Chapter 3
"C-Come again?"choked Eriol.
She reclined on her seat."You heard me,Eriol.I love him,and I know it's not right.But it's not also right to hurt myself by watching him marry someone else,my best friend."
"Yes but.."He looked at her inquiringly."You know how much Li Syaoran loves Sakura and vice versa.You knew that since fifth grade."
"I do,Eriol,and God knows how hard I tried to fight this feeling."She cried in frustration."But I can't help it!He was so sweet and kind to me!God knows how jealous I am of my best friend everytime I see his arms wrapped around her possessively,or how his face lights up like a thousand candles when she's around.I can't help but wish that I am Sakura."She groped for a tissue box in the compartment.
Eriol handed her his hanky."But Tomoyo,don't you think you're just admiring Li because he's the first man to treat you such?"
She sighed."I don't know."
He smiled."Maybe if you find the right man who will take care of you,you'll understand."
She shrugged."Maybe."
"For the meantime,I will help you mend your broken heart.I'm going to keep you buisy so you won't have any time left to think about Li."said Eriol.He took the kerchief from her trembling hands and wiped her tears away himself.
"Yes eriol."
"And by the way,I'm sorry for losing my temper awhile ago.I'm truly sorry Tomoyo."he apologized.
Another shrug."It's OK.I'm sure I would have reacted the same way if I were in your shoes."
He grinned."Then that means you're not mad at me anymore."
She nodded.
He looked relieved."Well at least I'm sure you wouldn't try to poison me when you cook our dinner tonight."
Tomoyo looked up from her sewing when she heard the front door open.Immediately,a bright smile replaced her exhausted frown.He's home!
"Good evening Tomoyo."He sat down the only chair in the living room."Heavens,what a day!"
"How was work?"she asked as she loosened his tie.Eriol works as a private tutor of painting to a wealthy family every Monday,Wednesday and Saturday as a source of extra income.
"Horrible.I don't know why else does Ms.Elisa struggle to paint when it's obvious that she doesn't like art and vice versa."he groaned.
She laughed."Isn't it obvious?She's got the hots for you ever since she first saw you."
"But she's just eleven!A child!What does she know about love?"he pointed out.
She looked down."Li was still a child then when he fell in love with Sakura,and he stll is."
"Tomoyo.."Eriol gazed at her worriedly.It's been two months since they talked in the car.In those two long months,he tried to keep her as busy as possible with the household chores and the interior decoration of their studio so she would just forget about Li..
He stopped.He just said THEIR studio.Uh-huh,so nowhe thinks that the studio is Tomoyo's too.He never conciously or unconciously gave anyone-not even Kaho-the privelege to stay long in this place,let alone own it,for this is his litle sanctuary for privacy.In this place,it seemed as if he's the only person in the world.
But now..
He looked around the cozy little room that Tomoyo designed all by herself:the blue-and-white curtains she made from old fabrics,the large rug that took the place of the sofa,the throw pillows that complemented the rug,the antique-looking table she bought in a bargain after hours of patiently shopping in a bazaar,the scented candles in the corner and the framed picture of the two of them taken in a carnival.They both looked so happy in the pic.
"And I thought I will never smile again after you left,Kaho.Boy,was I ever wrong!"he thought,smiling wryly to himself.
"Hey Eriol!"Tomoyo slapped his cheek lightly,brealing the train of his thoughts.
"Hey yourself."he sat up."Is dinner ready?"
"Two more minutes."she replied."Change your clothes first.dinner is served when you come out."
He stood up."Yeah,ok."
Tomoyo transferred the mushroom soup carefully from the pan to the bowl.She couldn't help but take in the heavenly aroma of the food she slaved over for hours."If Eriol does not drool over this,I'm calling the culinary police."
She turned to her roasted chicken.After decorating it with some vegetables,she set it dpwn the dinner table along with the soup.She got out the plates,knives,spoons,forks and glasses,as well as the bottle of Eriol's favorite wine.She set them down the table.
"Wow,everything looks gorgeous!"Eriol gushed as he sat down the table to eat.
"Bon apetit!"said Tomoyo with a smile.
He nodded and tasted the soup.He beamed."Delicious!Almost as good as mine!"
Her cheeks turned pink."Thanks!"
Minutes later,he was feasting on the main dish.HE then noticed Tomoyo just standing on one corner and watching him eat."Why don't you sit down beside me and eat?"
She shook her head."I'm not hungry.Besides,I just like looking at you eat.I feel all my hard work compensated when you enjoy the meal."
He felt something touch his heart.Her simple but sincere words woke something up in his slumbering heart.He quickly turned his attention back to the food he was eating."Your loss."He continued to eat,but he was now more aware of the amethyst eyes on him.
Aware,that's the key word for everything that's happening to him.Lately,he was now more aware of her nearness,her smiles that complete his day,her thoughtfulness that throws away all his fatigue after a day's work,her kindness,and..
..the difference she made in his life.
