Dear Tishie,
Could this be the part one of my Christmas gift for you? I really don't know what to give you. You have given me so much already and the Natsume costume was soo… I just ran out of words… Merry Christmas! xoxo, V
I would like to thank:
BunnyParfait
Luckystar222
crimson-diamonds-823
foty
2Lazy2MakeAnAccount
Mikiramen
Xythri
no one ^^
ShoujoAnimeFanatic13
babee-angel
tAnGeRiNe-jUjUbE08
Animechicki
DarkZala_11
Tishie
Invisibleppl
I would like to dedicate this chapter to no one ^^
Your review was so on time! I used a Hey Monday song here! :O when I was reading it I was like: "OMG! The next chapter uses a Hey Monday song!"
The song was Hey Monday's Obvious :D ... but I'm not a fan. I just couldn't think of any other random song.
CHAPTER 18
We arrived in our condo building just before 12 midnight. We were in a hurry to catch Natsume, I think that he really needs Ruka now. A lone figure has passed out on the lobby's sofa. Ruka and I realized that it was Natsume.
"NATSUME!" We ran towards him. "Natsume!" Ruka whispered harshly trying to wake him up.
"Go away Ruka." He muttered incoherently.
"Natsume please? You're sweating badly! Where're your keys?" Ruka begged as he stood Natsume up, assisting him. Sure enough, he was sweating under his black linen suit and red shirt.
"Is he alright?" I asked Ruka anxiously.
"I think he's drunk." Ruka said as he supported Natsume's body and started to assist him to the elevator. I followed them hurriedly. And just as I pressed the close button, a staff shouted. "IT'S OUT OF ORDER!" And before we could step out, the elevator door closed, and as if on cue, it went up and then it's light went on and off. Blinking scarily.
"R-r-uka-pyon!" I struggled towards him. After a few moments, the electricity went out completely. Ruka sighed miserably as he let Natsume sit and he sat beside him while I, I sat down on the right corner, almost in tears.
I remembered those elevator scenes on horror movies that I watched. I trembled as I thought of them.
"Are you alright Sakura?" Ruka-pyon asked softly. I couldn't answer.
"Sakura?" He prompted with anxiety. Suddenly, I found myself hugging him.
"Ruka-pyooooon…" I wailed in his chest. "I'm so scared!" tears then started to flow out of my eyes. "What if there's nothing they could do? And we're stuck here forever?" I thought miserably as I cried harder.
"Shut up you noisy idiot!" Natsume said, giving me a death glare. I turned to him. "Natsume!" I cried. "And Natsume needs to rest! Look, he's sweating an-"
"Shut up strawberry fields." Natsume groaned as he lay down on the elevator's floor. "I have enough head ache, you don't need to add." He said as he turned.
"Natsume, you pervert!" I exclaimed.
He should be thankful that his body is not in a good condition. I crawl towards him and tugged on his coat. "Really Natsume, remove your coat. It's hot here, you'll sweat more." I said, worrying for him.
"Tch. What do you care you stupid Japanese girl? Why not go back to that hell where you came from?" He said. "Natsume!" Ruka said.
"Here I am, worried about you and you say such rude things. Really Natsume. Thank you very much for treating me like hell." I retorted, unable to stop myself. I sighed. "I'm just worried." I added in a softer tone. I suddenly became sad. My lips were trembling. I crawled back to the right corner. Tears strolled down my eyes as I tried to conceal my sobs.
"Sakura…" Ruka said as he sat beside me and rubbed my back.
"You know I'm not in a good mood." Natsume said, moments later. His back was facing me. He was still facing the left side of the elevator. "You should've known better." He said.
"What the hell happened today anyway, you're grumpier than usual." I said sadly. "You wouldn't wanna know." He said softly, making me feel like he was getting sober. There was sadness in his tone. I turned to Ruka. He seems to know why Natsume is acting like this tonight.
