Chapter 3 Almost A Year Ago
Tomoeda. At least no one could recognize me here. Maybe this is the fresh start that I need…but now I'm not so sure. I-I don't know if I can do this. My courage is faltering…No! You can't go through that Sakura! You can't! You have to be strong! Sakura said to herself over and over again before she left her apartment.
Before opening the door in front of her, before opening the next chapter in her life, she took out a silver compact from her purse and checked herself at the mirror for a final time. She checked if somehow she looked presentable. She needed to find a job for herself and she would want to make the right first impression. She rarely put on makeup but today she figured that putting some powder and blush on would greatly help, especially since she still looked a little pale…after that…
She took out her cherry blossom colored lip gloss and applied some. Sakura truly wished that no one would see past that new mask of hers. They couldn't see. She needed a job to support herself while she continued school. No one would hire someone who looked pale and glum. Sakura gulped inwardly as she dumped her compact and lip gloss in her bag. Those, aside from a pen and a small notebook, were the only things in her purse anyway. She said a silent prayer and took a deep breath before she finally opened the door and left her apartment.
It was a new beginning. Sakura started to explore her new surroundings while searching for possible work opportunities. This time around, she didn't have anyone to turn to but herself. She had resigned herself to the fact that she couldn't run to anybody for help but herself. She bit her lip as her mind drifted on what she had to leave behind to keep safe. She heart threatened to unsettle itself as she was reminded on how she got into that situation in the first place.
XxXxXx
Shaoran was sitting with a few of his friends outside, in front of a small sweets shop. He wasn't really listening to the conversation that was going on. Yuta was saying something about this girl from whatever school again. Yamazaki was listening, laughing a little at how Yuta was able to gather all that information about the girl Ryota seemed to have a crush on. That was Yuta for you. He could get whatever information about just about any girl. Shaoran shook his head. He wasn't into girls like the rest of them were, although girls would gladly fall at his feet.
"Hey Shaoran!" Yuta then said. Shaoran looked at him, not saying anything.
"Are you even normal? How about you? Do you have a specific girl in mind?" Yuta then proceeded on asking. Shaoran smirked.
"What? Shaoran? You've got to be kidding. He never looks at girls that way. In fact, he never looks at them. He's probably gay." Ryota commented as Yuta and Yamazaki started laughing. Shaoran smirked again.
But before Shaoran could say anything or the others start teasing again, a girl came walking towards the sweets shop. Shaoran had been sitting beside Ryota while Yuta and Yamazaki had their backs on the girl. Judging by Ryota's expression, Yuta and Yamazaki turned around and saw the girl that had suddenly stopped their conversation.
She was wearing a white, girly, transparent white spaghetti top over a fit, pink spaghetti strapped one. She was wearing jeans and white sandals. Her hair was layered, shoulder length. Her small pink, peach, flowery pouch bag strapped across her delicate upper body. She exuded this simple, delicate grace that went well with her pretty face. She went straight to the counter, not noticing any of them.
They saw Chiharu come up to the girl and smile at her.
"Hi. Welcome to Fruits and Teas shop. How may I help you?" Chiharu greeted.
The girl smiled and said, "Hi. Um, it's my first time here so what do you recommend for something to drink?"
Chiharu then took a menu card and started to go over the contents with her. "If I do say so myself, the strawberry shake is to die for."
"Well ok. I guess I'll have one then." The girl answered.
Chiharu smiled and punched in the order. While she was preparing the shake, the girl seemed to be looking over the menu again. Chiharu decided to start up a conversation. It was the first time she saw her. Chiharu thought that she was pretty. She seemed to be kind and sweet. Chiharu took a chance to glance at the group of guys behind the girl. She smiled when she realized that the new girl had stopped their conversation. They seemed to be curious who she was.
"Are you new to Tomoeda? It's the first time I've seen you around." Chiharu commented.
The girl looked up and nodded. "Yeah. I just moved here. Um, listen do you by any chance have some vacancy here? I mean, do you have a job opening? I need to find myself a job."
"Sorry. We're full here at the moment. But I do know this quaint flower shop. I know the owner there. She's looking for job applicants. My shift ends in ten so I can bring you there and introduce you if you want."
"Really?" The girl said, smiling and relieved. "Thank you. That would be great. By the way, I'm Sakura. I'm sorry I didn't ask your name."
"It's Chiharu." She replied laughing as she handed Sakura her shake. Sakura thanked her. Chiharu then took a magazine from her bag and handed it over to Sakura. She looked back with a little confused expression. Chiharu smiled and said, "Here. So you won't get bored. It's ten minutes 'til the end of my shift and I wouldn't want you to get bored."
Sakura smiled and accepted the magazine. She thanked Chiharu as she headed to an empty table, which was consequently beside the one occupied by Shaoran and the others. Sakura sat with her back against them.
