Hihi again. Seems like I am being rather active these few days in 
this group, hehe......

Now serving you my special dish:

Chapter 7:

"Sure....."

Everyone stood still. Did they hear wrongly? Naoki agreed? 

"But on one condition........"

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"Sure, I will do anything that you want!"

Miki could not believe his own ears either. He had thought that Naoki 
would definitely say No.

"I want you to take the Head Nurse exams next week and top the class."

Everyone started to walk away. They knew this would be an impossible 
task, no wonder Naoki had agreed. Poor Miki, he can never make it. 
How was he to pass that exam and top the class? The Head Nurse exam 
was a difficult exam that every nurse have to take in order to be 
promoted to Head Nurse. A experienced nurse needs at least one whole 
year to study for the exams before even barely passing it, let alone 
a week's time. 

"Miki, I think you better forget about it........."

Keita pats Miki on the shoulder and walks away with Tomoko and 
Marina, shaking their heads. Poor Miki, they thought.

"It's a deal!"

Everyone stopped down immediately. Miki actually takes up the 
challenge? 

"I will top the exams!"

The next day,

"Keita, have you seen Miki? We can't seem to find him anywhere....."

"I dont know. I haven't saw him either. Maybe he chickened out and 
ran away..... He should have known better, taking up the offer with 
Irie Naoki......"

Before Keita finishes talking, Miki suddenly appears in front of them 
with a whole stack of big books. He has tied a white band around his 
forehead with the word "success".

"Miki, are you okay? Irie-kun was just kidding with you..... Don't 
take it to heart."

Kotoko tries to console Miki. However, Miki looks at her seriously.

"Kotoko, don't worry, I will top the exams. Prepare to call me your 
son-in-law!"

Kotoko starts to worry. Please don't top the exams..... she thinks 
silently, I don't want you for a son-in-law....... At least he must 
be someone like Irie-kun, so clever, so dashing......

Kotoko shows her dreamy look again.

For the next few days, Miki studies very hard, even holding a book in 
the hand when doing his duties. Kotoko gets even more worried and 
prays hard..... secretly, because she is suppose to be on Miki's side.

Finally, the day of the exams arrives.

Everyone wishes Miki good luck as he goes into the examination hall.

"Miki, er.... just do what you can, don't push yourself too hard...."

"Thank you Kotoko for your concern. I am so touched. Wait for my good 
news, okasan..."

Kotoko gulped. She had actually just hoped that Miki would simply do 
what he can, then he would not be to top the class. But now, it seems 
that she has done the wrong thing again.

Sorry, Irie-kun..... she thinks silently.

Another week has passed, today is the day the results will be 
revealed. Everyone sits at the hall in the National Nursing Centre 
and waits for the results to be out.

The Head of the Nursing Centre gives his speech in front of everyone, 
but Kotoko is not listening. She is bitting her lips, hoping that 
Miki would not make it. She turns her head and looks at Naoki, he is 
so calm.

"Irie-kun, aren't you worried?"

Kotoko whispers softly to Naoki. 

"Baka, he will never make it..... don't worry so much....."

The Head of the Nursing Centre is ending his speech soon.

"This year, I am very pleased to announce that the top student for 
the Head Nurse exams is a male candidate........."

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Forever Youwen
forever_youwen@yahoo.com.sg