XX.

A soft knock on the door broke the peaceful silence I was feeling and it followed by the sweet voice of the last person I wanted to hear. "Kinomi, breakfast is ready!"

I took in a deep breath as my future brother's words rushed back to me, "Try to give it a chance, Kinomi-chan,"

Tetsurou already left a week ago because he had to attend school which left me no choice but to be alone with Mom in my apartment. Even though she was my mother and we used to live together before, I couldn't help but feel that it was weird to live with someone else in my apartment, given the fact that I was getting used to living alone. I couldn't imagine where Mom gathered the audacity to show her face to me every day as if everything was back to normal.

How can Tetsurou and his father trust me that I wouldn't hurt Mom? I know that they were aware of how much I despise her presence because whenever I see her, all I was reminded of is her mistake... the reason why she did it? It was because of her complete selfishness.

How can I possibly give her a chance after what she did? How can I forgive when it still hurt so much?

When I didn't answer Mom's call, she tried to twist the doorknob and it only came out as a rattling sound, too bad for her it's locked. My room's extremely off-limits, even for you.

"Kinomi?" She called again; her voice was laced with worry. She must have thought that I was still asleep.

I bit my tongue to prevent myself from saying anything nasty, "I'm coming," I said, and that was in time when the knocking ceased.

After I'm done brushing my brown hair in front of the mirror, I put the brush aside then stared at my reflection for a while, adjusting my uniform before grabbing my bag that was resting on my bed and got out of my room to eat breakfast.

She was already seated on the dining table, waiting for me and the moment she saw me, her lips curled up into a sweet smile as she beamed a 'good morning' to me. I answered a good morning of my own then sat on the seat across from her. I examined the food on the table, garlic rice, sunny side-up eggs, bacon, hotdogs and a cup of hot chocolate, for me.

Mom suddenly stood up, much to my confusion, I looked up at her with a raised eyebrow and she matched my expression with a genuine smile, "Baby, what do you want to eat?" When I didn't answer, she then proceeded to put garlic rice, eggs, and bacon on my plate. I remembered Kina-san by her actions... I suddenly miss her.

I don't know why she started to treat me as if I was a princess. Sure, she always told me before that I was her princess but the difference of before and today was, I don't like the idea of being her princess.

You've got so many things to make up with, so many things... that you making up for a lifetime won't even be enough.

I shook my head, slightly irritated. "Mom, I can do this." I took my plate from her hands and took back a portion of garlic rice back on the bowl because I don't eat that much.

She let out a low chuckle, "I'm sorry; I just missed you so much I wanted to fill your plate for you." She smiled shyly then went back to her seat.

I ignored her, "Ittadakimasu," I mumbled to myself then started eating.

Mom had a worried on her face. "You need to eat plenty because you need energy for school and... work." The last word rolled off her tongue reluctantly as if she didn't like the idea of me working. The corner of my lips slightly curled up in a snide. "Kinomi, how are you?"

"Fine." I answered nonchalantly without sparing a single glance at her.

I can feel that she still wanted to say but she was being cautious about it. Well, not that I care about anything she says.

"How about your studies? Are you still on the top?"

I stopped a little at the question. After a while, I ate again. "No..."

"Oh." I could tell by her tone that she was disappointed. Well, what does she expect?

"Maybe you should resign... from your work?" That made me stop chewing my food and it got my full attention, alright.

I shifted my gaze on my mother and arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

"So that you can have, you know, more time to rest and study..." She said that very slowly, staring intently at me as if she was gauging my reaction.

I breathed out a sigh, maintaining a calm demeanor. "I see. I understand what you're trying to pull but there's one thing I've forgotten to tell you, Mother," I drawled, "I've always paid for my rents and tuition fees and I'd like to keep it that way."

"B-but what about the money I--"

"Every cent you sent to me," I cut her off and emphasized every word, "I've gathered them all, put in an envelope and gave it to the people who needed it more than me. I never owed you or your family anything."

She looked at me as if she couldn't believe what I just done. Her purple eyes were wide and slightly coated with tears.

I made her cry again.

I pretended to look at the wall clock above her head, "I have to go, Mom. I'll be late." I stood up with my school bag, even though my meal is still unfinished and my hot chocolate untouched, my appetite was completely ruined.

Hot chocolate isn't my favorite anymore, I wanted to tell her.

I'm already a different person. The Kinomi she loved already died along with her father and brother. Maybe that's why she always cried whenever I'm around, because she couldn't accept the fact that I'm not the daughter she always perceived.

My mother is such a crybaby, so pathetic... maybe that's why... I'm a crybaby too.

~*~

"Mikazuki-san!" I heard a timid voice call out as I was busy reading a good book at library period. I looked up to see Yumi carrying a few books in her arms and plastering a light smile. "Is it okay if I... um, share a table with you?" She asked, reluctantly.

I nodded then went back to reading the book entitled Codes and Ciphers. I heard Yumi mumbled a thank you before taking the seat across from me. That code has slipped off my mind because of what's happening in my life and I only got the time today to read about the codes. I'm still a little curious behind the message of that code; I should give points to the sender for uniqueness.

Yumi has been glancing at me every so often and it's beginning to piss me off. I closed the book with a thud, earning me a flinch from her and I shifted my gaze at the bespectacled female, who immediately averted her gaze from me.

"If you have something to say-"

"Have you ever been in love?" She blurted out a very random question, much to my confusion.

I blinked, this was the first time she got me off guard. I raised an eyebrow, staring at her intently, observing her actions. "What?"

