Chapter 6: First Night Part III

Spaghetti.

Ham.

Fried chicken.

Wait. Is that fr-fried shrimp?

It had been a while since I found myself floating (more like flying) in this glittering world. Food was everywhere. Any dish I can think of were here floating all around me. I was probably dying right now. I'm in heaven!

The fried shrimps I just saw were ten times bigger than the others. What's more, it's my favorite food!

I tried swim through the air, trying to get to the seemingly shining-than-usual shrimps. Yep, I was practically doing some sort of ridiculous moves just to reach it. Ironically, it was just a meter further but I couldn't seem to grab it at any point. I was so hungry that I wanted to cry out.

'Sniff' 'Sniff'

This smell…. The Shrimps smell just got stronger! I have to grab a bite somehow.

I struggled to reach it. I tried everything. Until finally! I could hug it!

I was about to take a bite out of it when the shrimp and other foods suddenly disappeared and I felt myself fall.

"Hahahaha!" I heard laughter.

The stinging pain on my bum was making me tear up. Just how many times have I fell today? More importantly, where were my precious shrimps? I looked around me.

Huh? They're not here. W-where are they? A dream? But the smell was so real!

I looked around some more and from the looks of it, I just fell of the couch.

When I was about to tear up, I smelled it…. The smell moved to the left and so did I. To the right, I moved again

– a moment of silence –

….and I quickly got a bite!

I ate it.

I heard laughter again.

Laughter.

Still laughter.

And I immediately got mad. I turned and saw Ruka on his knees, banging the floor and laughing his butt off.

I glared at him but he didn't notice. Then I saw Hotaru with a fishing rod. What was she doing, carrying something like that here?

"What a pig." A voice I ultimately hate said. I turned my head sharply to look at the guy who just insulted me.

The nerve of this guy. Can't people get hungry when they want to? I should poison him when I get a chance, that would be a lesson he won't forget.

This time, I glared at the red-eyed jerk.

God, he was so full of himself… not that he doesn't have reason not to be… I slapped myself. Now's not the time to analyze good-looking people and their horrifying personalities!

"You should watch what you say in front of a lady. You're being rude." I said menacingly. I frankly don't have time to be arguing with this jerk. I have to eat or I'll never see another sunset of my life.

"Lady? A fish maybe. Even Ruka's laughing his ass off because of you. What type of lady jumps out of the couch when food was in front of her nose, not to mention, you literally were asleep." He retorted, smirking.

I gaped at him. What? Fish? Me?

I immediately turned red. Whatever anger I had earlier was gone. Only heightening embarrassment. I shrank in the corner.

"Wait. Doesn't that mean you're a fish lady?" he continued. I shrank even smaller. Why can't I just dig a hole and hide forever? I was really embarrassed, but that didn't mean he could make fun of me all night long.

He probably thought I'd take this silently. But not me.

"Shut up! Being a fish doesn't compare to a person with herpes!" I shouted. I just remembered that he didn't like the word 'herpes'.

Really, it's not like I mean those words but he was being mean! I have my pride too, especially concerning food!

I looked at him, peeking on his facial expression. He was angry again. His brows were furrowed and he gritted his teeth, his hands were even clenched.

"What the hell did you say?" He shouted. He stomped towards me and I remained still, glaring at him with the same intensity he had.

Right before he got closer in front of me, a smiling Ruka – who just recovered from the laughing festival – was already in front of me, covering for me.

"Now, now. I'm sure she was just joking Natsume. It's not like you actually have it. So calm down." He convinced. Somehow, the image I have of Ruka right now is something in the category of being the jerk's baby sitter. Well, of course I don't like Ruka either. He's been laughing at me all this time.

"And Mikan-san, you have to thank your savior you know." He continued. I stared at him, confused.

"Savior? What do you mean?" I questioned. I didn't have any idea what he was talking about. And how did he know my name? I don't remember introducing myself to them.

"Natsume caught you before you landed on the hard floor earlier when you fainted." He said, sighing in relief when the jerk finally cooled off.

I frowned. Saved me? More like saved me to kill me with his insults!

"I didn't ask him to catch me, so why should I thank him? He's not worth my thanks." I turned away, folding my hands on me chest. Right. I said that but I really should be thanking him. After all, I would have had a head ache if he just left me to fall -

"You're right. I shouldn't have caught you. Now germs are sticking in my arms." The jerk said, even dusting off 'something' on his arms and chest.

Or maybe not.

"Now that's all done and settled, I have to go." Hotaru said, walking away to the front door.

