Author's Note: Here's Chapter 7… I'm not that much enthusiastic I guess because I Dare You is much more exciting… maybe when I finish that story I'll be more dedicated to this… lol :)
)HyperCherryblossom( - Yeah, we haven't talked for a while… but if I remember correctly, I sent you an email but you never sent one back… :(
)DitzyLemon37( - One night, when I sat in bed thinking, I roughly planned out the chapters… and she'll find out about him… when was it again? Uhh… I'm not suppose to tell you, lol, it'll ruin the whole story… =P
)cutekawaii( - No, it wasn't a sarcasm… ;; If you read my I Dare You story, every chapter is about double this… ;;
)tomoyochan-kawaii( - I try to let them word things a bit differently so they may not realize the connection…
)yamiyumetenshi( - Shoot… thx for reminding me that, good catch, I forgot about it… ;; I keep thinking of where I live and Japan… ;;
)Sabby( - Writing is my life, it's what I live for, it's what makes me hate dying… I can never be sick of it… :)
)Jess( - Cliffy? You think it is a cliffy? O.o I dun actually consider it that way!! :P Then again, I'm the author so nothing's ever a ciffy to me since I can write it and find out what happens anytime I want…
And a BIG THANKS for EVERYONE else who reviewed!!! :)
"" When people are talking.
#### Thoughts.
-- -- my notes.
Chat conversation.
LAST PART OF THE CHAP
Sakura logged off of her account as she racked through her fridge. Tomoyo's not home, she's probably sleeping over at Eriol's or something, who know?
She cooked some noodles quickly, and prayed to have everything work out tomorrow…
Well, if only she knew today is only the beginning…
Tomorrow would only be so much worse…
So much worse…
(-(-(-(Chapter Seven)-)-)-)
(-(-(-(-(-(-(Syaoran Meets Touya)-)-)-)-)-)-)
---------------------------------
Syaoran practically went crazy the next day. Perhaps it was because of their uncomforting silence at the bus stop yesterday that had kept his mouth shut. But whatever the reason was, Sakura hoped to God the reason would come back soon, because Syaoran was driving her insane.
All day today, since she had arrived at work (that meant being 5 minutes late), every free second of her life he'd somehow always be there, asking more questions about her 'boyfriend', whom she claimed to have yesterday but really didn't but just said it for no reason what-so-ever.
It's like he's stalking her or something. Christ, she wouldn't be surprised if he had been dropping off his portion of work just to follow her and take up ever tiny bit of free time she had.
At first it was ok, but soon it got annoying. I mean, who wouldn't be when your boss keeps asking you about your boyfriend and all you can do is tell him more and more about your own brother? And the worst part is, she had to make Touya actually sound like a decent guy! Grr! Ok, so maybe he is a nice guy, but no way in hell is Sakura admitting that!
How did you two meet? Do you think you'll get married? How old is he? What don't you like about him? What are his flaws? What made you in love with him? Are you sure you love him, or just like him? Is he really that cute? What does he do for a job? Is he rich? Does he do drugs? Does he look tough? Does he have messy hair? Have you ever met anyone who looks close to him and fallen in love? Have you two ever had fights? Do you think he's cheating on you?
And blah, blahblah, blah, blahblah.
And so on, and so forth. Honestly, it's actually more comforting talking to Alexia than to answer to these personal questions that she all had to make up answers for. For Christ's sake, what's gotten into him?
Toria delivered the picture of Sakura to her with a satisfied but critical look plastered on her face. "How do you like it? I think it's all right now. But something's still not ok, but I can't put a finger on it, so I'll have to give up." She landed the paper on Sakura's desk. "Do you like it?"