"Natsume…" He muttered with a hint of begging.
"Hn."
Suddenly, my iPhone started ringing. Ruka looked at me with a questioning look. I looked at the screen: Hotaru Imai. "It's Hotaru!" I said with enthusiasm. We're gonna be saved!
"Hotaru!" I answered, wailing on the cell phone. "Hotaru! We're stuck in the eleva-"
"Idiot. You could've called me immediately, if I didn't arrive in the condo, I wouldn't have known. Idiot." Her cold, merciless voice rang in my ears.
"Hotaru! Help us!" I exclaimed.
"That'll cost the three of you your next month's salary." She said as she hung up. "HOTARU!" I screamed to my cellphone. Suddenly, there came a creaking sound, the sound of two metals scratching each other, coming from the elevator doors.
"What's that Ruka-pyon…" I squeezed myself closer to him. What is that scratching noise? Slowly, the door started to open, an inch, two inches, three, four… soon it revealed a panting Tsubasa, Kaname, Koko, Kitsuneme, Mochu and Yuu.
"What do you use the signs for, you idiots?!" Tsubasa exclaimed angrily in between his pants. "That's why they create signs you know!" he added, on and on he went, scolding us. Or rather, me, because Ruka immediately assisted Natsume to his unit, using the other elevator.
"- Been stuck there for an hour, not asking any help! What an idiot!" Tsubasa went on. "If we didn't return you'll be stuck there!" He said. "And the staff should have called someone too!" Tsubasa screamed for the staff to hear. "And the- OW!"
"That's enough Tsubasa! Can't you see she's under trauma?" Misaki said as he punched Tsubasa on the face. "I'm sure she went through a hysteria inside the elevator…"
On and on they went on the possibilities of what might have happened causing me not to call immediately.
"I'm sleeping." Hotaru said after a few minutes. She's obviously bored and pissed of what just happened. "Idiot." She turned to me. I bowed my head in shame.
"I'm sorry everyone." I said, my voice quivered. Everyone fell silent. "I'm so sorry." I said again. "It's just that… I was so stupid." I can feel the lump on my throat as I remembered those mean, heartless things Natsume told me inside.
"Are you alright Mikan?" Kaname walked towards me. "Did something happen inside?" he questioned, "Did Natsume-"
"No. Nothing. I'm tired." I forced a smiled at them. They looked at me weirdly. "We'll see you to your room." Misaki said, and all of them came with her.
I was so damn tired that I just bothered to get out of the dress for it not to be ruined. And the next thing I knew, it was 11 am, and my cell phone was ringing. It was again, Hotaru.
"Huhhh…" I greeted, unable to even utter a hello.
"Idiot. Go to the studio now. You need to practice with Nogi." And with that, she hung up before I could even say a word, leaving me with no choice but to get up and do what I was told as soon as I took a bath and got dressed.
"Heavy…" I complained at the weight of my Fender Stratocaster and my effects board. I don't think I'm even walking a straight line out of tiredness.
"Mikan, are you alright?" Anna and Nonoko asked me as soon as I entered the studio.
"I think so…" I said as I dropped my things and lay on the black leather couch, feeling light headed out of lack of sleep.
"And that's what she calls alright." I heard Hotaru said, seconds later, she was pulling me to my feet. "You need to sing today," She said in a very business like tone, "or else, I'll have to cancel your gig on Hard Rock later." That made me bolt up straight.
"Hard Rock?" I asked, flabbergasted.
"Yes Mikan, Hotaru got you a gig on Hard Rock today! That's why you need to perfect your songs with Ruka." Yuu explained.
"I have already listened to the songs, and I learned it by ear." Ruka said, looking up from his Warwick bass. I smiled. He smiled back. I can feel my heart beat rising again. I'm turning red… And nervous…. And… happy? Oh god, mom's voice is now playing on my head! "Oh honey, you must be inlove… definitely inlove…" Oh god.
