Chapter 7: When A Pizza Man Ruins a Good Moment

It was already officially four days that Tomoyo and Eriol had been married. After the wedding reception, Sakura hadn't heard from them, since. She assumed they were already at their honeymoon or something. As for her, she was stuck in her lonesome apartment again. To pass the time, Sakura would walk to her flower shop and see how everything's working out. She'd spend hours in a day, just arranging the beautifully picked flowers of a boutique. Once in a while, Syaoran pass by and chat with her. She found out Syaoran's mother, Yelan, had left for Hong Kong earlier that day. That lonesome fourth day happened to be one of Sakura's bad days. She wasn't feeling so good about the day, not at all. She sensed lightning will invade her ears, and terrify her out of her apartment. She told this to Syaoran, and he simply chuckled at her child-like behavior.

"That's a classic, Sakura! Like I said before, you're so predictable.." He wiped the tiny water that was escaping from the corner of his eye, considering he had been laughing until his gut started to hurt. He gradually stopped, but not fast enough. Sakura started to pout and retorted back.

"Oh, like the all mighty Li-kun, he sees all and fears nothing but the sight of himself in the mirror!" She smirked and he chuckled at her lame comeback.

"Cute. Sakura. Very Cute." He said, sarcastically. "The mirror is the least I fear. Of course, what am I to use to see my handsomely features that refined my body?" He jokingly commented.

"I'm surprised you can see yourself in any mirror, considering you head is as big as you ego." She smirked, in a childish way.

"Why do you always change harmless flirting into child's play? Is there something I'm missing?" He asked, catching Sakura off guard. Syaoran drifted off to his thoughts.

"Why, Syaoran? I thought you'd never figure it out." She seductively approached him and pulled by the collar and brought him closer to her body.

"Saku---" She shushed him with her finger on his lips and brought her cheek to lean against his cheek. Syaoran turned scarlet red by this sudden act of seduction, savoring the time he had so close to her, while her fragrance tinkled his every sense, he was lustfully paralyzed. And this especially coming from a man who, in his every being at the time, wanted her as much as she was showing him how much she was wanting him.

"Oh, Syaoran." She traced her finger around his very-built chest that eventually traced his manly features in his face. Her eyes met his. The connection was to heart-wrenching for Syaoran to take, she was beautiful in every way, he couldn't resist her, but then why was he just standing there like an idiot, while she practically throwing herself at him? She brought her lips near his right ear and whispered, "Syaoran, am I predictable now?" She kissed him in the jaw, slowly moving towards his lips. She stopped to look deeply into his eyes. "I want you." Syaoran's eyes widen as if it was the first time he has opened his eyes. He froze at the spot.

"Syaoran?….Syaoran?" He didn't respond. He couldn't. "Syaoran! Hello?" And then a sudden giggle broke his empty train of thought. He spotted her three feet away from him, waving a hand in front of his face "What are you daydreaming about over there, lover-boy? I just asked you what movie you wanted to watch today? You promised me a rented movie, remember? " She giggled at his sudden reaction and shrugged it off and walked way across the other side of the store, putting flower vases on its shelves. Suddenly, he realized that was all in his imagination. Sakura didn't even go near him like that at all. She was arranging her store the whole time. Syaoran felt like the biggest idiot in the entire world. He fantasized about a girl who was right in front of him. How embarrassing. But who could blame him, Sakura was a sight for sore eyes. An amazing one, might he add.

"What?" Was his response.

"'What'? I've never heard that movie before, what's it about?" She chuckled, realizing Syaoran hadn't caught up with the joke yet. "Geez, I was just kidding. Don't give me that look. I wanted to know what movie you're planning on renting tonight." She stood in front of him, pouting. Why he hated when she pouted, it was the one of the things about her that drove him crazy. What made him more angry was that he couldn't be the one to kiss her pouts away… yet. While, admiring her, he thought up of a good movie to watch in a stormy night like this. The storm hadn't shown its sufficient signs yet bit Syaoran had a feeling that it'll storm tonight due to the gray clouds forming in the clouds. He smiled, almost devilish-like and suggested a movie.

"How about … The Land of the Zombies and Ghosts?" He asked, seeing Sakura jump a little and turned around again.

"What did you say?" She nervously asked with a sweat drop. He smirked.

"The Land of the Zombies and Ghosts?" He was curious to see how Sakura would react again.

"Oh, ok." She responded, to both of their surprises. Syaoran shrugged it off, figuring that Sakura was brave enough to watch a horror movie. Syaoran helped Sakura close the store and walked her to the rental store, a few stores away. He bought it and both walked to Sakura's apartment. Seeing that it was going to rain, Sakura took out her umbrella, even though it hadn't start raining yet. He chuckled.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"What do you think? It's going to rain." She was casually walking along side him.

