Chapter Eight: Hating and Loving
The shopping mall was, of course, crowded but that didn't stop Tomoyo from meeting her 'Prince Charming'. Not after what happened at the school dance yesterday night. Just by remembering it gave her the happy, giggly tingles. But even if she had fun with Eriol, she couldn't calm her heart from worrying about Sakura and her troubles. Tomoyo thought of bringing her along to lighten her up but as usual, Sakura was gloomy as a rainy day and politely refused.
She remembered what happened then, and how fast it happened. Like a big blur of events. She remembered Eriol dancing with her and smiling into her hair, holding her gently and, unintentionally, forcing her to smell his neck… oh, it was magic to her. But when she heard her cell phone ringing, she pulled back, apologised to Eriol and shoved her way through the dancing crowd to somewhere quiet. When she picked up,
"Hello?" She pressed one finger into her other ear to shut the noise. "Hello?"
"Tomoyo!" Sakura cried from the other line. "Tomoyo…!" She sobbed.
She was crying.
Tomoyo grew worried. "Sakura? What's wrong? Where are you? Why aren't you in the hall—"
"I-I'm going home! Please come home safe, alright? I'm sorry I couldn't come home with you…" There was a pause and the tapping of Sakura's heels to the ground. "I-I'll be fine. I just needed to call you so you won't go around looking for me…"
"Sakura—"
"See you at home." And she clicked off.
Right after that, Eriol had come up to her asking what was going on. Tomoyo told him it was about Sakura and he quickly led her to his car he parked just across the street, saying he'd drop her off. Just as they stepped out from the back, Eriol stopped in his tracks and Tomoyo blinked. She was about to ask what's wrong when Eriol said,
"Meiling?"
Tomoyo blinked again and she looked over to the girl with bright red eyes, standing beside Syaoran. She raised a brow at them. She somehow got the feeling why Sakura went home. With a polite "sorry", she excused herself from Eriol, walked up to the curb and hailed a nearby taxi. She quickly got in, gave the driver the address and looked out her window. She saw Eriol's confused expression and his form coming up to her, but the driver had quickly driven off and he was left standing with Syaoran and 'Meiling'.
Tomoyo sighed heavily and looked down to her lavender-coloured purse. She hates it when Sakura cries and suffers by herself. Even when her mother took her in when she was little, she'd always been by herself, never wanting to let others see or share her pain. But despite all that, Tomoyo stood by her new found friend and made her open up little by little. She remembered how Sakura would be smiling at the sight of cherry-blossoms in its full-bloom, and then she would suddenly fall to her knees crying, saying that her mother loved cherry-blossoms and had named her after it. It was the saddest moment Tomoyo had ever seen. She even remembered herself crying with her.
"Am I late again?" A gentle male voice spoke above her and she blinked, raising her head to smile into his face.
"Hi," She stood up from the bench, kissed Eriol's cheek – initially, it was meant as a polite gesture but she couldn't help herself for wanting to kiss that cheek of his – and pulled back, blushing beet red. Eriol chuckled lightly, placed a cool hand to the curve of her waist and kissed her cheek, too.
He pulled away slowly. "Hi, back," he looked into her eyes and smiled. How was he able to withstand the tension when she can't? Darn, this man's too cool for his own good.
Tomoyo squeaked under her breath, coughed, heard his low laughter again and took a few steps forward. "Where should we go?"
Eriol joined her. "Hmm, how about we grab some coffee like I promised you before?" He glanced at Tomoyo. "You don't mind, do you?"
If anything, she wouldn't mind a single thing. "S-Sure," she cleared her throat again.
They found a small café just outside the mall and after they sat down and ordered their coffee and desserts, Eriol smiled into Tomoyo's face, while Tomoyo lowered her eyes and blushed.
"Tomoyo—"
"I'm sorry for running out on you like that yesterday," she suddenly spoke and she glanced at Eriol. "It was a Sakura-emergency."
He eyed her. "What happened?"
She lowered her gaze. "I'm not so sure, but I think it must've hurt her a lot since she's cooped up in her room all night yesterday…" She sighed. "She knows I'm worried about her, but still she keeps all of her pains to herself. How am I to help her like that?"
Eriol shifted closer on his chair, his elbows to the table with his hands folded together. "Is she always like this?"
"Always, well, not so. But when she was younger—" she paused to look at Eriol, scrutinizing him all of a sudden.
Eriol raised a brow. "What?"
"N-Nothing, I just thought you knew about her past from Li."
