What can I say, over a hundred reviews? Can't help but ask if I deserve it...well, I'm just glad that I'm entertaining you people...THANK YOU SO MUCH! bows Thank you for the generous number of reviews that you guys gave me...
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It's Never Too Late
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Sakura caught her breath and gave out a small gasp. Her eyes are watering terribly that she is so scared that they might roll down anytime.
She forced herself to smile. A smile that hides her true emotions inside. She wants to run away. To find a place for her to stay and hide.
'How can this happen to me?'
She suddenly went up to the lady named Ciara and gave her a long hug.
"Congratulations!" she said with fake enthusiasm.
"Thank you so much" Ciara replied.
Then after Ciara, Sakura went up to Syaoran and gave him a hug too. This time, it's long because somehow, she felt that Syaoran doesn't want to let go. But then they broke apart.
Then the three of them looked at each other.
"I'm sure you guys deserved each other" Sakura said.
Then they all sat down. This time, they ordered a real dinner.
"So, Sakura..." Ciara started.
"I heard that you and Syaoran are really close back when you guys were teenagers"
Sakura nodded her head with a small smile.
"Tell me about it" she softly requested.
Unknown to Ciara, this is something that will bring tears to Sakura. Of all the things to ask about...
"Well, for starters, Syaoran have a lot of fans" Sakura joked.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm positive. You should have seen them when Syaoran suddenly left Tomeda"
"What did they do?" Ciara giggled.
"They were asking me as to where Syaoran went and they were really torn up"
"Wow. Makes me feel all lucky now for ending up with him" and she looked at Syaoran's amber eyes.
Then Syaoran gave Ciara a little peck at her cheek.
"You wouldn't believe how fate brought Syaoran to me" she stated cheerfully.
"How?" Sakura curiously asked.
"I was in a really dull party and was really uncomfortable with what I'm wearing. Those high heels were killing me. I almost tripped and I think he heard me groan. Then he went up to me. We talked and became friends"
"That is really not a coincidence" Syaoran added.
Sakura only smiled. What can she say? There is nothing that can make herself feel better.
Then the food came. For a moment, they ate quietly.
Sakura glanced and studied Ciara once in awhile. She is so pretty with those hazel eyes. But she can't help but wonder if those eyes are prettier than her emerald ones that lots of her admirers kept telling her about...and there is only one place this is heading...jealousy.
Then her eyes landed at Ciara's hair. It's so alive and bouncy. It bounced on her every move. She has a perfect set of teeth, she has a smooth and fair complexion. But the green monster on Sakura keeps on thinking that she is still better.
After minutes of silence...
"Syaoran? Do you want my shrimp? You know I don't eat it" Ciara offered softly.
"Why don't you like shrimps anyway? They are really good. Have you tasted one before?" Syaoran questioned.
"No. Not in a long time"
"Why not?"
Sakura is just watching the engaged couple, her heart breaking as she saw Syaoran gazed at his fiancée's face. She recalled that those were the looks Syaoran used to give Sakura. She knows that she won't see and revieve them again.
"I haven't tried it for so long because last time I ate it, it was so hot and just so bad" Ciara answered gently.
Syaoran scoffed. "Aw come on, Ciara. Maybe that was just the seasoning. Here, try this"
Then using Syaoran's fork, he got that shrimp and gently neared at Ciara's mouth.
Sakura was reminded of someone trying to feed someone else and thought that it is so sweet. But not when the person who's doing it is the person you love and is doing it right in front of you... to someone else. Her eyes are now close to tears again. This is so painful!
She blinked it back and smiled, pretending to be amused.
"Syaoran. I don't want to eat it" Ciara whined
"Please?... For me?" Syaoran pouted.
"Fine. But if this one taste bad, you owe me" she joked.
He nodded eagerly.
Ciara opened her mouth and ate the shrimp from Syaoran's fork.
Then Sakura can tell that she enjoyed it. Syaoran laughed.
