How to Fall in Love

Chapter 1


---Syaoran---

My new uniform itches. I scowl and scratch vigorously at my neck again, where the collar is itching like crazy. I hate this job. I really, really, really do. And it's only the first day of work. I have six more months of this to endure.

I scan around my surroundings, taking in the glittery lighting and happy ambiance, looking at people sitting around chitchatting over coffee and cakes.

Don't let this happy little scene fool you. Anything can happen. Anything! See that nice and polite guy over there around his late 40's? The one in the crisp business suit, stirring his coffee while gabbing on his expensive BlackBerry? Yeah, he can actually turn out to be some member of a secret underground mafia and is plotting a massacre tonight.

"Cancel that meeting, Lorraine. I promised to be home for dinner tonight. That woman of mine is threatening a divorce."

Okay, then again, maybe not a massacre.

God who am I even kidding?! This new job as a security guard in a coffee house? IT SUCKS! I was one of the top cops in Tomoeda. Now that was a cool job. I had a gun and everything, and got to run around chasing robbers and druggies and murderers and fire my gun at them when necessary. I solved countless of abduction cases, intercepted many drug trades, helped tons of old ladies get their purses back…man, those were the good days.

And I gave all that up to be a security guard at a coffee shop! I must have been out of my mind. Oh wait. I wasn't out of my mind…

Flashback

Hmm…where am I? Why is everything all white?

I can feel that I'm lying down on…something. I try to open my eyes, but it's like they're glue together or something. Okay, who glued my eyes together?! I bet it was Eriol. That bastard. Just because I was shot during a mob chase doesn't mean he can take advantage and glue my eyes together. Now how am I suppose to open them? I should fire him as my best friend after this.

"Syaoran…Syaoran…please…wake up…"

That sounds like mother. Hi mom! I'm awake! I just can't open my eyes. I'm not dead you know!

"He's just resting. The doctor said he's fine now, Yelan-san. They got the bullet out and he didn't lose too much blood."

Oh great. Now my mom found out I got shot. I'm never going to hear the end of it now. Okay ,maybe I should try harder to open my eyes…

"He's waking up, he's waking up!" That was Tomoyo Daidouji, Eriol's girlfriend for almost four years.

I squint from the bright lights. They hurt my eyes. I try to lift my left arm up to shield my eyes, but a wave of pain washes over, and I wince.

"Don't you dare move, young man!" Mother yells, gently putting my arm back down. She's been crying. Great. I made my mother cry.

"Okay," I croak. "But can someone get me a pair of sunglasses?"

"Very funny," my cousin, Meiling, said dryly. "You almost died, and the first thing you want is a pair of sunglasses."

"Water would be nice too," I croak.

"I'll get some," Tomoyo volunteers, and before I can thank her, mom's glare catches my attention.

"You are to quit from the police force." That's a demand. One that she's been making for the past…oh, I don't know…for as long as I've been a cop.

"Mom…" I said. There's clearly protest in my voice from that one word.

"No more arguments, Syaoran!" Mom blew her top with my one word protest. Uh oh. "The bullet almost got you in the heart this time! I will not have you die before I do! You're only 26! Believe me, getting a call from the hospital saying my son got shot is nota good new year surprise."

"But mom," I said, smiling gratefully at Tomoyo, who gives me water in a paper cup, "my birthday is in six more months. I'll be 27 then. I can officially take over the Tomoeda branch of Dad's company then, like he said. Can't I just stick with policing for half a year more?"

"Half a year! No! You're quitting NOW! I'll rather you be unemployed than DEAD!" Mom shrieks. She falls into a near by chair, and Meiling starts to rub her back soothingly.

Mom takes a couple of deep breaths before continuing. "Syaoran, I've decided that if you don't give up policing, then I'm cutting you off the Li fortune. I've discussed this with your father and he agrees wholeheartedly."

My jaw falls open. "Mom, you cannot be serious!"

"Believe me, I have never been more serious in my life." Mother glares at me. "Now get some rest."

"I'll get the doctor and tell him Syaoran woke up." Eriol said kindly, but not without giving me a smirk before walking out of the room. That bastard.

End of flashback


So here I am, with my new job. This coffee shop is actually one of the biggest line in Japan. There's one branch here in Tomoeda, four in Tokyo, and five in Kyoto. And they all belong to Tomoyo and her mother. Tomoyo was the one who got me this job. We had to convince mother that a security guard's chances of getting shot were low, even though we carry a gun. So she said yes.

At first, I thought, oh, what the heck. It's only half a year. And it's sort of similar to being a police. I'll endure it for six more months, celebrate my 27th birthday, and take over the family company branch in Tomoeda.

But so far, it's only been three hours, and I'm dying a more painful death than a bullet shot. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm dying from pure boredom.

