MMG
Yatsi-chan: I decided not to change the earlier chapters… it will take too much time. I don't think anyone will care anyway if I change it or not… (obviously bitter?) Anyway, sorry for the long wait! Here's the next chapter!
"Now we will deal with handling your emotions and coping with your partner's secret feelings"
They were in yet another session of the ever so popular modern living class. For some strange reasons, this class had been slowly becoming the student's most favorite or most hated subject. Those who love practical things loved this subject while those who hates 'non-sense', as they call it, hated this subject.
Among those who love this are Eriol, Tomoyo and Sakura. They like how simple things yet very meaningful things have been taught in this subject. Don't ask about Syaoran! He made clear that he will never like his mother's stupid subject.
"Now, face your partner and hold hands" Yelan commanded loudly while walking around the classroom. If this was said at the earlier sessions, it would have made a big racket and some awkwardness. But now, the students are quite immune to awkwardness.
Well, actually, not all are immune. A certain auburn haired boy was still awkward and really red in the face.
Yelan walked to a CD player and elegantly leaned to push the play button. A soft music of nature and some wind instruments played. "I want you to honestly think of the things I will say. Close your eyes and forget everything else except you and your partner"
The students tried to do so. "Think about your family…" Yelan continued talking about some other things. Her voice was so gentle. The music was also making the students feel different emotions welling inside them.
Eriol didn't know why but he didn't hear more of what the teacher was saying. He felt as if all his pent up emotions were being ripped out of him. Could this be a result of the Li matriarch's magic?
"Hiiragizawa-kun, your parents left you an enormous amount of money. When you reach the right age, you would be able to live on your own" the man in a black suit wearing sunglasses said formally while looking at the eight year old boy.
"When will I reach the right age?" Little Eriol asked innocently.
"When you're 18 years old. Before you reach that age, I would be the one to hold your wealth and sustain you needs."
When the man left, he went back to his room. That was when he cried silently. He may have a mind and a heart more mature than boys his age but that doesn't mean that he can't think and act childishly. He knew that he was all alone… again. The man in the black suit would just go in this big mansion to tell him some random important financial things but he wouldn't stay. He was the only person that the little boy trusted with his life.
He did have some maids that accompany him but they were just there because they needed the money.
"Eriol-sama… we're here for you" he saw a silhouette of a girl with long hair and butterfly wings. "Yes, we're here" said another being. This time, he saw a silhouette the shape of a leopard with wings.
He ran to them, excited to see who could have said those things. But when he was close enough, he saw nothing. They disappeared. It was definitely just his imagination.
He opened his eyes when he felt a lone tear cascading down his face. Tomoyo, on the other hand, had her eyes still closed. She was frowning uncharacteristically.
"You can open your eyes now. Talk to your partner about what you felt and what you are feeling. I want a no less than three paragraph essay about this" Yelan turned to go, leaving an awkward atmosphere in the room. When Eriol looked around, he saw that some of the students were sobbing while some were poker faced.
His partner slowly opened her eyes. He almost cringed at how blank her eyes were. What happened to Tomoyo?
He forgot his sudden flashback as he stared at her cold eyes.
"Tomoyo, are you alright?" he asked with a concerned squeeze on her hand. She had permitted him to call her with her first name but he just does so when he is alone with her.
Hearing him say her name, her eyes twinkled a little. Only a little. "I'm okay" she smiled at him. But she can't fool Eriol. He saw through her mask.
He wanted to say 'you're not okay, I know'. But he respected what she said. He will help her when she's ready to be helped. It's a simple law of life. Save the ones who want to be saved and help those who are willing to be helped.
"It would be better if I don't interrogate you right now." He said as he gathered his things. She turned to him, confused. "What about the essay?" she asked.
Eriol shrugged, as if saying that it was the least of his priorities. Which is true, of course. He cares so much about her that he doesn't really mind if the Yelan-sama gets angry.
"I'm okay" Her voice was soft and so was her lovely face. There and then, he wanted to hug her and tell her that it's okay to cry. 'But I don't have any right to do such'
"Can we just talk later?" he said this with his most gentle voice yet there was some helplessness in it. As if he was begging her to hear him out. With his tone of voice, she understood. She knew that she really needed the time and so he wanted her to rest for a while.
