White Christmas

#24: Gakuen Alice (Natsume & Mikan)
...xXx...
She was everything in my life, and I couldn't live without her. Even after what she had done to me, I never thought this day would come. She just said that she loves me as much as I love her. I was so happy that I lost my voice and only stared at her in disbelief. If this was a dream, I wouldn't mind sleeping forever.

She flipped to the next page of the novel and then closed her eyes for a moment. After she opened her eyes, she put her bookmark on the new page and closed the novel with a soft thump. She looked out of the window and saw snowflakes dancing on the air before touching the ground. Despite the cold weather, a lot of people went out of their houses to get ready for the Christmas's eve the next day. She was different though. She chose to stay at home and read her novel instead.
She stood up from her seat and did some careful stretching for her sore back before walking out of her room. Slowly, she made her way to her kitchen and heated some water to get herself a cup of hot chocolate. After getting herself a drink, she walked to her living room. She sat down on her sofa while cupping her warm chocolate. Upon pressing one of the buttons on the remote that was lying on her glass desk, the plasma TV in front of her came to life. Her eyes immediately met with the most popular singer in Japan Natsume Hyuuga with an interviewer who was a woman in her late 20s. She slowly sipped her chocolate as she watched the show that was already in progress.
"Are you available at the moment, Natsume-san?" the woman asked with a smile.
"Why?"
"We all know that you divorced your wife eight months ago."
"…"
"We are hoping to get you as our partner for Christmas."
"I'm available, but I already have a plan."
"Oh, can you tell us about it?"
He shook his head.
"I'll take that as a secret then?"
"Yes."
She switched off the plasma TV immediately. Carefully, she put down her chocolate on the desk and leaned back on her sofa. She always knew that life was unfair, but to her it was really unfair. The crimson-eyed man on the show just now was her ex-husband who had divorced her eight months ago.
"A divorce?" Her voice was trembling.
His face was emotionless.
Fear started filling her senses. "Tell me that you're joking."
"I've had enough of you." His voice was cold like ice.
"Why?" Tears started forming in her eyes.
She knew the reason why her five years husband wished to divorce her, but she wanted to hear him say it himself.
A tear slid down her face as he remained silent.
She loved him so much.
And yet, he betrayed her. She had never thought Natsume would betray her by having an affair with another woman. She always thought he was a man with honor. She was wrong though. A few months after their 4th anniversary, she slowly noticed the changes in him, but she refused to acknowledge it. She pretended that their bonds were strong. But again, she was wrong. When she was about to tell her beloved husband she was pregnant, he had decided to divorce her. If he wanted a divorce, he would get a divorce then.
After signing the divorce paper, she left the country without telling anyone and met her best friend Hotaru Imai. After finding out what happened to her, her best friend had wished to find her ex-husband and skin him alive for making her life miserable. Of course, she prevented her because no matter what happened, he was the father of her unborn child. From that day onwards, she stayed in a small house by herself. Hotaru had tried to convince her to live with her, but she refused. She had burdened her enough by coming to her suddenly. After that Hotaru helped her get a house that was near hers, so that she could come to her aid immediately when needed.
She still loved him. She had never stopped loving him. She wished he would be here with her. She wished she could tell him that soon, he would become a father. Thinking about him made her want to cry all over again. As she heaved a sigh, she was attacked by a powerful contraction. She yelped in pain and held her tummy. She almost screamed as another contraction hit her. She knew the time had come. She closed her eyes as she murmured to her baby. "Be a good girl and wait a little longer before coming out, ne?"
With a lot of difficulty, she took out her mobile phone and speed dialed.
"Mikan?"
She was panting. "Hotaru… water broke… baby…"

...xXx...

He was a fool. Everyone told him so, and he knew they were right. He was a fool for leaving his wife for another woman. He soon found out that the one he was having an affair with was a woman who always tried to break other people marriage. He had cheated his now ex-wife and was cheated back. What a joke, but he had learned his lesson in a hard way.
He had not heard anything about his ex-wife Mikan since she left the court six months ago. She just disappeared like thin air, leaving no traces behind her as no one knew where she had gone to. He knew he had hurt her deeply, but he wished he could get her back again. His life was dull without her. He had been looking for her for almost a month, but his attempts were fruitless. When he was losing his hope, he received a call that made his world come crashing down on him.
"Ruka?" He didn't hide his surprise from his long-time friend.
"Hotaru will definitely kill me for telling you this."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Your fiancée?"
"Yes."
"Telling me what?" He was curious.
"Mikan."
His heart beat faster. "What about her?"
"You're a bastard."
His lips tightened. "I know."
"Really?"
His best friend was being sarcastic.
"How could you hurt her innocent heart?"
"…"
"She cried for a month after you divorced her."
He clenched his fist. He was interrupted when he was about to say something.
"She needs you, Natsume."
"She wouldn't." His heart was hurt.
"Pardon me?"
"She wouldn't want to meet me again." He closed his eyes tightly.
"Don't get me wrong."
"What do you mean?" He opened his eyes.
"It's not for her."
He was confused.
"It's for her child, your child."
His world started crumbling. "What…?"
"The day you decided to divorce her was the day she received the news that she was pregnant with your child."
He lost his voice. His face turned pale as he realised he had screwed up his own life. He wouldn't wonder if Mikan hated him for this. She had every right to hate him. Realising he would become a father in less than a month, he asked Ruka to give him their location. He then finished everything that needed to be done in two weeks' time before leaving to his new destination, United Kingdom.
So, here he was. After meeting up with Ruka, he was led to his best friends' fiancée's house.
Hotaru's amethyst eyes glared at Natsume for a while before she cast a death glare to her fiancé Ruka.
"What is he doing here?" she hissed in anger.
Ruka sighed, "Hotaru, I—"
"I told you everything about Mikan not for you to tell him!" She pointed her finger at Natsume.
"Please, Hotaru. Mikan needs him for their child." Ruka tried to make her understand.
Hotaru crossed her arms and looked away from Ruka.
"He was a bastard," Ruka started again.
Natsume wished he could glare at his best friend, but he knew he was telling the truth.
"Just give him a chance, Hotaru…" Ruka's voice softened as he pleaded.
"So that he could hurt her all over again? Is that what you mean?" Hotaru replied sarcastically.
"Please," Natsume spoke for the first time.
Hotaru and Ruka immediately looked at him, surprised.
After a moment of silence, Hotaru looked at Natsume in the eye. "Listen, Hyuuga. If you hurt her again, I'll make sure you regret that you were born."
Right after that, her mobile phone rang. Hotaru quickly picked up the phone as she saw the caller ID.
"Mikan?" Hotaru said, and Natsume's face lit up.
After a few seconds Hotaru ran to the door while yelling, "Ruka, ambulance! It's time!"
Natsume was immediately on his feet to follow Hotaru, who ran out from the house. They passed a few houses before coming to a small house painted a pale blue. Hotaru quickly use her spare key and stepped into the house when the door was unlocked. Blood drained from their faces as they came across Mikan, who was holding her belly. Tears streamed down her face, and the floor was red with her blood.
She had never dreamed that she would see Natsume before her door with Hotaru. When she was about to call his name, another contraction began, and she cried out while holding onto the sofa. The next thing she knew was that Natsume was beside her, holding her hands. The siren of the ambulance was heard in the distance, and she heard him calling her name before everything went black.

