Don't Hide From Reality; One Love Part 2

Nine years have passed by. Natsume and the others are 25 years old and they all have a job. But someone doesn't want to tell his profession to anyone. Why?

Okay guys… dirtbagroyalty is back! Mwahahahaha! I hope you wouldn't get mad at me for the lame ending of One Love. I'm so sorry. I really couldn't think of a proper ending since I was so upset when Alice academy ended. Nothing happened between Mikan and Natsume… wah! But I laughed my socks off. Anyway, the story happened after nine years. More on Natsume's POV. Sorry kung walang kissing scenes.

i.

I was driving down the street to see Mikan. I've been away for two weeks. I couldn't tell her what I was up too. I just told her that I'll go on a business trip and that I'll be gone for a week or two. She's living with Youichi now. And I live with Ruka. It was his dream, you see. I'm working hard so that I'll have enough money when Mikan and I get married. Ha! I was planning to propose to her sooner or later. I've got everything ready. But every time I try to tell her, my job is stopping me. They always send me on a 'business' trip. So now, I brought my proposal ring, a huge teddy bear, fluff puffs and her favorite flowers, tulips, just so I propose to her with no interruptions. Hold on! Youichi! He's there. But maybe he'll just be with his next-door neighbor.

Mikan had became a pre-school teacher over the years. Before, she used to flunk in our subjects but then, she studied hard and became better over the years. And the auntie of the kid she's teaching is Youichi's type. The girl was a lot like Mikan. She always smiles, just like Mikan. A 19 year-old version of Mikan .Well, Youichi had became like me. A 20 year-old me! He always teases the girl! Maybe their love story would be like ours.

Knock knock

"Coming!" a voice answered. It was her alright. When she opened the door, I couldn't help but admire her. Her hair was worn down, she was on pink starry pajamas with a pink starry hair band and her attire would never be complete without her lovely smile.

"Hi!" she said. "Mm." was my reply. Then I handed her the things I brought for her. Well, except the proposal ring.

"Are all these for me?" she asked. What an idiot. Would I shove it in her hands if it wasn't for her?

"No." I replied sarcastically.

"Oh. I thought it was for me." She replied looking down on the objects that I gave her. What an idiot. I decided to tell her the truth now. It might lead somewhere.

"No. I was just kidding. It was for you. Who else?" I replied. Silence passed us. I decided to break it.

"Aren't you gonna let me enter?" I asked for the cold November breeze was making me freeze.

"Oh, sorry. Come in!" she said while she opened the door more. A lot has changed in her house. Just in two weeks! I just stood in a corner until she asked me to sit down. So I sat down on the middle of the cream-colored sofa.

"Do you want to watch the T.V.?" she asked.

"No." I replied.

"Would you want to eat?" she asked while sitting on the cream colored-lounge chair.

"No." I replied looking/staring at her. By now, I could see that she's starting to get annoyed.

"Then what do you want to do?" she asked. I went to the corner of the sofa, near to where she sits and stared at her. Then I moved my face closer to hers. By now, she turned pink. Now is the good time to propose.

"Mikan. I really wanted to do this for a long time now." I said as I moved my face closer to her. She moved her face back wards. I knew that she's feeling awkward. Then I reached for the ring.

"Would you-" but before I could continue, Youichi and the girl stormed in. "I'm ho-" but then, his eyes grew big.

"Natsume!" he said. He stopped calling us mother and father when he matured. Well, I asked him.

-flashback… five years ago-

When he was fifteen and we were twenty, it was getting awkward. I said. "Youichi, is it alright if you stop calling us mother and father? It's a bit embarrassing for your age."

"Yes. I understand. I thought about that too. But then, what would I call you?" he replied.

"Natsume. And call polka, Mikan or polka or strawberries or any names." I replied.

"Okay Natsume." Youichi replied. Then he smirked.

-end of flashback-

"What are you two doing?" he said emotionlessly he said while his eyes returned to normal. Mikan, realizing our position, moved backwards. I wonder why?

"Umm… nothing. Anyway, where have you been?" Mikan said trying hard to change the subject. I went back to my normal position. Then I realized that I missed a chance to tell her again. How the gods hate me. Then I saw someone, particularly, a blonde-haired girl, which is in a half pony, with sea-green eyes, hiding behind Youichi.

"You have a visitor don't cha Youichi?" I asked him for he was still on the porch with his hands on the open door.

"Yeah." He said while the girl followed behind him. I could tell from her actions that she was very confident to enter.

"Come in!" Mikan said standing up from the couch to welcome the girl.

"Oh yeah. Natsume. This is Miyu Tujimoto." Mikan said while pointing at the girl. Well, she really is like Mikan. I never had a chance to be introduced to her. I only observed her for awhile, when they first moved in.

"Hmph." I said in reply. But then, she gave me a smile as a reply. Just like Mikan did. After a while, we ate dinner, I didn't eat much. Everybody seems to be having a good time. Youichi teases Miyu just like I tease Mikan. And Miyu would get annoyed just like Mikan would react to my teases. Finally, it looks like Youichi had found his very own polka dotted panty girl. But he said it wasn't polka dots. He said he also saw her panties and it was cherries.

After Miyu left, Youichi went up to his room.

"Are you going to sleep here?" Mikan asked.

"Maybe."

"Could you sleep here? I need help. I need to return the kids' quiz paper by tomorrow. Don't worry, the guest's room is ready." Mikan said with puppy eyes. I mean, who couldn't resist them?

"Whatever." I said meaning 'yes'.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed then she hugged my waist.

"Let's get to work. To my room we go!" she said while dragging me upstairs. Then I decided to tell her there on her room. We were checking those quiz papers. There was a lot. I expected that anyway. She's teaching 3 rooms. Then she decided to take a break. She went down to the kitchen to get something to munch. I glanced at the wall clock. It was already 10:15 (a/n: actual time from my laptop. Hehe. You don't care right? If you do, I'm telling you, you shouldn't.). When she came back, she was holding a tray with a lot of biscuits two empty glasses and a box of milk. Was that some kind of a midnight snack?

"Let's eat!" she said while pouring milk on the glasses.

"Polka…" I said in a serious voice.

"Yes?" she said while munching on the cookie. Then there was some particle of the cookies at the corner of her mouth. I wiped it. I reached for the engagement ring and put it in front of her face. After that, I said my piece.

"Would you marry me?" I could see that she's gutted. She blushed really hard. After a minuet of silence, she started to stammer. "I I-I d-d-do." She said and tears were flowing from her eyes. Maybe those were tears of joy. Then she hugged me.

I fell asleep in her room that night. She asked me to just stay there even just after she fell asleep. But unfortunately, when I sat on her very own lounge chair, I fell asleep too.

-end of chapter-

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-dirtbagroyalty-