"See? I told you"
"I'm sorry then. But that was really good"
And before they know it, all the shrimps in Ciara's dish are gone.
Syaoran stared at her plate and then moved his eyes to Sakura and they exchanged a small smile at the thought of Ciara's shrimps.
Once they were done and waited for the waitress to get their dessert order, they chatted again.
"So, what about Syaoran's past girlfriends?" Ciara inquired with a cute, mischievous smile on her lips.
"Ciara! That is not something to talk about right now" Syaoran said jokingly.
"Why? My little fiancée is embarrassed?" and Ciara moved closer to Syaoran.
"So, Sakura? Can you tell me?"
"What's your question again?" Sakura smiled.
"Did Syaoran get a lot of girlfriends on your school? Who was the girl he told you he loves?"
Sakura stared at Ciara. What is she going to say? 'Oh, Syaoran loved me!'?
Syaoran felt the nervousness too. Sure, he has been completely honest with Ciara. He told her everything about himself. Even about his friendship with Sakura!...except for one tiny fact... and that is he loved her bestfriend...
"Umm...Syaoran didn't really liked a lot of girls"
Then she faked a laugh. "He's really picky!"
Then Ciara joined the laughter while Syaoran was just quiet.
"I would love to know you more, Sakura. You seem so cool and fun to be with"
Then the waitress came to get their orders.
Once they were finished, Sakura noticed Ciara gazing at her and weirdly, she just smiled at Sakura.
Sakura found this so creepy that Ciara is really staring at her.
And as if hearing what Sakura is trying to figure out, Ciara spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I'm just studying you. I really think that you are one of the most beautiful women I ever saw!" she exclaimed.
Sakura blushed.
"I mean, those emerald green eyes that just brighten up when you smile. You are so lovely! Don't you think so, Syaoran?" Ciara then looked up to meet Syaoran's eyes.
"Oh, yeah---yeah. Of course" he stammered, his eyes suddenly fascinated at the table.
"I'm sure that you had a lot of man chasing you, am I right?" she said grinning.
"Oh...I'm not sure about that" Sakura murmured.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm flattering you so much" Ciara apologized.
Then Sakura just smiled.
"So, tell me more about yourself, Sakura"
"Okay! What do you want to know?" Sakura replied. She was so glad that the topic changed.
"Well, I thought you were at Japan. Why did you go here?" she asked sweetly.
Then the dessert came and they began eating...
"I thought that being here in Hong Kong will give me more opportunity to have the job I want. Then I got it! I'm a nurse there at the Central Hospital and I just enjoy it when I'm with kids"
"Wow. That's amazing. Do you live by yourself?"
"No. I live with my cousin, Tomoyo" she casually explained.
Ciara's eyes widened. "Tomoyo Daidoji? The designer of 'Wedding Bells' wedding gowns?"
"Yeah. That's her!" Sakura said proudly.
"I have to meet her! Can you please give me a contact number of her later on?"
"Sure, no problem"
"I have been wanting so much to ask her to make a gown for me but then, I can't contact her. She's always busy. Do you think you can help me?" she requested in that girly voice.
"Of course!"
The sound of their spoon and forks clashing with their small plates soon dominated the table as they all nibbled their desserts.
Then Sakura asked the question that she has been itching to ask.
"When are you two going to get married?"
"Next week, Saturday at the nineteenth of July" responded Ciara.
"That's great" Sakura mumbled.
Then they continued to eat their dessert.
"Syaoran? You are unusually quiet tonight. What is wrong?" Ciara was concerned.
"Oh. It's nothing. I'm just overwhelmed with the feeling that I saw Sakura again" he gently replied and gazed at his childhood bestfriend.
Sakura just smiled.
"So, do you still remember Japan?" Ciara inquired.
"Of course I do"
"I miss Japan so much! I haven't been there since I was seven" Ciara said with the sound of longing on her voice.
Sakura stared at Ciara again. 'She came from Japan?' she secretly thought.
"Yes, Sakura. I'm from Japan" she answered Sakura's unspoken question.
