Chapter 14: Her Beauty
His Fame, Her Self
Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary- Rima Touya is a lower class girl with a scholarship in a rich elite high school called Knight Academy, filled with rich kids, who hate her! She just wants to finish her schoolwork to graduate high school and become an artist! Unfortunately, Senri Shiki, the most popular boy in the elite academy of snobby rich kids and the known world that has his face on a magazine cover, is interested in the outcast Rima Touya and kinda stalking her...for some reason. Could it be her oversized clothing attire, or her messy hair, or her thickly framed goggles? As she tries to be distant with Senri Shiki, her family and friends push her toward him. Could something start? Or just make the Touya female hate the rich society even more?
Thankz to Readers and Reviewers: Chocolateaddictx3, ChainedHs2rt, kawaii hime-sama, Vampire-ShikixRima, eelgirl, chinesemidget, sangoyasha, Kawaii-Le, animefangurlcraz
Sorry, I haven't been updating lately for an extremely long amount of time because of senior stuff! But here –despite a ginormous writer's block- I give you chapter 14!
I appreciate everyone reading and reviewing and hope you like it! It's nearly 20 pages, so I hope you like it!
Shiki wasn't lying. The band member, Hikaru Ishikawa, was very hard to handle with his enormous amount of energy. Not only was he in the school's band, but the swim team, the baseball team and the Debate team. Besides Physics, we have Literature and Foreign Language together. He would interrupt the Literature teacher trying to understand the reading assignment while talking to me about the upcoming band competition.
It was nearly a week since I was introduced to Shiki's friends.
I realized he was one of those wealthy individuals who love to socialize with other people and who love to be the life of any party but not to the extent of being reckless and rash.
My eyes scanned the reading passage assigned to the class, while answering the questions in a quick pace completing them. Something was lightly touching my shoulder; I glanced to my left and saw a wide- eye brunet trumpeter with his mouth agape. I blinked a few times and quirked my eyebrow in confusion.
,"Sorry, but you finished real quick." His hazel eyes were in complete fascination as though he found a new civilization, "Have you read this before?"
I nodded timidly, "I read the book several times." My voice dropped, becoming ashamed about myself as a complete bookworm, "It's actually one of my favorites."
,"Why?" My reaction changed; there was no sense of ignorant bewilderment but innocent curiosity. His body leaned toward me, most likely to hear my hushed response and to avoid getting in trouble with the instructor, again.
,"Well," I started, "I like the way the author writes about relationships and love despite never marrying or having children of her own. I believe her writing is the true reflection of love even though it's not a reflection of her love but the love of people around her." His eyes glimmered with a bit of amber mischief.
He whispered out of the neighboring students ear range, except me, "So, you like her way of writing? Now, that's interesting since you seem to be the kind of girl not interested in that mushy romance stuff." His head tilted with a questioning look on his face.
,"She doesn't write about the perfection of love, often the trials and obstacles of life. Actually, she writes about difficulty of love and life, but also how to overcome it." I glanced at the excerpt and the drawing of the artist, "In a way, I like how she portrays human relationships." I saw his eyebrows shoot up, making me quickly respond, "The relationships of family and friends."
Ishikawa was about to speak but the school bell rang over him. A disappointed, sour look came into my view, which reminded of Sachiko. Quickly, I gathered my textbook and notebooks into my book bag, "I'll see you around school, Ishikawa." I turned in my completed assignment to the teacher and left the classroom.
Within three minutes, Ishikawa caught up to me in the hallway," Wow, you walk pretty fast!" I blinked as I realize he was walking with me, "You like the way she writes about human interaction and love?"
,"Yeah, are you so surprised since I lack both?" He was shocked at my statement, "Call it a hunch." Adjusting the strap to my bag, I gently sighed, "My classmates at my old school would also question me on why that writer is my favorite. They often reply that I'll become lonely just as she, but if her works have been read and recognized by many, then being lonely doesn't seem like a bad idea."