Sakura pulled out the original picture she had printed out from Syaoran's computer out of her desk and compared the two. When she had first seen the original copy, she was amazed, but now, comparing to the newest version, the old one seemed like molded plastic being compared to 24-carat gold. The blending of colour is marvelous, the shading, the sharp colouring, the faded affect, even her eyes seemed to glow with a sharp and emotional look that she, herself definitely doesn't have. In fact, the picture was so perfect, she thought that if she were a guy herself, she'd probably fall in love with the goddess on this photo. So that's why Alexia looked so good in 'Morning Horizon'.
"Wow, Toria! What on earth are you talking about? This picture is splendid! It's perfect! I don't think I've ever seen anything more perfect in my life! I think it's even more perfectly than 'Morning Horizon'!" She quickly covered her mouth after a short gasp. "Oh no… I shouldn't have said that… it's not going to go good with Skinner if she hears it!" She whacked herself with a weak laugh. "Not that we're going to ever get along anyways, but if she finds out I said this, I'm dead for good!"
Toria patted her. "Screw Alexia. Honestly, that self-centered bitch, nobody cares about her. We all like you a lot more than her. How do I put this… She's like the bitchy, blonde, head cheerleader in a messed school where everyone just likes her because she's popular. And the only reason she's popular is because she's bitchy, and people are either scared of her, or just act friendly. Eventually, it seems everyone loves her, but behind her back, she's hated by all." She paused and smiled at Sakura. "As for you, my darling, you're like the quiet, charismatic girl in a pleasant school where you are not as popular as the bitchy cheerleaders, because people show what they truly feel about you to you, but the majority still loves your for who you are, and would defend you and not say anything bad about you behind your back. See what I mean? We just don't want trouble with Alexia because she hasn't started anything with us yet. You, on the other hand, have to fight back because there's no way you're getting away from her this easily. Just know, we're always on your side."
Sakura giggled. "You make me sound like some kind of a perfect angel who's loved by everyone. And that's not true, everybody have their flaws."
Toria nodded. "Of course, everybody have their flaws. For one thing I noticed about you, is that you lie."
Sakura blinked. "What?"
Toria's smile died down to a low smirk. "Yes, you lie. Whether intentionally or not, and sometimes your innocence is acted out. You don't do it purposely, but sometimes when you get nervous, both of those habits come out naturally, and after a while, you just act along with them even when you don't have to, because you find it funny that not many people knows your true real side, which is not a naïve little girl with quite a perfectly life nor as sad as sometimes you would like think yourself as, but a mature, normal woman leading a normal life that has its ups and downs. Am I right?"
Sakura didn't know what to say. Toria made her feel so special just seconds before, but now, she didn't know what to say. It's always harder admitting your flaws to yourself than to admit your good side. And she's just been called a liar and a drama-queen trying to make herself sound more interesting. She bowed her head. "Please don't say anymore."
Toria head her head high and surveyed her by peering her eyes down. "Like I said, everyone has their flaws, and another one of yours, is that you can't admit the truth to yourself." Toria began walking away. "When you meet someone perfect, you should be afraid of them because they're too perfect. But on the other hand, when you meet a person with both good and bad, you should like them if you can accept their bad, because at least you know their true personality, if you can accept that, that's a sign of true friends. Don't worry Sakura, I still like you."
As soon as Toria left, Syaoran came to her office from God-knows-where. Just great. And she can't tell him off because he's her boss and she needs this job desperately. "Hi…" She greeted nervously, and decided to drop in hints for him to leave. "Wow, haven't I been seeing a lot of you today? You took off work for so long just to see me? Wow…" Seeing Syaoran's alertness, she quickly patted his shoulder. "Hah-hah… I'm just kidding ok? He-he-he…" ##Very sensitive to what people say, I see…##
Syaoran raised an eyebrow at her unnatural laugh. "Yeah… uh-huh…" He paused. "Can I ask you a question?"
"About my boyfriend?"
"Well… yah."
Sakura groaned out loud, but worded her words carefully. "They way you're going on and on about him, I'm almost convinced you're gay and in love with him!"
