The Wedding Planner

by: rotten pumpking


-1-

The small café was empty, except for the attractive black haired woman sitting by the window. A hot cup of coffee rested in front of her, but she didn't seem too interested in drinking it. Watching from the doorway, Sakura got the impression she wasn't a costumer like any other. She left her coat at the door and walked slowly towards the table. Judging by her voice when they spoke on the phone, Sakura imagined her different.

"Li Meiling-san?" she asked. The woman nodded with a smile. "My name is Kinomoto Sakura, nice to meet you."

"Call me Meiling, please, you make me feel old." She waved her hand, drawing the attention of a waitress. "I ordered ahead, hope you don't mind."

A few minutes later they left on the table a cup of tea and some biscuits. Sakura thanked quietly before taking a sip of her drink.

"I'm really sorry for calling you on such short notice, but I don't have much time and I need to settle this matter as soon as possible."

"It's not a problem." She took a notebook out of her bag, ready to take notes. "But if you allow me, I have to say you are by far the most rational bride I have ever met."

Meiling burst out laughing and for a moment all trace of worry disappeared from her face.

"Thanks for the compliment, but I'm not the one getting married. As I mentioned on the phone, this matter must be handled with discretion, so I took the liberty of drafting an NDA." She handed Sakura a manila envelope sealed with red security tape. "If you want you can read it first and discuss the details in another appointment, but I would actually love it if we can do it today."

"I'll have my attorney review it and then I'll call you back. Anyway, you have my silence. Is my personal policy."

Meiling nodded, satisfied, and gave her a thick folder with clear evidence that it was used regularly.

"There you will find all the details, from the measurements of the bride to the design of the invitations. I have also included a list of possible fashion houses where you can order the dress, but if you know of any other place, let me know. If you have any questions, please call me. Still, if you can't find me, the private number of the bride is on the inside, call her just if it's an emergency. Use the folder with discretion and keep it away from you employees. The news will be made available for public knowledge in a few weeks, so be prepared for a media attack. It's not the first time your company works with the press, right? "

"We have catered for celebrities in the past, so don't worry. My team and I know how to handle the paparazzi. But leaving that aside, sooner or later the couple will have to show up in my office, especially if the media wants photographs. After all, they are the ones getting married. When is the wedding?"

"In three months, but we have time to work out the details. "

Meiling offered a tired smile. There was something almost sad about that gesture and Sakura wondered if it had anything to do with the wedding.

"I've been authorized to give you a credit card for all the expenses," continued Meiling, giving Sakura a plastic card with her name printed in the black-colored plastic "I leave the price to your judgment, but don't get picky. The more expensive and striking, the better. Later will discuss the final price of your fees, but you can expect more than the amount you suggested at the beginning." She checked her watch and cursed. "I have to go, sorry. Call me as soon as possible and thank you very much. I already payed the bill, consider it a lame thank you for cancelling all of your meetings just to see me. Good bye."

Sakura watched her leave with a strange feeling building up in the pit of her stomach. For some reason it seemed that she had gotten herself in a big, fat problem that had nothing to do with her. She took a deep breath, pushing those thoughts from her mind. Calmly she finished her tea and biscuits, trying to buy time and left after a while, with her coat neatly folded in her arms. Reaching her car, parked a few blocks from the café, she let out a strangled sigh. She had hoped the meeting with Meiling would last longer, but they barely talked for twenty minutes and now she was bound to go back to the office, where she knew that Tomoyo would be waiting with a dress in a bag and a camera in her hands. For years she had tried, to no avail, to convince her best friend to forget about that damn recorder for one night, but it was impossible. Tomoyo was impossible to deal with. She got in the car and drove off. She had no other choice but to endure the hours to come.

Half an hour later, Sakura parked in the private parking lot of an office building. Her legs trembling like jelly, she made her way to the elevator and pressed the sixth floor button. Her assistant was waiting for her when she reached her office. She placed a big bouquet of white roses in her arms and allowed herself to hug her. Then, as if she realized what she was doing, she pushed back like a spring and began reciting her schedule for the afternoon. Sakura listened, but didn't pay attention. The door to her office was open and she could hear the echo of voices spilling into the hallway.

