Chapter 6

It stung. Isuke had been called many names before, some meaner and harsher, and some were even in the form of derogatory remarks, but none of them stung as much as what Haruki had said.

When Haruki walked through the door of the café, Isuke could see that the other girl was in distress. She had been worrying about Haruki, but Isuke being Isuke, she did not know how to express herself properly, so the first thing she did was to lash out. For some odd reason which she didn't understand, hurting Haruki was the last thing she wanted to do. She knew she has to make things right with Haruki again, with the only way she knows how.

Which was why she was extra early to school to leave a box of Pocky and a note on the couch for the redhead.

Haruki didn't arrive at school until after recess. Once she stepped into her class, she was immediately called to the principal's office. She assumed the worst; that Isuke had gone ahead and told the principal about her weeds. But that didn't happen. She was called to the principal's office for being absent from class.

She did not bump into Isuke at school at all today. By some sort of fate, both of them didn't have the same class today. Isuke was also nowhere to be seen near her locker or the cafeteria. It was like as if she was avoiding Haruki, which Haruki would understand if that was really the case. Haruki wasn't in any mood to deal with Isuke right now.

After the last period ended, Haruki went to her usual hangout spot, half expecting the pink-haired girl to be waiting for her on the couch. Instead, she found a box of Pocky and a note on the couch. She recognized the owner of the handwriting.

The note read: "Hey, I hope you enjoy this box of Pocky. I shouldn't have said what I've said." Smiling ruefully at the note, she put the Pocky and the note into her bag.

Well it was something, but Haruki wasn't ready to talk to Isuke yet, so she just let things be. Besides, she was still busy with her life and she had other priorities to take care of. And since she had stopped doing homework for Isuke, there was no reason for her to wake up early to go to school, so she slipped back to her old habit of being late to school. Isuke was no different, as she slipped back to her old habit of sleeping in class.

Things seemed to get better for Haruki because they made an effort not to bump into each other anymore even though they sometimes had the same classes together. By the time Haruki got into her classes late, Isuke was already asleep on her table. They never interacted in school before, so it was easier for them to avoid each other.

As for Isuke though, things didn't get any better for her. She had been getting moodier and moodier as each day passed. Isuke didn't know how to apologize; she never had to, so by leaving Haruki the box of Pocky and the note, she hoped that Haruki would accept her form of apology. However, as each day passed and there was no response from the redhead, she was beginning to think that Haruki had not forgiven her. It didn't help that sometimes from afar, she saw Haruki talking to her many fangirls and doing favours for them happily. It was like the redhead had moved on, while Isuke was still moping away.

If on her good days she was already being snarky to other students, then on her bad days everyone would know not to get in her way. It was very obvious with how she was always seen being bitchier than usual to Nio for the littlest thing.

However one day, she got into a major fight with Tokaku. Haruki had been walking out of the washroom when she saw some students running past her excitedly. When she asked one of the students what is happening, the student told her that Tokaku and Isuke were fighting in the hallway.

"Well, your girlfriend stinks like dust!" Isuke was shouting at Tokaku when Haruki got to the scene.

Without missing a beat, Tokaku pushed Isuke against the lockers. Haru was trying to hold her girlfriend back but to no avail.

"Say that one more time," Tokaku snarled, her fist already raising intimidatingly.

"My pleasure," Isuke sneered venomously, unaffected by Tokaku's intimidation.

Haruki immediately pushed herself through the crowd of students who had formed a semi circle. She quickly got behind Tokaku and grabbed her wrist that was about to meet Isuke's face. Isuke closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact but when none came, she opened her eyes to see that Haruki was standing in between Tokaku and herself. Haruki was facing Tokaku and talking to her in a calm but firm voice.

"Hey, Tokaku. Calm down."

"Let me go! I gotta teach that bitch a lesson," Tokaku shouted angrily, trying to shake off Haruki's strong grip on her wrist.

"Hey, hey… just let it go," Haruki said in a placating voice, still not letting go of Tokaku's wrist. "She's not worth it, ok?"

A brief power struggle ensued between them. Haruki, being the stronger of the two, had the upper hand. In the end, Tokaku gave up.

