Your Tricks Won't Make Me Fall (OHSHC)

Chapter 24: A Long Journey of School Books Lies Ahead

The limousine pulls into the driveway of the second mansion. My door is pulled open, and I exit, my school bag resting on my shoulders. As I walk through the doors, my bag feels as though it is dragging my shoulders down.

Exams. That was the problem with the weight of my school bag. The big week of tests was approaching, and I could not be happier!

Yes, I was elated for testing to start. I get to prove to the entire school just how smart I am. Last time, I came in 2nd of the entire grade. I lost to Kyoya Ootori, but that will not be the case this time around.

"Miss Roromiya, you have visitors. They wait for you in the parlour." Mei informs me, a nervous tone in her voice.

What?! I never have visitors!! Who could've possibly found out about my living here?!

I set down my school bag and walk into the parlour. The men who wait for me strike fear into my heart.

Tamaki. Kyoya. One room. Must escape.

"Kasumi! You're finally home!" Tamaki gushes, that grin plastered on his face that turns my knees weak.

"Yes. Home. This is your home, not with your family..." Kyoya states. His voice is cold, but his eyes, they are concerned.

When I look at the hands of the two boys, I am shocked into a fit of blushing. They each have a rose in their hands.

"We came to apologize for our antics the other evening." Tamaki starts, his voice is soft, and his eyes are mesmerizing.

Kasumi, no! You remember the promise you made! No boys. Only school and work. Romance can wait... for now.

Kyoya nods. My eyes catch on the glare of his glasses. "To be honest, it was immature of us."

They present their roses. One lavender, one white. The lovely aroma of the roses drifts to my nose.

Happiness wells up in my heart, making it feel as though it wants to explode. These two men came to my home to apologize to me. They went to the trouble of finding out where I really, and they even brought me flowers...

It makes me feel so special... nobody has ever gone to that much trouble for me. I look back at the two of them.

"I-I really want to thank you guys... you are both being really grown-up right now." I inform the two of them.

I go in for hugs; Kyoya first. He freezes under my touch, so I don't linger for long.

Tamaki, on the other hand, was plenty happy to have me. "Oh Kitten, the look on your face is adorable..." He whispers to me.

It causes me to blush, and I pull away from Tamaki. "Now, I need to ask for the both of you to leave."

"What?! Why?! We got here about 3 minutes before you did!" Kyoya argues, taking a step forwards.

Tamaki reaches out a hand to stop him. "Kyoya, you never disband a lady's order. She wants us to leave, so we shall."

I look between the two boys. "I need to study now. I'll see you boys on Monday."

Yes. It's finally Friday. I finally have the entire weekend to myself. This weekend will consist of reading, sketching, maybe a little writing, but most of all, there will be studying.

After two hours was up, I finally put my books away. I have to ace these tests. My father cannot even think for a second that my grades are falling. I walk up to my room, and sit out on the balcony, facing the ocean.

My hand naturally starts moving across the page. I do not notice what I have drawn until I am almost done.

Music Room #3 rests on the page of my leisure sketchbook, and the Host Club is in full swing. As my eyes skim over the photo, I do not see myself. I had wanted to know who I would be sitting with, but I haven't seemed to have added myself into the picture. Now why in the world...

A small sigh escapes my lips. It's such a good drawing. Tamaki with his group of regulars, Honey and Mori with theirs. Same with Kaoru and Hikaru. Kyoya sits with a few girls, but he's more interested in that black book of his. What is it that he's always writing in there?

That's for him to know, and for me to never find out.

It's so weird to think how, just a few months ago, I saw them as a group of pretty-boy-prostitutes that only cared for themselves. My opinion on them was swayed so easily based on how accepting they were.

They have stood by my side no matter what I threw at them... they are my true family. My biological family would never do that for me.

A small smile now rests on my face. I don't want to lose them, any of them. It's ridiculous how much that group of 6 boys actually means to me.

I get up and go into my room. I set my sketchbook open on my desk and I pick a book up off my bookshelf. I sit on my bed and begin to read.

My life for the next few weeks is going to consist of my school books, but I'll still need to visit the Host Club. I have to. They are one of the few things that make me truly happy.

I sigh and set the book down. My mind refuses to stay away from those boys, specifically Tamaki and Kyoya.

As I think about these two boys, I begin to become frustrated. I like both of them, but I know I can't. It's so hard for me. Choosing was never one of my best qualities. Neither was offending people.

The ability of choosing one of the two is obviously buried deep within me. So deep that it doesn't want to be found. Would I be happier with one of them rather than the other? No, I do not believe so. Both Tamaki and Kyoya could make me happy.

I'd love to just be able to play eenie-meanie-minie-mo and figure out who I belong with, but it isn't that simple. What if I choose one, but I choose wrong? Then the other would never take me because they wouldn't want to be my second choice.

It's like I told myself earlier, I'm not allowed to think about boys right now. Only my education is allowed to be in my brain.

I need to prove it. To my father, to my mother, but mostly, to myself. I need to prove that I can balance school, work and my club activities. Then, and only then can I even begin to think about relationships.

My two best friends already know what colleges they are going to. I also heard that Ryuu and Shigairu were planning on proposing marriage to them.

My friends' lives were progressing full-steam ahead, and I was stuck running in place. I don't know which of the three colleges, Yuzuha had prescribed them to me, that I want to go to... They all seem so wonderful.

As I think, I just become more depressed. Akahana and Chikako's futures have been laid out in front of them. Yet for some reason, my path has to be all twisted.

I don't have my future education picked. I don't have a man who is going to support me no matter what. I don't have a family that will support me at all. I don't have anything.

Whoever it was who used to send me those love letters once a month stopped. Well, I guess they officially decided trying to obtain my love was hopeless. Now I don't have anyway of finding love on a quick notice, if I wanted to.

My life is a hurricane that has no definite direction.

All I can do for now is hit the books.

All I need to do for now is hit the books.