"Well, technically. My mom is Japanese while my dad is from China. Then they got divorced and I moved here with my father" she sadly explained to Sakura.
Then Sakura saw Syaoran's arms wrapped around Ciara and Ciara snuggled closer.
"I was so lonely all my life. I never found anyone who will love me for who I am. They always judge me by the way I look"
"Well, that was until I found Syaoran"
Then there was a pause.
"Excuse me, ladies. I have to go to the men's room" he excused himself.
Then the two girls both looked at Syaoran while he went on his way to the restroom. One of them, has love and adoration on her eyes. But one of them has the forlorn look of hopeless love.
"I'm so lucky to find Syaoran, Sakura. I know that you know how amazing of a person he is. He's always there for me and helps me during those fights that I have with my parents because they have different opinions on what I'm supposed to do with my life"
"What do you mean, Ciara?"
"My mom wants me to be a model at Japan while my dad wanted me to stay here and be the engineer that he is now. But all I want is to be a housewife and spend my entire life with Syaoran" she said, staring at the table.
"Well, your parents can't force you to do what they want" Sakura commented.
"I know. But they don't understand, causing all of us to fight and now, my mom is not talking to me. But Syaoran is there, being so supportive, loving, understanding and caring" she stated fondly.
"He loves for who I am not just what my face looks like. I'm so grateful for that matter. Syaoran is really one of a kind and I will never let go of him. A man like that can only pass you by one in a million times. That's why when I go, I'm asking you, his bestfriend to look out for him"
"Huh?" was all Sakura can mutter.
"I'm going back to Japan tomorrow night. I have to reconcile with my mom and all the same, invite her to the wedding. So, I will be gone and I will just die of worry about Syaoran. I love him so much that I'm scared if I let my sight off him, I'll lose him. But I trust you" she smiled.
Sakura gulped but just nodded.
Then Syaoran approached them and grinned.
"You ladies done? Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yes. Are you done, Sakura?" Ciara questioned her.
"I'm done. Let's go" she answered.
Then they walked out of the now crowded restaurant and found out that their cars are just a few feet way from each other.
Before Sakura climbed her car, she gave Ciara a hug again and whispered the words...
"Don't worry, you and Syaoran will be fine"
In return, Sakura received a 'thanks'.
Then Ciara waited on her car.
"Are you guys going home separately?" Sakura asked.
Ciara nodded.
"Then where is Syaoran?"
"He's right there" Ciara pointed.
Sakura came up to him before he mounted on his car.
"Syaoran" she whispered, her voice quivering.
She gave him a hug. A tight hug, never wanting to let go.
"I'm so happy for you, Syaoran" then she sniffed.
"Sakura..." he whispered back.
Then Sakura's eyes can't hold the tears anymore, they silently fell unknown to him.
She broke the hug and was slightly surprised when Syaoran gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"It has been so great seeing you once again, Sakura"
"I feel the same way..."
Then she said goodbye with crystal tears making her vision blurry.
She started the ignition and started driving her mustang car when she heard a shout.
"Sakura! Wait up! I forgot to tell you something" Ciara yelled.
She stopped her car.
"What is it, Ciara?"
"I forgot to tell you that if Tomoyo, your cousin will agree, can she please meet us tomorrow at the Pancakes Place? Morning at ten o'clock? It's Saturday tomorrow so I hope she can find the time. Can you ask her and call me?" she requested.
"Sure"
Then Sakura wrote down Tomoyo's number for Ciara to contact and then wrote down Ciara's number too.
"Thank you so much, Sakura! I owe you. No wonder Syaoran and you are so close. You are the most wonderful bestfriend there is"
Sakura just smiled. She has been doing that a lot...putting on a fake smile.
"Oh! Hold on one second! I got these all printed tonight before I came to meet you and Syaoran..."
Then she rummaged through her bag.
"Here. This is for you..."
Sakura got the white envelope, said goodbye and went on her way home.
