Chapter 11 – Pre-School Jitters
Syaoran touched the back of his head, smoothing his hair as he came to a stop in front of Sakura's building. It was only 8:00am and he hadn't eaten breakfast, but the idea of children and Sakura made him sleepless the whole night. Actually, the thought of spending possibly an entire day with Sakura was what made him toss and turn at night. He shut off the engine and got out of his car, walking over to the phone box at the front. He pressed the button to her room once, but got no answer. Was he too early? He thought again. He pressed it once more, and finally she answered.
"Syaoran?" Her voice spoke through.
"Sorry I'm too early," he replied embarrassedly.
"It's ok. I was just cooking breakfast. Come on up."
"All right," he opened the door as soon as she buzzed him in.
When he arrived, the door was unlocked, so he went in and smelled the wonderful smell of sizzling breakfast. Sakura greeted from behind the wall in the kitchen as she prepared the food. He grinned as he saw her cooking another egg for him. She wore an apron over her clothes, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, and her feet bare of any shoes. He leaned on the wall and watched her cook, appreciating the view. She reminded him of the times he imagined if they ever would get married and how she would look as a wife. She definitely looked the part. Syaoran noticed her cheeks reddening. With a small hint of a smile, he walked over to her and tucked in a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"You look good," he said close to her ear.
She felt herself shiver under his gaze. Sakura's heart pounded in her eyes. "I don't even look presentable," she murmured as she placed the cooked egg on a small plate.
The pulse in her throat jumped. "That's why you look good," he replied softly, his hand resting on the small of her back. "Simple and beautiful."
Obviously breathless by his words, she looked up at him. He smiled and let go of her, grabbing the food from her hands, realizing that she'd still been stunned by his compliment. Then, as if something had touched her, Sakura blinked, trembling for a moment. She turned around and found Syaoran looking at her. Sakura felt herself go warm all over. She cleared her throat. "Have you eaten breakfast?"
He shook his head.
"Then come eat with me," she walked over to him, mustering up all the courage she had, and took his arm. "I cooked another egg for you in case."
A chuckle rose out of him. "I noticed. Thanks."
--- --- ---
As soon as they arrived at the daycare center in the elementary school, Syaoran went through an internal panic attack. These were kids! He hadn't been around kids for…what, more than 10 years? Syaoran swallowed as they went up the steps, entering the building. Sakura glanced over at him with a comforting smile, which made him less nervous, but the idea of taking care of kids for a whole day just started dawning on him. Then, all of a sudden, he saw a big room with about 20 little kids running and jumping around, laughing and yelling. He felt a jolt of panic. A woman appeared in front of them.
"Sakura!" She hugged the auburn-haired woman in front of her. "How are you?"
"I'm doing great," Sakura answered with an easy smile. "How about you, Tamaki?"
"I feel good," Tamaki glanced behind her. Her eyes widened in appreciation and curiosity. "And who is he?" She asked lowly to Sakura.
Sakura glanced back and saw Syaoran staring at the kids about two meters from them. "He's-he's a friend of mine, who visited from Hong Kong. Syaoran," she called his name.
He blinked out of some sort of trance and glanced at her. "What?"
"I'd like you to meet someone," Sakura introduced them. "This is Tamaki Hiraki. She's a volunteer daycare helper. Tamaki, this is Syaoran Li."
Syaoran leaned forward and took out his hand. "Good to meet you," he said with a grin.
Tamaki's heart skipped a beat. "Hi," she shook his strong, firm hand. "It's…nice to meet you too."
Sakura felt a prickle of something in her heart. Hmm. Could it have been jealousy? She shook her head firmly. No way. She was not and never would be a jealous person. "So how many kids are here today?" She asked, interrupting the little gaze shared between the two.
Syaoran glanced at the kids again, touching his throat.
Tamaki, a little distracted by this, had to force herself to look back at Sakura. "About fifteen kids from ages 3 to 7." She sent them a sympathetic look. "But…as much as I want to stay," she looked at Syaoran for this. "I have to go…"
With a little more than relief washing over her, Sakura nodded. "We'll see you tonight, then."
Tamaki nodded in dismay. "It was good to see you again. Nice to meet you, Syaoran," she greeted.
Syaoran looked back at her. "Oh, yeah, same here."
As soon as Tamaki left, Sakura sighed and turned to face him, biting her lip. "What do you think of her?" She couldn't help but ask.
"Of who?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Tamaki."
"Oh," he shrugged. "I don't know. She's nice."
"That's…it?"
"What, uh, are you looking for out of me?" He asked again, sending her a peculiar look.
Sakura's eyes widened. "Nothing. I-I just thought you'd think she was…pretty or something."
