One More Chance

Chapter 3: Mikan's New Partner

 

*Pretending you don't feel anything for someone is like convincing yourself that you could probably deny the only thing you can be sure of.

Mikan couldn't help but stare at Natsume in shock. She couldn't believe what she just heard. After all, she spent almost two years thinking that Natsume deceived her and yet, she couldn't help but doubt her beliefs, especially when she'd seen his eyes. She tried searching for something, anything in his expression that would prove that he was lying. She couldn't believe him, no, she didn't want to believe him. Because even though she didn't want to admit it, she knew for a fact that she didn't want to make another fool of herself in front of him. Again.

Natsume loosened his grip around her hands, and she was finally able to break free. Mikan retreated back a few steps, making sure she was not within three feet of him.

"You're lying." She tried to sound cold, but her voice broke.

"Do you really think that I would actually dare cheat on you?" Natsume demanded, his eyes challenging hers.

Mikan couldn't help but look away. She didn't know what to believe anymore. A part of her wanted so much to believe Natsume but her pride was keeping her from doing so.

"Come on Natsume! What do you expect me to think? Koizumi has always had her eyes set on you since the fifth grade! And I know that you were once interested in her."

"That was only once and it was way long ago before we started dating. Do you really mistrust me that much?" Even though it was only for a brief moment, Mikan could swear that she saw pain cross his crimson eyes.

"I don't know if I could trust you anymore." She said quietly, not meeting Natsume's eyes.

Guilt washed over her. She knew that she was lying to him; she knew that she was lying to herself. Mikan knew for a fact that she was only trying to convince herself that she was the victim and that Natsume was the one who did wrong. But it was nothing more than a lie. A stupid, big lie.

"Mikan will you listen—" Natsume tried to object, but Mikan cut him off.

"Natsume, what happened before doesn't really matter anymore." Mikan managed to force a smile on her face.

"After all, past is past. There's really no need for us to open up old wounds. Besides, I've already moved on. It's better if we just go our separate ways and see other people. It's better if we just remained…friends." She had a little difficulty in saying the word "friends".

After all, can they ever go back to those times when everything was just simple and their greatest problems in life were only school, parents and puberty? Mikan doubted that. It was completely, incomprehensibly and utterly impossible. Their lives were just a little too…complicated.

"Do you honestly think that I could agree with that?" Natsume challenged.

Mikan flinched. She knew better than to test Natsume's patience and stubbornness. If there was anything people should never dare cross, it was Natsume Hyuuga's temper.

"At least you could try. After all, we used to be great friends back then. Let's just forget about what happened and go back to how we were used to be. It's for both our sakes." Mikan tried to sound convincing, not just to Natsume, but to herself as well.

Looking at him now, even though she didn't want to admit it and despite her many objections, Mikan still truly and completely loved him. She never once stopped loving him. Despite all of the pain and heartbreak that she felt when they broke up, her love for him never wavered. But even so, she has to stop loving him.

Eiji's face quickly entered her mind. How could she do this to him, even though she knew that he loved her so much? Even if she still had feelings for Natsume, she can never bare to break Eiji's heart.

"You think that I could easily forget what we once had together?" Natsume was completely mad. "Mikan, we've been dating for more than three years!"

"Come on, Natsume. You're a renowned ladies' man. It'll be easy for you to find someone to replace me." Mikan managed to fake a laugh, even though deep inside, her heart was breaking apart all over again.

Natsume looked like he wanted to protest, but fortunately for Mikan, the bell signaling the end of homeroom period rang. Mikan fought the urge to sigh with relief. She would have probably had a breakdown if this conversation continued on. Hotaru came next to her and placed her hand on Mikan's shoulder.

"Let's go. Everyone's probably worried about us." She said.

Mikan almost forgot that Hotaru was there in the first place. Her best friend had been so quiet up until now that Mikan barely managed to notice her. She let Hotaru lead her back to the building. But before leaving, she turned to look at Natsume, who was looking away from them, his eyes downcast.

"Natsume." She called.

Their eyes met and Mikan's heart became heavy. There was pain in his eyes. And she was the one who caused it. Leaving Hotaru's side, she turned to approached him. But Hotaru caught her arm, holding her back.

"Mikan, we should go." She protested.

"It's alright, Hotaru. I know that he won't hurt me." Mikan assured her. Although reluctantly, Hotaru finally let go of her arm.

Mikan came to Natsume's side and touched his arm. It was just a casual gesture, but it caught Natsume's attention.

"I'm sorry that things had to go this way. But it's better than staying mad at each other forever, right?" Mikan tried to sound as confident as she could, if only she felt the same.

Natsume didn't answer. He didn't move. He just stood there, his eyes, once again, downcast. Mikan grabbed his arm and although reluctantly, Natsume followed her.

"You wouldn't actually want the teachers to get mad at you on your first day, do you?" She chastised.

And when they finally entered the building, they bumped into Anna, Sumire and Nonoko, who were out of breath and bless them, carrying their bags.

"Narumi-sensei…told us…to…find…you…" Sumire managed to explain as she handed Natsume his bag. "Here you go, Hyuuga-san."

"Hn." Natsume shrugged as he took his bag.

Anna and Nonoko handed Mikan and Hotaru their bags.

"Mikan, Narumi-sensei wanted us to give you this." Nonoko handed Mikan a long white envelope. Mikan looked at the back to see who sent it to her.

"It's from uncle." She said, surprised. Why would the High School Division's principal send her a letter?

When she opened the letter, she couldn't believe what she read. She read it again, twice, thrice, four times but there was no use.

"What does it say?" Hotaru asked, worried.

Mikan was too dumbfounded to speak. Instead, she handed Hotaru the letter and she, along with Anna, Nonoko and Sumire read it. When they finished, they couldn't help but stare at Mikan in shock.

"He's not serious, is he?" Hotaru asked, outraged.

Mikan managed to nod. What was her uncle thinking?

Inside the letter, written with Kazumi Yukihara's handwriting with his signature signed at the bottom were the words:

"I, Kazumi Yukihara, as principal of the High School Division, assign Mikan Yukihara as Natsume Hyuuga's partner for the rest of the school year."