She nodded and took her things too. They leaved the room together.
On the other hand, Sakura was silently sobbing on Syaoran's chest. "I miss her…"
He nodded understandingly and patted her back. It was the least he could do since he was never the one to show much emotion. After some more moments of her sobbing, she looked up at him.
"Thank you Syaoran-kun…"
Hearing her say his name made a tingly feeling erupt inside his heart and so he was glad that they were finally on first name basis. Thank God he had the courage to tell her to call him 'Syaoran'! The way she pronounces his name just sounds so cute and innocent. Like her whole being.
He wanted to tell her that he's glad that he could help in his own little way but decided not to. He just decided to keep quiet. He just remembered why he wasn't crying like their other classmates. Honor; yeah, that's it. That is his reason for not crying. Being emotional is not part of being a Li heir. It wouldn't help him reach his goal.
He almost wanted to cry when he also remembered that loving is part of being emotional. Loving her wouldn't help him reach his goals.
But no worries! This is merely a little admiration for his card captor companion. He's not in love… right?
A beautiful woman looked at the two teens walking away from the room. She was thinking two things as she stared at the two: they are really interesting… and everything's going as planned.
While she was silently watching the teens, a ruby eyed girl walked to her side. "Yelan-sama, do you think it will come soon? The tragedy that Clow Reed predicted?"
A lone tear escaped her eyes. "There's no escaping fate," Recomposing herself, she added: "But we can definitely decrease the dangers. I'll do everything in my power to help."
"Eriol-kun, go ahead. I have something to do first" Tomoyo smiled at Eriol truthfully and apologetically. She can't go home feeling like this. Everyone will just worry about her.
"Are you sure? I can wait for you… if you want"
"No need. I'll just call my bodyguards"
He nodded and walked away. When he was far enough, she proceeded on walking to her destination: Penguin Park, the place she can call a third home. It is where Sakura and she would play even if they were too old for playing. It is also where she runs to when she wants to cry but can't because there were too many people looking at her.
She went to the emperor penguin where there was a little hiding place under. She sat with her head tucked between her arms. Then she cried. Cried as if there's no tomorrow.
'Cause tomorrow, she wouldn't allow herself to cry anymore. This was just one little vulnerable moment. There won't be another. Crying would just make a crack in her very well-kept mask. And that won't do her any good.
Suddenly, her sobbing wasn't the only sound. The pattering of the raindrop signaled that it was raining outside her little world. She glanced at the sky then a miniscule smile graced her beautiful lips. She felt as if the sky was crying for her too. The thought slightly made her better.
But not enough to stop her tears. It had been too long since she last cried that she knew it would take a long time before her tear ducts decide to stop.
A sound other than the raindrops and her sobbing echoed through the park. She looked up in alarm.
Eriol stood before her, holding a blue umbrella in one hand. "I knew you would go somewhere" he smiled sadly as he saw the still-flowing tears on her cheeks.
He knelt in front of her, not bothering that his pants were getting wet. He took a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry for coming here. I know you're probably angry with me for coming here and intruding your personal space. But I can't bear thinking of you crying alone"
Screw law of life! Even if she doesn't need saving, he'll save her anyway.
"Yes, I'm angry with you." She quietly said while looking at the floor. She was feeling another burst of emotions because of this sudden turn of events. "I'm angry with everybody, actually" she admitted with bitterness.
"I'm angry at Sakura because I thought she would be the one to comfort me at this time… She's my best friend, for Pete's sake! I'm angry at Syaoran because he's getting all of Sakura's attention. I hate Yelan-sensei for doing that stupid activity that didn't help me at all. I even feel worse than ever.
"I hate you because you're here! You're not supposed to see me like this! No one is supposed to see me like this!
"But beyond anything, I hate myself… because I'm crying stupidly here and saying useless, unimportant things. And I hate myself more because even if I say that I hate you all, I can't hate any of you at all. I love seeing Sakura laugh at Syaoran and I love seeing them together… I also love Yelan-sensei's discussions.
"In the end, all I'm able to do is hate myself."
She tucked her head between her arms again, crying silently. Eriol smiled at her slightly and, with a sudden surge of courage, hugged her trembling form. He heard a silent "thank you Eriol-kun" from her as she returned his hug.
"Just cry and forget every worry you have"
