WE WERE

Chapter 1

"…and we say 'till next time"

Seldom wise

A/N: CCS isn't mine, this story is…

It was the summer of 1999 when my best friend left me and went to another country. I was 15 then, and him, 16. We were neighbors since kindergarten and we shared the same school ever since then. He was usually on the higher section and I'm behind a section or two. He's always ahead of me, always doing everything perfectly, me? I'd be the sloppy clumsy one who just had the luck in everything. Sometimes I even wonder how we ended up being close. Even the girls in our school would think that way. He's that pretty boy who you'll always hear being talked about by the girls in school. Always I'll be dragged by a group of girls asking me to give this to him, or hook them up with him… blah, blah, blah… really, it was tiring.

But on the summer of 1999, everything changed. It was only a week into the summer vacation when an unexpected knock on the door changed everything in my life.

"Hai, hai! Coming!" I was at the kitchen then, preparing lunch for my onii-chan and me. I hurriedly washed my hands and went to the front door. "Are? Syaoran-kun?"

He stood there, almost towering me, his chestnut brown hair messed up as they usually do even after he combed it. His face looked somewhat annoyed, his mouth in a scowl, eyebrows creased and his eyes, his eyes were showing irritation. I just had to laugh.

"Oi, oi…" he said, his facial expression showing more irritation. He huffed, placing his hands in akimbo. I gave him a gesture of apology while trying hard to control myself from laughing. "Anyway," He walked past me and sat on the couch. "I know I promised to go with you in Odaiba Amusement park tomorrow demo, something came up And we have to go back to Hong Kong."

"Ahh… it's okay Syaoran, we'll go next time. You're going to visit your grandfather?" I asked, sitting down across from him. I wondered when he was going. Every summer Syaoran's family visits his grandfather in Hong Kong for a week, though this time their trip was early. They usually leave two weeks in the summer break.

"Anou, Sakura…" He averted his eyes from me, now cast down on the floor. "Gomen, but I won't be coming back."

Won't be coming back? He's joking right? "You're joking?" I said, it was the only thing I could manage to say. Now would be the time where he would be laughing his head off and telling me how gullible I am to fall for his stupid joke. But that time never came, instead he shook his head and looked straight at my eyes. We sat there, staring at each other, that was then that I realized this was no joke. He was really going to Hong Kong! And he wasn't coming back here! My eyes became big as saucers, my mouth in an O shape… He was going to leave me all alone… my best friend was going to leave…

"Sakura," Syaoran's voice snapped me out of my trance, when I looked back at him he was already in his knees, wiping tears from my face. Was I crying? It seemed I was, everything was all in a blur. "Please don't cry, I'm sorry, I did everything I could to convince my mother to let me stay here. But I can't, my grandfather died yesterday and… and I…" my vision became dark, he was hugging me now, I was still dazed but I can feel him shaking. He always did enjoy the company of his grandfather, always anticipating their visit to him. Ever since his father died his grandfather was the one who fathered him. And I can't help but feel guilty of being selfish, knowing that he was needed more in the family now than ever.

I moved my hands and hugged him back, tightly. "Syaoran, I'm sorry, I wish you could have told me, I'm sorry to hear this…"

"Tadai- YOU! What are you doing to my sister!" My brother's voice boomed inside the house, surprised I pushed Syaoran away harshly making him bump into the coffee table.

"AH! Syaoran! Are you-"

"YOU! Don't startle people like that! I bumped my head because of you!" Syaoran jumped back up to his feet and faced my onii-chan. The heavy atmosphere was suddenly forgotten and they were bickering with each other like they usually do. They weren't like this before, they'd usually avoid each other then but when onii-chan saw him carrying me in his arms one night he would always pick a fight with Syaoran. Syaoran was just helping me back home, you see, with my clumsiness I sprained my ankle when I tripped in a pebble. But then, touya-nii would always see things in the extreme… Just like now…

I stood up from the sofa and headed to the kitchen, there'd be no use in stopping them, I'll only be shouted at to shut up. Sigh I'm sure they'd be hungry after this, so I prepared dinner.

"More please," Touya-nii shoved the bowl in front of me, it was quiet now, and because they were so hungry they decided to stop picking each other and eat. They were still glaring at the dinner table though.

"Me too," Syaoran said giving his bowl to me.

"Oi, don't you dare boss my sister around!" Touya-nii pointed his chopsticks at Syaoran, "And you," he pointed at me, "Don't you dare give him another serving! Rice is expensive you know!"

I just shook my head and smiled giving them another cup of rice. I'll definitely miss this, their antics. I'm sure when touya-nii hears the knews he's be all glorious inside. Though I think he'll definitely miss the "gaki" (his term) and their bickering.

"Arigatou for the meal, Sakura" Syaoran said when he finished his rice, "I'll be going now, I still have to pack. Ja!" He waved his hand, and he walked out the kitchen.

"Hey! Eat and runner! Come back here!" Touya-nii hollered for him in the hallway, "And what do you mean you have to pack?"

I stood and took the dishes to the sink, "Syaoran-kun is moving to Hong Kong," I opened the faucet and began to wash. I had a glimpse of Touya-nii glancing at the closing door and the worried look he gave me.

Sunday was the long awaited day of Syaoran-kun's departure, it came by in an agonizingly slow hours. Waiting was really hard, it was slow… but when the actual time comes, it goes in fast forward.

"Hurry up Sakura, or you'll miss Syaoran." Otou-san called me in my room, I fell asleep when I was counting down. And now I was running around in my room finding my farewell present for him. I know I hid it somewhere!

"Sakura!" now, it was touya-nii who hollered. This isn't good! I can't find it! Where did I put it! Ah! Under my bed!

"FOUND IT!" I said as I shoved it in my bag and ran downstairs. "I'm ready, let's go" I called to otou-san who was in the garage.

Once inside the car, I started to get all nervous. We were going to see the Lis off and it'll be the last time I'll see Syaoran. I was fidgeting; I anxiously look at the car watch every other second. I was nervous we won't see them off.

But we did, I was now facing Syaoran, it's like I can't stop staring at him, almost like I wanted every single detail of his face burn in my head so I won't forget it. "Promise me you'll write, ok?" I smiled as I handed him my gift. "Here, so you'll always have someone to talk to even if I'm not there.

It was a teddy bear I made a year ago. A classmate of mine told me that teddy bears are special especially when you make it yourself. She even said that I should give it to the person that is most special to me. And now I'm giving it to Syaoran, as a farewell present.

Syaoran smiled, and took out something out of his pocket, "Here, for good luck." He handed me a small parcel. I opened it, it was a bracelet with stars and butterflies as it charms. I smiled and mouthed a thank you. "I won't forget you Sakura, I hope you won't forget me too."

"Syaoran, we have to go." His sister, Meiling called. His mother was exchanging farewells to Otou-san and Touya.

"I won't say goodbye, Sakura, We'll definitely see each other again." With that he hugged me, so tightly as if he doesn't want to let go. And I hugged him back, hoping he won't disappear.

"Omae," Touya-nii's voice rang, but otou-san cut him before he made a scene.

"Let them be, Touya," Otou-san said, and then he gave an apologetic look to Yelan-san and Meiling-san.

"Let's go Syaoran," Yelan-san said and they walked into the escalator. Syaoran nodded to his mother and looked at me for the last time, "See you, Sakura!" He followed his sister down the escalator, and waved ferewell.

tbc