"There you are~"exclaimed Eriol when he saw Tomoyo sitting underneath the tree with her ball,looking pensively at the surroundings.
She looked up upon hearing his voice."B-Big bro?"
He frowned."It's almost dinnertime,young lady.Your maids must be very worried about you already.I'll drive you home."
"C-Can't I walk home all by myself?"she asked.
"No.The streets is not the place for a girl like you after dark."He offered her his hand.
She hesitated before taking it.When she felt his hand,millions of electricity went up and down her spines.
Inside the car,Eriol noticed Tomoyo's sudden silence.Usually Tomoyo would fill the air of the whole car wioth her endless seam of chatter about game stats,figures and basketball stuff while he nods solemnly,pretending to listen.
"Hey,lighten up,Kiddo!"he said,hoping to break the silence he was never used to.
"Shut up,I'm thinking!"she snapped.
His face relaxed.It was just one of those days when Tomoyo was acting like a real girl-moody and irritable.Her biological clock must be saying it's her period again."Thinking about what?"
"If I tell you I'm thinking about a boy,would you believe me?"she asked testily.
He suddenly stepped on the brakes."Whaat?!"Fortunatel,no car was behind them or there might had been an accident.
"I think I'll take that as a no."she said cooly as she fixed her seatbelt.
Instantly ERiol loked apologetic."Sorry,I was just shocked."He started the engine again."About a guy,huh?Probably Miruyuki.You're thinking of homicidal thoughts about him,aren't you?"
"No."she said flatly."Forget what I said."
But Eriol couldn't do just that.Why would a girl be thinking of a boy,enough to render her speechless for more than 60 seconds?His eyes widened as alarm bells rang in his mind.No!Heavens forbid but.."Daidouji Tomoyo,are you in lo-"
"I said forget it!"she snapped.
"No!"Eriol couldn't accept that his "little sister" had finally fell in love with a guy."Who is he?"he demanded.
Her face flamed."None of your business!"
"Why won't it be my business,little girl?You are under my custody and if something happens to you,it IS my damn business!"
"Busybody!"
Eriol knew she was right.It wasn't part of his right anymore as her guardian to meddle with her affairs,but he couldn't stop himself from raising hell.The day he feared-when Tomoyo's attention will be divided between him and that guy-arrived unexpectedly,and he wasn't prepared for it.
"Alright,I won't ask anymore who he is."He finally conceeded."But when you feel you're ready to tell your Big bro who he is.."He parked the car in front of the Daidouji mansion.
Tomoyo's eyes shook."You'll be the first to know."she promised before she kissed his cheek and got out of the car.
"I'm taking you out this afternoon to shop for your prom dress."announced ERiol as they were eating breakfast four mornings later in Tomoyo's mansion."What boutique do you think should we go to,Kiddo?"he teased,knowing how much Tomoyo detested these shops.
Strangely,she didn't even react.She was just staring blankly off to space,stirring her coffee.
His forehead creased."Kiddo?"
Nakuru looked at the lass too."Ms.Tomoyo?"
She looked at them.Upon seeing her Big bro's inquisitive eyes on her,she quickly looked away,face flushed."S-Sorry.You were saying something.?"she muttered.
He sighed."Are you feeling well,Kiddo?"
She nodded quietly.She then pushed her plate away and mumbled a small excuse before she headed towards her room.
"What is wrong with her?I noticed she was acting so..bizarre for a few days already?Did you scold her harshly or something?"Nakuru asked curiously.
"No."He frowned thoughtfully.Maybe the girl was still mad at him for what happened in the car days ago.He picked his car keys up."I'll take her out first to the mall."
"Aren't you afraid to be caught driving without license?"asked his servant.
He smiled."I can always show my university ID and say I'm on my way to get a new license because I lost my old one."
"You'll do that for three years?"
He laughed and went into Tomoyo's room.
Tomoyo reached for the framed picture on her desk.It was a photo of her and ERiol taken from the latter's high school graduation.
