Deeper
Author's Note: I updated fast, right? Anyway, thanks for all those wonderful reviews. I really enjoyed reading your insights. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
Chapter 9
A bridge from one place to another, from one time to the next.
'He knew all along,' Sakura recalled painfully. Syaoran knew she and Kiya talked, but he still tried to get her back. He tried to talk to her, but she refused to hear him out because she knew that they would get back together, and that would be detrimental to his career. What she did may not have been the best option, but what else could she do? She was young and she didn't know how else to handle the situation, so she chose what she thought was good for him.
However, what she failed to realize when Syaoran tried to get her back was that... he chose her.
He knew the consequences, but still... he chose her.
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Oh... um..." Sakura looked down, ashamed of her actions. She and Maki were together again, but it seemed like she was going to ruin things. He looked so excited so whatever it was he was saying must be important... but she didn't even hear a thing. "What was that again?"
Maki stared at her concernedly. "Are you okay?"
No, she wasn't okay. She wasn't okay since Syaoran left. She would almost always find herself dwelling on her own sorrow instead of listening to what others were telling her. She didn't mean it, but she couldn't help it either.
'I shouldn't drag Maki into this...' Sakura concluded. 'We're fine now, and I shouldn't destroy what we have because of my mistakes in the past.' It was her mistake, and it didn't have anything to do with Maki. She was being unfair to him by acting the way she was. Even with her own trouble, she was still thinking of others. Taking a deep breath, she assured him, "I'm okay. So, what was it you're saying?"
"I was just telling you that too bad you didn't see me last weekend."
"Oh, right, sorry about that," Sakura apologized. She wasn't feeling well that time so she wasn't able to see Maki model.
Yep, Maki was now a small-time model. Some agent called and asked him to try out. Fortunately, he passed the screening, and he was given his first break just last weekend.
"Hey, Maki," Tara smiled flirtatiously. "I saw you. You were really good."
He grinned proudly. "Thanks."
"Just tell me the date of your next show, okay? I'll be there to support you, unlike some people." Tara turned pointedly to Sakura when she said that.
Sakura didn't retort because as much as she hated to admit, Tara was right.
"I have to go now, bye!" Tara winked at him before walking off.
When Tara was gone, Sakura asked, "I thought you hated models?"
"Well, this type of opportunity doesn't come knocking on your door everyday. I mean, me, a model? Whoa."
"If you say so..." Sakura said unsurely. What was it with her and models?
"Couldn't you just be happy for me?"
"I'm happy for you..."
"Besides, wouldn't you want that, a model boyfriend?"
Was she really supposed to answer that?
"Anyway, there's a big show a month from now," Maki continued saying. "I really hope that I'll be chosen. My career could start from there."
"Um, yeah..."
"I still have a month for practice. You'd watch me, right?"
"Um, sure..."
Maki looked at his watch. "Oh, I've got to go. I still have to attend a workshop."
"Okay... I'll just see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I'll treat you out after class."
"Sure."
Hong Kong
A collective groan could be heard from one of the classrooms located at the most prestigious University in the country.
"This will be 40 of your grade, which means," the professor paused for emphasis. "You fail this, you fail the subject."
Another round of groans came from the journalist students, but the lecturer ignored it.
"I want you to make a simulation of a newspaper, but it would only revolve around one person."
"Who, sir?" Some random student asked.
The professor passed around a glass bowl. "That contains the names of famous people, and whoever you pick will be the topic of your discussion." He waited until everybody had pulled out a strip of paper from the container. "You should write about that person in different aspects that correspond to the different parts of a broadsheet. Remember, each section of the newspaper is written and approached differently. It is up to you on how you want to present it, but if I find it boring, I won't read it, and that translates to failure," he stated making the students gulp. "It is also up to you on how you will obtain reliable information, and if I discover fraud, I will throw it away, and that equals a grade of zero-point-zero." Another gulp. "That is all. Class dismissed."
Instantly, the room was filled with noise as the students complained about their project.
"Oh man, he was really harsh. Anyway, who did you pick?"
The girl's eyes narrowed distastefully at the piece of paper she was holding. "Li Syaoran. Great, a celebrity," she commented sarcastically. "I would have preferred a business tycoon or even a politician over this."
"How could you say that?" The girl's friend reacted. "You are so lucky, you know."
"Whatever. Let's go. I'm starved."
Sakura sighed sadly as she walked home. Maki wasn't able to fulfill his promise of taking her out... again. This was the third time.
