Hey guys!

I have no idea if you all still remember me or not, but I'm hoping you still do. I haven't forgotten about you guys, I swear! My e-mail notifications from Fanfiction prevents that from happening. Just kidding! I know it's been awhile - a very long while - but finally I give you Chapter 11 of ROAL! Seriously, the title is too long and so 2010 so I'm just gonna havta abbreviate it. To be honest, all the while that I've been on hiatus, I've made several attempts at this chapter. I'd upload it here, promise to come back before the 90-day expiration, but I sometimes fail to do so. Yes, I said sometimes because on the other sometimes I actually do check on it for it gets erased.

So anyways, I know you guys probably might not care about what I have been doing for the past - WOWZA - three years that I have been gone, but I'll say it anyways because maybe at least one of you might have the diligence to read this. Hehe. IN RANDOM ORDER YES:

1. I got really busy with shoots. I think I might've mentioned that I am a film student, and it gets very crazy around the time you start to do your major subjects.

2. I travelled! Sorta! For some classes and/or film shoots. I hiked a waterfall mountain in a province (Abra - my Filipino bb luvs)! With just slippers on, which broke several times because they got stuck to the mud. Reason why I - and all my friends - were only wearing slippers was because we were city kids and we only got to go to there because it was all-expense paid film competition, as long as we shoot the documentary. So yeah, we went there with only "shooting clothes" packed, we met with the governor and his peeps totally underdressed, and one of them invited us to go hiking. So we agreed and all and she said to not use our sneakers because it could get ugly (literally). She said slippers would be totally fine. Let me tell you, it was totally not fine. Haha! So there we were, in slippers and all, one of us carrying a big-ass camera and all that, and loooooong story short - we died. The scenery was beautiful, though! Totally worth it! Will never do it again.

Another time was when we went to Cagayan de Oro (where my Filipino peeps at?!). We went river rafting, and again, we died. I mean our boat's rope got caught on a rock and it was in the middle of two currents or something, so we were just like panicking for five minutes. And there were two photographers filming the whole thing and they were just sitting there on the rocks across laughing at us! It was all good, though. I think I'm still alive.

I also went to on a Banaue-Sagada-Baguio trip last Christmas. My friend called me up a few days prior and he was like, "Do you wanna go on a trip with me?" And I was like, "K." It was so spontaneous and I was feeling all depressed then and I thought I needed to get out for awhile. It helped. But I mean, we didn't have any reservations for a hotel at all! So when we reached Sagada (for the first night), we were a little scared. It's a really tiny city for a tourist spot, and it was so full of people because there was a famous festival (Sagada Bonfire) going on that very night. There was literally one vacant room left. In the whole city. All the hotels. Booked. It was pricey, so maybe no one else wanted to take it, but we had no choice. We left in the morning and headed for Baguio. Again, not as much people (because it was a lot bigger city), but still it was so hard to get an affordable, nice place. We stayed at a transient, and had to share the showers and the toilets with other people - and there was no hot water. If you've ever been to Bagiuo, at night and early morning especially around the Christmas season, it gets cooooold. So I was literally dying every time I needed to use the tap. But other than that, it was a pretty sweet adventure. And it was funny because a film came out a few weeks after about two people going on a Banaue-Sagada-Baguio trip, and they went to most of all the places we went to. My friend watched it first and he called me up after watching and he was like, "This movie was inspired by us."

I went to other places but this part is getting too long. Haha!

3. I've been technically working on my thesis for about a year now. I've already made a first attempt, however my professor was dissatisfied (and I was never satisfied to begin with), and so I didn't push through. I felt bad because my parents spent so much (like, really) on helping me just for it to result to nothing. So I decided to work for some of it myself. Reality bites. I worked on a few professional productions (got hit by a motorcycle in one of them), and I saved up everything that I could. But it still wasn't enough. Fortunately, my aunt was willing to provide for the rest. May God continue to bless her soul.

4. Uhm, I swear I did a bunch of other cool stuff, but for some reason I can't think of anything right now. Wow, when you sum this all up, there wasn't really much that I did over the years to be a good enough excuse. But trust me, no one wants this story complete more than I do.

I know it's not nearly enough compensation, but I tried to make it as long as I could!