She ran her fingers across ERiol's face.He looked so dashing and mature in his dark blue polo shirt and matching trousers covered by his immaculate white toga.
She hugged the picture tightly.Why was she starting to feel differently for him already?
When did things started to change?When did her feelings start to grow?How did it happen so quickly?
Yesterday he was her Big Bro.Today he was a romantic-looking man.
How did a small poem awaken so much emotions confusing her terribly now?
God,she couldn't even bear to look at him anymore in the eye,for fear that her eyes would betray her absurd feelings.
"Kiddo?"ERiol walked into her room."Is it ok if I come in?"
He was expecting her to say something coy like "You're already inside,genius!",but instead she only nodded wordlessly.
"I decided to make our shopping trip earlier than planned.Afterwards,we'll eat in your favorite fastfood,then we'll play basketball."he announced.
"Nakuru knows my dress size.Just take her along."she mumbled.
"Oh come on!I would have much more fun if you come along."he coaxed.
"I'm not in the mood."she said.
Eriol's forehead creased."Stop making me worry like this!I'm growing too old too fast and you're making it worse!"he groaned."I really want to kill that guy you like.If he only knew how he's making you suffer."
"H-How did you know I was thinking of him?"she asked,astounded.
His eyes crinkled into a smile."I know you more than anyone else in the world do."
Tomoyo smiled a bit."Yeah well.."
He was encouraged by her little smile."Come on,Tomoyo.Tell your Big bro who's this guy you like."
She shook her head."Not yet,but I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"This guy..does he know about your feelings?"he asked curiously.
Another shake of the head.
"Why don't you tell him and get it over with?"
She looked down."I can't afford to risk losing him."
"He must be special."he said gruffly.
"Yes,he is."she said.
"Much more special than me?"he couldn't resist asking.
She laughed,to his bewilderment.When he asked why,she just suddenly announced that she's in the mood again to shop.
He smiled.Kami-sama,what would be his life like without her?
To be continued....
*****************************
She looked up upon hearing his voice."B-Big bro?"
He frowned."It's almost dinnertime,young lady.Your maids must be very worried about you already.I'll drive you home."
"C-Can't I walk home all by myself?"she asked.
"No.The streets is not the place for a girl like you after dark."He offered her his hand.
She hesitated before taking it.When she felt his hand,millions of electricity went up and down her spines.
Inside the car,Eriol noticed Tomoyo's sudden silence.Usually Tomoyo would fill the air of the whole car wioth her endless seam of chatter about game stats,figures and basketball stuff while he nods solemnly,pretending to listen.
"Hey,lighten up,Kiddo!"he said,hoping to break the silence he was never used to.
"Shut up,I'm thinking!"she snapped.
His face relaxed.It was just one of those days when Tomoyo was acting like a real girl-moody and irritable.Her biological clock must be saying it's her period again."Thinking about what?"
"If I tell you I'm thinking about a boy,would you believe me?"she asked testily.
He suddenly stepped on the brakes."Whaat?!"Fortunatel,no car was behind them or there might had been an accident.
"I think I'll take that as a no."she said cooly as she fixed her seatbelt.
Instantly ERiol loked apologetic."Sorry,I was just shocked."He started the engine again."About a guy,huh?Probably Miruyuki.You're thinking of homicidal thoughts about him,aren't you?"
"No."she said flatly."Forget what I said."
But Eriol couldn't do just that.Why would a girl be thinking of a boy,enough to render her speechless for more than 60 seconds?His eyes widened as alarm bells rang in his mind.No!Heavens forbid but.."Daidouji Tomoyo,are you in lo-"
"I said forget it!"she snapped.
"No!"Eriol couldn't accept that his "little sister" had finally fell in love with a guy."Who is he?"he demanded.
Her face flamed."None of your business!"
"Why won't it be my business,little girl?You are under my custody and if something happens to you,it IS my damn business!"
