Chapter 3
"Hey, Isuke! Are you going to Sumireko's tea party later?" Nio asked after their last period ended, although she knew Isuke's answer. Sumireko would only invite the elites and they would always go to the heiress's tea party every time she hosted it.
Isuke always thought her tea party was boring, and the bunch of girls that Sumireko invited were pretentious. She had always wondered why she would attend, if not to just associate herself with the elites. And besides, she always had nowhere else to go after school. Going straight home after school was boring. She could go shopping, but she had bought almost everything for this month and going shopping alone was lame. She could go for a manicure if she hadn't just done it last week. She was about to give her acquiescence, when she thought of the new place she had discovered just yesterday.
And a certain redhead with golden eyes suddenly flashed in her mind. As much as Isuke didn't want to admit it, she had been thinking about Haruki and their little encounter the whole day at school. Students like Haruki were a dime in a dozen, but what set her apart from the other low class citizens was that Haruki was not afraid of Isuke, which intrigued Isuke, to say the least. As much as Isuke hated it, bantering with Haruki yesterday brought a certain kind of excitement that she had never felt before. Exchanging snide remarks with Tokaku wasn't exciting because Tokaku was all serious and no fun, her banter with Nio was nothing but out of sheer annoyance. But Haruki, with her wild red hair and that playful smirk and that mischievous glint in her eye, it was somehow different. And that determined spark in her eyes when she got all serious.
"What a pain," Isuke said nonchalantly. "Think Isuke will skip this time."
"Are you serious?" Nio gaped in wonderment. Isuke had never skipped Sumireko's tea party before. She would always turn up no matter how many times she had complained how boring it was, as she would never pass the chance up to socialize with the elites. So, what had changed this time? "Are you avoiding Tokaku?"
"Thanks for reminding me," Isuke said sarcastically. Frankly, she had already forgotten about that incident, but Nio had to bring it up again. "And no, I'm not avoiding her. What do you take me for? Some sort of coward?"
"Then why won't you attend? You've never skipped her tea parties before."
"Well, there's a first time for everything," Isuke remarked dryly. "Isuke just doesn't feel like it, that's all."
"But, people will start talking if you don't attend. Especially Sumireko's minions," Nio said, stopping Isuke from walking any further, trying to persuade her friend to go.
"Then let them talk. It's not like it had never happened to me before. Just go and have fun without me, Nio. Think you can do that and leave Isuke alone for once?" With that, Isuke began to walk away, leaving a confused Nio behind.
"How boring," Isuke complained to no one as she stretched her body on Haruki's couch under the bleachers. After successfully convincing Nio to go to Sumireko's tea party without her, she had quietly walked back to school and went straight to the bleachers. She was expecting to find Haruki under the bleachers, getting high on her weed, but to her surprise, it was empty. Since there was nowhere for her to sit, she had no choice but to sit on the eyesore couch and waited for the redhead. She was surprised at how cozy it was, and before she knew it, she had made herself comfortable on the couch.
After selling her weed to the last client of the day, Haruki knew she had a few minutes to spare before heading home, so she decided to make a detour to her secret hideout first. She needed to let go of some steam first before facing her reality at home. Trudging tiredly towards the bleachers, she couldn't wait to get high on her comfortable couch.
However, when she reached her secret hideout, she was surprised to find the pink-haired girl who had been on her mind all night, lying on her couch with her eyes close.
"About time you showed up," Isuke said with her eyes still closed.
"Isuke?" Haruki asked, shocked. She didn't expect Isuke would come back here. "Are you lost or something?"
"Ouch, that hurt," Isuke said in mocking pain, while opening an eye. "Who knew you could be sarcastic too, Haruki. And have you forgotten your manners?"
"Sorry, sorry, Isuke-sama. I was just shocked to see you here, that's all," Haruki explained, her hand scratching the back of her neck. "I thought you'll be at Sumireko's tea party." She looked around her messy hideout. The redhead had never had a visitor here, not even Haru, as she had never told her friend about this place, so there was no reason for her to tidy up at all. She began to pick up all her trash on the floor and shoved it to a corner for disposal later.
Somehow, Isuke liked the way Haruki said her name with that honorific. Usually, other students would say it out of fear or respect, but the way Haruki said it was natural and genuine. Quirking a small smile, the playgirl sat up and looked amusingly at Haruki's attempt to tidy up.
Isuke was surprised that Haruki knew anything about the heiress' tea party. Then, she remembered that Haruki is friends with the annoyingly sweet couple. "That's right. Isuke forgot that you have rich annoying friends attending her tea parties too," the playgirl said, referring to Tokaku. "Though I'm surprised they didn't try to pull some strings to get you into Sumireko's circle."
