Sorry for the delay.

THREE DAYS AFTER

-Cultural Festival-

-Haruka-

Three and a half minutes. That's the time I have been carrying these paper bags with me as I try to make my way out of this crowded hallway and yes I have been counting. I knew cultural festival would be crowded but I wasn't aware that it would be THIS crowded. Now I only pray that my grumpy class rep would overlook this. Well that's worth hoping…

GAH! I hate this day!

"Excuse me?" I felt a hand tapped my shoulder. I turned around and found a raven haired beauty standing before me. "Do you happen to know where this is?"

I wasn't really aware of what she was asking, yes, embarrassing as it may sound I had found myself too engrossed by her. What can I say; she's not bad to look at.

"Do you?" Her voiced rose a little higher as she squinted.

I snapped as I managed to blurt out "Ahyep."

Managed was an overstatement 'Ahyep' wasn't even a word, just a compelling proof of my idiocy. Her mouth curled as she tried to hold back from laughing loudly in front of me. Which she seriously failed to do so…

I cleared my throat and started once again. "Go straight ahead. You'll see a room that's doing a horror booth, turn right pass it then take the stairs. Then third room to your left."

"Thank you." She smiled, adding cockily "But you know you could have just said take the stairs then third room to your left."

"True, but hey you're the one who's lost not me." I shot back, raising a brow.

"Feisty."

I chuckled before turning my back around.

"Again, Thank you" She shouted, I waved a hand in return.

Maybe this day isn't so bad after all. After all, if a pretty lady did come up to you and smiled, I doubt any day would ever get bad. I wonder why I even thought it was in the first place…

"Haruka!"

Right. This is why.

As soon as I took my first step inside the room, her heated glare, fuming ears and that slowly growing grit on her face had welcomed me. And now, not only do I believe that today is a bad day but it could only get worse.

"What took you so long?" She managed to ask properly, her tiny figure trembling in anger.

I charmingly smiled back, believe me, and replied softly almost sweetly, "I was held back by someone in the hallway."

"I don't care about your personal relationship with other students and where you do that-…"

"NoNoNo." I cut her off, laughing while waving my hands. "I don't think you understood me-…"

She growled and it instantly stopped me from saying anything back. The class rep hastily took the bag from me and headed back to the counter.

"Uhmm…" I started, taking small safe steps towards her. "Is it possible if I could just take a few minutes break? There's this play-…" I stopped as her head snapped back up to look at me.

Her eyes intensely gazed at mine, sucking the living hell out of me. She then smiled in mockery, replying "That would help us a lot."

I don't know if I should be happy that she agreed to let me out or be greatly offended that she had just insulted me. But then again, the latter is not much of an option. After all, I am powerless against this little cretin. I sighed, shoulders slumped down, while feeling highly humiliated at myself for getting thrashed by this grumpy dwarf… yet again.

-x0x-

-Michiru-

"Wow." She gasped as she popped her head out the curtain. "The room is packed with people."

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the scripts by the table and walked pass her. "Then that only means we should do our best."

"Ah! There's Mikoto!" She yelled, pointing her finger out. "Did you invite her?"

"I told her to visit if she has time." I replied not even bothering to look at where Mikoto is sitting.

I was already satisfied knowing that she is there. So instead of joining Akane by the curtain, I decided to do some last touches to the stage. After all, my main priority right now is to keep this performance flawless. So it only bothered me when I suddenly stopped the minute Akane uttered out,

"Haruka's also here as well."

I peeked through the small opening, earnestly looking for that messy blonde hair out of this swarmed up room. Then just like that, a smile quickly formed around my lips, expanding from ear to ear as I finally managed to spot her smiling back at me. I waved a hand and she returned it with a simple nod.

"We're not going out Michiru." Akane muttered all of a sudden.

"What?" I asked, clearly not understanding what she meant.

"Haruka and I." She repeated, looking straight into my eyes. She smiled softly, adding "We're not really going out."

"Did she cheat on you?" I asked, suddenly feeling a bit mad at that blonde being.