,"But do you like the idea of being lonely?"
,"Being with so many people doesn't necessarily mean you don't feel any loneliness." My eyes caught sight of the window, with the students of Knight Academy doing their business. "I've been used to it since I was young, and I'm used to it in Knight Academy."
,"I don't think you're alone." His eyes were looking at the window scene as I diverted my eyes to him, "You have Senri, Yumiko, Ryuu and me! Plus you have your friends from your old school and your family! If anything you are not really similar to your favorite author as you are a character part of her works of literature." My eyes widen as he smirked, "I have a baseball meet right now, so I'll see you in Foreign Language!" He touched my shoulder and began walking ahead of me.
I stared at his back wearing the boy's uniform of Knight Academy, until his brown locks disappeared down a series of stairs. My attention was the window as I stared at the numerous students of aristocrats. I immediately noticed Shiki out of the sea of students; he walked nonchalantly toward a group of males with a brimming smile and laughter. As he talked to one of them, he must of felt something off and suddenly trailed his gaze toward me. His eyes filled with suspicion had turned warm with invitation as he smiled at me from the third floor.
Lowering my gaze, I stared at my reflection and then to the grinning model, "Part of her works of literature, huh?"
Walking to the Archery region, I took slow, quiet steps once I saw Big Sister Yumiko pulled the vane of an arrow and directed all her attention to the target. Holding my hand over my breath, I wanted to avoid breaking her concentration. Pale fingers released the arrow with a blink of an eye; but her eyes glistened with a sense of frustration. My eyes peered at her target, to see her arrow a few inches above the bull's eye.
She turned to my direction and grinned gently, "Hey, Little Sister Rima! I didn't hear you coming."
,"Am I interrupting you?" My voice was timid, even as she urged me to come closer.
,"No, I'm practicing." She tucked her hair behind her ear, "I'm just getting a little rusty since I haven't been here in a while. I've been busy with helping my classmates in class."
,"Should I leave?"
Her face scrunched into a child on the brink of tears because her teddy bear was snatched away from her, "No. Please don't leave me alone. I don't want to be patronize by the arrogant boys of Knight Academy." Her smile shined as she gave me a bow and quiver of arrows, "Besides, there is no guy on the archery team that can shoot and have a girl talk as good as you."
Laughter escaped my lips as I grabbed the bow and arrows, "I guess I do have an upper hand if you compare me to the boys in the Archery team." Yumiko was the first and only girl in the school's archery team, not to mention the captain. My fingers caressed the vane; the soft texture tickled my fingers, "So is the team headed for championships?"
,"Not until two more months of rigorous training." She pulled the arrow back and let it strike the target where it hit the bull's eye. A grin of satisfaction spread across her face as she proudly obtained another arrow.
My eyes focused on the target and concentrated on my accuracy, "Sounds like they got you upset?"
,"Well, " A couple of arrows cut across the field and landed on the targets a few seconds apart, "They complained about the Knight and Princess dance. Something about not having dates? Well, they were making such lecherous comments about desirable candidates without realizing I was right behind them. So, their punishment is to run ten miles for two weeks until they realize how to properly describe a woman by her personality and inner beauty."
,"I see…" If I didn't know the reason, I would have felt pity toward the male members and become extremely intimidated being alone with Big Sister Yumiko.
Grey eyes spoke of immense agitation while she exhaled and grumbled to herself angrily, "I told them many times; I hate how they look at her lustfully and lewdly. My poor, innocent sister."
My hand pushed my glasses up to my temple, "Sister?"
Her eyes became wide and the arrow missed the target by a few inches, "Oh, um, never mind. Forget what I said." She sighed as though she was taking something out of her system, "So, what did you say to Osamu?"
It was my turn to widen my eyes, and miss my target; the only thing I did Yumiko didn't was the obvious blush painted across my cheeks, "Well…"
,"You said yes?" Grey eyes were startled at the possible idea of her sister going to the academy dance with a Hashimoto.