"Ok." He said, smiling. He moved under the umbrella behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Mind if I come under this with you? I do appreciate this. " He softly whispered in her ear. She blushed.

"I don't mind if we share the umbrella, but" She untangled his arms off her waist. "I don't appreciate your attempts to come closer to me." He pouted and walked along side her and closer too, despite her request for him not to.

They arrived at her apartment and it hadn't started raining until they settled comfortably in her apartment. Sakura called for pizza, while Syaoran prepared the popcorn and cans of sodas. For the past couple of days, Sakura slowly got used to Syaoran being around. To much of her surprise, she'd prefer him around than any guy she knew (other than Eriol and her male family members, of course). But she wasn't going to tell him that, she didn't want to ruin their friendship. Too bad for Syaoran, whom really wanted to hear more than anything. He sometimes wonders why he chases after a girl who wouldn't give him the time of day when there's a ton of girls back at Hong Kong that would give anything just to have just him glance their way; but moments like this, where Sakura is waiting for him to turn off the lights and enjoy the movie together and be as close as they were, that makes him reconsider his doubts on the point of striving on. He wasn't celibate for the last month for nothing. With that thought brushed aside, Syaoran had turned off the living room lights, and sat next to Sakura with the bowl of popcorn in hand.

He thought it was very cute how she brought a green blanket (for two) just in case she got 'cold'. He knew she was lying and knew sometime during the movie she was going to get scared and hide behind the covers. Before he even got to grin at the thought of her getting scared, she looked at him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking and gave him the don't-you-dare-try-anything look and played the movie.

'She's good', he thought to himself. 'That's what I love about her….. wait… 'Love'? What the hell?' His thoughts angered him, during the beginning of the movie but was quickly swiped away when Sakura moved in closer toward his torso. She looked up at him to see if he noticed, oh, he noticed alright.

"Sorry." She muttered under her breath, but made no attempt to move at all. He grinned, then he thought of trying to do something that might get him a slap in the face or a shove away kind of thing. He slowly, but securely, wrapped one arm around Sakura and began to eat popcorn with the other, he smiled. He didn't dare look down at Sakura in fear she might turn red from anger. He half-expectedly her to shove him off the couch, but for some weird reason, she didn't. from the corner of his eye, he saw Sakura turn a little pink and making a quick glance up at him, then looked down most of the time. What surprised him the most was that Sakura had actually moved closer in and laid her head on his chest, comfortably. He smiled at this gesture and tighten his hold around Sakura. Both of them smiled widely, unknown to one another of their unrestrained shades of red on their faces..

The movie didn't even reach its fifteen minute point and already blood was gushing and zombies were crawling out of their resting place. Sakura was terrified and the whole time her eyes were wide and glowing from fear and suspense. While, Syaoran, on the other hand, slowly fell asleep. He had watched this movie probably over a million times, he didn't want to go for a million and one, that's for sure. He wasn't sure why he chose this movie, but as long as he was close to her like this, he didn't mind if the world had ended and there was no hair gel left in his hair. He really had no care for the world and his hair was as messy as messy can be, hair gel just makes it worse, yet he continues to apply it once and awhile.

As Syaoran was catching up on some sleep, Sakura kept flinching every time the movie played that annoying horror music. She gasped at parts when zombies ate live humans in the peak of the night in the gloomy ceremony. Often, she noticed how Syaoran would tighten his hold on her, every time she made a gasp sound or covered her eyes, even though he was fast asleep. He protected her, even as he slept.

'How sweet. He's not as bad as he appears to be.' She smiled, internally. Forgetting about the movie, she looked up at the sleeping form of her 'friend' beside her. Her eyes located every handsome feature in his gorgeous face. Then, she used her finger to lightly trace those gorgeous features of his face. She was enchanted on how soft his skin felt on hers. By this time, Syaoran was wide awake but had his eyes remain shut, in fear the feel of her touch will end. He cautiously opened one of his eyes to peek at Sakura's curious face. Her face was breath-taking, he never had the chance to be this close to her before, then before he knew it, she had stopped, yet her gaze never left his face. She stayed like that for a couple more seconds, listening to the breathing and rising and falling of his chest. She sighed and progressed back to the movie, even more closer to him. He was relieved, yet his heart was racing. He just saw a hint of Sakura's affection for him that had been hidden in his wake hours.

'So, I have to be asleep for you to notice me the way I notice you, huh, Sakura?' He slyly thought to himself. 'God, you're beautiful, Sakura.' What the young prince hadn't realized was that he was slowly falling in love with this beautiful creature, sitting next to him. Something was right about them, they were in love, yet they seemed not to admit to themselves.

