Ok..Chapter 3…haha..my story notebook is running out of pages as well as the contents of the succeeding chapters. I'm open for suggestions!!
Some couples stopped dancing while some just ignored the announcer when he came up the stage and declared something.
" Now for the last remaining seconds, choose your partners and sway with the flow of music," he stated with excitement.
The girls had finally concluded their girl-to-girl dance as they chose their respective partners, no.. the other way.. they were chosen by their partners.
"A…Anna..shall we?" Yuu blushed furiously.
" Oh..sure," the same..she was also flushing as she gave her hand to the reached out hand of Yuu.
" Ne, may I invite you?" Koko made his way to Nanoko and asked him with a relaxed tone.. he didn't want to stutter..it would be embarrassing.
" Ha..hai!!" similar to her twin.. she went red. And there she already danced with Koko.
" Ahem..well..you see," Mochu is known to be cool..or perhaps he's just acting and trying hard to be one especially because he is always seen beside Natsume. But when it comes to Sumire, he could never ever maintain his coolness, he also reddened as he invited her to dance.
Yeah, only Natsume has the guts to uphold his poise.
" Oh..yeah..i know," she answered with a tone like she was really expecting it ( because she's a ?) and that she needed not to be shocked. But deep inside her, she was really happy, at least even if she could not have Natsume or Ruka as her partner, Mochu is always there..for her.
" Imai.. I know.. you've been blackmailing me..bu..but..," now it's our bunny boy's turn.
Actually, it was ok for him not to dance.. anyway he already had few dances before..that was..when Mikan was still his partner..when he was not yet aware of his true feelings. But he just couldn't stand seeing Hotaru being surrounded by many guys, so he needed to be there to show them that Hotaru is taken already..by him. Che..he hasn't even started confessing. Until now, Hotaru doesn't know a thing, or maybe she does, anyway..she's also a sharp one.
" But still you want to dance with me? Yeah, fine..but you have to pay me back for interrupting me in eating my crab jam," she butted in since she could see Ruka was now having a hard time delivering his speech. With that, the surrounding guys started to step away gradually.. rejected and dejected. Ruka and Hotaru proceeded to the dance floor.
Now,,of course..it's time for our beloved couple.
" Polka, you know,,you're really hopeless, you don't have any partner, do you?" Well..how on earth can he invite Mikan by not being so fluffy and cheesy as his friends? Of course..by teasing her. But he wished this time, she wouldn't be so dense to fail to spot his point… cause that is always the problem. She's dense.
" Oh.. Natsume..you're ruining my night!!" aw..she failed to notice Natsume's point. Instead, she took it as a bad joke from Natsume. She took it as a compliment from Natsume, a wicked compliment like he was just telling her that she sucks at dancing that no one bothers to give a hell care to at least invite her to dance. Little did she know, Natsume is willing to take the risk of having a foot sore if in return is the chance of having Mikan as his partner.
So, now..it offended Natsume. He was trying hard to make Mikan understand, still she didn't. She even said that! Like she didn't want Natsume to be there and that it was better if he was not there..present for her! How rude of her!
" Then.. I should go..," and he walked away..briskly and in a moment disappeared into the crowd. Mikan, finally realizing how too dense she herself was, quickly rummaged for Natsume. By now, she knew she should have known Natsume better.
And for the real center of this story..
" Minna, it's now time to crown the rookie of the year, as always,it's none other than Misaki Harada. Misaki-san, please come up the stage," the announcer said with a beam.
The crowd applauded especially Mikan's company as well as their partners, while Mikan, well I do think she also heard it but she was just busy in finding Natsume that she forgot to cheer for her senpai. And as usual, many guys drooled over Misaki, asking her to be their partner. And the truth is, some of them were actually the former suitors of Hotaru. They changed their target, hoping this time, it would be their luck. Well, let's see.
Misaki came up the stage..expressionless. She was just hell tired that time to try to even have an emotion because it would always define pain.
When Misaki was already onstage..
The announcer added, " Misaki-san, name your partner please,"
Misaki was having a hard time thinking who should be her partner. For the previous years, her partner was none other than her best friend, Tsubasa, but that time, no need to worry, no need to escape from the reality because everything was simple and clear, everything was normal.
Now, she had no idea if she would still pursue her plan, if she would still continue what has been the tradition and if she would still deny the incessant fact. She scanned the whole area but she never saw a glimpse of "him." She sighed thinking that he did not come, still she tried..cause when you're amidst of that kind of situation..you will be left with nothing to do…except..to try. And so she did.
She breathed deeply like she was about to do something heavy but important.
" Well, then, Tsubasa, my best friend, I want to be your partner again," she then chuckled like there was something funny, was there?
Aw..so the suitors failed for the 999th time.