"You're red." Hotaru said as she covered my face with a hanky, breaking my eye-to-eye smiling contact with Ruka.
"Mph!" I said, as I struggled to get the little piece of cloth on my face. "What'd you do that for?!" I exclaimed.
"Just practice." She said as she proceeded to the other room with Yuu.
"Let's go?"
And all through out our three-hour practice-jamming session, I mostly looked at Ruka. And all those time, I can feel myself blushing. Remembering the words of my song for him.
"Okay. Guys, rest, and be at the lobby by 6:30." Hotaru said, dismissing us.
"Mikan." Anna and Nonoko dragged me back in the studio when Ruka left, with excited looks on their faces. "What?" I asked.
"WE SAW YOU!" They squealed in delight. "What?! Of course-"
"Don't play innocent with us!" Nonoko said accusingly, "You like Ruka-pyon, don't cha?" she said with an all-knowing expression.
"Don't try to hide it…" Anna said mischievously. "Those stolen glances, red face, oh! And the date last night! OH MY GOD DON'T TELL US…" She looked at Nonoko, "YOU TWO ARE ALREADY GOING OUT?" They exclaimed in unison.
"Of course not!" I exclaimed. "How could- NO! Definitely not- I just accompany- It wasn't even a date!" I countered.
"You're blabbing…" Hotaru suddenly appeared from the doorway.
"Hotaru! Oh my gah. I'm so NOT!"
"You're guilty." She accused with impassiveness.
"NO! I'm not."
"Come on, there's nothing wrong with admitting it!" Anna said with a smile, "I like falling in love! It makes me sigh…" she continued on with a dreamy expression. "Every time I think of Kitsuneme, I can feel my whole body having a sudden wave of tingle." She squealed, her hands on her mouth to muffle it.
"So do I! Ahhh, Koko!" Nonoko joined her.
"Squealing idiots." Hotaru muttered.
"Is love really like that?" I asked anxiously. "I mean, to tell you the truth, I-" I sighed, remembering Ruka's gentle smile. "I can't stop smiling with just the thought of him." I sighed dreamily unintentionally. I gasped. Am I becoming just like them.
"You're inlove…" Anna and Nonoko said happily.
"I don't know! And there's Kaname! And I'm thinking of Ruka-pyon soooo much these past few days that I even made a song for him!"
"INLOOOOOOOVE!!!" The both of them squealed in delight.
"You think so?" I asked, finally giving up.
"Yes."
"I'm inlove…?" I said weirdly, unable to believe the words coming out from my mouth, and yet, they sound like they're real.
"Do you think I'm inlove with him if I made a song about him?" I asked nervously.
"OF COURSE YOU IDIOT! LET US HEAR!" Anna and Nonoko squealed together.
"Okay…" I said as I picked up my Stratocaster and started playing the rhythm.
Let's make a mess
Steal a kiss in the moment
You and me
Everything that could be
Touch, don't go
Stay as long as you like
Let's get reckless
Dance with our hands to the beat
Don't let this slip through our fingers
It feels insane
Don't you put up a fight
Let's rough it up
Till they shut it down
It's ah, ah, obvious
Right here's where the party starts
With you and me all alone
No one has to know
It's ah, ah, obvious to me
How it's gonna be
Ah, ah, obvious
When you come close to me
Let's make a scene
Like the movies in our dreams
Make me scream
Take me down
No one's watching
Close your eyes
Play it back and rewind
So surreal
As the story unfolds on the screen
Stop stalling
The credits are rolling
Hold me now
Before we run out of time
Let's rough it up
Till the end of the night
It's ah, ah, obvious
Right here's where the party starts
With you and me all alone
No one has to know
It's ah, ah, obvious to me
How it's gonna be
Ah, ah, obvious
When you come close to me
It's ah, ah, obvious
One kiss
It's easy to see
You and me
It's ah, ah, obvious
Right here's where the party starts
With you and me all alone
No one has to know
It's ah, ah, obvious to me
How it's gonna be
Ah, ah, obvious
When you come close to me
It's ah, ah, obvious
Right here's where the party starts
With you and me all alone
No one has to know
It's ah, ah, obvious to me
How it's gonna be
Ah, ah, obvious
When you come close to me
Silence.