"Busybody!"
Eriol knew she was right.It wasn't part of his right anymore as her guardian to meddle with her affairs,but he couldn't stop himself from raising hell.The day he feared-when Tomoyo's attention will be divided between him and that guy-arrived unexpectedly,and he wasn't prepared for it.
"Alright,I won't ask anymore who he is."He finally conceeded."But when you feel you're ready to tell your Big bro who he is.."He parked the car in front of the Daidouji mansion.
Tomoyo's eyes shook."You'll be the first to know."she promised before she kissed his cheek and got out of the car.
"I'm taking you out this afternoon to shop for your prom dress."announced ERiol as they were eating breakfast four mornings later in Tomoyo's mansion."What boutique do you think should we go to,Kiddo?"he teased,knowing how much Tomoyo detested these shops.
Strangely,she didn't even react.She was just staring blankly off to space,stirring her coffee.
His forehead creased."Kiddo?"
Nakuru looked at the lass too."Ms.Tomoyo?"
She looked at them.Upon seeing her Big bro's inquisitive eyes on her,she quickly looked away,face flushed."S-Sorry.You were saying something.?"she muttered.
He sighed."Are you feeling well,Kiddo?"
She nodded quietly.She then pushed her plate away and mumbled a small excuse before she headed towards her room.
"What is wrong with her?I noticed she was acting so..bizarre for a few days already?Did you scold her harshly or something?"Nakuru asked curiously.
"No."He frowned thoughtfully.Maybe the girl was still mad at him for what happened in the car days ago.He picked his car keys up."I'll take her out first to the mall."
"Aren't you afraid to be caught driving without license?"asked his servant.
He smiled."I can always show my university ID and say I'm on my way to get a new license because I lost my old one."
"You'll do that for three years?"
He laughed and went into Tomoyo's room.
Tomoyo reached for the framed picture on her desk.It was a photo of her and ERiol taken from the latter's high school graduation.
She ran her fingers across ERiol's face.He looked so dashing and mature in his dark blue polo shirt and matching trousers covered by his immaculate white toga.
She hugged the picture tightly.Why was she starting to feel differently for him already?
When did things started to change?When did her feelings start to grow?How did it happen so quickly?
Yesterday he was her Big Bro.Today he was a romantic-looking man.
How did a small poem awaken so much emotions confusing her terribly now?
God,she couldn't even bear to look at him anymore in the eye,for fear that her eyes would betray her absurd feelings.
"Kiddo?"ERiol walked into her room."Is it ok if I come in?"
He was expecting her to say something coy like "You're already inside,genius!",but instead she only nodded wordlessly.
"I decided to make our shopping trip earlier than planned.Afterwards,we'll eat in your favorite fastfood,then we'll play basketball."he announced.
"Nakuru knows my dress size.Just take her along."she mumbled.
"Oh come on!I would have much more fun if you come along."he coaxed.
"I'm not in the mood."she said.
Eriol's forehead creased."Stop making me worry like this!I'm growing too old too fast and you're making it worse!"he groaned."I really want to kill that guy you like.If he only knew how he's making you suffer."
"H-How did you know I was thinking of him?"she asked,astounded.
His eyes crinkled into a smile."I know you more than anyone else in the world do."
Tomoyo smiled a bit."Yeah well.."
He was encouraged by her little smile."Come on,Tomoyo.Tell your Big bro who's this guy you like."
She shook her head."Not yet,but I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"This guy..does he know about your feelings?"he asked curiously.
Another shake of the head.
"Why don't you tell him and get it over with?"
She looked down."I can't afford to risk losing him."
"He must be special."he said gruffly.
"Yes,he is."she said.
"Much more special than me?"he couldn't resist asking.
She laughed,to his bewilderment.When he asked why,she just suddenly announced that she's in the mood again to shop.
He smiled.Kami-sama,what would be his life like without her?
To be continued....
*****************************