck. When I was done scrutinizing him, I decided to tear my eyes off his profile and pulled out a thick book without much thought about it.
I sighed when he continued standing next to me with that awkward stance he never really had before. I eyed him again. "Let me rephrase the question then: what are you doing here standing beside me?"
He shrugged, and I thought he just looked so annoying I honestly wanted to hit him on the kisser. "You look like you're about to commit suicide awhile ago. I was just trying to make sure no cases such as that would occur here."
"Great." I lolled sardonically and start checking through the stuff I was holding. "First, you think I'm a black sheep and now you worry that I might commit suicide. Do you have a multiple personality disorder, Takumi?"
"My, aren't you rude?"
"Aren't you?"
He snorted at that, and I thought he looked like he was ready to laugh if only it wasn't on his usual profile to laugh—in public or not. He looked like a stone. He's probably as unexpressive as Shizuko and Aoi. I wouldn't be surprised if I find out one day the three of them are related. I got some random book that caught my attention due to its colorful hardbound cover and started making my way towards the desk to have my book scanned, trying my best to ignore Usui Takumi. But he just has to make his presence so noticeable that I was left with no choice but to glare at him.
"Why are you following me? I thought you weren't a stalker?" I snapped, furtively annoyed now since his presence isn't really helping anything. If there was one person I don't really want to see now, it would be him since the gaze he gave me during Gym class isn't really something I could easily forget. It was weird. It felt weird. My heart has never beaten that way before in a presence of a man.
"Blame your friends—especially Kaga. They were thinking you'd commit suicide after your little dispute with Hanazono."
"Great. You don't have to follow me. You're not compelled to do so. You have no responsibility with me."
"I have."
I paused at that, and shakily stuffed the book into my bag before frowning at him. "What?"
He shrugged, and I could almost see the uncomfortable way his back was hunching as though he wasn't really keen on voicing out what he feels. I felt my skin prick. I never wanted to be in a situation like this with Usui Takumi. "I've been pretty rude, am I not?"
I resisted the urge to bite back a nasty remark. But he was being serious and I sure as hell don't want to get into another dispute with him just because I was acting sardonic. I started trekking back to the food court, hoping to catch some leftover food from the cafeteria, with his tall and huge figure trailing behind me—like a shadow. "You bet you are. You accused me as a suspect."
He grunted at that—what a rude fellow. "Because you are."
"For God's sake, Usui! I don't know why he died, okay? It's not my fault. I don't even know—"
"Look, we're not talking about the accident, okay?" he cut me off, easily keeping pace with me no matter how fast I walked. "We never talk about the cases going on around here in the Academy. Drop it off."
And here I thought he was being nice. I tried to ignore him and started walking off only to pause when I spotted a group of guys coming our way. I noticed how one immediately elbowed his friend and discreetly pointed me out. My heart thudded painfully and even if I don't really want to admit it, I was somehow thankful Usui Takumi was with me or else rumors about a female student disappearing in the school field would come around circling the classrooms. They started making their way towards us. Takumi didn't seem to mind it so much since they look pretty normal on some other point of view but on my view, they pretty much looked like they were really going at me.
I backed off for a second and thoughtlessly clung on to Takumi's arm. And for a second—a short period of momentary confusion on my part—the guys that are about to approach me paused on their tracks too and stared at each other, and I have a pretty guess they were wondering what they were up to since one stared at his friend to ask the same question aloud. My forehead creased when they started laughing idiotically before they continued on their way towards us and walked past us.
I was rooted on spot as I wondered what the hell just happened. They were about to approach me, are they not?
"Polka, what are you doing?"
I paused upon hearing that voice and took note of the irritation and slight amusement that laced his tone. I looked up and met a startling shade of green eyes that looked like an odd shape of molten green lava and quickly disentangled my arm from Takumi's arm as blood crept up my cheeks. "Sorry."
He got his arm back too and stuffs his hand in the pocket of his jeans. "Don't do that again. It looks ugly." He muttered disdainfully as though he didn't really liked what I did before he walked off ahead of me.
I stared at his retreating back and to my hands before darting my eyes to the band of guys that I was just so sure about to approach us awhile ago. I stared back at my hands and to Takumi's arm that I touched that seemed to have dispelled away the effect of what I hold within me and stared down at my bracelet that lost all its unequal cold and warm temperature.
And I wondered, what the hell just happened?