My body shrunk back like I was waiting to get beck in my shell, "No. I declined his offer." Lowering my bow, I recalled the memory of me rejecting him not to long ago, but still having the persistent look in his eye. Despite me refusing his offer, it felt this wasn't going to stop him from asking me out later on in the future, "I just don't want to date right now. Besides I'm too busy to worry about the Knight and Princess dance." At my old school, it was usually called homecoming or winter formal, sometimes referred to The Popularity and Beauty contest a step closer to the Miss Universe Pageant, by me.
,"You can ask Senri, you know?" Blinking, I noticed the smirk similar to Shiki's; it probably was only heritable to the Shiki name. Mentally pouting, I stretched my bow into position with the arrow at hand.
,"To be frank, I don't even want to go to the Knight and Princess dance." She openly heard me even though she was preoccupied with the target meters away from where we stood.
,"But everyone in the school is supporting you. You have nearly a half of the votes compared to the other candidates." I caught a gentle twitch of the infamous Shiki smirk; for the thought of me being recognized as a person and not as a scholarship student and for the idea of possibly seeing me in a dress. Her gray eyes shined brightly, "Plus, I'd love to see you in one of my dresses." Talk about bull's eye!
I blew my bangs out of my face, as a sign of frustration, "Dances and me, end with disaster. My old school's winter formal, I accidentally tripped on one of the curtains and ended up destroying three props from the drama department on the principal and vice principal." My sister chuckled a bit, "I was on the committee for the homecoming dance in my freshman year and I accidentally pushed the homecoming king and queen into the buffet table."
"Homecoming King and Queen took a dive into the appetizers!" Her smile grew wider and spoke in-between giggles.
,"Not to mention, last year I was banned from attending spring formal when I got there not even fifteen minutes later, I destroyed the background the photographer was using to take pictures of students."
Big Sister Yumiko was basically laughing hysterically, holding the side of her stomach and gently wiping a tear from her eye. It took a few minutes to make her regain her ability to speak to me and not laugh at the thought of a fruit punch soaked couple with crooked crowns and dagger-like glares.
She exhaled greatly, "You are so adorable!" My face scrunched into a sour look of confusion.
Eyebrows knitted in confusion as my framed eyes revealed my embarrassment. The numerous incidents at school were a partial reason for my transfer to Knight Academy. Big Sister Yumiko grinned brightly with her pearled teeth and sweetly glanced at me for reassurance.
,"So, I think a silver dress would fit you?"
Again, with the dresses! At least she changed the subject!
Glancing between the glass door and the rack of clothes, I felt like a prisoner within the area of Kokoro. Girls shrilling over the latest new trends of dresses and shoes they'll later abandon in a month or so. I sighed, waiting for my entire work shift to end in thirty minutes while fixing another pasty mannequin with new inventory.
My heart folded twice over as I felt something over my shoulder and glanced over to see, "Sachiko? It's your day off you know?"
Sachiko's glittering brown orbs shined brighter in the store's florescent lights, "So, Rima, wanna go somewhere with me?" For a second, my mind went blank, "You know a girl's day out!"
,"Uh, Sachiko, I have thirty minutes left in my shift. I can't go." I busied myself by replacing the wig of a metallic surfaced mannequin and placing clothes back on their rightful racks.
She pursued her lip balm lips, "You know the other girls messed with your schedule, which is why you think you have thirty minutes left in your shift." While stacking folded jeans on a display table, I was paralyzed by her words; the only movement I made was turning to face Sachiko.
My eyebrow quirked, "What do you mean by messed up my shifts?" There was a tint of fear in Sachiko's mahogany orbs, "You mean, the aristocratic snobby wenches made me work hard like the dog I am?" My voice was half-angered and half-sarcastic.
,"I noticed it yesterday when I was clocking out." Chocolate eyes were filled with sorrow and guilt, but her words were as firm as her ballerina stance, "Some girls were altering your work hours; it looked like they went to school with you. But I told Manager Komatsuzaki immediately after I clocked out and she dismissed them this morning when it was there shifts."