"Ohh." A mischievous glint appeared in his eye. "She is attractive," he agreed, realizing Sakura looked just a little jealous. "And I must say…pretty hot."
Her heart gave a painful squeeze. "Really?" She squeaked.
Seeing the discomfort in her face, Syaoran grinned and moved just a little closer to her. "You think I'm into her?"
Her cheeks reddened as she backed up a little. "N-no…I don't know." Sakura looked away. "Are you?"
Syaoran placed a finger beneath her chin and tipped her face up to look at him. A tone of seriousness entered his voice. "I told you once I'd never be able to look at any other woman the way I do at you," he said softly. "That's never going to change."
She felt a jolt deep in her gut.
Suddenly, his face relaxed. "Now come on," he released his hold, placing a casual arm around her waist. "I'm shaking in my pants here. I need to meet these kids before I break out in a sweat," he said playfully.
Sakura found her voice unable to work after that comment. Stiffly, she nodded and walked to the room, trying her hardest to calm her pounding heart.
--- --- ---
"Hi Mister," a little boy walked up to Syaoran, who was sitting in the corner of the room. He held his hands behind his back and looked up at him shyly.
Syaoran grinned, looking at the kid who looked so much like him when he was a kid. "What's up, little man?"
"Can you come with me to the baffroom?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You need somebody to come with you?"
He nodded.
"Uh…aren't you old enough?"
The boy's eyes widened. "I-I don't know."
"How old are you?"
"I'm…I'm…" He released his hands and looked down at them. A moment later, he put up four fingers. "I'm, one, five, free, four?"
Syaoran chuckled. "Sure, I'll come with you. What's your name?" He asked as he stood up from his seat.
The boy looked up as Syaoran stood at his full height. "J-Jun," he mumbled in fear.
Syaoran's eyes narrowed. "You okay?"
He nodded in a tremble. "U-u-uh-huh."
"Ok…well, let's go then," Syaoran said, starting to walk.
"Wait," Jun began, following after him. He took out his hand and waited for Syaoran's.
"What?" Syaoran asked, blinking as he looked down at the very small hand reaching up at him.
"I don't wanna get lost," Jun said with a shake of his head.
"Oh," Syaoran took the hand in his large one.
Jun let out a small, dependent smile, and they began to walk out of the room.
Sakura, having watched this entire scene from another corner, felt something inside her melt. Syaoran was clueless, naïve, and completely ignorant of what to do with kids, yet…he was sweet and gentle…and protective. Her cheeks reddened once again. That man never failed to make her blush. Well, that was an understatement. Sakura shook her head and looked down at the little girls and boys she was watching over. They were drawing several pictures, talking and giggling with each other. This was what she wanted in her class; not those kids who were old enough to be smart-alecks.
Her gaze traveled to a little girl sitting by herself on a cushion, reading a book. Her eyes looked gloomy, though, as it kept drifting to the window outside. Sakura moved her way towards the lone girl and settled herself right beside her. The girl looked up in surprise.
"Hi," Sakura smiled comfortingly and grabbed a book from the nearby table.
The girl watched her flip through the pages. "Hi," she said softly, putting her book down.
"I'm Sakura," she put out her hand.
"Katana," she murmured, shaking Sakura's hand with a gentle touch.
"Are you missing your mom?" she put the book down.
Katana nodded, letting her eyes move to the window once more. "Mommy never brought me to a place before and left me."
"Oh, I think she left you for just a few hours. She'll be back," Sakura said assuredly.
The little girl's bottom lip pouted. "I don't have any friends here and I'm all alone." Her eyes shook. "I want to go be with my mom."
"Oh sweetheart," Sakura moved closer to the girl. "When you talk to these other kids here, you'll make friends. It might be hard in the beginning, but once you start talking to someone, you won't know what hit you and you'll be talking forever!"
Katana looked up at the bright green eyes staring down at her so kindly. "Really?" She sounded so doubtful.
Sakura nodded. "I'm sure of it."
In the corner of her eye, she saw two males, one big and one small, enter the room. Sakura felt her insides melt once again. She put a firm hand over her heart and smiled at Katana. With a light brush on her hair, she stood up and directed her sight on him, catching his gaze. The little boy let go of his hand as he stopped at a spot in the room. Syaoran offered a little smile, burying his hands in his pockets as he watched her make his way to him.
"I saw that," Sakura said softly with a knowing smile. "That was a sweet thing to do."
Syaoran's grin softened. "Ha…the kid just needed someone to go with him."
"Are you thinking of being a father someday?"