"Wait! Let's have dinner first! It's free!" The moment I said 'free' she bolted back and sat on the dining table.

"Let's have dinner now, shall we?" She offered, smiling sweetly – which I have to define really creepy, I'm not used to a smiling Hotaru.

I shivered. She was clearly in a very good mood.

We all looked at her, estranged by her behavior. Really, one would doubt that she's rich when they see her like this. As I said earlier today, for some sick reason, she's an insanely rich money grabber.

The second to sit down was the kid. He placed a fork on his right hand and waited.

Ruka and the Jerk sat down as well. That left me.

A slight pause.

"Does she even know how to cook?" The jerk asked out loud.

Sweat was tickling down my fore head. Now that he mentioned it, do I have to cook?

I blushed and told them honestly.

"I don't." I said barely audible but I knew they heard it.

I can't help it. I really don't know how to cook. Anna and other chefs always cooked for me at home. And the one time I tried to make pancakes, well, they were burnt and the stove exploded. How was it possible for the stove to explode when pancakes were the ones I was making was a mystery. The guards had to rush towards me. After all, they'd be the one getting it from my grandpa if I had been injured. After that, I wasn't allowed in the kitchen. Anna would pale if she saw me on the kitchen after that incident.

Hotaru had a strange gleam in her eyes. Slowly she turned her head towards the jerk – which made him startled and surprised – her eyes now unnaturally shining.

"Hyuuga. You cook." She ordered.

The jerk had sweat in his forehead.

"Don't order me around. Ruka, you go." He retaliated, slightly frowning.

Ruka jumped in surprise and looked at Hotaru. He paled when he saw her frown, looking at him like she was going to strangle him if he agreed. I instantly felt pity for him, even I would have to follow what she says when she's in that mood.

"S-sorry but I don't have any cooking talent and I still want to live." He nervously said, looking back and forth to the annoyed jerk and scary Hotaru.

"Nii-chan, I'm hungry." The kid suddenly said, tugging on his brother's shirt and looking at his brother expectantly. His eyes were unexpectedly pitiful. Ah, this kid is starting to appear adorable.

The jerk eyed his little brother and sighed a bit.

" I don't have a choice," He stated and stood up.

"You better hurry up. I still have work to do." Hotaru demanded.

The jerk's brow twitched but ignored Hotaru and continued cutting the vegetables. I wonder if he bought the vegetables earlier before I came here.

Speaking of Hotaru, she's really busy these days. A month ago, she suddenly told me that she couldn't come home with me. When I asked why, she told me that she had to take care of the company because her mother and father wanted to have a honeymoon in Paris. I was really surprised because uncle and aunty Imai had already married five times and had their honeymoon undoubtedly, five to seven times already.

Really, won't they be tired of going off somewhere every time? And I knew Hotaru was smart, insanely smart, but could she really handle a large company by herself? Miraculously, or should I say as expected, she single-handedly handled their company without any problems and even managed to increase their money by ten percent in just one month. She's a genius. Even her parents were amazed by her. Now, she had to help them in the company.

I sighed.

I don't know why my parents doesn't let me help them in managing our company – they claim it was because they wanted me to enjoy life until the very end – when I could have helped them in some way and make them rest for at least a bit.

I really envy Hotaru. She doesn't have to feel guilty about spending somebody else's money. Then again, I don't think she's the kind of person who does. She probably doesn't think much about it. Though it'd be a lie of I say I didn't miss her at all.

I was thinking so much that I didn't notice the table become uncomfortably silent.

I'm so tired. Today is probably the first day that I've been this tired. Whoever told me that being independent was the greatest achievement in the world?

Right. Me (-.-?).

Oh well, it's not like it's gonna be the end of the world and I still have to take responsibility in my actions after I get captured by my own grandpa. This is perfectly normal.

I closed my eyes. I was on the verge of dying and sleeping. If I sleep I probably wouldn't wake up ever again. Just like the movie I once saw. The boy fell asleep in the middle of a snowy mountain, after that he never woke up and eventually died. I'd probably end up like him. Too bad I never did have the time to correct my mistakes – that is running away – and never fulfill my wanted life.

'Sniff' 'Sniff'

My mouth suddenly watered. This smell. This smell is….. something.

Whatever this smell is, it's good! Too good. I raised my right arm to wipe my drool off.

My head quickly turned to face the back of the jerk.

Suddenly, why did his back seem so….., err, it- it's turning into one huge chicken. What the? It looks kind of delicious.

I was too busy hallucinating about a chicken that even I, myself didn't realize that I got up from my chair and walked towards the huge delicious looking chicken. I was even oblivious to the shocked and surprised look of the people sitting with me moments ago in the table.

