ch 13
"Mayuuuuu! Mayu! MAYUMI!"
"AH!" I yelled in shock as a shrill call interrupted my sleep. My eyes shot open only to find Matsu dying of laughter, slumped against my bedside table. "Dude.." I said annoyed but still groggy from the sleep I was rudely awakened from. I watched her through small sleepy eyes as she took one look at my natural state, making her laugh even harder. I threw my arm over my face to block out the terrible light that easily passed through my thin curtains. I snuck a peek over at my friend whose laughter had turned to silent chuckling. "Ughhh." Today was the day, and there was no escaping it. Flipping over I burried my head as far as it could go in my pillow.
Rolling over the soft ample mattress, I grabbed a pillow and threw it down on the quivering, laughing mass of Matsu. Catching it with ease she put it under her head, finally settling down a bit. "How did you even get in here? It's way too early for having laugh attacks.." I said my voice muffled by the pillow.
"4:30pm isn't early, sleeping beauty... or beast." That's right.. I had been taking a nap.. She laughed again, and I managed to pull myself off the pillow and stand upright. My phone, tucked under my pillow, affirmed that it was indeed 4:37pm.
"Laughing at your own jokes, I see.." I said getting out of bed and headed to the window. The preparations for later tonight had started. People were milling about my backyard, making last minuet touch ups. I sighed, sitting back down on the edge of my bed.
"So... let's see that dress!" Matsu said getting up from the floor and dusting herself off.
"The party's not until 6!"
"Well we have to work on this..." She said picking up random strands of my bed head.
Begrudgingly, I grabbed the dress from my closet and headed to the bathroom to change and wash my face. It wasn't Matsu's fault that I was being a total grouch. There was just so much going on at the same time. Not surprisingly, it all had to do with Hikaru. I was continuing being 'maid' for the twins during club hours and tutoring after school. It was starting to feel normal, being a part of their lives, but it was still weird at the same time. I couldn't shake the feeling that Hikaru was planning something.. He was still an egostistic smart-ass, but much more bearable. Or maybe I was just getting use to his attitude..? Who knew, but times like these, when I have time to stop and think, I realized how strange it all was. Even stranger (and more nervewrecking), was Mrs. Hitachiin's offer.. I told her I'd think about it, but to be honest I hadn't done much thinking and a lot of avoiding. Everyday, I'd leave the Hitachiin house like a spy, trying to not run into . I knew it was childish, but I just didn't know how to respond. A model? I wasn't anything close to it. If I remembered correctly, my last time modeling wasn't exactly a walk in the park. I still wasn't comfortable in front of cameras, they could make the most awful and beautiful moments infinite. I wasn't cut out for it, not as a full time thing anyway. I was expected to take over my father's company when I got older. That was my only choice.
My cold feet padded out of the bathroom with the long gown fit to my body. It wasn't my favorite dress, seeing as my mom had picked it out, but there was no time to complain now. I came in to a wolf whistle from Matsu.
"Oooh.. Someone's dressing to impress." She said halfhearted, totally focused on combing out my tangled locks. The dress was a very light blush pink with deep plunge in the back and just a little too much cleavage in than I was use to in the front. It was a light delicate material, comfortable and soft.
The next hour and a half was spent with Matsu putting light make up on me and fixing up my hair. She chatted with me, but my only responses were vague "uh-huhs" and "yeahs". I was honestly only half listening. The only thing on my mind was Hikaru. My mother would definitely want to talk to him, and maybe even my father. This was the first time we were acting like a couple, together and we hadn't even agreed on anything. I was relying solely on his wits. He was a host. He'd know a thing or two about love and relationships, whereas I was clueless on the subject.
With expert hands, Matsu tied and twisted my hair. She had learned from the best in the industry, her mother, who was an adept and quite well known hair and make up artist. I turned and stared out the window. It was one of my favorite kind of days. Sunny, but a bit breezy, as if to even out the heat. From my window I could see the heads of other richer families walking in their elegant dresses to my house as they waved hello to whom I can only assume to be as my mother. Lately, I noticed that my mother seemed to be trying to befriend other wives who belong to wealthier families, and although she denied it, I knew why. I was getting older, and my parents were getting older. Everyday I was getting closer to the ideal marrying age, so that I'd have someone to help me take charge of the company. It was another thing I didn't have much control over.
