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Addicted To You
Chapter 14
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Family Clash Part 1
The Issue at the Conference Hall
October 28, xx
An invitation for the Hyuuga Family
Good day, you are invited to 20th National Business Research, Economics, Finance and MIS Conference.
Where: Conference Hall, New Tokyo Hotel
When: October 30, xx - Sunday / 7pm
Known business tycoons and wealthy families around Japan will be there. Feel free to bring your whole family.
See you.
- BREFM
"Finally, another conference. I'll be able to meet my wealthy friends. I might find another great investor for my company." Mr. Hyuuga smiled like a mad person. He picked up the phone and called his wife.
Ring. Ring.
"Yes? Kaoru speaking."
"Honey. It's me."
"Oh, it's you! So what's up?" The woman in the other line spoke like a teenager.
He rolled his eyes. "Stop acting like a child Kaoru, where are you now?"
"I'm in Paris. I'm shopping you know."
"There's a business conference in New Tokyo Hotel again, go back to Japan before the 30th."
"Eh? I don't like business conventions." Kaoru whined on the other line.
" Stop acting like a child! Just get back here!" He retorted. He could hear a disappointed sigh on the other line.
"You're scary! Fine, I'm going back tomorrow." Then Kaoru hung up.
"Why did I even marry that childish woman?" Ioran sighed in annoyance. Next stop, his son.
Since its already evening, Natsume was at home. Ioran knew that he was just in his room, sulking. He went to his son's room and saw him messing up with his laptop.
"Son." Ioran called in an almost inaudible tone.
"What?" Natsume coldly asked while typing rapidly on the computer.
"Prepare your best suit. You'll come with me and your mother on the 30th." Natsume stopped typing and stared at his father boringly.
"To where?"
"A business convention. Don't argue with me anymore." Ioran threatened. Natsume stared at his father blankly before saying "Fine." And then diverted his gaze back to the computer.
Ioran jaw dropped at his son's answer. Last convention, a year ago, he almost dragged his son because he refused to come with him.
"Good." He replied and left his son.
When he was sure that his father was out, his lips formed a smirk.
"I'm sure I'll see her there. I can feel it."
…
To my beloved daughter and son,
I knew you already met each other. Me and your mother will arrive at Japan on the 30th of October. Our work here in England was already over. We miss both of you. Please meet us in the New Tokyo Hotel at 7pm. Wear your best suit and dress. Let's have a family dinner again. And Mikan, please come. Your mother will cry if you don't. Seriously, she will shed a lot of tears.
With So Much Love,
Your Father, Izumi xOxO
"Wow, they finally decided to come back here." Youichi said after reading the e-mail.
"He even used okaa-san as bait for me to come." Mikan commented.
"Okaa-san missed you so much, nee-chan. When I was still with them at England, she was always pleading otou-san to return here. Video calls and phone calls wasn't enough for okaa-san." Youichi explained which made Mikan feel awful.
"I guess I really need to come. I miss them anyway. It has been six years." Mikan said in cheerful tone, feeling excited to meet her parents again.
…
The 30th of October… New Tokyo Hotel…6:45 pm…
A lot of expensive cars were stopping at the entrance of the New Tokyo Hotel. Men in suits, tuxedo and bow and tie, women in elegant gown and cocktail dresses entered the prestigious hotel. The convention was held every year for all of the successful business tycoons in Japan. For every businessman and businesswoman, this convention was a great opportunity to find potential business partners.
In the business industry of Japan, the Yukihira's was ranked number 1, followed by the Imai's at 2nd, Hyuuga's ranked 3rd, Yome's at 4th and Koizumi's at 5th and so on… The ranking didn't change after 5 years and almost all of the business figures that attended the convention were looking forward to meet these successful tycoons.
An expensive limousine stopped at front of the hotel. The attendant of the hotel immediately opened the limo's door.
"Nee-chan! Remove that coat NOW!"
"NOO!" Mikan went out of the limo. She was wearing a thick coat that reaches her legs like she was hiding something behind it.
Youichi followed her and tried to pull her coat. He looked so stunning in his white coat and red tie which was loosely hanging in his neck.
"You-chan! Stop it! Could you at least mind your own clothes?" Mikan retorted. Youichi childishly stuck out his tongue to Mikan.
"Sir, ma'am, what can we do for you? There's an event in the conference hall, are you invited there?" The attendant asked to the two young teens.
Mikan looked at the polite attendant and shook her head then flashed a smile.
"No. We're here to eat at a restaurant inside."
"Ah, let me assist you ma'am and sir. This way please." Mikan and Youichi followed the attendant and entered the elegant hotel.
They stopped at an exclusive restaurant inside the hotel. The attendant bowed and left them inside the restaurant.
Mikan and Youichi sat in an available table waiting for their parents to arrive.
"It's already 7pm, where are they?" Mikan muttered while scanning the menu. Youichi was just looking around the restaurant, when he noticed a familiar figure walking past the restaurant.
'The monster? With his family?' Youichi remembered what the attendant said – 'there is an event in the conference hall.' He smirked. He had an idea about this. But his thought was cut when he felt someone's breath in his neck.