,"They were fired?" My heart fell to my stomach at the thought of the gentle manager quickly firing someone in an instant. She was the female Zeus, draped in long robes and bearing a shining crown, striking down thunderbolts on enemies- especially the snobby rich daddy's girls.
,"Manager Komatsuzaki said she'll make it up to you and said I can get you out of your shift today." A million dollar smile appeared on Sachiko's face appeared as though what she witnessed last night never occurred and she won the lottery.
Placing my hands on my hips, I glared, "And you decide to do this when I'm almost half an hour done with a shift I wasn't even suppose to do? To make things worse, I talked to you last night and you didn't tell me?"
Weakly smiling, she tousled the back of her chestnut curls nervously, "It slipped my mind and I woke up late…"
I couldn't help but smile brightly and gently laugh, "Okay, I'll get out of this uniform in five minutes and we can go to our Girls Day Out. Are you happy with that?"
She bounced up and down joyfully as I began walking to the employees' entry.
The wealthy eyes fell on me as I changed out of my uniform and place them into my locker. The eyes became uncomfortable as I unbuttoned my shirt and replaced my working shoes with my everyday sneakers. With swift fingers, I managed to buckle the belt looped in my casual jeans and fixed my black collared shirt against my neck. My hands shut my metal locker and twisted the combination to prevent anyone from finding out my combination.
As both of us locked our arms together, we began to walk out the expensive store while trailing down the path of the sidewalk cement.
,"So, where are we going?" My footing matched hers as we strolled down to crosswalks.
She hummed to herself until we were waiting at an intersection with traffic, "We are going out to eat at my favorite diner, Arakawa's Place." I rolled my eyes, as there were suddenly stars in hers. She lightly gripped my arm, "C'mon Rima! We haven't been there ever since you transferred schools! "
I grinned at her child-like behavior; we did like Arakawa's place ever since we were the first ones in middle school to find it with the best cakes in town, "Okay, we'll go there. But once we're there, save me a seat and menu, I have to wash my hands."
,"Wow." I glided my fingers against my knuckles, "That soap made my hands really soft."
As I walked back, I noticed someone sitting where I was suppose to and talking to Sachiko. By observing, it was a male and apparently someone who Sachiko knew, since she spoke to him.
,"So, what do you want to talk about?" My ears perked up at the male's voice but I must have known who it is too since his voice was very familiar to me. I stayed quiet and hid behind a pillar, "Normally, you wouldn't be formal to state an actual time and location for us to just talk."
,"It's about Rima." Sachiko's cheerfulness was gone to a more mature tone of seriousness toward her guest. I peeked to see her stirring her drink, contemplating her thoughts and staring intensely at her guest, "She's my friend and I don't want anyone harming her."
Harm? My eyes shifted to the movement of the guest, who moved his shoulders and momentarily rubbed the back of his neck, "I know. I believe you said that to me a million times. Anything else?" He readjusted his jacket indicating he was going to leave.
Her chocolate eyes turned to a dark shade, "I know what you're doing to Rima." The guest's movements paused and slowly sank down. For a moment, I thought he wasn't breathing. Sachiko's attention shifted to the man in front of her and the girl's room- where she assumed I was.
,"What do you mean?"
My eyes caught the flames of her chestnut orbs, "You know what I mean. Rima was nothing more than a pawn of your amusement. I thought you were very kind but she is nothing to you." My heart quivered at the fury of Sachiko, "Is she meaningless to-"
,"No!" I jumped at the male's voice, making the entire diner silent but only after a few minutes did it regain its noise, "Everything is different now. Believe me, I would never hurt Rima."
Sachiko's eyes pierced him, "Is that so? Well, with what you are doing right now, you are hurting her even more. Despite you saying that everything has changed, from my perspective, I don't see it. There are still secrets and lies. If you truly care for her, you wouldn't have been in the position that you are in. And you wouldn't have made the decision to enter her life."
