"Here are my papers, and I'll need your signature to end our contract." He said, while he hands me his folder.
I look down at the papers while resting my cheek against the palm of my hand. My hands move the sheets around while I examine them and put my pen down in discomfort. I stare up at him in disapproval.
"So it really did end badly as you predicted." I said, with a bit concern in my voice. "But you know that you could still work for me."
The young man shook his head, and smile weakly. "I've already made up my mine to go help run my family's company, but I appreciate the off, madam."
"Sebastian." I said sternly. "I know this must be hard on you. I understand quite well what it feels like."
I slowly stood up from my chair and walk up right to him, as I grab his hand and place my hands between them. "You want to talk about it? I'm right here, and I will listen."
Sebastian looks down at our hands. "Thank you, but this is my problem. I rather hold this as a personal experience."
I sigh, but nodded in understanding. I turn back to the papers, and grab a pen to sign my name along the signature's line. I then hand the papers back to him, as he nod in appreciation before taking his leave.
"May I make a last request?" I ask before he was out of the door. Sebastian stops, but he didn't turn around so I knew he was listening. Then I said, "Come to my Christmas Eve party. That is all I ask of you."
There was a moment of silence, as he didn't say a word. Only a mere nod, before he closes the door behind him. It was the last time I saw Alex's butler.
(*)(*)(*)
I woke up the next day feeling refresh and alive more than ever. The sun has just barely risen when I got out of bed and head straight into the bathroom for a quick shower. I don't know why I was feeling this cheerful in the morning, but I notice that I started humming merrily like I don't have a care in the world. Someone interrupted my singing when they knock their knuckle against the bathroom door.
"You're cheerful today." Ann stated in a surprise manner. Her voice was audible enough for me to hear on the other side of the close door.
I turn off the shower head and stepped out before saying, "Yes, I am. Aren't I?"
"Do you need any help, My Lady?" Ann asks. Before I could answer, the front door bell ring, and I herd Ann sigh in frustration."Who in the world could that be this early in the morning?"
"Oh calm down." I said nonchalantly. "It might just be some delivery boy. Just go check and politely dismiss them."
"Yes, My Lady." Ann said obediently. I hear her footsteps disappear out into the hallway.
I wrap my body with a towel as I rubbed clear of the fog against the mirror in front of me. I smile at myself. "Nothing can bring me down today, because I seem to be on cloud nine."
I finish my morning routine within minutes and finally walk out of the bathroom still wraparound my towel. I walk to my dresser and grab the undergarments, the Ouran uniform from my closet, and the shoes that are needed for today. Just as I was about to dress, I heard tumbling and bickering coming from down the hallway.
"What are you doing, you're not allowed to come up here?" I heard Ann shout in appall.
I can hear laughter combine with more tumbling as the noises got even louder when it came closer to my bed room door. I shook my head, and thought of it as another mischief from the servants.
"No don't go in there, you're prohibited!"
"Will you calm down?" A familiar voice said. It was Kaoru's voice.
"We're just here to see Alex and take her with us." Hikaru said. I notice that the door knob of my door started turning."What's wrong with tha-"
Hikaru cut his sentence when he turn his attention back in front of him, and I was staring right back. Curious, Kaoru wanted to know why his brother had stop what he was about to say when Kaoru popped his head into view and saw me, half naked, wrapped in a towel, and staring at both at them in motionless alarm. His redden in shock.
"Alex I didn't mean to-"Hikaru started to say when his face flush red.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, get out!" I scream.
"We're sorry-"
"I said GET OUT!" I ran at both the twins, push them out of my room, and slam the door behind them in humiliation. I was more mortified than frustrated as I lean my back against the door. My cheeks burning and I can feel myself blushing in embarrassment.
"…An accident." I said to myself. "It was just an accident."
It took a couple of minutes to clear my mind before walking downstairs to properly greet my unexpected guest. Fully dressed in my Ouran uniform and a backpack in my hand as I inter into the foyer where the Hitachinn twins have been waiting nervously. I sigh out and step into view.