.
"Sakura, could you please—"
"—and I said, get out of here! I don't want my roommates to see that I've got a fiancé who couldn't even listen to what I wanted to do with my life!" came out Sakura's sudden outburst that startled the hell out of me. I paused by the entrance to our dorm as I stood rooted on the ground because surely, this was what one would conclude as a really awkward situation.
I stared at the guy Sakura was talking with—more like screaming at—and noticed he looked like he was someone who looks pretty close with trouble. He's got a striking shade of blonde hair and red eyes—was he a vampire or something?—and a pierced ear. He looks pretty decent might I add if only it wasn't for that arrogant aura he emanates. He was tall, admirably so, and he had the entire dimple thing going on with the way he was smirking sardonically at Sakura. He was dressed in a simple dark washed jeans, and sleeveless shirt with a huge black cross embedded on his chest. His wrists were adorned by leather bracelets and I could easily conclude he was some sort of a rock band fanatic with the way he was bringing himself.
Ah, the fiancé. He was the fiancé. I see.
"I was sent here to see you, is that a bad thing now?" was the guy's sardonic retort. "And who cares about your roommates. It isn't like they'd give a damn whether you have a fiancé or not. They might even admire you because of me."
Wow. That was just… arrogant.
"I don't want to be admired by my roommates because of you." her voice was startlingly cold and biting and if it was a knife, the guy would have been pierced immediately. Sakura's dislike of him was so obvious. "I don't want you here. Get out and the door is right behind…" she trailed off, her eyes narrowing at the sight of me, before a dark blush appeared on her face as though she was embarrassed that I've seen her petty outburst again. Well, I wouldn't really call this petty. The guy was a real badass. I was suddenly reminded of Usui Takumi's annoying attitude.
"Uh," I started fiddling with the hem of the My Chemical Romance shirt I was wearing and tried to right myself from such an awkward situation. "—I'd just come back later. You go ahead and continue your… discussion. Bye!"
"Misaki, wait!" I winced when Sakura appeared before me and started pulling me back into the room, linking her arms on mine before she glared at the fiancé. "Now, my roommate is here. You should get out before she starts thinking unconstructive things about us. She's one to start bad rumors, you know, right, Ayuzawa?" I was about to deny that furiously because that is so not true but I ended up wincing when her fingernails dug into the exposed skin of my arms, forcing me to blurt out a yes.
In the end, I nodded pejoratively. "Yes. I like ruining Sakura Hanazono's profile here. I hate her, you know." I hissed the last five words critically at Sakura. She rolled her eyes at that. But still, she was my friend so I was compelled to help her. "You should leave. It doesn't really look nice if you were here in a girl's apartment while the other party doesn't seem to want your presence here."
The guy eyed me from head to toe—and frowning—before he darted his eyes back to Sakura and shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, hon, see you at school tomorrow." That and he turned his back on us and waved over his shoulders, leaving the door open and allowing the cold air to get in.
Sakura obviously cringed. "Disgusting. And don't call me hon, you bastard!" she screamed, nearly rendering me deaf since she was still hanging off my arm like some frickin' barnacle. "God, if murder isn't a crime, I would have killed that guy a long time ago!"
I nodded, and tried pushing her off me since she was really starting to hurt me. "Okay. Point taken. I didn't know you hate your fiancé so much.''
She eyes me for a moment and slumps down on the couch with an annoyed look on her pretty face. "I don't just hate him. I loathed him. He's a bad jerk."
I arched an eyebrow at that. "And you're the epitome of good manners and right conduct?"
"Pick a team!" she screamed on my face. "I'm your friend. You should be patronizing me!"
"The fact that you're my friend is a sign that I should stay true with you." I smiled at her, and walked towards the kitchen to get us some grub and drinks. I throw her a carton of milk which she accepted gingerly. "But you're right. He looks a bit arrogant—"
"He isn't a bit arrogant! He's good for hell!" she scowled again, and yanked the lid of the carton open before she gulped it down like a wolf. And had I not known her for someone who's always been adamant on acting faux graceful and polished, I would have laughed at her lack of manner right now. I mean, the girl literally had spills of milk rolling down her lips before she wiped them away with the back of her hands.
I had to laugh again. "You're really such a Drama Queen."
