Chapter Seven

Mikan

I know, it might not be smart to try; to outsmart your boss and to get him trapped in one of your plans. But I have to try once, right?

Plan: Invite Aoi to bake cookies and then make him eat all of it (because you know I'm bad at baking). He'll sure get a stomachache from my bad skills at baking.

"Aoi!" I told her enthusiastically. "Let's bake cookies today!"

She nodded happily. We were just finishing our breakfast. Today, I have to eat beside Aoi because Mr. Hyuu-, I mean Natsume, gave us instruction to dine with him. Weird guy. Maybe he still wanted to make-up for the incident yesterday.

"Let's go, dear." I said as I helped her out her chair.

She pointed at Mr. Bear who sat at the table. I took it and held it to her waiting arms. She grabbed it and smiled at me.

We left Natsume in the dining room, still reading his newspaper. Why would he ask us to dine with him if his attention was not even in the room? I mean, he didn't even drop his newspaper to greet us or try to engage us; even now as we leave, no reactions.

We entered the kitchen. Anna was there, she sat in one of the kitchen stools. She was writing something.

"Hey, Anna! Aoi and I decided to bake today. Cookies to be precise." I told her. "Do we have ingredients for cookies?"

"Actually we're out of flour." she replied. "But I was going to the market today with Ruka."

"Oh. Could we come?" I asked her.

"Sure."

I looked over at Aoi and beamed at her. She beamed back and started dancing our winning dance routine. I followed and laughed. Anna started laughing too.

"Anna! I'm ready." Ruka called out. "Shall we go no- wait, was I interrupting a dance party?"

"No, Ruka we were just dancing around 'cause Anna said we could come with you guys."

"Great. The more, the merrier."

"So, you're the gardener and also sometimes the family driver?" I asked Ruka while we waited for Anna. Aoi was inside the car playing with Mr. Bear.

"Yes." he replied. "What, can I say I'm a man of talents."

"That you are." I said as I jokingly poked him at his chest. I like Ruka, he was carefree and fun to be with. "How are the roses?"

"It won't be for another week or so, before we see little sprouts." he told me. He patted my shoulder and his hand stayed there. "I'll inform you of their transformation, don't you worry."

I looked at him. "That would be great, I'll definitely would lov-"

I didn't get to finish my sentence because I saw Natsume exiting the main door.

"Where are you going with Aoi!?" he said but it almost sounded like a roar. He looked at Ruka, then Ruka's hand on my shoulder. Ruka instantly removed his hand from my shoulder.

"Ah- Hmm- To the Market."

"I'll take you." he said grimly and motioned Ruka to hand over the key for the car. "Take the list from Anna. Tell her to stay."

"O- Okay."

I ran back to the house and got the list from Anna. "You don't need to come, Anna. Boss's orders, he said you should stay, we'll do the grocery shopping."

"You know, Mikan. Natsume has been acting quite strange around you."

I didn't know what to think about that comment. I don't want my life to get more complicated as it is.

Natsume

I was in my study, working. It's been almost two weeks since polka-dots entered our house and our lives. I don't know how to categorize her. All my life, I had a life that follows a routine and then suddenly she comes and breaks that organized life. Like, the last few days, I went to London for an unplanned business meeting; all because I wanted to leave for a few days to get a little space away from the brunet.

From the first moment I saw her. She was different. I mean, she did hit me with a big spoon.

And the following days, her aliveness made me uneasy. The first time, I heard her sing, I wish I didn't hear it; it made me feel something foreign. And when she told Aoi that story, it reminded me of a happy time that I don't need now. That I won't ever need.

I don't even know myself anymore these past few days. It's all new to me. I'm even thinking of her when I know I shouldn't be.

I've changed a lot my routine, like dining with them. It was like a drug, I just want to take in little-by-little what she had to offer. The way she spoke with liveliness. The way she moved animatedly. The way she makes days seems full of sunshine.

Sunshine. The only one I had was Aoi. She can't be categorized as sunshine!

I looked out my window.

I saw her but then I noticed that Ruka was with her. They were talking. They were animated. Then, she poked Ruka on his chest. Why was I feeling a small ache in my heart? Like, I want to strangle them both for being too close. What was I suggesting that I want that ease she had with the gardener with me?

I didn't know what I was doing. The next thing I knew I was climbing the stairs down and was walking towards the house front.

I saw them. I saw Aoi too, sitting at the back of the car.

"Where are you going with Aoi!?" I said and I couldn't keep myself from raising my voice. I looked at Ruka, then Ruka's hand on her shoulder. Ruka instantly removed his hand from her shoulder. I wanted to hit him for touching her but I kept myself from doing it, I had no right to do it.

"Ah- Hmm- To the Market." she answered.

"I'll take you." I said grimly and motioned Ruka to hand over the key for the car. "Take the list from Anna. Tell her to stay."

"O- Okay."

What was I doing? I had a lot to finish at work, I needed to start a new campaign for my business deals. Yet, here I was driving her and Aoi to the market, just because...because I didn't want her spending time with the gardener, because I wanted he to spend time with me.

This was out of my safe zone. And I wanted to taste more of it.

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