Chapter 3: New Impressions
"Sora, please, you have to let go. You haven't been out in two weeks......." worried her mother standing at the door ways staring at her cheerless daughter.
".... I know mama." replied the faint voice of Sora.
Sora finally got out of bed through some convincing from her mother. She decided to take a little walk to no where in particular. She still questioned herself on her decision and trying to hide from it..... is being isolated from the world that bad? I mean, there'd be no more worries, no more regrets,....no more pain........
She was in a trance of her thoughts that she didn't even notice, or cared, when she bumped into someone on the side walk. But she was able to hear when the other guy said, "Hey-.....Sora?!" This guy that she didn't bother to apologize to, tapped her on the shoulder.
"Huh?!" Sora was startled to wake from the daze she was in as she turned around to meet the familiar azure blue eyes of an old friend, "I'm-...........Matt?!"
"No......I'm Matt. You're S-o-r-a." he lightheartedly said with a playful smile on his face, which was rare for Matt.".......Nice to see you again."
Sora didn't, or wasn't able to, give a response or any indication that she even heard what he said. She just continued to stare at him like he was a ghost. It was probably because she hasn't seen him in over two years since he left Odaiba to become the famous rock star that he is now.
"Hey?! Earth to Sora? Is anybody there?" he stared at her in uncertainty.
"uh....Huh?.....oh sorry Matt......it's just so great to see you again. I guess I was a little overwhelmed." She finally answered.
They continued walking together, thought they really had no destination. Matt told his tale of going on a break from his tour to relax a little and catch up with his home town. Sora then filled him in on what's been going on, and telling him how everyone was- T.K., Kari, Joe, Izzy, Davis, Cody, Yolie, Ken- then she paused as he brought up Tai.
She hesitated a while, but let it out, "I turned down Tai's marriage proposal..... H..He left to New York....." she turned her head so that he couldn't look at her sobbing eyes.
"Oh.......ummm.......I'm sorry...." Matt apologetically said.
Matt has known Sora for a long time now, just not as long as Tai has known her. But they were still just as close as friends could be. Though Matt, sometimes wished they were more. He never asked her out or even gave the slightest hint he liked her. It was because he knew of the feelings Tai had for her. So he continued denying to himself of these unspeakable feelings. But he couldn't hide it very long. He couldn't stand that Tai had the one thing he thought he didn't have a chance with. So he left Odaiba to keep it from being found out; he gave them all the excuse that he was going to further his music career.
Sora was never quite sure of how she felt towards Matt, Tai, or anyone else. Although the crest of love was destined for her she never fully understood to why. So how was she to know her own feelings?........Gee, Matt's still as cute as ever! I bet he's got masses of girls who would kill to be standing next to him right now. Ha!...... hrmmm......I wonder where we're heading?................
They continued to walk blindly no where as Sora gave Matt the 411 on why she couldn't marry Tai.
"Well Sora, I think you made the right choice. You really shouldn't beat yourself up over this. You had all the right reasons. Marrying for love is important for both partners. If you didn't feel the same way towards him then it wasn't right. You never should have to 'settle' in love and if Tai had enough sense he would have understood too." Matt repeated what everyone else has already said to try to reassure her.
"Thanks Matt." Sora smiled slightly. She actually felt a little better hearing it come from Yamato.
~*~*~*~
Tai was still grieving over his loss as he was resting from the just concluded soccer practice. He once over heard his mom and Kari's conversation as he was moping in Odaiba, he caught glimpses of their conversation about his hurt, here and there, "....maybe he's just in love with the idea of being in love..... its not unheard of....poor Tai...". He recalled these words as he just seemed lost in his thoughts. If he didn't just loose the 'love of his life', then losing the idea of being in love was more painful than anyone realized. It injured him so much Tai wasn't sure if he wanted to feel it again........ I always heard love hurts... now I have first hand experience. If I knew how truly painful it was though, or that that pain would come to me....I-....I never would have said those three little words. Especially to the girl who couldn't say it back.... Still, some say, 'it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all'... boy are they idiots!
There was a modeling shoot going near by but Tai didn't really care to notice or he would have seen a recognizable face from that crowd if he did. But one of those young ladies did notice the upset young gentleman who was sitting on the bench near them as she was picking up her things.
The model, just a year younger with pink-dyed hair and deep hazel colored eyes, approached him as if she somehow knew who he was. She lightly tapped him on the shoulder; though it was a soft touch, he jumped up startled to wake from his depressing thoughts. And sure enough, as he turned his face to check for his attacker, he was greeted with the, also startled, familiar brown eyes of his old friend.
"Huh?!......M..Mimi?!" he still shockingly said.
The girl nodded happily. "Its great to see you too!.... Its been a long time Tai."
They walked their way towards the lake in their conversation to catch up with each other. Since Mimi was all the way in the U.S. not much has been told to her from the others. That's why Mimi unintentionally brought up a painful topic for Tai, "So...... how are you and Sora doing?"
Tai was at first reluctant to answer, but decided that it was best to give her the reason for why she found him so depressed and in New York non the less.
They were walking to Mimi's apartment while Tai gave her the disheartening story.
"Oh... I'm so sorry Tai." she tried her best to comfort him, " I'm sure Sora was just too shocked and scared when you asked... If she thought it out longer she probably would have changed her decision."
Tai sighed and reluctantly shook his head, "No, She wouldn't... She has made her choice. Too bad it was the one that would hurt the most."