This time, he sighed and looked away. "Ah, well, he's another one of those people who keeps things to themselves, too." He paused. "If you were wondering who that girl you saw yesterday was, well…"
"Here are your drinks." the waiter politely interrupted and he placed the white cups in the middle of the round table. When Eriol and Tomoyo reached for their cups and sipped it a little, Eriol continued.
"She's Syaoran's fiancée."
Tomoyo choked on her coffee and coughed, almost spitting out her drink onto Eriol. Almost.
Eriol's eyes widened and he threw his chair back to come around her and soothe her back. "Tomoyo, are you OK?"
Tomoyo held her chest, sniffled a little and wiped tears from her eyes. "I-I'm OK, just shocked a little." She looked over to the rest who had looked her way and she raised a shaky hand. "I'm alright!"
Eriol stared at her, sighed and sat back down to his chair. "Sorry,"
"No, it's alright. I was only shocked, not on the brink of death." Tomoyo patted her lips with her napkin. "I didn't see that one coming."
"Yeah, well, nor did I, at first. Anyways, I specifically heard Syaoran telling me that Meiling was coming this Saturday. But being Meiling, for not being able to wait a second longer, chose to come yesterday." He sighed and shook his head. "And now, Syaoran's in his house dealing with his mother and an overly-emotional fiancée. My sympathies go to him." He placed a cool hand to his heart.
Tomoyo furrowed her brows. "Shouldn't your sympathies go to Sakura instead of him? Even though I don't know what's really going on between the both of them, I pretty sure understood the main point here." Eriol looked at her and she gulped inwardly. Be firm, don't melt! "Li, for one, should've told Sakura about this Meiling even before he made a move with her. For not telling her beforehand and then to expect her to understand, it's just uncalled for."
Eriol blinked. "I-I'm sure my sympathies go to her, too, but Syaoran's in much trouble than she is. He has a company to take over, a title to uphold, and a bride-to-be who can't take no for an answer, to handle. He's much more muddled than you think."
"Well, if he knows he's going to be muddled like this, why did he still pursue Sakura? Does he earn something out of hurting her like this?"
They both knew they are only defending their friends but somehow, it turned out to be a terrible brawl. "Tomoyo—"
"Understand this, Eriol. I'm protecting my dear friend from getting hurt here. She's been through enough as it is, but thanks to your dear friend she's going through it all over again. By her lonesome," Tomoyo stared into his navy-blue eyes. She hadn't meant to be so firm on him like this but he's being biased. "I don't see why you should defend Li anymore."
"Syaoran has been my buddy ever since we were ten, and for sixteen years I have been by his side all the time, through his troubles and mine. And I'm sure I know him better than to ruin a girl's life, not to mention the girl he actually cared for once. You can't expect me to turn my back on him and pity your friend for overreacting! He was about to explain everything to her." Eriol grabbed his coffee and drunk, before leaning back to his chair and crossed his arms. "Tomoyo, I understand your need to protect her but please, before you accuse anybody, do get your facts straight."
She gaped at him. "So you're saying I'm a liar now?"
"No! All I'm saying is that you should hear Syaoran's side of the story. Of course, after you hear Sakura's side," he sighed. "Tomoyo, please, let's not fight, OK? Two fights on my side are enough for my head—"
"Well, try another one." Tomoyo growled, grabbed her purse from the table and pushed her chair back. "I can't believe you'd call me a liar and tell me to listen to Li's side of the story just so I wouldn't taint your perfect friend's image. I've seen enough of his motives yesterday and I've heard enough of your biased opinions today. So if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving—"
"Hey, wait, Tomoyo!" He stood up and came up to her with his hand to her arm. "You've misunderstood me—"
She swung her head over to look at him. "Oh yeah, how? Now that I realised Li for being the jerk he is, I'm not sure about you." For a few heartbeats she stared at him. "Are you…?"
"Tomoyo!" Eriol tighten his hold. "Stop this, Tomoyo, you're misunderstanding everything! I don't want us to fight!"
"Too late," she glanced at the people who had been staring at them and she growled under her breath. "Let go of me."
"Is there a problem here, Sir, Miss?" The head waiter walked up to them. "I suggest you take this outside."
"No," Tomoyo looked at him then to Eriol. "It's over and I was about to leave."
Eriol opened his mouth but shut it almost immediately and he released her. Tomoyo apologised to the head waiter, glanced at Eriol for a brief moment and hurriedly left the café. When the door shut closed, everybody else returned to their coffees and chatter, leaving Eriol standing in the middle of the café with a terrible headache.