:'(

OK, I guess pictured out this scene a little differently from what is happening right now. A lot different, to be honest. For one, he wouldn't be late. He would be right there in the center, dancing with a load of girls he picked up from the sidewalk, bragging about his new sports car. Then I would waltz into the room with all my glory, the party music would stop. He would see me and be rendered speechless. I'd look around at the crowd, all shy and Cinderella-y, and he would slowly walk up to, completely forgetting about everyone else.

And que in the cheesy music!

"Mikan, is that really you?" He would then remember our little encounter from a few days ago. He'd blush and smile bashfully. "If I'd recognized you, I would have never let you leave."

"Excuse me, you're blocking our way." And that would be the time he would realize that jaw-dropping-hopefully-straight-looking-enough Tsubasa was right beside me. His smile disappears and steps back. I would walk right past him confidently, my arm linked with Tsubasa's. We would then be receiving jealous stares (especially from Strawberry Slutcake) and watching Natsume wallow in self-pity and regret with girly alcoholic drinks to comfort him. His dates would have been convinced that he is actually super lame and leave, thus concluding what would have been a perfect night.

So if reality would just follow the script? Thanks.

"Nastume,"

The atmosphere of the situation was enough to attract everyone's attention. The person operating the spotlight, however, had the audacity to shine one on Natsume. The doors behind him echo as they close. He was alone - no caked-up arm candy, not even a friend. I follow his eyes at he stares up at the huge taurpaline, and down at me. I stare back hopelessly, trying to figure out how to get out of this pinch. Finally, Luna couldn't handle it and grabs the mic from out of my hands. She clears her throat and forces on a smile.

"What even was that? Hah! Am I right? Natsume! It's so nice of you to join us!" Care join us as we reminisce our high school prom ten years ago?" Despite her efforts with her terrible play of words, the crowd does not respond, and neither does Natsume. He slowly approaches the stage, as the people clear a path for him. Within seconds, he is standing right in front of me. I clearly see the emotions reflecting in his eyes. I had no way of replying to them. I just stood there, frozen, hoping that I cleaned my nose well enough before getting here. His eyebrows furrow a little bit, and he says my name again amidst the silence.

"Mikan,"

The room is suddenly filled with whispers. They're muffled and scattered, but I think I do know what they are talking about. Seriously, no one thought there was even a slight resemblance? I guess Natsume is still the only sharp one, even after a decade. I hear Luna scream half a "what?!" before she quickly covers her mouth. She shoves her hair out of her face and walks over to me, her heels scaring me little by little as they approach. She awkwardly puts her hand on my shoulder and smiles at the crowd.

"Don't believe it? Well, you better do!" She shouts into the mic, grabbing everyone's attention. I look at her, confused. She gives me a smug look then smiles. "The real Mikan Sakura has been in our midst for several minutes now, and you guys didn't even notice! Surprise!" She laughs.

I control myself from rolling my eyes. What a fake.

"Then who's that on the screen?" Someone from the crowd asks, and I feel like it was Koko. I feel Luna's body tense a bit, as she wracks her brain for any possible answers. I mentally high five the man. She goes with, "Oh, you know. Just a person-" And shouts at the tech to remove the photo.

Author: In the previous chapter, when I mentioned Koko's beer belly, I didn't actually mean that he was fat, or that his belly was necessarily big. Imagine a man with an average build constipated, with his belly protruding a little bit because of the bloat. Boom, that's your Koko.

"I called her the 'Queen of Losers' because look at that phenomenal progress! You really did lose a lot of weight! Congratulations!" She roughly removes her hand from my shoulder, hitting the back of my head. She claps her hands, gesturing the people to do the same. Pretty soon, there was an explosion of applause. I hear someone shout I'm beautiful. I give an awkward smile, as I don't know how else to react to the situation. I try to look for Natsume, but he is nowhere to be found.

"Now, back to the program! Let's tame it down a bit with some slow dancing," Luna smiles at me and pushes me to get off the stage. Once again, she has everyone fooled with her smart mouth. I shoot a glare at her, but she remains unfazed. I turn to look for Hotaru and the rest, hoping to just waltz right out of here. Suddenly, I am pulled towards the back of the stage. I wince and massage my upper left arm. I look up. I am once again face-to-face with the root of all these problems.

