Mind Games (Ouran High School Host Club) Ch.10
I wanted everything to go as plan. The chairs are set in place along with the coffee tables, and couches. The room is filled with fragrances of the roses bought buy Kyouya himself. The red satin curtains are pulled back, as it brings sunlight into the dim room. I smiled in satisfaction while checking off the "To Do" list. Finally, the Host Club is now officially open for business.
The music room doors open as red rose petals following through. I watch as the girls enter the Host club with expected smiles on their lips. Their eyes train on me in admiration with an urge to lung themselves at me. I struggle to compose myself when one of my eyes started twitching in annoyance. Our customers is not the cause of my frustration; it was the Host club. I'm through with too much attention today when they bombard me with questions about my butler's love interest in a man(woman) like me. I'm tired when the Host club claims that he's actually gay(But he's not!). Then I was annoyed as hell when Hikaru and Kaoru plans to confront the guy to prove Sebastian is gay(but he isn't!). All in all, while gritting my teeth and composing my expression, I have to hold myself together just a few more hours. Because once those double doors open, my debt has begun. Other wise I'll be in a heap of trouble with the Shadow King.
Soft giggles interrupted my thoughts as I notice that three girls had their eyes on me, which I assume they are my customers. Two of the three happens to be Kushika and Aneka. The new girl's brown eyes were looking down the whole time, but I still knew that she was Kushika's sister, fifteen year old Amber Wataru. I smile at them, and lead them to our table. I did my usual things like I always do with Anne-Sophie. I pull their chairs out for them, before seating myself across from them like a gentleman should. I also admire how the Host has decorated the tables precisely as it should.
Our table is set with Japan's finest tea sets, polished silverware that is place on top of the elegantly folded napkins. In the middle is placed with a cake stand stack with different types of cake, filled sandwiches, and scones. To the side is a small flower vase filled with fresh pink roses.
"So what are you into Alex-sempai?" Kushika ask. She was in the middle of drinking her tea when I look up at her under my eyelashes, and the corner of my mouth curved upward. I watch as she catches her breath.
"Anything." I said. I cross my left leg over my right, while resting my hand above my knee, and then added. "As long as it interests me."
She blushed in response. The other two girls next two her only stare at me in shock. They're still not use to my presence just yet. I could easily read them.
I sigh.Girls are too easy to please.
"You're really good at this kind of things, Mr. Kinmichi." Kyouya said from behind. I didn't sense his pretense beforehand as it causes me to jump a little. I let out a breath to stop my beating heart, and smile up at him.
"You can say that."
"So um I...I mean we were wondering..." One of my customers interrupted our stare down. I look back at her questionably, when she continues. "Who was that man you were talking to earlier?"
My body flinched in reaction before I reply."My butler."
The girls gasp in shock.
"Is there something wrong?" I ask.
"No, no!" The three said.
"I was just wondering what relationship you have with that man that's all." Aneka said meekly. "I mean, we saw that scene out there-"
"It's alright." I interrupted her. "Don't misunderstand; we aren't in that kind of relationship."
"Then what kind of relationship are you in?" Hikaru ask in mockery, when he walks up behind me. He lean his arm above my chair, and looks down at me. A devious cheshire cat grin was plastered on his lips.
I rolled my eyes. "I have no relationship."
"Oh?" Kaoru ask from behind his brother.
"So you're not…." Aneka flustered. I knew what she was going to say.
"No, I'm not gay." I said simply while smiling in amusement. The girls sigh in relief, and I merely laugh.
I can't believe they thought that I was dating my butler. I thought to myself.
"Then..." Amber spoke up softly. I meet her nervous eyes for her to continue."Are you interested in anyone here?"
I notice then that the whole music room went deadly quiet. An eerie atmosphere form around us when I look up at Kyouya at the corner of my eyes, as my lips curved back into that amusing smile. I took a small sip of my Ceylon tea to just to aggravate him for stalling. I knew that he wanted to know my answer as everyone else here in the room. I look back my customers, and pretended that no one was listening to our conversation when I said, "That secret is for me to keep, and for you to never find out."
Just like that, my words satisfy my customer, and myself. The girls are intrigue of who my secret lover is, and I'm satisfied when I watch Kyouya calm face turns away from me as he walk back to his laptop. I snickered at him. He knew I had used the same words before towards him, and it had giving me some advantage to not be caught in his little mind games.
