meaning.

He coughed to get my attention.

Yukito walked by me rather loudly during our silent exchange of hellos. He had his "sneaky smile" on again. The butterflies started flapping in my stomach.

"Sorry it took me some time to find this…" He pushed the package across the counter and my breath caught my throat, "Don't worry about the cost, a friend of mine was willing to do it for free because she was familiar with the design."

I swallowed carefully.

"And it's also an early visit because I'll be out of town this week."

Out. Of. Town.

This. Week.

I felt as if the words were digesting a syllable slower than it was leaving his mouth. Because if what I had heard was right than that meant he wasn't coming for coffee tomorrow.

"You're not going to be here…"

He shook his head and looked at his watch, "I need to go or I'll be late – See you Sakura."

I should've asked him where he was going. But all I did was stare at his back as he walked out the door and left, again, with no coffee.

I knew Yukito had been listening to the entire conversation because he seemed to sprout up right besides me once the bell to the door stopped jingling, "Soooo…what's that?" He said cheerfully, prodding the package on the counter and then let out a strange noise in surprise, "Oh! Its soft."

Sometimes my manager acted rather immature.

I picked up the package and slowly pulled the wrapping apart. I was, in fact, very curious but I refused to show it in front of Yukito who looked more excited than I was.

What fell out of it made my heart stop.

I swear my cheeks were hurting by the end of the day.

Touya said I looked suspicious and asked if I had been plotting something when I got home. Maybe because I was smiling too much.

I wore a pink sweater the next morning.

Saturday morning.

It was an especially loud and noisy morning, this Saturday. I found myself balancing calculators and receipts under my chin and tucking menus beneath my arms. Even Yukito seemed to have less time to spare a cheerful grin. I guess in the rush of things I barely had time to mull over Syaoran's table filled with strange people.

However for the entire morning, I had an annoying feeling that I had forgotten something.

>

I forgot my pink sweater at home the next Saturday.

My stomach was churning and crying "guilty" for the entire first early shift. Yukito must've noticed because twice he asked if I was okay.

I should've switched spots with Nami. I should've hid in the kitchen when I saw Syaoran coming in.

I felt my cheeks flush when he approached the counter.

It was even worse when I saw him looking at my dirty apron.

"Sorry…I wore it last week and I left it – "

"Stop apologizing – can I have my usual please?"

I looked up. He sounded quite mad. But he looked the same as ever. It seemed longer than two weeks since I've seen him. I wondered where he had to go.

I quietly gave his cup to him. Almost shyly and breathed a sigh of relief when he departed to his usual spot.

I promised myself I'd wear it next week.

When the next customer came by, I nearly dropped the tray again. Except I saved it half way down, a very admirable accomplishment that gave me a close heart attack. Then Yukito made me take the rest of the day off. He said I looked too pale and said I looked on the verge of collapse.

I thought he over exaggerated.

Just a little.

So I sat in one of the stools, reading my literature book. I wasn't really worried about the test on Monday, but I thought a bit of an over view wouldn't hurt. Besides, I wanted to distract myself.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and it sent tingles down my arm.

"Are you feeling okay?"

He sat down across from me. I still felt the warmth of his palm and sucked in my breath. I visibly stared harder at the text in front of me that didn't make much sense anymore.

"Mmmhm…"

"Is that a yes, or please go away?"

"No! its okay! You can sit here," I said rather quickly. My pulse sped up, I quickly realized that the entire shop could hear me and flushed. I hid my face behind my book. I should've brought my math book. It was bigger.

"Oh…kay." He mused. I could tell in his voice that he wasn't mad at me, or maybe he wasn't in the first place, or maybe he'd forgiven me. Or none of that. Or maybe all of it. I don't know, I was just making it more confusing.

I guess I was being too hard on myself. So I set the book down in order to see his face and took a deep breath. I didn't normally act like this, I'm usually pretty social. I liked conversations. I like to open my mouth and smile. Talk. Laugh. Something.

