Author's Note: Two more chapters to go… God, you don't know how happy I am… sorry for all those who liked the story, but I absolute HATE writing it… :sigh: maybe that's why it's getting so bad…
)VampireJazzy( - yeah, I posted this story at Kawaii Shrine too.
)Mariko( - Lol I'll try to get some Yelan scenes… maybe I'll end the story that way… but whatever goes… we'll see…
)Feather of Julia( - God so sorry for not replying your email still… I've read it… which took me lyk 5 days… and now I have exams and summative… but I WILL get back to you ASAP!
)mystiekaye( - NINE hours? O.o Gosh now I feel guilty since I really don't think this story deserve such compliments…
And a BIG THANKS for EVERYONE else who reviewed:)
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Chapter Fifteen
Real Identity
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It was back to the way it was before. Constant stalking, no privacy, irritating questioning and etc. It's a certain Friday, two days since Syaoran asked her out and it's not getting any better. He just begged more and more as the days passed, and became more and more anxious. It made Sakura wonder why. After all, it's not like if she didn't agree to go out on a date with him within a certain range of time he's going to die or something… right?
There was knocking on her door.
Sakura groaned but held her breath pretending she's not in.
Few minutes later the knockings went away and Sakura let out her breath.
RING RING!
She threw her hands up into the air and growled in frustration. "Hello?"
"Hi Sakura—"
"—I'm sorry, but I'm not in right now. Please leave your name, phone number, and I'll get back to you later. Thank you!"
"Um… okay… this is Syaoran, I just came to your office and you weren't there so I was wondering why. Call me back… to make sure you haven't been murdered and… yeah… okay, bye."
Sakura let her breath out again.
What the hell did he see in me anyways? She asked herself.
She was perfectly fine with being single, why did he have to put such pressure on her, and that goes for the rest of the group. How could anyone even act normal after what's happened with Alexia and Lynnet? Did they have no heart? Did they feel nothing?
Sakura sighed but picked up the phone and dialed the extension to Syaoran's office.
"Sakura?"
"Yeah… it's me…" She said timidly.
"Are you all right? I came to your office and called you a couple of minute ago… where were you?"
"Um… sorry… I was… I was… caught up in this editing thing… and I was so in the middle of this creative energy-ness that I lost focus of my surrounding… sorry…"
"It's… okay…" Syaoran replied, knowing fully well she was probably lying.
"So umm, I'll be going back to my work now… so bye!"
"Wait!"
"Yeah?"
"Are you busy at lunch?"
"Yes." She replied quickly.
"C'mon, you can't be busy every lunch!"
"Sorry, lots of work, you know how the company is, ha-ha-ha-ha…" She laughed nervously.
"Sakura…"
"Yeah?"
"I own the company. That was a bad phrase."
Damn. She cursed herself for being so stupid.
"Please? One lunch can't hurt…"
"I really am busy…"
"With…"
"You know, the usual…"
"What usual?"
"Work… for the company…"
"But I don't expect my employees to work outside of working hours…"
"Well, I'm just so extra helpful aren't I!"
"But I have Takimoto Fujiko covering for any troubles at lunch… I don't need another person doing it…"
"Two's always better than one!"
"But Hiramatsu Sayaka's staying behind too…"
"The more the merrier!"
"But that's too many!"
"You can never be too sure!"
"Sakura, I know you're avoiding me!"
She giggled with a sweat drop. "What makes you think that?"
"The fact you're making up very unbelievable excuses to not have lunch with me."
"No… they're very reasonable excuses…"
"I don't care. You're coming with me today."
"But—"
"No buts. I'll be waiting outside of your office at 11:25. If you're gone I'll… I'll think up something later."
"But—"
"See you later goodbye."
Before Sakura could have another chance to protest, Syaoran already hanged up. She groaned into her hands and banged her head on her desk. "Why can't he just leave me alone…?"
"Do you need to go to the mental hospital or something?" Sakura looked up to see Toria there with a raised eyebrow. "Normal people don't go around banging their head on things." She explained.
"Sorry, a bit frustrated."
Toria rolled her eyes. "Syaoran asked you out again?"
"Yeah…"
"I don't understand why you're so… against going out with him… he's not a bad guy you know…"
"I know… I don't even know but somehow maybe it's because he's asked so many times and I've rejected him so many times that it's becoming a habit so that I can't even say yes without feeling awkward anymore…"
"Then get rid of the habit before you hurt him permanently. Anyhow, I came here 'cause I have some more cloth for you to try out…"
Sakura stood up and followed Toria to the next room.