"Ok, just let go of my hand," she finally said grumpily, relaxing her stance.

Haruki let go of Tokaku's hand and put both of her hands up, indicating that she didn't want to fight her.

"You won't be so lucky next time, Inukai," Tokaku growled, her glare fixed on Isuke while rubbing her wrist that Haruki had been gripping earlier. Then she turned to look at Haruki. "I hope that next time, you'll defend Haru with the same amount of fervour that you're using to defend this bitch."

Tokaku stalked off. Haru quickly mouthed a 'thank you' to Haruki before hurrying off to calm her angry girlfriend.

Haruki turned around to check on Isuke. Up close, she could see her dark circles beneath her eyes, although she tried to hide it with her heavy makeup. Haruki felt bad seeing her this way.

"If you have something to say to me, just make it quick. I don't want to be taking up your time that you could use to entertain your fangirls," Isuke spat, putting emphasis on the word 'fangirls'. That came out more spiteful than she intended to and she immediately regretted it. There she goes, lashing out again.

The word 'fangirls' sounded like acid to Haruki's ears. She wanted to defend herself but she knew now is not the time. She didn't want to cause a scene.

"Are you ok?" Haruki asked instead, concern lacing through her voice.

That seemed to calm Isuke down. There were a million things she wanted to tell Haruki; how not fine she was ever since their fight that night, how it had been eating her alive with how much Haruki's words stung, how unhappy she was seeing that Haruki had easily moved on, how she had not been sleeping well because she missed sleeping on the stupid worn out couch with Haruki sitting by her side. But in the end, she just said "I'm fine" in a deflated tone and walked away.

Haruki knew that this has dragged on for too long. Deciding to settle her issue with Isuke once and for all, she took her handphone out and sent a text to Isuke: "Hey, can we meet at our usual spot after school today?"

"Ok" was all the reply she got from the pinkette.

In the corner, Nio was watching the whole exchange between Isuke and Haruki with a curious interest. She had never seen Isuke talk like that to anyone before, her voice so small and so vulnerable. And before that, she sounded like a jealous girlfriend. Nio had never seen the two of them talk in a friendly manner before; in fact both of them seemed to be always ignoring each other at school, so for Isuke to act that way completely blindsided her. Finally, it dawned on Nio. She had been right all along that something is up with Isuke and now she suspected that it has something to do with Haruki.


For the first time, Haruki was earlier than Isuke at their usual hangout spot. When she texted Isuke to meet her, she forgot to mention a time. Knowing that Isuke would be early as she usually was and not wanting to aggravate her further by being late, Haruki cancelled all her appointments with her clients. Isuke walked in a few minutes later and went straight to the couch to sit next to the redhead.

"I received your box of Pocky and your note," Haruki said after a few minutes of silence, knowing that Isuke will not initiate a conversation. "Thanks for the Pocky."

Isuke was thankful that Haruki started talking first, because she did not know how to begin. "Hope you enjoyed it," Isuke said, looking up to meet Haruki's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Isuke-sama," Haruki began. "What I said to you was harsh."

"No, I deserve it," Isuke said. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't have said what I've said." She looked away from Haruki. Gathering her courage, she continued, "Haruki… I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said and I never intend to expose your secret to anyone." She turned back to Haruki and looked sincerely at her.

A genuine smile slowly spread across Haruki's face. She knew apologies don't come easily from the arrogant playgirl. It took a lot of efforts and courage for Isuke to apologize to someone. "I know and I accept your apology. I realized now that it isn't your style to spill people's secrets. You have Nio to do that for you."

Isuke let out a small laugh. "That's why I never tell her anything."

"I thought she's your best friend?" Haruki asked.

"She's not. I just let her cling on to me because she doesn't have anyone else. Who else can stand her?" Isuke said, and upon realizing what she had implied, she quickly added, "It doesn't mean I pity her or anything."

Haruki's smile widened. Isuke is back to her old self, but the redhead knew exactly what she meant. "You're really a good friend to her, Isuke-sama."

"Only you'd be saying that," Isuke said with a roll of her eyes.