"No!" Akane hastily replied back, waving a hand. "It's-…How should I put this…" she grunted, shaking her head in the process. "I know she had said some things to you and perhaps I may have backed those things up, but truthfully, Haruka and I aren't going out."

"And the date?"

"It was hardly ever a date but it was fun. We talked a lot and only about one thing." She smiled, continuing "Let's put it this way, Haruka and I have something in common, so we talked about it together."

"Are you telling me you've became a horny lecherous wolf?" I asked, arching a brow.

Akane sneered, saying "No and I doubt Haruka is like that anymore."

"Do you even know how ridiculous that sounds?"

"Kind of." She laughed. "But it's true."

"So let me get this straight, she's now practicing celibacy?"

"No. She's falling in love."

"Are you both even close enough to share those melodramatic love life?"

"What?" She snorted, definitely confused about what I had just said.

"Forget I ever said that." I waved a hand, disregarding her question and asked in a serious note, "Why are you telling me this anyway?"

Her face softened as she spoke mildly, candidly, "Because I had a feeling you'd somehow care."

-x0x-

-Mikoto-

I saw it.

It's hard not to.

Michiru smiled. She finally smiled genuinely. For a minute, I was happy. I thought she was glad to see me. But somehow I had a feeling that wasn't it. It wasn't really hard to catch upon that since her gaze fell a bit far off from my left. I looked around and then I found her. Her back leaning against the wall, nodding her head as she smiled back at Michiru, at my girlfriend.

The crowd suddenly stood up catching me off guard as they all clapped their hands altogether. I shook my head and broke away my gaze from Haruka, and averted it back onto the stage. The play had already started, the crowd was overwhelmed, and their vague voices, cheers and loud laughter filled the air but I couldn't bring myself to concentrate and laugh along with them.

Because at that moment...

I knew there was nothing to be happy about.

-x0x-

-Haruka-

"Don't mess anything up." She noted in a decisive manner, hands on waist.

I rolled my eyes and huffed. "Hey, will you just stop treating me like I don't know what I'm doing. Cut me some slack here."

She inched in closer and I felt my guts jumping over the edge. "You've never even been to any cultural festival and then you decided to help now? Are you trying to sabotage me?"

'Trapping you inside a garbage can would be easier…' I whispered to myself. Sighing, I replied "No. I really just want to help out."

"Fine. Wear this." She grunted, "Have you waited before?"

"Of course. I'm good at ignoring people." I kidded dryly which by now, looking at that glower, was a huge mistake. "I'm kidding."

She glared at me for one last time before storming out of my sight. After the play ended, I decided to get back here and help. I thought it would be better than just roaming around which now, I don't know why I even thought it would be. Clearly, that little cretin thinks likewise.

"Wow." I snapped and looked over my shoulder. And there she was, the same raven haired beauty before was standing once again behind me. "I can't believe a woman that short bullies you around."

I fully faced her, "And clearly you haven't seen the movie the bride of chucky."

"I don't see her going around and stabbing people."

I made a face and faked out a laugh, deciding to banter out, "Lost again?"

"Fortunately I am not." She replied proudly with a small smile.

"So you're just following me around?"

"Ha." She sneered. "No need to inflate your ego. I'm just here for a cup of tea."

"Well you're in luck." I announced. "I'll be the one waiting at your table."

"How did that made me lucky?" She asked, cocking one brow up.

"I didn't hear you denying it." I smiled smugly.

She threw her head back and laughed. Then she stopped, taking another deep breath as she replied "Humble."

"So they say, miss. So they say."

-x0x-

-Akane-

After two straight hours and three repeated performances which were all well-received, we finally get to have a break. Michiru and I decided to roam around the school while indulging ourselves with different food catered along the way. We already planned to go to this highly talked about horror booth so it only surprised me when Michiru suddenly walked to another direction.

I jogged behind her and asked, "Where are you going? I thought we're trying the horror booth."

