...
Addicted To You
Chapter 12
…
Wrong Decision 2
"Mikan… You're awfully silent." Hotaru commented on the girl who was sulking on the sofa.
". . ."
Hotaru eyed the gloomy girl and mumbled "Now I'm the one who's talking to the air."
"I feel awful." Mikan stated and sighed. She was sitting in the sofa while hugging her knees, staring blankly on the floor.
Hotaru rolled her eyes. "I just said that, baka."
"Hotaru, I feel … weird." Mikan replied and exhaled heavily.
"You're always weird."
Mikan suddenly remembered what happened in the school that afternoon. Her jaw tightened and chest stiffened.
Hotaru noticed it and eyed her suspiciously. "Is this about that Hyuuga?"
'Bingo.' Hotaru thought when Mikan's face showed a surprised emotion but remained silent.
"Well I guess it's about him." Hotaru informed to the depressed teen on the sofa.
"I guess too. I'm annoyed at him." Mikan finally said. She kept on sighing minute per minute which annoyed Hotaru.
"Is it because you like him?" Hotaru hit it again. Mikan stared blankly at her bestfriend.
". . ."
Hotaru became annoyed at Mikan's silent behavior. She wanted to smack her hard. "You're making me look stupid."
"Gomen, Hotaru!" Mikan apologized. She couldn't think straight. She felt uneasy.
"Do what your heart says. You're a baka as always." Hotaru advised and saw her best friend stumbled down the sofa like a mad person.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Mikan screamed and ran fast to her room.
Hotaru smirked. "You finally fall for real, idiot."
She sighed in relief and decided to go to her room too. She stood up but…
DING. DONG.
Hotaru looked at the watch hanging in the living room. 9:30pm.
'Make sure you have a good reason to disturb me at this time.'
Hotaru opened the door her eyes narrowed in irritation. It was just Koko.
"Where's Mikan?" Koko asked aloud, worried.
"In her room, sulking." Hotaru plainly answered.
"Sulking?" Koko laughed in his head. He couldn't imagine Mikan's new hobby – sulking in a corner.
"What do you want?"
"I'll talk to my cousin." Koko answered and was about to enter but Hotaru blocked his way.
"Entrance fee. Nothing is free." Hotaru said with money sign in her eyes.
Koko scowled and took his wallet out and gave all the money to Hotaru.
"Nice doing business with you, Yome." Hotaru said while counting the money that Koko gave.
"Geez. It's always like this." Koko muttered.
Hotaru shrugged her shoulders and moved out of the way. "Enter."
…
Mikan's POV
Maybe it was because of what happened in the afternoon, I've been feeling down for the entire day. I returned to my room, feeling blue, and wanted to talk to someone.
Oh, someone just barged in my room.
"MIKAN! ! !"
Great, someone actually came and talked to me. But he was not the one I wanted to talk about this.
"Damn it, Koko! Can't you knock?" I yelled at him for barging in my room.
Koko smiled sheepishly. "Gomen. Hehe."
"Why are you here anyway?" I asked in irritated voice. I saw him sat in one of the couch inside the room.
"Just dropping by to say hi!" He replied foolishly.
"At this time? God Koko, we always see each other at school." I said in a matter-of-fact tone. He just replied me with a sly grin on his face.
"I just wanted to check on you. Actually, I saw what happened a while ago at the school."
I froze. He saw? What?
"So? What did you saw?" I asked innocently, wishing that it wasn't that.
"Duh? It was Natsume saying that Luna was his fiancée."
I hate you, Koko.
"So what's about that?" I asked like I don't care.
"You don't care?"
"Koko! Why should I care? It's his life." I growled in annoyance. I didn't know why, but suddenly I felt annoyed at him. I could see that he was surprised at my sudden outburst. Great.
"Huh? But the way you act -" I cut him before he could say anything.
"STOP! Go home now!" I yelled, not wanting to hear more. I couldn't tell him what I feel. He was a friend of that… that guy! And his mouth was unstoppable. I dragged him out of my room.
"Mikan, Natsume was lying!" I suddenly stopped after he said that.
I stared at Koko like he was the most handsome guy in the world. Somehow I felt relieved. But then, I kicked him out of my room.
"Have a safe trip!" I said in my normal cheerful tone before I slammed the door right in his face.
If that was true, there was no reason to feel down. I should ask him why he said that tomorrow.
I lied down to my bed. With those thoughts in my head, I've drifted to sleep.
