"The Bartender Girl"

Chapter 3: An Arranged Marriage

-Hotaru's POV-

Whew…… I sighed as I went out of the restaurant, I glanced at my watch, it was already 2 in the morning……… this is the usual time I go home everyday from the bar. Yup, really hard.

I got my keys from my pocket and opened my car, yes, I do have a car. Actually, I'm not really poor or anything like Mikan, demo, I just worked here, at the bar, to help her since I really pitied her, but the truth was, I don't really need to work, I can just stay in my house and wait for the money my parents delivers from USA. Yeah, they work there. And believe me, they earn a lot!

I arrived at my house and parked my car on the driveway, I was surprised by the lights that were still on in the living room, It's two o'clock already… they're still… awake? I was about to open the door when it opened earlier….

"Konbanwa, dear" My mom greeted.

I raised a brow, "Why're you still awake?" I noticed the dress she was wearing…… she was wearing a formal dress, Somethin' tells me we have visitors…. "I really need to go upstairs and I won't bother you and your guests- "

"They're also your guests, honey" My mom brushed away several bangs from my forehead, "And, please treat them nicely"

I was so confused, treat them nicely? What does she think of me?! A 3 year old brat who just runs around infront of visitors? The one who doesn't even say sorry even if I bump them already?! Think again, okaa-san! "Hai…" I answered, my face full of annoyance.

As I entered the living room, I was greeted by a couple, a couple that looked kind and the ones that deserved to be respected, "Konbanwa" I greeted them.

"Konbanwa, Imai-san…" They both said together. I was surprised, san? What do they think of me!? A grandma who's face didn't grow old!? … I just smiled at them… and I was about to proceed to the kitchen when they called me again, "Imai-san, w- we have a surprise for you"

Huh?! I really can't understand this couple….. first treating me like an elder and next thing I knew… they're having a surprise for me…. What the heck?!?!?! "Y- You don't need to…." I said in my usual monotonous voice. Cuz I really don't want to have one…. I thought.

Okaa-san pulled me to the couch and forced me to seat down, I immediately did, so as not to embarrass myself infront of the respective visitors, "S- So…. " I started a conversation to break the uncomfortable silence, "What is the surprise?"

My mother elbowed me, I think she meant something like It's very disrespectful to start a conversation when you're with visitors that are older than you… I shrugged and continued, "Hmm?"

My mother glared at me on the corner of her eye, I glared at her back, in my mind, I was cursing her, but my attention went back to the couple infront of me with raven hair… just like mine, they started to do something… the woman got a box from her bag, I suspected the box as a box of a ring. She handed it to me, "Please," I accepted the box, "Open it"

I opened it slowly and I was right, it was a ring, a beautiful one… it looked expensive, but… why was she giving me a ring? It's not a proposal or anything right? "Sugoi, but, what's this for?" I asked.

The couple exchanged looks and looked at my mother, "You haven't told her?"

My mother shook her head, I glared again at my mother, YOU'RE KEEPING A SECRET FROM ME… HOW MEAN… "Haven't told me what?"

My mother elbowed me again, which meant something that goes like this, You disrespectful brat, I told you not to talk useless things when elders or visitors are around! I went like 'whatever!' and looked at the visitors once more, "What do you mean?"

My mother put a hand on my lap, "Please don't be surprised or anything…….. Y- You're….. "

I was getting nervous already, I kind of got a clue what was happening…a ring…….. I mean, it wasn't really that obvious but….

"You're engaged"

I fell to the floor anime style.

"You're engaged to the son of this couple" She said pointing at the visitors.

I felt different kinds of emotions in me, I blurted out, "ENGAGED!?!?!? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU DIDN'T EVEN ASK MY PERMISSI- "

My mother stood up and patted my back, "Since you were young, you were already engaged, … to…. Natsume, Natsume Hyuuga"

I was about to speak again when I noticed the name my mother just said, Natsume Hyuuga….. that sounds really familiar…where did I hear that aga- SHIT! THAT'S THE BOY MY BEST FRIEND, MIKAN LIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Na- Natsume Hyuuga..?" I said in a shaky voice, but still monotonous.

The 3 people infront of me nodded, "Matte….. does he already… know?"

The couple shook their heads, "Sadly, no"

I clenched my fist, "Darn you stupid hea- "

My mother looked at me with great anger, "I TOLD YOU NOT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL- "

"Please let her continue, she still haven't finished what she was saying.." The woman said, smiling.

"Anyways, I think he loves somebody else" I said, not looking at them.

The man blinked his eyes twice, "What do you mean?"

"I think he's inlove with my best friend, Mikan Sakura"

"That bartender?" My mother butt in.

"Hai" I answered, still looking somewhere else.

"Impossible, my son won't fall for a bartender" The father of Natsume fought, "And besides, he already has a fiancée, so he can't love anyone else"

My eyebrows went together, "But I'm a bartender!"

"That's because you were forced to, by that Sakura girl" My mother said, again butting in in the conversation.

"Yeah….. that's what I mean" Mr. Hyuuga continued.

A question popped inside my head, "Right now we're engaged…. BUT YOU STILL HAVEN'T DECIDED ON WHAT DATE WE'RE GOING TO GET MARRIED RIGHT???" I asked really loud.

"Actually…." Mrs. Hyuuga scratched her forehead, "It's going be 2 weeks from now…" She laughed a fake laugh.

Now my heart was fill with anger, I crossed my arms and marched my way upstairs, shouting, "YOU PATHETIC LOSERS! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION! YOU'RE ENGAGING US WITHOUT EVEN OUR PERMISSION AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO LET US MARRY EVEN IF WE DON'T LOVE EACH OTHER?! THAT'S THE MOST STUPID DECISION I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE!" I slammed my door shut.

-Normal POV-

The living room remained silent after Hotaru had slammed her door, Mrs. Imai sweat-dropped and felt a little humiliated about her daughter, "Go- Gomen nasai for her actions a while ago…"

The couple shook their heads, "We totally understand it….. we knew it's going to be this way. But I'm sure your daughter and my son will learn to love each other by the time they get married. It's the only way we can keep our fortune between our two families so they won't have any choice…." Mrs. Hyuuga said in a sad tone.

"I understand…" The mother of Hotaru answered, a little smile crept on her face, "I'm sure they'll learn…" She looked outside, "To love each other…"

In Hotaru's room….

Hotaru leaned on the wall and a single tear fell from her eyes, she just let it fall, she didn't wipe it….. How can they be so unfair…? And another problem, how will I tell this to Mikan? That I'm engaged with the person I don't love and that person is the one she loves very much!? Stupid thing to say….. I can't believe this is happening to me….. And that Natsume guy, his not even my type! And I believe I'm not his type either! He likes Mikan, I know that! What can I do…? But I'm sure….. I'm definitely sure, and I promise myself….. I will….

Never marry Natsume……………….

End of Chapter

Author's Note: Please don't get mad at me! I promise the story will end up with NatsumexMikan and HotaruxRuka! Oh yeah…. Please don't forget to review okay? Promise? Thanks…. Your reviews are the ones that give me the inspirations so I hope you'll not forget that okie? Thanks again, please wait for chapter 4…