Chapter 10 – Another's Problem

Her heart thumped. Why did he say…that? She momentarily shut her eyes. That was a deadly serious thing to say and it worried the heck out of her. She almost snapped in surprise. "What?"

"Huh?"

"What'd you just say?"

Syaoran blinked. "I didn't say anything."

"Syaoran," she began, a little annoyed. "You said…you said—"

He then realized he'd said those words out loud. "Wait, you heard me?"

Sakura frowned. "Well…"

"I didn't mean it." With a firm shake of his head, he straightened on the couch. "Forget what I said."

She raised an eyebrow. Something was going on here. Sakura shifted her body and glared at him. She intended to find out why he would say something like that. Was he going to…to do something?? Like… she shuddered at the thought of suicide. "I-I think in some way you did want me to hear it," she hesitated. "Something's wrong. Just…tell me what it is," she urged. "Please."

Syaoran looked deep into her eyes, fighting with himself. He couldn't say it. He just couldn't. "It's nothing," he assured. "No big deal."

"I don't think so," she replied, frowning deeply at him. "I know something's bothering you. I see it in your eyes," she said, a little more stern now. "You can't get yourself out of this, Syaoran. I know when you lie and when you don't, so just tell me."

He sighed and brushed a hand over his face. "You're not going to let go of this, huh?"

She glared.

"I made a mistake saying that out loud."

"Depends on how you look at it," she said tightly.

"I won't burden you with my problems, ok? I didn't exactly come here to…to tell you anything. I just wanted to see you," he amended, telling the truth.

"You couldn't have expected me to welcome you with open arms looking horrible and exhausted without worrying about what happened to you," she said dubiously.

"Well, no," he began. "I don't know—…the thing is-…I mean-…wait-" Syaoran stopped. She got him. "I…didn't think hard enough then."

Sakura glared again. "Stop going around in circles. Just say it."

With a deep breath, Syaoran agreed, but made a little change in the way he was going to say it. "Ok, fine."

"Thank you," she breathed a little easier.

"I have a friend," he began, swallowing a hard lump in his throat. "A very…close friend in Hong Kong."

She stared at him quite intently.

"And, uh…he said that…" Syaoran bit his tongue. "His family, a lot like mine, you know, rich and first-class. They've been pressuring him into marrying somebody he doesn't love…" he scoffed. "Hell, doesn't even know."

Taken aback by this, Sakura frowned. "Why did they do that?"

"What?" He glanced at her. "Oh, you know how-how some families, uh," he swallowed. "See, in Hong Kong, a lot of families still follow the old traditions." He explained. "And one of the old traditions was to marry your son…or daughter…off to someone for business purposes when they're born. So my friend," he said quietly, "was one of those sons. His parents told him about the arranged marriage before they died of old age, and you know, of course, not knowing about this, he reacted like hell. I was the only person he went to," Syaoran breathed deeply, hoping Sakura wouldn't know he was lying through his teeth deliberately, "so I kept his secret."

"That's why you said it wasn't any of my business," she murmured, understanding everything. "I'm sorry if I pressured you into telling me, Syaoran."

His eyes widened at her apology. "Why?"

"Well, you know," she looked terribly ashamed of herself. Syaoran's guilt doubled. "You're obviously just thinking about what to do with this problem that doesn't deal with you, and here I was, pressuring you into saying to me what really is none of my business."

He shook his head. "No. No, you made me realize I have to tell somebody, because I don't know what the hell I'm going to do about it."

"I thought it was about you and that you wanted to tell someone about it out loud. I didn't realize-…" She frowned. "Wait, why do you have to do something about it?"

Uh-oh. Syaoran thought hard for a lie. "Uh…uh, because he's my best friend…and he needs my help."

Looking a little skeptical, Sakura watched him for a few more moments, and then sighed. "Anyway, I thought you were just trying to keep it all in. I didn't think it was about someone else…so I'm sorry for-"

"No it's all right," he said tightly, the guilt just multiplying by every apologetic word that came out of her mouth. "But I do need to tell someone about it, because I can't figure out how to help him." he thought back to where he stopped. "Ok, anyway, he's getting married in a few months…and I'm the best man. I don't want him spending the rest of his life miserable."

"I see," she whispered.

"And that's not the only thing."

"What is it?" She asked, highly worried for the man now.

"He, uh…he went to America for a few weeks two months ago," he added to further hide the truth, "and he met someone."

Her eyes widened. "He did?"

"And he's in love with her." He faced her, his eyes boring holes into hers.

At one point, Sakura almost felt like the words were meant for her. She blinked, trying to rid herself of those thoughts. "What did he do?" She asked quietly, fearing for Syaoran's friend.

"Nothing yet," he replied. "He…called me and asked me for help."

Sakura looked away. "Hmm…that is some situation."

"Right," he muttered, sitting back on the couch. "Sounds like a love story out of a fairy tale, doesn't it?"

She managed a little smile.

"So, what do you think?" He asked, sobering up.

"I'm not sure I'm the right person to go to with that kind of problem," she murmured. "But this friend of yours…is he really in love with that woman?"

Syaoran looked away. "He's not sure, but he thinks so."

"Well…is there any possible way he can get out of this marriage?"

"I don't know. I think, uh, if I'm right, if the groom and bridehave someone else to marry," Syaoran replied dejectedly. "And the two families approve."

Sakura frowned. "I feel bad for him…and the women involved. I definitely wouldn't want to be the person he'd be in love with," she murmured.

"If you were, I think I'd beat the crap out of him," Syaoran muttered involuntarily, thinking that she was the woman in his life. So basically, I'd just beat the crap out of myself…

Her cheeks returned a rose pink color. "Thanks…I think."

