Chapter Three:
"THAT IS SOOOO GREAT!!" Mei Lin squealed, hanging on Eriol's shirt. Eriol pulled her hands away and took two steps back, to save himself from Mei Lin's murderous hands.
"But I'm not sure when..." Eriol told her. But Mei Lin wasn't listening at all. She was too busy staring at the sky with her hands clasped.
"He's finally coming here..." Mei Lin whispered to herself.
AAA
"Touya's out anyway, Sakura... And you're already seventeen. Hang out with us for a while please??" Tomoyo begged Sakura who was standing in the doorframe of her house in her pajamas. it was already noon but she just woke up.
"Yes, Sakura." Mei Lin agreed.
"But... We just went to the mall yesterday... And we already hung out..." Sakura said sleepily, guiding them inside the house.
Tomoyo huffed. "Not an excuse!"
Mei Lin was looking at the portraits that were hanging on the wall. She could see Sakura as a toddler.
Sakura rubbed her eyes as she opened the fridge and took out a carton of milk. "But... I just woke up and where are we going to hang out anyway..."
Tomoyo lifted herself up on the counter and let her feet dangle on the edge, swinging them back and forth. "Let's go to the cafe. I'm dying for a caramel macchiato..."
Sakura nodded sleepily, smiling groggily at Tomoyo's fondness for sweets.
"Yeah... I want a Belgian Waffle with whipped cream and chocolate syrup..." Mei Lin added, coming inside the kitchen.
Sakura drank her glass of milk and nodded, not exactly listening to them.
"SAKURA!" Tomoyo said loudly. Sakura looked up at her with a start.
Mei Lin laughed. "All this food talk is making me hungry... It's already lunch time, Sakura... Let's go..."
Sakura nodded in defeat. She knew she has to go with them or spend the entire afternoon listening to them convince her to go with them.
AAA
"ERIOL!!" Mei Lin squealed, running into Eriol's arms. "You didn't have to pick me up from here..." Eriol laughed and patted Mei Lin's head brotherly.
It was already 4pm and they just came out of the cafe where they spent hours talking about stuff and filling Mei Lin's head with the way things work in Japan.
"I know. but I wanted to." He said, looking at Tomoyo who was blushing furiously with her mouth open.
Sakura nudged Tomoyo who closed her mouth quickly and coughed, shaking Eriol's hand again. Eriol smiled at her warmly.
"Pleased to see you again, Tomoyo." Eriol said, not taking his eyes off Tomoyo's.
Tomoyo blushed crimson. Sakura bit her lip to keep from laughing and nodded at Eriol who acknowledged her.
"Hey, guys. Let's go to my house. Eriol will take us there." Mei Lin said, clapping her hands excitedly.
Sakura pondered on this thought for a while whilst Tomoyo nodded eagerly.
"But... I have to be home early. Even though it's Sunday, Touya's not coming home and-"
"Oh, come on, Sakura. I'll call Touya for you." Tomoyo whipped Sakura's cellphone from her bag and dialed Touya.
Sakura tried to grab her phone back, "He might get mad, Tomoyo..."
Tomoyo took the phone out of Sakura's reach, asking for Mei Lin's help in restraining her.
"Tomoyo don't-" Sakura stuttered.
"Hey... Touya... Uhmm.. This is Tomoyo and I was wondering if Sakura can come with us to Mei Lin's house..." Tomoyo's sweet voice said.
Sakura gritted her teeth, wondering what Touya is saying to Tomoyo.
"Oh... really? Then can she come?" Tomoyo sounded eager.
Sakura's emerald eyes were wide, wondering what on earth happened to Touya that he agreed. He usually needs 24 hours before deciding whether to allow Sakura to go or not.
"Oh... I see..." Tomoyo said, giving the others the thumbs up. Mei Lin squealed and hugged Sakura who had her jaw hanging.
Tomoyo flipped the phone close and put it back in Sakura's bag. "Piece of cake." She flipped her long black hair and looked at Eriol who was smiling at her. "Oh... Touya wanted me to tell you that he won't be coming back home today since he has to defend his thesis so you can spend the night with me."
Sakura smiled widely and hugged Tomoyo's neck. "Oh, Tomoyo!! I LOVE YOU!!"
Tomoyo feigned choking.
"Alright!" Mei Lin's fist punched the air. "To my house then!"
