One More Chance

Chapter 5: The Transferees

 

*The truth is, we hide because we want to be found. We walk away to see who will follow. We cry to see who will wipe away the tears. And we let out hearts to get broken to see who will come and fix them.

"Is that him?"

"He's so hot!"

"I want to date him!"

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

Whispers and murmurs echoed across the halls as Mikan and her group passed. Although, frankly it wasn't really the group everyone was gossiping about; it was someone in the group.

It has already been a week since Natsume transferred to Alice Academy. But despite that, the excitement around the school (especially from the girls) never seemed to waver. He was already popular and he even rivaled the number of fan clubs that Eiji had. Girls always confessed to him, but typically, he rejected all of them. That was when the rumors about their past relationship started to spread. And since then, Mikan has been the object of hatred by almost every female student in the school.

Despite her many attempts not to get affected by Natsume's sudden popularity, Mikan couldn't help but feel jealous. Sometimes, she couldn't help but be envious at some of the girls who give him love letters and chocolates and despite her many protests not to get involved with him, she couldn't help but anticipate that one of those days, she'll just find out that Natsume Hyuuga was finally going out with someone. And she knew that she'd have a breakdown if that happened.

Luckily, Natsume wasn't aware of her real feelings since Eiji was always together with them. Mikan noticed that Eiji was a lot more protective of her, and was practically everywhere she and Natsume went, even to the point that he was becoming overly possessive. But in a way, Mikan understood his feelings. After all, she would've been the same had the situation been reversed.

One day, while she and Natsume, with the absence of Eiji, (he had basketball practice) were on their way to History class, Wakako Usami, a student from Class 2-B, gave Natsume a love letter. Although she tried to look natural and unaffected, Mikan couldn't help but stare at the letter in anticipation. Natsume, who noticed this, smirked.

"Are you jealous, Mikan?" He asked.

Mikan turned away from him and pretended not to care.

"Why should I be jealous?" She retorted.

"You should be." Natsume smirked again.

"Not likely."

"Oh, really?" He challenged.

"Definitely."

"I don't believe you."

"I don't really care."

They went on and on, firing retorts and eventually, insults at each other. But despite all of that bickering, Mikan found herself enjoying the moment with Natsume. Somehow, during those moments, she remembered those times when she and Natsume have always had playful arguments when they were in elementary school. During those moments, she felt as though time had gone back and everything was still the way it was before. Before everything had gone wrong. Before everything became so complicated. Before they broke apart. But those moments were only short-lived.

Monday morning, just as everyone was arriving for homeroom period, others chattering about random topics, others hurrying to finish their homework and assignments on time and others just cramming for the tests that they didn't study for. It was just a normal, ordinary school day. At least that was before Sumire barged into the classroom, exhilarated and typically, out of breath.