He's not only referring to the changes she did in the studio.He also meant how she changed him without him knowing it.He could have understood how he was changed if he heard her nag,scold or lecture him,but he didn't.Instead,he only heard a few gentle reminders or pieces of advice.Sometimes,she would not speak at all.Her mauve eyes would do the talking and it will put him automatically under her will.
Ironic,that Tomoyo is his weakness when she is also the source of his strength.
Tomoyo also made him see that the world never stops revolving and that one must keep abreast with it or be trapped helplessly in an illusionary world.
She taught him to move on.And slowly but surely,he's learning to do so.He's slowly accepting his girlfriend's fate.It was difficult,but somehow,Tomoyo's companionship makes it easier.More than urging him to pick his paintbrush up again and paint,she moved him to go on with his life and be happy.
All these because he decided to take in a lost little girl into his house one chilly evening.
That night,he and Tomoyo were outside his studio,enjoying the breeze with a cup of tea.
"Do you still miss Li?"he asked curiously.
She gave him a bleak smile."I do."She turned to the stars above."Tonight is their honeymoon."she whispered quietly.
He sipped more of his drink.Today is the date of sakura and Li's wedding,and he knew how painful it is for her.He felt the same way when Kaho bid him goodbye months ago by the hospital bed.Pale and weak,he felt utterly useless and helpless as she gave him a final smile before she left.
"Tonight should be a really sad night."said Tomoyo before she faced him."But I think I'll make it through,thanks to you."
He looked up."Thanks to me?"
She nodded."I know you did your best to keep me company in my sadness and I thank you for that.I am forever indebted to you."
"Y-Youre leaving?"He barely kept the horror out of his voice.
"O-Of course not."she said,completely baffled."What I mean is.."her face turned crimson."..alright,forget it."She turned to the skies as she sipped her tea again.
Eriol silently gazed at the girl in front of him in awe and wonder.He suddenly noticed how exquisite her deep purple eyes are and how the silvery glow of the full moon above turned her creamy white complexion into a beautiful porcelain one.He watched as the breeze frolicked with the tresses of her lustrous hair the color of the starless night.
His heart pounded.He had long been searching for something that would inspire him to paint again after Kaho left.He long sought for the poetic grace,natural beauty and the loveliness that can take anyone's breath away-qualities he found in Kaho and no one else.Or so he thought.
Underneath the platinum radiance of the moon,he realized that Tomoyo has all these qualities he wanted,and more.Gracious heavens,the perfect model for his masterpiece has been with him all along!
to be continued..
"C-Come again?"choked Eriol.
She reclined on her seat."You heard me,Eriol.I love him,and I know it's not right.But it's not also right to hurt myself by watching him marry someone else,my best friend."
"Yes but.."He looked at her inquiringly."You know how much Li Syaoran loves Sakura and vice versa.You knew that since fifth grade."
"I do,Eriol,and God knows how hard I tried to fight this feeling."She cried in frustration."But I can't help it!He was so sweet and kind to me!God knows how jealous I am of my best friend everytime I see his arms wrapped around her possessively,or how his face lights up like a thousand candles when she's around.I can't help but wish that I am Sakura."She groped for a tissue box in the compartment.
Eriol handed her his hanky."But Tomoyo,don't you think you're just admiring Li because he's the first man to treat you such?"
She sighed."I don't know."
He smiled."Maybe if you find the right man who will take care of you,you'll understand."
She shrugged."Maybe."
"For the meantime,I will help you mend your broken heart.I'm going to keep you buisy so you won't have any time left to think about Li."said Eriol.He took the kerchief from her trembling hands and wiped her tears away himself.
"Yes eriol."
"And by the way,I'm sorry for losing my temper awhile ago.I'm truly sorry Tomoyo."he apologized.
Another shrug."It's OK.I'm sure I would have reacted the same way if I were in your shoes."
He grinned."Then that means you're not mad at me anymore."
She nodded.
He looked relieved."Well at least I'm sure you wouldn't try to poison me when you cook our dinner tonight."
Tomoyo looked up from her sewing when she heard the front door open.Immediately,a bright smile replaced her exhausted frown.He's home!
"Good evening Tomoyo."He sat down the only chair in the living room."Heavens,what a day!"
"How was work?"she asked as she loosened his tie.Eriol works as a private tutor of painting to a wealthy family every Monday,Wednesday and Saturday as a source of extra income.
"Horrible.I don't know why else does Ms.Elisa struggle to paint when it's obvious that she doesn't like art and vice versa."he groaned.
She laughed."Isn't it obvious?She's got the hots for you ever since she first saw you."
"But she's just eleven!A child!What does she know about love?"he pointed out.
She looked down."Li was still a child then when he fell in love with Sakura,and he stll is."
"Tomoyo.."Eriol gazed at her worriedly.It's been two months since they talked in the car.In those two long months,he tried to keep her as busy as possible with the household chores and the interior decoration of their studio so she would just forget about Li..