…
Next Morning…
Mikan's POV
As usual, Hotaru left, not even waiting for me. Now I was walking on the academy halls feeling much better.
I opened the door of our classroom and greeted by the class as usual. But the scene at the back of the classroom made my eyes widen.
Koko you liar…
They were still together, they looked so sweet. Natsume was talking to her right now. The bitch was clinging at him like there was no tomorrow and he didn't even complained like he did yesterday.
I hate feeling like this. My blood is boiling. My heart is sinking.
I just ignored it and sat on my chair. I tried to calm down.
"Baka, ignore it." Hotaru advised.
Sheesh. She saw through me again. I slapped my temple. I clenched my fist. This feeling… what is it?
"Mikan…"
I let out a breath. I didn't even realize that my fingers had dug deep into the palm of my hand if Hotaru didn't call my name.
"Do you want to lose your hands?"
I faked a smile.
"No, no, I just feel cold." I glanced at my back again just to see him, also staring at me.
Cold. His eyes were cold. No emotions at all.
I closed my eyes and turned my gaze away. I hate feeling like this. It hurt a lot.
I guess, ignoring him will be the best option.
End of Mikan's POV
…
Three days have passed. In those three days, Mikan was acting weird that almost the whole class noticed. Natsume was still the same at Luna. He didn't mind what Luna do to him. Luna was always trying to argue with Mikan but Mikan always ignored her. And for Natsume, she completely ignored his presence.
And for the crimson-eyed teen, that was not good, not at all.
…
Natsume's POV
3 days have passed. She completely ignored me.
"Natsume! Andou-senpai is Mikan's bestfriend! Are you out of your mind!"
That was what Koko told me this early morning. I almost killed him for telling that information late. Totally late.
I couldn't go near her. It was my fault anyway. I didn't have the courage to say sorry. That was not in my character. All I could do was to look at her. And that was not good at all. Guilt was all I was feeling right now.
But, why is she ignoring me? Is she really affected?
Questions flooded my head. And Luna was not helping.
This bitch called my father and presented herself as my fiancée. My father being a money freak agreed without even consulting me.
Do they really think I will allow that? Over my dead body.
I need to do something. But what? I started this.
"Answers are in front of you Natsume. Just look and see."
Great. Ruka isn't helping at all too.
…
Tsubasa's POV
I was patrolling around the academy, as part of my duty as the vice president of the student council when I caught a sight of a girl sitting alone at a bench in the Academy garden. It was already time to go home. The light from the sunset dyed her hair orange-red and cast a long shadow behind her. Recognizing her, I approached her and sat down quietly next to her.
"Hi, Mikan-chan!"
No response. The last time we talk was 3 days ago. She was happy back then. But now, she looked… depressed.
"Mikan?" Her head was low. I couldn't see her face. But I could feel that sadness that was engulfing her character.
We remained silent with tacit understanding; I knew she was thinking if she would talk or not.
"Tsubasa-senpai… I want my feelings for you to come back…"
I was shocked on what she said. My eyes widen and my jaw almost touched the ground.
But her voice was serious. Not the typical Mikan that I knew.
"Wha – what are you saying, Mikan-chan?" I asked in confusion. I wanted an explanation. She was not in her normal self.
"I want those times to come back. When all I can see was you, happy, carefree, always makes me smile, always there for me. I always think about you, to the extent that I don't have to look to another guy." She sadly said.
I felt a tingling sensation on what she said. But I got distracted when I saw droplets of water fall out of her eyes, those droplets were like shattered diamond.
"Mikan, I'm still here for you." I said, trying to calm her. I heard her sniffed.
It kinda broke my heart.
"But, I can't go back anymore." She said, continuing her statement.
Understanding what she meant, I hugged her tight. This was the least that I can do. She rested her head on my chest and continued to cry.
I felt an unusual feeling in my chest. Ignoring it, I patted her back lightly.
We stayed like that for about 5 minutes before she pushed me away to break the hug.
"I'm sorry, Tsubasa-senpai." She apologized.
"Mind to tell me what happen?"
I had an idea on what happened, but I wanted to make sure. But to my dismay, she shook her head in disagreement.
"No. I'm just being dramatic."
"If you want to go back, you'll be welcome."
Those words suddenly came out of my mouth. I covered my mouth in surprise. Mikan stared at me. I couldn't tell her emotion.
She smiled. A genuine one.