Then Sakura noticed that it's just a plain white envelope and there is nothing special into it to examine it now. She's in the road and she wouldn't want to bump onto someone else.
She pushed it in her bag. As she drove on, she can't keep her tears from falling down.
"My life is so sad and pathetic" she bitterly whispered to herself her voice sounding so croaky and sad.
"If someone hears my love story, they are going to shout at me and yell 'you're a stupid idiot, Sakura'"
Then she sniffed. 'All my hopes are crushed... what's the point of finding him? I rather not see him at all than to know that he's going to be married in a week'
'What have I done to deserve all this?! I already accepted my consequences for taking him for granted. For five long years, I waited and almost died because I can't find him and now that I did...he's engaged!'
Tears fell one by one. But even if all the tears are combined, it will never measure up to how miserable she feels right now. What more can be painful?
She entered the house and sat down at the sofa when the squealing Tomoyo came bouncing from the top of the stairs.
"What happened?---"she started but her voice fell when she saw Sakura on the sofa, crying her little heart out.
"Sakura! What happened?" she asked full of concern.
"Syaoran...it was him" she mumbled under the couch pillow as Tomoyo sat next her.
"Then you should be celebrating! If that's him then, you should be joyful" she soothed.
"How can I celebrate....how can I be joyful...?" she began to speak as she pulled her head back from the pillow.
"....when I found out that Syaoran is engaged" she silently spilled out.
Tomoyo placed her hands on her mouth.
"No...Oh, Sakura! I'm so sorry!" she consoled her friend. "This is not how it's supposed to be..." she continued.
Sakura wiped her tears and tried to smile.
"Well, I should be happy for my bestfriend, right?" the crying girl said.
But then she failed to smile and she broke down at Tomoyo's lap. She just let go of the emotion that are all kept inside of her...it hurts too much to just hold inside.
"Tomoyo...I finally found him! But then...he's going to get married...next week, Tomoyo, next week!" she exclaimed.
"It's okay..." Tomoyo comforted, patting her back.
"I don't know what to do..." she sobbed.
Then she sat straight and wiped the tears off.
"I left Tomeda to go and look for him here...sure, I say that I went here for work opportunity but the whole reason is that I want to be with him!...To be with Syaoran" she whispered.
"I wanted so much to hug him and kiss him and hold him...but then..."
"He already belongs to someone else..." she miserably blurted out.
"I guess that it's the end for me...there's nothing else I can do..."
"Did you meet the fiancée, Sakura?" Tomoyo inquired.
"Yes. And she is the most wonderful girl I ever met. Syaoran is absolutely in love with her... I expected him to still love me...my mistake!. Of course, he will move on!"
"I'm mental, Tomoyo..." Sakura softly whispered, shaking her head.
"Mentally in love, my dear cousin" Tomoyo murmured.
"When I see them getting sweet with each other, I felt that my heart is going to shatter into pieces...when he fed her that little shrimp, when he put his arms around her and when he kissed her...I thought I was going to be crazy" she said in a barely audible voice.
"That must be how Syaoran felt when you were with Haruki, Sakura" Tomoyo stated.
Then Sakura gazed at Tomoyo's lavender eyes. "You're right"
"This must be the pain that he has to go through when I was with Haruki" she then mumbled.
"Sakura? What are you going to do about this?" Tomoyo silently questioned.
"I have no clue...My head is spinning"
Then tears formed once again at Sakura's eyes as she remembered Syaoran's kiss. She remembered that sensation that she can never feel again. She can't dream about him anymore, can she? He's already taken. Sakura tried to hide the tears but her eyes betrayed her again. The hot tears then fell but Sakura quickly wiped them off.
Tomoyo gave out a small groan. She can't help but wonder how this will happen. Why is fate so against the reunion of the two bestfriends? Why won't destiny just let them finally be together and be contended?
What could be the reason for all this madness? Sakura just rested on the couch while Tomoyo worked on the dishes.