She didn't want to say this, but the attention was getting into his head. Everybody at school loved him. He turned from Mr. Popular to Mr. Super Popular because of his gig. She was really trying to be the best girlfriend... but it was hard. Maybe this was her karma.
Her thoughts drifted back to Syaoran. She needed to talk to him. But how? It wasn't as if she could follow him to Hong Kong. It wasn't that simple. What would she tell her father? 'Dad, I would go to Hong Kong to talk to my ex-boyfriend, who, by the way, I didn't tell you about.' Right. Like that would go well. Besides, what about school? She didn't have the luxury either to just fly abroad whenever she wanted. And once she was there, did she really expect that she could talk to him easily? He was a star. With all those surrounding him, she doubted it. She would be thrown outside even before she could say his name.
But maybe she could lie to her dad. Maybe she could take a leave from school, and just get notes and homework from her friends. Maybe she could borrow money from Tomoyo for her travel expenses. And once there, she would try everything she could think of just to talk to him. Right. Like what they all say: easier said than done.
'You're pathetic, Sakura!' She mentally scolded herself. 'So pathetic to even wish that the silver car parked outside your house was his –' Wait – what? She didn't know much about cars, but wasn't that the same one Takashi said to be the most expensive Lamborghini? So what was a limited-edition luxury sports car doing in this middle class neighborhood?
It was funny how both her footsteps and heartbeat quickened. 'Oh my God.' Her thoughts were a big mess, and she couldn't get her mind to think straight. 'Please, let it be him.' She had so many things she needed to say, but she didn't know how to say it. Though her brain was all jumbled up, she deeply wished that the car was his... that he was here.
When she finally outside her house, her eyes could only widen in surprise. If she was expecting something, this wasn't it.
Syaoran was seated on their front steps... leaned against the door... fast asleep.
Well, he definitely knew how to ruin a perfect dramatic encounter.
She was still debating whether she would wake him up or not when a cute bright tan-and-black coated Yorkshire terrier came running from their backyard. 'Since when did we have a dog?' Her musing was broken when she saw the pup about to jump on Syaoran. "Oh, no, no!" Sakura panicked.
It was too late, however. "What the –" Syaoran instantly woke up when the male Yorkie bound on him. The pup barked happily, and he supported himself by placing his little paws on Syaoran's chest.
"Um..." Sakura shifted nervously as Syaoran stood up. "I don't know who owns him... I'll just ask around and return him."
Silence followed after that. Even the puppy, who was bouncing up and down just seconds ago, was quiet besides Syaoran's feet.
"Sakura –"
"I'm sorry!" Sakura cut in. She wasn't going to waste this opportunity to talk to him again. "I'm really sorry, Syaoran, for what I did... for everything. I'm sorry... I was stupid... so, so stupid. It was a really foolish thing for me to do..."
"Sakura..."
Even though she was trying hard not to cry, tears were still starting to form. "I know saying sorry wouldn't take the pain away, and I'm just – I just..." She tried to compose herself. She needed to be strong. "I know its cliché, but if I could turn back the time, I would... I really would. I would have done things differently, but I – I would still let you go, Syaoran..."
"Sakura..."
"You mean so much to me, and I wouldn't allow you to risk everything you have just because of me." She wiped away the tears, but it still kept on falling. "I know you hate me right now, and I understand that. But I hope that someday, you'll forgive me... I know it's too much to ask, but I still hope that –"
"I'm sorry." He had said it so quietly, but it was still effective in cutting Sakura off.
"Please don't say that," Sakura stated softly. "You have nothing to be sorry about. It's all my fault."
"I was harsh. You didn't deserve that."
"Yes, I did –"
"No, you didn't, Sakura," he repeated. "I'm sorry. I went out of line."
"But –"
"Are we going to argue over an argument?"
"Wha –" Sakura was flustered, "W-well no, but –"
"But nothing," Syaoran ended. Silence ensued once more, and this time, it was the puppy who broke it. He barked, as if sensing that the tense conversation was over.
Sakura's attention was diverted to him. He was such a cute little thing. Sakura crouched down. "Hey, boy, come here." The Yorkie hid behind Syaoran, but Sakura wasn't deterred. "I'm going to return you to your owner, come here... yes, that's right... come on... good boy."
"Do you like him?" Syaoran asked when Sakura hugged the puppy to her chest.
She stood up and nodded. "He's adorable."
"Good. He's yours."
"What? He isn't mine."
"He's yours now. I'm giving it to you."
"Was he yours?"
Syaoran sighed. Sakura really had her own unique way of making things difficult. "I bought him for you, so he's yours."
"Really? He's mine?" Sakura eyes sparkled excitedly as she stroked the puppy's soft and glossy hair.
