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Strange Interludes
Chapter 7
"Sometimes the people whom we've known for only a short amount of time have a bigger impact on us than those we've known forever."
-Anonymous
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Interlude 4: Feeling
Once upon a time, there was a girl who didn't believe in love.
She believed her heart would only be hers and not with someone else…
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The Last Interlude
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I never believed in fate.
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I never believed that there was someone out there who would love me despite of my imperfections.
Someone who would do anything just to make me happy.
Someone who would act like my knight and shining armor.
I was not the type who would think that I was a princess waiting for my prince to write our cheesy love story.
It was just plain stupidity. Life was not a fairy tale. Nor was it a dream.
I never believed in fate, in love, in happily ever after.
I really didn't.
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Until I met him.
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I did believe in fate.
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I believed that there was someone out there destined just for me.
Someone whom I would take care and love till forever ends.
Someone whom I would protect even if it meant risking my life.
For me fairytales didn't really exist… but love did.
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That was when I found her.
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But in my case, love came in different way.
It was unrequited but I couldn't stop myself caring for her.
She was my weakness. She was my strength.
I knew I could never write a happy ending in our story.
It was because I was the only one who believed that this love story existed.
But I'd continue to love her. Care for her. Protect her.
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Just like I always do.
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"I will be always here… to protect you. I love you, Mikan."
Silence engulfed their surroundings.
She remained gaping at him, mouth ajar. It was not the first time he heard him say that he loves her... But if she felt nothing at the first time he said those three words, this time it felt different.
It was also not the first time they shared a kissed. But now, different kind of sensation flowed in her veins as his lips softly touched hers. The feeling was powerful, enchanting… captivating.
It made her breathless.
Nobody told her that it felt so good.
"You don't need to say anything, it's just me and my dramatic moment. I'm sorry." Natsume said and he suddenly smiled at her. There, she felt it, the slightest, most minuscule, twitch in her heart.
She never ever knew that a simple smile could be so beautiful. A smile that she would never get tired looking at.
That moment, all her worries seem to fade away with the cold breeze of the wind.
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"So, you ran away from home?" Hotaru asked, there was the hint of surprise in her face despite of her emotionless façade.
"Yeah, that's why I'm here now. Can I stay here?" Mikan asked as she wondered her gaze around Hotaru's house.
"Of course you can, baka." Hotaru started. "…but for a price." She finished.
Mikan chuckled. Her bestfriend will never change. "Thank you, Hotaru."
She never intended to run away. Run away from her problems, her family, her life. She knew it was such cowardice to escape but she also knew that she was not strong enough to handle the problems in life.
She was weak.
And that was a fact.
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Three days. Three days had already passed since that fateful day happened. The day she ran away, the day she became confused with her own feelings. Her parents always tried to contact her. But she refused. She still refused to face the reality. Why?
Because reality hurts.
Natsume saw her, walking her way to her seat. Their eyes met. But she diverted her gaze away.
He plastered a sad smile in his face. She had been acting weird for the last three days.
And it was bothering him.
She sat beside him, her gaze never meeting his. Natsume sighed. He didn't know if she was mad at him.
"Are you mad at me?" He finally asked. Mikan simply shook her head but still didn't look at him.
It was pointless.
"If you are angry, I'm sorry. But I never regret what I've said, though. I mean it."
Butterflies whirled in her stomach. Her chest tightened at his soothing voice.
What is this feeling?
It's overflowing to the extent that I can't contain it anymore.
I feel like these feelings will explode if I continue looking at him.
I never knew someone like you.
Someone whose eyes I wanted to look deep and lose myself in its endless depth.
What is this feeling?
It's wonderful yet excruciating.
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The day passed the way it should. She sighed, her mind full of thoughts about her family and him. She was walking silently at the academy garden, feeling the fresh air touch her delicate skin. Uneasiness still stayed in her body. It was a mixture of joy, sorrow, excitement and guilt.
'That guy is really making me crazy.'
Her thoughts got cut when a group of five high school boys encircled her.
