Chapter 3
Come on, it's only a door. You have to go in at some point. All you have to do is go and give Honey-senpai the cake and go. Hesitantly, I open the door. Quickly I enter the room as I avert my gazes from the hosts' faces. The creamy haired boy smiled joyfully as he spotted. But by the way he was grinning, I think he spotted the cake first.
" Honey-senpai, Tokinawa-sama had this cake especially made for you so she wants to know what type of cake would be best for the party you're attending next week at her estate." Mori-senpai lifted the box from my hands and lay the cake carefully onto the table. Gasps left people's mouth as they saw a bright, colourful cake decorated with curved icing swirls around the border. His fans were going wild with happiness as they saw his face light up when he took the all important first bite of the slice.
" Mmm... Yummy! This cake tastes really good! But it could do with more strawberries..." Instead of inheriting his family's business, he should be a cake critic. Anyone who loves cake that much should.
" Thank you for the feedback. I better get going and tell Tokinawa-sama."
" Do wanna eat some cake with me?" He gestured with holding a colossal sized cake with extremely detailed decoration. It looked really tasty. No I must resist! Only a few more minutes until I can eat.
" I'm sorry but I don't really have much time left and I'm not that hungry. Thank you for offering maybe next time." My stomach calls my bluff as it angrily cries out for attention. At all times why now?
" I think your stomach doesn't agree with you, Haz-chan!" He beamed his brilliantly cute smile as he knew I had to sit down as he had seen through my lie. "Here have this one. It's banana flavoured!"
Mori cut out a slice for me and I nodded to him in thanks. Shyly, I brought a bit of the cake to my mouth. With one small bite, it changed so much. The softness of the fluffy texture of the sponge with the banana flavour invading my tastebuds. I have never had a cake as good as this before! Before, I realised it I had eaten the whole slice.
" Good isn't it? Here have some more." He passed another big slice to me.
" Thanks, Honey senpai!" I said while holding my fork high preparing to dig in. I don't smile at him with a fake smile but a true hearty grin. In response he grinned back.
30 minutes later...
" Wow, it's so good! I've never had this much cake in my life!" Sighing happily at my satisfied stomach, I relaxed in the seat. His customers gapped at me like fish as I had managed to eat three full cakes which beat Honey as he had 2 cakes. I don't ever want to go without lunch again! When I opened my eyes I noticed all the hosts looking at me in amazement.
" Hazel! How could you eat that much?! My daughter has such a big appetite!" Tamaki ran over at lightning speed.
" It might be a gift or I have a second stomach for sweets!" I don't think I will be hungry anytime soon though.
" I don't think anyone has ever beaten Honey-senpai before." I froze as I realised it was Kaoru who spoke next. Hikaru still seemed pretty annoyed at me. The same guilty feeling from this morning had come back again and I stared down at my plate. Damn, why do I get so wound up about this guy!
" Haz-chan, is something wrong?" Honey looked worried. To encourage him, I ruffled his fluffy, fair hair.
" I'm fine. I was just hungry. I feel a lot happy after I ate some cake with you Honey-senpai!" He began to brightly beam his smile at me. How can anyone be so unbelievably cute?! Clanking heels hit the floor as Nanami strolled over towards us.
" Hazel, to think your surrounded by the host club again! You must be popular with these guys and to think you haven't really talked to any guys before at all. Anyway I have to take her off your hands we have to go back home now. See you later boys." She turns quickly and heads off out the room.
" I had a good time. Thank you. See you around Honey senpai, Mori senpai." I was almost running out of the room and then I heard a voice shout after me.
" A lowly servant always follows in its master's footsteps like a loyal dog." Lightning fast, I turn around to see Monica smirking at the comment she made.
" If this was brought on by my outburst at you earlier then I'm sorry. But you need to learn to value other people's privacy as my personal life is no concern of yours. And not to judge people on where they stand but judge them as a person." For once I actually said that to a person. Usually I never lecture people on how they should act, but this girl needs to stop being so judgmental about my circumstances. She singles me out only.
