Together
"Hey, Syaoran," I said, acting calm while my insides were churning.
"Yes, Sakura?" Syaoran answered, smiling up at me from his desk in that kind, loving way he always did.
"I—uh… I just wanted to say…" I fiddled with the bottom of my skirt, meeting his eyes and then looking away again, too aware of other people in the classroom. "I lo—lo—never mind!"
I ran off, blushing bright red, leaving Syaoran to wonder what I was on. In the safety of the bathroom, I examined myself in the mirror.
"I already know he loves me," I told my reflection. "It's easy—I just have to tell him I feel the same way. No worries about rejection!" I'd told myself this repeatedly over the past three days. I knew that keeping him waiting was painful for him, but I just couldn't summon up the courage to tell him how I felt. I found myself wishing he'd take control again and demand an answer.
"One more try," I said firmly, nodding. "Just say it. Just say it. 'I love you.' Easy."
I continued to chant my advice in my head, determined not to run away again.
"Hey, Syaoran," I said forcefully, probably scaring him a little.
"Hi again, Sakura. What's up?" He sounded amused. At the memory of our last disastrous encounter, not ten minutes ago, I found myself blushing again. I looked around and saw the rest of the class beginning to file in from the break.
"Uh… doesn't matter," I muttered, having another shy attack and turning away from him to go back to my seat. No, no, no. Tell him, tell him, tell him! My mind insisted.
"Seriously, why do you keep saying 'hi' and then running away?"
"Because I love you!" I immediately clamped my hands over my mouth and looked at him in horror. I definitely had not wanted to shout that out in front of the entire class. Too late now, I thought icily.
"Sit down please." The teacher walked in, conveniently having missed my declaration. I sat down in my seat and stared at the blackboard, ignoring my classmates, who were all looking at me.
"Congratulations," came a whisper to my left. Tomoyo grinned proudly, and I couldn't help but grin back. I'd finally done it!
The lesson began, and I felt it was safe to take a glance to my right, at Syaoran. He was already looking at me, with the happiest expression I'd ever seen on him. I didn't break eye contact, and neither did he.
"Miss Kinomoto, what is so fascinating that you can't pay attention to the lesson?"
The spell was broken as I was forced to face the teacher.
"Nothing," I said guiltily.
"Hmm," said the teacher, doubtfully. "Then you won't mind reading page three-hundred-and-two."
After reading several pages of the textbook out loud and leading the class discussion on the subject, I felt it was safe to stop paying attention again. I noticed a small piece of paper on my desk, folded once.
Instead of a written message, there was a simple drawn love heart. I looked at Syaoran. He was smirking at me, probably realising how corny it was. It still made my heart swell.
A/N: This actually wrote itself, but I'm going to take credit. I mean, my fingers were the ones typing, and that has to count for something, right?