"Oh damn!" Toria gasped looking at her watch. "I've kept you here a bit too long my darling… so sorry!"
"What time is it?" Sakura asked.
"It's already 12:05!"
"Oh, no…" Sakura groaned. "Now he'll think I was purposely avoiding him…" Then she suddenly brightened. "On second thought… this is a perfect excuse! It's all your fault! Don't you see, Toria? I can blame this all on you!"
Toria raised an eyebrow. "Uh, no. I don't think so. C'mon, we're leaving and I'm not going to rest until I get you and Syaoran on another date to makeup for this one…" With that, Toria dragged a sulking Sakura out of the room.
When they made it back, they realized that Syaoran was still sitting in front of Sakura's office, waiting for her. "About time." Was the first thing he said with a roll of his eyes. "If you're trying to avoid me, don't make it so obvious!"
"Okay, this time, it's actually true." Sakura explained. "I actually did agree, and didn't plan to hold you up here for this long, but Toria here was trying clothes on me, lost track of time and thus leading us to this spot after such a long moment. It's not my fault this time, I swear."
"What do you mean, this time?"
"Uhh… ignore that part. It's not my fault, I swear. It's all her!"
Toria glared at Sakura. "Do you mind?"
"Sorry, got a bit carried away…"
"Yeah, you'd better be sorry."
"Okay people, stop arguing, we're wasting precious time here. Sakura, since you're already here, let's go get something to eat."
Sakura laughed nervously.
Toria rolled her eyes as she too, did a high-pitched nervous laugh, mocking Sakura. "Oh mi gosh! I can't go out to lunch with any species of men! They're all poisonous! I'm so sensitive!"
Sakura growled. "Excuse me! I so did not say that!"
"The way you're acting, words aren't necessary."
"Yeah, prove it that you're not then. Why not go to lunch with Syaoran? He doesn't bite…"
Sakura looked at Syaoran, to Toria, then back to Syaoran. "Did you pay her?" She demanded.
Syaoran held up his hands in defense. "Not a penny, it's all her free will."
"Are you controlling her mind?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What planet are you from?"
"Not one that you've heard of." She replied but then sighed. "Fine, let's go eat, I'm kinda hungry anyways…"
"See, that wasn't so hard…" Toria grinned.
"Say Toria… you haven't had lunch either… wanna come along?"
"Don't even go there!" Toria snapped. "But just in case you really were worried about me being hungry, I can afford my own food thank you very much!" She said with dignity.
"So, what would you like?"
"Um… water please."
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "No need to be shy, I'm not poor, you know… I can afford two people's food."
"Um… really, I'm not hungry." Sakura's stomach growled.
Syaoran stared at her.
"Okay, I lied! I just don't like owing debt to people! It makes me feel guilty that way…"
"But why? You shouldn't feel nervous with me at all!"
"It's not just you, it's the same with everybody."
"Fine." Syaoran leaned back against the seat. "How about if you pay."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "How about I don't."
"So what do you want to do?"
"How about we just pay for our own food? Is that just so hard to comprehend?"
"No, but it feels so… divided…"
"Exactly! That way no ones owes the other anything!"
"No, don't like that idea… too… separated… like we're strangers or something. Either I pay, or you pay."
"Great. Let's see, would I rather be guilty, or annoyed…? guilty… annoyed… wow, what tough decisions…"
"Rock paper scissors."
"What grade are you in?"
"JK."
Sakura rolled her eyes. But I haven't decided which one I have to take if I win 'cause I don't want neither!"
The corner of Syaoran's lips tugged a bit. "If I remember correctly… there was one time when you really pissed me off…"
"I… did?"
"Yeah… something about your brother…"
"Um… change topic. Look at the beautiful weather!"
"You can't see anything. The curtains are down."
"Um, look at the beautiful curtains!"
"They're blue, with no other designs."
"Look at the nice shade of blue! It's so heart-warming!"
"I find it very ugly actually…"
"You're not helping!"
"Back to topic… do you remember what you said when you came to my office that day to confess all the lies you've been hiding up?"
"Are you still mad at me?" Sakura whimpered.
"No, but I do expect you to keep your words."
Sakura scratched her head. "Well, would you look at that! I seemed to have forgotten what I said to you!"
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "You told me, that from that day on, you will take me to lunch every single day, and that it'll be your treat."
"I said that?"
"Yes, because you found it unfair that of all people, I had to be the one who brought my lunch instead of being able to buy it like everyone else."
"Well, I wasn't thinking straight back then."
"Great, that makes me feel better. But you still promised."