...xXx...

His lips tugged upward as he caressed his forefinger on his first born child's cheek. He smiled as the child stirred and beamed back at him. He was astonished. He didn't understand why his child could give him a smile when her eyes were closed. He averted his eyes to the mother of his child. She had undergone caesarean after they arrived at the hospital to save her and their child. Looking at her face and his child's face, he couldn't help but feel complete. Meeting her again made him realize that she was the most important person in his life.
She felt tired all over, but she refused to remain asleep. Slowly, she opened her eyes and met with her ex-husband's crimson eyes. She somehow believed that her eyes were playing tricks with her. Her ex-husband wouldn't be here, not with her. This must be a dream. That was what she thought.
She looked at him with half-lidded eyes. "Natsume…"
"Shhh… everything's okay," he whispered quietly.
"Baby…"
"She's safe."
She sighed in relief.
He held her hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore…"
"Rest now."
She slowly closed her eyes. "Good dream."
He chuckled softly as he knew what she was thinking. She was thinking that she was dreaming and that he wasn't real. Unfortunately for her, he was real, and he would prove that when she wakes up. He had decided that he would get her back again. He would take care of her now and forever. He would not make the same mistake again; he would make sure of that. He looked out of the window, and smiled to himself. He had his wish granted: to get her back.
"Are you certain, Natsume-san?"
"Yes."
"Very well, your divorce will be null by tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"I'm happy for the both of you. I hope not to see you again, Natsume-san."
"Thank you for everything."
"You're welcome, and congratulations for your first born child."
The only thing he needed to do was to get her heart back.
Unknown to him, her heart had always belonged to him and him alone.

...xXx...

It has been two months after her baby girl, Kisa Hyuuga was born. Even though she was tired, she couldn't stop herself from reading. She had never gotten the chance to read her novel until today. Only a few pages were left, so she would finish it today.
As she turned to the last page, the door creaked open, and she looked up from her novel. She smiled at her husband who was her ex-husband ten months ago. Her smile became wider as he approached her with a mug of hot chocolate. After putting the mug on her desk, he leaned down and kissed her brow.
"Thank you for the chocolate, Natsume." She smiled at her husband and received a nod from him.
He glanced at the novel she was holding and raised an eyebrow. "Last page?"
She hummed. "Yes. It was a good story. Want to give it a try?"
He shook his head. "I have read the summary."
She chuckled softly. "I know."
Of course, she knew that he wouldn't like the story as it was kind of similar to their lives. It was a story about a boy who was trying his best to get the girl he likes during Christmas. The boy never gave up even though he was rejected several times by the girl. In the end, the girl was just testing the boy's heart as the girl had experienced a lot of heartbreaks that made her difficult to accept the boy.
"Get ready before Ruka arrives," he said before leaving her alone.
"I know. I'm almost done," she replied before he left the room completely.
She needed to finish her novel now so that she could get ready for her second honey moon. She had objected about the idea as Kisa was just born, but Hotaru insisted that she should go. As Kisa's godmother, she agreed to look after her for a week, together with her fiancé Ruka. Remembering her best friend, she smiled. She was happy for her best friend as her wedding would be celebrated after she and Natsume returned. Last year was her best Christmas, and she believed this year, too, would be her best Christmas.
Before closing the novel, a smile was plastered on her face as she read the last paragraph:

The winter felt cold as always, but his heart felt warmer than usual. He still remembered how he chased after the girl he likes last Christmas, and now he could celebrate it with her. Their love for each other was shown through their eyes. Holding her small her hand in his big one, he leaned down and proclaimed his love softly to her ear. She giggled and replied by giving him a kiss on the cheek. They quarreled, they cried, and they laughed together, but their love remained pure like the snow.

— White Christmas —

The End

Thanks for reading.

Prev 1. Fiancée Inn 2. My Clumsy Princess 3. Just Stay with Me 4. To See You 5. Nemuri Hime 6. It's Always Been You 7. Remember Me 8. Farmer or Princess? 9. Ghost's Girlfriend 10. Life 11. White Christmas 12. The Spirit of My Life 13. Involuntary Third Wheel 14. Six Hours 15. Melt The Snow 16. Within Another Chance Next