"Nah, even if they did try, I have better things to do than attending boring tea parties," Haruki said distractedly as she picked up a piece of paper and tossed it at a corner.
Isuke smirked at Haruki's remark. Seemed like she's not the only one who thinks her tea parties are boring. "Then, you should feel honoured to have me visiting you instead of attending her boring tea parties. I don't usually pay people like you a visit," Isuke said bluntly, without any sarcasm in her voice.
"Unless you want something from someone," Haruki muttered quietly under her breath while shoving the last of her trash in the corner. After that was done, she turned back to Isuke and flashed her a smile. "So, are you saying that I'm more worthy of your time than some tea parties? If that's the case, then I'm really honoured!"
"Don't get too full of yourself," Isuke said in a bored tone as she checked her manicure. "There's a reason why I'm here, and it certainly isn't to spend time with you."
Haruki chuckled, unaffected by Isuke's remark. "So, what can I do you for, princess? You want to acquire some weed? You have to make appointment with me first and then I'll-"
"I don't want any of your weed, you idiot," Isuke snapped, though she quickly settled down and continued, "I've thought of my second condition."
"Ok, what's that?"
"From now on, you'll do as I say. My homework, my assignments, and any other things that I can think of," Isuke said, crossing her arms while leaning on the couch in satisfaction.
"Oh, don't you have your little sidekick to do all that for you?" Haruki asked innocuously.
"Who? Nio?" Isuke asked, turning her nose up in disgust. "Why would I ever ask Nio to do my homework? And she's not my sidekick."
"I don't know, probably because everyone can see how you're always ordering her around?" Haruki explained, shrugging her shoulders.
"So, because of that, everyone thought I'm some bossy bitch, right? Well, that's to be expected," Isuke remarked nonchalantly. "But asking Nio to do my homework would be like doing it myself. Her grades are nothing to shout home about."
"Is that your way of saying that my grades are good? Why, thank you, Isuke-sama," Haruki said with a mocked bow.
"I never said that," Isuke said, standing up. She decided that she'd had enough of this place. "We'll be in touch."
"Don't we need to exchange phone numbers or something?" Haruki asked blankly.
"Don't be an idiot. Isuke knows your number. Isuke will call you. That's right," Isuke said, smiling intentionally, "You'll be at my beck and call from now on."
"Wow, stalker much? How did you even know my number? I don't even know yours," Haruki said, surprised. Maybe Haru was right all along. She wasn't as inconspicuous as she would like to be.
"Idiot. Didn't I already tell you that you aren't as low profile as you seem to think you are?" Isuke said as she started to walk away.
"Ah… sorry," Haruki laughed apologetically.
"Oh and one more thing, Haruki," Isuke said, stopping halfway and turning her head around. "From now on, I can come here to hang out as much as I want to."
That totally threw the redhead off. "Oh, a-are you sure?" Haruki began hesitantly. "This place isn't really that suitable for you."
"Who are you to decide that for me?" Isuke put her hand on her hip and turned to face fully at Haruki.
"Ah, sorry, sorry," Haruki said, giving Isuke a placating smile. "No offence intended."
Upon seeing Haruki's placating smile, Isuke's face soften slightly. "Your apologies are getting on my nerves." Haruki could be all playful and carefree one second and the next second, she could be all apologetic and inferior. Isuke almost expected Haruki to be this way, what with her being poor, but she had come to prefer Haruki with her playful, carefree and confident self. "Change this annoying habit of yours. Isuke can't stand people apologizing for no reason at all."
"Ok! I'll try my best, Isuke-sama!" Haruki grinned genuinely at Isuke.
Isuke didn't have any clever comeback for this and sensing that the atmosphere was beginning to get awkward, she cleared her throat and said, "Well, that'll be all. I'll drop by tomorrow with my homework."
With that, Isuke began to exit, but was stopped when Haruki called her and offered her a Pocky stick, which Isuke looked in disgust before rejecting it. This earned a loud laugh from Haruki. Isuke flashed Haruki an irritated look before turning to walk away, but what Haruki couldn't see is that Isuke had a warm smile on her face as she was walking away.
"Meet me at your secret place after the last period."
"And don't be late this time."
That was hours ago when Haruki received these messages from Isuke while she was getting ready for school. Isuke really wasted no time to torture the redhead. Haruki sighed. There was no way she can be on time because she had a lot of clients after school. She had told Isuke that, but the pinkette did not reply Haruki after that.