"No, technically I didn't promise, I only said it… then again, what does words mean, right?" She winked.
Syaoran rolled his eyes then grumbled.
Sakura laughed. "I'm just joking… if you want me to pay I will…"
"What do you mean if I want you to? That makes me sound bad…" Seeing her thoughtful expression he only chuckled. "I'm only joking with you, no way is it appropriate to let a woman pay for the meal. My treat." He sighed.
"Thank, did I ever tell you how much I love guilt? I mean, it's like my most favourite thing in the world!"
"Really?" Syaoran replied with wide eyes. "Now I didn't know that! Wow, then I'm so glad I was able to bring it to you again!"
"I was being sarcastic."
"So was I."
Sakura rolled her eyes.
After an incredibly unsettling lunch of sentences shot back and forth, at last lunch was over, and miraculously both parties had survived.
For the rest of the day Sakura spent her time in her office, while Syaoran spend his time in his office, frowning.
The two tickets in his hands made him frown. The two tickets in his hands made him want to rip them apart. The date written on the ticket made him want to scream. Damn my mom! Then he quickly went on his knees in front of his mom's picture and apologized. "Sorry mother, didn't mean that." But why must you torture me like this, why? "Not that I have any problems against you, of course."
He pulled at his hair frustratingly. What's he suppose to do now? There are two dates of when he can leave. It's either tomorrow, or Sunday. But how can he! Sakura's growing distant, Cherry has not made a hint about telling him anything about herself, Meiling already have a boyfriend, and now, not even Alexia wants to go with him! Alexia's way too worried over her own mother to remember him! And that stupid doctor refuses to let them see her anymore.
Oh, well this certainly is going well… He thought miserably. If worse comes to worst, all he can do is take the Sunday ship to go back home. But if he does that not only is it punishing him having to marry Meiling, it punishes her as well having to marry him. Of course his mother wouldn't give a—ahem. All she wants is him married (to a girl), and that the girl can give him an heir so their clan would not be taken over by the "selfish elders".
"Sometimes I wonder why I even care about this crap and why not just leave the clan…" He glanced at Li Yelan's photo. "Mother you know I didn't mean it…"
Sakura…
Surprisingly, for the afternoon Syaoran had actually left her alone.
The minute she came home after work, she turned on her computer, and logged onto her MSN. Like always, Wolf was already on, waiting for her…
:MSN CONVERSATION:
Cheerful Cherry: Hiya
Wild Wolf: Hey…
Cheerful Cherry: What's up?
Wild Wolf: nm…
Cheerful Cherry: you sure nm? U sound a bit down…
Wild Wolf: What makes you say that? 8-)
Cheerful Cherry: Ur dry sarcasm.
Cheerful Cherry: Wat's the matter?
Wild Wolf: Nothing… nothing u'd be interested in ne wayz…
Cheerful Cherry: Well I know that talking always helps, maybe I can help u feel betta…
Wild Wolf: Technically, I'm not talking to you…
Cheerful Cherry: Which is y we're not talking in technically terms now r we?
Cheerful Cherry: Technical
Cheerful Cherry: C'mon, tell me wat'z botherin u?
Wild Wolf: If you're looking 4 the source I can tell u that it all leads bak 2 my mother. I mean, if she didn't get pregnant with me, then none of this would b happenin!
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: Funny. C'mon. What's wrong? Seriously, I always tell u wat happens w/ me and u usually tell me 2, what's so special today? It'z not like I'm going 2 go around blabbing and tell every1 wat u tell me now… especially since I dun even no ur real name… b kinda lame dun u think?
Wild Wolf: True… but if I do tell you the real problem u're gonna think I'm using u or sometin…
Cheerful Cherry:Is suspicious.: Well, are you?
Wild Wolf: 'course not! But u know how assumption can…
Cheerful Cherry: Well yeah, but now that u've told me, I'm not going to assume obviously…
Wild Wolf: Easier said than done.
Cheerful Cherry: Fine, how about if I tell you about my problems first, then if it makes u more comfortable u can spill urs.
Wild Wolf: w/e.
Cheerful Cherry: AWWW! U're not interested in who's stalking me no more?
Wild Wolf: Well yeah, but just not in the mood to care I guess… caring takes a lot of energy…
Cheerful Cherry: well I'll tell u ne wayz to loosen u up.
Cheerful Cherry: Well 4 starters, my boss is chasing me again… back to the non-stop bugging, constant stalker, no privacy and etc etc. Seriously, I hope he would just go fall in love w/ some other girl so we can just be friends.