He stopped.He just said THEIR studio.Uh-huh,so nowhe thinks that the studio is Tomoyo's too.He never conciously or unconciously gave anyone-not even Kaho-the privelege to stay long in this place,let alone own it,for this is his litle sanctuary for privacy.In this place,it seemed as if he's the only person in the world.
But now..
He looked around the cozy little room that Tomoyo designed all by herself:the blue-and-white curtains she made from old fabrics,the large rug that took the place of the sofa,the throw pillows that complemented the rug,the antique-looking table she bought in a bargain after hours of patiently shopping in a bazaar,the scented candles in the corner and the framed picture of the two of them taken in a carnival.They both looked so happy in the pic.
"And I thought I will never smile again after you left,Kaho.Boy,was I ever wrong!"he thought,smiling wryly to himself.
"Hey Eriol!"Tomoyo slapped his cheek lightly,brealing the train of his thoughts.
"Hey yourself."he sat up."Is dinner ready?"
"Two more minutes."she replied."Change your clothes first.dinner is served when you come out."
He stood up."Yeah,ok."
Tomoyo transferred the mushroom soup carefully from the pan to the bowl.She couldn't help but take in the heavenly aroma of the food she slaved over for hours."If Eriol does not drool over this,I'm calling the culinary police."
She turned to her roasted chicken.After decorating it with some vegetables,she set it dpwn the dinner table along with the soup.She got out the plates,knives,spoons,forks and glasses,as well as the bottle of Eriol's favorite wine.She set them down the table.
"Wow,everything looks gorgeous!"Eriol gushed as he sat down the table to eat.
"Bon apetit!"said Tomoyo with a smile.
He nodded and tasted the soup.He beamed."Delicious!Almost as good as mine!"
Her cheeks turned pink."Thanks!"
Minutes later,he was feasting on the main dish.HE then noticed Tomoyo just standing on one corner and watching him eat."Why don't you sit down beside me and eat?"
She shook her head."I'm not hungry.Besides,I just like looking at you eat.I feel all my hard work compensated when you enjoy the meal."
He felt something touch his heart.Her simple but sincere words woke something up in his slumbering heart.He quickly turned his attention back to the food he was eating."Your loss."He continued to eat,but he was now more aware of the amethyst eyes on him.
Aware,that's the key word for everything that's happening to him.Lately,he was now more aware of her nearness,her smiles that complete his day,her thoughtfulness that throws away all his fatigue after a day's work,her kindness,and..
..the difference she made in his life.
He's not only referring to the changes she did in the studio.He also meant how she changed him without him knowing it.He could have understood how he was changed if he heard her nag,scold or lecture him,but he didn't.Instead,he only heard a few gentle reminders or pieces of advice.Sometimes,she would not speak at all.Her mauve eyes would do the talking and it will put him automatically under her will.
Ironic,that Tomoyo is his weakness when she is also the source of his strength.
Tomoyo also made him see that the world never stops revolving and that one must keep abreast with it or be trapped helplessly in an illusionary world.
She taught him to move on.And slowly but surely,he's learning to do so.He's slowly accepting his girlfriend's fate.It was difficult,but somehow,Tomoyo's companionship makes it easier.More than urging him to pick his paintbrush up again and paint,she moved him to go on with his life and be happy.
All these because he decided to take in a lost little girl into his house one chilly evening.
That night,he and Tomoyo were outside his studio,enjoying the breeze with a cup of tea.
"Do you still miss Li?"he asked curiously.
She gave him a bleak smile."I do."She turned to the stars above."Tonight is their honeymoon."she whispered quietly.
He sipped more of his drink.Today is the date of sakura and Li's wedding,and he knew how painful it is for her.He felt the same way when Kaho bid him goodbye months ago by the hospital bed.Pale and weak,he felt utterly useless and helpless as she gave him a final smile before she left.
"Tonight should be a really sad night."said Tomoyo before she faced him."But I think I'll make it through,thanks to you."
He looked up."Thanks to me?"
She nodded."I know you did your best to keep me company in my sadness and I thank you for that.I am forever indebted to you."
"Y-Youre leaving?"He barely kept the horror out of his voice.
"O-Of course not."she said,completely baffled."What I mean is.."her face turned crimson."..alright,forget it."She turned to the skies as she sipped her tea again.
Eriol silently gazed at the girl in front of him in awe and wonder.He suddenly noticed how exquisite her deep purple eyes are and how the silvery glow of the full moon above turned her creamy white complexion into a beautiful porcelain one.He watched as the breeze frolicked with the tresses of her lustrous hair the color of the starless night.
His heart pounded.He had long been searching for something that would inspire him to paint again after Kaho left.He long sought for the poetic grace,natural beauty and the loveliness that can take anyone's breath away-qualities he found in Kaho and no one else.Or so he thought.
Underneath the platinum radiance of the moon,he realized that Tomoyo has all these qualities he wanted,and more.Gracious heavens,the perfect model for his masterpiece has been with him all along!
to be continued..
