Chapter 3-Calls

"Hello?" Mikan asked tentatively.

"Is this Yukihara Mikan speaking?" A sweet voice inquired. Mikan paused, before answering, "Yes, What may I do for you?"

An excited squeal got to her end, and it made her cringe a little. Then the woman replied, "I'm Miku, Kanaya Miku. Did you already receive the invitation for the engagement party? Natsume said he had his best friend's wife, Nogi Hotaru, give it to you, since you two are close."

Mikan suppressed a laugh. Of all the girls that could replace her in Natsume's heart, it was somebody who was exactly like her. Somebody who is impatient, childish, and naive. She almost sighed. She didn't want to let that part of her to change, but she needed to, in order to move on in her life.

When she came back from her thoughts, she discovered that Miku was still ranting. "-was worried that you didn't receive the letter, because you still haven't responded if you'll be going or not. Natsume said he'll call you later, but I can't just wait. So, are you going?"

"I'm sorry, but no," Mikan politely replied, and then added her reason, "I will be in Paris that day."

A disappointed "oh" was what she heard following her words. She could almost see the look on the woman's face when she heard the response. But then, Miku exclaimed, "Ah, but it is okay! I just want you to be there because we will announce that you'll be the wedding dress designer!"

Mikan froze for the second time that day. She'll be the wedding dress designer? A long stretch of silence ensued. Evidently, Miku also realized her mistake, and was contemplating on how to fix it up.

"Ah, you see…" Miku tried to break the ice. "I saw the designs of the dresses you made for your best friend and your sister-in-law. I really liked them, so… if it's okay with you, will you do mine?"

'No way! Why will I do that?' Mikan thought. She opened her mouth, and out spilled words that weren't in her mind. "Sure, it's no problem."

"Really? Thanks!" Miku's excitement came back. "So, when do you think can we meet to discuss it? Are you free this Thursday?"

She was still in a state of shock that all she could say was, "Yeah, I'm free."

"Okay then! I need to go now. I think I've disturbed you enough. See you!" And with that, Miku ended the call, leaving a surprised Mikan to her own thoughts.

'What the heck? Why did I say yes? This is so wrong!' Mikan plopped herself on her seat, and then let out a defeated sigh. What did she get herself into?

Suddenly, her cellphone rang. She took a deep breath once again, calmed herself, and glanced at the phone's screen. It was an unregistered number, but judging that it was her personal phone, she knew it would just be one of her friends or family members using a different number.

It was Natsume.

"You're wasting your time, Mr. Hyuuga. I'm not going to your party," Mikan calmly stated after he introduced himself. She made sure that there was no hint of bitterness in her voice, but only amusement. She continued, "But I will be your fiancée's wedding dress designer, which I'm sure she'll tell you later when you get to talk to her."

Just as she expected, Natsume was taken aback by what she said. "You mean, she already called you?"

This time she let out the laughter she had been suppressing. "Yeah," she replied in between laughs, "She did, just a few minutes before you."

Natsume got irritated, and she immediately noticed it in in his voice. "I told her not to bother. Tsk, I guess she really is so impatient about this."

"Natsume, Natsume, you're already getting married, and yet you still don't know how women act?" she teased him. She laughed as she heard him defend himself.

"Hey, why don't you hang up and continue your work? I'm sure you prefer working better than hearing me tease you," she said, trying to end the conversation immediately. Natsume replied, "Hn. You're right. I guess I'll call Miku, though. Not following my orders…"

Her lips formed a sad smile, and before she ended the call, she told him, "Congratulations, Natsume."

She placed the phone on her desk. Then she leaned and closed her eyes. So many thoughts raced through her mind, as she tried to analyze what had happened.

She was so sure that she was affected negatively by this marriage. But why was acting calmly and indifferently so easy for her? Saying no would be the logical thing that she would do. She could make reasonable excuses. So why did she say yes?

Was she trying to convey to all of them that she had moved on, even though it was a lie? But that was really what she was doing. This…it should have a different reason.

Or could it be… Was she actually trying to deceive herself?

I'm so sorry for not updating last week! blame my exams. :(

Um...Is my spelling of Mikan's last name right? I'm actually not sure...

To mannna: thanks for the advice! actually, this story is always in my usb, and even if my usb fails, I can always copy it from my facebook account, where I posted it for my friends (I did a little experiment, as it was them who decided if the ending would be happy or sad). So there's no worry about me not updating!

Unless I do not have internet connections, which seems to fluctuate frequently here. :(

Please review! :D