Immediately both of the boys stood up and bow. "We're sorry!"
"It's fine." I said calmly. "What are you guys doing here anyways?"
The twins both look at each other and one of them said, "Well we were wondering if you're free this afternoon."
I look at them in confusion. "Well yeah, I'm free this afternoon, but why? Where are you guys taking me?"
Both of them smirk. "That's a secret."
(*)(*)(*)
The twins supposedly gave me a ride with them to school, and I think it's because I will be having a harder time to go back home, just in case I decided to ditch them last minute. Well they are smart about that, because they for one didn't tell me where the heck we were going.
School ended faster than I thought as I was walking towards my locker to put my books in. I spotted Haruhi walking the opposite way and we met up between our lockers.
"What's up?" Haruhi asks.
I sigh. "The twins are up to something."
"Oh, so they're doing that." Haruhi said, too innocently, which made me turn my head to face her. She just smiled while closing her locker door.
"Do you know anything about this, Haruhi?" I ask suspiciously.
Haruhi smile. "You'll see soon enough."
I didn't have time to ask her more because she started to walk away from me. I was about to call after he when Honey came up from behind me and cut in front of me. His large brown eyes look up at me.
"W-what is it Honey-sempai?" I stammer.
"Are you all set?" He asks.
"What? Oh, uh, yeah I'm ready."
"Then this way!" Honey said when he suddenly grab hold of my hand and started pulling me through the hallway.
"Why are we running?" I ask in panic.
"Because it will be close in 2 hours, and you need as much time as you can get." Honey said cheerily, while he pulls me harder.
"But I can't run as fast as you." I said breathlessly.
"Oh alright." Honey said. "Then you're up, Takashi."
"Okay."
"Wait, when did he get here? Whoa!" I said as I was being lifted in Mori-sempai's arms. He made sure he securely grabs a hold of me before both of them dash through the hallway like professional sprinters.
These people are crazy! I thought.
(*)(*)(*)
When we arrive at the front entrance of the school, I was immediately blindfold by Hikaru, and he told me to trust him on this, and how could I not? I can't see anything. They're my only guidance now.
"Tell me why I have to be blindfolded?" I ask.
"It's because we want to surprise you." Kaoru said.
"I don't think I can handle any more surprises.
"Don't worry, you'll like." Hikaru said. "Well, hopefully."
I gulped at his uncertainty.
"Oh yeah, did you make sure to bring the stuff?" Hikaru ask, but I didn't know who.
"Yes, young lord. We did." Two people with the same voices said in unison.
Oh, so there's someone else in the car with us. I thought in surprise.
"Hey, are they the two maids I met before?" I ask them.
"Yes, Lady Alex, it's us. We're only here to provide service for your ladyship."
"No, no I really don't think I need help." I said. "Wait, do I?"
"Well, you will need them when we get there." Kaoru said.
"Why?"
"Shhh, stop asking so many question and just sit there and act surprise." Hikaru said irritably, and that shuts me up.
It was one of the longest, and the most silent car ride I've ever had with the Hikaru and Kaoru. I don't know if I should feel nervous or excited about the whole situation. But I do know one thing, my anticipation is running wild.
The car slowed itself to a stop and I heard seatbelts being unbuckled as someone tends to my care and unbuckle mine before leading me out of the car and into the evening air. I shivered at the coldness of the wind.
"Here, grab my hand." Kaoru said, as he puts his hand on top of mine. I reluctantly grab hold of it, as he pulls me in the direction where we were supposed to go.
When we walk a couple of more steps ahead, I started to hear low noises that seem familiar to me. It was soft, and serene, almost like a flowing of a river. A waterfall? A pond? Or maybe it really is a river. But in any case, it's definitely filled with body of water. Wait a minute.
Water plus cold weather equals freezing my butt of. I thought in realization.
"What the heck are we doing? Are you guys trying to freaking kill me with cold water? " I yell out suddenly, which cause Kaoru's hand to tense up.