Well, I guess one perk would be all the girls they have as waitresses and cashiers at this place. Quite a bit of them flirts with me, and I bet it'll make mom very happy if I ever settle down in a serious relationship. She's been nagging me about that too. But honestly, there's only one girl I have ever loved and right now, she's currently –

Never mind. You don't have to know that.

Anyways, all the girls here are pretty mild tempered. Except for one, that is. I glance at the counter again, and there she is, handing a customer his change.

Sakura Kinomoto, currently 25 years old, Tomoyo's cousin, head sales. I'll admit, she's really pretty, what with her soft auburn hair and the brightest pair of green eyes I've ever seen. She's currently single as of this morning when I started my shift.

Flashback

First day on the job, and I'm early as usual. Maybe I'll get something to drink from the staff lounge…

"You LOVE me?! Ha! That's a big joke! If you love me so much, why do you keep her picture in your wallet?"

Okay…then again, maybe not. Hmm…a big fight…this sounds interesting. Leaning over, I saw a girl with auburn hair and green eyes screaming into her cell phone. She looks way more pissed than my mother did that night at the hospital.

"Yes, I snooped in your wallet! So what?! You know what else? I snooped your cell phone too, and found tons of sickening text messages. Oh honey, are you going to come over tonight? Yes, darling, after I drop Sakura off, I'll be right over. Love you! Kiss, kiss!"

I tried my best not to laugh. Must…not…laugh…must…not…

"You're insane. You think I'll still consider marrying you after you cheated on me with some bar waitress? We're through, Kenji Hashimoto!"

Finally, she hung up.

"Syaoran? What are you doing outside?"

Oh shoot. Tomoyo caught me eavesdropping. I look over my shoulders in a panic, and my worst fear came true: the girl was now walking over towards us. And from the look on her face, she's not happy about my eavesdropping.

"What the hell?! Why were you listening in to my conversation!?"

Despite the fact that the top of her head only reaches my chin, her glare is pretty intense. Better choose my words carefully.

"Sorry, you sounded so funny, I just want to hear the end of that conversation," I admit sheepishly."Haha…funny, right?" Hey, at least I said sorry.

But that doesn't seem to help the situation. Reaching up, she slaps me across the cheek.

I gape at her. That girl just hit me!

Not even my own mother had ever slapped me!

I glared. "I bet your ex-boyfriend is practically cheering on the other line right now as he snuggles even closer to the bar waitress in bed."

For a moment she looks like she's about to cry and I instantly regret my words. But then, she kicks me in the shin! First a slap, and now a kick!

Glaring at me one last time in a fury silence while I hop on one foot in pain, she stalks off.

"God, who was that?" I ask Tomoyo.

"Eh…sorry about that, Syaoran," Tomoyo apologizes sheepishly. "That was my cousin, Sakura Kinomoto. She's been living with us for the past month. Do you want some…er…ice?"

She's trying not to laugh. I appreciate that.

Still. The soft-spoken Tomoyo Daidouji is related to that hot headed monster?! Unbelievable!

End of flashback


She sees me staring at her. And glares at me. I roll my eyes at her and looks away.

Five more hours on this job, and then I'm done. DONE for the day, I tell you. I'm so going to the pub after this, I tell you.

Hey, why is that short fat guy stumbling all over the place like a blind bat? He looks around my age. What a young age to loose his eyesight.

"Sorry, sorry," he mumbles to a lady who he crashes into. Now she's giving him the evil eye.

"Do you need any help?" I ask, placing a hand on his arm. He's shorter than me. Heck, he's probably even shorter than Sakura!

"Oh, yes!" He said gratefully, and squints at me with his small black eyes. I back off. "Oh, sorry, I'm not wearing my glasses today, so I just have to see who you are."

"Oh. Well, okay." I said. Awkward. "I'm the new security guard. My name is Syaoran Li."

"Oh! Thank you for helping me, Li-san. My name is Hiroshi Kamiya."

"Where are your glasses, Kamiya-san?" I help him sit down in a nearby chair.

"Oh, there's a girl who's working here that I'm really uh…interested in."

I raise my eyebrows. Who's the unlucky chick?

"And, I read in a magazine that guys without glasses win the hearts of girls 85 percent of the time compare to guys who do wear glasses--"

Ooooh. I wonder how Eriol will feel if I tell him this little statistic. Hey, Eriol, you know if some guy without glasses comes by and tries to steal Tomoyo away, you'll only stand 15 percent chance of winning her back.

"—but my contact lenses have not arrive yet, so here I am!"

"Oh," I reply, not knowing what to say. I mean, what do you even SAY to something like that? "So uh…do you need any help?"

"Oh yes, I'll be glad if you help me over to the counter."

---Sakura---

Seriously. This is the fifth time this morning she giggled over that new security guard.

"Minako! Stop drooling over him!" I roll my eyes. "He's a jerk. Didn't I tell you how he eavesdropped on my conversation?!"