'My poor cousin. When she told me about Syaoran when I first came to Tomeda, her eyes were shinning so bright with an unbelievable determination that she will someday find Syaoran and tell him how she feels' she thought.
Tomoyo felt the warm water on her hands as she washed the plates.
'When she found out that we are already leaving for Hong Kong and that we just visited Tomeda for the summer, she boldly asked me if she can go here and live with me'
"Of course I said yes. First time I saw Sakura, I know that she is the most amazing girl there is and I know that I will be the happiest person when I found out that I was the one that helped her be reunited with Syaoran" she recalled.
Tomoyo smiled. 'When Sakura showed me Syaoran's pictures... she was so excited' she remembered.
'I have to admit that I was really in a state of shock when I found out that Sakura rejected someone that handsome'
Then Tomoyo dried her hands and went to the living room again to go and comfort Sakura.
She found her, sitting on the couch, humming. Fortunately, she stopped crying but her eyes are still red and swollen for all the crying that she did.
"Sakura? Are you okay, now?"
Sakura smiled brilliantly. "Of course I am"
Tomoyo sighed. 'No use pretending. I can see right through you'
"Tomoyo. I forgot to tell you something"
"What?"
"Ciara told me to ask you" Sakura answered.
"Ask me what?" Tomoyo said.
"Well, she wants me to tell you if you can go and meet her. Tomorrow at ten"
"For what?" Tomoyo asked again.
"I didn't really ask" was Sakura's response. "All I know is that if you agree, you can meet her at the Pancakes Place tomorrow"
"Maybe it has something to do with the wedding gown" Tomoyo mused.
"Must be. She said she's been wanting to contact you but you're always busy"
After a moment of silence...
"Do you think I should do it, Sakura?"
"What do you mean?" Sakura knitted her eyebrows.
"Well, if you don't want me to help her...if it will hurt you, I won't do it" Tomoyo muttered.
"That's not fair, Tomoyo" Sakura replied.
"It's not her fault that some stupid girl didn't return Syaoran's feelings years ago and it's not her doing that Syaoran moved on and fell in love with her" she continued.
Tomoyo nodded.
"So, what's your opinion?"
"I think you should meet her. She's really wonderful and she will make a good friend"
Then Tomoyo looked at Sakura's eyes and immediately felt sympathy.
"Maybe she would want me to make a designed gown for her" Tomoyo then pondered.
"I suppose"
"Sakura...I want you to know that I'm really sorry for what happened"
Then the emerald eyes of the person beside her started leaking out tears again.
"How could I correct a horrible mistake?" Sakura whispered.
"How can I stop a nightmare that keeps me from waking up?"
Tomoyo shook her head.
"I don't like this situation..." she whined.
"Nobody does, Sakura" Tomoyo murmured.
"Syaoran and Ciara...she will soon walk down the aisle" Sakura sniffled.
"Then she will say her vows to the person I love the most..."
'Oh man...' Tomoyo thought.
"If only time was being nice...maybe if I found Syaoran before he found Ciara..."
"Sakura? When did Syaoran and Ciara met?" Tomoyo inquired.
"That's something I didn't get to ask. All I know is that they saw each other in a party" Sakura explained.
Silence occurred again.
"So, what's your final answer? Are you going to see Ciara tomorrow?"
"Yes. I will" said the convinced Tomoyo.
"That's good. Well, I guess I better call her"
"She might be waiting..." she resumed on talking.
She got up, took the piece of paper from her pocket and dialed the numbers.
The phone at the other line rang. It was answered by none other than her bestfriend.
"Syaoran Li here" he said drowsily.
"Syaoran? You're there?" Sakura said quite shocked.
"Oh, who is this?"
"It's me, Sakura. I called to talk to Ciara. Is she there...or I called the wrong number...?"
"No, no, no. Ciara's here. Hang on" he replied softly.
"Okay. Thank you"
Sakura's heart won't stop beating fast...but she can't help but think why Syaoran is at Ciara's house and the jealousy again started to light in her.