Eriol opened the door of his Mercedes-Benz and let Tomoyo sit up front. Mei Lin and Sakura just kept on giggling at the back seat as they drove to Mei Lin's place.
AAA
"WOW..." Sakura breathed out as they went inside.
"My aunt isn't here right now... She's busy at work so it's just us." Mei Lin said, handing her bag and coat to a maid.
The other maids swarmed on Tomoyo and Sakura and helped them take of their bags and coats. Eriol tried hard not to laugh at Sakura's face.
The maids whisked away their things as the four of them tropped into the vast living room and sat themselves on velvet couches. It was so soft that Sakura almost sank in the cushiony seats. Tomoyo laughed at her.
"What do you want to do guys?" Mei Lin asked them from one of the single couches. Eriol was busy with his phone, a small frown on his face.
Sakura shrugged. Tomoyo smiled.
There was an uncomfortable silence when suddenly, Mei Lin clapped her hands. "Why don't you guys spend the night here??"
Sakura leaned forward eagerly "Hey! Thats an idea! But, what about school tomorrow and my uniform is at home and-"
"I'll lend you one of mine. Tomoyo too." Mei Lin cut her off. Tomoyo nodded eagerly and Sakura shrugged, "Okay then."
Suddenly, Eriol stood up, "Wait, guys... I have to do something..."
Mei Lin looked over her shoulder as Eriol walked briskly back out, calling for his driver.
"What's up with him?" Sakura asked Mei Lin. Mei Lin shook her head unknowingly, still looking at Eriol's retreating back.
"Anyway... Show us your room, Mei Lin!" Sakura nudged Tomoyo who was staring at the door where Eriol disappeared. Tomoyo went back to earth with a start.
Mei Lin's face glowed and she stood up. "Okay. Let's go!"
AAA
"I'm not yet done unpacking so sorry if it looks a bit weird..." Mei Lin explained as they stepped inside her room. Sakura gaped at the room with her mouth open.
It was wide and so... open... The walls were light pink and the king-sized bed was immaculately white. There were mahogany desks and bookshelves, filled halfway with books. There were still a few unpacked boxes in a corner and the floor was covered in a thick white carpet. A flat-screen television was on one side and Mei Lin's laptop was closed on her desk.
Tomoyo sat on the bed as her slippers fell to the carpet. Sakura was admiring Mei Lin's numerous trophies, all lined up on one wall.
Mei Lin waited for them to say something.
"It's beautiful, Mei Lin." Sakura said as she faced her. Mei Lin smiled.
Tomoyo stood up and approached Sakura who resumed back to her scrutinizing Mei Lin's trophies.
"Wow... I didn't know you're a martial artist, Mei Lin..." Tomoyo said, grabbing one trophy and admiring it. It read, First Runner-Up.
"Looks like you're really good..." Sakura said, grabbing another one.
Mei Lin shook her head. "Not really... If you look at all of them, They're all second placers. My cousin, Syao-"
There was a knock on the door and Mei Lin was interrupted. Sakura and Tomoyo put the trophies back on the shelf and followed Mei Lin to the door. Outside was a maid, carrying a tray of drinks.
"Thank you, Yuoko." Mei Lin said as the maid put the tray down on a low table in the middle of the room. Yuoko retreated with a bow and closed the door behind her.
They all sat down on the floor as they ate the little croissants.
"Wow... You're really rich, Mei Lin." Sakura said as she bit one end of the bread.
"I'm sure Tomoyo is richer than me." Mei Lin said with a laugh.
Tomoyo shook her head frantically. "No way in hell, Mei Lin. My mom is the one who is rich. NOT ME."
Mei Lin and Sakura laughed.
"Aunt Yelan is the one who is rich, NOT ME EITHER." Mei Lin answered back.
Sakura raised her hands, "WAIT. WHat does that make me??"
Tomoyo tackled Sakura to the ground and Mei Lin held her hands in place as she trid to wriggle.
"You are our slave, Sakura." Mei Lin said with a scratchy voice.
Tomoyo smiled wickedly as she tickled Sakura's weakest spot.
"NO! TOMO-" Sakura tried to say in-between laughs.
Mei Lin got ahold of Tomoyo's new camera and recorded Sakura being harrassed by Tomoyo. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door again.
Tomoyo stopped tickling Sakura as the door opened to reveal Eriol.
"Mei mei. I have to go somewhere. He's coming!" He said excitedly.