"So how's the coffee?"

He quirked an eyebrow.

My smile became slightly harder to keep up. I guess being inside a coffee shop for five days a week can really rub off on you.

"Good." He answered simply, "Is that a book from Tomoeda?"

I looked down at my book. It did not say Tomoeda on it.

"Yes, I study there, how do you know?"

"I have a friend – I know someone who goes there."

"Really! What's his name?"

He frowned slightly. I liked it better when he was smiling but I angrily waved away that thought, "It's really long, and you probably don't know him."

"Oh…kay…where do you study?"

"I work."

This explained his really nice clothes and why he always dressed the way he did. I was intrigued but not entirely. I gave him a small smile, "I work too."

He scoffed out loud which seemed quite out of character for him.

"Is that funny?" I said, grinning at him.

"People usually ask for my age after I tell them I work, I guess not much think about the rest of the population who work jobs like you." He said, folding his hands across the table. In my opinion, yes, he did look old. Maybe not old, old. But more mature than the guys at my school.

"So you're not?"

"No, I'm twenty."

My eyes bulged, "That's only a year older than I am. Don't you go to college?"

"No, I don't need that."

I folded the pages in my book neatly across, "You helped me a lot with my math so you must be really smart."

He looked at me, "Actually its family business."

"Oh."

He put his hands on the table and leaned forward. I felt the atmosphere thicken. "You're in Tomoeda, what are you majoring?"

I gulped. He was still rather far away but the action of moving closer.

"Major?" I repeated. It was an easy question, I was just finding it difficult to organize any logical answers.

He smiled. I did like that better than his frown, "What do you plan on doing for the rest of your life." He said, breaking it down for me, even though he knew I completely understood.

I relaxed, "I'm undecided but I have ideas."

"What kind of ideas?" He asked.

From there I explained to him all about my goals and aspirations. Which were quite lengthy but he paid attention throughout the entire thing. And plus he gave me advice. He seemed to know the world beyond a coffee shop and school a lot more than I did. I soaked everything like a sponge; I felt I'd learn more in that hour than any valuable lecture I received from a professor about molecular energy. Not only did we talk about school and the future we talked a lot about our lives as well.

"My father works out of town so I rarely get to see him."

"Hn, at least he comes to visit."

"Yours doesn't?"

"I don't have one."

I guess I decided to drop that subject.

"So do you have any siblings?"

He looked away, his ears turning slightly pink, "Four sisters."

I jumped out of my seat, almost, "Four?"

He didn't turn his head at me but his eyes moved in my general direction, "What about you?"

"I have an older brother."

Wow, how exciting is that.

"An older brother, so I guess he takes care of you when your father isn't home?"

I smiled, "Yeah, he's pretty cool."

"Hm."

By the end of our conversation I was smiling again like my old self. I forgot all about being guilty. He didn't seem to really mind I wasn't wearing the pink sweater he gave me.

Speaking of which.

"I forgot to say thank you last week."

"For what?" He asked blandly, as if he truly did not remember.

I believed him for half a second, "For…finding the sweater."

"Oh," He looked up from his coffee. It should've been cold by now, "It was nothing…I knew someone who was willing to do it."

I smiled warmly, "I had a friend that knew how to sew, we separated in high school because she had to move to England and she wanted to be a fashion designer one day."

He turned towards me rather suddenly as if I startled him.

"Go on."

"I'd usually model her clothes," I said laughing, "Actually…I ripped my sweater before and she fixed it for me. She did it so perfectly I almost forgot all about it."

"Really."

"Really." I replied with a small smile tugging at my lips. His expression made me laugh. He looked in between being surprised and deep though.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing…what's your friend's name?"

This time I gave him a mocking frustrated look, "Her name's rather long and besides, I don't think you'd know her."

I made him smile.

I could've failed a math test and still go home happy after that.

