A Love for Meilin
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Chapter 8: A Misunderstanding
Meilin woke up early the next morning after a night of fitful sleep. She couldn't get Masato out of her head…or Syaoran. She walked over to the window and looked out. The sun was just appearing over the horizon. She replayed the scene from the previous night through her head again. I really like you, he said. I just can't believe it…I just met him. But he has been really nice, and I've really had fun being with him. And when he took care of me after I cut myself…it was so sweet. Maybe he really did mean it… She sighed. But what about Syaoran? I still can't really forget my feelings for him, but whenever I'm with Masato-san, I forget about him for a little while…and it's nice when I do…what does this mean? Do I actually like this guy?
She lied back on her bed, looking at the ceiling. She smiled, touching her lips softly. His kiss…it was really nice…
***
Masato slowly opened his eyes, flinching at the bright light coming through the window. He sighed. I wonder what she thinks about last night…maybe I shouldn't have kissed her so soon. She certainly was surprised…but she didn't act like she didn't like it. Of course, she didn't act like she did either. But she was so pretty…and I really did mean everything I said. I just wish she could be happy.
He got up and made his way down the stairs where Touya was already up and making breakfast.
"Ohayou," Masato said as he entered the kitchen. "It smells good."
Touya looked up at him. "Ohayou."
"Can I help?" Masato offered.
Touya shook his head. "It's okay, I'm almost done."
"Thanks for letting me borrow your bed," Masato said. "It's really nice of you."
"Your welcome. I hope you slept well."
Masato smiled at him. "Thanks, I did." He sighed. Touya looked over at him surprised at the worried expression that passed over his face. Well that's kind of weird. Ever since he came, he's been perfectly happy. I wonder if something happened.
"Are you okay," Touya asked. Masato looked quickly at him and then quickly looked away. "I'm fine." Touya frowned. Yeah right…
Just then, they heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs. Sakura soon poked her head into the kitchen.
"Ohayou!" she said cheerfully. Masato smiled at her. "Ohayou, Sakura-chan."
Touya grinned. "Ohayou, kaijuu." Sakura glared at him. Masato laughed.
"Remember you have a doctor's appointment today," Touya told her. Sakura groaned. She hated going to the doctor.
"Sakura-chan," Masato began. She looked up at him. "Yes?"
"Umm…can you give me Li-kun's phone number?" She smiled at him. "Sure, of course." She quickly took a piece of paper and wrote it down for him. "Arigatou, pretty cherry blossom." He smiled at her as she blushed slightly.
"Breakfast is done," Touya told them as he began bringing plates of food over to the dining room table.
"Where is Otousan?" Sakura asked.
"He had to go to the university early to prepare for a special presentation," Touya replied.
Masato looked at them. "Oh, is your father a professor?"
"Yeah," Touya answered. "He's an archaeology professor at the nearby university."
"That's cool," Masato said as he sat at the table next to Sakura. "This looks good," he commented, looking over at Touya who had sat across from him.
"Itadakimasu," they chorused.
***
"Are you okay?" Wei asked, watching Meilin as she stared out the window and sighed for the fifth time.
She looked up at him quickly and then turned away and sighed again. "I'm fine."
Just then, Syaoran, who had been taking a shower, walked in to the living room. He looked worriedly from Wei's anxious expression to Meilin. She hadn't said practically anything all morning, and it was already almost noon. Also, she had barely eaten anything, and she continued to tell them she was perfectly okay. Syaoran groaned inwardly. What's wrong with her? He jumped as the phone suddenly rang next to him.
He quickly picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hi, Li-kun?"
"Yeah…" Syaoran said, not recognizing the voice.
"This is Masato."
"Oh, hi. You sound a little different on the phone."
"Uh…could I talk to Meilin-san?" Masato asked. Syaoran's eyes widened in surprise. "Yeah, sure. Hold on a minute."
He quickly walked over and handed the phone to Meilin. "It's Masato-san," he told her. Meilin blushed as she took the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi Meilin-san," Masato said.
"Hi Masato-san."
"Umm…I was wondering if maybe you would go shopping with me today," he began slowly. "I need to find a present for my sister, and I thought you might be able to help."
"Are you sure you don't Kinomoto-san to go with you? You did come to visit her, didn't you?"
"She has a doctor's appointment, and anyway, I would rather you go with me."
Meilin's blush grew even darker. Syaoran was watching her with an increasing look of amusement as she got redder and redder. Wei just looked at both of them confused.
"Okay then," Meilin finally replied.
"Great. How about we meet at Penguin Park in 30 minutes?"
"That's fine," Meilin said, hanging up. She stared at the phone for a few moments before placing it down. She turned to Syaoran and Wei as she headed for the door and began putting on her shoes. "I'm going out."
"Where?" Syaoran asked.
"Shopping. I don't know when I'll be back, okay?" she said. She then quickly left the apartment, gently closing the door behind her. Syaoran smiled.
***
Masato smiled as he approached the park. Meilin was already there. He could see her sitting on a swing, looking down at her feet. She looks like she's thinking about something…maybe even me.