Sakura groaned. "God, I hate him!" she exclaimed sourly. "I never like him! He was so kind to me back then, you know? He was all sweet and thoughtful but when he entered middle school, he became this rebellious furred coat wearing, leather jacketed, Harley riding kind of bad boy! And that wasn't hot. He cursed a lot, too and he's changed a lot! I hate him."
I sighed. "Sakura, people change. You can't expect him to act chummy forever when he's… a guy." I quoted the last word again. "He's just a guy. Don't expect him to stay the way he is until he grows grey hair."
"You don't understand, Ayuzawa. You've got no experience on the boyfriend thing-y."
"I thought you don't like him?"
She groaned at that and I thought she was making an expression as though she was speaking with the greatest loser of the world. I resisted the urge to pull on her hair. "I like him before, okay?" she made a gesture with both hands transferring from left to right to point out some difference I couldn't really understand. "But he just… changed. It was difficult reading him anymore. It's like, he became different after he hangs out with those groupies of his—bunch of losers!" she screamed out the last three words. "Why can't he be like Usui Takumi? He's everything admirable." Another groan.
I sighed, the mention of Usui 'everything admirable' Takumi is really beginning to grate on my last nerves. "What is so good with Usui Takumi? He is so not good or admirable. I'm sure if you look at him carefully—or spend an entire three days with him—you'd be disappointed yourself how much of a sucker he is. That's probably just what's going on about him: looks."
"Well, be surprised, he wasn't just about his looks. He's pretty smart too, might I add."
"Lame. That isn't true!" I glared at Shizuko, and nearly jumped in surprise when I realized she wasn't here before because I was pretty sure it was just Sakura and I in the room. "Where did you come from?!" I nearly screamed on her face and glances at Sakura. Clearly, she was pretty shocked, too.
Shizuko dismissed the look of surprise on our faces and pointed out the door. "Front door, obviously." She said with a roll of her eyes. She eyed Sakura. "Kuuga came around?"
And once again, Sakura groaned. "Yes. And he looked ten times worst than before. He's got pierced ears!"
"Is that your basis of perfection?" both Sakura and I paused when she said that, her voice unnaturally dull and cold—colder than before. She got off the couch and placed a bag of burgers on the center table where our feet our propped up and started walking back to her room. "Because if you plan to continue doing that to your fiancé, I'd tell you now that you're starting to act like everybody's common bitch." She darted a quick glance at me, too, and arched an eyebrow at my feet. "Maybe there is a secret why Kuuga Sakurai acted that way—a secret he doesn't want you to know."
And the way she said that made me think she was purposefully emphasizing the word secret and throwing it off at me. I arched an eyebrow at that although I tried to remain cool about it.
"After all, all of us had secrets to keep, don't we?" that and she walked off to her room.
Next to me, Sakura sneered. "Creepy bitch." But that didn't deter her from being annoyed as ever over the fact that her fiancé was here and that he might be in for the fun of ruining her school year. "Ugh, I swear I'm getting off Kuuga's way. I don't want him anywhere near me."
"Well, he's your fiancé. You can't just, I don't know, shake him off like that."
She glared at me, and her eyes almost looked like she was possessed as it narrowed into really dangerous slits. "Try me."
I wouldn't, really. She looks like she's ready to kill me.
.
"Seriously, where are we," DUCK "—going?"
I ducked carefully, making sure I wouldn't hit my head against the metal bleachers where we are currently underneath at, and stared at Sakura in extreme ridicule as she continued making her way to peer through the open edges of the bleachers with a creepy grin on her face.
It was Tuesday.
And unfortunately as it were, we've got about two hours of free period.
And Sakura just had to spot Shizuko and me doing nothing on the school lobby and dragged us towards the currently off-limits soccer field where there are about twenty plus males playing around, wearing jogging pants and shorts and clothes necessary for playing the said game. I even spotted the Yukimura and Kanou cousins, Hideki-kun and of course, Usui Takumi himself. On the bleacher opposite to ours, Aoi-kun was seated too while holding a small video camera.
I eyed Sakura again. "What are we doing here, Sakura?" I hissed at her, clearly nervous because what we're doing—hiding underneath bleacher seats—looked like something akin to freaky stalking ways. "It looks so obvious we're not allowed here. This looks illegal—hmf!"
I glowered at her when her palms found its way on my mouth to clamp it shut before she started squealing in obvious delight. "I heard from Yuki that they'd be trying out today for soccer. And since I've found us VIP seats, I decided to bring you two together. Be honored."