I forgot the fact that the huge chicken was actually the jerk.

The chicken and the smell were so tempting that I actually bit it.

Yes people, I bit it. It was only after I did it and munched that the hypnotizing effect the smell had on me dissipated.

When I snapped out of my stupor, I realized that I actually, I repeat, actually bit the jerk's right shoulder.

Silence.

Really long silence.

The moment I took a bite out of the jerk, he stiffened when I began munching it earlier.

Slowly I removed my mouth from his shoulder.

Red. All I can see is red. I flushed head to toe. How many times have I embarrassed myself in front of these people? To make matters worse, my stomach began to growl. I should probably add that it growled very loud, enough to let Hotaru, who was a meter away from me hear the noise.

Now, I was steaming.

I opened my mouth, tried to apologize but nothing came out. I closed it again and opened it once more.

"Sorry." I said very silently. My heart was pounding loudly. Eyes were stuck on the ground. I had yet to notice that the jerk hadn't moved.

Oh my god. This is the most awkward and most embarrassing time of my life!

I looked at the jerks back and I begged in my mind to at least make anyone say something.

I don't know what came over me to do all those things but I silently walked towards the table and took my seat once again. I couldn't even face the three people staring at me strangely.

"I didn't know you were this bold." Hotaru broke the silence.

If possible, I turned even more red and stuttered.

"N-no! Y-you're wrong! I-I didn't do it on purpose! He looked delicious and-" I stopped, realizing my own words. I grew even redder, I think I'm going to hyperventilate moments from now.

"I-I mean, he looked like a chicken and I just got off the chair and – and bit him." I tried desperately to reason.

Silence.

"I looked delicious huh?" an annoying voice said. He was still cooking. I was still steaming red. I couldn't see his face but I bet he was smirking.

"I said it was an accident!" I reasoned once again. Never in my whole life did I expect this to happen to me.

"Oh really?" he questioned.

I said nothing. There was nothing I can say. I was too overly embarrassed.

I looked at the three people in the table. Hotaru was looking strangely amused- probably enjoying the time of her life, watching me. Ruka was gaping red, he was really flushed. And the kid just stared at me.

"You know," the jerk started. "every one of 'them' tried several things to get my attention, so far, you did the most interesting one I can think of." He stated.

Then I gaped once again. 'them'. The fan girls. Is he trying to say that I wanted his disgusting attention?

"Are you saying that I wanted your stinking attention? I said I'm not one of 'Them'!" I shouted. I was still red from embarrassment but more than half the reason I'm fuming right now was because I was so mad I wanted to pull my hair out, though of course I wouldn't do that.

"Why else would you 'bite' me?" He said it in such a strange tone that it sent shivers down my spine.

"Drop dead you jerk!" I countered. This house is definitely bad for my health. It was only the first day! For goodness's sake! I admit that I do think he's a tad bit handsome but I would never do what I did if I could help it! God what was wrong with me? Why did I do that in the first place? Was it because I was hungry?

"Then you can't eat." The jerk suddenly said. He placed the plates in Hotaru, Ruka and the kid's front. While I didn't have anything.

Hotaru was acting so out of character. She was practically gulping down her meal.

Even Ruka and the kid.

My mouth watered.

I glared at the jerk. I was so hungry I wanted to cry. My eyes were stinging and I bit my lip. Let's forget about my stubbornness just for tonight, just after I eat.

I took one last look at Hotaru. She was eating so deliciously that I had no choice!

"I'm sorry. Please let me eat." I said in a very small voice.

The jerk smirked and leaned. "did you say something?…"

This jerk, he already heard me.

"I SAID I'M SORRY!" I shouted. And immediately, there was a plate in front of me.

When I took a bite, I was literally in heaven. It was simply that delicious. Now I can understand why Hotaru wanted the jerk to cook.

One thing was for sure. I didn't regret lowering my pride a bit for this meal…. Maybe.

Are they OC from what I originally made them out to be or what? I honestly think that their personalities are straying from what I wanted them to be especially Mikan and Natsume. But well, the funny factors are quite satisfying, or so I think. I hope everyone enjoyed. Please leave a review if you can and tell me what you think^^

Hunger can make people do crazy things huh?

Oh and the reason Mikan fainted was because she was hungry, obviously-.-

Just so you people know, I had to read my work all over again because I was confused about my writing style(result of reading too much novels and fanfics) before I could write this part of the chapter. It's also much longer than the others.

A million thanks for those who reviewed, faved and followed.