Author's note: Arigatou Minna-san for the wonderful reviews I've received especially from that last chapter! I'm so glad and inspired that you've liked it!

Well,gomen nasai for uploading this chappy quite a bit late than the usual. I have my finals exam (yes, we already did!) last week so I've been very busy. *crosses fingers* I just hoped I passed! ^__^;; Oh well...and yeah, I'm not feeling well when I typed this chap so gomen, if you think this sucks. I'm not in my best self when I did this so this chap may not be as good as the others. Gomen nasai...

Okay, I know guys you already know that I don't own CCs! They're owned by those talented people from CLAMP. And yeah, my standard guide still applies. Anything I've missed out??...oh yeah, PLS. REVIEW!!! Lol! I'll never forget that!

CHAPTER NINE

CONFUSIONS

**SYAORAN**

I am in a very good mood today. I even caught myself humming some sappy lovesong as I walk all the way to our school. Kami, if somebody heard me, especially Sakura about that stupid melody I've been unconsciously humming, I'm pretty sure I'll get a lot of teasing from it. Who would've thought that behind this cold facade of mine lies SOMEWHAT a romantic soul deep inside?

= Yuck. Me, being romantic? What am I thinking?!? = My nose wrinkled in disgust. = I'm becoming more and more of a baka each day! =

To be honest, though this may sound really weird to you guys, I really didn't know why I'm in such a joyous mood lately. I think, I've been like this since...um, Saturday? And yeah, I even found myself excited at the thought of going back to school on Monday and seeing...

"Ohayo gozaimas!" A feminine voice interrupted.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw who greeted me. I prayed silently to myself and hoped that my face wouldn't give away my feelings.

"Ohayo," I murmured. "...Anami."

Anami's beautiful face smiled at me. "Hey, call me Hana. I'm more used at being called by my first name."

"S-sure...Hana." I stuttered. Oh man! Why can't I control myself infront of her! How can I ask her out for the dance if I can't even put a coherent sentence when she's talking to me? Aaargh!

"There. That's better." Hana walk ahead of me slowly, as she opened the door to our classroom. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she whirled back and takes a look at me. "Oh by the way, can I call you Syaoran?"

My face broke into a smile. "Yeah, I don't mind."

As we got inside our classroom, a few students were already inside talking amongst themselves. Hana and I made our way to our respective seats and I even found Tomoyo already seated in her place.

"Ohayo, Tomoyo!" I greeted warmly.

Tomoyo's face looked amused at me. Well, she must be noticing my good mood today. And I could tell, from the way her face glanced back from me to Hana, what she must be thinking. Especially when Hana and I went at the same time inside the classroom.

"Ohayo, Syaoran, Hana."

"Hello, Tomoyo. What's up?" Hana answered. "Any dates yet for the Valentine's party?"

"Iie. No one asked me out."

"Really?" Hana's face looked surprised. "What's wrong with guys nowadays? Are they blind?"

Tomoyo smiled at her comment. "You're quite the charmer. Anyway, how about you Hana, have you got a date already for the party?"

I noticed Tomoyo glanced at me meaningfully as she emphasized the word âE~date'. I narrowed my eyes at her threateningly. I should've known better how conniving Tomoyo could be when she wants to.

"Actually...I'm in the same state as you are right now." She shrugged. "I'm dateless too, in other words."

"Nani?" I blurted out, obviously surprised. "I mean, a girl as...as..."

"As what, Syaoran?" Tomoyo prompted.

"I mean...as kind as she is wouldn't have a date is impossible," I finished off lamely as I glared at Tomoyo.

"Oh. Thanks for the compliment, Syaoran." Hana replied. "But believe me, nobody still asked me out. And I guess, that's just okay with me."

Tomoyo was about to speak when suddenly the bell rang, signaling the start of the class. I don't know what she's going to say next but I'm pretty happy that she wasn't able to say it. You could never tell what's going to happen with Tomoyo around. And that's not even including the equally scheming Hiiragizawa yet! I don't even want to think about it if the two of them get paired up together, given the chance, to form some devious scheme.

= Saved by the bell... = I sighed in relief.

Suddenly, my head jerked mildly in surprise as I heard the door slammed loudly. Goodness, whoever did that could bring the door down!

"Hoeeeee?!? Am I late?" A very panicked Sakura asked, as soon she reached her desk which is just right beside me.

I glanced up to her face and found myself staring at her large emerald eyes.

I gulped. "N-no...you're not. You made it just in time."

I noticed Sakura averted her gaze from me, as if not withstanding my prying eyes.

Sakura smiled. "Thank goodness for that." And with that, she sat down to her seat.

"And oh, Ohayo gozaimas Syaoran."

I found myself looking AGAIN at those emerald eyes.

"Ohayo, Sakura." I answered. Right after I said that, my heart was pounding ten thousand times more badly than when I saw Hana earlier. It makes me feel like I'm having a heart attack.

= Kami! Now, something is definitely wrong with me!!! =

**SAKURA**

I looked down and stared at my hands. I don't know what's up with me recently, but I'm beginning to hate every minute of it. Gosh, why can't I bring myself to stare at Syaoran for too long without even remembering our stupid âE~date' last weekend! Every time I see his face, those weird feelings I've been having since Saturday seems to haunt me!