"No! I'm not gay! And I don't like him at all!" He became quiet. "Just wants to know about him, that's all…" ##So I can figure out a way to break you two up and see exactly how much of a chance I have of getting you.##
Sakura looked around frantically. Before he could ask the question, she beat him to it. "Oh look! Here's the copy of the photo Toria gave to me!" She snatched the picture hurriedly and showed it to him. ##God bless Toria and this photo.##
Syaoran examined it. "It's so beautiful…" he complimented. "So lovely, so much like you…"
Sakura blushed slightly, but decided to keep the conversation at ease. "At least you think I'm lovely and beautiful, guess you're not gay after all!"
Syaoran glared at her playfully. "If I'm gay, then you're a man."
Sakura looked away. Is he making hints that he's in love with her or something "I'm too girly to be a man…" she muttered.
He laughed lightly. "That's true…" A pause. "Sakura?"
"Yah?"
"Do you… do you want to have lunch together?"
She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, but Tomoyo and Rika already invited me with them for lunch yesterday, so I can't very well ditch them."
"I see." Suddenly, he grabbed her hand. "If one day, you were to marry someone – other than your boyfriend – who would it be?"
Sakura gulped and stared at him with her eyes huge. "Um… why?"
Syaoran pushed back her hair. "Because, I'd like to consider you and I close friends, so I thought maybe I should know a little about you."
Sakura nodded weakly. "Yeah, we're close friends… but I… I never really thought about getting married…"
Syaorna smiled a slow smile. "I can tell you that besides one other girl, you'll be the one I'd marry."
Sakura laughed uneasily. "Heh-heh… I wonder who's that lucky girl!" She shifted slightly, trying to squirm her hand away from his.
"Are you, jealous?"
Sakura gulped again. "No…" ##Just trying to get off this topic## "It was, it was, just a comment."
He leaned a bit closer. "Did you also know that my mother said I must get married in 3 months? And that 'lucky girl' is currently way out of reach."
Sakura held her breath. "Oh…" she squeaked. "Well, good luck getting her!"
He leaned in a bit more. "Why, thank you." He took another step until their noses were almost touching. "What if I can't? I still have to marry someone within three months, and if I remember correctly, you were my second choice."
"Really?" This time, her voice was forced out, and it squeaked like a chicken.
"Really. So since you're busy for lunch, what do you say to dinner?"
Sakura didn't respond. How could she when they're this close? Sure, she's kissed a few guys, but she sure wasn't an expert when it came to handling situations with guys, and most definitely not at her most comfortable feeling when being near a masculine feeling.
Wait, but if she couldn't hear herself, then maybe she did respond to his question. God knows what she said, all she knew what that after, Syaoran said:
"Great, I'll come and find you at you're office after work today." He let go of her hand and kissed her slowly on the cheek. "See you then." And with that, he left.
Sakura slumped on her chair the moment he left and tried to catch her breath. "I guess I must've said 'yes' to dinner after…" She sighed not knowing whether to be miserable or happy.
Miserable wouldn't be the truth, because they are after all, friends. And he's kind of cute, and especially nice. So what's there to be miserable about?
Happy? Not exactly, she's not very comfortable being alone with a guy, and now it's her boss, what would happen is he made a move on her? How would they act around each other the next day? Then there's always Alexia, who'd murder her the minute she finds out something happened between them.
Sakura groaned. "Just great…"
Alexia…
Without many people knowing, she was at the door, and saw everything that happened. Before Syaoran came out the door, she ran to her own office and cried. ##Why doesn't anybody ever like me, why? It's not my fault I'm this way, it's not! Why can't they see that? Why am I so scared to tell them about me?## The answer was obvious. Her situation wasn't normal, they'd think she's a psychopath if they found out, which is why, she had to act like this really was the way she was, a spoiled little bitch who explodes in front of random people for no reasons.
She picked up the phone. Maybe it was time to see whether her parents noticed her gone yet. She dialed in her home phone number and waited. Nobody answered. She set the phone down wearily. Her dad was probably screwing his brains out with some well-paid prostitute while her mom was most likely out getting drunk. Oh well, better than having the two of them at home stabbing swords down each other's throat.