Hikaru laugh, "No you idiot, you'll see soon enough."
A few more steps later and a few a rushes of hot air, and sense that we step inside a building. I hear the water even closer now, but a few extra noises were added. Every few minutes I hear a thump of something hitting something hard that makes the sound echo.
Thunk!
What could that be? I thought.
"Ah welcome to the-"I heard a women started to say, but someone cuts her off when they shush her. I heard the women clear her throat as she said, "Ladies, right this way, and for the two of you boys, you go this way."
"I'll leave the rest to you." Kaoru said to someone as he releases my hand. I stood there frozen until someone else reach out and grab my shoulders leading my body forward.
"Don't worry, Lady Alex." One of the Twins' maids said."We'll take care of everything for you."
"A-alright."
(*)(*)(*)
"So do you think she'll like it?" Hikaru ask me, while stripping off his clothes. He looked over at me as I was unbuttoning my shirt.
I shrug my shoulders in reply, "We'll see soon enough."
"Operation Alex DTBH Phase two is in process." Hikaru said, while smiling wickedly."Hope this will work."
I nodded in agreement, while I let out a small smile. I look back at the exit door from which we came and stare at it worriedly. I shook of the remaining clothes and put on the trunks, while throwing a towel over my left shoulder.
"Stay with us." I murmur softly, while staring at the tile floor."Always."
I literally felt naked to the bones when the maids stripped my clothes off of me while I aggravatingly protest their sudden impulse to do such things. But they eventually grab hold of me and pull my clothes off and immediately replace it with something that clings to my body and it felt really stretchy.
Am I wearing a bathing suit? I thought repulsively.
"I thought you said we're not swimming in the cold water?" I snap at them.
The girls giggled, "And you're not, My Lady."
"What do you mean by that? Then why would I be wearing a swim suit?"
"Can't we just tell her?" One maid ask the other, and ignoring my questions completely.
"No, she'll have to see for herself."
Both of the maids push me in another direction, with the blindfold still wrapped around the eyes. I felt another sudden rush of air of the cold breeze and it seems that we're outside again, but there was some other heat nearby that I feel as it gives me goose bumps.
Thunk!
It's that sound again. I thought.
"We've been waiting, sheesh." I hear Hikaru to my left."What took you so long?"
"Can I take my blind fold off now?" I overlap his question.
"Here, let me do it." Kaoru said from behind me, causing me to jump in surprise. I felt his hands untying the knot on the blindfold as it loosens and falls down to my neck.
A gasp escapes my lips.
"Welcome." The twins said in unison, "To the hot spring!"
I gaped at them for a minute, taking in what they just said. I look at them and then back at the maid, and then back. I tried to regain my composure, but instead I started to shake, and choked out in a small frenzied chuckled, and then it turns in a hysterical laughter.
The twins looked stun as they look at each other; speechless of what to say. I look at the once more as I wipe a small tear at the corner of my eyes.
"S-sorry" I said, while still laughing a bit."It's just that I thought that you guys were going to do something weird like take me to a water park like I don't know, in Hokkaido and left me there in the freezing water or just try to make me fun of me for whatever I did to humiliate you in some way. But this, this I got to say is pretty impressive."
"We'll that was our first idea, but-" Hikaru started to say but his brother nudge him to stop.
I cock one of my eyebrows at them.
"So do you like it?" Kaoru ask, with an uncertain expression on his face.
I smile, "Are you kidding? I've always wanted to go to a hot spring. Of course I love it!"
(*)(*)(*)
"Ahh, now this is the life." I said heavenly while I lead my back against the side wall.
The whole room was so soothingly and the hot water feels divine. Around the pool are layered and tacked with rocks of each sides and shapes. Roses of all colors float above the surface water around us. Green little plant like trees surrounded the missing corners to make it seem more nature like, and that sound I kept hearing before was the none other than a Shishi Odoshi, a Japanese bamboo fountain called a "deer-scarer."