"Done!" Matsu spun me around to fully examine her work. She smiled approvingly and led me towards the mirror. I looked weird with make up on. Older and not like my usual self. I lifted my hand, feeling my hair that had been smoothed out and put into a simple up do, my bangs still to the side, but braided back, only leaving two strands out to frame my face. I reached over to get my glasses, my fingers barely grazing them as Matsu slapped them away. Turning around to gape at her in surprise and slight amusement, she said "Nuh-uh-uh!", waving my contact lens case over me. Oh god, not those.. They were uncomfortable itchy things that I probably would never get use to. Sighing as obnoxiously as I could, I put on the whiniest look I could muster. "You're wearing them. Stop hiding those beautiful eyes."
She was sincere.. I could tell by the endearing look on her face, so with grimace I snatched the small case. As I popped them on, Matsu scrambled over to the corner and changed into her own dress, a long plum flowing one. With expert hands, she tied her dirty blonde hair in a loose but still fancy-ish looking bun behind her head. I smiled at her, all fancied up for the occasion. We looked like entirely different people. Well at least I did, as I noticed Matsu herself went easy with the makeup. I on the other hand had three little parallel scars running across my cheek. The faint pink lines were thanks to Aiko, who I glared at through the mirror as I covered the small imperfections with powder. The cat, as if reminiscing the memory seemed to smirk in return from the windowsill, as if he knew exactly who I had been dreaming about that night.
"Alright. I'm ready." Matsu called while fixing the neckline of her dress.
"Let's go." I breathed out.
XxX
"Hello, how are you?... Oh hello! ... Nice to see you again..." I curtly greeted the strangers who milled about the yard, with Matsu in tow. Our lengthy backyard managed to look incredible with the creamy white decorations and tables carefully set up by hired help and directed by my mother. Although, most people were still just arriving, many wandered about with scathing eyes, looking for something, anything to nitpick. I had to admit, although some were truly friends of my parents, others were just vicious snobs who made good business. Turning away from the crowd, I looked at the time on my phone. I was growing impatient by the second. Matsu and I made our way through the sea of people and sat down at an empty table near the back.
"No Hitachiin, huh?" Matsu said, looking around.
"Nope." I said, resting my head on my knuckles.
"Don't worry I'll leave when he gets here."
"NO!" I said a little to loudly. People around gave me looks as I flashed a weak smile and glared at a chuckling Matsu. "Stop laughing!" I half whispered to her.
"Fine, fine!"
"Please don't leave when he gets here. If he gets here, I mean." I read the clock again. 6:57.
"Aww.. You're nervouse!"
"No." I said but as always my blush contradicted me.
After a few minuets, a high jovial voice interrupted us. "Mayu!" It was Nisa skipping toward us in all her tiny glory. She looked stunning as usual with her short auburn hair curled and a little green dress that fit her small pixie frame perfectly. However the real spectacle were her shoes. It was a mystery to me how she skipped so gracefully with those six inch heels. Six inches. I was wearing half the size of hers, and my feet had already started blistering.
When she got to our table she gave us both huge hugs that nearly squeezed the life out of me. So much strength for such a small girl. She sat down next to us and for a while we just chated a little, but my mind was still only half there. After some time I think Nisa notice. "Hello-oh!"
"Hmm."
"Are you listening? I asked if he was coming or not!"
"If who's coming?" I say lifting my head up from my stupor.
"Seriously Mayu?"
"It's okay, Nisa. Let her continue fantasizing.. about him." Matsu chimed in.
"What..?"
"As if you don't know!" Nisa said.
"Your one true love!" Matsu jokes, interwining her fingers and putting them up to her cheek.
"Or two, I'd take either one." Nisa points out.
I put my face in my hands look at each other with a smile before chorusing,"The Hitachiin Brothers!" I blushed furiously.
"It's not like they are a pair of shoes!" I said somewhat defensively before I could stop myself. They both looked at each other again.
"They act exactly the same. And look the same. Pretty much are the same." said Nisa. At this point I didn't know what to say. Now that I thought about it, Hikaru didn't know that I could usually tell the difference. For all I knew the conversation we had could have been an act. Maybe I haven't had a real conversation with the real Hikaru Hitachiin. But, before I could process it any further, I saw two auburn heads, near the gate.
My heart started beating faster than usual and my palms getting sweaty. I cursed myself in my head for not getting ready. "Um guys..", I said to Matsu and Nisa. They both looked up at me following my gaze. Matsu evilly smirked and Nisa jumped up from her chair excitedly with glassy eyes. Oh no. She's going into "Host Club Mode". I turned my attention back to the two guys who were giving boyish grins and kind 'hellos' to all the women. I noticed that they were dressed differently for once. Judging by the playful smirks on their faces, they were in their own kind of "Host Club Mode". I couldn't help but sigh as they charmed the more women and girls who they happened to pass by. As they approached I sucked in a deep breath, trying to loosen the lump in my throat. I was about to stand up and greet them, but suddenly my mother got right in front of me, hands clamped together with a wide smile.
