Chapter 8: Friends Again?

Natsume's POV

I lay back on my bed softly. I'm physically exhausted after the long training back at the field and at the same time, emotionally exhausted after I finally said what I partly feel for her. I just thanked her, but regardless in what I did to her last three years ago, she just forgave me.

"What is that?" I pointed at her hand, surprisingly, they looked so smooth.

"We're settled! You are my partner. I promise that we will help each other, you are my friend. Let this be my oath of our recognition as partner and as friends!"

I smirked at those words which echoed in my mind. She finally smiled at me, for three years- in reality, she finally smiled. I understand that all she wanted from me is to be a friend. But when our hands touched, I had this sudden realization that all I ever wanted, here in this world is for her to be mine, not as friends but as lovers.

"W-why? Why are you so kind to me?"

I chuckled at her sweet voice. Of course, it's obvious why I acted kindly to you… I love you, Mikan. I wish I could have said that. I brought my memory back to that last Saturday night…

"Natsume… What happened to your face?" I didn't answer her.

"Fine, don't tell me… You were always a jerk, you bastard!"

I felt so guilty when she actually said that. I've never seen her acting like that, maybe it's just because I never saw a chance to see her cry. I just heard it when she sobbed very hard behind the door and woke Youichi up from his sleep. We did nothing but to listen to her cries. Although the more I listened, the more I feel worse.

What happened to her after I left her alone?

.

...

After that long recall, I fell into deep sleep. But then when I opened my eyes again, I found myself facing the dark, void world. I tried to run but I don't know where I could start for everything is pitch black around here. But then suddenly, I noticed a girl standing in front of me. I was surprised to see that the girl is actually Mikan. I started chasing her, but she slowly drifted away in the dark. I called her name, but she didn't look back. Suddenly, I felt a scorching pain in my chest as I plummet down on the ground, and curled myself into a ball as my vision started to blur.

I let out my last breath as I mumble her name one last time…

I woke up with a jolt. I noticed that I was breathing heavily and was sweating. I sat up in my bed and looked around. It was bright outside… It's morning. I sighed heavily and fell back on my pillow with my one arm above my forehead and utter, "A nightmare? It's just a stupid nightmare!"

I cursed myself for dreaming that kind of nightmare, and for the things I shouldn't have done to her years ago. But who knows that all of this will become a déjà vu. Tch, I would be damned already many times if I knew.

But…

I removed my arm from my forehead as I faced towards the ceiling.

Sigh… What am I going to do next?

Mikan's POV

"Arghhhh…" I clutched my pen hard in deep concentration. I felt my sweat trickle down to my forehead. I am now facing the worst situation of all… completing the Math homework.

I stole a glance at my partner. He was just checking at his watch, looking at me and nothing more. What is he doing? Isn't he supposed to teach me some easier methods to solve this stupid equation?

"The answer is x+4." He finally spoke up,

"Yes!" I started writing the answer but realization hit me with something wrong, "Wait—what?"

He looked at me as he repeat it curtly, "I said the answer is—"

But I cut him off in the middle of his sentence while I slammed my pen on the table and then it rolls down on the floor, "No! This is wrong! You're just giving me answers! Aren't you supposed to teach me?"

He crosses his arms while eyeing the other side, "I won't do that…"

I seethed, "Do what? You know this is what they called cheating, and I won't play your games anymore!"

He then slowly turns his eyes at me as he calmly said, "Games? I was just trying to help you, moron. Besides, it's already past six and you haven't answered a single equation yet." he continued, "Now, how's that for a little credit?"

"It would be faster if you could teach me how to solve these things. A-a-and besides, Jinno-sensei will kill both of us if he finds this homework suspicious!" I retorted. He closed his eyes while pausing for a moment and then he sighed, "Alright, calm down, now… I'll do it."

He took grab of my pen lying on the floor and began scribbling the equation on the other piece of the paper. Then he began explaining the steps on solving the consta…erm… that's variable, huh? What's with the changing of signs… the hell? Stop making arrows! I'm already confused already!

"You got it clear, already?" He stopped writing as he asked me.

I smiled uneasily and replied, "What if I say… no?"

Frustrated, Natsume threw back the pen on the floor and start complaining, "See? That's what I told you! You're not listening to me at all! Well for your information, this is very easy!"

