Author's Notes: Gomen nasai for the long delay. I have been rather busy for the time being, preparing for SAT, writing assignments that I only have a little time now to pen this down. The next few installments will come after this Wednesday, when I have finished a few more class tests. I hope you don't mind the wait. Well, enjoy.
Glossary of words that I used:
"Hai" – Yes
"Arigato" – Thank you
"Daijoubu" – I'm ok
"Matte" - Wait
"There you have it. Good as new." The doctor removed the cast and examined carefully for any possible wounds left. He picked up a pen and began to scribble something on the report card. "The wound has been totally healed but I will advise you to abstain from any strenuous exercises. Do you understand?"
"Hai." Sakura smiled as she stood up. A sudden pressure came upon her legs and she felt herself falling. A hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm and she was pulled back to her seat.
"You should take this slowly. The cast has just been taken off and it may be tough for your leg to adjust to the lack of an external support." Syaoran looked at her in a mock stern look.
The doctor chuckled. "The last time I saw you, the two of you look like you just have a fight and are giving each other a cold shoulder. Now, you must have patched up and are behaving more like a loving couple."
"That's not…" Both of them began at the same time and stopped to look away.
"Not true? You two are just friends?" The doctor laughed.
"Yes." The two of them chorused at the same time and a blush was starting to appear on their faces.
"Well, you should be fine. Come back if anything happens."
"Hai. Thank you so much." Sakura stood up and bowed before walking out of the room.
"Young lad, that's one fine girl. Treasure her well and don't bully her." The doctor winked at Syaoran as he started to follow Sakura out of the room.
"I…" Syaoran began but cut himself short as he stepped out
of the room. Next time, I won't come to see this doctor again. He is out to
poke fun at my expense. Touch wood. There will not be a next time.
* * *
"Arigato, Li-kun." Sakura smiled as the two of them were heading in the direction of her apartment.
"Er?" Syaoran looked at her. "For what?"
"For helping me with Maths, for accompanying me to the doctor and for everything else.' Sakura began to skip, swinging her clutches that were in her hands lightly.
Syaoran blushed and turned to look at Sakura. I don't understand. Why do I constantly blush whenever she smiles? What is the matter with me?
Sakura began to skip at a faster rate, humming a song in her mouth. Her skipping slowly turned into a small jog.
"What are you doing? The doctor told you not to do anything strenuous." Syaoran exclaimed, breaking away from his thoughts as he watched Sakura increase her speed.
"Daijoubu. I want to see how fast I can go at this point of time. In fact, I can run across the street in no time at all."
"But…"
"Come, let's have a race. See who can get across to the other side first." Sakura urged as she smiled.
"But…" Syaoran tried to stop her but Sakura had started to run across the road. Why not? I seldom see her so enthusiastic about things. But then, she has always been at home all the while. So how will I have known?
Just as Syaoran edged towards the road, with Sakura dashing across, a sound of a truck horn echoed through the district. A large dark truck came into sight, moving down the street at an extremely fast speed and closing upon Sakura. Another loud horn sound traveled out again, and Sakura stopped in the middle of the road to stare blankly at the vehicle.
"Oi. Oi. Watch out." Syaoran called out to her as he made a dash for her. But Sakura continued to stand rooted on the spot, as if petrified.
The truck jerked into a sudden stop and a matter-against-matter sound was heard. Sakura's clutches flew through the air to land onto the floor a mile away from where the truck had stopped.
Syaoran stared at the clutches, life going out of his eyes. He flopped down onto the pavement, his tears clouding out his eyesight. "SAKURA!"
* * *
Sakura sat on the other side of the lane, staring blankly at the driver as he retorted, "Watch where you are going! Don't run across the street like that!"
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to." Sakura stood up and made a bow of apology. But the driver couldn't be bothered and drove off in a hurry.
Thank goodness I react just in time, or else, I will be
back in the hospital again.
"Li-kun, daijoubu! I'm ok."
Syaoran looked up from the ground and stared at her. "I'm fine." Sakura shouted across.
Syaoran picked himself up and dashed across the road. "See. I'm fine. Not a single scratch." Sakura brought her arms to full length in front of him, showing him that there were no wounds or scars.
Syaoran pulled Sakura into his arms and hugged her. "Don't do that again."
Sakura blushed. "Gomen nasai, for having made you worry over me."
* * *
"Thank you for sending me home." Sakura bowed.
"See you then." Syaoran proceed to turn around and head for home.
"Matte, Li-kun."
"Yes?"
"Just now, when you call my name, 'Sakura', I was so happy because I get to know people who are genuinely concerned for me and you are one of them. So, if you don't mind, can I call you 'Syaoran-kun'?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then Syaoran opened his mouth, "As you wish." His face turned into a bright red and he turned his eyes away.
"Hai, see you in school then, Syaoran-kun."
* * *
The dark sky was lit with many glimmering stars. Syaoran lay down on the dry grass, staring into the sky as images of the day resurfaced in his mind.
He sighed. Why did I do that? What is that feeling in me? This is the first time that I am having such feelings and the feelings… A shooting star traveled across the sky.
"A shooting star! Let's make a wish, Syaoran." Meiling squeaked with delight. Syaoran looked at his cousin. Should I tell her? Maybe she can tell me. But then… I think I better not.
He turned back to looking at the stars. Perhaps I should make a wish too.
* * *
Sakura adjusted her bangs as she stared at herself in the
mirror. "Don't do that again." Syaoran-kun is so nice. I'm so glad
that I get to know Syaoran-kun and Meiling-chan as friends.
She tied her hair into a small ponytail and from the mirror, she saw the rag doll that Tomoyo had given her.
"How do you feel towards him?"
Sakura moved towards the window and saw a shooting star fly across the sky.
How do I feel towards him?
"Sakura-chan, dinner's ready."
"Hai, Oto-san. Coming." Better not think about it now.
Author's Notes (again): Thank you for your support so far. I like this chapter a lot because the theme in this chapter resembles the lift scene in Sakura cards series, also known as episode 57. I just changed the details to fit into the entire plot.