RINGING BELLS

Disclaimer : I don't own anything. And I will probably NEVER own it, ever~

This will be written in Mikan's POV.

I have a feeling that ignoring Natsume is now a routine thing. He's really unreasonable. But still, I don't understand him. He wanted me to be away from him. He left me. And now he's back. Back to claim me. Who am I to him? A slut? A prostitute? A person he can just plead of pay to get me back with him? I could say hundreds of swear words to him, but I can't mean any of them. After all, my feelings towards him is still there. I still...do...love him.

After the night he spoke to me in front of my room, and I told him that I didn't need to talk to him that night, I cried myself to sleep. In fact, I wasn't even sure whether I slept or not. I felt so tired and Anna and Nonoko said that I had eye bags. During math period, I had trouble concentrating in class. That caused Jinno-sensei throwing a chalk towards my head.

"Miss Sakura! Wake up!" he shouted. But to my ears, it didn't even sound like, a shout.

But I kept my eyes awake, anyway. Narumi-sensei came in right after Math period and told us that we had an upcoming project for English next week. He told us to get ready our partners.

'Who was my partner, again?' I thought to myself.

Oh right, my partner is him, Natsume. He is my partner. What would Yui think? His fiancée already have a partner.

"Any other questions class, about the English Project?" Mr Narumi questioned.

Yui rose up her hand and asked.

"Who's my partner, sensei? Can it be Natsume?" Yui asked him.

"He's already Miss Sakura's partner. Is it okay if you pair up with Mr Agaresawa."Mr Narumi claimed.

"It's okay, sensei. I can be Hikaru's partner." I volunteered.

"Well then, if that's what you want. Goodbye now class." Mr Narumi said and left the clsas.

Oh right, I've forgotten to mention who Hikaru was. Well, he's the new student here. His full name is Hikaru Agaresawa. Absolutely gorgeous, of course. All the girls are giving him cute and seductive smiles. I personally, nearly forgotten there was a new student.

Bell rang for end of school. I was packing my books into my bag and walked out of the class. Someone shouted my name and stopped me.

"Wait!" the person asked.

I looked back and saw it was just Hikaru. I gave him a gentle smile.

"Thanks for waiting up. I just wondered whether it's okay if you walk back with me to the dorm?" Hikaru asked.

He was so polite. Unlike Natsume.

"Sure. Let's walk together." Then we started walking.

On our way back, we chatted about his life before moving to the academy. His life was pretty interesting. His family migrated to Canada and now his grandfather is the greatest shareholder of Japan. He's probably a big shot. I giggled to myself. He turned out to be a decent and nice guy. It's really easy to talk to him.

"Well then, this is my room. Bye, Hikaru." I said when I reached my room.

"Your room's beside Hyuuga's room, eh? Probably all the girls are jealous of you." he laughed. The way he laughed, is close to how an angel laugh. He has a really beautiful voice.

"Yeah, they do. But it's not as if I have any relationship with him, anyway." I admitted. Though it was s white lie at the end.

"Really? I thought both of you were together." he said. He sounded confused.

"Well, yeah. We WERE. But we broke up when he left for America two years ago."I admitted. I didn't know that he could get news so fast when he was only here for a few hours.

"Oh. Sorry to hear that. But since, you're single, mind if I start courting you?" he was so direct. I had never met a guy like this.

"Ah? I've only met you for a day. Maybe, you should give me some time." I blushed.

"You're right." he giggled to himself. "I must sound like some kind of play boy, huh? Well then, sorry. You have a lot of time to think about it. Don't make it bother you." he giggled to himself again.

"Right." I laughed together. "Anyway then, good night." I wished him.

"Good night." he put a hand behind me neck and kissed my cheeks. His lips were soft and his breath was warm on my face. And blood rushed to my face. I'm blushing really hard, I know it. I was frozen on my feet. He left his lips at my cheek there as well, till someone distracted us.

"Ahem." you guessed it right. It's Natsume.

Hikaru took his hand away from my neck and wished me good night. Before Natsume starts asking me questions, I quickly ran into my room.

I ran to my bed and took my pillow so it could absorb my tears.

'Why must he love me?' I thought to myself. 'Why must Natsume love me?" I cried to sleep. My eyes were red when I woke up the next morning.

"Mikan! Your eyes are red! What did you do the entire night?" Anna asked. She sounded really worried.

"I just couldn't sleep. I think I'm having insomnia. I've been taking sleeping pills, but it doesn't work. I wonder why." I told her.

"You shouldn't simply take drugs, Mikan!" Nonoko told me. "It's bad!"

"I know. But I have to sleep."

Narumi-sensei saw my not concentrating in class and therefore, told me to go back to my dorm to get a rest before the other teachers would start scolding me for sleeping in class.

I didn't want to go back to my room. Instead, I went to walk by the academy sea side. It was really peaceful. With only the sound of the waves, the rustling of leaves and the birds chirping. I heard someone footsteps behind me. I turned towards whoever it is. And figures, it's Natsume.

"What do you want? Can you stop disturbing me?" I pleaded him.

"Please." he went down on his knees and showed me a ring. My tears wanted to spill. I held it back.

The ring was beautiful. It was simple and yet coated with diamond. I don't deserve it, I told myself. I might as well just accept Hikaru.

"No, I can't Natsu-"I started but was cut off.

"It hurt me to see that person kissing you, yesterday. Please,....Mikan. Let's..Let's elope" he said please again.

My tears couldn't be restrained anymore. It started spilling. I started crying.

"I can't." I held back my tears. "Yui..is your fiancée. I'm the third party." I said and ran away.

Why am I such an idiot? Why must I fall in love with a person that I know I can never have a happy ending with? All I wanted was someone to love me for eternity. Someone....someone that I care about. Natsume fitted in that category. But why can't I just say YES? Was it because he hurt me already? Was it because he has a fiancée? I just want, a happy ending.

END CHAPTER

Sneak Peek on Chapter 5:

"Hikaru.." I started. My words were stuck in my throat.

"Can you just ignore me? Can you just treat me like your fan girls? Ignore me, Natsume. I'm a nobody." it hurt my chest to say that. The hole in my chest...it's bigger. It feels, big. I feel...really empty.

"Is that what you really want?" he asked me.

"It's for both of our own good." I told him. I took his hand into mine and said, "Forget me, please, Natsume. Forget me. Forget that you ever loved me. Forget whatever we did together. Up till the time you left for America. Forget everything that happened before the time you returned. Forget everything. Forget Mikan Sakura, please." I pleaded. It hurt so much.