" One day you'll show everyone your true colours. A bitch who's meant to serve for the rest of her life." She's definitely the one behind the messages. Turning away, I try to hide my face. " Are you running away little bitch? Go on after your master." It was hard to resist turning around and slapping her right in the face. One step out of line and it would be the end of my education. My only hope getting away from the Tokinawas. My fists shook in anger as I clenched them. Regretfully, I had to walk away. It's only for a few more years and I'm free. Freeing my hair from the bun, it cascaded down my back in waves. Nanami briefly took notice of my presence. Silently, I go to the limo. Amazingly, Nanami didn't say anything and was unusually quiet. Then, we were on our way.
At the host club...
" Don't you think it was kind of strange the way that Hazel was acting?" Haruhi was beginning to collect the cups left over after the business hours.
" I don't see what there is to worry about. She is always ignoring everyone, unsociable and talks to hardly anyone." Hikaru wasn't interested in her especially after how she had talked to him earlier.
" Have you ever thought there might be a reason for that?" Kaoru's eyes widened in realisation.
" Hikaru what if she's like us?" Kaoru said quietly after Haruhi left the room. " Shutting out everyone and everything. Maybe she wants to find people like we did when we wanted someone to tell us apart." Hikaru sighed as he remembered the days when he and Kaoru were always together and hardly interacting with anyone.
" But Kaoru she isn't like us. At least people know who she is! I don't know how she told us apart but she is one of few who can tell us apart."
" But at least we had each other. She might not have anyone. You've seen the way everyone treats her. Why don't we help her?"
As stubborn as usual he wasn't about to give in. " If she wants my help she will have to apologise first." Annoyed, Kaoru sighed. He knew how Hikaru still struggled to interact with people and how incredibly stubborn he could be.
" Fine, I'll just tell everyone about..." A strong arm pulled him back instantly. As Kaoru stared back to his twin, panic was wide in his eyes.
" What do you want to do?" Kaoru smiled the winning grin to his brother. He knew his brother like the back of his hand.
" It's exactly what I had just said let's help her out." Thunderously loud steps came closer and closer towards the twins.
" What's wrong with my daughter?! Did you twins do something to her?" Melodramatically Tamaki shook Hikaru by the shoulders with his eyes demanding for an explanation.
" And what if we did?" Sinister smiles emerged on their faces.
"You're not planning anything to taint my daughter are you!"
"Relax boss we haven't done anything. We want to help her." Tamaki's face turn in to worry.
" Why... What's wrong?" His voice changed to low, caring tone. Haruhi, Hikaru and Kaoru explained the events which had occurred earlier in the day and the day before.
Dramatically, Tamaki rose from the seat he had taken and clicked his fingers. " Alright men, it is the duty of the host club to make all women happy and Hazel is a woman in need! Let start with operation Free post it girl!"
Concerned, Haruhi asks, " Tamaki-senpai what exactly are you going to do?"
Rushing to his 'daughter's' side he gripped her tightly. " Don't worry Haruhi I haven't forgotten about you! You'll see..." Suddenly, Haruhi felt worried for Hazel as she knew how flamboyant Tamaki could be...
Meanwhile at the Tokinawa's manor... ( Hazel POV)
They'll probably stay away from me now. I wouldn't be surprised. After all, they aren't my friends. The only person I can call a friend is Mei. We still contact her through e-mails but I haven't seen her face since eight years ago. She moved away to America with her parents. Actually she sent me an e-mail just an hour ago-usually she is incredibly slow at replying.
Hi Hazel!
Did you miss me?! I know I haven't replied for ages! Be glad to know I'm not dead! I'm sorry. I have been really busy with everything at home. I've been to New York recently it was AMAZING! I hope you could go with me someday but I know money's tight for you at the moment. How are things with Nanami? I hope she isn't bossing you around too much. If you think so, I will come to Japan myself and sort her out. I might be able to come soon I finally convinced my parents to let me go aboard! If I get any free time I'll come and visit I've been meaning to for ages. I miss you so much!