= Ugh. My head is beginning to ache from all these thinking! = I thought miserably. I couldn't help slumping on my seat and taking my head in my hands, looking as if I had the biggest problem in the world.

"Ano...daijoubu desu ka, Sakura?" (*Are you okay*) Syaoran asked me with concern.

I glanced at him sheepishly. "Um, yeah. Of course! What made you say that?"

Syaoran smiled. "Nothing. It's just that...you look like you have a problem or something."

I shook my head just to assure him that everything's okay with me...even though I know, it isn't. I quickly took a deep breath to regain my composure. I must make sure to bring back my old self...even Syaoran is noticing my change already. Up to now, I still don't know what's the matter with me but I guess, all I just have to do is fake my feelings. I don't think I'm in the mood to answer Syaoran's questions about it...I know, he'll found out about it sooner or later. Which I hoped he doesn't!

"Ohayo!" Terada Sensei greeted enthusiastically as he walked inside the room.

"Ohayo Sensei!"

I watched him sat down and took his seat. Sensei's face broke into a smile right after looking in his schedule. I don't know, but I have a feeling he got something up with us.

"Okay, class. I need your attention now," he ordered. The class obeyed and in a few seconds, the room became silent. "We all know that the Valentine's party is already on Saturday. To get you in the mood for it, I'm going to give you a very, very easy project..."

His talking was cut off by the groan of the students. I couldn't help even groaning myself! I mean, another project?!?

"Hey, let me finish first class!" Sensei grinned. "Don't worry, I promise this is going to be an easy project. All you have to do is research about a famous couple, fictional or not, and then pass your research paper by Friday morning! And to make it even easier, I would pair up everyone so that the job can be easily done. Understood?"

"Hai!" A somewhat forceful reply came from us.

"I have here these prepared pieces of papers wherein I'll get to draw the names of those who are going to get paired with. IâE~ll start pairing up now, so listen attentively class!"

Tomoyo leaned as if to whisper something to me. "Sakura...I hope you're going to get paired up with the one you like,"

I looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"Kinomoto and..." Sensei announced "Daidouji!"

"Oh. We're partners," Tomoyo said. Somehow, I have this feeling that she's a bit disappointed about it. Why would she, anyway?

"That's just fine with me." I shrugged. "I'd like to get paired up with you, anyway."

"Are you sure?" She prompted, grinning at me.

"Of course, I am!" Boy, is Tomoyo weird today or what? She's even weirder than I am! Is it me, or is the Valentine's party turning us all into absolute weirdos?!? First, it was Syaoran, then it is me, then it is Tomoyo...who's next, now?

"Li, you're paired up with..."

I watched Sensei pulled a small sheet of paper before reading out loud the name of Syaoran's partner.

"Anami." (duh. What a surprise. Lol!)

"Hey, we're partners!" I heard Anami said happily. My head turned to look at them, watching their reaction about being paired up. Especially Syaoran's face.

However, I couldn't read Syaoran's face, though. It's hard to tell whether he looks happy or disappointed. Nah. Disappointed??? Why should he? I mean, this is the perfect opportunity for him to get closer to Hana, right? Maybe he just looks kind of shocked because of happiness or something because finally, he already got his chance to ask her out!

= That must be it. That's the reason why his face looks so weird. = I reasoned out. But why do I have the feeling that I'm not completely happy about it? Aaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhh!!!! It's those weird feelings again!

"Sakura..." Tomoyo looked at me, her eyes seem to be reading my soul. "What's the matter?"

I couldn't help groaning loudly at that. "Why is everybody asking me that?"

She patted my back gently. "Because...you look different today, Sakura. You look...confused."

"Nani???"

"You know, I think it's better to accept things as they are." Tomoyo smiled knowingly. "It would make things easier. Sometimes, we don't realize it, but it was just there all along. What's unfortunate is that it have to took someone or somebody for us to realize it."

"Arigatou for the...advice, Tomoyo." I muttered. I know, she's acting weird again but what's funny though, is that somehow, her words seem to stir something inside of me. It felt as if she hit some soft spot within me. No matter how weird, Tomoyo sounds just right now, I have a feeling that she's somehow right about something.

I glanced at Tomoyo to see her smiling understandingly at me. She looks so nice and caring that I couldn't help smiling back.

When I glance at Syaoran, I saw him busy talking to Hana already. The whole scene of them talking closely to each other looks weird to me. But I'm happy about Syaoran...or am I? I know I should be cause he's my bestfriend and this is what he wanted but somehow...

And then suddenly, sensing as if I was looking at him, Syaoran turned back to look at me.

His amber eyes seems to hit me with full force that I hurriedly look in the opposite direction, feeling my face grew hot.

= Could somebody explain what I'm feeling right now? = I thought desperately. But I have this gnawing feeling inside of me that tells me, I already know the answer.

= Could it be that... = I shook my head, hoping it isn't what I'm thinking. But my heart wouldn't cooperate as I felt it hammering loudly inside my chest.

"Sakura..." Syaoran placed his hand on top of mine. "I'm worried about you. Are you REALLY okay?"

=...I'm in love with my bestfriend? =

I gulped. "Yes, Syaoran. I'm okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note: Another chapter done! Thank goodness! Nothing much really happened here, as you see, but I've done this chapter just to emphasize the new feelings that are taking up inside the two of them. Well, I hope you still enjoyed this chap. Onegai, please review? Thanks!