Chapter Twenty-three

Awkward conversation

Having dinner with Yelan was awkward. Sakura felt bad for not telling her what had happened.

But Syaoran was right, it wasn't the time yet. The two of them needed to talk first and clear everything up.

Sakura couldn't help but get a little nervous when they said goodbye to Yelan and went up to his bedroom to 'study', and she flinched when Syaoran wrapped his arms around her after closing the door.

"I've seen you tense," he said softly.

"I was, I don't like lying to your mother. She's the only one who has supported and believed us from the beginning," she replied, sighing.

"We'll tell her soon, but not today. As soon as she finds out, she won't let us sleep together again."

Sakura snorted and walked over to Syaoran's bed, sitting on it. He did the same but lay down, pulling her down with him. She smiled and rested her head in the crook of his neck.

"It's been hard being away from you for so many weeks. Now I want you close enough to make up for it," Syaoran murmured.

"I'm fine with that," she said, draping an arm over his chest to hug him.

They were silent for a few seconds, thinking.

"I don't know what you think, but it would be best not to say anything at school. There's only five months left of classes, and if they find out that we're together, they're going to give us a lot of 'I knew it, I knew you really liked each other, you've been lying all this time, I'm sure something has happened between you two before...'" Syaoran mumbled, snorting with annoyance.

Sakura frowned at the thought of Meiling, Martha and the others... they would surely not leave her alone and call her a liar.

"I think you're right, that would be pretty unbearable."

"It'll be our secret until summer comes and we're no longer students. Then we'll decide who we want to tell."

Sakura sat up a little to look Syaoran in the eyes.

"But... but don't you think they'll find out?"

"Why would they? The good thing is that they've always seen us hugging and being close, so we can keep it that way. The only thing we can't do is kiss."

"Or talk about us. They might hear us," Sakura added.

Syaoran nodded.

"Yeah, not that either. If we're not careful, they'll find out... though it's going to be hard for me not to do this."

He moved closer to her and kissed her for a few seconds. When he pulled away, Sakura grimaced.

"I'm going to get into my pyjamas, and you can think about what we're going to do with my parents."

Syaoran tensed as he listened to her.

"Fuck, that's going to be complicated," he muttered.

Sakura giggled as she pulled a pair of pyjamas out of Syaoran's wardrobe. For the past two years, she had left them there for when she slept over. She headed for the door, but heard Syaoran's voice.

"Aren't you going to start changing in front of me?"

She turned to look at him, a little pale and biting her lower lip, and he let out a chuckle.

"Just kidding, Sakura. Go to the bathroom, I'll wait for you."

She snorted and gave him a hateful glare before leaving the room. When she returned, Syaoran had changed his clothes as well. She lay down on the bed with him and they cuddled again.

"I think that, if your parents find out, they'll never let me come to your house again," Syaoran said after a while.

Sakura sighed.

"There's a chance..."

"We can wait until we finish school to tell them, don't you think?" he asked.

Sakura thought about it for a few seconds.

"Okay, we'll tell them in June."

They were speaking for the rest of the night, until they fell asleep.

When Syaoran woke up the next day, a wide smile appeared on his face when he saw Sakura's tangled hair on the pillow. It hadn't been a dream, his friend was there, and now she was his girlfriend.

A few days later, Syaoran and Sakura were sitting on a bench during recess time. He had an arm around her neck and was saying things softly to her as she smiled.

Tomoyo was close by, talking to Eriol who had come to see her on his motorbike. Takashi smiled to see his friends as affectionate as ever and approached them.

"I'm so glad that you guys have finally made up. It was a pain in the arse to see you two sad and in a bad mood."

Syaoran smirked and kissed Sakura on the head. She was in a good mood too.

"It was a stupid thing, we won't fight like that again," she replied.

"But anyway, your friend is still strange," Takashi added.

"I'm as usual, why do you say that?" Syaoran replied, half laughing.

"You've been acting weird lately, and I'm not the only one who thinks so."

"Weird?" Syaoran repeated, frowning.

"Several people have already asked me why you don't fool around with any girls. They think you've got a girlfriend or something."

"I don't care what anyone thinks," Syaoran said with a shrug.

"You don't even go to parties and try to pick up girls now, do you?" Takashi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I already told you that I want to be alone for a while," he replied, glancing sideways at Sakura.

"You've been all alone for months now... I'm sure your porn DVDs are burning," Takashi muttered under his breath.

He and Syaoran laughed, but Sakura pursed her lips.

Then Chiharu arrived and hugged her boyfriend from behind, leaving a kiss on his cheek. Takashi smiled glancing at Chiharu and walked away with her, hand in hand in the direction of the high school. The bell announcing the end of recess had already sounded.

Sakura huffed and pulled away from Syaoran. He arched an eyebrow at the sight of her.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," she replied with a serious face.

She made an attempt to stand up, but Syaoran grabbed her arm.

"Don't stand up yet," he whispered.

Syaoran waited until the rest of their companions had left, so the two of them were the only ones in the square.

"Did it bother you when Takashi said that to me?"

Sakura snorted, looking away.

"Do you want me to stop watching those videos?" Syaoran asked in an amused voice.

"You can do whatever you want, but... I guess I never understood that you like watching naked people having sex, and now it bothers me," Sakura said, averting her gaze.

He smiled, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I'm dying to see you naked, but I've already told you we're going to take it slow. I want to do things right with you."

Sakura blushed slightly and looked him in the eyes.

"I want to make things right, too."

Syaoran leaned close to her ear and whispered "From now on, when I feel like it... instead of touching myself while watching those videos, I'll touch myself thinking of you."

Sakura shuddered, her face flushing bright red.

"Don't say such things to me," she asked in a low voice.

"Do you want me to stop telling you everything?" he said, looking at her again.

Sakura shook her head.

"Have you ever done that... thinking about me?"

Syaoran gave her a mischievous smile.

"No, I didn't dare even when I knew I liked you... but now I will."

Sakura swallowed and he let out a giggle. Syaoran stroked her cheek and gave her a quick kiss, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around.

"Don't be so scared. I'm still the same, but now I love you and want you. That's not a bad thing."

"I know, but this is all so weird. I still can't believe that you and I are together."

Syaoran stood up, taking Sakura with him.

"Neither can I... but I couldn't be happier," he breathed as he held her around the waist.

"I feel the same way, Syaoran," she replied, still blushing.

They walked together to their high school, up the stairs to the first floor.

Before entering class, Sakura felt a pinch on her butt. She turned and looked at Syaoran with a frown. He was smirking, pressing his index finger to his lips.

"You'll pay for that," she whispered softly as they sat at their desks.

He put his finger to his lips again, holding back his laughter.

A week later, Sakura was riding Syaoran's silver motorbike on their way to the village where he lived to have lunch at his house. They had decided to tell Yelan everything.

They opened the garage and got off the bike, taking off their helmets.

"Wait until we've finished eating, in case she doesn't react well and I have to run away," Sakura asked, scared.

Syaoran let out a chuckle.

"She's going to react well, don't worry. Yelan's not like your parents."

"I know, but... she won't expect it."

"You're right about that. Okay, we'll tell her after lunch," he agreed.

During the meal, Yelan talked with them, asking them about school and their studies.

When they were already with the dessert, she asked Sakura if there was any boy that she liked lately. At that moment, Sakura wished the earth would swallow her up, but Syaoran cleared his throat.

"Now that you've asked... there's something we need to tell you, mum."