CHAPTER 10: It Was Almost Perfect

Don't ask me if I was late.

The bell had already rung… twice.

And trust me, you would be asking for the worst when you come late to Jinno's class.

Obviously, he did the usual: narrow his evil and sinister eyes on me, scrunch up his nose in irritation, told me sternly to sit down and announced my nightmare – a detention later in the afternoon.

I don't know why, but the word detention has been frequently heard in my daily life since Natsume Hyuuga disappeared to nowhere like water vapor.

So, classes proceeded smoothly except for the inevitable dark atmosphere in the room whenever Hotaru looks at me like I'm in serious trouble. Other than that, it was completely normal. And, before I even knew it, it was lunchtime.

I packed my things, slung my bag over my shoulder and walked to where Hotaru and Anna were standing. It would be a great time to be sick; so I won't have to be present in that arranged date with that gay dude. We exited the room in silence – almost because Anna kept on mumbling about how she has to attend the Science Fair in Tokyo next week even when she is completely against it.

She said, her shoulders lowering, "What choice do I have though? It's good that Misaki-sensei is bestowed with hotness or else I wouldn't do any of these." And there goes absurdity.

Sure, Misaki-sensei is a bit good-looking, but he is a total geek.

"Do you hate Tonouchi?" Hotaru asked suddenly, making me choke on my own saliva. Now, thinking about that, it was disgusting.

"You know… hate isn't even the word to describe it," I replied scathingly.

"Figures. It's that intense, huh?" she simply said; an amused glint in her eyes.

Anna, on the other hand, gawked at the two of us as she stopped her mumblings. "What are you guys talking about? Tonouchi… the person Sumire had set you up?" she said, bewildered.

I nodded, feeling like I'm being punished for my sins.

"Why? He looks like a fine gentleman."

"The only part you got right was gentle," I said, almost a whisper, as I looked down at my unpolished shoes.

Anna's eyebrows met at her forehead, and I wanted to take all of my hair out of my head.

"I… don't get it. Really," she replied, and I was dumbfounded.

"Mikan means to say that Tonouchi is gay," Hotaru cleared.

Anna simply muttered an inaudible word before keeping silent.

We arrived in the canteen after a few minutes of walking. As usual, it was bustling with students. Most were keeping their flytraps in animated motion. The three of us went to fall in line. I ordered my chicken cutlets, topped with delicious gravy, and a side dish of mash potato. On the other hand, Hotaru asked for crab brains. The cafeteria lady smiled and gave her a plate of for-Imai-only crab brains. Well, she threatened the principal a few years ago. I don't know what she said to him, but the very next day the canteen served her the said dish.

We walked down the pack of hungry high school students, fighting our way to our respective table. Anna almost slipped on the banana skin, which might've caused her Caesar salad to dance in the air, landing in a pirouette of salad dressing, and that would be humiliating.

We were only a few meters from our place when a hand pulled me by the shoulders. When I looked up to see who it was, Akira Tonouchi's face appeared in my view. He had this sparkly smile; his long, straight, flowing hair dangled on his shoulders.

"Ah, Mikan-chan, nice to see you here."

"Well, who do we have here?" A guy, standing beside him, asked as he looked at me with evil, inquiring eyes. "So, you're Sakura-chan. Nice to meet you. Call me, Shuichi-senpai," he said, offering me a hand.

As impolite as it may seem, I rejected his friendly handshake. Even though he may be seen as someone with manners, he still hangs out with a gay like Tonouchi. So, I'm having my doubts if he's for real. I just nodded at him and, soon, pinned down Tonouchi with my dark gaze.

"If you may excuse me, I would have to eat my lunch before I die." I pointed at his hand on my shoulder and sent him a much deadlier stare. I was expecting for a surprised, hurt look; however, the opposite happened. He smirked and said, "What did I tell you? She's different."

And I just wished that a sudden lightning zaps him right then and there.

There was only one thing on my mind the whole week: couldn't that gay do any other thing besides getting on my nerves?

Seriously.

