"Li!"
The brown haired boy turned around just as he was
about to enter the waiting room in the airport.
"Sakura?" His voice trembled slightly as
he turned to look at the girl that he thought he would never see
again for the rest of his life.
"Li! How could you think of going off without
informing me?" Her green eyes reflected the deep hurt as
she spoke, making him cringe slightly at her expression.
"I"
He simply shook his head as he stared into the eyes
that he knew that he would never see again. "I didn't need
any people sending me off. There's no need for you to come"
She shook her head. "What am I going to do without
you here in Tomoeda, Li?" she asked desperately as her green
eyes met his amber ones. "There'll be no one to help me out
if anything happens here anymore. Can't you stay?"
His smile was painful, almost forced as he shook
his head at the girl. "I can't stay," he spoke softly
as he turned to look at the aeroplanes that were departing outside.
"My family needs me in Hong Kong. I have to continue the
bloodline of my family. Besides, my work is finished here."
"So you're leaving? Just like Eriol?"
He nodded miserably, his heart unwilling to leave
the place where he had stayed already for a few years. "I
have to go, Sakura." Reaching into his bag, he dug out the
teddy bear that he had made a long time ago. "This is for
you."
She took the object, cradling it as if it was a fragile
glass object. "Li-kun?"
He managed to smile slightly at her. "Don't
be like that," he consoled her softly, though he knew his
own heart was breaking from the pain that seemed to ricochet around
his entire body. "I'll come back to visit all of you here
in Tomoeda, Sakura. I promise I will."
Sakura nodded, listening to the announcement that
boomed above on the speakers. "So you're leaving now?"
Li nodded. "That's my flight. One more thing,
Sakura"
The brown haired girl looked up from the object that
she was studying.
"Aiai shiteru, Sakura. Sayonara."
He fled into the waiting room, not waiting to see
her response to the words he had just uttered. If he had, however,
he would have seen the tears that brimmed in her green eyes as
she watched him take a seat in the waiting room, trembling as
he did.
She stood there, frozen until she the announcement
came over the loudspeakers that his flight was departing. Watching
from the glass windows, she watched as the plane slowly became
a tiny dot in the horizon.
His words came floating back to her mind as she stood
there, almost as if frozen in time.
"Aiai shiteru, Sakura. Sayonara."
The whispered that seemed to echo in the empty airport
seemed to haunt the entire place as a teardrop splashed onto the
marble floor.
"We'll meet again someday, Li-kunright?"
TEN YEARS LATER
The man stepped onto the cool marble floor of the
airport as he looked around. Silently noting the changes that
had developed here in Tomoeda, he smiled slightly.
Lifting up his bag, he just wondered how much this
place had changed since the last time he had left here. He had
come here to further his studies in the university here. His eyes
watched a distant memory perform itself as he shook his head and
continued to walk out of the terminal.
-------
"Ne, Sakura! Did you here about the new student
from Hong Kong?"
The green eyed girl-woman looked up from the physics
book she was studying as she smiled slightly at her friend, Rika.
"I heard. Seems like this person is a transfer student, just
like"
"Like Syaoran and Meilin when we were in fourth
grade," Tomoyo chimed in as she watched a blush come over
Sakura's face at the mention of Syaoran's name. "You don't
think that either one of them is coming over here to Tomoeda to
study here, Sakura?"
The brown haired girl shook her head, letting strands
of her auburn hair travel down her face as she spoke softly. "I
doubt that Li will ever come back to Tomoeda. Besides, he was
supposed to marry Meilin, just like what he said before he went"
There was a slight catch in her voice as she recalled
the details that still hadn't faded from her mind since it had
happened around ten years ago. She had harboured some forlorn
hope, though, that he might live up to his promise and come back
to at least visit all of them here at Tomoeda.
"Excuse me?"
The group that consisted of four girls minus Sakura
looked up at the sound of the slight cough, startled. The mere
sight of a tall, dark haired man with amber brown eyes was more
than enough to take their breath away as they nodded, oblivious
to the fact that Sakura was still surrounded by her memories of
the boy that had left her ten years ago.