Wild Wolf: This guy sounds like a professional stalker. I will murder him 4 u if you'll come to Hong Kong w/ me afterwards.
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: Rite. Funny.
Cheerful Cherry: Ne wayz but I did go to lunch w/ him afterwards after lyk a lot of pressure… and like my fren said, I dun even no why I suddenly feel so nervous around him ne more! WE were fine b4! All of a sudden he's now interested in me 4 some odd reason and I just feel so uncomfortable! IT's so weird n I dun understand y…
Wild Wolf: Weird things do happen.
Cheerful Cherry: Gee, thx. You know that like is really going to get me through the rest of my life.
Wild Wolf: Oh, you're welcome, glad I could help.
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: I'm not even gonna bother replying to that one.
Cheerful Cherry: But that's basically it… there's not much to it as you can tell… 'cause my life's not that exciting ne more… after what happened w/ that poor friend of mine I dun think anything will have a severe meaning ne more… I dunno, I just wish I could relax again… I like it when we were frens… But…
Cheerful Cherry: ugh. I just dunno why I feel so funny. It's this subtle change that I dun realize, but then all of a sudden I do, and I'm just like, "whoa! Am I actually purposely avoiding him? I used to seek him out to chat! Wat'z happening?"
Wild Wolf: At times like this you need to lighten up… really. If you keep this up, it'll only go deeper into the negative road… but that's not wat we need… wat we need is someone to turn the steering wheel and go towards the right direction before you get too lost to turn bak.
Wild Wolf: U need 2 loosen up…
:END MSN CONVERSATION:
Sakura paused. You need to loosen up… That one sentence Wolf said to her suddenly meant so much… she could not understand why, except that it triggered something deep in her.
She combed her hands through her hair. You need to loosen up…
He's right. This is exactly what she needs to do. Everyone else is able to deal with dating just fine, everyone else acts naturally around one another, everyone else are daring enough to take a chance… so why can't she?
Sakura turned back to the screen.
Take her and Wolf for example… They've known each other for how long now? Practically half a year, and still, he knows nothing about her…
Why?
Because she's too private… so secretive…
You need to loosen up…
:MSN CONVERSATION:
Cheerful Cherry: … maybe… maybe u're rite…
Wild Wolf:shrugs: You dun have to listen 2 me… I no it's prolly asking a lot 4 u to change rite now, it's just that I dun want you to take too long to realize… being reserved is fine… but sometimes, u just gotta take a chance, u know wat I mean?
Cheerful Cherry: Yeah… but for ppl who are used to this, it's no big deal, I no, but for me, it's really not that easy…
Wild Wolf: I understand… you need time to adjust… but please, at least try making some changes now… it's not as scary as you think… I mean, wat have you got to lose?
Cheerful Cherry: A lot of things actually… I guess wat I'm most afraid of is: wat if I'm wrong?
Cheerful Cherry: Wat if I finally open up to one person, only to realize wat a jerk he was? To realize how much I sacrificed, how I let him deep into my life only to find out I never should've in the first place?
Cheerful Cherry: I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't want to realize in the end that I regret wat I did… so if I dun do it, then I will never regret…
Wild Wolf: you can't live like this…
Wild Wolf: a person cannot live w/o regrets… it's part of life… so wat if you realize what you did was stupid? 4get the guy and go on to the next one… at least you'll have a clear conscience to say that the only reason it didn't work out was b/c of the other person, and not you…
Wild Wolf: It wasn't ur fault 'cause u did everything you could, while it was he that destroyed everything… U no what I mean? At least you won't b the guilty one…
:END MSN CONVERSATION:
He's being so nice to helpful to me… like he's always been… I really do need to loosen up for one… and truthfully speaking, right now out of all the people I haven't opened up to yet, who's the one that I trust the most? Who's the one I depend on the most?
Sakura looked at the computer screen, her hands shaking slightly. Should I…?
She still didn't know. If he was a stalker he had extreme patience… But like he said… if it doesn't work out, at least she'll have a clear conscience and finally see his true side, right? After all, is he was so horrible, then she really doesn't want this game to go on any longer… she doesn't want to befriend and chat with a mind-corrupted person…
If he was real, then she would be glad to open up to him… if he was faking, then she's glad she could stop this sick pretence…
Exactly… what have I got to lose?
:MSN CONVERSATION:
Cheerful Cherry: Wolf… I want to tell you something…
Wild Wolf: What's with the sudden change of attitude? Something the matter?
