All in the Game of Love
Hellox!!! I know this was delayed for more than a few days and I seriously apologized with that! My schedule was filled up to the limit and I could only find time on a weekend and on a late night! So forgive me and I hope you will enjoy this SLIGHTLY longer chappie! *heex*!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!
*
"Why did you do that?"
It was the first question that came from her lips as the both of them sat on the fence that overlooked a grassy field. Dusk had settled at the moment and the sight before them was too beautiful to behold. The golden sun was about to sink down the horizon, spraying its last fading rays across the field. With the moon arising above, the light that danced with the rays created a beauty that was too magnificent even for words.
The blue-eyed boy, momentarily distracted by the beauty overlaying ahead, now turned to look at Tomoyo. Her eyes were twinkling with gratitude and with a slight touch of cheerfulness and mischief in it still.
Eriol blinked, not knowing how to answer that curveball that hit him hard. How was he supposed to explain that he just HAD to get back at Veronica? He himself was utterly confused already. He glanced at Tomoyo who was still looking at him with a patient expession.
Alright, she knows, Eriol thought. It was an obvious fact that Tomoyo knew she was making things hard for Eriol but that was casual anyway. She was one of those kind of girls with the capability to drive anybody crazy.
"Well," Eriol finally said into the silence, "For starters, I don't really have the answer myself either…I just…had to, you know."
He had to slap himself for that line. It was just too pathetic. He was careful not to look at Tomoyo too much. She might come up with the most unpredictable sentence that could drive you nuts. It was best to avoid it.
"Oh." Tomoyo answered before giving in to silence. Eriol was surprised to find that she was not teasing or mocking him. Instead, there was a kind of softness in her eyes that he had never noticed nor seen before. It made her look…different right then. With the wind embracing her and her beautiful features framed by the dancing moonlight, Eriol could not deny that she looked beautiful then.
"Thank you." She looked into his eyes, giving an earnest smile.
Eriol said nothing, only staring at the field, suddenly finding it very interesting.
"Are you planning to do anything more to her?" Tomoyo asked out of the blue, the teasing obvious in her voice now.
Eriol shrugged, "Why?"
It was the best thing to answer a question with another question. Eriol learnt it the hard way whenever his parents were pressing him about his personal life each time they met after a long time.
"I don't know. I was planning to, you know." Her eyes sparkled with giggles and her smile lit up even more, "Want to help?"
Eriol looked at her with an arched eyebrow, "Like?"
"Well, we can give her a nice locker scare again. Or…" Mischief flooded into her eyes, "Mess up her mind!"
Talk about psychological games. This girl was capable of anything to make a person's life miserable with just a few mind games.
Of course, Eriol was aroused with interest at this point. He had always been amused by how Tomoyo could handle mind games well. It wouldn't hurt to see her try and assist her in these stuff.
"Psychological games?" Eriol tried not to sound too concern although he was hoping she would let on more of her ideas.
"Oh, she has a lot of boyfriends, you know." Tomoyo said. Eriol shuddered inwardly at how she sounded so wicked right then. He was still hesitant to be part of her so-called 'plot'.
"But of course, I'm not THAT wicked," Tomoyo giggled, sensing Eriol's uneasiness, "Maybe she just needs another chance." Tomoyo looked into the distance, "We should just let the matter rest."
His eyes rounded, "Let the whole thing rest!? After what they did to you!?"
Tomoyo's eyes browsed the scenery for a long time before she let out a sigh, "They didn't do anything to me…Just, almost."
"And that's it? You're gonna let them go?" Eriol couldn't believe this was Tomoyo.
Tomoyo laughed heartily as she leant forward, ruffling Eriol's dark hair, "Forgiveness is a virtue, Eriol."
He shrugged as he brushed his fingers across his tresses, combing them back in place, "Whatever you say."
Silence took its place again as the moon now shone at its fullest above. The night skies, now dotted with brilliant stars, captured the attention of the couple.
"By the way," Eriol started, "Where is my T-shirt and jeans?"
Tomoyo tried her best not to look guilty as she shot Eriol her best puppy look she could muster, "Eriol! Can't you give me another day or so?"
"I've given you enough already!" Eriol rolled his eyes, "Why don't you ever return the things I lent you?"
"Come on! You're my boyfriend, no?" Tomoyo couldn't help but tease, an impish grin touching her lips.
"For just 5 weeks." Eriol corrected.
"Hmm…" Tomoyo trailed off before returning back on track again, "Will you miss me when these 5 weeks are over?"
Eriol was quick to reply, "No."
He was drowned with confusion when he realized his heart was tugging, as though that was not the truth at all. Before he could ponder on the situation anymore, Tomoyo probed into his thoughts.
