I groaned in frustration as I looked at my wardrobe. What was one supposed to wear for a dinner with one of the richest and most sophisticated families in town, who unfortunately happened to reside right next to you, not mentioning that a certain Li Syaoran would also be present there, and that you had already managed to make a fool of yourself in front of him?
I sighed and flopped down on my bed. I remembered dad telling me that the dinner was supposed to be a formal one and that we were to wear something feminine and elegant. I had no idea what exactly he had meant by feminine.
"Need some help?" I turned to see a grinning Tomoyo standing at the door. I nodded helplessly.
"And what exactly makes you think I'm going to wear that?" I said, hands on hip.
Tomoyo shrugged. "I knew you wouldn't. But it was worth a shot." She said, placing the body hugging (or at least I thought so) dress back in her cupboard. But pulling out another one, she asked. "How about this one then?"
I groaned. "God, Tomoyo, you never give up, do you? I don't know why I agreed to you helping me with this."
"Why what's so bad about this one? I thought it's quite elegant."
"Yeah, right." I said sarcastically, while walking up to her cupboard. "I think I'll do the choosing myself." I scanned the dresses arranged neatly, finally picking a green one. "This one seems fine."
Tomoyo stared at me. "But that's just too simple. Li Syaoran would never notice you over Meiling with that on."
It was my turn to stare. "Excuse me?"
Tomoyo threw her arms up in indignation. "Sakura, don't you remember what Meiling said last night? She's probably sitting in her room right now, plotting and planning on how to seduce him. Are you going to let her win without a fight?"
I gaped at her, shocked for words. But I finally managed to get them out. "And what exactly makes you think I am planning to seduce Li Syaoran?"
Tomoyo grinned. "Well maybe you aren't. But you like him, don't you?"
"No I don't."
"You said he's cute."
"That doesn't mean I-"
"You blush every time he looks at you."
"That's because I'm reminded of that 'stuffed toy' incident."
"What 'stuffed toy' incident?" Tomoyo asked eagerly.
I frowned. "I'm not telling you. You'll keep teasing me about it." She pouted. "And if you're planning to start with your matchmaking again, forget it. Your last attempt had ended in disaster, if you remember."
Tomoyo stayed silent for a while. "That date with Kyu wasn't exactly 'disaster'."
"Oh yes it was." I said, shuddering as I remembered Tomoyo's last attempt to 'teach me how to live life'. She had convinced me to attend some silly party thrown by one of her friends and also managed to set me up with Kyu, who she said was a really nice guy. I agreed to go to the party only because she & Eriol were also going. Plus, Kyu wasn't such a bad guy either, or that was what I had thought.
Saying that she was giving me a makeover Tomoyo had made me wear a horrible revealing outfit of hers and forced me to put on all that make-up which, in my opinion, ended up making me look like some slut. Though when Kyu came to pick me up, he seemed to like my 'new look'. So I just smiled and thought- maybe this wasn't going to be that bad.
In a way I was right. It hadn't been bad. It had been worse. Throughout the party, Kyle kept 'accidentally' touching me in all sorts of places, and I felt increasingly uncomfortable. Finally I had enough when his hand which had been around my waist slowly slid down and before I could protest he pinched me there!
The rest is history. Or let's just say- no guy dared to approach me after that incident.
Tomoyo looked at me and then suddenly burst into a fit of giggles. "Yes. It was a disaster, all right. You gave your date a black eye!"
"He deserved it." I mumbled.
"Oh. So you are scared that Syaoran would be like Kyu."
I sighed. "Tomoyo, give it a break, ok? I. Don't. Like. Li. Syaoran. Fine- he's cute & stuff, but I don't like guys just because they're good- looking." Grabbing the dress I had chosen, I walked out of her room.
I was the first to get ready for the dinner, besides Dad. So I just flopped down on the sofa, and switched on the TV, while I waited for the others. Tomoyo soon came out of her room, in a blue dress, looking as feminine & elegant as dad would've wanted. She looked at me & bit her lip. I hadn't put on any make-up.
"Forget it Tomoyo. You know it's useless. You're not going to convince me into-" but the rest of the words died on my lips as I stared at Meiling, who had just walked into the living room.
I saw Tomoyo's eyes widen as she too got a glimpse of our sister. Her dress seemed to cling on to her, highlighting very curve. A plunging neckline, a deep slit and a face almost painted with make-up.
"Um... Meiling. What are you wearing?"
Meiling gave me that same patronizing stare, which I really hate. "Why? Does it look bad?" she asked nonchalantly, tossing her long black hair back.
"Well-er..."
"Oh, good. You're all ready. Shall we go now?" Dad interrupted, as he entered the room. His eyes lingered on Meiling's dress and he opened his mouth to say something, but chose not to. Maybe he had got used to seeing Meiling dress up like this. But that was when she went out with her stupid boyfriends. This was supposed to be a formal dinner, for crying out loud.
I turned my attention back to Meiling, and Tomoyo's words came back to me- 'She's probably sitting in her room right now, plotting and planning on how to seduce him.' I smiled. She was right. And I suddenly found myself looking forward to this dinner. This was going to be interesting...