"I believe that's what I said."
"Oh, thank you!" Sakura didn't waste any time playing with her new friend. "What would I name you, hmm?"
"... Um, Sakura?"
Upon seeing Syaoran's serious look, she placed the puppy down. "Yes?"
"Listen, I don't know about you, but I've noticed that fate found it funny to always make us meet unexpectedly," he started, and Sakura couldn't agree more. "Honestly, I don't know what we are, but I don't want to feel awkward the next time I see you. So while I'm still here, can we – can we be friends? Even just for the time that I'm still here in Japan... do you think we can be friends?"
"No."
"Oh."
"Not just for the time you're here." Sakura smiled. "We're friends even after you leave."
"Ah... then that's good to hear."
Sakura felt a burden lifted off her because they finally had the closure they needed. But unlike any other failed relationships, they didn't completely lose each other. Instead, they managed to reestablish it. "Let's start over. I'm Kinomoto Sakura."
Syaoran glanced down at her extended hand and shook it. "Li Syaoran." He sported his trademark smirk. "Did I mention you're hot?"
"Take it seriously!"
"What? I am serious."
Sakura's jaw dropped open when she realized that Syaoran wasn't joking. "Is that how you normally introduce yourself?"
He looked at her innocently. "Well... not all the time, only if the lady I'm talking to is attractive."
'And he had guts to even answer that.' She could only stare at him incredulously. "You are such a big flirt!"
"What?! You told me we were starting over!" He defended.
To say that Sakura was scandalized would be an understatement. "And that's your idea of starting over?!"
"I already told you, that's what I usually say if the lady –"
"Never mind!"
Tomoyo blinked when she descended the stairs. "... Eriol? What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you, too."
"Err, sorry about that. Welcome back, Eriol." Tomoyo recovered from her surprise. She motioned for him to take a seat. "Is... Um..."
"Yes, Syaoran came back with me," he answered her unspoken question.
"I thought you guys were never coming back," Tomoyo admitted. So she was worried over nothing? But... when Eriol called her that time, he sounded so different. There was something amiss – she was sure of that. But what it was, she had no idea.
"I have something to ask you, Tomoyo."
She nodded, urging him to go on.
"You remember that question you asked me?"
She nodded again. Of course, how could she forget? Wait... did he have an answer already?
"I just wanted to clarify... you asked me that because you knew about Sakura and Syaoran, am I correct?"
Tomoyo was about to nod for the third time when something clicked in her mind. Oh... god. "You know too?"
"Yes," he replied. "Did you know what happened between them during the SPS party?" He asked, referring to the party organized by the network.
"Sakura wasn't able to tell me all... did Syaoran – did he tell you?"
"No."
"How did you find out then...?"
"I heard them," Eriol stated above a whisper.
"What? But you weren't there."
"I was."
Tomoyo's eyes widened.
"I knew Syaoran would be pissed because I didn't come to the party, so to avoid his wrath, I followed." Eriol smiled, but it was empty. "I didn't find him anywhere, so I thought he left. I was about to do the same, but I saw a reporter and a cameraman coming out from a room. I overheard them saying that they saw Syaoran enter there. I decided to check it out for myself, but I waited until they were gone..."
Tomoyo was shocked at what she was hearing. She had never expected this. She had never imagined that Eriol would find it out this way.
"When I heard their voices, I thought of stopping them because they were arguing at the most dangerous place. But... I didn't." He looked down. "I realized that it was too personal for me to interfere. However, I didn't leave either. I needed to make sure no one else came close to the door. So... I heard them."
Tomoyo took a deep breath before voicing out her thoughts. "You didn't get in the way of his personal affairs, but you still protected him by staying. I think –"
"But I brought him back to Hong Kong, Tomoyo," he revealed. "I rescheduled all his engagements and took him away... so... what did that make me?"
She was silenced. If Eriol hadn't cut her off earlier, she would have said that he was Syaoran's friend. But after that confession... after knowing that Eriol was the one responsible for Syaoran leaving...
"If I did it once, I can do it again," Eriol stated. "I can take him away..." He smiled that hollow smile again. "So I guess my place is still unknown, huh? I'm sorry that I still couldn't answer your question."
"Eriol," Tomoyo called softly. "If there was one thing I learned from what happened, that was we shouldn't assume what's best for others."
"I'm sorry," Eriol started. "But I have to tell you right now that what you may want me to do may not be what I will choose to do."
"I trust you'll do the right thing."
"Don't count on it yet. I'd like to see thing for myself."