"It's okay, her name's not that long. Daidouji Tomoyo, she was my best friend for six years."

"Really." He said, disappearing behind his cup of coffee. I swore he finished that just moments ago.

"So what's your friend's name? Hm?"

"I told you its really long and you – "

"I told you mine didn't I? And plus, I'm pretty sure I'll know him."

He stared at me, "I'm sure you do."

"Why? Is he loud?"

"Yes."

"Good looking?"

He frowned at me, "I'm a guy."

"So?" I said, laughing.

"So…"

"Is he nineteen?"

"Are you interested?" He asked.

"I'm curious. Give me a hint. For instance, sum him up in one word for me." I grinned.

"Why all the curiosity?"

"Because I'd like to hear about your friends." I replied.

He grinned amusingly, "Wouldn't you like to know about me?"

My mouth was in midway with a comeback before I froze, "I…"

It was funny how he switched my thoughts around so fast.

He set his cup back down and smiled, "I'm just kidding Sakura…but I'm now curious, what one word would you sum me up with?"

I didn't have to think very hard, "Charming."

"Really."

I realized my cheeks were slightly pink and so were his. It simply slipped out of my mouth like that. But I guess the damage was done, "Yes, I do."

"I can sum you up in word."

"What is it?" I laughed, and I meant every moment of it.

"I'll tell you some other day."

"Hey, what? That's not fair."

"Sorry…I have to go. If you want to know that badly about my friend, his name's Hiirigizawa. Long isn't it?"

I blanched. "Hiiri – "

"Bye Sakura."

He left the room.

My jaw refused to leave open air.

I realized we'd talk for over two hours. But not only was I shocked that we had shared so much time together but there was another.

He knew Eriol?

It is a small world.

>

Subject: Life

Dear Tomoyo,

How is England? Are you still taking dancing classes? I realized I haven't talked to you in a very long time, in fact for about two months. Which is still a long time. I miss you lots, I'm sending this email because I was reminded of you a couple days ago. I ruined my pink sweater, you know, the one you fixed in sixth grade. I'm still in Tomoeda, Touya thought it'd be cruel to make me transfer like his original idea last year so I'm here for good. Which isn't much because its only for one more year. I really liked the last dress you sent me Tomoyo. I wore it to the school Formal. And no, I didn't go with anybody. Sorry…its just different without you. So I've got to eat dinner now, Touya's calling.

Love,

Sakura

P.S. Eriol says he misses you.

>

The next Saturday I woke up to a beautiful sunny shine through hand-sewn curtains. The coffee shop smelled perfect when I walked through the door. Yukito was in one of his cheery moods. Touya didn't bicker at me. I had finished all my math homework. I wore my pink sweater.

Syaoran didn't come.

I watched the door the entire morning so I wouldn't miss him.

But he didn't come.

I simply didn't understand why I felt so disappointed. I've only had one single decent conversation with him. And here I was, on my toes, looking at the door every two seconds. I scrambled two orders because I was distracted. How could I possibly give a deep chocolate double espresso shot coffee to a two-year-old kid who ordered a vanilla shake? Yukito asked me if I wanted to rest. If this keeps up I'll quit just so Yukito wouldn't bring it upon himself to fire me.

But then again, I was being too hard on myself.

I should be happy for that well accomplished A I received in Math this semester. And winter recess started next week. I had two weeks to myself.

I looked at the door.

I swear I heard the bell jingle.

It was a middle-aged couple, smiles on their faces.

I looked down at the counter.

Boy, was I unfocused this morning.

>

From: "Mail Service"

Subject: Failure to Deliver.

Hello sakurablossoms,

We're sorry to inform but your address is not a valid email address. Please check to see if you've entered the correct one and resend.

I checked my address book.

That would explain the lack of returns lately.

My day wasn't that great after all.

Touya yelled at me for coming home late. Which was funny because I didn't have any homework to finish. All I did was sit inside the cafe doing absolutely nothing.