Cheerful Cherry: Yes and no… I want to tell you something right now, and in my mind I know even if it doesn't go well there'll still be a plus side… but I know that if it doesn't, I'm only fooling myself 2 say I won't b effected at all…
Wild Wolf: Wat's wrong?
Cheerful Cherry: It's hard 2 explain and I no I can only make this decision by myself 'cause what u're gonna say is a one-sided opinion and I no 4 sure u won't be looking at things in my direction…
Wild Wolf: O…k?
Cheerful Cherry: Wolf, r u a real person?
Wild Wolf: What's the matter? 'course…
Cheerful Cherry: I mean, I no u're a real person, but (I know this is pretty stupid to ask) are you faking everything? Like the way you talk 2 me and all? (Like u're really gonna say yes, but I just have to ask)
Wild Wolf: No.
Wild Wolf: n I'm not saying no 'cause nobody would ever say yes, but truthfully no.
Wild Wolf: Wat's wrong? After all this time, u still dun trust me…
Cheerful Cherry: It's not that…
Cheerful Cherry: IT's just that my next step is going to take a lot out of me…
Wild Wolf: Then I hope you think over your decision twice before acting on it.
Cheerful Cherry: You don't know how much courage that sentence just give me.
Wild Wolf?
Cheerful Cherry:takes deep breath:
Cheerful Cherry: Please do not interrupt me when I begin talking the next time, or I will be very shaken and may not be able 2 finish.
Wild Wolf: All right…
Cheerful Cherry: Wolf, it's about time I told you this… prolly if you were talking 2 anyone else they would've told you 3 months ago… I know I'm way past due date, but I suppose it's better late than never.
Cheerful Cherry: You inspired me today, and ur words rang in my mind… u're right… I DO need to loosen up…
Cheerful Cherry:take another deep breath:
Cheerful Cherry: My real full name is Kinomoto Sakura, I'm currently 19 years old and I work at a Photo Studio, the same company that won the prize with their picture "Morning Horizon".
Cheerful Cherry: I have auburn hair that's a bit past my shoulders, and green eyes. I live in Tokyo, Japan (as u already know) living together with my best friend.
Cheerful Cherry: I'm done. I really don't know what else to say, or what else you want to know.
:END MSN CONVERSATION:
Syaoran paced.
He paced back and forth in front of his computer, unable to sit back down again.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, he glanced at the screen again, reread it 10 times then laughed manically. He pushed his chair away and began pacing again.
God! How could I have not known? How could I have not known?
He laughed again then went back to pacing. Of course! Of course it's her! I should've known! All these things, they were so alike because… because we experienced it together!
"God…" He laughed some more and didn't know what to do. "So it's true… Sakura is Cherry… Cherry is Sakura!" He couldn't decide whether it was a bad thing or a good thing, except somehow it's just working out so well.
After finally able to accept reality, he sat back on the computer with a huge grin, typing up his reply.
:MSN CONVERSATION:
Wild Wolf: Wow, I'm glad you've finally opened up 2 me… at last, I no something about u:)
Cheerful Cherry: Please dun joke at time like this, I'm shaking rite now… hoping I have not made a mistake…
Wild Wolf: Dun worry about a thing… listen, I would love to tell you everything about me, but I think there's a better idea… How about we meet somewhere instead, and then we'll do a real thorough introduction?
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: I dunno…
Wild Wolf: Please… just for one last time I ask you to trust me.
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: Where do you live?
Wild Wolf: Pretty close to you…
Cheerful Cherry: … how do you know that?
Wild Wolf: Don't ask anything right now, everything will be answered once we meet… and we really have to meet tomorrow…
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: O…. Ok.
Wild Wolf: Great! Ok, how about tomorrow 10:00 in the morning at Cinnamon Sweet Café?
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: I hope you know how much this is taking out of me…
Wild Wolf: Trust me, I no, and I really appreciate u for trusting me on this. Really.
Cheerful Cherry: …
Cheerful Cherry: All… all right…
Wild Wolf: Great! I'll see u 2morrow then?
Cheerful Cherry: Yeah… see u tomorrow…
:END MSN CONVERSATION:
Syaoran couldn't stop laughing as he turned off his computer. Oh yes, tomorrow is going to be the best day ever, and he may, just may be able to truly return to Hong Kong with a bride…
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TELL me in your REVIEW if you want me to EMAIL you when the next chap is up, and don't forget to leave your email address if you DO:)
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Author's Note: A bit short, but I had already planned where to end it and I can't mess that up. Well, at least Syaoran knows who Cherry is now… :P Next chapter will be the last chapter.
4509 Words.