"Can you tell me where Block B is?"
The familiar voice that seemed to echo around her
made Sakura look up. A feeling of déjà vu swept
through her as she realized whom the voice could only belong to.
"Li.?"
He squinted at the green eyed girl who looked up
at him wonderingly. "Yes, I am Li Syaoran. How do you?"
Tomoyo stood up, a smile pasted on her face as she
held out her hand brightly. "You've forgotten so much in
ten years, Li-kun," she remarked as she shook her head. "She's
Sakura and this is Rika, Naoko and I'm Tomoyo. Have we really
changed that much over the years?"
"Sakura?"
The word seemed to come out in a croak as Li stared
helplessly at the auburn haired girl who sat down on the grass.
He had no idea that the girl that he had left had grown intothis.
Just looking at her seemed to revive something in him that he
had thought had died ten years ago when he had returned to Hong
Kong due to the persuasion of his family.
"Rika, Naoko, come! We have to do some research
in the library for the project," Tomoyo spoke, motioning
the two other girls to follow her, leaving Sakura and Li alone.
"Tomoyo!"
Sakura's protest was futile as she watched her three
friends retreating backs head towards the campus library. There
was no doubt what they planned to do, though. She stood up to
face Li who simply smiled weakly at her in return.
"Liis it really you?"
Her smile was genuine as she watched him fumble with
his suitcases.
"Well, you see, my family decided that I should
further my studies here since I had spent at least three years
here. They thought thatit might do me some good to come
here and meet up with some of my old friends." Not like they
didn't know that Sakura was studying here, he added silently as
he watched her beckon him.
"Come on," Sakura responded, her green
eyes glittering with happiness as she held out a hand. "Block
B's this way. You have to tell me all about what happened in Hong
Kong."
Syaoran smiled gratefully as he picked up the suitcases
that he had put on the ground. Maybemaybe he might be able
to finish what he left undone ten years ago
-------
"Li-kun?"
Li turned at the sound of his name being mentioned.
"Yamazaki-kun?"
The black haired boy who stood in front of him had
changed much, he noted. "It's me all right. So you're the
new student from Hong Kong, ne? Should have known."
"?"
Yamazaki smiled at his friend. "Never mind.
Finished unpacking already?"
Li nodded, grunting as he lifted his suitcase from
the bed as he put the last of his clothes into the cupboard. "Should
be. Have to get this suitcase under here, though"
He paused, slightly startled as Yamazaki bent down
with a grin and helped him shove the gigantic suitcase under the
bed. "Nice to see you haven't changed," he remarked
as he stood up straight, brushing the dust of his hands.
"Neither have you. Not that it matters anyway"
Li stared at his friend, a frown wrinkling his forehead
as he tried to make out the meaning of his words.
"Oh, by the way, I'm having lunch with Chiharu
and the others. Do you think you want to join us?"
His nod was obvious, and so was his blush, Yamazaki
noted as he remembered what Chiharu had told him about the both
of them after Syaoran had left for Hong Kong.
"He told her that he'll be back. Maybe he'll
be back some day to finish what he begun."
He had puzzled over the meaning of her words, but
it didn't dawn to him until now. Maybe what Chiharu said might
be true. Maybe he was back to finish all he had left undone when
he left ten years ago.
"Come on, Syaoran-kun," he spoke, a grin
lighting his face up. "I have many more things to tell you
about since you left"
-------
"Chiharu-chan? Look who I brought for lunch!"
The four girls looked up to see a smiling Yamazaki
together with Syaoran. Leaf green eyes met stormy amber as Sakura
looked at Li, who had a slow blush spreading across his face as
he smiled at her.
"Hi?"
Chiharu immediately evacuated her seat as she took
another seat beside Tomoyo "Come sit here, Yamazaki. Why
don't you sit beside Sakura, Li-kun? I don't believe there's enough
space here for you to squeeze in. Gomen nasai."
