Taken Away (Gakuen Alice)

23.) Broken hope

Mikan POV

Father. Father was suppose to be a word where you feel affection, love, warmth, protection, and comfort, yet I felt neither. Instead I feel pain, fear, and a bit of concern. I haven't heard anything about him in the pass 2 months I've been in the academy. Sometimes I couldn't stop but wonder that every adult, teacher, has been hiding something about him. Now when Natsume confronted me, I somehow can't figure how to react. Should I be happy? He is my father, my own blood. And who knows, maybe something inside him changed in a positive way. Maybe he regrets everything he done. Or maybe, he actually went back caring about me. If that's the case, should I gave him another chance? Everyone deserves second changes. Now the main problem is, what happened if he didn't change? If he is still the same old person, who has a strong grudge held against his own daughter. And then what? Can I still continue loving him as a daughter should?

"What...about my father?" I felt my mouth go dry all the sudden, and my body shaking in uncontrollable anxiety.  I was actually scare to hear the answers to my question. Judging by the look Natsume was giving me with his piercing glaze, my father isn't the person I hoped for. He's still the same cruel person that drives me insane and the main cause of my nightmares. Natsume looked hesitant, and shook his head.

"N-Nothing." He stood up. "I probably mistook him for someone else." Liar. I know perfectly well that something did happen. His wounds wouldn't the outcome of one person. It was two. And most likely, my father had something to do with it. I know Natsume's thoughts like studying a textbook. Complicated at first but the more you study, the easier it gets to understand. I know he thinks I'm not mentally ready to learn the truth. By him saying nothing, was a way to cover up what he saw and lock the truth to himself. 

I clenched my fist and tried maintaining the best smile I can manage. "Oh yeah...you probably did mistake him for someone else. It's funny. What business would my father have with the academy anyway? He isn't here to take a useless trash like me back home in the first place." My eyes began to tear up. "And especially the last time I saw him was when you guys were taking him away." I stood up, my bangs covering my puffy and swollen eyes. "I also know that you, out of all people, wouldn't be keeping something  from me right? If you hear anything about him, your tell me right away. Right?" 

Natsume looked away from me and nodded. "Of course...." His words had no truth or comfort anymore. Before I knew it, I finally found myself drawn back into the dark hole I've thought I escaped from.   "Well, goodnight polka dots." He said, helping me wipe some of my remaining tears away. "Don't think about it too much, just get some rest." He said kissing me gently before pulling away. 

"Goodnight Natsume. Be safe." I smiled at him. "I'll see you tomorrow in class." Natsume clenched his fist inside his pocket before nodding and jumping out of the window. My only hope, my shooting star, flew pass me too quickly to make a wish. But there's always another chance, and another ways in making my wish true. This isn't over. I'm going to find out for myself, if the guy Natsume saw was really my father. 

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Question time!!

1.) Do you think Natsume actually saw Mikan's father?

Everyone: *Turns to look at Natsume*

Natsume: H-Hey! I said I mistook him for someone else you nosy shits.

Hotaru: I don't trust him.

2.) How do you think Mikan is going to find if her father is really in the academy?

Hotaru: Murder *Jazz hands*

Mikan: Hotaru!!

3.) Have any ideas for future chapters?