He hacked the PA system and announced that we're going on a date. Plus, it was aired during chemistry, which immediately spells J-I-N-N-O. I was not sent to detention; however, I had to suffer solving one of the hardest problems in stoichiometry on the board. Luckily, I've had the chance to encounter the exact problem during one of my tutor sessions with my beloved Hotaru. You couldn't imagine the look on Jinno's face when I finished solving it in less than five minutes.

I felt like a newborn genius.

After class, I thought everything was fine. People don't know me anyways. That was where I was wrong. The moment I stepped outside class every person who walked pass me either whispered or glared at me, and that certainly depends on their gender.

"Hotaru, why do I feel like people are eyeing me as prey?"

"Because you are," she nonchalantly said as her amethyst orbs pinned me down.

"Why?" I asked as a lump slowly formed in my throat.

"Simple. Girls hate you and guys suddenly found you interesting."

"What did I ever do to them?"

"Do you even need to ask?" She said as she flicked her tongue over her teeth. "According to the Gakuen Alice news, you are now at the top of two lists: most hated and most interesting student in our school."

I rolled my eyes, thinking of the circumstances at hand. "Shoot me now," I murmured, thinking of how many more girls alike with Koizumi will be harassing me.

"It's not only Koizumi kind of girls you'll be dealing with," she said as if reading my mind. "There's a lot of Tonouichi kind of guys to scare away."

"Please." I laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. "There aren't any other long-haired gays around here."

She stopped in her tracks and gave me a long, deadly stare. "I did not mean long-hair dudes. Guys who think you're hot and all since Akira Tonouichi is well-known to be a boy who goes after hot chicks."

My nightmare is just about to start.

"Today's the day! Mikan will – "

"– face the inevitable date with a gay dude," I continued as I stepped out of the bathroom, clothed in what I can only fathom as a dress that Sumire would only wear.

"Oh c'mon, Tonouchi-senpai hasn't dated for like a week for you, my dear. It's quite unbelievable if you ask –"

She stopped midway as her stare fell on me.

Yes, I admit; I do look horrible.

"You look…" She took a huge breath and walked over to me, placing both of her hands on my shoulder. And, in a matter of seconds, she's shaking me so hard that I felt like my head would come off.

"You're soooooo fit that dress! I knew that Jessica Simpson dress is perfect!" She screamed in my ear without even stopping the shaking thing that seems to make me dizzy.

"Dresses have names?" For me, it's only a dress that exposes one of my shoulders, and I don't like it.

"It's like it was made for you and you only! I can imagine it!" She lets go of my shoulder and stares off in the horizon with both her hands in the air as if she's picturing a moment in her mind. "Tonouchi-senpai sitting on that fancy dining table as a violinist plays soothing tunes to ease away the nervousness he has inside of him before he finally meets you – the girl of his dreams." I practically rolled my eyes as I struggled with the gem-studded five-inch heels she had brought for me to wear.

So, how did I end up with Sumire alone anyways?

Well, it's a long story and it's quite a tedious work to narrate it. So, I'll just put it in a few words – none of my other friends were available to accompany me with this. Sumire just happened to be so pushy these past few days. I know she wants me to move on and get a life, but dating a guy I find utterly gay isn't going to make me move on and get a life, so to speak.

"… then after a few minutes, you stand in the entrance, looking as beautiful as you can be. He is caught off guard; his eyes instantly glued to you, unflinching. You take slow steps, mesmerizing him even more than he already is. His once lonely heart fills with warmth and, yes, love! He offers you a hand –"

I heaved a sigh. Any minute now and I'm going to chuck these impossible-to-walk-in shoes if she does not stop her disgusting narration of how my date with that gay will go. Before I even think of doing that, I bellowed, "Are you finished with your fantasizing? Can you now teach me how to walk in these lethal weapons?"

"Almost, but I can narrate it later. Now, we must prepare you for your date!" She announced, turning to look at me with glittering eyes.

I raised a brow, scared of what she meant by preparation. "I just need to learn how to walk in these heels, right? Then, we can go."

"Oh no. We still have to do some… major revisions."

This made me think that these shoes are just the first of the many horrors she's going to be forcing on me, and the word "revisions" made me feel like I'm a lousy, dull story draft, waiting to be edited and polished to perfection.