Li shook his head, precociously sitting on the empty
spot beside Sakura. "Never mind. I hope I'm not intruding
here"
Sakura turned to face him as she smiled at him. "Not
at all, Li-kun," she spoke. She still has the voice of an
angel, Li remembered silently as he swallowed a lump that seemed
to reside in his throat since he had met Sakura.
"Chinese, Li-kun? We know how much you like
dim sum," Tomoyo spoke up, reluctant to break the spell that
had been woven around the two of them.
There was a silent nod from Syaoran as he looked
away from the girl who sat beside him. He couldn't behave like
this in public, he knew, though the reality that there was no
way he could avoid Sakura hit him full in the face.
Sakura studied the man that had previously been an
eleven year old boy almost ten years ago. There was something
he was here for, she knew. He didn't just come here to further
his studies just like he said. No, it was something else. Something
that she hadn't noticed before.
"Li-kun?" she whispered as she rested a
hand on his shoulder. "Is something wrong?"
Their eyes met once again, creating an electric contact
as a slight blush seemed to creep onto their faces. Somehow oblivious
of the face that their other four friends were watching them,
Li held his breath as he forced a smile and shook his head.
I can't live like this, Li thought as he clenched
his fist under the table. There was no way he could survive through
the entire year on campus if she was going to treat him like that.
He looked away, pretending to be distracted as he
noticed the hurt look on Sakura's face. I'm sorry, he thought
as he motioned for the cart that was serving the dim sum to come
to their table. I just don't know how to treat you after all these
years
-------
Li sat on the bed as he studied the pictures that
he held in his hands. Memories of fourth grade seemed to flow
back to him as he looked at those pictures.
There was a picture of the time when the both of
them had taken part in the marathon during Meilin's stay. A smile
came to his lips as he remembered how Meilin had refused to wait
for the teacher even though Sakura and Tomoyo had offered to stay
with her to. In the end though, he had carried her all the way
to the finish line.
And there was also the time when Tomoyo had videotaped
how Sakura had hugged him after he had rescued her from the Return
card. She hadn't wanted to stop filming his embarrassed then,
he realized as he laughed softly at the photo of his flaming red
face that seemed to glow.
He shook his head as he set the photos back on the
table. He couldn't go on like this, neither could he just say
what he felt out to her. It was impossible for him to just forget
her, on the other hand. He had told himself that there was no
way he would ever forget her since the day that the promise had
left his lips.
But what could he do? According to what he had gathered,
he had drawn a conclusion that Sakura was one of the most popular
and prettiest girls on campus. Not to mention that he had gotten
this information from a majority of the males that did study in
this university
A knock on the door seemed to startle him out of
his thought as he set the pictures down. Who could it be visiting
him at this time in the evening? Yamazaki had already told him
that he would be studying at his own apartment for the night.
Outside, Sakura stood there, hoping that Li was in
his apartment, and not out with Yamazaki. Praying anxiously to
hear a reply from behind the door, she knocked once more.
"Who's there?" came a muffled voice.
"Li-kun? Sakura desu!"
There was the thudding of footsteps on the floor
and the door creaked open to reveal a surprised Syaoran. "Sakura?
What are you doing here? Come in."
A smile formed on her face automatically, hiding
any traces of emotions that might have betrayed her at that moment.
Taking a step into the apartment, she gaped at the size of his
apartment.
Noticing her expression, Li turned to face her.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's just that your apartment's sobig.
Won't you get lonely?"
He studied her face before answering her innocent
question with a one word phrase.
"Perhaps."
"Li-kunwhat happened to Meilin?"
The sound of his ex fiancee's name made his amber
eyes turn to cold stone. He had no idea that she still remembered
the girl that had interfered with their lives for at least a year
when they were in fourth and fifth grade. Not that it mattered,
anyway.
