Chapter 3: The Secret is Out
Mimi looked at Sora, unsure of what to do. To her surprise, the bearer of Love smiled.
"I think you should take it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I don't think he knows you're here. He probably thinks you're in New York. Take it."
Mimi nodded and walked away from the group to answer the phone. Tai looked at Sora, seriously.
"You can't fool me, Sora. I know you way too well. I know that were shaken by it."
"So? I can't stop Mimi from getting that call."
"So you admit it affected you?"
"Not the fact he called her, they are friends after all. But the fact it was him."
"Stop it, Taichi!" Kari yelled at her brother. "You're not making this any easier for Sora."
"It's alright, Kari." The red haired girl said. "I'm used to this side of Tai."
"If Mimi doesn't hang up now, we're gonna be late for the movie."
"I think there won't be a movie. You know how Mimi is when telephones are involved."
Everybody laughed at Joe's statement. It was a known fact that Mimi loved talking on the phone. She even kept her old number when she moved to USA so she could talk to the Destined often.
"So, big brother, what's the deal with you and Mimi?"
Five heads turned to Tai, eager to see what he had to say. He was bright red because of the question. He composed himself after a while.
"There's no deal." He said simply.
"Come on! You're such a bad liar. Are you telling me the glances and attempts to hold hands were accidental?"
"That's right."
Kari burst out into laughter, causing the rest to laugh as well.
"Come on, Tai. Even I know such things mean something." Izzy said.
"Well, you are dating, Izzy. So of course you know."
"What?" Joe, TK and Kari said at the same time.
"Izzy's dating?"
"Thanks a lot, Tai!" Izzy was as red as his hair with the revelation of his secret.
"When did this happen?"
"Around six months ago." He said, slightly embarrassed.
"Six months?"
"That's great, Izzy." Sora congratulated him. "You should introduce her to us."
"Thanks, Sora. But I'm not ready yet."
"Well, it's alright. Introduce her when you are."
The two friends smiled at each other. Sora couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She and Izzy have been friends for around three years, since that fateful day at the summer camp. They had gotten closer as they had their adventure in the Digiworld, as they were often the back guard for Tai, along with Matt. They had to be always alert during the fights. Back then, the duo used to share their secrets, their hopes and their fears. But they also encouraged the other one to face what they were afraid of. Now it wasn't like that, not anymore. It felt like they got so drifted apart that they couldn't understand each other that well anymore. A sad feeling suddenly filled Sora's heart. She was brought to reality when Tai clicked his fingers in front of her eyes.
"What?"
"We were talking to you. Where were you?"
"Nowhere." She lied. "Is Mimi done yet?"
"No." Izzy mentioned where the bearer of Sincerity was.
"Were you thinking of Matt?" Tai insisted.
"No, Tai. And stop thinking Matt is all I can think about!" Sora was rather angry. "In fact, why don't you go be with your girlfriend?"
"Mimi isn't my girlfriend."
"Sure." She stuck her tongue at him, playfully. "And I never kissed Matt."
"Right."

Mimi sat on the bench far from the Destined as she kept talking to Matt.
"So I was thinking we could maybe hang out. You could show me New York, or part of it."
"That would be cool but I'm in Japan."
"Oh." The blonde paused. "I didn't know."
"Yeah. Kari called me and I just had to come."
"So I assume you already know what happened."
"Yes, I do. I don't like what you did but I don't hate you or anything. I just needed to be here for Sora."
"I understand that. I didn't do it to hurt Sora, Mimi. You know I would never do such thing. I do have feelings for her."
"What?"
"She's an amazing girl. I'm really sorry I left like that but this was a great opportunity for my band. I would regret it if I didn't take it."
"I guess so." The auburn sighed. "But Sora is upset. You kissed her and then left."
"Is she around?" He asked, nervously.
"No." Mimi glanced at the other Destined. "She's waiting for me with Tai and the others."
"Tell her I'm sorry, please."
"You know, it was hard enough getting her out of her house. You will call her yourself." She said, in a harsh tone. "I'm sorry."
"No, that's alright. I guess I will have to face her eventually."
"Yeah. I'm really sorry I won't be around to show you New York."
"No worries. It's been a while since we saw each other, so I was hoping we could catch up."
"Yeah." She looked at her friends again and frowned when Tai touched his fist several times, signaling to her they were running late for the movie. "Listen, Matt. I gotta go. Tai is getting mad at me already. We're getting late for the movie."
"Okay, enjoy it."
"Thanks, bye."
"Bye."

