Love Conquers All
Chapter 5
Eriol sat on a boulder embedded in the beach's sand. On his lap sat his notebook. Only now, it had one solitary phrase written on the second line of the second sheet.
"Hi," came a voice behind him.
He turned and saw Tomoyo standing there. "Hi," he returned, sliding his pen behind his ear.
"Have you gotten far?"
"Somewhat?"
She peeked over his shoulder and read the phrase: "A story about love."
"It's not even a sentence; it's a fragment," Eriol sighed.
"I was going to take a stroll. Do you want to join me?" Tomoyo invited.
He shut his notebook and stood. "Gladly." Eriol and she walked together, side by side, sand between their toes.
"Why do you think it's so hard to write a love story?" she asked.
Because I'm out of love, he answered to himself. His eyes turned to the waves of the ocean. His thoughts returned to Kaho: the betrayer, the cheater, the liar…His blood was already boiling by just thinking about her. "It's hard to write about something you don't know about."
"Last time I remember, you and Ms. Mizuki were…well, comfortable with each other." She looked at Eriol's expression. His eyes were hard and his lips were tight. "You mean you and Kaho…"
"No," he bit.
"But I thought--."
"You thought wrong." Not now, Eriol thought. He didn't want to get into it.
"It's just--."
"Drop it!" he demanded. He saw the hurt expression cross her eyes in a flash.
Then, she smiled softly at him. "I'm sorry I brought it up. If you excuse me…"she quickly turned and bolted for the hotel.
Eriol stood there, dumbfounded on what he just did. He had just snapped at her. "Dammit," he muttered, chasing after her. "You're supposed to be breaking down her walls, not making your own." When he arrived in the lobby, he saw her standing in the elevator. The doors closed before he got there and she ascended upwards. "Come on, come on…" he grit, constantly pressing the up button against the wall. Cursed thing…when the second elevator came down, he pressed the 3rd key and the elevator slowly climbed the shaft. He quickly entered the hotel room to find no one there. Her sandy flip-flops sat near the doorway. He pushed the bedroom door to open but it wouldn't budge.
Tomoyo sat on the foot of the bed, staring at the chair in front of the door. The tip of the chair's back sat nicely under the doorknob.
He knocked. "Daidouji-san?" He stayed silent, listening to the air. Eriol sighed. He sat on the floor, his back leaning against the door. "I wanted to marry that woman," he began. "But I came home one day and she was waiting there. She told me that she was in love with a professor from Eton and she wanted us to just be friends. That was less than a month ago." He kicked off his left sandal. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. If there is any way to make it up--." He was in the process of kicking off his right sandal when the door swung open and Eriol fell on his back. His sandal flew in the air and then landed on his stomach.
Tomoyo looked down at him, her eyes slightly narrow. "You have one week left before I leave; to see the real me…" she began. "So I'll give you a head start by dropping formalities. Wouldn't you agree, Eriol-kun?"
"Hai, Tomoyo-san," he responded.
Tomoyo stepped over him and headed to the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and from the hallway, Eriol heard the shower turn on. "Hm…" Eriol pondered, "So I guess she's not mad anymore." He smiled. "Good."
Every morning for the past week, Tomoyo would walk. Most likely to enjoy the scenery but also to keep her shape. And ever since, Eriol would take his time to watch her from the balcony until she was out of sight. Why did he do it?
Because his body told him to. She was incredibly stunning and a wonderful companion to have around. To be deeply infatuated with that woman was a sin; it was only about one month ago that Kaho packed her bags and left.
You mustn't be attracted to her, Eriol thought. Seeing her hair slightly tossed from sleep, with that hazy stare to her eyes; seeing her with an oversize t-shirt and tennis shorts after being freshly showered; god, even lounging on the couch: that woman was gorgeous! Eriol must be a sightless idiot if he wasn't slightly turned on by her presence. But he was a gentleman.
It just wasn't her physically beauty that he paid attention to. She had a personality in the shape of a maze. It threw him topsy-turvy. Almost a week and ½ had passed and still, he hadn't figured out the real her. He was not going to give up but he didn't have much time left. He will accomplish breaking down her walls.
Why?
Simple, he mused thoughtfully. I love challenges.
The pit of his stomach tied. It hates lies.
…to be continued ^_^
Author's note: Sorry it's so short! Well, that's because there wasn't any songs. So sorry; the other will be a little longer, I promise.