Chapter 12: Favor and the Works

I've done a fair share of checking out boys.

That doesn't mean I'm immune to good looking people and their gorgeous bodies.

Why was I talking – more like – thinking about these things?

Blame the male who's watching TV in the sofa, being comfortable with his shirt off.

I repeat, his shirt is off.

I understood that he had all the freedom to do whatever he wanted in his – scratch that – our apartment and just be cool about everything.

I also understood that it was freaking hot.

But damn.

Didn't he have any shame?

I could go on about the heat all day but I didn't want to complain about how he didn't seem to have any consideration for his female housemate or something.

Did it even occur to him that he looked ready to go and hit off to the gym to exercise in this weather?

I mean, who told him to display his 'manliness' and not care about it?!

Ugh! This was SO frustrating!

I massaged my temple and sat down next to the smaller devil, which I should probably mention that it meant Yoichi, the sarcastic kid.

My heart pounded as I contemplated how I should ask jerk-face to help me with my 'little' problem.

I wasn't normally shy but after thinking about the things we had gone through was completely baffling.

I've completely humiliated myself, shown my embarrassing sides and even shown my vulnerable side to this guy in a span of about a day.

What was I supposed to think?

What was I supposed to say?

Hey, I know you've seen me embarrass myself and cry in front of you and it's totally not embarrassing and everything's cool. Although I think you're a jerk and I want to kill you so badly, would you mind if I ask for a favor?

I mentally slapped myself.

Yeah right.

Anyway, what was I actually being nervous about?

It was just a favor.

Right.

…

…

…

…

…

What the heck!

Nothing comes to mind at all!

How was I supposed to approach him and be done with it?!

It felt awkward without us talking so what would happen if we do actually talk?

It would probably end in more arguments and humiliation.

Ugh.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I wasn't normally hesitant and confused as I was right now.

Thankfully, Yoichi got off the couch and went to his room, or in the bathroom.

I willed myself to be brave.

Okay. Here goes nothing.

"Hey."

*Two and a half minutes later*

"You pervert! How could you have seen that?!"

"Dunno."

"Ugh! Could you just stop being so rude?"

"Why should I?"

"Just because!"

"No."

"Stop doing that!"

"Stop doing what?"

"Stop being so sarcastic all the time!"

"Whatever."

"Are you gonna help me or not?"

"No."

"Ugh!"

Of all the!

My head was pounding so furiously I wanted to smack the smirking bloke and just be done with everything.

I shouldn't have asked this guy in the first place! Whatever came over me to ask for help?

I hate this guy! I hate how he seems to find me amusing. God damn! He's just making fun of me for Christ's sake!

This pervert!

If people are wondering what the hell just happened after a span of a miniscule three minutes then here's how it happened.

"Hey." I started.

Natsume took a sec to look at me and then quickly came back to watching the TV.

"What?"

I looked down and watched my hands clench and unclench in my lap.

"Can I ask for a favor?"

In an instant, I saw Natsume whip his head towards me. He slowly smirked and I immediately knew what it meant. He was indescribably amused.

He shifted in his seat to face me and my nervousness level rose to a positive hundred.

"What kind of favor?" he asked, sounding a bit anxious.

"Well…" I hesitated.

If I didn't know better, he'd be teasing me to death while he's amused when I tell him.

"Go on." He urged.

"Can you teach me how to cook?" I said very quickly.

He raised a brow as if saying, saywhat?

"I said teach me how to cook." I said in a pretty determined voice. My confidence was coming back now that I voiced out what I wanted. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Thank god.

It was my turn to raise a brow.

Natsume looked as though I've grown two heads.

"What for?" he asked, his face had the look of disinterest.

"Does it matter?" I asked back.

I was awfully annoyed by the sounds the TV was producing. I grabbed the remote from the small table and muted the noisy thing.

"Not really." He shrugged looking bored though I knew that something just caught his interest after he smirked again.

When he suddenly chuckled, involuntary impulses drove me and I felt myself getting self-conscious.

"So, what's got you laughing now?" I asked.

"I never got the impression that you'd be the type to wear polka-dotted print underwear." He said, un-ashamedly.

I gaped at him.

W-what?!

My.. what?

"Did you seriously just peek at my bra?" I asked incredulously.

I was aware of my gaping mouth. I didn't care.

I couldn't believe him!

I crossed my hands over my chest to protect my already-seen underwear.

"I didn't peek. You showed it to me." He exclaimed, still having his annoying expression.

I was feeling so angry, my head started to hurt. I was practically boiling.

"Really? When exactly did I show it to you?

"When you grabbed the remote."

Now, I was positively seething.

End of flashback

Right? How could he have seen my underwear in that oh so little time when I grabbed the remote?

This pervert is the worst!

If he wasn't going to help me then fine!

I'll learn on my own.

"Well, thanks for hearing me out!" I barked angrily and then turned to go back to my room.

"Wait." The bastard spoke.

"What?!" I turned back to him, my eyes furrowed.

What did he want now?

"I change my mind. Be sure to wake up early tomorrow." He said while reaching the remote and turning the TV back on.

My eyes widened and I was in a trance.

What did he just say?

He just… he basically told me that he'd help me right?

I smiled faintly and dashed to my room.

I couldn't help feeling like an idiot because my mood became better with just a few words, his words.

He better not take it back.

Yes!

I finally get to learn how to cook!

Well, despite being helped by a red-eyed monster, his cooking skills were unmatched and it'd be impossible for me to actually fail making a decent meal while being taught by him right?

Hey guys! It's been so long since I updated! Even I surprise myself about updating with this oh so little chap. I can safely say that this chap is barely a thousand words. Sorry for that.

Btw, GAotaku is right I did plan to make Natsume teach Mikan how to cook though I didn't really rely on GAotaku for this idea since I made it so Natsume would teach Mikan to fix a decent meal ya know? Nice work predicting though! I would have told GAotaku a big, wild BINGO! If I had noticed his/her review about it^^

Also, please check out my other story entitled "Beachy Summer". Mikan kinda have a unique personality in the story and i honestly didn't believe that i could make such story (so diff from my norm style of writing). Well, I tried my best so^^

Thanks for everybody who reviewed in the last chap XD