SCENE 3

The next Saturday morning, Mikan went to her job in a coffee shop. She was still sleepy because she had overtime last night. Her friend Ms. Serina Yamada was busy preparing the coffee while she herself wiping the cups dry.

"So you had overtime last night dear?" Ms. Yamada asked. She was already a mom to Mikan. She has been so nice to her since she entered the coffee shop.

"Yes, Serina-san. I feel like I'm having nausea." Mikan whimpered.

"Mikan darling, I think you should take a rest. I know my way around here. And besides you didn't have your day off last week. You have been working so hard." Serina said. "You look as thin as a rake"

"Yes Okaa-chan. But I have to work hard. I'm the only one supporting myself." Mikan protested.

"But working hard doesn't mean killing yourself." She argued. Their conversation was interrupted when

A guy entered the coffee shop. He is wearing a gray v-necked shirt and khaki trousers. He looked so smart on his attire and his full length was very stunning as he made his way on a small coffee table near the window. Mikan didn't recognize him because he was already showing his back when she took a glance.

"Mikan, take that gentleman's order." Serina said.

Mikan went towards that guy and gave him the menu without looking at his face. The guy accepted it and she took out a towel and cleaned the table for him.

"Do you really have to ignore me Polka?" It was Natsume when she turned to see the guy addressing her as such. He was staring at her coolly and bears a firm smile on his face. Those piercing crimson eyes are so magnetic as ever. She had a closer look on him when they're eyes met. Deep crimson tantalizing eyes.

"Umm… I'm sorry about that. I didn't seem to notice you. What do you want to order?" Mikan made her best excuse to avoid those curious pair of eyes and to hide her anger because of his teasing.

"DIDN'T seem to notice me? Or you're trying to avoid me?" Natsume coaxed. He crossed his arms and watching her keenly that made Mikan uneasy.

"Umm.." "Well.." Mikan was already tattering and babbling for words. "I'll get you a cup of Cappuccino?"

"You are not trying to answer my question Polka". Natsume leaned forward to meet her eyes. "Alright, I'll have cappuccino, and get one for you too and sit down with me so we can have a talk. Would that be fine with you?"

"Cappuccino for two" Serina-san appeared with two styrocups of coffee. And she whispered to Mikan "Now you better sit down in there honey. There's a good man."

"good man? More like of a pervert" she scoffed.

"Thank you Madame! You're so kind to serve us." Natsume exclaimed. Serina left them smiling and made Mikan to protest silently.

"Help yourself" he said and bringing his cup to his mouth. "I guess we never had an excellent time knowing each other well. You were trying not to notice me. Let's start again from the very beginning. I am Natsume Hyuuga. And your name polka?"

"Tangerine" She responded straightly. And not saying a word.

A smirk formed on Natsume's face.

"Hn. I thought back then I was going to call you polka when you didn't tell me your name" He smirked "I guess Tangerine is a nice name" "I don't want to call you Tangerine either. They might mistake you as a baka fruit." He smirked. "Seriously. What's your name?"

"Hmpf. Mikan Sakura. My friends call me Mikan." She responded.

"I'll call you Mikan. It fits you. Rather than calling you polka" Natsume pointed out. That made Mikan blush. Nobody called her Mikan except for Serina-san her grandpa and brother... Most of the time people call her Sakura or Tangerine. Mikan, That was a name she has always wanted to hear flowing from the mouth of her loved ones. Upon hearing that, she felt Goosebumps all over her. Her thoughts were drifting away and thinking about her parents who died long ago. She loved her parents so much but ill fate brought them to a terrible car accident. She only wished it was a nightmare. She wished that tragedy never happened to her parents and now she's left only with her brother back there in their province. That was really terrible for her. But she has no escape from this very reality. She needs to be strong for her grandpa and brother and for her to survive. Her thoughts went back to her senses and remembered that last thing Natsume has uttered.

"Excuse me?" Mikan whimpered. "You can't call me Mikan" She feels like, when somebody is calling her that, she is being tortured inside. It is so sacred for her to exaggerate. "I mean… Everybody calls me Sakura or Tangerine and you should too" she protested.

"What is the matter with calling you Mikan?" Natsume was now curious. He looked at her so intently trying to get some answers to his own questions from her eyes.

"Just call me Sakura. Mikan is not meant for you. Err… I mean it's too formal…and" she was babbling words again.

"And… Hn. Calling you with your last name is even more formal. Baka?" he said.

"Nothing!"… "Excuse me Mr. Hyuuga". She stood up, gathered her cup and went into the counter. She was trying to hide her feelings and blush. It was so evident that Serina-san could detect it.

Natsume stood up and went to the counter. "Mikan, I can't see any kind of offense calling you by that name. Unless you tell me what is eating you up every time that name rings in your ears." But Mikan didn't give any reply. She kept herself busy to avoid those eyes…

"Alright Sakura. Or Tangerine. Or Mikan. See you in class on Monday." Natsume paid his bill and went away.

Mikan felt constriction in her heart. She has two reasons why she had that pain. First, she get to remember her parents. How dreadful has become of them. And second, she let that very first man who called her Mikan walk away. She loved being called Mikan actually but she doesn't want just anybody to call her that casually. That voice of Natsume kept ringing in her ear and she can feel something different. But she was uncertain if what she is thinking now is what really that incident meant. She then gathered herself and went on working. She kept herself busy that entire day. She went to the laundry shop that afternoon and went again to her last job for the day. Singing in the club. She really loved singing in that small jazz bar near her dorm. It is where she could pour all her feelings through singing. She sometimes let her tears fall while singing a sad song which in turn could also make her audience feel so pity. She can really drive her audience's emotions. She is a real performer that's why the owner kept her for 3 years and gave her a good pay.

I'm a bit confused here. gomen ne for the bad grammar and other stuff. ^_^ R and R!