"Tai, I dare you." Kari said.
"What? You dare me to what?"
"I didn't know we were playing truth or dare."
"I'm just helping Tai confess his feelings for Mimi."
"What the hell? I already said I have no feelings for Mimi."
"Yeah, I don't believe it."
"Ugh. Younger siblings!" He mumbled. "Whatever, Kari. It's not going to work."
"Sure it will."
Izzy, Joe, TK and Sora were watching the siblings bickering. They found it quite amusing, since they started laughing.
"You know, it always surprised me that none of us had feelings for each other."
"Until now."
"Well, Tai had feelings for Sora. And Mimi for you, Joe."
"But Tai's feelings for me were only infatuation. We were only eleven." Sora said. "Did you guys really think we were meant to be together?"
"Yeah." The three guys said together.
"Wow." Sora was taken aback with it.
"But it's not like we were rooting for you and Tai." TK said. "I know my brother's feelings for you have been blossoming since that time."
"Blossoming?" Izzy asked.
"Couldn't you just say growing?"
"Well, I'm talking to a girl."
"About Matt's feelings."
"I'm not like Mimi. There's no need to use blossoming with me, TK." She laughed. "I play soccer, remember?"
At that time, Tai and Kari had stopped the bickering. They joined the rest in the laughter.
"TK is such a girl!" Tai teased the basketball player.
"Shut up, Tai!"
"You really thought you could use such word with Sora?" he couldn't stop laughing.
"Well, in my defense, she's become more feminine. She's even wearing skirts!"
Sora felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment. Tai stopped mocking TK and turned his head to his best friend.
"I wonder if Matt has something to do with it."
"Shut the hell up, Tai!" Sora yelled, her face redder. "I didn't do it for Matt! I did it for me. I'm fourteen. If I want to have a family in the future, I need to start finding Mr. Right now."
"If you say so." He pretended to think. "I thought it was a known fact Matt was the one."
"Yeah, well… I thought so too, but I guess not."
"Who's to say?" TK said, his eyes intently on Sora. "As I said, my brother has feelings for you since he was eleven. But you know fairly well how people are at that age."
"You mean kids?" Tai went back on teasing his friend.
"I'm not a kid, if that's what you meant." TK stuck his tongue out to the leader. "I'm as tall as you."
Tai pouted, he couldn't argue that. Everybody started laughing at the brunette. Kari noticed Mimi approaching.
"Tai, the dare is still on."
"Hey! I never said I agreed to it."
"Come on, Tai. Just do it."
"We all know you want to."
"We already know you two have been seeing each other for a while."
"Really?" Tai blinked to hide his surprise. "Well we do fool around whenever she is here. I just don't know if I can handle a long distance relationship. I mean, she's on the other side of the Earth. I'm not sure if it will work."
"Is that what you think?" A voice spoke behind him. "So I'm just a fling to you?"
"No, I didn't say that."
"Of course you did." She walked past him. "If that's it, then I don't want it anymore."
"What?"
"I want to be with you, Tai." She looked over her shoulder. "But I'm not going to be in a one-sided relationship."
"But Mimi…"
"We're really late for the movie. Let's go."
The Destined followed Mimi towards the movie room without saying a word. Kari held out a hand to her brother. He smiled and took it as they made their way to the cinema.

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