,"She's important to me, now." His voice was firm and strong as Sachiko's, "Everything is different now. I promise you, I don't want to hurt Rima."
,"She's my best friend and I won't stand by to watch someone hurt her, even if it's you." She pushed aside her drink, as though she lost her appetite, "If you truly care for Rima, tell her what you did- or rather what you are doing."
,"I don't want to lose her." My stomach flipped over the sincerity of his voice. I may not know who he is or what he did, but he was really guilty and apologetic. He adjusted himself in his seat, "If I tell her, I won't be close to her anymore."
,"If she really cares about you as much as you care about her, then you shouldn't fear losing her." Sachiko's looked at the male's eye almost in remorse, "I am not being harsh because I hate you. I'm doing it because it involves Rima. If anyone besides me and your little posse knew about this, you..."
,"I know. I would lose everything. Especially Rima."
,"What about everything else?" Sachiko managed to sip her drink before continuing, "You held them up to high standards; why the sudden shift?"
,"She really is important to me, even if she knows it or not." He sighed and rose up, "Don't tell her about it. I want to be the first to try and explain it to her."
,"Don't you dare make her cry!" There was a hint of malice in the brunette's voice, "I gave you many warnings and I will not allow Rima to be hurt because of ignorance or insensitivity. I won't tell Rima, but you have to tell her or I will tell her. Understood?"
,"Crystal clear." With silent steps, he walked passed me. I was finally able to connect something to the voice; he wore dark sneakers and faded jeans, but a dark sweater with a hood over his head obscured his visage and any physical trait.
I hid behind the pillar for a few seconds after I saw the hooded figure walk out the door and down a crosswalk and disappear from my sight before returning to a smiling Sachiko. I could never imagine her being furious and angry and she certainly didn't show that she was only seconds ago.
Looking through the menu laid out in front of her, I made contact with her chocolate orbs, "So, what do you wanna eat?"
,"Why are you here?" With irritation, I stuffed my hands into my front pockets as Shiki and I walked down the street, coming closer toward a busy intersection. Passing the entrance of the city's park, I glanced at the flowers beginning to bloom and quicken my pace.
This weekend was a complete 180 from what I intended it to be. I was prepared for a quiet Saturday starting with a relaxing shower and leading toward a nice, slow walk to the park and eventually have a movie marathon of my favorite novels-turned-into-film movies.
He shoved his hands into his jacket's pockets, "We still have to finish our date. Plus, my motorcycle is being repaired and Yasu has his day off." Tilting his cap, he made himself hidden from the public park, especially to avoid the crazed fan girls who would surround him like a a pack of ravenous lions against a defenseless antelope.
Why does it have to be now? I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly as I strolled down the paved road around the park, "So why are suddenly walking in my neighborhood park when you loves miles away from here?"
,"You know you missed me." His wide grin forced me to roll my eyes and turn my face away from him.
Arrogant as usual. I sighed while avoiding some runners with ear buds blaring from their lobes as well as parents walking with their children by their hands. It was silent between us with the only audio keeping us sane was the giggling children, the twittering birds and the gentle whistle of the wind. I stop walking, as I was about to speak to the aristocratic male. A little black and brown canine appeared at my feet with a stick in its mouth. There were white markings trailing over his hind and forepaws.
It placed the stick in his mouth on the ground and stared up at me. Our eyes connected and I noticed the dog had two different colored orbs: a striking blue as clear and beautiful as the underwater forest contrasting the dark shade of mysterious sable.
It wagged its tails enthusiastically once I lowered myself down. The chestnut and onyx head moved forward and pushed my palm against its soft forehead. Before I knew it, I was stroking the mane and laughed gently as a warm breath and wet pink paintbrush came into contact w/ my exposed wrist.
,"Tanbaku-seiki!" A voice came behind me. The dog's ears perked up at the voice and gave a cheerful expression toward the person now in front of us.