Tomoyo and Sakura looked confusedly at each other.
Mei Lin squealed as she jumped up and down.
"Why didn't he tell us??" Mei Lin said, wringing Eriol's hand.
Eriol shrugged and said witha smile, "I don't know with that bastard."
Mei Lin whacked him across the head.
"He's not a bastard, Eriol!"
"Okay okay! An idiot then!"
Mei Lin whacked him again.
"OKAY!! He's a sucker then!"
Mei Lin was getting angry and Eriol avoided her hand. He looked at Tomoyo and Sakura who were still sitting on the floor. "Do you guys want to come?"
Mei Lin nodded behind Eriol's back.
Tomoyo however, shook her head. "To where?"
Eriol smiled and stepped closer, "To the airport of course!"
Sakura looked at him questioningly. "But... Why?"
Mei Lin kneeled infront of the girls. "Remember Aunt Yelan's son? Syao-"
Just then, there was another knock at the door. All eyes flew open as the door opened to reveal Yuoko bowing.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, Master Eriol and Mistress Mei Lin. But a call for Master Eriol..." She held out a cordless phone.
Eriol approached her and brought the phone to his ear. "Hel- You bastard! Why didn't you tell us you were coming??"
Mei Lin ran up to Eriol and tried to grab the phone from Eriol.
"Oh... I see... Okay. Just because I'm a real good person, I will."
Mei Lin was still trying to grab the phone.
"Okay, okay. Bye!" Eriol clicked the phone off. Mei Lin scowled.
"Why didn't you let me talk to him?" she said, crossing her arms.
Eriol shrugged. "He was in a hurry." He stuck out his tongue and smiled at Mei Lin. "Besides, you can call him anytime."
Mei Lin shook her head. She looked as if she was about to cry. "He doesn't answer any of them."
Eriol didn't know what to say. Suddenly, there was a small voice from Sakura.
"Excuse me but... We don't get what's happening..." Sakura said. Tomoyo nodded her head. Eriol just laughed and Mei Lin smiled too.
"It's a surprise. So go get him, Eriol!" Mei Lin pushed Eriol out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Mei Lin dropped back down on the floor and looked at them excitedly.
"You'll see, guys."
AAA
Sakura opened her eyes. She thought she heard a car outside. She slowly got out off bed, careful not to wake up Mei Lin or Tomoyo. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. Her phone blinked a bright 3:12AM. Sakura groaned and felt her throat dry. She put on her slippers and decided to go down to the kitchen for water.
They spent the remaining hours watching television and dressing up. Sakura felt bloated after several bags of Lays potato chips and tons of chocolate-chip cookies. Mei Lin was restless, always checking her cellphone just in case Eriol called but she wouldn't say anything about what was happening. She also disappeared for a long time, saying she was busy doing something else.
Sakura shined the light from her phone infront of her so as not to trip. She reached the door and opened it noiselessly. She put her cellphone in the front pocket of Mei Lin's nightgown which she was wearing. It was long and fell to the floor.
Sakura was grateful that the lights were on in the hallway. Seeing no one around, she grabbed the long skirt and hitched it up to her knees so she can walk properly. She was going down the stairs when she saw a two figures at the bottom.
The lights were off in the main hallway so she couldn't see who they were. She squinted her eyes until she got to the middle of the stairs. She discerned Eriol's figure and another unknown person.
"Eriol... Is that you?" Sakura said softly.
Eriol looked up and gasped. "Sakura... You're awake... I..." Eriol could see her legs from Sakura's height. Sakura let go of her skirt akwardly, hoping that the stranger didn't say anything.
"You're late... Mei Lin was up wondering where you were. What took you so long?" Sakura continued to go down the stairs. She could feel the stranger's eyes on her but she still couldn't see his face. It was hidden in the shadows.
"Flight was delayed. And my phone died. By the way, Sakura. This is Syao-"
Before Eriol could finish his sentence, Sakura tripped on the hem of her nightgown and she flailed her arms as she fell. She felt her ankle twist as she squealed and closed her eyes, waiting for herself to hit the ground and feel the pain. Instead, she felt strong arms around her.
"Are you alright?" A totally unfamiliar voice said above her. It was like liquid gold dripping with honey, sweet.
Sakura opened her eyes slowly. Above her, she could see a pair of amber eyes curtained by a fringe of dark chocolate brown hair, slightly darker than hers. The mouth was Oh-God-Help-Me kissable, the lips slightly open.