"Hello, Sakura? What is it?"
"Tomoyo agreed. She can meet you at the Pancakes Place tomorrow. It's ten, right?"
"That is so great! Thank you so much Sakura! You just made me so glad!" Ciara exclaimed.
"You're welcome" she said.
"Well, can I ask you another favor?" Ciara then questioned.
"What is it?"
"Can you go with Tomoyo tomorrow?"
"Huh?"
"Well, I was thinking that the four of us can get breakfast tomorrow before the fitting of the gown"
"Tomorrow? I don't know..." Sakura is having two thoughts about this...
"Sakura! Tomorrow is Saturday! Please? Syaoran wants you to come too" Ciara whined. "I would really like to know you and your cousin a lot better. Please?"
Sakura thought that there is no more way out. There is no excuse that can help her here...after all, tomorrow is Saturday. Unfortunately for her, there's no work.
"Oh, fine"
"Syaoran is there Ciara?" Sakura continued.
"Yes. Why, do you want to talk to him?"
"No...I was just wondering...what is going on"
Then she heard a giggle.
"There is nothing going on. We are not doing something illegal"
"Ciara! You seem to know everything even if I don't say a thing!" she joked.
"Well, I was born with it" Ciara joked back. "Well, thank you once again! You are the best! Bye. Good night"
Sakura said bye too and put down the phone.
"What did she say?" Tomoyo asked.
"She wants me to go with you tomorrow. I don't want to go..."
"Why not?"
"Tomoyo! What's the point of going there? To see them snuggle next to each other!? To witness Syaoran kiss her in the lips in front of me?"
"I'm sorry...stupid question. It's just that right now, you are the one being unfair. Don't involve them with your emotions. They have no fault in this one. They don't know how you feel"
"That's true..." then she let out a sigh.
"I guess there's no choice but to go" she concluded. "Goodnight, Tomoyo"
Sakura got up from the couch and went to bed, clutching her bag. Once she got upstairs, she flopped on the bed.
"Why did I have to let you go..." Sakura whispered.
"There's a lot of truth with what Ciara said..."
Then she remembered Ciara's remarks.
"I'm so lucky to find Syaoran, Sakura. I know that you know how amazing of a person he is..."
Then she sobbed.
"But Syaoran is there, being so supportive, loving, understanding and caring..."
'Yeah...that's right...that's the Syaoran I know...' Sakura thought.
Then she remembered the one thing that affected her the most;
"... Syaoran is really one of a kind and I will never let go of him. A man like that can only pass you by one in a million times"
'And he already passed me' she sadly told herself.
Sakura cried. All those hopes of being with Syaoran...straight into the canal. Fate was against them. But the question is... why? Now the days will slowly come until they will be married and Sakura will be completely miserable for the rest of her life.
Kisses are forbidden, hugs are limited, looks are just friendly, smiles have to be innocent and most of all, her love is prohibited.
Then she recalled the envelope.
'I wonder what that envelope is'
She got out of bed, wiped off her tears and then looked at the envelope. Then she noticed that the envelope she thought was simple is not so simple anymore.
In front are bold golden letters that says 'Syaoran and Ciara'. She delicately touched the letters with her fingers.
She opened the envelope then gave out a gasp. In it is a beautiful paper, brownish that gave it an old look, making it more wonderful and written on it are magnificent colors of letters styled appropriately for the occasion.
'It's so beautiful' she was amazed.
Then she scanned the paper, her eyes going left to right as she read the contents. Then when she finished reading it, she put it back at the envelope, placed it on her drawer and smiled a watery smile with small crystal tears falling and rolling down at her cheeks.
"...I'm invited to my bestfriend's wedding..." she whispered sadly.
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This is so sad. My eyes were watery when I typed this. Maybe you are wondering if this is an SS?...let's just say have a little faith... that's all it takes.
Next: Ciara is going to Japan. And someone...an old friend will come and visit Hong Kong so that the four will have an unforgettable reunion.
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