CHAPTER 4 revision done!
So finally the truth is revealed. Please do have a good time, reading.
READ. READ. READ.
"Mommy?" Natsuki called "Are you also friends with him?" Natsuki asked, smiling, unaware of what was really happening.
"Let me take Natsuki." Hotaru offered as she went to them. "Hyuuga" she acknowledged. "You need to talk." She looked at her friend, worried and concerned. With that, Hotaru and Ruka left them to talk and discuss whatever questions they have.
Once they have gone, Natsume could no longer hold himself.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Natsume shouted and he was furious and he was not a man known for his self-control.
"Hyuuga, let's go somewhere we can sit and talk like two adults. There are too many people here and your anger is not helping." Mikan said calmly, walking towards the nearby park. She can hear Natsume quietly follow her with his hands in his pockets.
They sat at the park bench and silence consumed them for a few minutes. Neither knowing how to begin. It had been too long and it is true, no secret can be hidden forever and life always seemed like to have different plans for them.
He let out a big sigh. "So why?" He asked, breaking the silence. "Is he really my son?"
"I don't know how to say it. 3 years Hyuuga." She looked down at her hands. "It has been a long time." She glanced at him, sadness in her eyes.
"Just tell me. I have the right to know." He demanded.
"Okay. I was not trying to hide from you forever." She declared. "You are really his father and I know you can see that. I am not taking that right away from you and Natsuki has the right to know his father too. I wasn't really trying to hide it from you. I just thought that it wasn't the time yet." Mikan explained with nervousness churning her stomach.
He was quiet as if taking the information in. "Now that I know, you have to tell me why you didn't tell me you were pregnant."
"Because simply you weren't here. How did you expect me to tell you?" Mikan snapped at him.
FLASHBACK
3 years ago…
It was a happy day. They just graduated from the university, Mikan and Natsume did. They were both just 21. Truly geniuses in their own field that they graduated at such young age. They had been together for almost 5 years. They were happy and in love, everyone around them can attest to that. Natsume and Mikan were the epitome of how every relationship should be. Sure, it wasn't perfect, they too fight and argue more than they could keep track but what was important that no one let go and they always try to find the resolutions.
So, in celebration of their graduation, along with a couple of friends and classmates, they went to the beach to drink and simply enjoy. Mikan was not a good drinker but who cares, it was just for tonight. It was a good night to celebrate and loose free.
Maybe, they had drank a bit too much though because early the next morning, Mikan and Natsume found themselves on bed, wrapped in each other's arm.
It was Mikan who first woke up, sluggishly opening her eyes until realization hit her. "Why are both in bed? And we are even naked. I can't remember what happened." Mikan thought trying to remember what happened. "We were both drunk and we were dancing. After, we were walking at the beach both drunk and we went inside the room. Then, we…OH MY!" she remembered.
"Natsume! Natsume!" She tried to wake him up. "Hey! Wake up!" Mikan yelled shaking Natsume.
"WHAT?!" he annoyingly said, as he simply rolled over to the other side. "It is still early in the morning and you are already shouting like an idiot." Natsume complained, trying to get back to sleep.
"Natsume, don't go back to sleep." She said, shaking him up again. "Did something happen last night?"
"Are you really that stupid? Can't you see the obvious?" Natsume sarcastically replied, covering his ears with a pillow, going back to sleep.
"Natsume! Don't go back to..." Too late. Before Mikan can say another word, Natsume suddenly stood up and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and got up. She hurriedly covered her eyes for Natsume didn't have anything on.
Natsume smirked at his girlfriend's reaction, "It's nothing you haven't already seen Polka." He teased her as he went inside the bathroom.
When Natsume had finished, Mikan quickly followed. After the both of them were done, they went out of there to grab some breakfast and headed home.
After of more than a week since what happened on the beach, Natsume was busy and hardly saw Mikan. But it was okay, she understood that he had other responsibilities and priorities too.
But, Natsume suddenly left for States. Without warning, he left Mikan with not a goodbye or an explanation. She understood him but…this was too much of him, not even leaving Mikan an option or a way to contact him.