"You are, though." After a pregnant pause, Haruki continued solemnly, "I just want you to know that you don't deserve any mean things people say about you. You're more than a spoiled brat rich princess. You're my friend. I hope I'm your friend too."

"Well… You're more than someone who does my bidding, that's for sure," Isuke said with a small shy smile. After a pause, she continued, "So is that why you need to get high? To escape your reality?"

"You mean my weed? Yeah. These past few years have been tough for me," Haruki answered with a smile while leaning further down onto the couch. "My dad left us ever since my mom was diagnosed. I'm the eldest in the family and all my nine siblings rely on me. My weekdays are spent on school and work, my weekends are spent in the hospital and work."

Isuke realized that she was wrong about Haruki. Underneath all that happy-go-lucky façade was a girl who carries a burden beyond her age. She was always seen smiling and laughing with a carefree attitude, but now Isuke wondered whether all her smiles are from real happiness or not.

"Which reminds me." Haruki got up and took her stash out from the hidden corner. "It's time for a hit."

"You want one, Isuke-sama?" she asked out of habit. Isuke never accepted her invitation and she usually waited for the other girl to fall asleep first before she started smoking.

"Yeah sure. Why the hell not," Isuke said, surprising Haruki.

"You sure? You've never said yes before."

"Yes, I'm sure. Just teach me how."

Hours later, Isuke was laughing at nothing on the couch next to Haruki, getting high as a kite. She had never felt so carefree before, like all the weights have been lifted off her shoulders. She finally understood why Haruki needed this.

"Wow this is some good stuff. You should consider stop selling them and keep it all to yourself," Isuke said, a lazy smile on her face.

"And lose my only income? No way, man," Haruki drawled.

"You should start expanding your services then," Isuke said casually.

"Like selling myself?" Haruki chortled.

"No, idiot. I mean like… your skills in imitating other people's handwriting and doing their homework for them for a fee. And oh, beat people up for a fee too." She took a puff of the weed and continued. "Actually, scratch that. You should charge a fee every time you do someone a favour, especially your fangirls. You're too selfless. Take my advice and be more selfish, like Isuke."

"Hmmm... the first idea sounds plausible. But I don't know about the second one. Beat people up?"

"Yeah… I mean you're pretty strong with how you went up against Azuma today. Think you can beat Azuma up for me? I'd pay you a hefty price for that."

"That's a pretty good business idea. I may consider it. But not beating Azuma though. She's Haru's girlfriend and my friend too," Haruki said as she took a puff. "You should get high more often, Isuke-sama. You seem to have pretty good ideas when you're high."

When there was no answer from Isuke, she turned to see that Isuke had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful. And as per usual, Haruki took off her jacket and laid it on Isuke's body to keep her warm. She made herself comfortable before falling asleep.

It was five thirty in the afternoon when both of them woke up. They had never stayed here until this late before.

"Think we'd better get going now," Haruki said, as she took her jacket back from Isuke and wore it.

"Isuke doesn't want to." The pink-haired girl pouted as she stretched on the couch. "It's so comfy here. I missed this couch." Truth be told, what she actually missed is Haruki's warm jacket on her body every afternoon when she napped on the couch, with Haruki by her side. But she wasn't about to say that.

Haruki laughed at Isuke's cuteness. "C'mon, Isuke-sama. It's getting late. Won't your parents get worried? Dinner's gonna start soon."

Isuke made a face. "No, why would they? They're never home for dinner anyway."

"Oh." Haruki had heard a lot of rumours about the playgirl, but this is one rumour she had never heard of. Haruki gave her a look that was partly pity and partly surprised. Having a big family, she always had her siblings waiting for her to come home for dinner with them. So, she couldn't imagine having dinner alone every day. But the way Isuke said it was like she was describing the weather, like it was nothing.

"What's with that face?" Isuke asked nonchalantly while flexing her fingers and checking her manicure. "I didn't treat you like a charity case, so don't throw me a pity party.

Not much is known about Isuke's private life. She never shared much about herself to anyone. What everyone knew about her are all from gossips and rumours, which Isuke wore proudly on her sleeves. She never confirmed nor deny the rumours about her.