Will type soon love Mei :) XXX
Lightheartedly, I smile to myself. At least she is ok. I don't want to get my hopes up in seeing her as for the least few times she has been in Japan on her dad's business she hasn't had time to see me and I shouldn't force her to. I'll be fine. Not to worry her I reply:
Hi Mei,
I'm glad to see an email for once. Of course I've missed you I consider you my best friend. There's not a lot to say. Tokinawa-sama is alright. Nothing out of the ordinary. You don't have to come to Japan just for my sake. It's a long way to travel. Hope you're ok.
Love Hazel xxx
E-mails from Mei make me really happy. It reminds me I still have a friend even if she is so far away.
An acute, soothing ring of a bell alters me that I am needed for duties. Unfortunately for me with the job I have as a servant, I have to wear the uniform to. Not a butler uniform which is much more crisp and more my style. Not a modern maid outfit but a traditional old fashioned one with a head set to match! At least I'm spared this humiliation from people at school.
Mary caught my arm to stop me in my tracks. Mary Brown was another maid at the manor and the only one I got along with besides Hibiki and Ren who both work in the kitchen. All the other maids in the household won't even talk to me and look on in disgust as they gossip behind my back. I don't mind but they say things like ' Attention seeker' which I'm not. I don't try to purposely get attention. Nanami somehow manages to attract attention to me.
" Tokinawa-sama has guests I need to you prepare some tea. I'm sorry you have to do it. I would have done but I have a lot to do and I have to be home early." Apologetically she gazes at me.
" I'm fine. Don't worry. I just got called anyway." Gently, I smile back to assure her it's fine.
" Thank you! I'll make it up to you." Quickly, she rushes away in her own little world. I retrace my steps down the continuous corridor decorated with acclaimed art work hanging side by side and high-reaching windows which allowed the light to flood the hallway. As I head towards the kitchen I heard a very worrying sound.
BOOM!
What the hell is going on?! Picking up the skirt of the dress, I dash towards the scene. Dark, cloudy smoke floated out of the kitchen. Panic rose through me as it remained me of that incident. The one I don't ever want to remember. The one I will never forget.
" Hibiki! Ren! Are you alright?!" I screamed as I shoved open the door to find the kitchen full of a dark smog swirling around making it hard to see. The palms of my hand started to sweat from my nervousness. A couple of coughs could be hear behind the veil of smoke. Quickly, I opened all the windows in the kitchen. The smoke slowly drifted out of the kitchen into the air.
" What's all the shouting for? We only burned a couple of things!" Ren shouted. As the surroundings became clear, his messy blond hair was on display with his green eyes showing how annoyed he was.
" Idiots! Do you have any idea how worried I was? I don't want a repeat of that incident. Both of you are the only ones I can call family now." Tears threatened to spill out. Damn, why am I so emotional today? I felt a firm hand placed on top of my head ruffling my neat hair.
" Hazel, you know that won't happen again. Especially to us. You know what they say cooking is an art and art is an explosion." Hibiki said passionately. My temper flared up.
" Explosion! I'll give you an explosion! Cooking can be done without any dilemmas. I wonder how the both of you still have your jobs here considering the number of accidents have been caused in the kitchen."
" It's because we are so lovable! At least you aren't upset anymore." Hibiki replied as he put his arm around Ren. I smile at him. The idiots, they always know how to make me feel better, especially after my parents' deaths.
I get back to the work I was originally supposed to do. Carefully, I begin to set up the cups choosing the best china set from the cupboard which had just been imported from Portobello road in London. The design on the cups are elegant as it is simple yet classy. Nanami likes tea such as darjeeling so I set that up in the matching teapot including 8 teaspoons as it is best to include a teaspoon for the number of people having the tea.
" I hope by the time I am back in this kitchen that there won't be any more accidents or explosions."
" I can't guarantee that. Especially with Hibiki around." Ren said glumly. Poor Ren, always dragged into trouble by Hibiki. I shook my head laughing to myself as I exit the room, remembering the incident with the eggs and the microwave which happened last week. Instead of being called the cooks of the Tokinawa household they should be called the comedy duo of the Tokinawa household. They are the weirdest people in the house but I don't know what I would do with them.
Finally, I make it to Nanami's room after numerous twists and turns in the labyrinth of the house's corridors. I open the door find the same individuals I thought I had escaped for the rest the day.