As if him leaving wasn't enough, after 6 weeks, Mikan found out she was pregnant. She was pregnant, broken hearted and alone.
END OF FLASHBACK
"I was in the US for only six months." Natsume pointed out to Mikan. "Six months and you had to go away where I couldn't find you." He retorted. "I looked for you around Japan and had people looked for you when Hotaru wouldn't tell me anything of your whereabouts." Natsume said defensively.
"Hyuuga, you left. That is enough as a reason." Mikan seriously said.
"Reason for what? To leave Japan? To not tell me until now?"
"I wanted to tell you when I found out. I wanted to." She admitted, "but I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't even have a phone number." Mikan told him. And it was the truth that he left her without anything to hold on to so she needed to make a decision, so she left and gave birth to their child. "This is enough. You already know what you need to know." She stood up before tears can start falling.
Mikan was starting to walk away when Natsume grabbed her by the arm, stopping her from leaving.
"What?" Mikan turned to face him, keeping those tears inside.
"What's his name?" he asked her. "Did he take your name?"
"Yes." She answered him. "Sakura Natsuki, that's his name."
"Will you tell him about me?" he asked her, almost pleadingly.
Mikan heard that plea and her chest tightened seeing Natsume like that. "I don't know yet." She paused. "I need to go, they're waiting." Natsume let go of her arm, unable to do anything more but just watched her walk away.
Mikan continued walking. After, she made sure that she was far enough that Natsume couldn't see her, she stopped and let out a big breath to help relieve the tension she was feeling deep inside. "This is totally unexpected. Seeing him here and everything, he even does know about Natsuki. What should I do?" Mikan wondered, truly confused.
She saw Natsuki playing with Hotaru and Ruka as she approached them with a smile.
"So? How did it go?" Hotaru asked as Mikan sat beside them. Ruka excused himself bringing with him Natsuki.
Mikan sighed and looked up to the skies. "Hotaru, I told him the truth. It's not like I can hide it." she calmly told her. "It is better this way." Mikan added, convincing herself that it was all for the better. Unexpectedly, Hotaru gave Mikan a hug.
"Don't lie to me, baka." Hotaru said. "Stop pretending to be strong when we both know you're really weak. It's fine. I won't let you pay." She hugged Mikan.
Mikan couldn't hold in the sob anymore. She cried her heart out as Hotaru just hugged her tighter. "I was so happy I saw him." Mikan said in between her sobs. "Hotaru, I wanted to hug him and tell him that I miss him." She pulled away as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I thought it has changed too."
"Idiot." Hotaru softly smacked Mikan's forehead. "Some things just don't fade away that easy."
"You're right." Mikan agreed, giving a weak smile.
"Mommy?" Natsuki was running towards his mother. "Why are you crying?" the little boy worriedly asked.
"Don't worry. Mommy's fine." Mikan assured him as he gave Mikan a hug.
Ruka smiled as he glanced towards Mikan and Natsuki. At least things haven't turn out for the worst. He glanced at Hotaru too and slowly placed an arm around her shoulders.
"So, do you want to go home?" Ruka asked after Mikan had settled down. "We could drop you off, right, Hotaru?"
"Yea, sure." Hotaru nodded.
"Thank you guys." She sweetly said. "What could I do without you?" Then they headed to the car.
The trip home was quiet but comfortable with Natsuki, softly snoring in Mikan's arm. She looked blankly outside the car window. There was so much emotional drama that had happened in less than a week she had been in Japan. She sometimes wondered of how much more she can take.
"I need to tell Natsuki about his father. She stared at her son, thoughtfully. "He deserves to know the truth too." She just thought sadly.
They were dropped off a couple of minutes after and Mikan was grateful for having friends that she can call family.
How was it?
People can sometimes appear so mature and strong but we all need someone to lean on to. Thank God for friends!
Do you have someone that you can rely on wholly? Let me know and don't forget to review. Thank you!
-ECO