Tomoyo smiled nonetheless. She knew it was unrealistic to believe that she could change his mind because things like that didn't happen in just a snap. His way of thinking couldn't be altered with just a couple of conversation, but she was happy that, at least, she got him to give it a chance.
"By the way, when's your fashion show?" He asked.
"Next month."
"Do you think –" He hesitated for a moment. "Do you think you could, um, squeeze in a male model in the line-up for your show?"
"I'm not sure. I have to talk to the..." Tomoyo trailed off when she realized what Eriol was hinting at. "Are you saying that...?"
"He'll model for you for free," he paused. "Well no, not really. Business is business so I guess I could just discount his talent fee."
"B-but, I mean – I..." She stammered as she digested the information. "Are you serious?"
"Yes." Eriol silently congratulated himself for making Tomoyo, the always-composed one, stumble over her words.
"But Syaoran isn't any ordinary model. If he walks on that runway –"
"– He'll become your official endorser," he finished for her, pleased that she caught the implication of his action. "Syaoran had his mishaps here and there, but I'm proud to say that he stayed professional through it all. So with that, I'm positive that I can convince him to agree to this deal," he explained. "As for legal matters, there isn't any problem either because he's not a representative of any Japanese-based clothing company."
Tomoyo could only nod at Eriol's proposal. She was startled at how he could turn into business-mode in an instant.
"So..." He continued. "I'll have the contracts prepared by tomorrow. Just make sure Sonomi receives and signs it. Also, if it's possible, I would like to keep this as a secret until the night of the show." He winked. "I want to surprise the media and everybody else with this."
"But what about rehearsals and all that?"
"Nah... You could just send me the clothes he'll model, and we'll send it back for any adjustments," he explained. "You could tell him the instructions and everything else minutes before the show. Or you could simply push him out on the stage. He'll know what to do."
Tomoyo was amazed. "Oh."
"I can't go, you guys..."
"But Sakura," Chiharu started. "This is the prom we're talking about. Don't let that bastard ruin your senior prom."
"But –"
"You have to be stronger than this," Tomoyo stated gently.
"She's right. Don't let them see you grieving over him. He's not worth it." Rika turned around and glared at their schoolmates, who were whispering around them. "Back off!"
Want to hear the school's hottest gossip? Sakura Kinomoto was dumped by Maki Minari for Tara Chen.
Everybody at school was talking about how Maki broke up with Sakura saying that she wasn't being supportive and all that. Two days after that, Maki and Tara were seen in the halls making out. Talk about decency.
"I can't..." Sakura repeated. "I mean, I don't care if I don't have a date, but I don't think I can stand seeing them together. And besides, Tara will just rub it in my face. The school is going to talk about it."
"They're going to talk about it more if you don't attend," Rika pointed out. "You have to show them that it doesn't bother you."
Chiharu nodded. "He's just a jerk, Sakura. Don't let him get to you."
"We'll be there for you," Tomoyo comforted.
"But I still..." Sakura trailed off when she noticed that the halls suddenly became quiet.
Maki and Tara, also dubbed as the perfect couple, had just entered the scene, holding hands. It was the first time the three of them were in the same place after the break-up. Everybody hushed down wanting to see and hear this little event.
Tara immediately smirked upon spotting Sakura. "Hey Kinomoto. I heard your ex-boyfriend dumped you... for someone better!"
Seeing Maki wasn't interfering felt like a slap for Sakura. This angered her. "If a whore is synonymous of better, then I'm afraid you're right."
"Stop it, Sakura," Maki cut in.
Double Slap. Was this really the man she dated? "Know what? You guys really go together perfectly," Sakura hissed. "You, Tara, are the trash can, and you, Maki, are the trash. So what do I do with my thrash? I throw it, just like you, Maki. Enjoy my trash, Tara."
"Why you –"
Sakura blocked the incoming slap from Tara. "Oh what the hell. I've always wanted to do this." With that, she slapped Tara.
"You, you freak!" Tara was hysterical. "Maki, look at what she did!" She held her face dramatically.
Maki frowned at Sakura. "How could you hurt her?"
Sakura could only stare at him disbelievingly. He was okay when Tara was about to slap her, but now... he was looking menacingly at her for defending herself?
"I thought you were better than this," Maki shot one last time before taking Tara away. The crowd was immediately buzzing with new rumor: Sakura Kinomoto hit Tara Chen out of pure jealousy.
But Sakura wasn't affected by that twisted gossip. She was too stunned at the way Maki treated her.
AN: See? I'm not evil. Hmm... this chapter just introduced more, um, twist? Anyway, review, review!
