Feb 14

"Answer to the Red Roses"

"Should I give it?"

"I never got the chance to give it yesterday…"

"And… Maybe it's selfish of me to give it now… since I am about to leave…"

"Should I give it to him?"

"…"

These are words that run in Mikan's mind while sitting on a bench at the school garden, holding a red rose that she planted at her house. It's already noon and almost all the people are having lunch but some stayed on their stand and guarding it. After an hour, it will be time for all the people that joined their activity to have their replies at the lobby and she hadn't been able to give her red rose to the person she likes.

"Mikan! Mikan!" someone shouted while running to where Mikan is. It was Anna and Nonoko running as fast as they can and calling out Mikan.

"Mikan! (Huh) What are you doing h-here? We've been searching for you everywhere." Anna said gasping her breath from running around searching for Mikan.

"Why? Is it starting? Is there a problem? I was just getting some fresh air here." Mikan asked worriedly and confusedly since Anna and Nonoko had that troubled face.

"No, it's not yet starting but there's a problem." Nonoko said.

"Huh? What?" Mikan asked as she stood up and ready to run to where their stand is.

"Well, our roses are not enough. Only a few more left but people still keep coming." Anna said.

"Wow! Is our activity that hot?" Mikan thought.

"Some people are getting angry already saying that our activity is not well prepared."

"No-no-no! Now is not the time to flatter myself." Mikan said to herself and shook her head. Anna and Nonoko stared at Mikan as she did that and confused since they heard what Mikan said.

"Mikan?" Anna said in a questioning tone as she put her hand in Mikan's shoulder.

"Ahahaha! Don't mind me! You guys go back to the stand. I'll be back before it all started with roses. Don't worry." Mikan said then quickly run out of the garden, to the school gate, then to the streets to the direction of her house.

"There are roses in my house that I planted. Maybe those will be enough."

Meanwhile, Anna and Nonoko went back to the stand and told everything to all the members there (Tsubasa, Yuuki, Tono, etc.).

"That's what Mikan said."

"Hmmm… that Mikan, what is she planning to do?" Tsubasa said while scratching his chin with his right hand.

"Oh! And Mikan was holding a red rose at the school garden." Nonoko said suddenly.

"WHAT! MIKAN WAS HOLDING A RED ROSE!" Sumire shouted a little envious for maybe someone gave it.

"Maybe someone gave it to her. Wonder who he is…" Yuuki said looking at Ruka and Natsume that was sitting together.

Hearing that Ruka looked at Natsume and Natsume also looked at Ruka. They were sitting together on a stall at the side of their stand.

"Did you give it?" They both said in chorus then they stared at each other for awhile.

"If you didn't give it then who will it be?" Ruka said.

"Maybe she is supposed to give it to someone. Or maybe she just found that rose." Natsume suggested and looked away.

"Maybe you're right. But, if she is going to give it to someone, wonder who she will give it to?" Ruka said and walked to some place.

"Hey" someone said Natsume and slowly sits beside him.

"Do you know where Mikan is and what she is doing now?"

"Huh? How would I know that? I'm not a psychic that can tell where she is or what is she doing." Natsume said then looked at the person beside him which was Hotaru, staring at him blankly.

"Nothing, I was just wondering. Mikan must be out there doing her best in finding a way to this problem." Hotaru said and as she was finished talking someone shouted in front of their stand.

"WHAT IS THIS? NO MORE ROSES! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? DON'T YOU HAVE ANY EXTRAS? YOU GUYS ARE NOT PREPARED ENOUGH! NEXT TIME DON'T EVER MAKE STUPID ACTIVITIES IF YOU'RE NOT EVEN PREPARED!"

The guy that was shouting was one of a gangster in the school. He was quite famous for being rough and ill-mannered. Wonder why there would be someone to give a red rose to him? Tsubasa and Yuuki were trying to control the guy and spoke to him trying to make him calm.

Just then, Natsume remembered a time when he was passing to Mikan's house on his way home and saw the garden that has roses in it. There he runs as fast as he can to the school gate, to the streets and to the house of Mikan. Hotaru smiled as she saw Natsume run and doing something for Mikan.