Ryota then elbowed Shaoran which made him turn to him.
"This is your chance. She's alone. Go on." Ryota said. Yuta and Yamazaki grinned.
"You've got to be kidding. Why would I want to go up to her anyway?" Shaoran replied.
"Come on. She's pretty, maybe not gorgeous, but very pretty nonetheless." Ryota said making Shaoran smirk.
Yuta then leaned forward a little with a devilish grin on his face. Yamazaki smirked as well as Ryota. Yuta then said, "Or would you like me to ask her?"
"Like I said, why would I want to know?"
"Fine. I'll go and ask you big baby." Yuta answered.
"That's strike two. Another one and you'll have a date with my fist. Besides, if I wanted to have a girl, I could have anyone I want."
Yamazaki, Ryota and Yuta looked at each other and grinned.
"You want to bet on that?" Yamazaki then asked. Shaoran looked at him and gave him a 'what-are-you-talking-about?' look.
"Sure. Girls are at your feet but prove that you can have any girl you want. Why not her?" Ryota then said.
"You guys are insane. I'm not about to bet on toying with a girl just to prove your boyhood fantasies. I'm not like you losers." Shaoran replied.
"Fine. Let's not make a bet. Just ask her already. It's not like it's going to kill you. She's just a girl. You don't have to like her. Just ask her for her name, man. That's it! Plain and simple." Yuta said.
Shaoran gave out an exasperated breath and said, "Fine. Fine. I'll ask her what her name is and if any of you likes her, then get a move on." He then stood up. He couldn't believe that he was actually going through with it. He didn't have a problem walking over to a girl and asking her for her name but what was annoying was being pushed towards one. Yamazaki, Ryota and Yuta smirked as they watched Shaoran walk over to the girl at the next table.
"Excuse me." Shaoran said as he stood beside the girl.
Slowly, the girl looked up at him from what she was reading. When Shaoran made eye contact with the girl, his breath was caught up inside his chest for a moment. But he hid it as he knew that the others were watching him. He noted that she had the most beautiful green eyes that he had ever seen but somehow he could see that there was much pain and mystery in them.
"May I-"
"I'm not interested." The girl said, cutting him off.
Shaoran's face registered confusion. "Not interested in what?" Shaoran asked, rather amused.
She stood to face Shaoran. He noted that she wasn't short although she was at least half a foot shorter than him. She looked at him straight in the eyes and replied, "I'm not interested in whatever you are selling, saying or offering. Have a good day to you, Sir." She had said it with a little lightness in her mood but her voice didn't hide the fact that she was serious.
As she closed the magazine and took it in her arms and gathered the empty plastic cup, Shaoran didn't move an inch. He was watching her. "Excuse me." She said as Shaoran stepped aside while she went over to see Chiharu again and threw the cup and returned the magazine. He kept on watching her.
"Chiharu, I'm sorry. May I have the directions and the name? I can go there myself. I wouldn't want to trouble you besides I'm in a little hurry." She said. Chiharu wrote down what she had asked for on a piece of paper and gave it to her. She smiled at the girl and the girl smiled back. The girl left without another word as she turned and saw that Shaoran was still looking at her. With a single glance, she turned away and started walking, not looking back.
Shaoran grinned. He watched her go. She peaked his interest. Maybe it was because she was the first girl to blow him off or show absolutely no desire in getting to know him. But it was probably the fact that a girl like her held this hidden pain and mystery that he couldn't help but be curious about. You wouldn't have guessed about something like that by simply looking at her but he had seen it in her eyes and he knew better. Shaoran wasn't scared of a challenge and the challenge of getting to know her just made him more interested in finding out more about her.
Ryota, Yuta and Yamazaki then went up next to him and started laughing. "You're losing your touch, man." Yuta said. Shaoran grinned.
"Boy that was classic! I should have had that on video. The day that Li Shaoran got blown off by a girl." Ryota said, laughing.
"Oh this is just the beginning." Shaoran commented.
"Hey Chiharu." Yamazaki said as he saw Chiharu going out of the shop. They all turned to her. Chiharu looked at them.
"Hey, do you know that girl?" Yamazaki asked as he walked towards his girl friend.
Chiharu raised an eyebrow as she put on her jacket. "What girl? You mean the one who just left and blew off Shaoran?" She said. The guys started laughing.
"Her name is Sakura. She's new in town." Chiharu answered.
Sakura, huh? Shaoran said to himself. His grinned broadened a little.
(to be continued…)
Hmmm…I wish more people would get around to send in their reviews. Hehe. Sorry it's just this fic is a spontaneous thing and I haven't really gotten around with the details of it yet. It would really help if you guys sent in your reactions to it. Thanks.
Michiko
