Dilemma
/- CHAPTER II - Love Is Sacrifice -/
It is the beginning of the high school's summer break. All students were given three weeks off school. Sakura and Madison spends their first day of holidays at work. Both girls has the same work schedules, and since it was Saturday, they both had to start work at 1:30 in the afternoon and finish at 9:30 at night. However, they get two thirty-minute breaks: at 4o'clock and also at 7o'clock.
Sakura and Madison both enjoy working at 'Glitter Bar', which is a combination of food and drink, pool board and karaoke bar.
Sakura was taking orders and Madison was wiping a table when two familiar faces entered the bar and sat on a long semi-circle seat around a table. Both Sakura and Madison noticed these two people and gazed at each other. They then finished off what they were currently doing and headed towards that table…
Sakura: wow! You guys, good timing!
It was her boyfriend and Eli.
Eric: laughs oh, really? winks
Eric and Eli both gave their beautiful girlfriends a kiss on the lips.
Eli: this time, we brought you's some Chinese take away…
Madison: …?
Eli: and of course, some sushi for my beloved smiles
Madison: yay!
The girls were both exhausted and starved, although, they are slightly relieved because this was their second break. Pretty soon, Sakura and Madison finished their meals.
Eric: damn… laughs you are hungry!
Sakura: HEY! frowns
Eric: awwww… Ya look so cute when you do that! Come here babe!
Eric reached out and gently pulled over Sakura's arm and gave her a warm embrace.
Sakura: I want to stay in his arms forever… blushes
Their long thirty-minute break ended and soon it was time for Sakura and Madison to finish their shifts. Both girls changed their clothes in the dressing room and waited outside in the parking lot for Madison's driver. A black limo came and dropped Sakura home...
(( x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x ))
Sakura: thanks Madison! Come over early tomorrow, okay?
Madison: k! bye Sakura!
The black limo drove off and Sakura headed to their mailbox.
Sakura: naww.. there's no mail!
Sakura headed towards their front door. She was about to search for the keys in her bag when she saw a pair of shoes.
Sakura: oh good! Dad's home! smiles
She sat on the steps and began taking off her sandals. As she lunged to pick up her sandals, she turned to her left and saw another pair of shoes.
Sakura: gasps Tori's here!.. yays
Sakura quickly came in the house.
Sakura: Dad! I'm home! OH my god! Tori's here!
She walked towards their kitchen where she could smell a delicious taste.
Sakura: Dad! Tor…
Sakura lost hold of her sandals and dropped them on the floor.
Dad/Aiden: I guess you haven't seen him in a while… smiles...
Sakura's eyes started to feel heavy. She began to feel an unknown pain in her chest.
Sakura: no…way… It can't be…. It just can't be!
Sakura released her tears.
Sakura: Li!
She rushed to him and gave him a long, emotional hug. She could not stop crying. Her emotions were mixed. She was shocked and was feeling happy at the same time as feeling nervous, scared and a little incensed. She could also feel a very sharp pain in her chest.
Dad: I'll leave you two alone. Both Li and I made you your favourite dish, so, help your self. smiles Well, goodnight Sakura, goodnight Li. It's nice to see you here again.
Aiden left the kitchen and headed to his bedroom up the second storey of the house. Both Sakura and Li sat across and facing each other on the chairs around the dinning table.
Li: How have you been… Sakura?
Those five words were the first words that came out of his mouth. His voice was attractive and mature, yet it sounded like an angel's voice.
Sakura: ….I've.. I've been good Li…
Sakura's tears could not stop flowing down her cherry and supple cheeks.
Sakura: sobs Can… Can we please… go to the park..?
(( x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x ))
Sakura and Li arrived at the park, where they both once were, together. They sat on a bench under the dimness of a cherry blossom tree, beneath the shade of the crescent moon.
Sakura: Li…. All these years…
Sakura couldn't do anything but to let go of her tears. Li faced her saddened and crying face. He then carefully and slowly wiped his warm fingers on Sakura's frigid cheeks. Sakura looked at his face. He is handsome. More handsome than we was. His beautiful brown eyes are looking straight at her.
Li: …Strangely, my sister was ill for two whole years. No normal doctors were able to do anything about it, so, my mother tried to cure her with some incantations. But nothing worked, that's when she found out that it was incurable… My sister thoughtlessly cast a love spell on a guy she liked, not knowing that the guy was protected by a powerful spell by his mistress and if anyone casts a spell on him, they shall feel miserable for two whole years. We prayed for her life each night because if she gave up, she will past away. But we were strong and she was also strong and now… she's alright…
Li paused. Sakura's teardrops went lesser and lesser as Li explained about his sister's condition. She was shocked within her self but was quite relieved for Li's sister.