"Ah..." she looked back at me for a second then ahead. "I want to check section 3-3's café instead."

"You mean Haruka's class."

"Yes. Kokoro asked me to buy her the cupcake Haruka had been telling her about."

"Cupcakes, I see." I mused suspiciously to myself.

I may be innocent to the majority, and act a little childish most of the times, but I do know when a word is used as a metaphor for something- when it is used as a cover-up of one's lameness to say it directly.

Once there, Michiru quickly stepped inside, eagerly searching for the 'cupcakes'. A smile quickly grazed her lips as she waved her hand in the open.

And here comes the 'cupcakes'.

"Michiru! You're here." Haruka asked, and though surprised you could tell she was happy to see her. "And Akane as well."

Haruka, unsure of what to do or how to act, panicked and settled for leaning closer to me. I shook my head, telling her to step back. Haruka obediently did so.

"So what are you two doing here?"

"Kokoro wanted some of those cupcakes you told her." Michiru started again with the 'cupcakes' thing.

"Oh that!" Haruka laughed lightly, rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry, I don't think we still have any left but I do know where to get those. Is it okay if I just give it directly to her?"

"She would be ecstatic to see you."

Is it just me or is Michiru using Kokoro as a metaphor for something?

"Is that all?"

"Ah yes." Michiru nodded. She turned her back around, and walked towards the door. "By the way, thank you."

"For what?"

"Taking the time to stop by and watch the play."

"It's a pleasure. Though you kind of sucked back there and Akane, you're a lousy actress."

"Hey!" I raised, pouting.

"Haruka, I can't take you seriously when you're wearing a maid outfit." Michiru shot back, victoriously.

"Hey! You don't know how scary Sanae is!" Haruka exclaimed, embarrassed by the fact that she was owned by a woman who's a feet shorter than her.

"I'm sure she is." She mocked, and then waved a hand as she left the room.

I stood beside Haruka and mused after a couple of seconds, "So you're weak against women shorter than you."

"I am not." She pouted. "By the way, why did you stop me?"

"Oh that." I walked pass her. Twirling around, I smiled. "I already told her."

"You what?"

"Well, I didn't tell her directly who. I just told her we're not really dating."

"So let me get this straight, I'm out of forty thousand yen for just one date and now I can't use the only alibi I've got since you already ratted me out?"

"Well, what were you thinking asking me out?"

She only grunted in return, hands covering her disappointed face.

"I can't lie to her you know." I told her as I took my steps towards the door. But before leaving, I turned around and smiled mischievously "But I think she was happy hearing it."

"How is that going to help me?"

"She did look for her cupcake, didn't she?"

Metaphor.

It maybe lame but sometimes it does help.

-x0x-

-Michiru-

"Kaioh-san." I peered over my shoulder and saw Ibahara-sensei holding some papers up.

"Hai?" I asked politely, turning around to face him.

"There are things that needed to be done before the bonfire starts and I don't have the time to return this. Would you kindly put these papers back into the faculty?"

I smiled and took the papers from him. "Not at all sensei."

Like sensei had said, the bonfire is about to start which only meant that the cultural festival is finally reaching its end. Everyone was gathered around at the field for the closing ceremony and judging by the number of people that came and the smiles on their faces, cultural festival was a nothing but a success.

Upon placing the papers on his table, I quickly slid the door close and proceeded back to the field. But as I made my way back down, a familiar figure caught my attention. I paused and decided to walk over to her.

"Haruka?"

-x0x-

-Mikoto-

I walked through the hallway in a hurry earnestly searching for Michiru. Running up and down the stairs, through the empty hallway, and towards the faculty. The bonfire was about to start and I can't afford to spend my last bonfire without her. When I finally reached another floor, I heard two different voices from a distant place. One I'm familiar with but the other I was trying to figure out who. I ran towards the room, and my smile just grew when Michiru's voice became more distinguishable and clearer.

I stopped and walked slowly towards the door with a bright smile on my face. As soon as I reached the door, I heard this voice again, this time something I wasn't expecting to hear from her.