Between them, mom was still the mostly likely to be home, since even after her parents divorced twice, her bastard of a dad could never change his habit of having the pleasure to screw more than one woman.
She waited a few minutes, and pressed redial. This time, her mom picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi…"
"Who's this?"
"It's me… Alexia…"
"Alexia?"
"Yes."
"Do I know you?"
Alexia bit her bottom lip to keep herself from crying. It's back to weak side now, whenever she was alone, she was as gentle as lamb, as weak as anything. Why can't she be at her worst now? "It's me, mother."
"Mother? Alexia?" A pause. "Oh, right, it's you. Hi."
"Hi mom… Aren't you wondering where I've gone?"
"Didn't you tell me you here going away somewhere or whatever? Yeah, but I've been wondering why the money I left for you every week is left untaken… oh, it's because you're not home… I see…"
"You didn't notice me gone, did you?"
"Of course I did, honey. Listen, I got to go ok?"
"Why? Can't we talk? We never talk."
"Listen, darling, I can hardly remember what you look like, I can hardly remember you at all, and right now, I need some sleep, can't talk anymore."
Alexia swallowed hard. "Ok, I'll call you later."
"Sure, whatever, bye."
"Bye…" Alexia hung up the phone and let more tears fall. Why was she born in the first place? Why didn't any of her parents want her? God, her mom would probably forget her darling daughter after a 10-minute nap. Why did this happen to her? All she ever wanted was for her parents to notice her, and now because of that goal, everybody hates her. Because of the way she's been neglected, she became abnormal.
Lunch…
Sakura joined up with Chiharu and Rika as they went inside a Japanese restaurant to order some sushi and teriyaki. They took their order and talked happily until Sakura suddenly remembered something. "Oh no!" She exclaimed. "I forgot my cell phone in my office!"
Chiharu pulled her back down. "C'mon! It's just a cell phone, doesn't matter, screw the people who calls."
Sakura shook her head. "I'll be back soon, promise, but in case someone calls, I have to get my cell phone, because I don't have an answering machine on it… I'll be back soon though!"
"Bummer…" Rika stuck out her tongue. "We were hoping to have a full conversation with you and get to know you better, but now… Oh well, we'll still have time to talk. Run back, ok?"
Sakura smiled. "There are still many days ahead of us. And yes, I will run."
With that, she left the store.
Sakura ran towards the building, and just as she was about to enter it, she heard the roaring of motorcycle beside her and turned around to see Touya. "You scared me!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
He removed his helmet. "You got the job after all, eh?"
She smiled and hugged him. "Yup, thanks to you."
"Whatever."
"What are you doing here of all days?"
He scratched his head. "I looked for you a few times before, but I was unable to find you, you were probably in one of the million of restaurants around here. But since you came out today, here's my chance."
"Your chance for what?"
He smirked and stuck out his hand. "Where's my share?" He asked.
"Your share of what?"
"I got you the job, shouldn't I get a percentage of your money?"
She shoved him. "Gimme a break! Hell, you're getting nothing from me! I didn't promise to get you something!"
"I can get you fired as easily as I got you the job, you know."
"Oh really. Now, why don't I believe you?"
Syaoran…
He ate his lunch in his office happily, glad that he's making some process with Sakura. No Meiling and no Alexia! Yay! He peeked outside his window at the happy day, and there he saw Sakura… with some other guy?
He dropped his lunch. Maybe that's her boyfriend? He decided to check it out.
Syaoran ran down the stairs and stood by the front door, staring at the two.
Wait a minute… he recognize that bike anywhere, and that face. Sakura shoved the guy backwards. It's him! The one who was harassing Sakura! Now what on earth is he doing here?
Syaoran felt heat rising in him. ##He just doesn't learn, does he?## He rolled up his sleeves and was about to beat the guy into a bloody pulp when he saw the two of them laughing together, and then Sakura hugged him. She hugged him!
He felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. Reality struck him so hard, he didn't think he could take it. There's always a different between reality and imagination. Always.
He stepped slowly closer to the two, and when he was close enough, Sakura saw him.
Her jaws dropped. "Syaoran-" She tried explaining.
His voice was cold. "Who the hell is that, Sakura?" He smirked in a cruel way. "I thought he was harassing you for money? I thought your mother was dying and you owed him money!" His anger rose, as did his voice. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH HIM THEN, DAMMIT? WAS WHAT I SAW ALL AN ACT? GODDAMMIT! THIS IS YOUR BOYFRIEND ISN'T IT? HE'S YOUR BOYFRIEND, ISN'T HE? HUH? ISN'T HE?"
"No, he's not-"
"DON'T YOU DARE DENY IT YOU LITTLE BITCH! I THOUGHT BETTER OF YOU! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D STOOP THAT LOW!"
Sakura quivered at his voice. "Syaoran, please-"
"DON'T SYAORAN ME! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO SAY MY NAME-"
Touya cut in. "Cool it man, stop taking out your anger on her-"
"SCREW YOU! GO AHEAD, GO TAKE SAKURA HOME WITH YOU AND SCREW HER OK? I DON'T CARE! YOU TWO ARE THE MOST MALICIOUS PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET." He chuckled sadly. "You two sure make the greatest couple, committing such crimes just to get what you want, not even thinking about others… Hah. You two sure are great actors." He turned around and stormed away.
"Syaoran!" Sakura called. "Syaoran! SYAORAN! LISTEN TO ME! SYAORAN!"
But he didn't stop, he continued walking away.
This was much worse than when he was so close to her, asking question. So much worse than when he asked her to dinner. So much worse than when he had been asking endless questions about her boyfriend. Much worse.
He had the right to think Touya was her boyfriend, since her descriptions fitted him so well.
Sakura groaned and hugged Touya. "Oh my God, Touya… I feel like the most horrible person on earth now… I really, really do…"
Touya shook his head. "That's guy's got anger management problems…"
Sakura snapped her head up. "How can you say that? It was our fault after all! We used him to get me money, he's got a right to be mad! But I feel so guilty, I feel so terrible… he was always so nice to me, to everyone, he doesn't deserve this!"
Touya patted her head. "Don't be too hard on yourself…" He sighed. ##Poor guy… He actually took this a lot better than I would've…##
Lunch went by slowly of only Sakura and Touya, they ate their food silently, feeling dreadful. If he never found out, this incident would be soon forgotten, and everything would be fine, but now, he knew, he knew everything, and he's mad at them, because they've done something wrong… It feels much better to be mad at someone rather than having someone mad at you.
Sakura walked back to her building after lunch in slow, frightful steps. Did Syaoran come back? Nobody knows.
Chiharu and Rika found her first, and demanded to know why she never went back to them.
She gave a weary smile. "My brother came." That's all she said, before her feet dragged her on.
She searched the whole entire building for Syaoran, hoping he at least felt not bad enough to come back to work. But she couldn't find him. So she went to his office.
She knocked politely. Nobody answered. She pushed the door open, and felt a stab of pain. Syaoran's unfinished lunch was still on his desk, and of all the messy things piled on his desk, the one on top was her picture. Her picture. He was working on it before he stormed away.
Sakura couldn't take it anymore, she let out a drop of tear, and ran out the room, shutting the door quickly, not wanting to see the sight anymore.
She searched more of the building, every possible place that could fit a person.
Syaoran never came back to work.
Guess there's no dinner tonight.
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Author's Note: Ok, Syaoran found out about Touya… the cat's out of the bag… I know the ending is a bit sad, but that's ok, right? :) Hope you enjoyed it, I'll probably write better chapters when I'm done I Dare You since I'm more devoted to that story…
Leave a review if you can.
3569 words… what can I say…