"Please, contact Hiroshi and tell him that I need him here asap" was that frightened whisper really her voice? "Thanks for the flowers, Yuuka, they're beautiful."

She left her assistant handling the phones and saved the two meters that separated her from her office in four long strides. Inside, as she expected, was Tomoyo, fiddling with her camera. The dress bag rested happily in the back of a leather chair near the window. Who she had not expected to see was Eriol, her best friend and Tomoyo's boyfriend. As always, he wore an elegant black suite with a deep blue tie that matched Tomoyo's simple, long-sleeved dress. Ever since they started dating, it became customary for those two to dress alike.

They were so busy arguing that none noticed her presence until she put the flowers in a vase and sat down behind her desk. Immediately Tomoyo jumped into Sakura's arms and began to sing her the happy birthday song in that beautiful and breathtaking voice of hers. Eriol was next, but he carefully avoided hugs and just kissed her in the cheek.

"Your gift." Tomoyo forced the bag into Sakura's hands and soon grabbed her camera to record her reactions. "Go change!"

Asking the heavens for patience, Sakura shuffled into the bathroom across the room. Since they were in elementary school, Tomoyo was fond of making her clothes and then keep track of all of it with her blasted camera. For all she knew, Tomoyo had in her hands more than ten years' worth of film. Her closet was full of Tomoyo's designs and although she found it excessive, she appreciated the gesture. She had saved a fortune in clothes and always looked like she just came out of a fashion magazine.

She changed her pants and dress shirt for a wavy ivory dress that rested just above her knees. A pearl button closed behind her neck, leaving the rest of her back completely bare. For the first time in months Tomoyo actually considered her opinion, making the dress fit more Sakura's sense of fashion than her own. The dress even matched her stilettos. She checked herself in the mirror one last time and returned to the office. Tomoyo was outside, the camera already in position.

"You look gorgeous!" shrieked Tomoyo, radiant with happiness. "You'll be the center of attention tonight."

"Thanks, Moyo, but could you stop recording? Please?"

"We've been through this before, Sakura. You should be more than used to it by now."

Sakura rolled her eyes, praying in silence for patience. Eriol, who had remained quietly in the background so far, also decided to torture her, joining Tomoyo in her never ending shower of compliments.

"Kinomoto-san, Hiroshi-san just arrived." Yuuka stuck her head through the crack in the door. "Should I tell him to wait?"

"Send him right in, please."

Moments later a handsome brunette man with a severe face entered the office. He respectfully bowed to Sakura and Tomoyo and greeted Eriol by name.

"How can I be of service, Sakura-san?" he asked, straight to the point.

"A client gave me a NDA and I want you to check it." She gave him the envelope. "If you think everything is in order, I'll sign it."

"Is now a good time? I could come back tomorrow."

"Of course, but we'll talk in the meeting room." She walked quickly to the door. "I don't know how long this will take, you can go ahead and I'll meet you in the restaurant."

"No way, my dear, I still have to do your makeup and your hair. I'll just wait here, k?"

Sakura gulped down her fear and closed the door behind her.


"Did you really had to bring that thing here?" complained Tomoyo, slightly irritated.

"My client will come to pick it up, she says it's urgent." She replied, defensively. "Where the hell are they? It's getting late."

"Give them time, they'll come."

They stood in front of a fancy restaurant somewhere downtown. The night had fallen recently and the streets began to flood with teenagers and exhausted office workers. On more than one occasion, a few people stopped to gawk at Sakura in awe. The typical comments about her height and appearance followed shortly. She looks like a model, they would say and she couldn't help but bite her lips and hide her embarrassment as best as she could. Beside her, Tomoyo kept track of everything. Sakura looked beautiful in that dress and white coat with the hood covering her head. Her long chestnut hair fell in a cascade of curls all the way to her waist and her bright green eyes twinkled, framed in a striking combination of black and silver eyeshadow.

"Let's go inside, please." Pleaded Sakura, tired of so many stares. "Tomoyo." She insisted.

"Alright, alright, but it's a pity to deprive the city of your beauty." She remarked with mock seriousness.

Sakura sighed in relief and entered the restaurant. Immediately a waiter approached them and after taking their coats, led them to a section at the other end of the room. They had arranged a table for ten, decorated with white roses and sunflowers for a dash of color. He placed them somewhere near the center of the table and after introducing the waiters that would be with them that night, he went back to the door. One of the waiters filled their glasses with wine and retreated into the shadows.