She kept her life so private up to the extent of never bringing any of her girlfriends back to her house. Even her closest friend, Nio, had never been invited to her house. The only thing her exes said about her is that she is difficult to handle and at times, aloof, which is a well known fact and nothing new about her. Nothing was ever said about her family, except that they are filthy rich, which everyone knows about. Of course, there were some who said she's an easy lay.

Her attitude made her unapproachable and inaccessible. She only had one friend in school, which was Nio, but now Haruki started to wonder how close of a friend they really were. She also wondered if it's because of lack of attention from her parents that made Isuke who she is today, or if that's just an image she made for herself and projected for others to see.

Haruki grinned. "Gotcha!" She took a box of Pocky out and offered a stick to Isuke, which was rejected.

Either way, Haruki knew that Isuke is a girl shrouded in mystery and she'd really like to get to know her a little better, if only Isuke would allow.


"Hello, Isuke." A voice behind her said as she was walking towards her limousine. It was nearly six o'clock in the evening. Isuke turned around to see one of Sumireko's loyal minions, Takechi Otoya, standing a few feet behind her, one hand on her hip. She had never liked that girl and thought that she was a weirdo with an obsession for scissors.

"What do you want, Otoya?" Isuke asked, her eyes narrowed warily.

"Sumireko-san would like to have a chat with you," Otoya said sweetly. "This way, please."

"Not interested," Isuke said curtly and turned away.

"Oh, I assure you, you will be. 'Cause it has to do with a certain someone who has been staying at the Centre for the Gifted for a few years now," Otoya said slowly, for dramatic effect. Isuke halted her footsteps and slowly, she took her phone out from her bag and sent a text to her chauffeur.

Her posture rigid, she turned around. "What do you know about it?" she asked, her voice tight.

"Nothing… yet," Otoya taunted with a sly grin. "Sumireko-san just asked me to pass this message to you, and if you want it to remain that way, it will be wise for you to meet her."

Isuke swallowed. She had no other choice. "Lead the way then."

When Isuke entered Sumireko's limousine, the heiress had been expecting her.

"So, what does Your Highness want to talk to Isuke about?" Isuke asked, feigning nonchalance.

"Be my fake girlfriend," Sumireko said without beating around the bush.

"…what? Is that all you wanna tell me? And you went through all that trouble?" Isuke laughed hysterically.

Sumireko maintained a neutral expression while waiting for Isuke to stop laughing. "Think about it. It would help you and Nio's status in school, you will be back into my circle. It's a win-win situation," Sumireko calmly said, when Isuke was done with her laughter.

"What's in it for you, then. Surely, there must be a catch. You aren't that simple."

"You're smart, I'll give you that," Sumireko gave a Cheshire grin. "Yes, there's something in it for me, but that's not for you to know. Just agree with me and your little secret's safe with me. I promise you that."

Isuke thought about it. "Um, how about no? For all I know, it's all just an empty threat. So unless you have something concrete, stop wasting my time."

"I knew you'd say that." The heiress calmly pulled out an A4 sized envelope from her bag and handed it to Isuke, gesturing for her to open it.

Isuke opened the envelope and took the contents out. They were just some documents and pictures, but upon closer inspection, her worst fear had come true.

"Convincing enough?" Sumireko asked, a sinister smile on her face.

"How and where did you get these?" Isuke spat angrily.

"Don't bother about the details. What matters is that I got it and I have copies of it being kept somewhere safe," Sumireko paused and said in a commanding tone, "I'm not going to ask you a second time, Inukai-san. Take the deal."

Isuke clenched her fist and gritted her teeth in fury. She nodded her head once, but her mind was already thinking about ideas and ways on how to get her hands on all those documents and pictures so that she can destroy them.

"I know what you're thinking. You're too easy to read," the heiress said coolly. "Don't even think about it, though. You'll never find them."

Isuke began to tear up in anger, but she knew there was nothing she could do about this. Yet. She needs to formulate a plan.

"Oh, spare me the tears," the heiress said with a roll of her eyes. "You should feel honoured that I've chosen you to be my girlfriend. People would kill to be in your position right now." She took a breath and plastered on a sinister smile. "So, these are my terms and conditions."


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