I watched my mother excitedly talk to them while they both each took one of her hands and kissed it. Ew. They chatted for a some time, and I watched as she laughed loudly and happily with my 'boyfriend'. Before I'm ready, my mother started leading them over to our table. They spotted me immediately. I looked over at Nisa and Matsu. Nisa looked just about ready to explode and Matsu just looked thoughtful. Deviously thoughtful. Before I knew it all three of them were standing before us. I quickly got up and motioned for the others to do the same. They quickly obliged.
"Mayu, look who I found!"
"Hey.. " I said not moving from my spot.
"Oh Mayu don't be shy!" My mom said and took my arm pulling me around the table and pushing me closer to the boys. I smiled, going in for a handshake when suddenly the boy to the left, slings his arm around me, and before I have time to even turn around he planted a soft kiss on my cheek. He kissed me. Wait, what? He kissed me. I blinked a couple times frozen in my place trying to make sense of what just happened. I turned around and looked up at him wide eyed with a look of confusion. He looked down at me smiling, bugging his eyes out at me for a second and then poking my side with the hand that was around my waist. I couldn't respond though because for a moment I was stuck. He cleared his throat and looked away from me.
"She's not use to public displays of affection yet.." He trailed off talking about who knew what, his arm still snugly around my waist. Suddenly, I was aware of his fingers playing with a small piece of my waistband, bringing me back from my stupor. I looked to up and saw Kaoru politely listening. He instantly caught my gaze and a wide, almost embarrassed smile played on his mouth. There was an almost 'knowing' look on his face, but I wasn't even sure what exactly he knew.. I looked away from him confused and my eyes landed on my friends, who seemed to be teetering off the edge of exploding into confetti. Matsu coughed when she saw my doe face looking up at her. She tried shifting her eyebrows up and down, but as soon as she tried, she failed, letting out a laugh. I bit my lip to suppress my laughter as she tried playing it off as a cough.
"Mayu!" I look up dumbfounded at my impatient looking mother.
"Hmmm..?"
"Well aren't you going to introduce your friends?" She asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh, um, this is Nisa and Matsu." I said motioning towards them and trying to ignore my mother's expectant gaze.
"Well, well, well," Matsu started with a roguish look painted on her face. "The jokers of Ouran turn out to be my little Mayu's unsuspecting heroes," She said with a bit of stiffness as to imply that she knew much more than they thought. "Well let me tell you lit-"
"Your Mayu? Excuse me Matsu.." My mother started, pulling Matsu away. Oh gosh, not this again. Sometimes my mother was a bit.. jealous maybe.. of our closeness. A closeness that my mother and I had never shared. Nisa took the opportunity to introduce herself.
"My-my-my my name is Nisa..hehehe," She giggled coyly, fidgeting with a long curl frameing her face. Oh gosh.. She had it bad. For all the hosts.. She continued to flourish them with compliments and admiration. However, I found that Hikaru wasn't paying much attention. His arm was still securely curled around my waist and when I looked up at him, I met his eyes, that had been on me. The rosiness of my cheeks spread, and I looked away from him, folding my arms over my chest. I hated how just a look from those caramel eyes made me so nervous; so tense. It felt as if I were being assessed. One wrong move and that was it.
Not being able to resist his scrutiny any longer, I cleared my throat rather obnoxiously. Quieting down, I plastered on a small smile as all eyes had fallen on me. "I'm, uh, gonna sit.." I said awkwardly, snaking out of Hikaru's grasp at last and sitting back down at my original spot next to my friends. This time it was my mother's turn to clear her throat.
"Well, as I was saying, uh, Mayu honey, I have some guests to attend to so.. Have fun!" With that, she left, leaving us to shuffle into our seats around the table. For a second there was an awkward silence that deluged us. Neither one of us knowing what to do. Out of nowhere however, Hikaru piped up with some small talk and not so surprisingly Nisa prodded him on. What was surprising was Matsu's eventual put in to the conversation. She was terse and stiff at first, but she softened up in her own way. I didn't understand really, how it seemed the twins took no notice in Matsu's and mine reputation at school. They just.. didn't care. It was refreshing. I'm sure Matsu thought the same.
Tuning back into the conversation after a while, it seemed as if someone said something funny because everyone was laughing. In fact, the tension suddenly seemed lifted. However out the blue, another one of my cousins, came by and quickly greeted me before asking Nisa to dance. Nisa without a doubt accepted and left us in a somewhat awkward position. A few seconds later, however, Kaoru, to my surprise asked Matsu to dance. At first she fidgeted a little, probably more surprised than me, but she ended up getting to the dance floor with a sigh. I glared at her before she went off and all I got back was a smirk. I could have sworn, as I watched them, that I saw Kaoru wink at his twin before kindly taking Matsu by the arm and leading her away, not without an eye role of course. And now, it was just him and me. Alone. What great friends I had.