As I stepped into the restaurant, all eyes trained on me. I had the urge to run away and ditch that gay; however, with Sumire guarding me like a trained, bomb-sniffer dog outside the restaurant that thought seemed impossible to execute.

I knew with all that make-up Sumire put on my face made me look like a clown. Well, I'm only kidding though. The moment she was finished – actually – I did not recognize myself; for the first time, I was beautiful, really beautiful.

Heat made its way to my cheeks, as I tried not to trip that is very much likely to happen as I am wearing these heels I'm very not used to yet. Strangers' eyes met mine with much inquisitiveness as inaudible whispers started to rise inside the area. I felt the tension inside the room as the air became to thick to even inhale. Any minute now, I might lose my composure and stumble down this staircase.

I was ready for the humiliation when I felt a hand hold me on the waist to steady me, and I met his eyes. They were lilac – just like Hotaru's; however, it's strange that there are tiny specks of red in them if you stare hard enough (which I did).

It was like time was forced to a stop. Whatever whispers or stares around me seemed to diminish as I continue to stare at him. It felt weird to be experiencing this especially with this gay dude I absolutely despise.

"You should be careful," he said, flashing me a bright smile that made my heart skip a beat which also made me snap out of my ephemeral reverie, and I thank him for that or else I might go insane if that heart-stopping moment would proceed any further.

I, after a moment of astonishment, yanked myself away from him and muttered, "Don't you dare touch me, Tonouchi."

"Mikan-chan, not even a sweet greeting to someone who just saved you from all that embarrassment?" He asked, pretending to frown. And an irritating grin replaced it as he said, "Come, our table's this way."

I scowled at him as I followed him to the direction of a vacant hall with a single door at the end. I scuffled to keep up with his pace; I absolutely detest these heels now more than I ever did.

"Where the fuck are we going, Tonouchi?"

"You just see for yourself."

We reached the door, and he opened it for me. I went in, glaring at him in the process. What met my sight was the most beautiful place one could place in a restaurant. The room was made of glass, looking out into a garden that is filled with shimmering lights. Greek columns stand in every corner of the room with a little cupid statue placed on top of it. In the middle, there is a fancy dining table surrounded by petals; candles stand in the center as music filled the room through an unseen source.

It was simply breathtaking.

I walked over to the table and softly touched the petals on the table. "What is this place?" I blurted, forgetting my hatred towards him completely.

"Paradise," he replied as he pulled out a chair for me.

I hesitantly said a thank-you, and then, he produced a low chortle. If only this place wasn't so magnificent, I can probably say all the displeasing words I can ever think of.

There was a moment of silence. The more I scan the room, the more it becomes close to what he called it: paradise. I do not know why but this place gives me the feeling that I cannot simply fathom; it is like there's an unseen dejection underneath all that splendor.

"But, really, why do they have this place here?"

"Wow. You can talk normally? I mean, you always growl at me," he said and then continued without me even having the chance to retort another snarl, "Well, the owner patterned this place to his former lover's sketch back when they were still together."

"Oh…" Tough luck on love, huh? I wonder what happened to them to break apart. Maybe, the reason was that this so-called lover left the other one hanging, leaving that person without any explanation or whatsoever. And, I just realized that bitterness can actually disrupt a rational mind.

"She died," he said as if reading my mind. "The girl died… of leukemia, anyways. Quite common nowadays."

"…"

I can't help but stare at him. Death? I know it's inevitable and all, but that sounded too tragic. I mean, who would ever thought that this place was built upon such emotions.

"What's not common is that the guy had no knowledge of it and just kept it to herself, pushing away the guy when she needed him the most," he continued. "She thought that this is the best way for when she dies the guy will move on without any trouble. Sickening, isn't it?"

This conversation – not that I'm not actually replying – is proceeding well than what I have expected. The place is great and the atmosphere too. I'm petrified that maybe – just maybe – Sumire was right with all her fantasizing. He is quite mind-blowing; I never imagined someone like him, who probably goes on dates every now and then like it's the most casual thing to be doing on every day of his life, would prepare this much for someone whom he barely even knows.