He slowed as he came nearer to her. She finally looked up when he was standing right next to her. She blushed.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked her. She nodded, and they began walking toward the center of the town.
They walked for a while in silence. Meilin kept glancing at him, but he was always looking at her. She blushed even more.
Masato sighed. I don't know what to say. She keeps blushing…but she's much quieter than normal. I don't know what she thinks…maybe I should just ask her…I don't know.
Meilin looked up again. He was finally looking away. I wonder what he's thinking about. Maybe he wishes he never said anything…he probably didn't even mean it. But I can't forget it. It is nice being here with him…
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable with what I told you yesterday," Masato told her slowly.
Meilin's eyes widened. She looked away. "No, it's okay…I…." She stopped. "I…I'm glad you told me…"
"Really?" Masato asked.
"If you really meant it, then yes, I am glad you said it," Meilin replied hesitantly.
"Well good then," Masato said, "because I did mean what I said."
Meilin smiled warmly at him. "Is it your sister's birthday or something?" Meilin asked.
Masato grinned at the young girl walking beside him. "I kind of don't have a sister." Meilin looked at him in shock. "What!? I thought you said…"
"I know what I said," he interrupted playfully. "I just wanted an excuse to be with you."
She stared at him, her eyes wide. "I
wasn't exactly sure what you thought about last night, so…I thought that maybe
you wouldn't come out with me today if I didn't have a good reason for it…"
She continued to stare at him. He laughed gently. "Sorry I lied." Her expression softened after a moment into a smile. "You really are crazy."
"I think I'm lucky," he said smiling at her.
They spent the rest of the day happily, walking together through town and going through some stores pretending like they were looking for a sister's birthday present. They finally came to a small store that held a variety of different items that Meilin hadn't been to before.
"This place is really nice," Meilin commented looking around her.
"I'll be right back, okay?" Masato said suddenly, disappearing quickly behind another a tall display. Meilin stood there for a moment then began to browse. I should bring everyone else to this store. Everything's so pretty here.
A few minutes later, Meilin looked up to see Masato standing just behind her, with a big smile on his face. Meilin looked warily at him. "Why are you smiling like that?"
His smile grew even wider. "No reason."
She looked down at the small bag he was carrying. "What did you buy?"
"Nothing special. Are you ready to go? I'm getting kind of thirsty." Meilin just continued to stare at him confused and followed him out of the door.
They quickly found themselves at a crowded food/drinks stand with an outside seating area.
"Why don't you find us a table, and I'll get us some drinks," Meilin suggested. He began to protest, but she quickly silenced him. "It'll be fine, and the line is really long anyway. It wouldn't be good for you with that leg of yours."
Masato watched as she walked off and stood at the end of a really long line. This place must be popular. He looked around and quickly located a small table a few feet away.
He slowly sat down, placing his crutches on the ground next to him. He watched as Meilin slowly made her way over to the line and took her place at the end. Masato smiled. She's so pretty…
He jumped as suddenly two hands covered his eyes. "Guess who?" He groaned as he recognized the voice, roughly taking the hands away. "What are you doing here Nageki?"
The tall young woman standing smiled and sat down in the chair for Meilin. "Now what kind of greeting is that?" she asked him.
He ignored the question and looked away from her. She smirked. "You were smiling really big when I saw you a few minutes ago. What were you thinking about?"
"It's really none of your business," Masato said shortly. She grinned, placing her hand on his. She picked it up and laid it against her cheek. He quickly pulled away. She pulled her chair closer. "What do you want?" he asked.
"I want you of course," she replied, moving even closer.
"It's over between us," he began, sighing. "It has been for quite a while now. Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"But that wouldn't be any fun." She ran her hand up and down his right arm slowly.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" She laughed at his question. "My friends can certainly wait while I talk to you for a while. I mean, how lucky can I be to find you here?"
"Look, I don't mean to be mean, but if you don't mind, I wish you would leave," he told her.
She looked at him, her smile growing wider across her face. "Oh, are you waiting for someone?" she asked. He suddenly cringed as he saw Meilin coming toward them. Nageki followed his gaze and grinned as she saw Meilin. She quickly took hold of Masato's cheek, turning his head toward her, and kissed him. Masato's eyes widened; he sat there in shock, unmoving.
Meilin, meanwhile, had finally exited the line with drinks in hand and was walking back toward the table. She stopped suddenly, letting the drinks fall to the ground unnoticed as she saw Masato with the other girl. Her eyes quickly began to fill with tears. I can't believe this… She stood there just staring at the unexpected couple.
Masato quickly recovered from his shock, but spotted Meilin looking at him teary-eyed. Oh no… He watched as she began running as fast as she could away down the street. He roughly shoved Nageki away from him and grabbed his crutches, following Meilin as fast as he could, but certainly not fast enough. In only a few moments she had ran out of sight. He stopped and sighed. What am I going to do now?
Nageki sat back and watched from the little table outside the café. She smiled as she left with her friends.
***
End of chapter 8