Chapter 25: My Best
"I just explained this. How come you already forgotten!"
Here we go again. How often do I have to receive a scolding from Night because I’m not a fast learner? "Can’t you just teach me again? Isn’t that your role here?"
"Teach you? I’ve been teaching you, stupid. You can’t remember even one of these equations, yet you reprimand me about teaching you?"
I let out a deep sigh as I rolled my eyes. "Everyone’s not as smart as you." This is frustrating. I’ve been trying to learn, but how will I learn if I keep receiving hurtful words from my tutor? "What did I even think?" It’s useless to be here. I picked up my belongings once again and stood up from the floor.
"Where are you going?"
"None of your business, jerk."
It makes me want to cry. I really want to learn; I really do. But no matter how much I try, I don’t understand anything. No, I can’t take it all just in one learning. Hearing Night scream at me doesn’t help either. If it’s Ace, she won’t stop until I get everything right, but she’s not here. "Young miss? Are you okay?"
"I’m fine. I just need sleep."
My teacher for the bridal lessons is arriving tomorrow, I can’t embarrass myself in front of them. After school, I’ll be greeting the teacher, but I also need to inform grandpa about me joining the swimming team at our school. "Where’s grandpa?" I asked Rika before she could go out of my room.
"The oyabun’s taking care of something right now. He’ll be coming home later." So that’s why he wasn’t able to attend dinner? Night didn’t also eat dinner with me since grandpa isn’t around anyway. He just shows grandpa what he wants to see, but Night doesn’t hesitate to mistreat me when grandpa isn’t around. "I’ll take a warm bath before going to sleep."
"Yes, young miss."
Somehow, I’ve been feeling lonely these days despite being with my friends again. Ace is there, but it still feels like she’s far away. Andy’s busy with his duties in the student council, and my parents aren’t here to give me a comforting hug. "I miss my old life," I muttered as I soaked my body in the bath.
"Should I scrub the lady’s arms?"
I let Rika do whatever she wants with me while I stare at the ceiling. I’m forced to be taught by Night, and I’m not learning anything. It doesn’t help ease my problems. Instead, he only adds more. Hearing him call me stupid always makes me think that maybe I’m indeed stupid and shouldn’t dream of going to college. "I’ll be joining our school’s swimming team."
"Really? The young miss is really talented." Rika said while gently scrubbing my arms. "Is that why the miss is asking about the oyabun?"
I nodded. "I need grandpa’s consent since that’s what the coach told me to do." Even though I would rather inform my mommy and daddy about this. Daddy will surely feel happy hearing that I’m going back to sports. He loved seeing me swim before and even supported me with all his might. And I wasted all of that effort. Just because I wanted to chase after a mean guy who doesn’t care about my feelings.
"I’m such a fool."
When I woke up the next day, grandpa told me to eat breakfast with him and Night, but Night had already gone to school. He probably wanted to avoid eating with me. That’s how much he hates me. "I heard you’ll be joining your school’s swimming team." That’s fast. He had already learned of it. I only told it to Rika yesterday— oh, right. Kaoru’s there too. He must have reported it as soon as we got home yesterday.
"Yes, grandpa. My teacher said I need extra grades that come from club activities." I answered while I ate. "I also need my guardian’s consent before the coach lets me join the team."
"Is that so?" Silence followed that. Does grandpa Kenta hate it? Am I in trouble? "Are you sure you can attend club activities while learning bridal lessons?" I also need to study my butt off, it’s a lot of work, but I still need to do it.
"I will do my best."
Grandpa smiled. "Of course, you will. You are Maki’s child after all." He said while chuckling. "I will sign the guardian’s consent form after breakfast." Hearing that made me smile. Should I also talk about how I don’t want Night to tutor me anymore? But that will probably put Night in trouble.
’Why do I even care about that stupid jerk?’
"Uhm, I also...."
"Yes, what is it, dear?"
I gulped as I looked in Kenji’s direction. It’s still his fault why I’m having trouble with Night. Night already hates me. If I told his grandpa how much he mistreats me, he’d despise me even more. "I-It’s nothing." There’s no way I’ll make my life a living hell more than this.
When I finished eating, I excused myself as I went to the car where Kaoru was already waiting. "Good morning, milady." Kaoru greeted me, and I just nodded. Today we’ll have gym class after so many days of skipping it. Although our gym teacher knows about my foot’s situation, I don’t think he’ll make me run too much. I’m still unsure. Since the last week of November is for the sports festival.
I don’t have the time to join the sports festival since I’ll be busy preparing for my special examination. "I didn’t know it’ll be this tiring," I muttered as I sighed.
How did I enjoy going to school before?
It’s the same boring typical atmosphere when we arrived at school. I used to think going to school was exciting because I was meeting new people, but I don’t know about that anymore. Ace and Andy are the only friends I have. Without them, school is nothing but a boring place.
"Does the lady feel tired walking? Should I carry the lady?"
I sighed, hearing Kaoru whisper that to my ear. "I’m not that tired," I said as we walked into the hallway. The students are still whispering about me, making me walk faster toward our classroom. It’s been two days since I returned to school. When will they stop gossiping about me?
When Kaoru and I arrived in the classroom, Ace and Andy were still not there. "How came Andy’s still not here?"
"Andy went to the student council room." I turned my head in the direction of that voice. "Good morning, Noelle." Ryzen greeted me as he ruffled my hair, but Kaoru immediately swatted his hand away, causing him to feel surprised. "What was that for, dude?" He asked Kaoru, but Kaoru growled at him. ’What is he, a dog?’
"I apologize for Kaoru’s action. He didn’t mean that." I said as I pulled Kaoru away. "Good morning to you too, Ryzen." Even though it’s late for me to say that since Kaoru already growled at Ryzen, he still smiled at me as he went to his seat.
"Why did you growled like a dog at him?" I whispered to Kaoru before we took our seats.
"That guy’s touching the lady without permission," Kaoru said, furrowing his forehead. "The young master will get mad if he learned of this." What is he talking about?
"Why would Night get mad?"
"It’s because the lady is the young master’s soon-to-be wife. No one can just touch you like that."
Are we even talking about the same Night? That person doesn’t care about me. "Don’t do that again unless I tell you to. Ryzen is a friend. He’s not someone dangerous." Kaoru pouted while still having his forehead creased. Why is he acting like a child when he’s supposed to be a bodyguard?
"But that man looks at the lady as if he fancies the lady."
What in the world? "Ryzen is a childhood friend, hear that? Childhood friend. We’ve known each other since we were young, so don’t look at him like that." I sighed. "I only have a few friends, so stop making them fewer."
"Y-Yes, milady. I shall apologize to your friend." Kaoru stood up from his seat and went to where Ryzen was. I slapped my forehead for how he bows down on the floor in front of Ryzen, causing him to feel flustered.
’Oh god, when can I get my peaceful days back?’
The classes started, and I did my best to listen to everything. I started taking notes, and I even started to ask questions whenever I felt confused. My teachers are somewhat happy that I’m engaging myself with the lessons, but my other classmates beg to differ. They hate everything I do, so I don’t expect them to like me now.
"Guys! Listen." Andy caught everyone’s attention after he stood in front when Miss Valencia got out of the room.
"We all know that this will be our last sports festival." Most of our classmates were screaming in happiness while some of them were sad. How did I feel? Nothing, I felt nothing. "That’s why we must do our best to enjoy it to the fullest!"