"My family told me that I didn't have to marry
Meilin. So, I came here," he spoke, hoping that the tone
of his voice revealed nothing that he was thinking. I came here
to be with you, he added silently as he forced a smile on his
face. "Anyway, what brings you here?"
"Thought you might need some help with cleaning
your apartment."
He looked around, noticing the dust that had gathered
in the cracks and corners for the first time. "I guess it
is a little dirty"
"Do you have a washcloth?"
The glint in Sakura's eye was obvious, making Li
step back in surprise before disappearing into the kitchen at
the back. There was a scrambling sound, and Li emerged, holding
a gray washcloth in his right hand. "What?"
The washcloth disappeared before he knew it. Blinking
once, he turned to see Sakura dusting the dining table behind
him.
"I like cleaning," Sakura explained hesitantly
as she stopped to wipe an oily spot on the table. "I have
always done my own cleaning at home, and I thought that you might
need some help"
Syaoran stepped forward, a slight blush tinting his
cheeks. "I'll help"
Sakura shook her head as she smiled at him. "Iie,
you go and rest. It must have been a tiring flight from Hong Kong
all the way to here in Tomoeda. You should go and rest."
He shook his head. "I'm not that tired,"
he protested as he plucked the washcloth from her grip. "I
don't mind doing some cleaning. Besides, I am supposed to do the
cleaning here"
She smiled at his reaction as she watched him continue
her job that she was doing a minute ago. "I don't care,"
she spoke decisively. "I said I'm going to help you and I'm
going to."
Grabbing a broom from the nearest corner, she began
to sweep the floor, much to the surprise of Syaoran. Smiling slightly
at her stubbornness, he watched her move around the room with
natural grace.
Realizing that he was staring at her, Sakura turned
around to see a blushing Syaoran. "Am I doing something wrong,
Li-kun?" she spoke, her eyes widening slightly as she watched
his face turn flaming red. "Or is something wrong?"
Hurriedly shaking his head, he turned away, pretending
to focus on dusting the dining table with his utmost attention.
"Ano, Li-kun"
"?"
"Ten years ago in the airportdid you really
mean what you said in the airport?"
The silence that seemed to hand in the air lasted
for minutes, but for the both of them, it seemed like hours. Li
cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Idon't know."
Something inside him screamed to take back what he
had just said when he saw the expression on Sakura's face. Dismissing
it, he continued his task. Sensing the heavy silence that seemed
envelope the room, he turned to look at Sakura.
His heart practically screamed for him to say that
the words that he had just uttered weren't true. Watching those
incredible green eyes of hers try to hide the pain that was caused
by his words made him somehow wince inside. She might have thought
that he was stubborn in any form, but he was actually helpless
when it came to her.
"Li-kun?"
Her eyes threatened to spill the tears that she had
been holding back as she quickly set the broom back in its place.
"II have to go. I promised Kero that I'll be back early
today."
With that, she rushed out his apartment, her tears
flowing freely from her eyes down to her cheeks as she raced to
her own apartment, leaving Syaoran frozen in his very own apartment.
"Iie, SakuraI didn't mean it," he
whispered as he sank onto a wooden chair. "I just couldn't
bring myself to say yes"
-------
Sakura rushed out, thankfully breathing in the cold
night air as tears streamed down her cheeks. Something in her
told her that he wasn't worth crying for, but a little voice protested.
It reminded her of what she and Li had gone through together when
the both of them were hunting for the Clow cards.
"Sakura?"
She turned to see a blushing Syaoran who was looking
down. "I'm sorry. I had no idea that you still remember what
happened ten years ago at the airport. I thought you'd forgotten
me by now"
She sniffed slightly, wiping the tears off her face
as she tried to smile. "I never thought you'd come back.
I thought you'd just settle down with Meilin."
He held out his handkerchief to her as he smiled
slightly. "I should have told you. Meilin and I aren't engaged
anymore. See, we're still cousins and friends, but we're not going
to get married"
Taking his handkerchief, she wiped her tears off.
"Li-kun?"
"Yes?"