Disclaimer: We don't own GALS!
MC: Our story is not inspired by Meteor Garden or Hana Yori Dango. And please people I am begging here, review. We can't write without many reviews. But THANK YOU for all those people out there who read this story and special thanks to those who reviewed it! You guys are the best!
Chapter 3
I was in an anomaly. I was chasing the girlfriend of my natural enemy. Or should I say ex-girlfriend? With all those things happening between those two (which I really didn't have any idea what) I didn't think the sweetness they had before would return.
I couldn't blame Aya for dumping Rei Otohata. That man was a pain in the ass!
"Hoshino?" I whispered softly when I saw her stopped in a nearby tree. I did not dare approach her for I was not good with this kind of things. So I stood there miles away from her feeling helpless as I watched her crying.
I doubt that she fell out of love with Otohata. No one cries like that after dumping their good for nothing boyfriend. At least they would feel some relief unlike her who is crying like she is the dumpee and not the dumper.
"What on earth could make her leave him?" I asked to myself. Okay! Approach her and try to make her see some sense! You can do it, Ran!
I heaved a sigh and started to walk towards her.
"Hoshino?" I asked uncertainly. She looked at me and quickly removed the tears in her eyes.
"Y-yes?" she stuttered. "Yes? What is it?"
"Are you alright?" I asked worriedly. She looked surprise at first and then she smiled grimly.
"Yes. Don't worry, Kotobuki-san. I'm alright."
"I'm Ran. Call me Ran, "Kotobuki-san" sounds old." I said laughing awkwardly. Now, how to start this? "Umm… I just heard your conversation with Otohata awhile ago. And let me tell you I didn't mean to eavesdrop but you know he is my tutor and well… You know things happen."
I explained lamely, Otohata would call it being a gossip.
"I really don't want to talk about it."
"I know. But Otohata," that idiot, "Is in love with you. I know! He would never smile to anyone but you. He just got a lot of pride you know… that's why he didn't…you know…run after you. But I bet his heart is breaking. I am not being busybody or anything but whatever your problem is, can you fix it?"
"I am sorry." Aya murmured, not looking at me straight in the eyes, "But I…I c-c-ca-can't be with him. I…I…I…just…I…I…just…can't."
"But…but!" I stammered but Aya just smiled grimly and shook her head. Her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Thanks for your concern, I appreciate it. But Rei and I cannot be together." Aya said firmly and oblivious as I am with a lot of things I still noticed the sadness in her voice. Her eyes were void of emotions and she was looking at me without looking at all. Her face was full of pain and I could see her trembling.
"Don't you still love him?" I asked desperately.
"I love him so much! But I guess…"
"Ma! Pa! I'm home!" I shouted loudly and dumped my bag in the front steps. I could hear Sayo running hurriedly down the stairs and I ran to the living room to hug my little sister.
"You're back! Does this mean I don't have your room for this weekend?" Sayo asked impishly and I smiled at her feigning anger.
"Is that the only thing you're thinking about?" I asked, "Don't worry, I'm only here for the weekends. I have school to come back to."
"Yay! Brother! Sis said I can have her room forever." Sayo shouted to our older brother--Yamato Kotobuki, the boyfriend of my best friend.
"Shut up." I told her, punching her head lightly, "Where are the others? And why are you all dressed up? Is there an occasion?"
"Oh, Ran!" Yamato exclaimed in surprise. He smiled at me and gave me a hug, "You're right on time. Our parents are already with the Otohatas. They are waiting for us to join them."
I paled; I have to spend time with that moron in school and also at home? Why on earth are our parents and our grandparents best of friends? They are rich unlike us who are poor. It does not match the nature of things.
"Why do you dislike Brother Rei so much? He is nice and handsome!" Sayo commented innocently and I gritted my teeth in annoyance.
"There are a lot of things bad about that man! He is annoying son of a bitch, cold bastard, and emotionally impaired individual. Yamato, do you remember the time he push me off my chair to make it his, or the time he hang me upside down in the tree, or the time he put worms on my sandwich, or the time he trick me to eat mud? That guy is the spawn of the devil." I ranted my face red with anger.
But Yamato only nodded in amusement, chuckling softly to himself, "Yeah, I remember! But do you also remember that you pushed him off the slope that almost made him hit a tree or the time you trick him into drinking urine saying that it was a new form of juice, or the time you handcuff him in his bed and left him there? You really must hate him since then, eh?"
"I can't remember why I hate him back then! It must be because since little I've known that he is a bad man!"
"Well… as much as I like to discuss this but we still have lunch to eat. Come on, I doubt that Rei is there. You don't need to be afraid." Yamato teased, pushing me towards the door.
"I am not afraid. It's him that is afraid of me." I said stubbornly.
"Yeah! Yeah!" Yamato said wearily. He winked secretly at Sayo which made the latter laugh amusedly.
"Maybe sister here likes Mr. Demon guy Otohata." Sayo said jokingly, "That's why she always says his name albeit in more degrading ways. It's her way of showing affection. Am I right or am I right?"
"Shut up!" I told them angrily. I hasten my steps towards the big house and entered the front door. The house never failed to amaze me. I've been entering it since I was a toddler but its big, spacious and designer clad rooms still floored me till these days.
A maid greeted us and told us to go directly to the garden where the tea is served. I proceeded towards the backyard with ease and familiarity, a smile plastered on my face ready to face everyone.
"Uncle! Auntie! Ma! Pa!" I said, happily. I embraced each one of them and kiss them on the cheeks. My two siblings followed and we are all seated besides our parents. They were still talking but I kept my mouth shut and I only smiled when their attention shifted to me.