Sakura winced as she tried to move.
"What is it?" The angel above her asked worriedly.
"Thank God you caught her, Ran!" Eriol said breathlessly. "I wouldn't know what to do if-"
"Does something hurt?" The chocolate-haired angel asked again, cutting Eriol off.
Sakura nodded slowly, "My ankle..."
The angle lifted her into the cradle of his arms as he carried her to the living room, followed by Eriol who was intsructing the maids to get a basin of water and bandages.
"Here, sit down for a while." The angel put Sakura down slowly on the couch and knelt infront of her, taking her ankle in his hand.
Sakura winced, still staring at him. The angel's fingers prodded Sakura's ankle softly, waiting for a reaction. Eriol hovered behind Sakura, watching them worriedly as he waited for the bandages.
When his fingers reached a soft spot, Sakura winced. The angel chuckled and gestured at Eriol who handed him the soaked towel. He then started to pat Sakura's ankle with it.
Sakura couldn't speak, nor could she move. She couldn't stop staring at the angel infront of her. She managed to look at Eriol for some kind of introduction.
"Oh, Sakura... Are you alright?" Eriol asked.
Sakura nodded slowly. The angel stood up and got the bandages from the table and started to wrap Sakura's ankle in it.
"He..." Sakura said softly. Eriol clapped a hand to his forehead.
"Oh! I haven't introduced you yet!" He said with a grin. The angel stood up and held out his hand to Sakura. Eriol continued as Sakura shaked his hand, "He's my cousin, Li Syao-"
"SYAORAAAAAAAN!!" Mei Lin's voice suddenly screamed from the doorway. She ran towards him as the angels arm's caught her.
"He's Syaoran..." Eriol told Sakura, who just nodded.
Mei Lin was being carried by Syaoran. "Why weren't you answering any of my phone calls??"
Syaoran just shrugged and hugged Mei Lin tightly, looking at Sakura over her shoulder.
"I missed you soooo much, Syaoran..." Mei Lin said.
Sakura couldn't hel but stare at the sight in front of her. So.. He is Mei Lin's...
"He's Mei Lin's fiance." Eriol explained, voicing out Sakura's thoughts.
Sakura's dreams collapsed. She couldn't speak.
Mei Lin got off Syaoran but was still hugging him around the waist. She faced Sakura, "This is Syaoran, Sakura. He's the one I was talking about."
Sakura just nodded weakly.
Syaoran unattached himself slowly from Mei Lin's arms and approached Sakura again.
"Are you alright now, Kinomoto-san?" Syaoran asked her.
Sakura nodded, "How did you know my-"
"Eriol's been telling me about Mei Lin's new friends." Syaoran said with a smile. Sakura almost melted.
Mei Lin grabbed Syaoran's hand and pulled him, "Come on, Syaoran. I'll show you your room."
"Goodbye. Nice to meet you, Kinomoto-san." Syaoran's eyes looked sad. He waved one last time and followed Mei Lin out of the living room. They could hear their steps on the stairs and Mei Lin's voice yapping away excitedly.
Eriol touched Sakura's shoulder, pulling her back into reality. "Are you alright, Sakura? Come on, I'll help you back to the room. Is Tomoyo asleep now?"
Sakura nodded at Eriol as she took his hand. Eriol then helped her back up the stairs.
"Get some rest, I'll take you to the doctor tomorrow, Sakura." Eriol said as he covered Sakura with the sheet. Sakura nodded and turned on her side. Before Eriol went out of the room, he caught a glance of Tomoyo's sleeping face.
Before the door closed, Syaoran was there to drop Mei Lin off.
"I'll still be here tomorrow, Mei." He assured her as he pried her hands off his arms. Mei Lin nodded eagerly, "But... I don't see why I can't sleep in your room."
Sakura could hear Syaoran chuckling.
"You have guests. Goodnight, Mei." He said firmly.
Sakura could imagine Mei Lin nodding and tiptoeing back to bed when she heard Syaoran say, "Say goodnight to Kinomoto-san for me."
BBB Hey guys! :)) SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. I had a problem with the internet and i can't connect. Anyway, Syaoran is finally here! I planned on bringing him into the story much later but when i was writing this, I kind of got carried away and just continued. So... What do you guys think? PLEASE REVIEW!! :) Thank you for reading!!