"Hohoho." A woman's voice whispered in his ears. Youichi turned his head around and stared at the figure at his back who was wearing a long coat like Mikan, with a sunglasses and a cap.
"Okaa-san." Youichi boringly stated. The woman behind him laughed softly.
"Okaa-san!" Mikan happily called and hugged the woman in disguise.
"Mikan, dear, I missed you so much. Look at you, you've grown so beautiful." Her mother, Yuka Yukihira, said, teary eyed. She hugged her daughter that she missed for six long years.
"I missed you too, Okaa-san. You look beautiful, too, as always." Mikan replied and tightened the hug. After realizing something, Mikan broke the hug. "By the way, where's Otou-san?"
Yuka removed her sunglasses. Both of them wiped the tears of joy that formed in their eyes.
Yuka sat on a vacant chair. Mikan did the same.
"I guess he was messing around." Yuka said with glint of amusement in her voice.
"By the way, what's with the outfit? That's so unlike you." Youichi asked, eying the weird attire of his mother.
"Well, this is to prevent the press lurking around this hotel on recognizing us. They might give us hard time again." Yuka explained.
"Nee-chan, why don't you look for Otou-san? I'm already hungry." Youichi suggested with an evil grin on his face. Yuka noticed this.
"Oh, sure, where could that man be?" Mikan chuckled and bid goodbye to her mother and brother. Upon remembering something, Yuka tried to stop Mikan, but she was already out of their sight.
"Wow! Mikan walks fast." Yuka commented while looking outside the restaurant.
"The attendant a while ago said that there was an event in the conference hall. Otou-san was there, right?" Youichi suddenly stated. Yuka clapped her hands and smiled at his son.
"Keen as ever my son. That's why I tried to stop Mikan. Youichi, if you knew that, why did you let your sister to look for your father?"
"Waiting and hoping for a coincidence to happen." Youichi simply answered.
"You didn't even change a bit. Your coincidence always happen my dear son." Yuka said and giggled. Youichi rolled his eyes.
What a great mother-son relationship.
But it seems like the 'coincidence' thing was really on Youichi's side.
"Izumi told me to bring you two at the conference hall after we eat dinner. But I guess we don't really have to. I really hated those conference." Yuka said and grinned evilly at her son. Youichi rolled his eyes.
"I hope Mikan-chan will be okay, though." She added. Youichi smirked.
"Don't worry, okaa-san, she will be alright."
…
On the other hand, Mikan was searching around the hotel for her father. She went past the conference hall when she saw two familiar figures on the hotel corridors, walking side-by-side. She immediately hid in a nearby huge tropical plant.
Mikan's POV
I saw them in the corridor. Oh no! It was Hotaru and Ruka? Huh? That was kind of weird seeing them together and not arguing. Hotaru and Ruka were heading to the conference hall but what a nightmare; they stopped their tracks in front of this fake plant. I eased myself slowly behind the plant and they talked about something. I tried to eavesdrop on what they are talking but, a voice startled me.
"Hey, what are you doing?" the voice whispered behind me.
I turned my head to face the voice and without realizing that the figure was standing extremely close to me, my nose brushed with his and eventually our lips brushed together too.
Oh. My. God. My. First. Kiss.
I stood there, my face just inches away from this guy, and our eyes totally locked. Upon realizing who this guy was, my face started to redden as my heart thumped like a big bass drum.
Oh my god.
… ! ! !
I started to awaken from my speechless state and tried to make my way out from the plant but failed. Instead, I attracted Hotaru and Ruka's attention and they stared at me and this guy with awe.
"Uhm… Sakura-san? Natsume?" Ruka started to say. "May I ask what you two are doing behind that plant?" Ruka asked pointing at this annoying tropical plant.
Accidentally, I pushed over the plant and it fell onto the carpet with a thud. Oh great, now I couldn't even use the plant to cover my flushing face. I saw Hotaru raised her brow to me.
"Uh…eh," I stammered, trying to think of an excuse. I nudged this annoying Natsume for some support but he was totally shocked about the incident too.
"Uh…oh," he stammered too. Great! Look at this man, looking stupid and stammering, too.
I heard Hotaru sighed. Please my bestfriend, save me!
"Oh, never mind. I can pretty much guess what you guys were getting up to," she stated as she turned around, dragging Ruka with her.
Great. She just humiliated me more!
Ruka looked at us both in amusement. Before he left, he winked at us and then headed inside the conference hall, where Hotaru was dragging him.
I looked annoyingly at the guy who caused this humiliation on me.
"YOU!" I shrieked completely forgetting that I was ignoring this guy. "Why were you standing behind my back when I was hiding behind this annoying plant? !" I added in annoyance while pointing at the helpless fake plant.
"This is not your plant. I can hide in it, too, but I never expected to see you here – behind this plant." He answered coolly. Oh, the guts of this guy. I threw curses under my breath. It was annoying! And in front of Ruka and Hotaru! Argh!