"Are you sure?" Her eyebrows curved with a teasing expression, "Not even a teeny weenie bit?"
"No." He answered with the same monotonous tone. He hated the way his heart was tugging with every seconds that passed. What? Wasn't that the truth? He wouldn't miss her no matter what!
"Aw, alright." Tomoyo gave a light giggle when she shot another curveball at him, "But will you still walk me home?"
He was surprised when he couldn't settle upon an answer. In the end, he resorted to looking at the scenery displayed before him again. It was the only thing he could do to avoid the question.
"Are you avoiding the question?"
Eriol winced, hating the way he was so naked before her eyes.
"No."
"Then answer me."
There was silence for a long time before he finally willed himself to look into her questioning eyes, "What do you want me to say?"
Like the saying goes, it was best to answer a question with another question.
"I don't know," Tomoyo admitted, "But if I asked you to, will you do it? We are, after all, friends, right?"
She wanted him to say yes.
He did the exact opposite.
"No."
For a moment, he thought he had caught the hurt in her eyes when she looked away to the distance once more. Like the umpteenth times, silence drifted in that late evening.
"Eriol?" She asked almost unconsciously.
"Yeah?"
Even in the darkness and only a slight gleam from the lamp post a distance away, he could tell she was thinking hard about something and he readied himself for another curveball to come.
"Do you still hate me?"
He couldn't deny that he no longer hated her. In some kind of way, he had found himself getting used to her optimism and cheerfulness. However, he wasn't about to admit it.
"Maybe."
This time, Eriol didn't miss the look of confusion that splattered over her face as she went into silence again.
Eriol realized how he didn't want her to look so strange. He wasn't used to seeing her like this. He knew what he was feeling.
He wanted her to be her happy self again.
"Tomoyo…" He started, "You're alright, right?"
She suddenly looked up and smiled, "I'm fine." She was about to turn back to the scenery when her eyes suddenly shot to the dark canopy of clouds. Her optimism returned immediately as she excitedly pointed up to the skies.
"Look, Eriol! Isn't that star beautiful?"
"I don't see what's so interesting ab--" Eriol stopped as his gaze met with the captivating sight above.
That particular star wasn't like the rest. It was golden with the slightest touches of white lingering around it, lacing about like a thin ribbon. It outshone the rest and stood like a fresh new planet that had found its way up with the rest of the small stars.
It was entrancing, to say the least.
Captivated by the sight, both sat and watched until that certain star drifted away into the darkness with the rest…
*
"What's wrong, Tomoyo? Didn't sleep well last night?" Sakura asked with concern as she walked into the classroom the next morning, noticing her best friend's lethargic behavior.
"On the contrary, I didn't sleep at all." Tomoyo said without the usual hint of energy as she closed her eyes, laying her head on the table with obvious sleepiness clouding around.
"Well, you better wash yourself awake. Mr. Whiteoak's period is next and you don't want to get into trouble with him."
Tomoyo paid no heed to Sakura's warning and fell asleep the whole lesson, which definitely displeased Mr. Whiteoak. For punishment, she was to stay back during lunch break to copy the whole of a chapter from a Literature book.
"Tomoyo?"
The amethyst-eyed girl opened a sleepy eye as the image of Eriol entered her vision. She tiredly lifted up her head before staring down at the empty foolscap paper before her. Her literature book was still left unopened at the side of her desk.
"You don't have much time left." Eriol slowly said as he watched the girl picked up her pen and started working on her punishment.
"I know…" Tomoyo said, struggling to keep her eyes open.
Eriol sighed as he sat beside her, "I told you to go home straightaway last night, didn't I? Did you wander off somewhere again?"
"My parents were at a relative's house for a visit. I don't have my house keys with me so…" Tomoyo trailed off lazily as she stopped working, resting her head on the table again.
Eriol looked at the clock hanging on the wall before he leant forward and picked up the sheet of foolscap from her hands. Tomoyo jolted awake, "What are you doing?"
Eriol wordlessly picked up his pen as he opened the Literature book, easily copying down word by word on the foolscap. Tomoyo watched him for quite some time before she broke into a sweet, tired smile.
"Thank you, Eriol. You're so sweet." Admist her exhaustiveness, Tomoyo managed a tease before she drifted off to sleep again.
Eriol sighed, "Just count yourself lucky for having me as your boyfriend."
*
His eyes focused hard on the squarish envelope in his hands. The cover simply read, "For Eriol" and was placed on his school desk when he came back to collect his textbook after dismissal.
Hoping it was not another love note, he tore the envelope apart and pulled out a small invitation card framed with heart-shaped balloons.