The redhead took a deep breath before entering her hideout, bracing herself for Isuke's mood. She had been late for half an hour and she knew that the playgirl would not be pleased.
"My my, Haruki," Isuke said from the couch upon hearing Haruki's footsteps. "Is that how you'll impress your boss on your first day to work in the future?"
Too tired to argue, Haruki just panted and waved her hand in apology.
Isuke sniggered when she laid her eyes on an exhausted Haruki. Her clothes and hair were in a disarray, giving off the impression that she had run all the way here. "Well, she really did try, I'll give her that," Isuke thought.
"My homework are all there," Isuke said, pointing to the stack of books on the floor in front of her. "The sample of my handwriting is in one of the books."
It was a lot, much to Haruki's despair. Nevertheless, she plastered a smile on her face. "Great! I'll get'em done and pass'em back to you here tomorrow morning?"
"That's the idea. But you sure you can be early to school tomorrow? You're famous for your lack of punctuality," Isuke said in a sardonic tone.
"Heh, I'll try, Isuke-sama," Haruki replied.
"Why don't you take a seat?" The question sounded more like an order as Isuke patted the empty space next to her.
Haruki wordlessly complied and sat down.
Isuke lied down on the couch and propped her legs up on the other girl's lap, a smirk on her face. "Now, massage my legs," she ordered.
"You really aren't kidding when you said you'd hang out here, huh?" Haruki laughed as she began to massage the pink-haired girl's legs. She was hoping that Isuke would leave as soon as she dropped her homework here, so that she could get high on her weed and Pocky. "But don't you need to go on a date or something?" Haruki asked, referring to Isuke's girlfriend of the week.
"What Isuke does or does not do with her spare time is none of your business," Isuke replied nonchalantly as she closed her eyes, enjoying her massage.
"Sure thing, princess," Haruki said cheerily, without feeling the least bit offended.
"Wow, you're really good at this," Isuke mumbled sleepily after a few minutes of silence.
"Thanks, Isuke-sama. I used to do this for my mom," Haruki explained. Before she could continue any further, she heard a light snore from the other girl. Chuckling to herself, Haruki continued with her massage. This was the first time that Haruki saw Isuke's sleeping face. She thought that the playgirl looked peaceful and innocent in her sleep. All the hard features and traces of a snobbish rich spoiled brat princess was gone, making her look like an ordinary girl. "An ordinary but pretty girl," Haruki thought, before shaking her head. There was no denying it, anyone with a pair of eyes can see that Isuke is pretty, and Haruki can appreciate beauty when she sees one.
When Isuke awoke to the sound of soft rustling, Haruki was no longer massaging her. She stretched on the couch and yawned lazily, before sitting up to look in the direction of the sound. The source of the sound was from the far end corner, and it seemed like Haruki was the cause of that sound.
"What are you doing?" Isuke asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing. Just cleaning up," Haruki replied with her back still on the pinkette. "I just figured that since I have a visitor from now on, it would be better to be more presentable."
Isuke looked around. The redhead actually did a good job cleaning the whole place up. Suddenly realizing something, she looked down at her laps. "What's this?" Isuke asked blankly, prompting Haruki to turn around to face her. In Isuke's hand was Haruki's jacket. How it ended up on Isuke's body is what she wanted to know.
"Oh, I saw you shivering in your sleep, so I thought you were cold," Haruki replied casually.
"I didn't ask you to be chivalrous now, did I?" Isuke said bluntly.
"Sorry, lemme just take it back." Haruki quickly walked towards Isuke and took her jacket back. "It's not my intention to be chivalrous towards you or to make you feel uncomfortable. I was just-"
"Shut up and stop apologizing. I'm not angry at you," Isuke said, her tone softer than usual. "I appreciate it, though." If she had to admit, nobody had ever done something like that for her before, without her demanding for it.
A wide genuine smile slowly spread across Haruki's face. She did not expect Isuke to say that. "You're welcome, Isuke-sama."
There it was again. That wide genuine smile that made Isuke feel perturbed in her stomach. People don't usually smile that sincerely at her. They would usually smirk, or give her a fake smile. Isuke couldn't stand Haruki's penetrating gaze and that stupid grin of hers, so she looked away awkwardly. Upon noticing Isuke's uncharacteristic shyness, Haruki suddenly commented without any malice in her voice, "You really are a big softie underneath all that, huh? I like that side of yours."
"Idiot!" Isuke shouted and punched Haruki in the nose. "Say things like this one more time and you're done for."
