Chapter III : The Best of Friends
"Dear Journal,
It's been almost a month since I landed foot on British land. Let me tell you this has been the most wonderful and rich experience I ever had so far. It's totally different from living in Tomoeda. I love that nice, little town but the environment here has me all intoxicated with its dynamism and life. There are just so much things to do and to look at that it's practically impossible to be bored. I might be fussing a lot about this but what else can I do? I've learned to thrive in the little details. Details are what makes the difference. For me, someone who doesn't have that spicy touch in life, to bask in the little details has become a necessity." It's about time I confront myself.
"I used to fake my happiness all the time and became painfully aware that to do so is a tiring and naughty business. However, practice makes perfect and you reach a state in which you start to believe your own lie. But now I know better! I'm perfectly content with myself, sweetheart or not, and will live life at its fullest. We have such short lifespans and there's absolutely no need to waste the gift of life longing and suffering for what we don't or can't have. Besides, you'll be surprised to know how many things you have that others don't; and I'm not talking about material posessions here."
"About other things, Hiiragizawa-kun is my best friend and a great support to me. Sometimes we unknowingly thread on dangerous paths but we have a mutual agreement now that is going well on us. We won't ask, nor even wonder about our deepest secrets and personal life. It's like an invisible but tangible wall built between us to know where the one ends and the other begins, effectively delimiting our territories, intimacy and individuality."
"Mother asks so very often to meet this nice gentleman but there's always something that prevents us from doing so. Our debate teacher assigned us a project in which we'll work this week and I'm planning on introducing him to kaa-san; that's if she manages to come home before midnight."
"In the previous paragraphs I wrote that I'm content with my bachelorette status, however I still feel a bit blue sometimes. Specially now when lots of relationships are blossoming everywhere. I just hope with all my heart for the flowers to grow strong and stand whatever it might come to them. I'm not an hypocrite. This is the tiredness messing with brain.
Love,
Daidouji Tomoyo."
With the books already in the studio, I just apply some lip-gloss and slip on a pair of house-slippers (I was barefooted before) before joining my male guest in the study.
"Good afternoon Eriol-kun!" I beam at him. "As punctual as a clock... No wonder you're half British!" Giggling a little at his amused face.
"Hello Malady!... Are you ready to begin?" He asks pulling out some books from his satchel. "Nakuru sends this to you," tossing a bag of chocolates to me.
"How nice of her! Please tell her I said thanks," opening the transparent bag and placing a chocolate bear inside my mouth. "Have you thought about the topic we'll use?" Savouring carefully the sweet, creamy thing. Yup, I'm in cloud nine.
"Yes, of course... I wrote down some suggestions you might like to look at," handing me a clipboard with ruled paper and neat handwriting on it. "Did you do your homework?" He asked in a fatherly voice.
I take seat, indian-style, in the black leather sofa and examine the thing in hand "Well..."
"Well?... What's that supposed to mean Tomoyo-san?" He asked with a stern look. A scary look.
"I didn't have much time with all the club things going on!" I'm quick to defend myself. "Did you already forget I'm the English Literature Club President?" I swear I'm pouting. "However, I managed to do my homework... See? I'm a good girl!" Looking for another chocolate bear to salvage in my mouth.
Eriol just smirks and walks towards me to then place a hand over my head and toss my hair as any parent would do. "I couldn't be more proud of you, my child," leaving my hair all messy.
"I know papa... Now let's get down to work." Combing the purplish hair with my fingers and securing it with some Boby pins conveniently stored in my pant pockets and a pencil I took from the desk.
We decided to use the Clonation as our main topic of the debate assignment because it's very controversial and the discussion between science and religion seems interesting enough to prevent us from slacking off or worse, falling asleep before the task it done!. Eriol did the research in the old way, meaning the books, leaving me with all kinds of modern resources: Internet and multimedia encyclopaedias.
After almost an entire evening of seclusion in the study room; with just small breaks for the mid-afternoon tea and cupcakes that Marie, my personal saint, kindly prepared for us; we managed to finish up the assignment. We are really fast workers and the best team ever. I used to pair up with Sakura-chan, and she was really helpful, but also easy to get distracted and once she lost concentration it was really difficult to get her back on track.
"Thank God we're done!" I cry out dropping the pencil on stainless-steel with a glass surface (a real pain to clean up, let me tell you) and stretching in the tall leather chair that makes you feel all powerful. Though it looks a little bit stiff, it's very comfortable and fits your body so nicely as if you were held by a lover's arms. "It's not like I resent working with you Eriol-kun but this was too much. I think I'll dream about sheep and cells tonight!" Looking at him with tired eyes.