Behind me, Shizuko snorted. "You call this VIP seats?"
I agreed with her. "Yeah! This looks damn well creepy. And kindly look up, Sakura." I pointed out the beneath sides of the bleachers and cringed at the sight of chewed up gums. "I don't want those things sticking up my hair."
"Then go home."
"Love to, buh-bye!"
But before I could as much as leave, she was already holding me by the nape and dragged me with her to shove my head on the huge opening of the bleacher seats. "You're not going anywhere and leaving me here all by myself. Won't you feel bad if you didn't see the lot of them naked?"
The cringing was second nature when it comes to Sakura. She just brings out the devil in me whenever she's being too sardonic. "I don't like the sight of boys naked, okay? I'd rather eat nails than see that. Get your hands off me!"
"Shut up." She hissed at me before squealing again in delight. "Just look at those muscles. God, I could die here in peace."
"If you're going to die, leave me out of it!"
She ignored me, and turns to Shizuko to give her a knowing grin. "What about you, Kaga? Bet you're just dying to see Hideki-kun naked. Don't deny it. It's obvious on your face, you bitch."
Shizuko snorted at that. "I don't have to see him naked."
Both Sakura and I's foreheads creased. "Huh?"
"I see him naked every time I'd visit him in his dorm." She said this in a way that made the blood climbed up my cheeks because it was just so frickin' embarrassing imagining her in the same room with Hideki naked. I flushed a deep shade of red and tried to set the thoughts aside and turned to Sakura only to see her blushing another angry shade of fuchsia, too. Clearly, we didn't expect something like that from the ever infamous Ice Queen Shizuko Kaga.
Sakura was gaping beside me. "You two already had sex?!" she exclaimed in disbelief and obvious horror.
Shizuko rolled her eyes at that. "Stupid." She looked around the place we are at and a deep frowned marred her beautifully exquisite face. "Come on and let's get some proper seats above. I wouldn't be caught dead in this kind of… disgusting place."
Sakura started yelping again. "But it's off limits!"
Cold grey eyes rooted Sakura and I on our spots. "Nobody tells a Kaga it's off-limits."
Oh yeah, she nailed it.
We followed her to the above world, and thanked God I'm out of the confines of gum-filled bleacher seats—the underneath part, I mean—and took in fresh air when we were finally up on the stairs and making our way to the spot where we could get better viewing—instead of staying underneath like some creepy stalker psychos. I froze, however, when I spotted Kaon and her group of mean girls on the upper level of the seats with binoculars which utterly made them look ridiculous with the way they were staring at the soccer tryout players.
Now that, people, is what you would call creepy.
I settled on ignoring them and went on with watching Hideki and the others, waving back at Yukimura who waved at me with obvious enthusiasm when another blonde came running towards the field, his hair an unruly mop of messy disarray. And almost immediately, I recognized him as the person who gave me a ride to the Library the other day.
"Oh, look, it's Igarashi Tora." I mumbled thoughtlessly, which made me earn odd gazes from the two weird girls I was with.
Sakura was the first to break the silence. "You know Igarashi Tora?"
"Yeah," but the curious look on her face made me paused. "—why?"
"How?" she pressed.
I shrugged. "He gave me a ride to the Library the other day." And then, I was reminded of how those boys suddenly lost interest in me when I touch Usui Takumi by accident. I frowned at that. That hasn't fully sunk in me yet. Why? Why did that happen? That wasn't supposed to happen, right? It almost seemed as though… everything disappeared when my skin met his. What was that all about?
Yeah, what was that all about? Worst, what does that supposed to mean?
I felt gazes being thrown on my face so I stared back at the two again and notice Shizuko's unwavering gaze on me. My forehead creased at that. "What?"
"Nothing—" she was about to say but was instantly cut off by Sakura's loud exclamation.
"What?!" she more like snarled at me. "Just what?! You weren't supposed to say what in times like this! You're supposed to explain! Didn't you know Igarashi Tora?! He's one of the golden boys in the Academy!"
I nodded, slightly confused, and searches answers in Shizuko's expressionless eyes. "Golden boys?" I echoed. "Is it because of the blonde hair—owch!" I yelped when she whacked me none too gently on the head. I glared at her. "What was that all about?!"