"Damn it."
"Well, aren't you inviting me in?"
Sakura stared wide-eyed at her tall brother looking down at her. He had finger-combed his raven hair and had his sunglasses resting on his head. He wore a black leather jacket over a white Polo T-shirt tucked in his jeans. He had a duffel bag in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.
"W-W-Where… H-How…?"
"Oh come on, let me in and we'll talk." He sighed and shook his head. "Slow, as usual."
Sakura frowned, stepped back and watched him step in. "Take off your shoes." She spat, shut the door and walked towards the kitchen to grab two mugs. As she watched him frowning at her and bent down to pull out his shoes, she asked. "What are you doing here?"
Initially, she would be dead frightened of her brother but after years of parting and filling her head with images and not bitter memories of him, she stood bravely with her head held high. She will never cower in the shadows of her brother now; she's stronger and braver than that. And if he were to hurt her again, she'd just grab the telephone and call the police.
"Father's sick."
Her fingers slipped and the mug fell onto the kitchen top with a loud thump as it rolled off the edge and fell to the floor, breaking into several pieces and almost missing her feet. "Ah!" She shrieked and stepped back. "Darn." Pressing a hand to her forehead, she sighed and shook her head. Kneeling down, she was about to pick the pieces up when a shadow engulfed her. She raised her head. "What?"
Touya kept quiet. His eyes stared at her for a moment but when he tore his gaze away and reached for the pieces behind her, he spoke quietly. "He wants to see you, Sakura."
Damn it. If he hadn't spoken about her father, she wouldn't have been foolishly clumsy and dropped the mug in shock. She didn't know why she'd gotten so limp at the sound of her father being 'sick' – yeah, she wouldn't believe it for a second that he is. And now Touya says his father wants to see her? Too bad, she's going to say n—
"He really wants you to come home, Sakura. He wants to talk to you." He picked up the last big piece, threw them into the bin and stared at Sakura's back. "Sakura,"
"Sugar?" She raised her mug to him.
Touya growled. "Sakura!"
"Look, whatever you're going to say will only fall on deaf ears, so don't waste your breath, alright?" Sakura spoke sternly and stirred the coffee. When she was done, she turned back and gave the mug to him. "Here."
Touya stared at her again, took the mug and sighed. "Sakura, he really wants to see you. That's why he sent me here."
"Question: how did you find me?"
Touya stilled for a moment. "Father called Sonomi Daidouji and asked where you were – he thought you're still with them—"
"Aunt Sonomi wouldn't let him speak even if I wasn't there."
"Well, after Father told her about his heart condition, she thought otherwise and gave him this address," Touya sipped his coffee, "any questions?"
Sakura crossed her arms, turned away and walked towards the living room. Standing here, with his brother's towering presence squeezing her insides was taking a lot from her and so she sat down. But even if she sat, nothing calmed her mind from burning with rage.
"Sakura," Touya walked up to her. "Please do this for Father."
"No," she looked over to him.
"Why? He's your father, for goodness sakes! Sakura, he needs you!"
"He needs nothing from me! He said it himself that I am no longer his daughter any more than he is my father. So technically, I have no father." It wouldn't have bothered her for saying something spiteful like that, but somehow… it had. She almost thought she'd fall apart and cry again. Almost.
"Sakura!"
"No, Touya, I won't go and see him. Even if he bleeds to death and begged, I am not going to see his face. He's done enough damage to me for three years without a second's thought of mercy." She looked away from his shocked, painful expression. "My being not coming because he's sick wouldn't even make a dent on his part."
"How could you be so selfish? Have I not stressed enough that he is and will always be your father?! Sure he's done mistakes in the past but that's why he wants to see you now. He wants to apologise to you, Sakura! Appreciate the effort and come home—"
"Effort or no effort, he hurt the part of me that cared. I don't care if you think I'm being selfish towards him because I'm not. I am caring about my life now and I swore to myself that I won't ever get hurt by his hands again." She looked over to her brother, stared for a few moments, stood up from the couch and approached the door. "Go home, Touya."
"Sakura!"
"Don't make me hate you, Touya!" She raised her voice.
"So, you hate your own father—"
"I don't hate him!" She snapped, her eyes locked into his as her hand fumbled for the lock. She unlocked the door and was about to speak again when somebody suddenly crashed into her. "Hoe?!"
"Ah!!"
"Sakura!!"