He just takes off his glasses and places them on the desk, closing his eyes and straightening up in the chair. "Me too... When I read the terms of the assignment I didn't think it would be this troublesome." He sighs heavily and opens his deep-blue eyes, locking them with mine.
God, he surely has beautiful eyes! And just exactly where did that come from? I relax and try hard not to blush at the way he looks at me. Just then I hear the front door closing shut. "I believe kaa-san is home... She finally has the chance to meet the fine gentleman!"
Eriol wakes up from his dreamy state, immersed in his own thoughts to then smile at me, putting on his glasses.
"You should get contacts." I say matter-of-factly collecting the stuff over the desk trying to fix the mess.
"Nah, glasses makes me look interesting." He says with a sly smile and sexy voice.
I just arch an eyebrow. "Whatever you say Mister United Kingdom."
A slender woman with mahogany-brown hair (that under the right light seems red), rich purple-blue eyes and seductive red lips (those are killer lips, I tell you! I almost laughed my head off one day in a Board of Directors meeting. She just smiled the right way and the men became puddles in their chairs!) walked in dressed up in a black, stylish, business suit that brings out her pale skin.
"Good night Sir., hello sweetie... How was your day?... You guys studied a lot?" She greets effusively kissing me atop the head and giving me a one armed embrace. "You must be Hiiragizawa-kun right?... My daughter has told me everything about you!"
"Good night Ma'am, Hiiragizawa Eriol at your service... Such an honour it is" He says bowing gracefully for her. I bet kaa-san is certainly enjoying this.
"My, my... Such a nice gentleman!" She exclaims with content eyes. "I'm Daidouji Sonomi, my pleasure." Smiling at him, who is at her eye level and keeps an aura of distinction around him. These two gill get along wonderfully.
"Tomoyo, dear, we'll have dinner in five minutes... I'll wait for you in the dinning room." Okaasan says moving away from me and I suddenly feel cold.
"The dining room?" I ask confused.
"Yes dear, we have visits so the dining room it is." She answers me and walks out the study, closing the door noiselessly behind her.
"You really know how to make good first impressions Eriol-kun," I smirk at him and continue doing my previous task, "okaasan is loves you." I comment with a playfully voice and he blushes a little.
"Oh really?... I think I love her too. She is a great Lady... No wonder why you are the way you are..." He says looking at me with his famous smile, while taking his books from the pile I collected.
"Is that a compliment?... I feel so flattered. The most sought-after boy in school says such things about me!... I think I won't sleep today because of the impression!" I reply, playing every inch one of his fangirls.
"Very funny Tomoyo-san," shoving his books inside his naval-blue bag, "besides, it's not my fault every girl in school has this kind of addiction towards me." He says with the tone I've long since dubbed don't blame me because I'm so handsome.
"Oh shut up!... And it sure isn't your fault to be known as the heartbreaker among them?" Logging off from my MSN Messenger account.
"At least I don't toy around with them." Closing the bag and placing it over a chair.
He's got a point, I must admit. "True," that's all I say to it, "let's go to the dinning room... I'm starving!"
"You know... There's something that keeps on nagging at me... How is it that you are so slim with all the things you eat?" I hear him ask with innocent, fake curiosity.
I frown at him. "What a mean thing to say Eriol-kun!... Well, it's not my fault to be graced with the body of a goddess and a provileged metabolism!" Remembering his previous tone of voice.
He just smirked and followed me to the aforementioned room in completely silence.
The next day mother just talked about how incredibly this young man, known as Eriol-kun, was and how perfect he was for me. Of course I dismissed the topic before things could get any more embarrassing. I'm glad okaasan understood the nature of the relationship Eriol-kun and I share and seemed comfortable with it.
I told her a little about his life, as a child, and I can tell she felt truly sorry for him. Growing up without parents is hard. She always says she doesn't know how I grew up to be such a perfect daughter without a father and barely knowing my own mother. Our relationship now can't be any better, we are mother and daughter, sisters and friends; but I don't forget who the boss is.
Though I always try to keep my cool, there are times when I lose my mind and say really bad things that hurt her. Who said that being a teenager was easy?... But I can't always hide behind such a lame excuse. So I work hard keeping my emotions in check. To be an Ice Queen (as I've been dubbed) really takes a lot of energy to suppress your rage, passions and emotions but it comes easier and easier once you get used to it and your way of thinking becomes more mental than visceral. It's only then when you know that you've achieved your goal.