"You can make me feel better as always."
Her smile made my heartbeat to rush. I shouldn't feel this way. I was the one who turn her down in the past. I stared at her hazel brown eyes, and my hand moved to her face like it had its own mind.
"Senpai?"
My face was moving closer to hers. She was just staring at me, wide-eyed.
But just when my face was an inch away from her, she moved her head and leaned it to my shoulder.
"Don't."
I sighed in embarrassment. WHAT AM I THINKING!
"Kidding, my little kouhai. Want me to walk you home?" I lied, totally changing the topic. That was not a joke. It was a feeling that I cursed for not having it much earlier.
She nodded, showing me her smile again. But this time, it was fake. Unlike what she showed me a while ago.
"Tsubasa-senpai, I want to go home…" She paused for a moment "…to my true home."
I smiled warmly at her. She wanted to go home, to her true home.
What did she mean by true home?
"No cars huh? You said walk!" Her mood suddenly changed that brought my spirit back. She was happy, but I could feel that she was only trying. But I didn't care anymore.
At least, I could still make her happy.
…
Mikan and Tsubasa were both panting when they reached a tall gate of a mansion.
"Gaaah! That was tiring!" Tsubasa yelled and then sat on the cemented road. He stared at the tall white gates behind him and his eyes widen in recognition. "This isn't Imai-san's house, Mikan-chan." He pointed out. Mikan smiled at him.
"Is this what you meant by true home? !" Tsubasa exclaimed. Mikan nodded and pressed the intercom outside the gate.
"This is the Yukihira residence, who is this?" A girl's voice, which Mikan believed to be a maid, asked. Tsubasa's eyes widen after hearing that they were at Yukihira's residence.
"It's me, Mikan. Yukihira Mikan." She answered and heard the maid gasped. Tsubasa jawdropped and stared unbelievingly at his little kouhai.
.
Inside the mansion…
"Yukihira Mikan-sama?" The maid shouted in disbelief. Youichi who was currently sitting on a sofa in the living room heard it. Excitement filled his body.
"Mikan-nee-chan?" Youichi immediately stood up and went to the intercom.
"Baka, Emi-san. You need to press this button to see who is outside." Youichi said to the maid named Emi and pressed a button on the intercom. His lips formed a wide smile.
Youichi pressed a button to open the gate and ran outside immediately. He smiled widely at his beloved onee-san.
"You-chan! Hi!" Mikan greeted.
"You finally decided to come back." Youichi replied. Mikan nodded.
"I missed this house already, and I missed you so much too!" Mikan happily replied and crouched down to hug Youichi.
Youichi raised a brow. "Nee-chan? You're kinda… dramatic?"
Mikan laughed and broke the hug.
"It's my mood for today! Well, can I enter?" She asked sheepishly.
Youichi rolled his eyes and nodded."Of course. It's your house, too!"
"Ne, Tsubasa-senpai, you want to enter too?" Mikan asked the bewildered Tsubasa.
Tsubasa shook his head and faked a laugh. Mikan understood him. She happily entered the gate and diverted her gaze to the blooming Sakura trees around the garden and then to the elegant looking mansion. Oh, how she missed it.
…
While outside the gate…
"Geez, this was totally unexpected." Tsubasa muttered to his self.
"Hey, Andou-san." Youichi called out.
"Yo!" He replied energetically. "Just call me Tsubasa-nii." He continued.
"I don't like that idea. You can leave now." Youichi mockingly replied.
"Ok, ok, matte, can you tell me now…" Tsubasa paused as he remembered the guy in front of him. "Why did you suddenly ask me to talk to Mikan-chan 3 days ago? You didn't even tell me that she was your sister!" Tsubasa complained.
Youichi smirked and gawked evilly at Tsubasa. "I'm just waiting for a coincidence to happen." He plainly answered and left the perplexed Tsubasa behind.
Tsubasa blinked three times. "Geez, what a weird child." He muttered before walking away from the mansion. He stared back at the mansion and his lips formed a satisfied smile.
…
Earlier that day… At Alice Academy…
"I want you to expel the student named Sakura Mikan in this academy!" An old man yelled inside the headmaster's office. He was none other than the father of Koizumi Luna.
"I'm afraid that I can't do that." The headmaster calmly answered.
Mr. Koizumi furrowed an eyebrow. "Are you… opposing my demands?"
"I totally opposed it." Kazu replied once again.
