Fujitaka knocked on the door and allowed himself into the room. "Sakura-chan, it's time for breakfast." But there was no response. The girl continued to remain in her bed, with her comforter pulled up to her nose. Her emerald green eyes had dulled and streaks of redness tainted the edges as she stared blankly at the pastel yellow ceiling.
"Sakura-chan," Fujitaka crossed over and settled down at the edge of the bed. "Is there something bothering you? You have not been yourself since you came home last night. Has something happened?"
Sakura broke the gaze away from the ceiling and turned to look at her concerned father. "No, nothing's wrong. I just feel weak. Maybe, I caught a flu from yesterday's heavy rain." She smiled wryly. "I think I need to take the day off. I will see the doctor in a short while. Don't worry about me. I can still manage."
"Ok then. I will leave your breakfast at the table. Do have it first before seeing the doctor." Fujitaka got up and walked towards the door. "And, Sakura-chan," he stopped at the door, "Don't push yourself too much."
"Hai." Sakura muttered as the door closed with a click. She pulled the comforter up and continued to stare at the ceiling, with shimmers in her eyes.
* * *
The bell chimed, signaling the start of the lesson. The effects of the previous night weighed down on the faces and spirits of the students as they gathered themselves to study.
"The tutor is here." Weijie announced but even his voice seemed to lack the spirit that it always carried.
"Good morning. Before I begin, Ms Kinomoto has applied for a sick leave for today." The tutor announced. A stifled commotion spread through the class and Tianxin made a look that was to say, "I told you so."
Meiling stared at her cousin who remained unconcerned as he resumed his attention at the tutor. "Syaoran…"
* * *
"Is it true?" A girl whispered. "That new girl having an affair with the new lecturer?"
"Seems to be that case. The girl can't explain her situation so it has to be true." Her female companion pointed out.
"Really? This is so disgusting."
"You better stop now. Someone's looking at us." Her friend tugged at her as she caught sight of Syaoran and Meiling staring at the two of them.
"Come on. Let's go." Syaoran muttered as he moved away from the two girls in another faculty. Meiling tagged along, unsure of his quiet composure. The cold air caused a heavy, dampening spirit around, and the leaves on the trees shook uncomfortably.
"Syaoran, why don't we go and visit Sakura?" Meiling suggested. Syaoran continued in his direction, without a single word being mentioned. "I'm sure that she will be happy to see us. Besides, don't you want to clarify things with her?" Meiling continued.
Syaoran stopped. "I don't think there's anything to clarify about. You have seen what had happened yesterday. If she's really innocent, then she would have told us the truth."
Meiling paused to contemplate with the response. "But what if she has some difficulty in saying it? There are so many people there and therefore she can't tell us the reason then. But maybe, when we see her, she can confide the secret to us."
"Even so, I don't have the time to find out the truth. The competition is coming up soon, and I need to focus my mind and body for it." He slammed his fist onto a tree trunk. "Even if it means disowning my feelings."
Author's Notes (again as
usual): I know, I know. I seemed to have made Syaoran even more 'unfeeling'
than ever. This is not our usual warm, caring, sentimental new age guy (snag
for short). But don't worry. I won't discredit him. I will be working on his
feelings in the next chapter, which he is trying to hide in this chapter and
you will understand that he's not that heartless as I have seemed to put him.