I replied back, "Easy for you to say, most 98 percent people can't handle this kind of solution!"

He began crossing his arms while twitching his eye in surprise, "A-are you making that up?"

I sneered, "…And do you think tutors are supposed to be patient?"

He paused as he angrily stared at me, and then a few moments later, he sighed in defeat while looking away again. "Fine, I'll repeat it again…"

Natsume's POV

"Hmm… it's seems that you made a great understanding to what Hyuuga-kun taught you, Sakura-san…"

I smirked when I heard Jinno's comments after examining Mikan's homework… thoroughly. I observed her. She was sweating hard, but she looked at Jinno with determination.

Then he began putting his fingers under his chin, "Well, this is your penmanship after all." He continued, "It's painful for me to say, but congratulations… I guess I underestimated you and Narumi too soon."

Everyone began clapping and whistling. While I looked at her smiling at everyone, she suddenly turned her eyes at me. My heart began to beat faster enough to make me fluster as I quickly looked away. But I'm glad that after all that, she managed to smile at me once again. I guess that's one of the things I loved about her.

At dismissal, some of the students stood up from their seats. I just remained seated, packing my things into my bag. Before I could stand up from my seat, Mikan walked towards me, carrying the notebook she showed to Jinno a while ago.

"Hey, Natsume?" She spoke up. She has such a cute voice.

"Yeah, what is it this time?" I asked, without looking at her, but I can feel her smiling back at me.

"I just want you to know that I appreciated your patience, understanding, and help… Thank you."

After I heard those words, I started to fidget as I accidentally opened my bag zipper. Again, I felt this tight thumping in my chest as I reluctantly eyed at her chocolate orbs. "Y-you're um…. W-w-welcome." Great, now I want to slap myself for stuttering too much.

Confused, she tilted her head sideways, "Is there something wrong, Natsume?"

"Nothing! I'm o-okay…"

Okay? No, I'm not okay… because this is the first time in three years that I felt something when I'm with her. Shit! Why now? Is it because she changed…o-or…. I-I don't know what else is the reason.

I snapped out of my paranoiac trance. I kept myself well-composed and said, "Well, I will not be able to teach you today. I have a practice at 5 o'clock."

Then she lowered her shoulders and crossed her arms. "Yeah, I know. You don't need me to remind me that."

"Well, I need to go now…" I stood up from my seat and left the classroom.

AFTER I walked several meters away from the classroom, I halted behind the pillar for a moment when I noticed Mikan stepping out from the room. I observed her actions as she fished out her cellphone in her bag and started reading a text message. She then started running hastily at the opposite side of the corridor. After she made a turn near the office, I turned around from my direction and started following her after I felt suspicious about the message.

Not caring that I was apparently acting like a deranged stalker, I kept following her as quietly as possible. She ran fast, but I was able to keep up a little in her speed. I realized that the faster I run, the louder it gets when she abruptly stopped running and turned her head around as if she heard something. But luckily, I was able to hide away quickly behind the pillar, before she could see me.

Mikan's PoV

'hey sakura-san, how r u?

meet me d gym, k?

theres something I wanna tell u.'

The last sentence of the message kept me psyched to see him. Oh God, what is he going to tell me? I'm not prepared for this! Maybe, I don't have to go… but I still want to go!

But I had this weird feeling that someone is following me again. I had this very bad vibe that someone who is following me right now is the same person who is watching over me several days ago. So I started to sprint so that I can lose the tail. Then I heard rapid footsteps coming behind me. I suddenly stopped and looked around… there's no one behind me. Well, I guess it's just my imagination after all.

I continued running, until I found Ruka standing behind the gym's door. He smiled as if he is pleased to see me again.

"Hey…" he greeted with a grin. I'm glad that he seemed to be more confident right now.

I blushed at his longing stare, "W-what is it you're going to tell me?"

"I just want to thank you for helping me back there… and I still want to repay your kindness." He replied.

After I heard those words, I began to stutter as I raised my hands and waved them, "Oh, no… It's okay! After all, you don't need to do anything else for me!"

He countered, "But you might need me, I want to help you this time… Best friends are meant to be helping each other, right?"

