Absquatulate

CHAPTER TWENTY

//Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.//

CHAPTER TWENTY

NEWSPAPER RIVAL

In the garden of her dreams,
Forbidden flowers bloom,
But society's thorns pierce,
Casting shadows of gloom.
Her heart sings a melody only he can hear,
Yet tradition's chains bind her,
Drowning her in fear.

In the darkness of despair, her freedom fades away,
Like a bird with clipped wings, she struggles to find her way,
Bound by chains of tradition, her spirit begins to fray.

In shadows deep, her trust did fade,
A daughter's heart, by lies betrayed,
Her father's vows, now torn apart,
Left wounds unseen, upon her heart.

Asami stares down at the notebook in front of her, trying to think of more ways to express her inner thoughts and feelings. Her life is an utter mess—Emica is free and still trying to fight for custody, she has a half-sister because her father cannot stay loyal to her mother, and she is engaged to a boy she doesn't even remotely like. Something wet lands on the paper before her and it takes her second to realize that she is crying. She sniffs, closing her notebook and setting it aside while trying to stifle her growing sobs.

She yearns for the silliness of the host club in this moment to distract her from the pain in her soul. She wants Hikaru's mischievous pranking side, Kaoru's corny pick up lines, Haruhi's snide comments about rich people, Takashi's soothing presence, Mitsukuni's baked goods, and even Kyoya's money obsessed behavior right now. Her friends always know how to make her smile and laugh, but will she be ruining the friend group with her new engagement?

She slowly makes her way to the window and stares at the garden below, imagining herself flying away. Her freedom has been stripped piece by piece the moment she stepped into this mansion—the moment she joined this so-called 'family.' Tears steadily slide down her cheeks at a rapid pace as her breathing quickens.

Why does she want the approval of her family so badly? Tamaki, sure, because he's been an amazing brother so he deserves her yearning.

But Shizue? The horrible mean woman who is forcing her and Tamaki to marry people they don't want? The woman who forced her to allow her traumatic life story be published? The woman who forced her to become a refined lady?

And Yuzuru? Her father who is clearly unable to stay loyal to her mother? Who has lied to her and Tamaki over and over again? Who has betrayed the family numerous times? Who has ruined the family name so badly that all the pressure is now being put on her and Tamaki to fix it?

These people do not deserve her yearning. She shakily wipes away her tears, trying to calm down her breathing. No, they deserve her hatred, her defiance, her rebelliousness. But, why, why does she push her own feelings aside and follow the expectations set before her like an obedient servant?

Her eyes trace the land below her, taking in all the flowers, bushes, trees, fountains and benches. It is a beautiful landscape, it would be the most perfect grave. She quickly backs away from the window and heads over to her bed, trying to dismiss the dark thoughts swirling in her head. She picks at the skin on her fingers to feel something else than emotional pain. She watches as her blood drips from her fingers and onto her quilt, mixing with her tears.