Big mistake, Tsubasa heard this. Actually, he was really willing to be Misaki's partner. He didn't want her to be humiliated in front of many persons, if he would not agree to be her partner. He admits, he still cares for Misaki..so much. After all, he is ready to do everything for Misaki, because she WAS his best friend and he IS her best friend.
But Tsubasa needed not Misaki to emphasize he is only her best friend, that forever, they would just be like that, no progress, because he has been believing it all those times. Hurt by that ten-letter word, he decided not to come upstage but to go back to the darkness. Everybody, even me, could tell that his decision was really an immature thinking but we can't blame him, pain and insecurity has been embedded and has been meddling his way of thinking..his sanity.
Seeing that no one in that area seemed to have the intention of coming upstage, meaning.. none of them was Tsubasa..
The announcer said," Ah..Misaki-san..it seems like your best friend is not yet around..so can you just name another one?"
Again, tears were looming to fall from Misaki's eyes. Pain had penetrated her heart and blood was already oozing out.
Still, she put her best effort not to show any sign of weakness. It's not good to be weak at other people's eyes, she has to show them that she's strong..though fragile.
" Oh..in that case..I'd rather be alone..,"
With that she quickly went down the stage. Her feet were ready to run a mileage if it would alleviate her pain, but Misaki was the one who wasn't ready yet. She didn't want the people to see her running away.. from the truth..crying. She didn't want to spoil the happiness her friends were feeling just because she couldn't find her own happiness. So, she just proceeded to somewhere else with an unnoticeable deviation. And I don't know what word should be used: fortunately or unfortunately… she found Tsubasa..face to face.
Meanwhile,after a long tiring "Natsume – hunting" job, Mikan finally saw Natsume sitting behind the bushes.
" Natsume..I've been looking all over for you," she lectured him with her hands on her petite waist.
" I did not ask you to do that," he replied coldly.
" C'mon Natsume..i'm just joking," trying to convince him that she loves joking and she just tested it on Natsume that time.
" It's not funny," he was not convinced..still indifferent.
He stood and was on his way of walking away from Mikan but she caught his wrist.
" Natsume, I'm dense..i know but sometimes I just can't understand you..so Sorry.. now can we have a dance just like the others?" she was now hitting the point..to dance with Natsume.
(a/n: I just don't want to focus more on their scene for this story might become a NatsuMikan when it's supposed to be TsubaSaki.)
Natsume, knowing that he couldn't stay mad at Mikan for one hour.. hell..even for just ten minutes or perhaps lesser, could just do nothing but to give in to Mikan's apology.
Of course being reserved as always, he couldn't let Mikan know that he's now being defeated..and only by her. And so he spoke..
" Thank me, I'm in a good mood," and with that he smirked as he slipped his hand towards Mikan's.
Mikan could just smile while feeling the warmth radiating from Natsume's hand. Now she knew, Natsume was sincere this time, though he's always sincere.. but the only difference is that this time, Mikan can feel it and she was just sure of it.
They started walking when suddenly a shrill voice was heard..full of agony.
After Misaki saw Tsubasa face to face, she could just stare at him,while Tsubasa avoided her gaze. He couldn't stand seeing her enveloped in melancholy, worse..the one who sealed her in that envelope was none other than him.
Misaki wanted to speak yet she couldn't even ajar her mouth even a bit. She had so many things to say that time yet she couldn't even utter a single word nor a letter.
They were both afraid to do the first move..because it might only be pointless.
But Misaki could take it no longer, she let her voice out, just as when Mikan and Natsume were passing by. And luckily they were not able to notice them or else the inevitable necessity would be interrupted again.
" I hate..you.. Tsubasa!" she screamed so hard like in any moment she would really punch Tsubasa hard.. right on his face. Not only that she was screaming but also she was crying.
Tsubasa could just lie, yeah..lie.
" Yep, I know that," he said indifferently. But he never knew. He was only aware of the fact that for sure Misaki is now really very angry at him but never did he consider Misaki hating him that much.
Now getting to her real point..
" You know you're so unfair, can you not at least talk to me, huh?" her gaze at Tsubasa was becoming more intense..begging for an answer that would satisfy her.
Tsubasa stopped for a moment, he needed to think. He just didn't know what to say or what to do. He had just lost his way out of the maze he was in. And it was all because of her.
Slowly..he lifted his head only to meet Misaki's eyes..tear-stained.
Giving her the answer,
" I..can't," and he had his head bowed..again..
Ok…so I'm sorry again I just need to cut this TsubaSaki scene…haha..to leave it hanging and for some excitement. Until now..honestly..i still don't know how can I write more TsubaSaki scenes..except in the last parts..of course..because this is how the story goes..so I'm sorry if sometimes it makes you upset to read every chapter without their confrontation.
Thanks for reading!! !!