"Silence." Shizuko snarled at us. It wasn't that loud but it carried the calm of an impending danger, enough to silence both of us to our graves. "If you don't want to be thrown out of the field, then, shut the hell up." She looked pretty pissed off that we have no other choices left but to, indeed, shut the hell up. The girl was a dinosaur! She looked like she would even breathe out fire if we make the slightest noise.
I had to think again if my life is safe with Shizuko around. She looked like the type of person to shoot someone who easily displeases her.
But then, someone must have entered the field to make Sakura screeched like an annoyed banshee. "What in the cow is he doing here?!" she snarled. I followed where her gaze was leading her and saw Kuuga Sakurai enter the field while wearing the same soccer uniform. He was really cute. Had he been less arrogant, I might have like him. I whistled in amusement and elbowed Sakura on the ribs playfully. "He must have known you're coming here to cheer for him." I teased while laughing.
She shot me a dark scowl and I realized once again my life is in the line.
I back away and turned to Shizuko. "What is she so mad about? I was just trying to lighten the mood."
"Clearly, you weren't lightening the mood at all." She told me sourly, her eyes focused entirely on Hideki-kun by the field. "You sure know how to cause trouble, huh? I bet when you were within its three mile radius, trouble itself would come searching for you."
My forehead creased. Once again, Shizuko Kaga lost me with her rhetoric words. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
"You scare me sometimes, Shizuko."
She shrugged. "You're not the first person to say that."
I snorted at her and focused my eyes back to the field only to find Aoi Hyoudo making his way towards us. He's really wholesome, I must say. But there was just something dark about Aoi Hyoudo that makes me want to stay off his path. He doesn't like—that's something I admire about him. I'd always remember him for that. But he doesn't seem to be affected by me… and I admire him for whatever he's been doing to not be… mentally incapacitated by me. And the other, too. Why does it seem like they don't want to bite my head off?
Usually, that's the normal reaction when a normal person would see me, right?
"Oh, hello, Hyoudo-kun." Sakura greeted flirtishly at Aoi who returned her too sweet greeting with a barely there nod. He took the space next to Shizuko and nodded at her before narrowing his red eyes on me that seemed like hardened stones of blood today. "I see that you are with the troublemaker." He said hostilely, and it was just so implacable I considered the thought of running off.
But nonetheless, I don't want to look underestimated thus, I sniffed, trying to look unimpressed. "I am not a troublemaker, thank you."
Shizuko had trouble hiding the laugh in her voice. "Yes, you are."
"You two are really cousins."
She paused, and snaps her grey eyes at Aoi. "You told her?"
He shrugged; only he could do that to a Shizuko Kaga. "What? Her eyes were compelling."
What? My eyes again? I was miffed. "What's with you two and my eyes?"
Aoi returned that with an equally chagrined tone. "Well, what's with you and your eyes?"
I resisted the urge to launch myself at him and knocked him off his arrogant arse. "Are you actually related with Usui Takumi, too? You seem to be exuding the same antagonistic aura as him?" Well, I wouldn't really be surprised if these three are blood-related. They just seem to be so… annoying.
I paused, however, when Aoi actually chuckled at me—like he found something funny on whatever it is I've said. I growled at him. "What's so funny?"
He was still chuckling, but Shizuko already had her eyes on the field again. "You are."
"Well, I'm not trying to be." I nearly lashed out and tried to ignore his annoying presence by watching the soccer games before me. I wasn't really into muddy and brutish games like that but there was just something about the form of the males and their stances that made me watch. And Usui Takumi, he seems to be shining brilliantly amidst the pools of people in white that I just couldn't help but be attracted by such a sight.
The coach whistled, and called the attention of the boys for the scrimmage. "Okay, heads up, girls." He shouted, his voice hoarse, gruff and tight. If I have another better description for it, it sounded pretty stark. He could use some water later. And I really wondered why he was calling them girls when they had the whole muscle thing going on. Even Yukimura who looked pretty much like a girl amidst brute men had build up some muscles in his stunted arms. But I had to admit, he actually looked cute in his uniform.
Bah, it was so unfair sometimes!
"We'll be doing scrimmage for ten minutes and once I blow the whistle and point out people," he blow on his whistle indeed that sent nasal shocks into my system. "—I want players going in and out of the field! Are we clear?!"
"Sir!"
"Okay, we're shirts versus skins! Shirts on the left and skins on the right!" beside me, Sakura actually had the nerve to scream in delight. But since we were too near the field, I quickly clapped my hands over her mouth to make sure she wouldn't be kicked out of the field. A moody Sakura isn't really something I would dare deal with.