"The chef said it will take about half an hour before dinner is ready. Sorry about that. I know you must be hungry," he said, breaking me out of my trance. This gay guy knows how to apologize? Unbelievable.

"Do you always bring your dates here?" I asked. I know it's out of the topics, but – heck – I wanted to know. "And was that a depressing story that you concocted just to get my attention?"

"You see, I base it on what the girl I date would probably expect of a perfect date," he answered, looking me in the eyes. I knew it. I'm probably the 50th girl he had brought here. "But, no, you're the first one to be here, and whether the story is true or not, it's up to you."

And that just made me stare at him.

There's something oddly familiar about him. I could not quite say what it is but it's like I know him. For a second, I wanted to let my guard down around him. Then, I decided that that is one thing I will never do.

"Don't try to fool me, you gay," I sneered.

"Gay?" His eyes showed disbelief. "Me? Gay? What's wrong with your brain, woman?" He questioned, a laugh threatening to escape his lips.

"You freakin' have long hair!" I hollered, defending my self-proclaimed idea.

"Just because of that?"

"What guy has straight hair and flaunts it everywhere like he's a shampoo commercial model?" I asked, confused.

"Oh I see. So, you don't like long-haired guys?"

"I did not say that." Yes, I hate you.

"You, for one, are beautiful, Mikan," he said as his fingers circled the rim of his champagne glass. "Even if you're not wearing make-up or anything."

That word again – beautiful. Nobody has ever associated me with that word. They would always say cute or pretty; however, this guy addressed me with that word like I was long destined to be, and I do not know whether I should be flattered or something else.

"And I don't call anyone just that," he finished, giving me one of his dumbfounding gazes.

There it is again: my heart skipping a beat. This guy is trying to kill me by giving me irregular heart beat rate.

"And I don't refer to any long-haired guy as gay. Just wanted you to know," I retorted, and I felt really evil and smart. It feels good to degrade someone who thinks to highly of himself.

Just when I thought that I hand him under my influence and I can actually make him bow down to me (my head is pretty much whacked, yes), he stated, "I was just wondering." Then, he paused. "Is this your first date, Mikan?" His gaze was unfaltering.

I gulped and tried to keep myself intact. Since I don't consider having picnics under the Sakura tree with Natsume as date, well, yes, this is actually my first date, and that is just perturbing. I never knew that, in the future, when my children ask me who was my first date, I would answer that it's Akira Tonouchi. The horror.

"I knew it," he said, taking a sip from his glass. "Dinner's here."

This is going to be one long date.

The next day, you know what happens: interrogation time.

"So, how was the date?" Hotaru asked, breaking the ten-minute silence among us.

We're in Anna's room, if you're wondering. This is what we do every Sunday: hang out in one room, which we pick randomly by spinning a coke bottle. For no apparent reason, my friends have been quiet since we arrived. Anna was reading her new book; Nobara and Nonoko were playing chess; Hotaru, as always, was typing away in her laptop; Sumire was filing her nails, but every now and then, she looks my way as if she's itching to know about what happened yesterday.

That is before Hotaru gave out that question.

Their attentions were solely fixed on me. "Well," I started, "It was… better than what I have expected it to be." If it had turned out to what I call the worst day of my life, then probably I would be being smug all day long, saying the words "I told you gays can't make me move on and get a life" to Sumire.

"See! I told you! Tonouchi-senpai is so handsome! You fell for him!" My green-haired, crazy friend squealed like a guinea pig finding it's one true love (not that I had actually seen it for myself). I bet these words were attempting to escape her mouth even before I talked. I mean, she looked like she was resisting the need to defecate or something. I know… her expression – reaction – can match up to thousands of metaphors.

"Correction. I did not or I will not fall for that kind of guy. I can only say that he's not the person I thought he was," I said matter-of-factly.

"You mean he's not gay?" Anna asked.

"Yes. Did you know?" I questioned back. "I was so shocked. Really. He was actually a man. I wanted to –"

When they stared at me with their adamant, staid eyes, I knew I made a fool of myself right then and there.

"I believe, Mikan, that you were the only one who thought he was," Nobara cleared, looking at the others to confirm this.