"I don't know what he's going to do," he admitted, leaning forward and clasping his hands together. "He can't leave the girl, but he doesn't have a choice. He doesn't want to get married to somebody else, either, but again, he doesn't have a choice."

"How about you don't think about this for now?" She brought up silently.

He glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

"Your friend, he has his own life. I'm guessing, since you're friends, he's a smart man. He'll figure out what to do. I'd rather not see you get this upset over someone else's problems. I might sound selfish right now…and I think I am, but he's not your problem, Syaoran. All you can do is listen to him…let him think about it for himself."

Syaoran took a deep breath. "I don't know…"

"When he calls you again, just help him out through the little problems, but don't make the decision for him. It won't help at all." Sakura advised.

"I know." So he was alone in this. How am I going to get through this??

"So…" with a weary smile, Sakura's face lit up. "Did we just get into a fight over this man and his problem?"

He looked up, deciding to forget it for now, and enjoyed the smile on her pretty face. "I'm thinking, yeah."

"I don't understand why you'd say something so serious…about a friend, though," she said thoughtfully.

He raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

Sakura shrugged. "You said that sometimes you get why life's worth living by looking at me," her cheeks warmed. "As flattered as I am about that…it's so serious. Are you very close with him?"

Syaoran swallowed, realizing everything he'd said before lying. "Mm." After a few minutes of silence, Syaoran stood up. "I should go." He had no idea what to say about that.

Disappointment hit Sakura like a brick. "Already?"

His eyebrows rose half an inch, but he glanced up at the clock. "It's already been 2 hours. I'm tired out," he said with his own weary smile.

Sakura stood up as well, hiding her disappointment, which didn't work out as well as she hoped. "All right."

"Hey," slowly his hand cupped her chin, raising her head to look at him. "We'll see each other again. The world's not that big." He teased, trying to loosen up.

Sakura managed a quiet laugh. "Ironic how you were the one exhausted coming over but by the time you leave, I'm the one who's exhausted."

"I'm tired too," he replied. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you for telling me."

He looked at her and slowly nodded. "I'll call you tomorrow." Syaoran stood outside, hesitating to leave.

"Ok," she watched him turn around. "Oh, wait." He turned back again.

"What?"

"Tomorrow's Saturday. I'm not going to be working at the diner, but I have to go to work for a few days."

"To school?" He asked, exhaustion leaving him for the moment.

She nodded. "I'm in charge of the daycare center for now." She looked down at her feet and then back at his eyes. "Would you like to come?"

"Really? It's ok for me to go?"

"If you want to."

"He sent a crooked grin her way. Her heart made a flip-flop. "Sure. Little kids, right?"

"Three to six-year-olds," Sakura said, holding the door knob for balance.

"Ok, I'll be there."

"You're really sure?" She tried not to sound too excited.

He nodded. "As long as you want me there."

"I do," she replied. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"All right. What time?"

"Come over here at 8:30 am. Is that good or too early?"

"It's good enough," Syaoran said. "How long will you be there?"

"It depends on how long the kids stay with us. When I did it last year, some children were there for more than 8 hours, but it never went over 11." She explained. "All we have to do is take care of them, cook them food at the appropriate times, let them out to the playground for no more than 2 hours, and just be parents." Her explanation made her stomach feel funny. "Sort of." She added immediately.

Syaoran nodded. "And…how many kids are we talking about here?"

"About 10."

"That's not bad," he observed.

"Again, it depends on the days. Sometimes 10, sometimes 20."

He paled a little. That's a lot of kids to take care of.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to, Syaoran," Sakura spoke lightly, amused at the expressions falling in his face at every word she'd said.

"No, no, I want to," he straightened his posture. "Anyway, let's continue this tomorrow."

"Ok," she replied, letting go of the knob, feeling like her legs no longer needed support. "Just be prepared for the worst," she called as he began to walk away.

Syaoran turned back, sending her a knee-weakening grin that knocked her off her feet. Great. "With you there, I won't need to."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" She asked lightly, holding onto the wall by her door.

"It means I know you'll do a great job with the kids, so I won't need to worry about any bad thing happening," he answered, his eyes twinkling.

"Why do I have the feeling that's not the right answer?" She asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest and leaning out her door.

Syaoran grinned again. "Feel what you like, sweetheart. I'll see you tomorrow." He turned to the elevators.

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Sakura shook her head as she closed the door behind her. That had been the most hectic, most chaotic day she'd ever had. She never thought it was possible to feel so many emotions in one single day, feeling different ones in the span of minutes. She fell on her bed, looking out of the window, thinking of their conversation. Some things didn't add up with Syaoran…but she didn't want to think about it. She was happy. After a long, long time of holding back and feeling incredibly lonely, she was happy. Syaoran's touches, comments, compliments, banters, and smiles made her heart jump and made her all the more happy. With a small sigh, Sakura stood up just in time to see him get into his car. She bit her lip and thought of what would happen if and when he did leave. Even now, after some of the words he'd said that hurt her, her heart broke at the thought. All his bad traits were outweighed by his good ones, and that was what sucked.

Still, her mind drifted to the following day. How would he be with kids? Of course, she was used to the noise and racket they made. At first, you'd think they were cute little angels with absolutely nothing but happiness to spread and then, cookies and chips came out and the world came to a breakdown. How would he handle that kind of situation? She hoped her life he would be great with kids. Even if nothing would happen between them, it was still something Sakura needed to know for herself. She had no idea why. All she knew for now was that she just had the longest conversation with anybody since 6 years ago. Six years ago, Syaoran hurt her in the worst possible way. Now, she wasn't so sure he wouldn't hurt her again, but he'd been so amazing with her. One would think he was making it up after all that pain he made her go through. Sakura's eyes slowly closed, tired of thoughts that had no connections whatsoever colliding with each other. It was time to forget everything and just look forward to tomorrow.

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To be continued…