"I like you, Michiru."

That was the time when I felt my smile disappear.

The time when I felt nothing but anger.

The time when I realized, I would never come to like her.

Haruka.

With nothing but anger and animosity towards her, I spun around and left.

I'm not running away, I'm holding strongly to what is mine. And I'm not picking a fight. It'll only make me look worse, and I'm better than that.

Michiru is mine. Nobody else can have what belongs to me.

And Haruka would soon realize that.

-x0x-

-Michiru-

"I like you, Michiru."

"I like you too, Haruka"

"A different kind of like." She said, deeply looking into my eyes.

The confession took me by surprise and I was happy. I really am happy but I don't know what was keeping me back. Why I am hesistating? Why I am even questioning what this happiness means?

And for some reason, I blurted out, "But I'm with Mikoto."

"I know." She smiled "And I'd be lying if I say I'm happy for you when I'm not. Because the truth is, I'd think you'd be better off with me."

"Haruka-…"

"Please… just listen for a moment." She intervened, raising one hand. "I'm not expecting you to say the same thing nor am I hoping you'd feel the same way. It's just that… if I don't say this now, I might regret it later. So there you go. I like you. A lot actually. And I have come to accept and live with that fact."

"..."

"You can speak now." She then said.

"I really don't know what to say." I told her, awkwardly looking back at her.

"I had a feeling you'd say that."

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey!" she laughed, lightly bumping my shoulder once again. "Don't feel sorry for me. I heal easily. For all you know, I'd be coming home with a girl later and wash these emotions away with sex."

"Haruka." I called her out.

"Yeah. I know. I can't even laugh at my own joke." Leaning her chin on one hand, She asked "So what do you do to heal heartbreaks?"

"Here." Handing out a box of pocky towards her

Tilting her head, She asked with an odd look, "Pocky?"

"It's chocolate flavored."

A genuine smile finally cradled along the corners of her lips. And after a while, Haruka let out a chuckle, teasingly remarking, "Wow, Michiru! You sure now your way to a woman's heart."

"Just get one."

"Ne, do you regret hearing it?"

"That depends. Do you regret saying it?" I asked. I only stared at her as she shook her head in reply. "Then no. I cannot return your feelings but I'm happy you feel that way about me."

"We're still friends?"

"Nope." I replied bluntly. Then I smiled as I gazed into her eyes, adding "We're close friends."

She grinned, nodding her head in amusement "I'd like that."

"So," I paused, smiling slyly back at her "Are we now able to share melodramatic love life or our lame pursuit of having one?"

"Ha!" She laughed, covering her mouth then teased back "Unfair! You've got an earful!"

My hand quickly smacked her hand away as it tried to get another stick. She pouted as she gasped out, "Hey!"

"Retribution."

"Now I'm wondering why I even like you."

"You were captivated by my beauty and intelligence."

"Yeah yeah. Just give me one."

I sighed, and finally gave in.

"By the way," Haruka began, gulping the food down. "Just so you know, I haven't thought of you naked."

I rolled my eyes, and replied in pure sarcasm "Oh dear God why haven't you."

And like always, Haruka would throw her head back and laugh and I would be joining her a second later.

I do know that have these strong feelings for Haruka.

But as I looked into those green eyes, I finally knew why I hesitated…

because I didn't want to mistake these feelings as love.

-x0x-

-Haruka-

After a couple more minutes talking inside the classroom, Michiru and I finally decided to come down and join in the bonfire celebration. I was, honestly, hesitating of joining in since, let's face it, bonfires are only best when you have someone there to watch it with. But with her eager hand stretching out to me and that genuine smile flashing before my eyes, it didn't leave any option but to tag along.

I did enjoy it, the first few minutes Michiru was at my side, but as soon as we were out in the open field she said her goodbyes and left, searching for, ugh, I can't even say her name right now, I was left standing all alone.and that is hardly ever called enjoying.

I sighed, putting my hands in my pocket and looked ahead. And in another couple of seconds, I saw a woman approaching me, arms high above the air.