I was dumbfounded this time. I stayed silent as I listened to what he was going to say next. "I could help you with your studies this time."

Suddenly, I felt my face burning. I'm flustered- I can't believe it! "B-but what about your practice for today?"

"Nah, I talked to coach a while ago to be excused for the practice for today. He has no problem about it."

Natsume's PoV

She nodded.

I gnashed my teeth. I was dismayed by her apparent eagerness and Ruka's way of being compassion is way too romantic for her. I just don't want to acknowledge that the dynamic between Mikan and Ruka has changed. Just for last week, she would get flustered from his advances, unsure of what to make of them. But now… though there is an atmosphere of uncertainty, Mikan seems to be more receptive or even more appreciative than usual when I observed her last week. My stomach coils when I recalled the way she talked or even smile fondly for my best friend, my team mate…

I'm jealous. I finally admitted to myself. God, this stinks. Is this what Mikan had to deal with all this shit?

It's time for me to slip away. I guess I held back too much grudge against him. Like, I want to walk over him and burn him until he turns into ashes. But I couldn't. I don't deserve her after ignoring or even rejected her love for me in three years, and now she got it from him- No! I can still own her. Even though it's really that unfair and suffer the bitter truth, I can still make her mine. I can still impress her!

"Natsume?"

That voice, that sweet voice… I turned around just to see her.

"Mikan?"

I finally blurted out her name. My pulse in my chest became faster, every time I say her name. I suddenly felt an urge of possessiveness all around me. It felt that all I ever wanted this time is to embrace her in my arms and tell her everything I feel.

Before I could do anything, she asked me, "What are doing here?"

"I'm just passing by…" I lied

I noticed her looking down the floor, seemingly depressed, as she asked again, "You heard it all, didn't you?"

I was a bit shocked about that question. What should I do know? Should I tell her the truth? Should I be angry with her? What would be her reaction?

"Yeah…" I finally answered, and it seems that I chose the first option after all.

Despite while she was still facing down to the floor, I noticed her smiling uneasily, "I'm sorry…"

"For what?"

She looked at me with radiance and said, "For everything… especially when Ruka-pyon volunteers himself to help me with my studies. I know you feel bad about that."

Oh Mikan, are you really that dense? "No, I'm not! Really! I'm just glad that someone is willing to help you for just this time…"

"Oops, sorry again…" she smiled again as she scratched her head and laughed, "I just overreacted…"

"Sooo…" I continued sheepishly, "Aren't you supposed to be going with Ruka now?"

"Well yeah, but I need to go back to the classroom first, I forgot my pen back there…" her voice trailed off in such embarrassment. She's so goddamn cute when she blushes.

Suddenly, I grabbed my bag and fished out something inside and showed it to her as I said aloofly, "Here, you can take my pen."

"O-oh…"

I instantly became impatient as I told her, "Take it before I'm going to change my mind!"

She yelped in surprise for a second and then she took my pen away from my hand reluctantly, "T-thank you... I'll return it to you as soon as po-"

I cut her off before she could say the last word, "It's okay, it's yours now… I can buy another one."

She countered, "But this is your favorite pen!"

I chuckled and then said, "I never wanted that pen anyways. You can have it now, consider it as a gift from your friend."

I eyed at me for a moment then she looked at the pen again, and then she smiled, "O-okay… Thanks again, Natsume."

"See you later, my lo-"I abruptly bit my lip, turned away and left embarrassed.

A/N:

Yo fans of MxN! You like it? I kinda improved my vocabulary but you know, not the grammar (introducing my lil sis, the proofreader dun, dun, dun, dun…dummmmmm). As for XxJMLxX thank you for congratulating me for having 70 reviews, it was great. Happy Valentines, guys… (Although I'm not a fan of chocolates, flowers and haranas…sorry po!) I have to publish this story in wattpad but with different names of the characters and almost same plot, so don't accuse me of plagiarism when you see this story in wattpad. My username is renkrisb in wattpad.

I'm creating another story… it's a secret! But first you need to vote my poll in my profile. The choices are one of my favorite pairing in anime. The pairing who has the highest vote will be my couples for my next story. So please vote wisely! Thank you! *muah* *muah*

Lots and lots of hearts,

Ruby X Sapphire~nya