"Hey, I just realize something." I said to them. The two boys open their eyes and look at me so I said, "I thought there are separate bath for men and women.
"There are." Hikaru said in agreement.
"But why bother with that when there's only just us, and it's not like we're naked or anything." Kaoru stated.
I flushed at his words."W-well I didn't say that I did not like it this way. And why isn't there anybody else around?"
"It's because we rent out the whole place to ourselves." The Hitachinn said nonchalantly.
My jaws dropped."W-what?"
Wow, they have that kind of money? I thought in astonishment. I knew they were rich, but not this rich.
"But this is a hotel." I stated."Where is this place anyways?"
"In Ryokan, at Wakamizu Hotel."
"That expensive huh…" I whisper to myself while sucking in a gasp.
"Just relax and enjoy it." Kaoru said.
I sigh out in defeat, while sinking my face in the water till the surface was below my nose. I blew bubble in the water as I watch the water started to boil its bubbly air. I knew that this type of thing isn't what the twins do in their spare time, and I knew that this was all for me, but I kept wondering why they're doing this for? Either way, I'm grateful for what they have done for me for the past weeks.
I didn't know what I should say to them when we all left the hot spring. The car ride was as smooth and relaxing I've ever felt in my life. I got into a conversation with them about little things that weren't all important just to kill the time we have left together before I leave for the trip. Then out of no where our conversation changes and they both wanted to play a game they called it a very particular name.
"Let's play "The which one is Hikaru!" game." Both of them said in unison, with a devious smug smile plaster on their lips.
I laugh while rolling my eyes at the ridiculous name."You have got to be kidding me."
"We'll see whose laughing." Both of them said."First, turn around so we can shuffle ourselves to see if you can guess which one is which."
"Fine, whatever." I said, while turning my body away from them as I stare out the window of the car. A few seconds I hear shuffling and movements of them switch seats a couple of times before settling in their seats and turn my body back around.
"So which one of his is Hikaru?" They both said together, and I notice that they both change their voices to match one another.
"Before I answer..." I said, "I heard that one of you guys have a little crush on Haruhi. Is that true?"
One of the twins on the left face burn red and the other one look at his brother warningly and then back at me. The one on the right said, "We don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh darn. " I said innocently, while shrugging my shoulders."I guess you could be right about that, Kaoru."
"Of course I'm-"Kaoru said halfway before cutting himself off. "H-hey you tricked me! And how did you know that it was me?"
I laugh while winking at them. "It's a women's intuition."
(*)(*)(*)
We arrive at my manor an hour later, as I exit myself out of their car. I turn myself to face them as I bow at them respectably. They both look at me in surprise.
"Thank you for everything up until now." I said softly and honestly as I cold while I look down with sudden bashfulness. I look up from under my eyelashes."You guys are always there whenever I'm down, and without you guys, I didn't think I would make it this far."
The boys look speechless.
I continue to speak, "For all the adventures we've been through, no matter where we are, I'll always say everything honestly and wholeheartedly that I am deeply grateful to have friends like you guys."
"Y-you don't have to say it like that." Kaoru flustered.
"A-and why are you saying it like that." Hikaru said nervously while shaking his head."It sounds like you're saying a final goodbye to us or something."
I laugh nervously, "Oh does it? Sorry about that."
"Well, we'll see you tomorrow then." Hikaru and Kaoru said while closing the door and lowering the window.
"And remember," Kaoru stated, while smiling the most breathtaking smile I've ever seen. "We're always here for you."
I was left speechless when they drove off before I could say anything to them. I could feel my beating heart fasten its pace while a clutch the left side of my shirt; wanting to know why it's doing so. A small genuine smile curved at the corner of my lips as I watch their car sped across the street till I see no more than a mere spec.
Another ending day that had taken me by surprise. I thought.
"But…" I though solemnly, while looking down at the snow covered ground. "What will happen to the coming of that last day? "
I guess I won't know till that day comes.
4 Days Left before departure.