Mikan's grandfather opened the door and Natsume came rushing in straight to the small garden at the back of the house. There he saw Mikan cutting the stems of the roses; her hands are bleeding from the prick of the thorns. He quickly went there and also helped in cutting the stems then putting it in a basket below where Mikan also put it. Mikan was shocked to see Natsume there beside her and helping her.

"What... How… Natstume?"

"Stop fooling around, we got work."

"Oh! Okay…" Mikan said as she continued cutting. You could see a slight pink on her cheeks as she was embarrassed and at the same time happy.

"Here you are again saving me… Every time I'm in trouble you always come to my rescue."

They got to school fifteen minutes before the event in the lobby starts. Everyone got the roses they needed and was able to give their answers. New couples were formed but of course some got their hearts broken. Not everyone has a happy ending. Sumire got some pictures of the people giving their answers to a person and also different reactions of people after getting their replies. There in the pictures you could different emotions showing on the faces of the people. Their activity was a huge success and they also earned a lot of money which will be given to an orphanage.

Mikan was alone in the clinic with Natsume putting some medicine on the scratches Mikan have from the thorns. Mikan was staring at Natsume while Natsume was bandaging her hand.

"Don't stare at me like that, I might melt." Natsume said now tying the bandage. Mikan blushed while hearing that.

"There it's done" Natsume said and returned the first aid kit in the cabinet.

"Natsume… uhm… Wait here for a second." Mikan said then quickly run to the garden where she left her red rose at the bench. She grabbed it and runs back to the clinic.

"Natsume(huh)…" Mikan called out grasping her breath behind the door and handed out the red rose. "This is for you" she said now standing straight and looking directly at Natsume.

Slowly Natsume stood up from where he sat and went to Mikan. He grabs the red rose, looked at it for awhile then looks back at Mikan.

"I gladly accept it, Mikan." Natsume said with a soft voice and looked straight at Mikan's eyes. Mikan hearing what Natsume said blushed harder and felt embarrassed again.

"My… Why am I like this? Lately, when I'm with you I always become like this." Mikan said as she covered her face with both her hands.

"U-uhm… that red rose… uhm… that…" before Mikan could finish what she is saying hugged her intimately.

"I don't have any rose to answer you back but maybe this hug can tell all my feelings."

Hearing those words, Mikan was surprised and she slowly puts down both her hand. She was so happy on what she had heard. Natsume's hug was so warm, she feels like she is safe with him. Slowly, Mikan hugs him back with the same intimate hug that Natsume gave to her. After a few moments, Mikan started to cry. Natsume pulls back and looked at Mikan.

"Natsume… I-I-I…" Mikan fluttered, couldn't find the wordsto say. Natsume then holds Mikan's face with both of his hand.

"You're confused right?" Natsume said calmly.

"It's not fair for you… I'm about to leave…" Mikan said while tears keep rolling down and Natsume's fingers can feel the water passing by.

"It's okay… We can think of something…" Natsume said and wiped Miakn's eyes with his hands… "And… I can wait." He continued.

When Mikan heard that she was really happy, a soft smile was seen in her face. She slowly put her hands on Natsume's hands that were still holding her face. Natsume leaned down and their lips touched.

Natsume then noticed the eyes that were hiding at the back of the door.

"Hey, you guys come out." Natsume said. Mikan's eyes widened and quickly turned. There, Hotaru and Ruka came out of the door.

"Hi!" Hotaru said.

"Ho-Ho-Hotaru!" Mikan said shocked then look at the person beside Hotaru, "Ruka-pyon!"

"You guys had seen all?" Natsume said in monotone.

"Not all but almost…" Hotaru said. "Well, sorry for eavesdropping but we won't tell anybody. So, do continue." She continued as she grabbed Ruka and went back to their place behind the door.

"Hotaru!" Mikan shouted. Her face was as red as a tomato.

"Uhm, excuse me. Is Natsume here?" A girl's voice said coming from Hotaru's back.

"Luna…" Ruka said looking at her.

"My… Ruka Nogi! I thought you wouldn't ever remember me. I'm here for Natsume, is he here?" Luna said and brushed her way to the door of the clinic and saw Natsume slightly sitting at the table there.

"Natsume, I want my answer now."

To be continued…

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