A slim woman came sprinting down towards me. Her hair was a dark pixie hairstyle that accentuated her cheekbones and long neck. She looked like a university student and certainly had enough energy to prove it, "Is this your dog?"
The owner apologized by deeply bowing, "Yeah, sorry for the trouble he caused; he's only three months old."
,"No, actually I was just surprised at your dog's boldness." I chuckled and lightly scratched the back of the canine's chestnut ear, "Normally, animals tend to not be attracted to me. Sometimes they avoid me." We both laughed as I continued to give my attention to the dog in front of me, "So how did you get him?"
,"Tanbaku-seiki is a rescue. A border collie mixed with Belgian shepherd whose previous owner was abusive." The dog owner stared at me intently then at his pet, "But it's weird that he broke away from his leash and sprinted towards you. He has never done that before."
My eyes quirked I felt her intense stare so much so that I soon became uncomfortable, "What do you mean?" I resisted the urge to pet the mixed dog's fur once I rose up from my knees and it started whimpering.
,"Tanbaku-seiki's owner was female. At the animal rescue center, he avoided female veterinary assistants and veterinarians. He was also difficult to place up for adoption because he was extremely traumatized by women he was either violent or shy towards them. I was lucky enough to have him approach me, but he was still considerably shy." Her eyes were similar to her canine but one pupil was a luscious color of greenery and the other reflected the beauty of the cloudless sky.
My heart pounded by the intense atmosphere. To make things worse, she lightly glanced at Shiki once in a while. I'm not sure if it was because of curiosity of how he looked like or interested if he was a companion of mine.
,"Tanbaku-seiki automatically ran towards you happily. He's even wagging his tail. " She lowered herself down to the dog's eye level, "Normally, he would cower against a corner if any girl came close to him." The dog lightly licked my fingers as though it was his way of saying goodbye to me and trotted over to his owner. Her eyes lit up as Tanbaku-seiki's pink paintbrush grazed her cheek and giggled.
,"That's a first, too." Her di-colored eyes stared into mine, "Sorry for Tanbaku-seiki bothering you." She bowed once again, with her dog mimicking her.
The di-colored eyed pair turned away and walked in the opposite direction that came from.
, "Do you like animals?" My eyes returned to the smirking male. In my mind I mentally scored his question as number 18.
Fingers twirled a stray tread from my long sleeve shirt, "I love animals but never had a chance to have a pet. Have you everhad any pets?"
,"A few puppies, a cat or two, parrots, a guinea pig and a lizard, I think." He sighed in a nostalgic manner as we continued to walk down the path, "I think I also had a few horses, but I can't remember."
,"Wow, "was the only response I could muster up. My footing matched his as we strolled.
His eyes appeared hesitant as though he was debating something internally. Fingers flew to the back of his head and lightly rubbed his neck, "So, what do you think of me?" My eyebrow rose, "I mean, think of me as a person."
,"Arrogant." He looked a bit downhearted, like my response was a bullet to his ego, "Yeah, you're arrogant but you're sill very considerate to those around you. Right now I mean personality-wise. You as a person? I think of you as my friend." At the corner of my eye, I caught his expression as a mixture of happiness and disappointment; my breath exhaled, "So, what's your favorit-"
,"I'm a friend to you?" My eyes widen as I found him staring into them and the fact we both stopped walking. Quick with words today, "That doesn't count as question nineteen."
,"At first, I didn't want to be associated with you in any way, but I see you as my friend now." My eyes scanned his visage, "I don't call just anyone my friend."
I followed his movements as we continued to walk along the park's path. The sky was clear and the smell of chlorophyll was sweet to my sense of smell. My eyes caught a stream of color being lightly tugged by the wind's swift hands. A vendor was in front of us with various articles of clothing swaying to the wind's breeze. Without any warning, Shiki's hands lead me to the vendor and before I knew it, I was a wearing various clothes.
My body was draped with a purple floral dress, then a dark cardigan and various fabric accessories. The vendor handed me a dress, placing it on, I was hesitant on coming out of the safety of the dark curtain.