Dear Eriol Hiiragizawa,
You are invited to my birthday bash this Saturday. Please come in casual wear and DO bring a partner of the opposite sex. A luxurious dinner will be provided, too. It will be held at the Four Leaves Hotel at the 3rd level, where the ballroom is located. I look forward to your arrival.
Emma Burtynes
Emma Burtynes was a long-time friend of his that he knew ever since he entered elementary school. She had harboured feelings for him for years until another boy entered her life and both had gone steady that fateful day.
Eriol shrugged as he unconsciously tossed the invitation card under his desk as he exited the classroom. Count him out on these social events. He was never one who liked interacting with other schoolmates.
"Hello Eriol."
He looked up just as he stepped out from the door. The familiar bright face of Tomoyo greeted him and he could tell she had awoken by now, her face flushed and red under the hot sun.
She must have been punished by Mr. Whiteoak to run rounds around the school again. Eriol thought, unable to deny his feelings of sympathy for her.
"Did anything go wrong?" Eriol asked, although he knew the answer already.
"I fell asleep again when he kept me in for extra lessons. I had to run rounds for him." Tomoyo grinned with the same impish look, wiping her perspiration from her forehead, "Will you walk me home today?"
Eriol sighed, "I've always been doing that."
"Good. I'm getting hungry already." Tomoyo giggled as she pulled Eriol down the stairway, "Let's go somewhere else to eat. My treat."
"Your treat?" Eriol stared at her with mock surprise, "Are you my Tomoyo?"
"Bleah!" Tomoyo stuck out her tongue as she looped her arm around his, skipping out of the school gate, "I'm just thankful that you helped me in my punishment."
Eriol then realized his mistake that he had called her HIS possession. He thanked God she hadn't notice it and he made a vow to himself that he would never do it again.
"Oh, by the way," Tomoyo striked up another converstion as they exited the school grounds, "Have you got the invitation card from Emma? I supposed you have. You're her ex, after all."
"What?" Eriol exclaimed in disbelief, "She was never my girlfriend to begin with!"
"I don't know. You have too many ex-girlfriends for me to remember who is which." Tomoyo remarked nonchantly, only to receive a shocked look from Eriol.
"What!? Who told you?" Eriol couldn't believe what he was hearing!
"A lot of girls told me that." Tomoyo shrugged, "I swear I wouldn't care what happened to you in the past. They told me on their own will."
"Crap!" Eriol muttered under his breath as Tomoyo let out several giggles, "Chill, alright? So will you be attending her bash?"
"Forget it. I'm not going." Eriol blew a puff of air out that brushed his hair away from his eyes.
"Aw, why not? I want to go!" Tomoyo gave him her puppy eyes again, "Please, please? Bring me there, Eriol! I need a partner!"
"No. Go get yourself another partner." He frowned as he looked away.
There was silence for a moment before she chirped in.
"Alright. I won't force you, yeah?" She tugged on his arm, "Cheer up, ok? Don't look so glum everynow and then!"
He suddenly turned towards her, "Who are you planning to ask then?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know? I guess anybody will do."
Eriol pictured a thousand boys queuing up to ask Tomoyo to the birthday bash and how she would gullibly accept one of their offers.
What if she gets bullied?
What if someone takes her advantage?
Those thoughts were making him shudder as he let out a silent sigh.
"Tomoyo."
"What is it?"
"I'll take you to the bash." Eriol prayed he wouldn't regret his decision.
"Really?"
Eriol looked down into her grateful eyes as he nodded, realizing it might be the right thing to do after he had gotten her in so much trouble.
Without warning, she leant forward and placed a kiss on his cheek before looking into his surprised eyes, smiling wholeheartedly.
"Thank you for all the things you've done for me. You're the best, Eriol." She giggled as she ruffled his hair again, like she had done last night.
The blue-eyed boy could only stare dumbly as the girl found his hand once more and dragged him to the candy shop nearby. Momentarily dazed, his fingers slowly traced the part where her lips touched awhile ago.
It took him quite some time before he regain his composure, realizing Tomoyo was already grabbing a few lollipops from the candy stand.
Dipping his head down and uncertainty crossing his heart and mind, he dug his hands into his pockets before looking into the mesmerizing eyes of Tomoyo Daidouji who was busy making a pick between a caramel and strawberry stick.
He looked around the candy shop where people were walking in and out busily, thoughts running in their own concentrated world.
He looked down again, brushing his fingers in his dark blue strands of hair, the thoughts running in his mind now coming to a slow.
Ever so slowly, a wistful smile painted his lips the first time that day…and perhaps the first time ever.
**
END OF CHAPPIE!!
Ok! Guaranteed that there were at least a few fluffly moments! YAY!! Hope you like it and RnR!!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!