"It's a bad habit to be addressing every long-haired guy out there as gay, Mikan," Nonoko advised, looking at me as she tries to suppress her amusement. "I believe it's not the first you assumed someone as gay. You remember when Misaki-sensei had long hair?"

I nodded.

"You told me that he was gay. But then, you knew that he has a girlfriend who was no other than Serina-sensei."

Yes, I remember that perfectly. I had been calling Misaki-sensei gay for the first four months he had stayed in the academy. Even though everyone told me that he was not, I still thought so. Then, Natsume, who was still my best friend back then, and I during our first year as junior high school students sneaked in the lab to play with the dissection tools and perform a fake surgery on a teddy bear he had won in a random school-based raffle. It was quite brutal for we used fake blood to make it more realistic. Then, Serina-sensei came in the laboratory and, when she saw what we were doing, she instantly fainted. After that, Misaki-sensei came in, asking us what we were doing in there with a blood-covered teddy bear. He, then, almost stepped on Serina-sensei but, luckily, he saw her. Natsume and I stood there, completely shocked, when Misaki-sensei cried out to her with the term 'honey'. And that's how I knew about their relationship. Yes, quite a memory.

Anna sighed and stated, "It's good that they're not lovers now. Not that I hope that I'll be with Misaki-sensei in the future or anything." She beamed at us as innocent as she could.

Sumire rolled her eyes at her. "Oh sure," she replied sarcastically and turned to me. "So, what exactly happened?" She asked, wanting to know all the details.

I heaved a heavy sigh. "The atmosphere and the place were well-thought of. The person was okay but not all too good as a companion given that I really hate how he smirks and stares at me whenever he talks about something. The – "

"You're like telling us an analysis of an experiment, Mikan," Hotaru cut me off. "Just tell it in a concise manner we'd all understand."

Oh, Hotaru, you just want to kill me.

1…

2…

Sumire's anticipated look, Nobara's curious glance, Nonoko and Anna's doubting gazes are seriously making me feel uncomfortable. But what makes me want to stop functioning altogether is Hotaru's stoic yet deliberate stare. She knows.

3…

"It was… almost pleasant," I said honestly. I cannot hold it back anymore.

Nearly all of them shrieked – the loudest being Sumire's – in delight. They questioned me and talked me out every detail of the date. I told them how the place made me feel alive, how the food tasted great, how the music added to the ambience and how fun it is to converse – or fight – with Tonouchi… except how he made my heart skip a beat.

While the others talked to themselves and daydreamed on how this might turn out, Hotaru leaned on my ear unexpectedly and whispered the words I never wanted to recognize. "Don't fool yourself, Mikan. You thought it was almost perfect."

How did she know? Well, she picked out a tiny bug out of her pocket. I looked at it closer, and that's when I knew that it wasn't a bug but a tiny camera.

"I know everything," she said and smirked.

Yes, she's too cruel as my one and only best friend.

Seeing that there was nothing good that will come out of staying with them, I excused myself and hurried to the door even before they could drag me back in to listen to their outrageous insights.

The view outside the windows changed drastically. It seemed to appear more beautiful and more magnificent now; the leaves of the trees were splashed with a refreshing color of olive; the sky was like painted in a very vivid shade of cerulean. I was halfway to my room when I caught sight of Ruka standing exactly in front of my room. He seemed to be stuck in deep thought. Taking slow steps, I tried to think of reasons on why he would be doing so. Could it be that his rabbit went unpredictably to my room through the window I unintentionally left open? Or could it be about what he said the other day?

"Ruka?"

He jumped a little bit, probably because I startled him. "Mikan, I need to talk with you," he said in a serious tone.

"Oh I see," I started, trying to ease away the somber atmosphere. "Did your pet go through the window I left open and went inside my room?"

He shook his head. "No, he did not. He's in my room, sleeping. What I came here to talk with you about is… regarding Akira Tonouchi," he stated.

"What about him?"

"He's…You should stay away from him, Mikan," he said, looking into my eyes as if he's trying to understand if I just understood what he said.

"Why?"