"I forgot to tell you, the last bride you worked with sent me a bouquet of lilacs a few days ago. She was really pleased with our work. Did she send you something?"

"Flowers, chocolates, a thank you note and she also asked me to pick some photos of the weeding for her family in Europe."

Tomoyo giggled at Sakura's obvious embarrassment. For the past five years Sakura had managed a successful wedding company that had become famous overnight. She personally handled the large weddings while her assistants were responsible for more modest celebrations. Likewise, she kept control over all the projects at once and made sure that the families involved, but specially the bride and groom, felt comfortable and fully satisfied. She did so much to please them, that several times she traveled with the couple abroad to help them find things for the wedding and was also responsible for organizing the bachelor parties and even plan their honeymoon. So it was expected that those brides who drove her crazy for months with every minute details contacted her and sent her things in gratitude. Tomoyo worked with her sometimes, designing fantastic wedding dresses, but she had to admit that the clothes were nothing without a proper ceremony.

"This project is quite large, right?" Tomoyo blurted after a while. "I say that because of the NDA. Are they famous?"

Sakura shrugged.

"I don't know. My client gave me a folder with all the information, everything is planned in advance, but they want me to organize the whole thing. The press is involved as well. And I was thinking of recommending you as the designer for the dress, if you have the time."

Tomoyo thought about it for a few minutes.

"Maybe I can make time in a few weeks, but for now I'm stuck with the show next month. Which reminds me that you still haven't said anything about my proposal. I left the contract in your office days ago."

Sakura rubbed the back of her neck. She had forgotten completely that Tomoyo asked her to be the main model in the upcoming fashion show. Being completely honest she wasn't in the mood for going back to the runway world but she could barely say no to her best friend.

"I'll sign it on Monday. Happy?"

The melody of a phone interrupted their conversation. Sakura recognized Meiling's number on the screen and walked quickly to the front of the restaurant. As agreed, Meiling was waiting in the sidewalk, buried in a thick black coat.

"Freezing temperatures are not my thing." She said as soon as she saw her, but then she blinked hard a few times, finally realizing what was happening. "You look amazing, Sakura. Are you celebrating something special?"

"My birthday." She handed Meiling the envelope. "Everything is in order, so I'll start the preparations on Monday."

"Thank you so much, you have no idea how much you've helped me. Happy birthday and I'll see you next week. Have fun."

Meiling had not yet reached the corner when a man materialized next to Sakura. He had black hair, dark eyes and a handsome smile. Sakura jumped, scared, but then recognized her brother.

"Working at this time, monster?" asked Touya, crossing his arms "You'll age prematurely if you keep this up."

"Shut up and don't call me that."

"But it's true, you already have wrinkles." He pinched her face and stepped aside to allow his companion to say hello.

The anger melted off Sakura's face when her eyes fell on Yukito. She had a crush on him back in elementary school and even confessed her feelings for him, but he gently rejected her, stating that he was in love with someone else. And it didn't come as a surprise when years later Yukito and her brother announced their relationship. She didn't love him anymore, but still got all giddy every time they were in the same room.

"Happy birthday, Sakura-chan." Yukito kissed her on the forehead and put a little box in her hands. "I hope you like it."

"Thank you, Yukito."

The other guests arrived before they entered the restaurant. There were Chiharu and Yamazaki, newlyweds; Naoko, and Rika and her husband, Terada, who had been their lifelong teacher and after they graduated high school proposed to her, leaving aside the massive age difference. Eriol closed the group carrying in his arms a bouquet of sunflowers and a small package wrapped in blue paper.

"Happy birthday, Sakura." Eriol handed her the flowers and the package.

"Thank you, Eriol, and thank you all for coming. Let's go inside."

Once everyone was seated in their respective places, the celebration began.

"We never thanked you enough for all your work, Sakura. I wanted to talk to you after the wedding, but we had to get to the airport fast." Chiharu said while waiters prepared the table for the main course. "We just arrived a few days ago. I'll make it up to you."

"There is no need, I'm happy you picked me to plan your wedding." She sipped her wine, feeling a little dizzy. It was her third glass in half an hour. "How was your honeymoon, anyway…?"