Li: I had a chance to come back here two years ago… but it would've only been temporary. I decided... I want to live here in Tokyo when I'm older. I asked my mother and she said yes but only if I show her that I am capable of taking care of my self and others. So, I trained my self, mentally and physically, for six months. Mother gave my some money, but I knew I needed more, so, I worked full-time for the whole one and a half-year and saved all of my salary. My body was to give-up, but I knew I had to do it… at least for you…
Sakura: but why didn't you contact me two years ago?…
Li: because I didn't want you to wait and worry Sakura… You had a beautiful life. I couldn't take that away from you
Sakura's eyes watered again as she heard such words.
Sakura: he didn't want me to suffer like he did… Two years of pain… He sacrificed his freedom and happiness for me… for two whole years…?..
Sakura's tears once again flowed down her cheeks as the agony in her chest went stronger. Li tenderly embraced his beloved. It was a moment of passion. Sakura felt his warm temperature as he embraces her even more.
Li: I've been wishing to be with you again…
Sakura's heart melted. She slightly pulled away, looked up to Li and saw his eyes watery. For the past four years, she kept her true feelings to her self. She still loved him…very much. She loves him more than she loved him four years ago. She was so happy to be on his side.
Sakura: blushes I really do still love him…
Their eyes were looking straight at each other's. They both knew they share the same feeling towards one another. They slowly leant towards each other, with their eyes closed, as their lips approached each other's…
With fright, Sakura swiftly unclosed her eyes. Li then opened his eyes. He was bewildered.
Li: what's wrong Sakura?…
Sakura: I can't…
Li was shocked. He was afraid this would happen. Sakura separated herself away and began to stare at the ground. She remembered about her boyfriend.
Sakura: Li… I have a relationship… with someone else… I don't wanna hurt him…
Li: it's ok, Sakura… I understand. I'm sorry, it's my fault…
Sakura: no! It's my fault Li! I knew!… But I… cries …Please don't think I was only playing along with you, because I wasn't…
Li: of course.. I don't think that. You're not like that, Sakura. Besides, it's your life… As long as you're happy, then I'm happy too smiles
Sakura: blushes oh Li! hugs Li and chuckles
Li respected Sakura and was not mad about her decision of having another boyfriend. Although, deep inside his heart was torn into millions of pieces. He had been preparing for this situation and thought that he would cope easily, but he couldn't. It was hard for him yet he was able to keep it inside…
Sakura cheerfully told Li about her life being a waitress and a high school student. She also told him about Eric. Although she felt awkward, she knew she had to. Sakura also told him about the others (Madison & Eli, Ruby and Tori, Julian, Kero and Spinner). Li then shared the funny and humiliating bits about him working in all these part-time jobs. He also told her some news about Meilin.
Hours have passed and soon it was all ready 2:09 in the morning.
Li: whoaw… We've been up here for a while!
Sakura: giggles……… OH NO! I have work today!
Li: … you work on Sunday's?
Sakura: ! …oh yeah.. it's Sunday today.. sweat-drops Nah! giggles I have no work!
Li walked Sakura home.
Sakura: thanks, Li… blushes
Li: it's ok
Sakura: please come at my house today around 11am coz Madison and the others will be here too
Li: sure! I'd be happy to see them again… And also, I'd like to meet Eric… Sakura, I think it'd be best for him and us to not tell him about our past…unless he asks…
Sakura: yeah…ok… pauses Li, it's nice seeing you again…
Li: it's nice to see you again too… You've become more beautiful, Sakura… smiles
Sakura: blushes thank you Li!
Sakura couldn't help but to hug Li. She then kissed him on the cheeks as a token of her gratitude.
Li: thanks Sakura.. blushes… Sleep well, okay?
Sakura: blushes you too Li. Bye-bye!
Li headed to a pay phone and called a cab to go back to his hotel. Sakura went in her house. She still couldn't believe her long lost beloved is back…
l-- - - - - - - (( x-x- Message from the author -x-x )) - - - - - - --l
Hai-hai! Heh…I guess I lied. I couldn't take not publishing the second chapter…I mean, Seriously, even I'm not interested in my 1st chapter… I'm currently stuck with assessments and summative block exams… It's a total bummer, really... Due to secluded reasons… Heh… :P
-PSM-chan