At this point all I could offer him was an embarrassed smile as I felt a bit of scarlet flushing my cheeks. Again. He stared at me intensely with those caramel eyes. I chuckle escaped him and wandered over to my surprised ears. My eyebrows pulled together confused. Was there food on my face or leaves in my hair? He just kept watching as if there was something dancing on my face. "What?" I said, a bit of embarrassment and defensiveness mixed in my tone.
"Oh no no, It's..nothing.." He said waving it off and then resting his chin on his knuckles. An uncomfortable grimace swept my face as he continued to look at me. How annoying, but I couldn't keep my face from heating up.
"Well..?" I asked.
"Well," He responded as if it were just a regular part of the conversation.
"Well are you going to tell me what your looking at!" I asked trying to stifle a laugh. It made him smile.
"Nothing.." He said shaking his head a little, chuckling softly.
"Alright... Well, um, if yo–"
"Wanna dance?" he interrupted my thoughts, making my head snap back up. He wanted to dance. With me?
"Are you serious?" I asked softly without any tone of surprise or rejection. Just slight dread.
"Yeah, why not?" He asked indifferently.
"Well I have two left feet.. and a–" He cut me short, however, by standing up and reaching for my hand.
"It's okay, so do I.." Pssh, sure. He's a host what can't they do. With little choice left now that he had my hand and had pulled me up to my feet, he led me over to a corner, for which I was grateful. The less people see me trip the better. We got there and stood as a song just ended. As the new one started I has only just realized how slow the music was. I looked around to see that everyone was dancing with their partner. Are you kidding me. Was this some sort of cheesy Korean drama? I looked at our hands that were still wrapped together, his holding mine. I sucked in a breath and looked at our locked hands and then to his face that has a collected smirk/smile.
This time, he tried to initiate conversation. "Your mom bought it completely.. We've been going out for 3 months by the way." His arms slithered their way around my waist again and this time I couldn't possibly bear to look him in the eyes. Instead I settled for looking straight ahead at the pocket of his jacket.
I raised an eyebrow but didn't dare to deviate my eyes from their preferred spot. "Three months, huh? Definitly getting hell for that.. Did you talk to my dad?"
"Nope. But he seems pretty busy." I followed his gaze and saw my father towards the front looking all business with a group of serious suited men quietly debating over something. That was my father. All work, even during parties. For him.
"Hopefully he'll stay that way."
"Embarrassed of your boyfriend?" He asked, feigning devastation as we swayed to the music.
I waved him off. "Are you kidding? My mom adores you. I don't know what you've told her about 'us' but she's eating it up.." I said a little subdued.
"And why does that make you upset?" He asked as if I were missing the point. I wasn't though.
"Because it's all a lie.." I said almost, whispered. "She's never been more happier with me and it's all fake.." I trailed off reflecting on my own. I almost forgot I was actually thinking out loud. I looked up from his coat pocket to see him with a look of mixed feelings in his eyes. Had I said too much? I tore my gaze away and looked back up into his eyes. Why was I telling this to him in the first place. I was about to apologize when he suddenly changed the subject completely.
"Well my mother's taken quite a liking to you too for some reason. She keeps asking about you.. Don't you ever see her when you leave..?"
Internally, I let out a sigh. Good. Better he doesn't know about the modeling. "Ah-um, no.. not in a while."
"Hmm. Well she wants to see you. I can't imagine why though.. " He added the last part mostly for himself I believed.
"Can't imagine.." I muttered, shifting my gaze back down to the pocket. We were silent for a bit, just gently swaying to the sound of the second melancholy tune. It was comforting, almost. When he stopped looking at me, I closed my eyes and let myself just relax. No thinking. I'd done way too much of that for the past month..? Year? My whole life I bet.. I settled on the nothingness.
The pure feeling of the lovely music and Hikaru's fingers, though I would never admit even to myself, sent the blood pulsating up my body, to an almost shiver, which warmed me ironically. The butterflies in my belly had calmed to slight pleasurable ripples. All was still. At ease. Almost serene.
And then his warmth left me, my hands pulled away from his neck.
I've been working on rewriting the first five chapters, that's why it's taken so long to update. Just some grammar, errors, and over all bettering them, but of you're already up to this point of the story you don't have to go back. No drastic changes. Anyways hopefully I'll have the next chapter up soon. Thanks for reading :3