Several conversations were happening at the same time. Between courses, they all got up to speed with their lives. That was the first time in months the group got together. She didn't even get to see her brother often, and he lived a few blocks away from her apartment. Only Tomoyo and Eriol kept regular contact with her and that was because they worked more or less in the same industry.

Finally, after two hours of conversation and several bottles of wine, came dessert. The chef himself delivered Sakura's birthday cake, a chocolate tower covered in white fondant and decorated with sugar blown flowers. Amid the laughter of her friends and under the watchful camera of Tomoyo, Sakura cut the cake and distributed it among the guests. After taking a couple of pictures, the dinner came to an end.

"Are you going home?" Asked Yukito, swallowing the last bite of his third slice of cake.

"We're going to a bar with some of Eriol's friends." Answered Tomoyo. "You are all invited if you want to join us."

None of them could go.

"Don't worry, we can get together another time."

Touya and Yukito were the first to leave, but not before promising that they would go visit her the next day with her father, who returned the next morning from one of his excavation trips. Naoko followed soon after, handing Sakura her gift. A hardbound book with a creepy forest printed on the cover.

"It's a collection of urban legends, I picked specially for you. I hope you like it."

Sakura frowned but thanked her anyway. She had just turned 28 and still was afraid of ghosts. Rika and Terada, who gave her a new planner, left next. Chiharu and Yamazaki were the last to leave the restaurant.

"It's nothing fancy, just a pair of earrings we got you in Paris; I hope you like them." Chiharu gave her the box. "I'll see you later, Sakura. Thank you for inviting us."

While Tomoyo and Eriol handled the tab with the manager of the restaurant, Sakura gathered all her gifts and flowers in one corner of the table. The gift from her brother and Yukito was an elegant silver link necklace with a small diamond pendant. Eriol's gift was the last one. She opened the box to find an intricate brooch in the shape of a sword with a little ruby in the handle. Smiling, she put all her gifts safely in her purse.

"Sakura, are you ready?"

She nodded and followed her friend to the car. Tomoyo put the flowers in the back seat while Sakura fished in her purse for her wallet. On the way to the bar they stopped at Sakura's house to drop off the flowers and the presents. It was almost midnight when Eriol parked in a public parking at the far end of town.

The bar was a few blocks away. Inside, the place was packed. Walking was near impossible and to be heard above the music they had to shout. They made a stop at the bar to order some drinks and then set out to find Eriol's friends. They found them at the other side of the dancefloor, sitting at a small table full of alcohol. Eriol made the introductions and immediately one of his friends jumped to Sakura's side, while the others cursed in clear defeat. They had apparently been planning this moment to detail. Sakura gave Tomoyo a pleading look, but she just winked and clung to her boyfriend a little tighter. She had no choice but to sit at the table and join the conversation. If she put aside the futile attempts of Eriol's friend to get her attention, she had to admit she was having fun. It was the first time in a long time she actually had the chance to go out and relax.

"Let's dance." Suggested Tomoyo after a while.

Eriol jumped up and dragged his girlfriend to the dancefloor. Sakura stood there, surrounded by five men, not knowing what to do. Finally, the guy who stood beside her when she arrived, did her the favor of drag her away from the table. They found Eriol and Tomoyo near the center and started dancing next to them. At first everything was going smoothly, until the guy slid his hand down her back, resting on her hip. Sakura stared at him, a silent warning. But it seemed that all the drinks had gone to his head and had no intention of cooperating. After a couple more attempts to grab her, she pushed him aside and stormed away from the dancefloor.

By the time she reached the bar, all the anger fade away. She couldn't stay mad at anyone, no matter what they did to her. She took a deep breath and forced herself to forget the incident. She asked for a glass of water and occupied an empty stool. From there, she could see Eriol and Tomoyo dancing in the middle of the floor, lost in their world. Suddenly, she left alone. None of her relationships lasted long, but their lack of success wasn't due to miscommunication or lack of chemistry. She blamed it on herself, for being one of those hopeless dreamers that believed in that mystical creature also known as the one. All she wanted was a man that loved her completely. Their appearance didn't matter as long as he treater her like a princess. But she didn't want the prince, but the soldier.