,"Come out, Miss." A raspy aged voice of the vendor came from the fabric wall. The vendor was quite considerate, she was grateful, as we were the first ones to notice her vendor cart and generously offered us a free article of clothing, "I'll be back to bring more clothes."
I inhaled a good amount of oxygen, relieved that no one was no longer seeing me. Pulling the curtain aside, my eyes went down to my belly and tried to flatten it; I'm not so lucky as the thin toothpicks that can easily slip on a tissue napkin or anything on the runway. I pulled my dress down to lengthen it down to my knee and examined the hem of my dress to my left side while I lightly tucked my hair behind my ear.
,"You're beautiful." Startled by the voice, my eyes stared into a pair of azure-silver orbs. I didn't even know see him let alone hear him; was he even breathing?
"Huh?"
A large powder of red spread across his face, "I-I mean, you look r-really nice, today. But.." His eyes glanced down at his clasped hand then peeked up at me, "Try this on." With large, quick strides he was already in front of me, "Can you hold your hair?" Gathering my hair, I placed it over my right shoulder.
His fingers grazed against my skin as he light wrapped the item around my neck. With dexterous hands he got the clasp together and step back slowly. I followed the item on my collarbone to see a series of white, spheres gleaming in the sun.
,"You look lovely dear." The vendor spoke softly, "You may keep that one. I'll give you a bag to put your items in."
Once she disappeared again, I stared at Shiki, "I can't accept this." Automatically, my hands reached over to take off the expensive jewelry off my body.
Grey-blue eyes were clouded with confusion once I placed the marbled shaped jewels into his hands, "I thought you would like it."
,"I like them, but if you're my friend." I looked between him and the jewelry in his fingers, "I don't want my friends to try and keep as their friends by buying me stuff. I want us to be friends because we want to be."
He grinned widely, "But friends are obligated to surprises even if you don't want them to…"
My hand hit his shoulder lightly, "Don't be obligated to anything especially if its buying things."
He nodded.
My shoulders rose and fell as I breathed. Walking back home was peaceful; I just never imagined it would include the chestnut-haired model.
,"What do you like about Knight Academy?" Number nineteen.
I looked down the pavement, thinking as I glanced at some concrete cracks with grass sprouting," I like the curriculum and activities. But I really like the school lunch, much better than my old school!" We both laughed.
,"I'll admit we have some of the greatest food in our cafeteria but you get tired of it after a while." He placed his hands in his jean pockets nonchalantly as we passed a crosswalk and continued down the streets.
Looking up, I noticed how closer we were to my house, "So, I guess this means we are tied." My pace became slower as I was inching closer to my house; I was sparing time to avoid Dad, Umeki or Kazou. I hope Taru wasn't visiting otherwise he would have definitely come out of the house with his taser or katana.
,"This is yours." A grin appeared on his mouth as he handed me my bag. Shiki continued to walk with me until we were a few meters away from my doorstep. He sighed deeply, puffing his cheeks in what appeared to be disappointment, "Sorry for not escorting you properly back to your house but I have a photo shoot to go to."
,"It's okay. I understand; I'll see you later." My body turned to my door and opened it with my keys. Something compelled me to look over my shoulder and I peeked to see a smiling male model staring at me; waiting for me to enter my home, safely.
Realizing that I acknowledge his presence, he saluted and turned down the walkway, "See ya!"
Once inside my house, my eyes peeked through a small opening of the curtain and saw the still image of Shiki staring up at the sky. He was standing for over five minutes until I realized he was staring at my bedroom window.
With swift, gentle steps, I went up the stairs and entered my bedroom. Cautiously, I lifted the switch, making the bright light momentarily blind me.
As I placed the bag on my bed, I strode toward my window and scanned my front lawn. Shiki disappeared. I blinked, shifting the curtain more to gain a better perpective of my front yard but I couldn't find the messy brown-haired male. Giving up, I bumped my spine to the wall beside my window and gently descended to my carpeted floor.