Half way through the movie, Sakura was scared out of her wits. She was so horrified that she even looked away when the main character opened a door. Syaoran chuckled, receiving a playfully hit in the shoulder as punishment. She couldn't take it anymore, so she decided not to look at the TV screen at all anymore, but that did little help to her, since she heard all the screams and the grunts of the dead zombies. She squirmed under the blanket and disturbed Syaoran's attempt to fall asleep again. He whispered in her ear, fully expecting she would jump out of the covers.

"Sakkuuurrraaaa….."He whispered in her ear, eerie-like. She did jump and when she realized Syaoran was playing around, she began to playfully hit him for scaring her.

"Syaoran!!!!" He continued to laugh and block her hits. She hadn't realized how much she was hitting him because when she opened her eyes, she was directly on top of Syaoran, in his arms. This he didn't expected, but he was willing to compromise with sudden change of plans. Sakura had been panting and dropped her head on his chest.

"You scared me!" She mumbled on his shirt, he chuckled.

"We can stop the movie and do something else." She quickly shot her head up.

"No." She said, very firmly. "I can handle it, really! I won't be scared any more." She heard a scream from the screen and dug her head on his chest with a tiny shriek. After realizing she had contradicted herself, she shot up her head again and faced him again. "Ok, that was the last time I'll be scared. I promise!" He chuckled, making her blush and look down to his chest. He found the most adoring creature his eyes have ever laid upon. Without realizing it, he gently kissed her forehead. She quickly looked up at him, with shock. He was shocked himself. He didn't mean it to happen, he promised he wouldn't try anything on Sakura, like kissing her. He wanted this night where they got to get to know each other and spend some time alone together, even though they weren't together, together. He made a big mistake, seeing how Sakura's eyes are wide in surprise. Then, slowly her eyes soften, not caring how she was positioned on top of him, and to his surprise, she slowly kissed his chin. His eyes followed her eyes and then slowly kissed her cheek. Oh, how she was sweet to him. And then, she kissed the side of his jaw and he kissed her nose after that. Both had formed a smile to give to one another and then Syaoran leaned in to kiss her in the lips….

DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG!

It was the pizza guy and he continued to ring that annoying bell. Bloody pizza guy, ruining Syaoran and Sakura's moment. He almost had her, but like all the other times, she was just too far to reach. Yet he had a feeling that if the doorbell didn't ring, what would he have done after that? Go further? He doubted he would have stopped, considering Sakura was irresistible. He wasn't sure how he felt. He wasn't sure if he was really frustrated with the pizza man for interrupting like he did, or Sakura for stopping him before allowing him permission to actually go further with what they were going, or himself for trying to take advantage of the situation. He was going no where with this mental argument.

Sakura had already gotten up to turn off the movie, get the door, and pay the pizza man for the pizza. Syaoran replayed the 'kissing' scene he had with Sakura. She felt so warm and soft under his lips. He sighed and sunk deeper down into the couch with his arms flopped to the side of him and his head drooping behind him. He finally got the chance to kiss her, seeing how she give him permission, and it was all taken away from him by the simple ring of a darn doorbell.

Sakura came back with two pizza boxes and handed one to Syaoran. He chose a pizza with a whole lot of meat, while Sakura chose the Hawaiian pizza. As they ate, they fed one another with each other's own pizza. They laughed and giggled, enjoying each other's company, almost forgetting the second 'kissing incident.' They cheered to their soda drinks and laughed some more. They talked for awhile after eating, and then Sakura played the movie from where they had ended it. They were right where they started, back to the spot position as before as if nothing went interrupted. But this time, Syaoran didn't sleep through any part of the movie, it didn't even seem interested in the movie in the TV screen, he was more interested in the petite beauty right next to him. Sakura wasn't aware he was staring at her, intently, due to the excitement of the horror movie she was watching. He was wondering why Sakura had kissed him back like that. Did she have the same feelings for him as he did for her? Dammit, he was a confused fool.

After the movie had ended, it was barely noon. They stretched out their arms and got up from the couch.

"What do we do now? The movie's over." Sakura said.

"I'm sure we can find something to do." He looked at her and she looked at him. Both suddenly looked around the room to find something to do. Nothing.

"Hey, the raining stopped!" She looked outside the window.

"I got an idea. Let's go to the park. I heard it was a great place to eat some ice cream." He smiled, as he saw Sakura's face light up when she heard 'ice cream.' Both went to get their jackets, Syaoran had helped Sakura put on hers. He opened the door for her. She blushed and stepped out. Syaoran sort of just stood there, admiring the incredible beauty standing before him. She suddenly saw Syaoran at a standstill moment. She thought he had not yet gone used to the sun, considering they were in the dark for almost two hours.

She smiled and grabbed his hand and walked him out of the apartment. Syaoran was brought back to life from the warm feeling generating on his hand. It was Sakura's hand. Both walked side by side to the park, full of memories.