"Five times, Sakura." Now it was her turn to roll her eyes at me. "Just look at him! How can you not think he's hot?!"

Well, I never said he's not hot. I just said he's a bastard. Being hot and being a bastard are two separate things.

You can be hot and a bastard. Or you can be not hot and still be a bastard. Or you can be hot and not –okay, you get the idea.

The thing is, the new security guard is pretty hot. Five feet and ten inches. Wide shoulders (even without the shoulder holster, since I've seen him before he put it on this morning), and torso. Thick dark chocolate colour hair. And last but not least…killer brilliant amber eyes.

Oooh yes, he's hot alright.

But I do have my morals when it comes to personality. I mean, Kenji is pretty hot. But that doesn't mean I'm going to forgive him.

I bet your ex-boyfriend is practically cheering on the other line right now as he snuggles even closer to the bar waitress in bed.

That asshole.

"Excuse me…miss?"

See! Now I've neglected a customer while thinking of his jerkiness!

"Oh, sorry," I quickly apologize and gave the lady her change.

The thing is, I'm not cut out to be a sales girl. I mean, I'm only 25 years old! I've just finish my masters degree in marketing, and was all set to get a job in Li Towers as some sort of marketing associate or marking executive.

But then, my brother decides to get marry and went off to Paris for his honeymoon. A LONG honey moon. He said he was sick of working non-stop all the time and decides to take half a year off. The thing is, my new sister-in-law was the top sales associate person in this bakery. And her sudden demanding leave on her honey moon really left my Aunt Sonomi in a tight position. So my brother begged me to take her place for half a year.

Then my parents, so inspired by what my brother did, decide to go off on their second honey moon in Venice.

So here I am: working as some cashier girl, while devising new marketing strategies behind the scenes to boost up cake sales.

God, I can't wait until I'm done with this job.

"Sakura," Minako said sympathetically, putting a hand on my shoulder, "I know you broke up with Kenji this morning. Maybe that's why you're so edgy this morning. Do you want to take your break now?"

I smile at her. She's SO nice. "No, thanks, Mina-chan. I think I'm fine."

"Well, you better run for it then. Your Hiroshi-kun is here again," Minako laughs. I open my eyes in horror. Oh, no. No, no, no, no, NO!

Not Hiroshi Kamiya! He's 28 years old, a computer technician, short, obese, mild-mannered, and has this huge crush on me since I've started. He's a regular customer only because I'm here. He's another reason why I can't wait to quit.

Hmm…he looks different today…oh wait, his glasses are gone. Wow, his eyes are really squinty…

"Eeek!! That hot security guard is coming over too!" Minako giggles girlishly. Oh yeah. He is coming over.

Coming over as in leading-Hiroshi-by-the-arm-because-he-is-blind-as-a-bat coming over. WHY IS HE LEADING HIM OVER?!

I knew that that Syaoran-what's-his-name is no good. Grrrr…

"Hi Kamiya-san," I said politely. "Where are your glasses?"

"He's really interested in pursuing a relationship with you, Sakura," that stupid security guard smirks. "He even got rid of his glasses because he thinks you'll like him better this way."

"Awww…" Minako grins. I shot her a glare.

Why don't you mind your own freaking business?! I try to make my glare say as I look at Syaoran in the eye.

I'm quite sure that evil glint in his killer brilliant amber eyes are saying This IS my business. I'm a security guard, aren't I?

"Uh…you didn't…have to do that, Kamiya-san." I said.

"Yeah, I'm sure Sakura here will be glad to go out with you even though you wear glasses. After all, she's single now."

WHY DOESN'T HE SHUT UP?!

"Oh, you are?!"

Oh perfect. JUST PERFECT!

"Well…I …umm…" maybe I should lie and say I'm engaged.

"I knew that Kenji jerk is not good enough for you, Sakura-chan!"

I back up from the counter while Hiroshi leans in closer, probably to get a closer look at me because he can't see very well.

"You two will have to leave now," I said tightly, "there's a line up behind you."

"Oh…okay…" Hiroshi said, obviously disappointed. "Oh! My contact lenses will be coming in tomorrow, Sakura-chan!"

"How nice," I look behind Syaoran, which is not easy, since he's so tall and everything. "Can I help the next person?"

"Yeah, we better go now, Kamiya-san," I hear Syaoran say. "You can come visit Sakura tomorrow when you can see better."

I really want to smack him again. Him and his stupid smirk. Well, maybe I shouldn't have smacked him earlier. Now he's out to get some sort of petty revenge…by making my life hell for half a year.

Moonlight Diamond: Well, how do you guys like it?! This is the first chapter, so I really, really, really hope you guys drop a review!!!

I have TONS of good ideas for this story! I can't wait to get them out!

I'll really like to get at least 13-15 reviews before the next chapter, if possible :]