Her cheeks were dusted with a shade of pink and she shook her head, having this look as if she had said something so stupid. Well, it was. "U-um... don't mind me!"

I took a deep breath then let it all out, leaning back against my chair. I realize that she's always like this, a weirdo. Maybe that's what attracts her bullies.

"Why would I tell you?" I asked her back, my lips curled up into a smirk, and she looked back at me in the eyes.

"B-because... I'm curious." She said with a serious tone which slightly shocked me.

I closed my eyes then chuckled, "I don't even know..."

"'I hate you'," she told me suddenly.

"What?"

"'I also hate the fact that I love you.' is what the code said in your letter." Yumi told me with a tone I couldn't decipher. Her eyes shifted onto the paper that served as the bookmark of the book I was reading; the hate letter I received from the unknown sender.

"How did you know?" I asked her.

Her eyes widened then her gaze returned to my face, "E-eh?! U-um... we studied different kinds of codes way back in middle school, Mikazuki-san... hehe." She scratched the back of her neck awkwardly then bit her lower lip in embarrassment. Before I could even respond to her statement, she immediately stood up and gathered her things. "I better go now, Mikazuki-san, I have classes. Goodbye..." She gave me a quick wave before marching away with fast strides as if in a hurry.

I blinked, not knowing what to react to her actions. I didn't know if it was just my imagination but... I think I saw her at the verge of tears when she said goodbye.

"Weird..." I whispered to myself.

After a few hours of generous work at the cafe, I heard a very familiar voice call out my name, my nickname to be exact, and he's the only person that calls me that. I turned around and saw him giving me a grin.

"Oikawa-senpai... Iwaizumi-senpai..." I breathed out in absolute shock, I didn't expect to see them today, especially the former. "Good evening." I greeted them after I had composed myself and bowed in respect.

To my shock, Oikawa-senpai pulled me in a tight embrace, making my heart throb loudly against my rib cage I'm afraid he might hear it. "My precious kouhai is still so respectful, I missed you, Mika-chan!"

I chuckled lowly then hugged him back. "I... I missed you, too, senpai..." It barely came out as a whisper.

He pulled away then gave me a breathtaking smile and I smiled back, my gaze switched on to Iwaizumi-senpai. "Please follow me." I led them to a vacant table and I took their orders. After I had placed their orders on the table, they asked me to join them for a while to which I agreed but I told them I shouldn't be long.

"So what are you guys doing in here?" I asked them as they took a sip of their beverages.

"This trash here," Iwaizumi-senpai patted Oikawa-senpai's head with a little force, earning a whine from him. "wanted to see you and he dragged me along with him." He sighed exasperatedly.

"That hurts, Iwa-chan!" He rubbed his head, but then his grin returned when his gaze shifted back to me. "But you know what? He agreed to go because he loves--" Iwaizumi-senpai hit him, cutting senpai's sentence off.

"Nobody loves you, you're a shitty person." He retorted, making me chuckle.

"So mean, Iwa-chan!"

"Well, I do." I said, which stopped their ruckus. They turned their heads on me. "I love Oikawa-senpai." I said with a laugh, making it sound like a joke.

But not as intense as before. Maybe that's why I can say it now, even jokingly.

"Aw, I love you, too, Mika-chan!" Oikawa-senpai beamed.

"Say that in front of Ayane-san, trash."

Tsukihana Ayane, his girlfriend. I could still remember the day of graduation ceremony when I gathered all of the courage to finally confess to Oikawa-senpai, but then Tsukihana-san got ahead of me. I was really ready until I opened the door of their classroom and saw them kissing.

I breathed out a heavy sigh at the memory.

"Oh, hello there." Oikawa-senpai's tone suddenly turned smug. I lifted my head to see Yamaguchi and Tsukishima, and the latter had his usual deadpanned look on his face.

Tsukishima glanced at me and he had this look in his eyes and before I could decipher what it was, he tore his gaze away from me and turned on his heel then walked away.

"Let's go, Yamaguchi."

"Oh... okay, Tsukki." Yamaguchi glanced at me with a worried look before catching up with Tsukishima out of the cafe.

After a while, Oikawa-senpai burst out laughing. "Did you see his face, Iwa-chan? It was so priceless!"

"You really are a shitty person." Iwaizumi-senpai shook his head as if Oikawa-senpai had no hope in life.

What just happened?

"I think you should go and talk to your boyfriend, Mika-chan," Oikawa-senpai was still laughing and my forehead creased in confusion.

"What? Why should I do that?" I asked, "And he's not my boyfriend." I pouted.

Despite his teary eyes because of laughing, he still managed to lean himself closer to me. "But you like him, don't you?"

I bit my bottom lip and lowered my head because I don't know how to answer that question.

"You can clearly read the 'I'm jealous as hell' written all over his face." Then he started to laugh again.

Iwaizumi-senpai sighed, "That's why the trash said that he loves you too, to make the poor guy jealous."

"Sorry about that," Oikawa-senpai winked at me, "So what are you waiting for?"

Without any wasted second, I nodded then ran out of the cafe to catch up with Tsukishima Kei.

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Hello guys, I'm sorry for the very late update/s. I've been on a very long hiatus (3 months or more?) because of schoolworks. I just don't understand myself anymore, LOL. I've been staying up till 2 am just to finish my schoolworks and then at the end of the school year, I wasn't even at the list of top students (wtf), and for that, I'm very disappointed with myself. I'm sorry if it affected my performance as a writer but when the next school year starts, I'm even going to strive harder. :(

So thank you for reading despite my very slow updates, I appreciate every votes and comments. Thank you very much. :D