She finished her water and imitating the man to her left, she buried her head in her arms. She was suffering for an imaginary lover at her age. She was pathetic.

"Bad day?" someone asked to her side.

"Bad thoughts, actually." She answered unconsciously.

"Been there."

In the brief silence, Sakura realized she was talking to a stranger. The man at her left smiled. In any other circumstances, she would have felt uncomfortable, but at that moment she was craving for a distraction.

She returned the smile.

"You've had a terrible day, apparently." She pointed to the multiple empty shots in front him.

"You have no idea." He finished his drink and asked for another. "Are you alone?"

"For the moment. My name is Sakura."

"Syaoran, a pleasure to meet you. So, what are you doing here?"

Sakura looked at him for a moment before answering. There was something odd about him, probably the amount of alcohol in his body, but it occurred to her that he wasn't as talkative as this when he was sober.

"It's my birthday."

"Happy birthday. Let me buy you a drink, do you like whiskey?"

"I prefer rum."

Syaoran nodded and spoke briefly with the bartender. A few minutes later he handed Sakura rum and cola. She took a sip and pursed her lips.

"Too much lemon."

Syaoran let out a sigh.

"I can't do anything right today, can I?"

"It's not your fault." The bitterness in Syaoran's voice was palpable. "Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?"

Syaoran remained silent.

"People say that talking to strangers is a good way to solve a problem. Our opinions are unbiased." She added, embarrassed.

Syaoran stared at her, thinking hard. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to burden such a beautiful woman with his problems, but still, he was already screwed, so it wouldn't do too much damage.

"Sakura!"

A whirlwind of black hair materialized beside them. Sakura jumped, spilling half her glass on the bar.

"Tomoyo, you scared me. Did you have fun?"

Tomoyo's eyes lit up, but then it dawned on her that Sakura wasn't alone. She greeted the stranger with a small smile.

"Actually, I came to tell you that we're leaving. Eriol had too much to drink."

Sakura giggled. Her best friend had zero alcohol tolerance. She ran a hand over her face and stood up from the stool.

"I'm sorry." She apologized, though she wasn't sure why. "Do you want me to drive you home?" she offered on an impulse "You don't look well."

"Don't worry, someone will come pick me up, but thank you."

Sakura wasn't convinced, so she did the logical thing in that situation. She asked the bartender for a pen and scribbled her mobile number on a napkin.

"If you want to continue this conversation, call me. See you."

And she darted toward the entrance.

"What was that?" Tomoyo asked while she dragged her boyfriend back to the car.

"I made a new friend."

"Yes, of a very handsome man. And you gave him your number, the private one."

"We were having an important conversation but got interrupted."

"Yeah, and what were you talking about?"

"Bad thoughts."

By then they had already reached the car, so Tomoyo had to save all her questions for the ride. And yet, Sakura refused to answer them. She couldn't speak about Syaoran, much less think about him, and ironically she was doing the exact opposite. His brown hair and clear eyes were burned deep in her mind. She paid him more attention than she initially thought and that made her nervous.

Her mind took a break when she saw the door of her building. She said goodbye to Tomoyo and hastily got out of the car. But her thoughts about Syaoran got stronger in the short ride to the fourth floor and didn't leave her until she entered her apartment. It was a mental conditioning in which she had worked for years. Nothing that troubled her got through that door. It patiently waited for her in the hallway just to torment her the next morning. She got undressed by the door and ran to her room carrying only her purse. She got under the covers wearing nothing but underwear, stared at the ceiling and cursed her luck. Fuck mental conditioning. There she was at three in the morning fantasizing about a man she'd just met. She took a deep breath and tried to sleep. She was already drifting off when the buzz of her phone woke her up. She took it out of her purse and was surprised to receive a text from an unknown number.

'Thank you, Sakura. I'll call you next week. Syaoran.'

Straight to the point, this man. She cursed once again and slammed her phone on the floor.


Thank you to those that ventured to read this story. Really, thank you a lot. I want to apologize for any errors, but please keep in mind that I'm not a native English speaker so it gets hard for me sometimes to translate properly. Still, I'll keep getting better and hopefully one day I'll be able to write in English as smoothly as I do in Spanish. Thank you very much again, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please, leave a comment, I would really appreciate it.

Dewa

rotten pumpking.