From Riches To Rags ❦ Tamaki

2 | Meeting Again

Aya hung her head. Scrunching her eyes and sucking in a well-needed breath of air, she spun round, so she was now facing Tamaki. She rushed over to him and threw her arms round him.

"Tamaki!" she exclaimed. "I've missed you so much."

Even though what she was said was her true feelings, she still didn't want him to know about how she wasn't rich anymore and was now living in a run-down apartment.. It's not that she was ashamed of it, but she didn't want to see the look on Tamaki's face when he knew everything.

Deep down, she knew he wouldn't ridicule her, and would accept Aya for who she was, like he had done all those years ago. It was just from Aya's experience, when she told people about her lifestyle, her friendship with them didn't work out.

Presently, she just wanted to have a normal school life, and honestly, she was overjoyed to have met Tamaki again. She had loved him since as far back as she can remember. So as to not make him worry, she just had to fake being happy.

"Ah Aya, you've grown up so much seen I last seen you!" Tamaki hugged her tighter to him. He pulled away from her and looked down so he could get a good look at her face. "You're so beautiful!"

"And you're the same old Tamaki." She giggled and red now tinted her cheeks. "You still say things that embarrass me."

"That's because seeing your cute expressions makes it all worth it." He chuckled. "Come sit down and tell me about what you've been up to." He then poured her some tea.

He handed her the teacup and placed one of his hands on top of hers. Their fingers intertwined, and it took them back to when they were younger.

Their brief exchange didn't go unnoticed by the other host club members, and they were curious about Tamaki's relationship with the unknown girl. Who was this cute girl who could tolerate being with Tamaki?

Hikaru and Kaoru stood behind their chairs and leaned on their own arms behind their boss and the girl.

"Boss who is she?" one twin queried.

"Why isn't she wearing the uniform?" The other twin wanted to know. "Is she a commoner?"

Aya abruptly stood up from her chair, and let go of Tamaki's hand as she did so. Aya's shoulders were trembling as she fought her inner-turmoil. Why do people keep asking that? Was there such a thin line between being rich and being a commoner? What was so wrong with being unable to afford the uniform?

Since losing her wealth, Aya had learnt that money wasn't everything and that there shouldn't be a divide between the rich and the poor. And she was being ridiculed again, just as she was feeling ecstatic about being reunited with her Tamaki. Good things really don't last, and they never did for her.

"Aya what's wrong?" Tamaki stood up and placed a tender hand on her upper arm. "Hikaru and Kaoru stop asking foolish questions!" He shot the twins a warning glare.

"Tamaki, I'm fine." She gave him a tight smile. "I think I'm just going to head home. I'm kinda tired and want to get some rest."

She pulled her arm out of his grasp and ran to the door, opening it and closing it behind her.

As Aya rapidly walked down the hallway, she blinked the tears out of her eyes. Behind her, she heard the clubroom door opening and Tamaki calling her name, worry lacing his voice. She just ignored him and continued walking through the hallway.

She could've stopped and told him everything that had gone wrong with her, but there was no way that she could; his friends and him would just laugh and mock her like everyone else did.