Now and Forever
by Hidden Tala
Author's Notes: I am on fire. Haven't updated this often for ages, huh? Yeah, I know it's too short but I hope this'll make you happy. Don't forget to review! :D
x. what happened before
"I'm in love with you."
Her mauve eyes crinkled and her mouth turned up in amusement as she waited for the coming punch line. She waited and waited until the sangfroid that was Eriol cracks. But it never came. Instead, those mysterious azure eyes remained unblinking and focused on her that she fought the urge to fidget. She shook her head with a nervous laugh as if reassuring herself that he was just bluffing. Then she raised her eyes and gasped at the tormented look in his eyes.
"Y-You don't mean that," she sputtered, shaking her head. She looked at him again and she thought he suddenly looked older, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
"Of course I mean it," he said it so harshly that it made him wince. "I'm sorry I just… I just-"
"B-But you have a girlfriend! You love her!" she argued, her eyes screaming at him. "You love Mizuki-sensei, you don't love me. Please, Eriol, you're my best friend. Please, take it back."
He avoided the pleading and anguished stare she was giving him. He began to pace in the empty classroom. He can feel her eyes following him, tempting him to take it all back. He knew he would do anything for her, die for her, lie for her... but he could never lie to himself. He wanted to throw things, to punch someone, to hurt himself for ruining it all. Doesn't she know that it's killing him too?
He stopped pacing and turned to her. She stared back, her pleading eyes nagging at him. And he sighed. "I want to take it back but I can't. I can't lie to myself anymore. This isn't something I can turn off on a whim. I'm in love with you, Tomoyo. You break me into pieces and you send me so high I lose myself."
He thought he heard his heart crack when she cried.
"What's going to happen to us now?" she asked brokenly. "What's going to happen after this?"
He looked away, ashamed of himself. "I don't know. I really don't know."
And she was suddenly marching towards him, her eyes blazing in fury. "What do you mean you 'don't know'? Didn't you think that it would ruin our friendship and your relationship with Mizuki-sensei? Didn't you even think how I'd feel, Eriol?"
He clenched his fists in anger, in helplessness. "I didn't ask for any of this, Tomoyo. Kaho was destined for me. She's the woman I'm going to marry. But you happened to me. I didn't ask to fall in love with you but I did. I don't want to lose you, Tomoyo."
She cried as if her heart was breaking. He watched the rising and falling of her shoulders. He watched the pouring tears escape her eyes. Each teardrop was a bullet to his heart.
"You're my best friend, Eriol," she said in between hiccups. "You helped me get over Sakura-chan and you let me bully you when I'm lonely. I don't want to lose you either but… I can't even look at you anymore."
"I'm not asking you to feel the same way, believe that," Eriol said helplessly.
"I believe you," she answered instantly. "But we can't go on as if nothing's happened. I don't want to betray Mizuki-sensei. I can't."
"What do-"
"I don't know. I'm confused," she said softly. "Maybe it is best that we don't talk for awhile. I'm sorry, Eriol."
"Wait a min-"
"Please, let go of me," she said, sobbing.
He let her hand go as if he was burnt. And without a backward glance, she left, with him watching her long ebony hair flying behind her.
Author's Notes: Review, why don't you?