"Ouch!" Haruki groaned, clutching her nose in pain. Luckily, it wasn't bleeding. "Guess I deserved it." Any uneasiness that Isuke felt earlier was gone, thanks to Haruki's clever remark. "But I meant what I said, Isuke-sama. I really like that side of yours."
"Just stop talking, would you," Isuke said with an indignant huff. "And yes, you deserved that punch, but you should know that I could do more than punching you."
"Alright, alright, I get it," Haruki said in defeat and chortled. "You should've seen the look on your face, though! It was so funny! I wish I could rewind that moment and take a picture of it!"
"You really are an insufferable idiot," Isuke complained petutantly and crossed her arms. "It wasn't funny, ok." She had been angry and annoyed at Haruki, but somehow, seeing and hearing Haruki's laughter calmed her down and a smile began to form on her face. She didn't know why Haruki had that effect on her. If it were any other student, she would slap the living daylight out of them. Deciding that she had enough for the day, she took her handphone out and checked the time. It was half past three in the afternoon. She had tons of missed calls and text messages from her girlfriend, which she deleted all.
Isuke had been asleep for nearly an hour. Although her nap was short, she felt like she hadn't slept that soundly in ages. "Well, I'll be going now. See you tomorrow first thing in the morning here, idiot."
And with that, she strutted away, her high boots heels clacking on the cemented floor. Haruki watched her retreating back while popping a piece of Pocky stick into her mouth, still chuckling. Isuke was a lot to handle, but somehow, Haruki enjoyed it. She didn't know why, but she enjoyed teasing the playgirl and pushing her buttons, testing her limits. Her tinted blush when she was flustered about something, and her attempts to hide her discomfort whenever someone got too close to her tickled Haruki's heart. What caught her off guard though, was Isuke's disarmingly sweet smile earlier. And that punch in the face? Yeah, it was totally worth it.
Later that night, as Haruki was finishing Isuke's homework before moving onto her own, she received a call from the pinkette.
"Are you done?" Isuke asked the minute Haruki picked up the phone.
"Well, hello to you too, Isuke-sama," Haruki greeted sarcastically. "Yes, I'm done with your homework and now I'm gonna do my own."
"Give me your bank account number," Isuke ordered.
"Huh? You're gonna pay me? I thought that's not part of the deal?"
"No, I'm not gonna pay you, you idiot. I'm gonna bank in a certain amount of money into your account and I'm gonna tell you what to buy for my breakfast tomorrow morning. So, grab a pen and a paper."
"You know, I cook breakfast for my siblings every morning before I go to school, Isuke-sama. I'm afraid I don't have the time to go buy breakfast for you," Haruki said, before suggesting, "I could always cook a portion for you, though, if you want."
"As if Isuke wants to eat any of your peasants' food," Isuke scoffed. "You don't even know what I like to eat."
"Oh yeah? Try me," Haruki challenged. "What's your favourite food?"
"Caviar," Isuke answered without missing a beat. "Can you cook that, huh?"
"What even is that?"
"Only the finest food you'll ever taste. Better than your Pocky sticks, that's for sure," Isuke said mockingly.
"Fine, I'll go buy it for you then," Haruki sighed, giving in. "Just text me where to buy and I'll text you my bank account later. But a word of warning, it won't be fresh as I just can't squeeze in extra time in the morning, otherwise I'll be later than my usual lateness to school. So, I'll have to buy it later tonight after I'm done with my homework."
"I don't need you to buy caviar for me, idiot. I have lots of it at home."
"Huh, I really don't get you then. I thought you want caviar for breakfast tomorrow."
"I only said that is my favourite food. I didn't say I want that for breakfast tomorrow," Isuke argued impatiently. "You're really dense, huh?"
"Alright, fine. What do you want for breakfast tomorrow, then, Your Majesty?" Haruki asked sarcastically. She was starting to think that Isuke was being really bothersome.
"Keep that attitude up and I can't promise that your secret will be safe with me, Haruki," Isuke said sweetly at the other end.
Before Haruki could answer, one of her little brothers burst into her room, crying and wailing. Her sister, Fuyuka ran in after him and tried to get him to calm down.
"What is that noise?" Isuke asked in irritation as she moved her ear away from her phone.
"It's my brother. Look, Isuke-sama. I gotta go very soon. I have a code red to handle. Just text me what you want and where to buy it."
Before Isuke could get another word in, Haruki had hung up the phone. Isuke huffed in annoyance as she ended the call too. Nobody had ever hung up on her before.