Even if she had been here more than a hundred times, her bedroom in the Li mansion still freaked her to the point where she thought there were ghosts taunting her steps. But being the trained fighter she was, she kept herself calm and thought clearly. Though, as hard as she tried, she could never be calm and think clearly because she lost the capacity to hate Syaoran and the good-for-nothing home-wrecker any further.
Meiling looked out her tall window, grumbled under her breath and leaned her forehead to its cool glass. Cool as it felt, her body was still in flames. She couldn't believe Syaoran, her beloved Syaoran, would betray her trust, her love, and move on with some raggedy waste of breath and space with dirty hair colour and grass-coloured eyes. She was better than that scrawny cleaner; prettier, smarter, curvier, sexier. That little thing can never fulfil Syaoran's needs even if she gained a few pounds and re-read the dictionary.
She gritted her teeth and slammed her fist to her open palm. That woman has got to go or else her perfectly thought-of plan would be in utter ruins. Thank heavens Aunt Yelan wanted no one else but Meiling as Syaoran's bride. If not, reporting this wretched being to her, would've meant nothing. Yes, she told Aunt Yelan everything: from how ugly she looked to how conniving she was towards her Syaoran, and wanted nothing else but his money and power.
Aunt Yelan immediately went to work in search of the 'wretched being' and would not rest until the woman terminates her interactions with Syaoran.
"Thank you for telling me, Meiling," Aunt Yelan spoke to her as she quickly punched down several numbers on her telephone. "You saved Syaoran's future."
Meiling grinned to herself, turned around and crossed her arms. Somehow, this turned out to be a sweet plus instead of a bitter minus for her. She never imagined bringing a single woman down would be this fun.
She laughed, turned back around to look out the window and—
"Syaoran…?" She leaned closer and blinked at his running form. "What the…" She growled, grabbed her purse from the leather couch and stepped out of the room.
"Mother is in her office, Meiling is in the library, and I am running for dear life," he grumbled and panted. "I hope Wei survives."
He leaped frog over waist-high walls, wheezed past people and cars and finally flagged for a taxi.
Why is he doing this? Why go all lengths to see her? It was because he loved her. Even if it was within a short period of time, he loved her. It didn't sound right to him at all, either, but it warmed his body like the sun rising from the horizon in the morning and its rays would kiss his cheek. All he felt was warmth, not just her touch or that glazed green eyes of hers. It was her voice, her laughter, her smile, and even her sad, pained smile. It all connected to him and he wanted more. He wanted to see her and tell her he was sorry. He wanted to hold her and whisper sweet nothings to her just so she could smile from her heart.
And—
"… Kiss her, kiss her," the driver crooned and Syaoran blinked at him. "Hug her, hug her. Smack her, smack her…"
He cleared his throat and looked out the window. Not that perverted but…
A smile curled on his lips and he sighed quietly. He hoped Sakura would forgive him enough to hear him out. He hoped she'd be herself when she sees him at her doorstep. He hoped she'd feel the same once he told her everything.
If only his mother, and Meiling, would understand and be the good women in his life to stop interfering. Though near impossible, he was hopeful.
His cell phone rung and he quickly dug into his pocket to fish it out. He checked the ID Caller, blinked, pressed the green button and brought it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Dude, where are you?"
He furrowed his brows and scratched his head. "I uh… I'm on my way to Sakura's apartment. W-What's wrong?"
"Oh thank human life and Mother Earth," he heard Eriol sigh heavily. "My bride-to-be and I got into a well… sorta like a brawl and such and I'm going there, too. I'll see you, then?"
"Will you stop with the marriage crap, already? You don't even know if she wants to marry you or not!"
"Hey, who knows? Dude, she's the one, alright!" There was a pause. "Didn't I tell you to get a tux?"
Syaoran slapped a hand to his forehead. "I don't even know why I bother. Look, I'll see you there, alright?" And he clicked off.
He was about to close his eyes in hopes of getting some decent shut-eye when his cell phone rung again. Forcefully, he clicked it on and groaned a hello.
"Will you get married?"
His eyes shot wide open and he gaped. "Dude!"
"You wanna kiss her, kiss her. You wanna smack her, smack her…"
End of Chapter Eight
Author's Note: Well, well, how was that? I dunno about you but i thought it was alright, don't you think? I'm glad you kept reading my story and reviewed. But i wished there was more people, you know? Keep me motivated and stuff. Oh well, the next chapter would, hopefully, bring up my standards. LOL.
Much love,
Yoshimi-chan