The question brought memories of them as only college students already talking about marriage and children. At one time, Syaoran thought it was an uncomfortable topic, and even worse now. It didn't seem as if Sakura was unfazed by it; she looked genuine and really wanted to know what he felt. He crossed his arms and looked at her from the corner of his eye. He did want children…just as long as she was the mother.
He sighed. "Yeah." He paused for a moment. "Depends on who I marry, though." The remembrance of that arranged marriage disgusted him.
"You mean if the woman you marry might not be able to have children?"
He blinked and looked back at her. "What?"
She sent him a puzzled look. "If the woman you marry won't be able-"
"U-uh, yeah," he replied before she could question him. He mentally beat himself at almost saying it out loud.
With a quick change of topic, he tossed the question back to her.
Sakura met his eyes. "Me?"
He sent her a wry look. "No, the little kid behind you."
"Oh," she reddened yet again. "I…I don't know."
Syaoran chuckled. "You always wanted to have a girl."
Sakura nodded. "I love kids."
"But you don't want to be a mother?"
She shook her head and sent him a rueful smile. "Who knows…I've still got a few years before I need to think about that." How could I ever have a child that wasn't yours, Syaoran? I gave myself to you 6 years ago and I never got it back. You're not even willing to give it back.
He nodded in understanding. It was a closed topic and that was it.
--- --- ---
The early sunny morning had turned into yet another bleak night. The rain poured down quite hard as Syaoran drove his car down the highway. The children didn't leave the daycare until quarter to seven, and Syaoran and Sakura hadn't eaten lunch or dinner. She glanced at the man beside her, feeling her heart warm even at the slightest movement he made. Sakura decided she needed a break from the tantalizing feelings spreading through her every time her gaze traveled to him. She rested her head on the seat, turning her view elsewhere, watching the people pass on the sidewalks.
He glanced at her. "Do you want me to bring you home?"
"Hmm?" She blinked and looked back at him.
"You look tired," he repeated. "Want me to bring you home?"
"No…not yet. I want to eat some dinner," she straightened. "Where are we going?"
"Any restaurant I see around here," he replied with a grin, "'cause I'm damn hungry and I don't care about anything but food right now."
With a laugh, Sakura shifted in her seat. "So…have you talked to your friend yet?"
"What friend?"
"The man with the arranged marriage and the woman on the side?" Sakura reminded.
"Oh," he blinked. "Oh him. No, no, he hasn't called."
"Have you called him?"
"No," he said, turning on the road.
"Maybe he's solved his problem by now. Hopefully," she added quietly.
"Yeah," he muttered. If only.
"Oh, there's a restaurant," she pointed to a place a few blocks from where they were. "It's not exactly a restaurant. It's more like a diner, actually; one of those many quaint ones in Tomoeda."
Syaoran nodded. "I don't mind. Let's go there."
"Ok." She agreed and gathered her bag and coat.
Syaoran parked the car at a free space a block away from the diner. He walked alongside her as they went their way to the small diner. As soon as they entered, the familiar music floated through the air from a nearby stereo. The place wasn't similar-looking as the other two diners Syaoran had visited, and this one was smaller. There were fewer people and there were no waiters around. They were all inside the kitchen. Sakura chose a spot by the window and they went in the booth. There were no menus anywhere; only two placemats and salt and pepper shakers. Syaoran glanced around and saw only 6 people. This was a quiet place. He liked it.
"How do we order here?" He asked, not knowing why he spoke so quietly.
"They have the food up there," she pointed at the little cards placed on the wall above the kitchen. "And we order from the front."
He nodded. "Do you go here often?"
"No, this is probably my third time coming to this place," she admitted with a smile. "But the food's decent and it's a simple place. I like it."
"Same here. So…" he placed his attention to the food written on the walls above them. "What do you want?"
"Do I get to pay for this one at least?" She asked.
Syaoran chuckled. "No."
"Why not?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at him.
"'Cause I'm the man here and I pay for everything that concerns you and me, all right?" He said with a grin.
She sent him a look.
"Ok, that's a joke. You cooked me a great breakfast. So I owe you."
"But you've paid all the lunches and dinners we ate together," she protested, leaning forward.
"So?"
"It's only right I pay for this one," she frowned. "And besides, that breakfast was a debt paid."
"I'm not getting into an argument over this," he said and stood up. "What do you think of sharing fried rice and roasted barbecue with me?"
"You're not going to let me pay?" It rather sounded like a statement, not a question.
"Come on. It's not like I'm going to end up in the streets if I keep paying for you."
Sakura scrunched up her nose and finally nodded. "All right then. Let's share dinner."
"Good." He grinned and got up and ordered the food.
--- --- ---
To be continued…