"Yukimura, shirts! Akiha, skins! Yome, shirts!" he continued calling out names while Sakura almost looked like she was hyperventilating beside me. I brought a bandanna with me, should I tie it over her mouth to make sure she stays quiet for the rest of the tryout? "Kanou, skins! Sakurai, skins! Usui, skins!"
Say what?! Why are all the good looking guys on the Skins team?! So unfair. Well, not like the people in the Shirts team isn't good looking, but, still!
"Hideki, shirts! Igarashi, shirts!" people started running left and right and I nearly got thrown out of my seat when I saw Usui pulled on the hem of his shirt and discarded it neatly by the bench before running towards the field when the coach pointed him to participate on the skirmish. I forced my mouth shut, because that, ladies and gentlemen, is what one would call frickin' illegal! Who the hell would have a body like that?!
Why is he frickin' perfect without having to hide a nasty secret or two?!
The negative force beside me—which was actually Sakura Hanazono—started screaming like a ghoul again when boys started stripping before her eyes. "Oh, my gosh—HOLY CHEDDAR CHEESE AND HAMBURGERS!—that is friggin' hot! Who the hell would have bodies like—fuuuuck! That was fuck hot!" she screamed against my ear before pulling out her digital camera and started taking pictures.
I have to hand it to her. She really knows when to act damn ridiculous.
But I was still on my sort-of possessed mode. I couldn't believe it either that this was happening right before my eyes. Usui Takumi, I've never seen someone so beautiful before. He was, in the right places, well built, well toned and definitely well-muscled. The shorts he wore made his long legs go on forever—highly suitable for playing such a bestial game—and the muscles on his forearms just makes any woman feel safe once trapped within them. I swallowed thickly, trying to remove the invisible and huge lump in my throat because he was just so beautiful and graceful and refined that I'm starting to have some difficulty in breathing.
He started running around the field like some graceful gazelle and with the way the wind was sweeping at his blonde hair, it was just impossible to tear my eyes from him. There was just something about him that made me kept looking even if I'm starting to act like some stalking pervert. The ball was thrown at his direction and he seemed like he was enjoying it so much that he had that boyish grin stuck on his face that just made him more angelic than ever. My hands were shaking on my knees and I was… tantalized with the way he was moving around, scoring points for the team and passing balls to his teammates and chuckling with Hideki even if they were in opposite teams that for once in my life ever since I met him, I actually admired him.
Beside me, Sakura continued taking shots. The whistle vaguely registered in my head but her gasp was audible enough to tear my entire attention from Usui Takumi and when I followed where her gaze was leading her, I realized Kuuga Sakurai was in the same Skins team, too, and he just looked like—if not perfectly imitated—as well muscled as Usui Takumi. She pause taking pictures and lowered down her camera and stared, mouth parted and wide eyed, at the fiancé she loathed and told off.
Wow, that's some expression you'd rarely get from Hanazono Sakura. She's usually boastful and annoying but right now, I actually like her for being caught completely off guard.
I stared back at the field again and for some reasons, I felt the uncomfortable way my bracelet is heating up. There was the difficulty in breathing, too, that I quickly look away from that person in the field that was making my heart and entire system react this way. I grappled for my bag and swiftly slung it over my shoulders before I turned to Shizuko who was, for some reasons I don't know, was already watching me with amused eyes.
I stopped for a moment to gather my thoughts before I forced out a weak smile. "Uh, I should go."
Sakura was the first to react beside me. "What?! Why?"
"Can't take it?" Aoi teased.
I snorted at that and rolls my eyes. But well, it wasn't completely a lie. There was a huge part of me that says if I stayed here for another insufferable minute, there is a huge risk I might explode. "No, stupid. I remember I have to do something and I don't have time to watch," I darted a quick glance to the field again and couldn't help a shudder to run up and down my spine. I gulped. "—that. I need to go. See you two at the dorms."
"Well, it couldn't be helped. Be careful."
I smiled at Sakura who stared at me in ridicule and ignored the way Shizuko and Aoi are sneering at me. Clearly, they have seen through the façade. I got out of the soccer field as fast as I could and nearly thanked God when my heart finally skidded into a slow hum.
I run my hand through my hair and frowned at myself. What was that all about, indeed?
.
AndyBunny