"Just… because. I know I already told you that he is truly not the best guy to hang out with or even like," he replied.

I find it weird for Ruka to be holding back something from me like this. He's not the kind of guy to not be that straightforward with me, and the only guy I absolutely do not understand or even have an inkling of what he is thinking is Natsume. Yes, him. He is very much the most unpredictable guy I've ever met. Well, since that incident – when he started ignoring me that is.

"Okay, Ruka. I'll keep that advice in mind. Thank you," I finally replied after I kept silent for about half a minute.

He flashed me a feeble smile and walked away. It kind of saddens me to see him so worried and down like that. I inserted my key and turned the doorknob to go in my room. My room was as tranquil as I have left it this morning.

I plopped down my untidy bed and stared at the ceiling. It may be best to take Ruka's advice. Hell, I don't even know a thing about this person named Akira Tonouchi who I just happen to have a good time with yesterday; I think it's for the best.

Then, my cellphone beeped which frightened me that I almost screamed. I reached out for it, patting the bedside table for it. When I felt it under my palms, I raised it and stared at the screen.

Message from Natsume Hyuuga

My eyes probably threatened to escape my sockets. Why is suddenly you-know-who texting me? He must've sent it to the wrong person. Wait. Scratch that. He's actually alive somewhere…? And he's still not changing his number after all the texts I've sent him before…? This bastard of a best friend disappears somewhere and then texts me out of nowhere without even clearing away the misunderstanding between us – or perhaps it wasn't meant to be a temporary quarrel. Oh yeah. I just remembered the 'leave me alone' e-mail. And now, he's got the nerve to text me. Maybe, he's sorry…? What the hell. I should just get it over with and open this damn message.

I opened it hesitantly as my hand trembled lightly, and what met my eyes just had to be the most unexpected words I wanted from him. In that message were the words…

Do not get close to Akira.

You know, sometimes it's much more fun to do the exact opposite of what someone says.

Yes, I'm having the most hysterical and unruly idea I've had yet.

*waits for the rotten tomatoes and whatever kind of thing to be thrown at her*

Hi, guys. I'm embarrassed to be even updating this story I thought I'd abandon.

However, seeing it incomplete and having the readers of this story hanging, I felt like a very, very bad person.

Yes, I felt very bad especially I had promised to update this on Saturday which seemed to be about 10 months now.

Yes, I'm that bad as an author. So, forgive me?

Is this story worth continuing anymore? I'm having doubts about that. Really.

My writing skills have stooped down to a very, very low level now. LOL

So much for the workshop last summer. I'm sorry for any wrong grammar or anything; this was done in hurry and all. I'll re-read when I have the time.

I'll give you brief explanations for my long hiatus:

1. I was in my senior year and it was so elfin crazy. So many moments to take notice of.

2. I'm the appointed EIC of our yearbook and up till now I'm editing every description of my batch mates who comprised of 497 to be exact. -_-

3. I'm just that lazy. Yes, I am.

So, please tell me if this story is even worth updating anymore. :( If you say yes, I'll upload the next chapter

and eventually finish this before I enter college this June 11.

Kylee-Cat: Thank you so much for always reviewing and sharing your thoughts on this story. I really appreciate it. :D I'm sorry I didn't update. Yes, I'm very sorry. :( I've been a bad author. Hope you still read this lousy excuse of an update.

Justanotherfanofyours: I'm sorry for not holding on to my word. :(

MidSummer-Romance: Yes, there'll be pounding but not in this chapter. :) And sorry for not updating.

MusicIvory: I think I was so whacked in the head that I did not understand your update-soon-please plea. Sorry. :(

inaekleas: Thanks for the cookie! :) I received it just now. =)) LOL

and to anon: Maybe he likes her or maybe not. Yes, there are a lot of cliches and obvious parts in this story. Of course, everyone loves cliches. And about the NxM tandem. This story's main characters are indicated above as Natsume and Mikan, right? :) Then, why did you open - or even read - this story? Anyways, if you're getting sick of this tandem, read another fic that does not have that pairing. And, yes, thanks for the reviews. :D

29 APRIL 2012

3:43 AM

(: nineprincess :)