"Hey, Sakura-san, we noticed lately that you're not in your business?" One of the boys said, faking a disappointed tone.
"Well, we missed you, can you, you know, do us now?" Another one suggested.
She looked at them and her eyes got fixed to this familiar guy. That spiky jet black hair and grayish-colored eyes. He was Hayato and Mikan clearly remember that he was the very first one she played her game with. She released an exasperated sigh, keeping herself calm and composed. "Get away from me." She commanded and tried to escape from them. But they continued to block her way.
"No, no, no you're not going anywhere. You begin this game of yours so you need to satisfy us." Hayato spoke, an evil grin plastered on his face.
"Go find another girl. I'm not in the mood." She said with straightforward face.
Hayato walked closer to her and caressed her face. "So, you're playing hard to get now huh? Is this your new tactic, Sakura-san?"
Mikan slapped his hands away from her and slapped his face hard. "Don't touch me, bastard."
"Why you little!" The boy fumed in anger and pushed Mikan with great force. She fell down on the ground which made the other four boys panic in fear.
"Hey, you shouldn't hurt her, she's still the niece of the Academy's headmaster."
"I don't care about that anymore. I'll get what I want, right here, right now! This girl has been toying us for two years, don't you think it's time for a revenge." Hayato shouted desperately and straddled Mikan. "We'll let see how fun is it to do it here in the open area. Time to bring us to the heaven, bitch."
Mikan remained calm though she felt really scared. "Try to use me to go to heaven then I'll make sure afterwards, you'll be in hell." She said, trying to sound threatening.
The man didn't budge. "Oh, I like that. Do you think I will be scared because of that? Not anymore, bitch."
Hayato started to kiss her senselessly and Mikan tried to resist. The four other boys were getting turned on but they were still afraid to touch her.
Mikan struggled but the man in top of her was too strong. Hayato trapped her hands on the ground with his hands and his mouth found its way to her neck.
"Get off me, bastard!" She yelled, trying her best to struggle.
Mikan closed her eyes while clenching her fist. She already expected the worst to happen until…
THUD!
She felt the weight on top of her lifted and the next thing she knew was someone sat her up and hugged her tight.
The warmth and security of this hug.
"You bastard! How dare you kick me in the face!" Hayato yelled, wiping the blood that formed on the corner of his mouth. He began to kick the back of the guy who was shielding Mikan from them. The other four joined and started to kick him too.
Mikan opened her eyes and saw Natsume hugging her tightly. A jolt of pain striked her heart as she saw his pained face. "W- why are you doing this?"
Natsume managed to smile despite of the pain he was feeling. "Told you, I'll protect you."
Tears began to roll out of her eyes. "Stop it…" She started in low tone. "I said stop it!" She shouted but the five boys didn't care.
"Students! Stop that!" a familiar voice echoed in the academy garden. The five boys stopped kicking Natsume and looked at the source of the voice. Their eyes widen in terror and body trembled in fear.
Narumi-sensei and the headmaster.
They didn't waste time and ran away as fast as they could.
Narumi and Kazu immediately ran where Mikan and Natsume was.
"Mikan-chan! Hyuuga-san! Are you okay?" Kazu asked, worried. He saw her niece crying non-stop.
"Please Jii-chan, help Natsume…"
Natsume grunted in pain but he kept her hug tight to her. "I will not allow them to hurt you by any means, Mikan." he mumbled weakly.
But in a split second, his hug in Mikan loosened and his consciousness slowly faded.
"Hyuuga-san! Narumi, called an ambulance, NOW!" the headmaster commanded which Narumi immediately followed.
Mikan took out a handkerchief out of her pocket and started to wipe Natsume's face.
"Stupid partner! Wake up!"
She never felt frantic before nor did she cry because of seeing someone getting beaten up.
But this time it was different. She didn't know what to do if something bad happen to Natsume because of her. The feeling was killing her.
I'm so sorry, Natsume…
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Once upon a time, there was a girl who didn't believe in love.
She believed her heart would only be hers and not with someone else…
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No. Not anymore.
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Life is not a fairytale.
Love is not a game.
End of the Interludes