"OH MY GOD." I wailed as I rested my forehead on my guitar's curve. "I'm really inlove?" I asked them anxiously.
"YES!" They both exclaimed.
"Hey, let's not play this song until the Battle of the Bands! And then, you can dedicate this to Ruka-pyon!"
"And what? Publicly disappoint Kaname?" I asked miserably.
"Well, don't worry about that. Tsubasa is doing a great job in putting his hopes down for you." I groaned at the meanness of the words.
"That's so mean." I complained. "I'm so mean…" I said as I placed my head on my hands.
"It's just that you don't see him that way. The best he can do is to make you see him that way. I'm sure he'd rather want you to be happy than miserable." Hotaru said as she left. Her words lingered on my ears.
"H-hi." He said, as he sat down on the couch to wait for the rest. I didn't realize that I was too eager to see him that I came down 15 minutes before the actual meeting time. Yet, he was earlier.
"Hi, Ruka-pyon!" I greeted him a little too fast, unable to stop my mouth. My nerves are like a thousand electrical wires switched to highest voltage possible. My insides were shaking so much! "Why are you here already?" I asked or I think blabbed? Oh my god, I'm really blabbing.
"Well," he started off, "Natsume is still… nevermind. I just thought I'd say sorry from last night. You know, for taking you just to see what happened to Natsume. You seem to be having a bash there and-"
"It's alright. Natsume needed you anyway." I said gladly, "And besides, I had fun with you." I looked down at the denim shorts that I have been wearing, trying my best to hide my face, which I think, is red.
"Oh." He said, "And what about you?" he asked, changing the topic, "why are you here early?"
"Well, I" I wanted to see you again already! They were threatening to come out, but I won't allow it! "I wanted to s-" NO!!! "To say thanks!" I blurted out nervously. I was shocked at my own words. And at the same time relieved that I managed to stop myself.
"Thanks?" He asked.
"For the dress, and the great time, and you know," I sighed, stop blabbering, I commanded myself, "for everything." I continued lamely.
"No, Sakura. I should be thanking you." He said, humbly. "Thank you Sakura." He smiled that genuine smile.
"What's this? New love birds?" Koko suddenly commented out of nowhere. "You two look so cute together! First love eh?" Kitsuneme teased.
"NO!" I was surprised that Ruka said it with me. I gazed at him with wide eyes, and he did the same.
"You guys are so similar!" Koko said, and Kitsuneme laughed.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Ruka asked them, examining the guitar and effects board that Kitsuneme put down beside his chair.
"We're waiting for our girls…" Kitsuneme said proudly.
"Why don't you meet them up there?" I asked.
"Oh, they're not up there. They went on a girls-only shopping with each other." He explained.
"Sooo!" Koko loudly said unexpectedly. "Are you two like, going out already? You looked pretty sweet last night, dancing like that..." He prodded on, I can feel myself turning red in a combination of anger, embarrassment and the feeling of the butterfly flapping wildly in my stomach.
"N-no!" I exclaimed, not looking at him straight in the eye.
"Ah... first love…" he laughed wildly and Kitsuneme joined him.
An hour and forty-five minutes after, we are at the Rock, playing on the stage like a playground to the youth who are dancing to the beat of our music. Though none of them seems to matter for I am living in a world where in only Ruka existed and I just can't seem to take my mind off him.
So I wrote this last May. I'm sorry I haven't updated. For the past few months, I have been busy… And on my spare time, I played The Sims 3 and recently, I've been playing its expansion pack. I'm so sorry. I will update this more recently now. I swear. Forgive me : ((