"And you were the one who stole a kiss from me."
My eyes widen.
Heart thumping.
Face reddening.
I just accidentally kissed an engaged man! Oh no! I couldn't be married anymore!
I shot him a lethal glare for the last part of his statement. "I kissed you? You wish! That only lasted like a second! It can't even consider as a kiss." I yelled, controlling myself to punch the face of this punk.
"Whatever you say." He replied lazily. "I still believe that it was a kiss."
"Argh! Think it the way you want!" I screeched wishing the ground to swallow me! I turned around, my back facing him and planned to walk away.
"So, why are you still ignoring me?" I heard him suddenly asked out of nowhere, totally changing the mood around.
His voice was serious. I looked back at him again.
His face showed determination to get an answer.
I stared back seriously in his eyes. I felt that pang in my chest again.
"Isn't it obvious? I don't want to ruin your relationship with your fiancée."
"Luna is not my fiancée anymore."
"Liar." I replied and then started to walk away. But a strong grip in my wrist stopped me. I looked back and saw his serious expression.
"Come with me." He said and then began to drag me. His grip tightened. I winced in pain.
"Let me go!" I yelled in pain. But he didn't let me go.
"I'll prove to you that that bitch is not my fiancée anymore." I heard him said in his serious tone. He dragged me inside… inside the conference hall? !
What the – ?
I saw a lot of people inside the room. All were wearing formal attires. I scanned the room and saw that a lot of my classmates were there too! What's with this room? Is there a reunion party here?
I felt that the grip loosened. I shrugged his hand away from my hands and glared at him.
"I need to use the toilet." I said, pointing at the toilet.
"Come back here. I'll prove you my innocence." I rolled my eyes. Why did he even need to do that?
"Fine, Hyuuga-ouji." I replied sarcastically.
I ran to the location of the toilet. I entered the ladies comfort room and splashed my face with cold water from the faucet. I couldn't believe what was happening now. Was this some kind of joke?
Then I remembered what Natsume said. After hearing that from him, I felt at ease. Why?
Because it came from his mouth. He was sincere. I unconsciously smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
I walked out the toilet and saw Natsume was not there. I raised a brow.
So he was playing with me now?
I scanned the surrounding, hoping to see him. But my thoughts were cut when the lights turned off and everyone fell silent. Then a spotlight focused on the stage. My eyes widen when I realized who was on the stage.
On his 40's. Jet black hair. Amethyst eyes. Emotionless, serious face. Oh no.
"Welcome to 20th National Business Research, Economics, Finance and MIS Conference. I'm Imai Touichi, the President of Imai Technology Incorporated. It seems like my best buddy, Yukihira Izumi, failed to attend this conference once again. We all know that he was at England working for a big project of his company. Then I'll be the one to welcome all of you. Have fun. Thank you."
Huh?
End of Mikan's POV
…
Mikan was staring at the father of her best friend having a short speech on the stage. When the speech stopped for a short second, an old man wearing old baggy clothes, an eyeglasses and an old western hat went on the stage. Whispers filled the room like a heavy rain.
"Who was that? An intruder? ! Please someone call a security!" That was Luna's father.
"Is this a surprise? Ooh! Honey! He looks handsome!" Koko's mother squealed in delight.
"Oi! Old man! Don't ruin the speech!" That was Mochu's father.
"Oh, damn old man." Kazu, who was among the crowd, mumbled. He massaged his temple and looked back to the old man with an amused face.
A loud 'boo' echoed inside the room as the old man stay still on the stage. Seriously, just because of the appearance of an old man in the stage can cause such commotion?
Mikan stared at the figure of the old man and rolled her eyes when she realized who he was.
Imai Touichi was looking grossly at the old man. He scanned him and later on, a smirk formed in his face.
"Looks like a special guest have arrived." The whispers stopped when they heard what Touichi said. All of their eyes were glued back on the stage.
"Told you, it was a surprise." Koko's mother said again to her husband.
"What are you saying, Imai-san?" Luna's father asked in confusion. Touichi ignored him and walk closer to the old man.
"What an annoying attire." He whispered in the old man's ears. The old man chuckled and snatched the microphone from Touichi.
"Hello, fellas." The old man greeted in his hoarse voice. Most of the teenagers inside the conference hall laughed at the old man's attitude. Well, he was old but his vocabulary was for teenagers.
"Hey! Who the hell are you! Don't ruin this event!" That's Luna's father again. Seriously, he was so big-mouthed.
"Calm down, dude." The old man said in a way that a teen would do and laughter filled the conference hall again.
Mr. Koizumi was burning in anger. He went on the stage and grabbed the poor old man's collar.
Gasps.
Gasps.
Gasps.
As Mr. Koizumi grabbed the poor man's collar, the old baggy cloth tore apart. Mr. Koizumi stared at the cloth in his hands. The guest's eyes almost went out of the sockets in surprise.
"What the?"
"Just drop the act. You're becoming a show-off." Touichi who was sitting in a chair calmly announced.
The old man flashed an annoying smile. And…
To be continued…
End of Chapter 14