I smiled and took my steps forward. "Akane."

"I had finally found you." She rejoiced, holding onto my shoulder.

"Hey." I furrowed my brows. "Come on give me a break already. I'm out of money and also-…"

"Also?" She pressed as she leaned in closer, her eyes widening like a sneaky cat.

"You're getting too close!" I inched back, my hands pushing her out. "And also Michiru turned me down."

Her brows creased as she purses her lips. She exhaled and asked, uncharacteristically, sincerely "Are you ok?"

"Do I look okay?"

"Eh well you've always looked pathetic to me." She said, shrugging, taking no consideration whatsoever for my feelings.

"What a weird way to kick me when I'm down."

"Oh, you'll heal." Playfully smacking my across my arm which turned out to be a little painful.

So I winced, "Ite…te… That hurts."

"Sorry." She winked. Then out of nowhere, she grabbed my arm up and placed a small blue bag on my palm, and smiled "Here you go."

"What's this?"

"It's home baked cookies." She arrogantly announced.

I cocked a brow up, "You bake?"

"I try to."

"Why are you giving me this?" Suddenly, I started feeling a bit suspicious about all of this. We're talking about Akane. For all I know she might hate me secretly and wants to get back at me with this deceiving cookies.

"It's my way of saying thank you. It wasn't probably the best date but I had a great time with you. So I baked you those." I could feel my lips turn into a smile as I stared at her blushing face.

"So…" I began, turning my smile into a sly grin. "Should I be worried about eating this?"

She squinted as she evenly matched my cocky smirk. "How about you might be missing a lot if you don't eat them?"

I chuckled, removing the tie around it. I grabbed a piece and took a bite out. "Not bad."

She giggled then called me out. "Haruka."

I stopped and looked at her. "Hmm?"

"When you're in your forty and wants to settle down but you don't have anyone, then I'll cross that bridge and be the one."

"You're my fail-safe?" I sneered.

"Feel grateful." Akane smugly grinned back, waving her hand.

"I have tastes, Akane!" I shouted.

Covering her ears, she replied as she walked away, "I can't hear you!"

Then there I was again, standing all alone in the middle of everything. And it felt horrible. Clenching the bag of cookies in my hand, I walked out the crowded field and sat at the sideline, watching students to teacher to strangers interact. Then I spotted her holding firmly onto her hand and resting her head against her shoulder. Even out of this crowded place, my eyes would always find Michiru. This is such an inevitable suffering…

The only way I got out this slow torture was when I felt someone standing behind me. I laughed lightly when I realized who it was.

"Don't tell me you got lost again."

"How about we call it coincidence?" She suggested, taking a sit beside me

"How about we call it you stalking me?"

"Self-assured?"

"In denial?" I shot back.

She smiled lopsidedly, raising both brows. "You're quick aren't you?"

"Well they do call it quip." I returned wisely, cracking out a smile.

Placing her arm on her knees, chin leaning against her palm, she then looked at me in the eyes and voiced out a proposition, "How about you tell me your name and I tell you mine then we can just call this two people who knows each other hanging out by the field?"

"That's a pretty long pick up line." I remarked teasingly. "Does it ever work?"

"Well…" she smiled, and asked in a playful tone "Did it?"

I looked at her for a second then I finally smiled, my hand reaching out. "Tenoh Haruka."

With the same kind of smile, she then spoke, shaking my hand, "Ume. Takahashi Ume."

-x0x-

-Michiru-

It's weird.

I already have Mikoto, and I love her. I do. I made it very clearly to myself.

I chose Mikoto and turned Haruka down. I turned her down. I already did.

So now I wonder…

Why does it feel like someone is squeezing my heart when I saw Haruka leaving with another woman?

Thanks for reading and for those who reviewed. Also one big hug for those who are going to review ^_^

So basically the story starts now. lol

"I don't want you to see her anymore."

"She's my friend."

"And I'm your girlfriend."

THANKS!