"I can ruin the reputation of this academy." Mr. Koizumi threatened but the headmaster showed no fear.
"I'll be glad to see you try." Kazu challenged. Mr. Koizumi became irritated.
"Why can't you expel that girl? ! She was just some normal girl, no status in this society. Having her leave this academy won't affect you in any ways!" Mr. Koizumi boomed.
"Your reason is too shallow. I can't expel her just because your daughter doesn't go along with her."
"I have reasons. I have money and power!" Mr. Koizumi boasted.
"I don't find your reason very convincing."
Mr. Koizumi frowned. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"It seems like you didn't know that the Yukihira's owned this Academy?" Kazu pointed out. He saw Mr. Koizumi threw him a confused look. "I just happened to be Yukihira Kazumi, the older brother of Yukihira Izumi." Kazu added which made Mr. Koizumi stared at him, terror was visible in his eyes.
"A-a-are you for real?" Mr. Koizumi stammered. Kazu pointed out the nameplate on the desk which Mr. Koizumi failed to notice much earlier.
Yukihira Kazumi
Academy's Headmaster
Mr. Koizumi remained speechless. Kazu handed him a folder. Mr. Koizumi snatched it and opened it, his hands were trembling. He read it and…
…his eyes widen.
He gulped. Terror was visible in the old man's face.
Kazu stared at the flabbergasted man. A sly grin formed in his face.
"So, should I just expel your daughter instead? I have a lot of reasons to do so. Just be informed, being expelled from this Academy will tarnish your daughter's educational records." He said and stood up.
"I-I apologize for this, Yukihira-sama! I-I'll be taking my leave!" Mr. Koizumi said and left the headmaster room as fast as lightning. Kazu sighed in relief.
'I hope that'll be enough for the Koizumi to stop bugging my niece.'
…
Kring. Kring.
Number: PRIVATE
Kazu stared at his cellphone with a confused look.
He laughed mentally while thinking, 'It can't be, right?'
He pressed the answer button of his phone. "Yukihira speaking."
"Yo! Kazu-nii!" An energetic voice greeted loudly on the other line. Kazu removed the phone from his ears and stared at his screen blankly.
'So I'm right after all!' He thought as his hunch became real.
"Kazu-nii, are you still there?"
"Izumi." Kazu plainly replied as he returned his phone back to his ears.
The man on the other line laughed. "Why did you have to call through my phone? You could always call the Academy's telephone" Kazu stated, he stood up and took a peek at the window.
" The thing is, the Academy's phone is wiretapped." Izumi casually said. Kazu's brow's twitched.
"That's impossible." Kazu murmured. He stared at the small telephone on his table.
"I'm sorry Kazu-nii! You-chan did it." Izumi stated and laughed once again.
"Your son's behavior is becoming out of hand, Izumi." Kazu said. A thought suddenly entered his mind and became more suspicious. "How did you know that your son wiretapped my phone? !"
"Well… I could see you standing in front the windows right now." Izumi replied with a laugh. Kazu scanned the whole room with his eyes and saw a shining thing up of the ceiling.
"I could clearly see where your son got that trait of his." He murmured as he walked closer to the surveillance camera attached to the wall. "So all this time, I'm also being spied."
"Gomen, gomen. I'm only concern about my daughter's safety. It made me worry to suddenly see lots of transferees in the Academy, Kazu. Only few weeks had passed and you got six transferees, which all of them wanted to be at Mikan's class." Izumi explained.
"I see. Ever since they transferred, Hyuuga and Koizumi's parents have been digging about Mikan's identity."
"All my daughter wanted is a peaceful life, Kazu-nii. But I don't think it'll be one of her option anymore." Izumi sighed. "It was my fault in the first place. I didn't become the father who could protect her." He added, his voice was serious.
Kazu totally understood what his brother meant. He walked back to the window, and took another peek. His eyes narrowed at a dirty, old man, wearing a baggy sweater and pants sitting under one of the Sakura trees. He wasn't there earlier. The old man was wearing a dirty western hat which made it hard for Kazu to see his face.
"I understand. Stop blaming yourself, Izumi. Do something to make up for it instead." Kazu advised, his eyes not leaving the old man on the Academy grounds.
"I thank you a lot for looking after my daughter all these years, Kazu-nii." Izumi replied sincerely. Kazu smiled as he saw the old man stood and looked up.
The old man smiled back at him.
End of Chapter 12