Forever in your eyes
Chapter 19
Author's jibberish: None...I got about 4 more chapters to go.
Ding-dong.
Sakura answered the door, anticipating who it was. "Ohayo. She's in the living room."
"Arigato." Eriol kicked off his sneakers and headed to the room. Tomoyo was there, fixing herself a cup of tea from Sakura's turquoise tea set. "Tomoyo, I need to talk with you."
She looked up and placed down her cup. "Eriol what are...?"
He sat beside her on the couch. He readjusted his glasses on the tip of his nose. "There's no easy way to say this..."
She titled her head, urging her to go on.
"Shun, that man you're engaged to...doesn't love you."
Tomoyo's eyebrows lifted.
"If anything, he sees you as a friend. But he's marrying you not because he loves you..." Eriol grasped her hand. "He pities you and he doesn't have to commit for a long period of time. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"I see..." she trailed off.
Eriol sighed in relief.
"You're jealous."
His eyes widened. "What?"
Tomoyo took her hand back. "That's why you're saying such things: you're jealous."
"Maybe I am but I'm also honest. He doesn't love you; I do!" Eriol exclaimed. "I may not be as old as him, or revered worthy in your mother's eyes but I can do a hell-of a lot more."
"No..."
"I can provide for you, take care of you, commit to you not because of pity. I'll do it because I love you. Just--."
Tomoyo kept her gaze to the floor. "Stop!" When he was silenced, she continued. "No more words, please. I'm going to marry Satoru-kun. I want you to leave: leave me..."
Eriol looked at her in shock, not knowing how to respond. He felt his heart shatter into a billion pieces. Gently, he reached over to her and held her face between his palms. Her eyes widened as she watched his face come closer. And gently, he kissed the corner of her mouth and pulled away. "Sayonara...koishii," he muttered to her. He stood up and headed to the front door.
Sakura, who had been standing outside the living room, walked after him. Quickly he slipped on his sneakers. "Eriol-kun," she said.
"Do me a favor?" he requested.
"What is it?"
"Watch over her."
"Of course but who's going to watch over you?"
Eriol stood. "Thank you, Sakura-san. Bye." He opened the door and stepped outside, closing the door behind him. Sakura locked it, then headed straight to her second cousin. "Tomoyo-chan, what's going on?"
"So you heard?"
"Yes. It's not like I don't like Shun but Eriol would be so much better for you."
Tomoyo sipped her tea. "Maybe..."
"Eriol loves you so much."
"I know."
"And Shun doesn't."
"I know."
Sakura looked up at her. "Huh?"
"I know Satoru-kun doesn't love me."
"Then...then why...?"
"I'll marry him regardless."
"But...you've always wanted to marry someone who loves you," Sakura said. "Why are you giving up on that dream?"
"I made up that dream before my life changed. It was a beautiful dream: to find someone who loves you as much as you love the other and marry. But ever since summer, I realized I can't fulfill my dream."
"But you can! Eriol loves you!"
"And that's why I can't be with him."
Sakura took a second to think. "Hoe?"
"My lifespan is based on treatment; it's indefinite," Tomoyo explained. "If I marry someone with love, I'll die and leave him. I don't want to hurt him. If I marry Eriol, I'll leave him and cause him so much pain. I..." Tears fell down her face. "I...I couldn't do that...not to him." She began to sob.
Immediately, Sakura embraced her best friend, letting her cry on her shoulder. "So..."Sakura said softly. "Does that mean you love Eriol-kun too?"
"I...I don't know..." Tomoyo muttered.
...to be continued =)
Author's jibberish: Oh Tomoyo! If only you knew how much we wanted you and Eriol together!