I win this time, Kyouya. I thought to myself in triumph.
(*)(*)(*)
After school, I ditch my ride, and walk out of campus on foot instead. I haven't explore the places I wanted, and thought that this might be the day to do it. But before that, I felt like going to the park again. Something about the place brought sudden happiness in me.
During the long walk around the trails, I notice there weren't as much kids around, but mostly adults. Some couples were lying on a blanket looking across the horizon between the tree lines at the sunset. Some was sitting on the bench having common conversation. I sat on the edge of the water fountain that is in the middle of everything. My hands rested on my pant pockets, while I look up at the sky.
The warm heat started to chill at the started of the season is changing. The leaves turn into autumn color, with yellow dewdrop at the end of each falling green feathers. The sky started to quickly darken, and the color of the sky dramatically changes by the differences in temperature. It is almost the same feeling my mother had once described to me of what it's like for her first love. But it had snow that day. How my mother had fallen for my father instantly.
I close my eyes and imagine their first sight of each other. Their first embrace. Their first kiss. How it could warm my heart if I had seen their loving gaze, staring into each others eyes. I would know that they were madly in love with each other, and I would be happy for them. Because of their love, I was born into this world. And that was when one of my old memories pops into my head.
"Do you want to go picnicking today, Alex?" My mother had was so young back then; twenty-seven years old to be exact.
She offers her hand towards my eight year old self. My innocent eyes stare at her pale hand, and then look up to meet her emerald orbs. I merely nodded, and accepted her hand in mine. The warmth gave me a sudden pleasure.
We both walk through the chilly streets of France. Hand in hand, as I almost cling to her just to stay warm. I could see my foggy breathe as I breathe out throughout the day. I knew where she was taking me, and it's obviously a bad time to go picnic in this kind of weather. I have experience more things any five year old shouldn't at this early of age. My mother and I both knew that, but I have to show her that I could be strong, and take it in without shedding any tears.
My father had die at an early age of 26 during the afternoon on Christmas Eve. His death was cause by drowning in Lake "Lac des Minimes", around Paris. He was driving home from work. Typical drunk driver didn't see where he was going, or my dad. Causing him to drive into the unfrozen lake. He couldn't escape out of his car in time, and disappear from this world. How his life was taken away from my mother and I brought deep depression as we cry. Why I've never eat lunch anymore, just bring back the memories. Even I blame myself because I was the one who had asks him to come home early that evening.
"What would you to tell him today, Alex." My mother whisper to me. Her eyes were wearily gazing down on father's tomb. I only look up at her, speechless of what to say.
"That I miss him, and wish he was here." I said breathlessly. I gaze down at the stone. We place fresh daffodils on the tomb, and watch as snowflakes fall down as it landed on the pedals.
My mother smiled.
"Also..." I added. My free hand form into a fist then, my eyes sharply gazes up at my mother."I promise to protect my mother for you, and no matter what, daddy."
But in the end, I have broken that promise.
"I'm sorry." I whisper. The sudden drip of tears sliding down my face causes my eyes to open. I quickly I look around, and see that I was still at the park. I let out a sigh while wiping my tears away, and started walking out into the streets back home. The street lights came on all around the busy crowd I walk through. I didn't notice how intense the light was that it momentarily blinded my eyes, as I move away from the crowd onto the streets. The car horns loudly at me to move aside, and I quickly did, but bumped into someone along the way.
"Sorry." I apologize quickly, and then walk away.
"Wait." Her voice stops me from taking another step. My body was frozen on the side of the busy road.I look across the crowd as I force myself not to turn around to look at the person who had call out to me. Because I knew that if I did, I wouldn't be able to handle my emotions.
"I wanted to talk to you, but you just ran away from me." I said instantly. I watch the crowd still pushed themselves aside from us.
"I'm sorry." She whisper, but I could still hear her symphonic voice.
"Have you been well?" I choked out, as my eyes are on the verge of spilling tears.. My hand started to form into fists as I struggle to hold back."How are you surviving these days?"
"Alexandria."My body trembles at her voice saying my name."Please look at me."
Her warm hand made contact with my sleeve shirt, and I instantly turn myself around while I embrace her with all my heart. My tears flow down my cheeks at the sudden shock of being love from her familiar touch.
"I don't want this to be another dream. I don't want you to disappear from my eyes, never again." I said sternly while hugging her tightly."This time, I will protect you, mother. I'm not letting you out of my sight."