Chapter 5: Where were you?

…

The Christmas party ended without a hitch—at least for me. Poor Kagome…I can't imagine having your first kiss stolen by Tamaki-senpai…

"Haruhi."

I was on my way to the bus stop hoping to catch the last bus when I heard 'his' voice calling out to me inside a car. "Midorima-senpai." I frowned when I saw him behind the wheel. "Why are you here this late? Do you have a driver's license?"

He stopped the engine and went out of the car. "Because it's already late for a girl like you to be going home on her own. Why didn't Suoh and Ootori offered you a ride?"

"They did, but I escape because I can go home on my own. Besides, if I did go with them, will you still be waiting here?"

"Probably. But I know I will meet you here if I waited."

"We didn't make any promises Senpai." I started walking but he followed me. "Also, I remembered asking you nicely to get away from me."

He remained silent for awhile before grabbing my wrist. "Haruhi. Can we talk about this again?" I struggled to free my hand but he persisted. "Please?"

I heaved a sigh, "Fine." and then followed him to his car. The moment I sat at the passenger's seat I asked him again. "Do you have a driver's license?"

"Why are you worried about that?" He gave me a sidelong glance before motioning me to strap my seatbelt. "Shouldn't you be worried about different things? Like, you know, about being alone here with me like a normal girl?"

I know people kept telling me about being dense but when it comes to this person, I instantly knew what he meant. "Should I be worried?" I stared at him but he avoided my eyes.

Instead, he opened a compartment and showed me an I.D. "It's a Student's License for now but I'll get my Driver's License next year." He showed me an irritated smile. "Happy now?"

"I just want to know if I'm in safe hands." I placed the I.D. back at the compartment.

"You will always be in safe hands if you're with me."

I glanced outside the window. "Said the one who didn't show his face for ten years."

"Haruhi…"

"Aren't you going to drive me home?"

"Didn't we say we're going to talk?" He sighed before starting the engine. "Let's go to a café near your house."

"They are still open at this hour?"

"It's Christmas Eve."

"Oh."

…

Wrong move.

I shouldn't have agreed to go with him at this particular day—no, maybe forever. The place we went to is full of couples and it's giving me an awkward feeling.

He probably sensed my discomfort because he offered to go to another place. "It doesn't have to be here."

"No, this place is fine." I want this to get over with so I can go back to my normal life. Oh wait. Normal is out of the picture if I'm at Ouran Host Club. I sighed at my misfortune.

A waitress noticed our arrival to offer a table, and then instantly fluttered her eyelashes to us when she got a better look of our faces, especially to the tall guy beside me. Us? I was confused for a moment before noticing I'm still wearing my tux. Ah… Then glanced for the first time at senpai's equally formal clothing.

"Why are you wearing that?" I asked him the moment we were seated at a corner table and the waitress who insisted on calling out to her when we are ready to order was out of earshot.

"That?" He raised an eyebrow, then noticed where I was looking. "Ah…this." He noticeably became uncomfortable when he remembered what he was wearing, and then slowly removed his black coat, loosened his black necktie before unfastening the top two buttons of his light gray long sleeve shirt and all the buttons of his dark gray vest which he just left open. "I don't really like wearing tux because traditional clothing are still the most comfortable."

I gave him a stare which tells him that's not what I'm asking and he understood it.

"I attended a formal party with my family for Christmas Eve."

"So you escape?"

"Because I want to spend this day with you."

"…why?"

"Haruhi…I missed ten years of celebrating Christmas with you so I want to make up for it. If it' possible, I also want you to go with me at the shrine's first visit in New Year's."

"I will go with my father."

"Then I will go with yo—"

"Senpai. We're not going to talk about that right?"

He stared at me. "We should order first." Then he called a random waitress who's lingering at our table the minute we were seated, but the waitress who welcomed us beat the other first who gained death glares and then asked us for our order, sweet smile plastered on her face. But senpai didn't even glance at the girl, only focusing his eyes on me. "What would you like Haruhi?"

I scanned the menu, "Oolong tea." then politely handed it back at the waitress.

The waitress seemed happy. "What about our dessert, Sir? Our café is famous for our Lava Cake! I can get you an extra whip crea—"

"I'll get the same. Yōkan for me and Daifuku for her."

"Good choice Sir! We are also famous for our traditional desserts. I can give you an extra servings if you want?"

He then looked at her for the first time, and gave her a gentlemanly smile. "I appreciate your kindness Miss, but I will appreciate it more if you can get us our order without you getting scolded by your boss for giving us extra servings." Senpai motioned for her to look at the counter, an older waitress eyeing her suspiciously.

She gripped the menu at her chest. "O-Oh! Alright Sir! I'll give you your order in a minute! Please excuse me!" she said in a high-pitch.

"Wow. You're smooth Senpai."

"I don't like her getting fired for our sake."

"Is she your type, Midorima-senpai?" I tilted my head, honestly curious.

He eyed me. "Are you really asking me that question Haruhi?"

I frowned. "Huh?" Oh…right… "Just curious."

"You should know by now who I'm very much interested with."

"Because it's very confusing when a certain someone broke his promises to pursue a sport."

"It's not just a sport, Haruhi. I told you when we were kids right? That it's a family tradition for the first born son to excel at Kyudo. I can't fail my mother and grandfather."

"Why make promises then? Can't you spare one day for me at least once a week?"

"I—"

"Thank you for waiting! Here are your orders!" A different waitress placed the orders at our table. "Is there anything else I can get you with?" She asked in a cute way.

"No thank you." We said at the same time without properly looking at her.

"Oh. Okay! Just call me if you need anything else okay?"

We didn't answer her. Instead, I gave Midorima a pointed look, still waiting for his answer. The waitress seemed to notice the tension between us so she left.

"Haruhi…" He sighed. "I just… I just can't…"

I stood up, ready to leave. The noise made by the chair startled some nearby customers. But I don't care. His answer was enough to give a closure to our friendship. "Shin-kun." I muttered.

He seemed shocked both by the notion of me leaving and calling him that. "Haruhi—"

"You know what? I didn't show it, but I was happy when I saw you again." I whispered softly. "I forgot about you but when you called out to me, it was like I'm five years old again. Without thinking about grades, or budgeting my father's salary, or about my mother being in heaven. But thinking about you also brought back bad memories. Shin-kun…"

"Haruhi, please sit down—"

"Where were you when I needed you the most?"

…

…

I can't believe it! I updated! I wrote this for two hours so please forgive me if it's not that good. I'll make it up to you at the following chapters.

Btw~! If you're curious about Kagome's kiss, you can read Miscalculated's chapter 2!

Please leave your comments~ I will really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!

Sore ja~!

Matta ne~!