I sighed, a little disappointed that I couldn't find him.
The sun shined through the tree branches and there was a gentle silence. Not the sort of silence you can easily lose your sanity in, but the peaceful silence every stressed person craves.
There was a close proximity between the male model and I, making my breath hitch and ears feel warm.
His azure-silver orbs stared into my framed ones. Shaking my head, I diverted my line of vision somewhere else and began to move away from him slowly as though I he had a contagious air-borne disease, "My heart is not meant to be part of your amusement."
Gripping to my hand, I felt him pulling me closer, "And neither are mine for yours." My body froze in its place, as his silver- azure eyes hypnotized me; his eyes moved slightly as I followed them.
Without breaking away, my heart began beating ten folds but was not showing in my tone, "I don't mess with other people's emotions."
The swirling of his cologne made me weak and tremble as his focus and attention were burning into my eyes, " You do."
For a second, I believed that he was partly delusional and partly misunderstanding. Until I felt something warm preventing me from speaking. My ribcage reverberated against my ribcage and my stomach was suddenly occupied by a colony of spring butterflies whose fluttering wings tickled my abdomen making a scarlet dust against my nose. Eyes widening and blinking, I stared at his eyelids folded over his hypnotizing silver-blue orbs. The dark curved brushes of his eyelashes looked peaceful and I slowly mirrored Shiki's concealed eyes.
Blinking and breathing heavily, I steadied my heartbeat. I took in my surroundings as I glanced from my closet, the window with rays of light filtering into my carpet and my disheveled appearance reflecting against the surface of my dresser's mirror. A dream. Fingers grazed against the fabric of clothing that concealed my rapidly palpating heart, while quivering eyes darted back and forth around the room.
My other hand ran from my hairline and mid-way down my scalp; further creating a bigger messy of my unkempt orange-yellow bed head. Appendages slid to the apples of my cheeks, only to pull away once the feeling of warmth became an electric shock against my own sense of touch. I was blushing over a dream?
I'm stubborn and persistent, so I knew and expected things to go the way I normally plan them. Even with the subtle hints from everyone stating one day I won't be able to have everything according to my blueprints and plans. Normally I thought, it meant nature or the nature of others; never would I think it would be me.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
,"Rima, are you up?" Masaru's voice came from the opposite side of my door, "Dad is taking us out to eat for breakfast in three hours. So be ready or you'll be alone in the house eating last night's left overs!" I heard him mumble something under his breath and heard his footsteps fade away from where he was previously standing.
Normally, I would rise up from bed and gather my shampoo and bath products to jump into the shower first. Instead, I sat where I had awakened for a few seconds then plop down my torso onto the linen covering my mattress and pillow.
This is real life, not a fairy tale! The unspeakable happened, even though I promised and swore and made a blood oath to- well the last part isn't true- but the most shocking thing has occurred: I like Senri Shiki. Maybe, just maybe, even loved him.
My heartbeat came close to bursting out and I began hyperventilating but with my hand against my heart, I took in slow breaths. Blinking and gently sighing, I began to laugh to myself. Me? In love with the arrogant male model?
Relief overwhelmed me as I realized it was just a dream. False alarm. I rose up from my sheets and gathered my showering materials and went to the shower with a cheerful bounce in my step, knowing it was my complete imagination. I mean it was just a dream, not reality. Nothing bad will come out of a dream, right?
So, I didn't get accepted into the college of my hopes and dreams! But it's not the end of the world and when one door opens, another opens! (and if someone locks it, you break the door down! XD) I'm a little disappointed but not to the extent that I regret it!
I'm not depressed or the 'Tamaki corner of despair', since I have been accepted to some universities and colleges and will just wait to hear word from a few more and decide on which one I'll go to.
I managed to have a crazy road trip with my aunt and best friend! It was awesome! Visited 3 universities in 2 days! I had my first airplane ride!
I already made my decision on which college I plan to attend! So I'm pretty busy but know I'm still writing!
