Strawberry Kiss

fourteen

chapter fourteen:
luck or misfortune

Okay. When I said everything will be alright from here, I didn't expect it to happen right away. To have my day begin with a new room that Mrs Harada or Auntie Harada have given me, is already not looking good. Especially when I noticed the glares the mini-Harada is giving me. Which leads me to believe that its his room from the start and, he was forced to gave it to me. That thought made me feel worse.

As soon I got down to get some cold water to start my day, Uncle's question woke me up. "Who's shirt is that, Hana?"

"Oh! Is that one of Ren-chan's shirts? But, I don't remember him owning some white shirt..? Or did he and I forgot! Oh my!"

"No!" That came out louder than I have intended, so I back my steps before continuing to what happened.

"I mean, its not a plain shirt, I think I kinda wrongly wear it with the inside in the front and vice versa." I said and left to get my water, and to immediately get out.

"Oh? What shirt did he gave you?"

"Just something. Uh, Auntie? Can I ask if you noticed Papa? He wasn't in our room when I woke up..?" Out of curiosity, I ask them.

Auntie shook her head, and so she nods. "Your father was in a hurry so early in the morning, it was 4 am if I remember correctly," she mumble putting her finger in her lips, thinking, "ah! Dear, where did he say he was going?"

Uncle Harada then look up from the newspaper then answers: "To get the things you left from your grandmother's house. He said, he'll buy you some new stuffs too. Since you lost it from the collapse." I nodded at his words before drinking the water in my glass.

"Oh," Auntie sigh, sympathetically looking at my way, "poor Hana. I'm sorry that you have to go through all of that, but it work out in end, eh?" I like the optimism surrounding her.

But I wonder, if this is really my luck after misfortune? Or just a taste the calm before the storm? No matter what it is, I need to go to school first. As soon as I finish drinking and washing the glass, I climb the stairs onto my room. Just when I'm about to close the door, I saw Kenji going out of his and Harada-kun's room. He saw me, and go to his glares. I unintentionally shivered before closing the doors.

Anyways, as soon as I'm ready to go to school, I come down of breakfast. I can never miss on breakfast as it is the important meal of the day. Breakfast, shapes my mood. So I better start eating it. The table were silent and there is still no sign of Papa, but maybe he got caught by my granny.

If he is, then it'll take him a lot of time. They have a lot of catching up.

"Oh! Ren, do you still have my favorite shirt?" I look up to see Harada retreating his lips from drinking the coffee in his hands, before throwing a quick glance at me. What?

"I did, but then I gifted it to Hana-san last night. Which I think she put in good use..?" Is he trying to assassinate me? In so early in the morning? Are you kidding me? And as soon as those questions came into my mind, I can see everyone's eyes on me. Except for him, the one who started this. How dare he!

"You did?" Uncle ask her, bewildered. Probably wondering what his son is talking about.

"Uh..y-yeah."

"Don't tell me... the white shirt earlier?"

They won't know if I lie right? What if I lie? Goodness me.

"What happen to it?"

I tried to erase it, but unfortunately it didn't work. So I have to hide it. Amazing isn't it?

"Its quite... I m-mean, I like i-it." I could hear Kenji snicker, so I have to hold it in like a pufferfish. I really hate them both. "B-but," I'm not really fond of the crooked design, "I like wearing it that way. So, what's for breakfast, auntie?" I immediately stirred the conversation out of the shirt because I might die.

"Oh, its steamed rice and miso soup, come on Hana-chan, let's eat." I thanked auntie (also avoiding uncle because he might add another question regarding the shirt and no) and began eating. Sitting across me is Harada and his brother, with my left side empty, probably Dad's seat and the couple in both end of the table. Understandable, since they are the owner of this house.

As I began eating the rice, I couldn't help notice how Harada-san barely finishes his food, is something wrong with him? Or is he sick? But then, he drinks his coffee like its juice, god, while reading a newspaper. I really don't like coffee. But then, he puts down the newspaper before drinking his coffee for the last time then glancing at me.

He meets my eyes and raise a brow. "Are you going to school or are you not so I'll just go ahead?"

I gape at him and of course, that sent him an obvious signal of my confusion. Like, what does he mean by that? Why should I care that he goes ahead? But then he rolls his eyes and left the room to go upstairs.

"Hana-chan, Ren will show you the way to school. I ask Ren to help you get to school." Oh. Oh. Why did I not think of that?

Because of that, I rush to finish my food to catch up to Ren who is still upstairs. Until he descended the stairs with his bag and halts to look at me, signaling that we should be leaving now. I drank a bit of water before getting my bag and follows him.

"May I remind you that I do not want anymore ridiculous rumors like yesterday." He said while tying his shoes.

"I promise. I'll never gonna do that again."

"Then wait here for three minutes before going outside so we can avoid the scrutiny of everyone else in the campus." I blink at his words.

"What? That's ridiculous. I can be late if that happens you know."

"I don't want rumors of us living together, especially after yesterday."

"No. I'll be late. And besides, why wait three minutes if you have already arrived at school in that moment? We need another plan." He straightened himself before looking at me.

"Like what?"

Hmm. What?

"We have a bicycle." Oh, just the kind of luck I need. A misfortune.