"Natsume, what do you want?" I ask tiredly, still recovering from what just happened. He does not respond. He just looks at me, his tantalizing eyes filled with questions. I had never wanted the situation to blow up like this. I wanted it to be a subtle brag, not to become the subject of some reality freak show. I was humiliated, and it seemed like I did not redeem myself at all. I feel myself getting irritated. I sigh as I try to leave but he grabs me once more. I was about to shove him off, but then I finally look at him properly. My expression softens. I realize at this moment he doesn't look like a man.

He looks like a little kid who is about to cry.

"Natsume, I-" My tone softens. I'm at loss for words. His emotions are contagious, and he knows it. And the slow dance music isn't helping, either. His left hand slides off my shoulder as the other softly caresses my cheek. A tear rolls down my cheek. He wipes it away with his thumb. He whispers to me ever so softly, that I almost miss it.

"You have always been beautiful, Sakura Mikan."

I start to feel my knees go weak. I close my eyes and cup his hand in mine, trying to tell myself that this isn't a dream. Natsume's hand suddenly tenses up. I open my eyes and find Natsume looking at a distance, with an uneasy face. I then hear several footsteps behind me. I turn around and see Hotaru, Ruka, and Tsubasa, with all their eyebrows so close together it could be mistaken for a unibrow. I wish I could have laughed.

Maybe in a few years time.

Tsubasa walks towards me, pulls me towards him. Only then do I realize that Natsume was holding my hand. His hand stays afloat for a little while, almost as if he wanted to pull me back. Tsubasa puts his arm around my waist protectively. He glares at Natsume, almost with a passion.

"Get your hands off my girlfriend,"

Natsume's eyes widens in surprise. He looks at me, looking offended, almost betrayed. My heart breaks into a million pieces. I try to find words to say, but nothing comes out. He looks away, run his hand through his hair, and sniffs a little bit. He turns back to Tsubasa, all emotions cast aside. He smirks.

"Well," He claps and rubs his hands together. He does not look at me. "This has been fun, but I think it's about time I take my leave."

But you just got here.

He turns around towards the fire exit. He stops midway through. He looks at Ruka, who is unsure of what to do. He smiles, a genuine sad one.

"Ruka, it's nice to know you've been doing well." He looks at the couple, who are suddenly filled with nostalgia. Even Tsubasa's grip loosens up a bit. "Congratulations," He waves his hand as he exits through the door.

Tears stream down my face. I grab unto Tsubasa for support as I collapse on the floor. I start wimpering. He whispers comforting words into my ears as he gently strokes my hair.

We hear sharp heels approach us. "Tsk, tsk. What happened here? A fight? Sakura Mikan, you're always causing trouble no matter where you go."

Luna's insensitive comment was more than enough to make Hotaru snap.

"OK, you know what? I've been very moody tonight, and it isn't because I'm pregnant. So unless you want to see a fight actually go down, I'm going to have to ask you to get your bitchybody ass out of here," Luna glares at Hotaru, clearly offended by her response. She utters a "hmph!" and quickly leaves.

I realize that Luna may had a point somewhere in between all those rude words. I book for the fire exit, and Tsubasa tries to stop me. I turn around and give Hotaru a reassuring nod and Ruka holds down Tsubasa. I push open the steel doors. I tell myself that this night isn't done yet.

I still have some unfinished business left to do.

(End of Chapter)

I'm so nervous about releasing this chapter. Haha!

To be honest, I've been thinking of just dropping this story, so I can finally move on with my life. I mean, I've been out of the game for so long and there are a lot of talented people on here, who actually update their stories frequently, so I was feeling kind of insecure. But hoping that there would still be a few disappointed souls with my decision, I'm determined to finish this. I'm going to get real busy within the next few months as well, but for some reason I've been feeling like writing lately. Hope I'll keep feeling like this until the end!

Shoutout to my girl La La La Lady in disguise xDD for being such sweetheart these past few months. She was actually partially the reason why I kind of got back into the mood to write. Haha! I'm sorry I haven't been able to reply in so long, I really am! (I hope she reads this hahaha)

Comments? Haha, I know there isn't much that went on here, but it's kind of like a trial chapter to see if there are people still reading this. I didn't want to put any unnecessary effort, because that will just break my heart even more (but I've already started on the next hahaha). So, hey! Please leave a review! If you have any questions, I'll try my best to reply.

pls dun bully me too much kthx ;)