However, even Ice Queens have their time to relax and that's what Eriol-kun is to me. I don't need to be defensive or fake in front of him, though I can't seem to let down all my barriers either. It's something unconcious. We understand and balance each other. He makes my life full of pretences lighter and easier to live. When I'm around him is like I don't have a care in the world. That's why I love him so much. He's a balm to my soul.
Nakuru and Spinel also became an important part in my life. The Sun Guardian is like a big brother to me, but then he transforms into your every day pet (though Eriol insists that it only happens with me). He knows how to give comfort, advices and how to disappear when needed. Nakuru, in the other hand, is the personification of living la vida loca; but sometimes she has her points and can be very helpful and persuasive. It amazes me how serious she can be about certain matters. She changes from a caring big sister to a cheerful little girl whose only care in the world is keep her pet Suppi-chan in a sugar high.
I can't help but love both of them dearly.
I was watering the flowers in the terrace when suddenly somebody covered my eyes with a hand making me jump in surprise and drop the watering can half-full with water on the hardwood floor. If not by the scent of this person, I wouldn't have recognized it.
"Eriol-kun! Why would you do that for? Look at the mess you made!"
I only heard his rich, deep laugh and then something like I got you between gasps.
"Please pass me that towel over there... God, you're helpless Eriol-kun!" Taking the can from the floor and placing it on a nearby table. Once I cleaned the mess up the best I could, I turned to look at him, seated at the edge of the handrail with a grin that matched a Cheshire's cat.
"What happened here?" Asked okaa-san entering the terrace with her arms full of papers and folders.
"Nothing, Eriol-kun just scared the living daylights out of me." I answer with both hands on the hips.
"Eriol-kun, don't be a naughty boy!" She says with a straight face though her eyes give her all away.
"I promise I'll be good and don't do that ever again." he replied with his hand over his heart.
"Good!... Now you two please come with me, I need some help." And she walked away.
That evening, the hours before and after dinner were spent in the study room with a stack of paper at either side of us helping mom to work through them. She confides in our judgment and knowledge enough as to let us do some of her paperwork and she even said that we could be very successful in the business world. Obviously she thinks too highly of us and we work hard to not let her down.
She had almost adopted Eriol-kun as her son and Nakuru and Spinel could be found frequently in the penthouse. The same applies for me. When I'm not at home, I'm with him. We are really close.
"Any plans for tomorrow?" Eriol-kun asked out of the blue after drinking his iced tea.
"Want to go out with me, niichan?" I smile sweetly at him. "I have this meeting at the Buckingham Palace for the English Literature Club." I say with tiredness in my voice. This week has been hell!
"You've got to be kidding!" He says surprised. "I mean, I haven't heard anybody say they have a meeting at the Palace," then a smirk forms on his lips, "I think the Prince has a liking of you." His voice low and daring.
I can't help myself but laugh. Laugh good heartedly. There's no way a person like him might like me!... Well, maybe there could be but I don't care.
"Feeling jealous Eriol-kun?" I reply with my own voice an octave below the normal soprano, making it sound seductive. To increase the effect I bent my head towards his until there are just two inches between us.
For a millisecond I think I saw him nervous but then his cool mask covered his emotions. "Why do you think I could be jealous of you?" A smirk on his lips. "Aren't we thinking too highly of ourselves?"
I remember something said in a movie and reply, "Because you think I'm gorgeous, you want to date, you want to kiss me, and you want to marry me." With a sing-song voice and the sweetest of all smiles.
He smirks evilly but then drew back. "I think the cholesterol of your daily, unhealthy, dosis of chocolate has finally clogged up your brain." Turning his attention to his Snickers chocolate bar. As if he's one to talk! "What is it you have to do there anyway?"
I sit down again. "Well, since we are studying United Kingdom's greatest poetry of the Victorian Era he offered the Palace's library and the help of one of his personal tutors." Opening my M&M package. What can I say? I'm a confessed addict!
"I see..." His voice seemed distant, though that must be my imagination "Wish you luck, who knows and maybe Your Majesty likes you enough to be her grandson's fiancée." There's that sly smirk again.
"Yeah, who knows?" Smirking back, immersed in the pleasure of good chocolate.
Tsutsuku