Wow! Otohata is not here! What a miracle! Maybe he is still in the dumps after what happened to him and that Aya girl. Sad, but he also really deserves being dump. It must be karma!
"Father? You called me?"
The familiar voice woke me up from my reverie and I looked up to see Otohata's grim face. I tried to ignore him but my eyes can't stop following his every move. I barely notice my sister who jabbed my brother on the side and pointed at me and Otohata with a knowing grin on her face.
"Ran," My brother whispered, "You're gonna burn him with the intensity of your gaze."
"You are so old, Bro! That line's cheesy! Are you planning something again?" Sayo asked and I looked at them with embarrassment. Gosh! What the hell am I looking at him for?
"Now we are all here! We and your parents," Mr. Otohata started, "have something to announce that I think will make everyone happy."
I perked up in curiosity, "Make us happy? What is it?" The only thing that will make me happy is to go to a normal college or having a lifetime supply of money to buy expensive branded clothes.
"Are we going to Disneyland?" Sayo asked excitedly.
"Not quite that! But it is still good news." My father said happily. He looked at my mom and my then they both looked at their friends, "You all know that my parents and Kaoru's (Otohata's dad) parents are best of friends and they wanted their children to get together."
I so did not want to hear this.
"What happened?" Yamato asked.
I can feel someone staring at me with contempt and probably wanted me dead. I looked hesitantly to Otohata and there he is, his poker face showed anger and fear. Fear of what? Me? Impossible! What did I do this time? I did not torture him or anything! He caught my gaze and he gave me that infuriating smirk and tempted as it was I stopped myself from sticking my tongue out. He looked at his parents and mine, his attention unusually focused. That's rare! He usually zone out.
"…marriage! Right Ran?" My mother asked happily.
What? "Ah…yeah!" I answered automatically. Sayo then pinched my arm and I looked at her angrily.
"What?!" I asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Rei said in a low tone, his voice controlled.
"Did you know what you agreed to?" Sayo asked. I looked at her and she looked stricken. I tried to shut the other things that are going on like Otohata shouting and focused on my sister.
"Yeah? It probably does not matter anyway." I answered.
"You're really gonna marry me? With her!!" Rei shouted at the same time.
"You just agreed to marry, Rei!"
"Yes. You've known each other for so long. Why not?"
Wait! What's happening?
"I am not gonna marry her!! I have a girlfriend!" Rei shouted angrily, "I am not going to dump her in order to fulfil your fantasies!"
"Rei!" Mrs. Otohata said outraged, "Have you no respect? Ran already agreed to it!! And plus I learned that your girlfriend broke up with you! There is no problem in marrying Ran, isn't it?"
What did I agree to?
"How could I marry a brat like her? She is stupid, ignorant, reckless, hot-tempered, and she cannot measure up to Aya!" Rei said, pointing a finger at me angrily. His parents glared at him and he sat down in his chair, his voice softens, "Please! Don't ruin me like this. Do you really want me to live miserably whole my life?"
This son of a bitch! Ran, just shut up! Don't comment! You might just kill the man!
"Son, we just want to secure your future."
"No! You just want to fulfil your own interest." Rei said bitterly cutting off his dad. I could practically see the veins in his mother's forehead and the frown on his father's face. They are both clearly angry. My mother squeezed my hand and smiled at me affectionately but I just stayed still and detached.
"Listen here! You are going to marry Ran and that's final!" His father said in a powerful voice, his tone final.
"If that's what you want then you don't have a son anymore. I'll love my girl and I don't fucking care of you're money. I can survive on my own." Rei said angrily, his hands clenched into fist. His father smirked and I can see the similarity between the two of them and I felt sorry for their wives.
"I don't think you're dear girlfriend want that! I heard that her mother is treated with cancer and her father's business is failing."
"She doesn't care about money!"
"She might not." His father shrugged noncommittally, "But it is not only her that involves in her life now is it? She still has five siblings, her mother is on the hospital and her father is in bankruptcy. The company's stock helped their business but if I pulled out, what do you think would happen?"
"You wouldn't" Rei said, paling.
"I wouldn't if you would agree to marry Ran! I don't know what the problem is! You and Ran is the best of friends when you were younger!"
Since how young am I? I was never friends with that guy!
"WAIT!" I shouted, holding my hand up, "WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON!?"
"Ran! You are going to marry Rei! You agreed remember?" My mother asked apprehensively.
I looked at them like they were crazy or something. How could they explain this thing that is happening? I don't want this to happen! I don't want to marry him! Oh God! Is this the thing that ruins their relationship? Am I the one at fault? Otohata will kill me!
"Uncle! Auntie! Ma! Pa! I am sorry but I can't marry him! I am too young." I reasoned.
"You are already eighteen and that is legal. You are not young." My father said.
"I have plans in my life."
"Which you can still do after you marry!" My mother said.
"Oh, you mean I still can have sex with anyone? Or I can have a boyfriend even if I am married? Or I can move anywhere I want to when I want to?" I asked sarcastically, "No I don't want to marry him! The man has a girlfriend for goodness sake and I really feel like I'm a cheater if I do this! And you can't force me to!"
"Ran!" My mother gasped, scandalized. My father clutched his heart and my heart thundered in my chest. He is going to have a heart attack!
"Pa! Relax! Okay! I agree, okay! Just don't keel over and die!" I said worriedly and my father smiled in triumph.
MC: How was it? Review and tell us, okay?
