CHAPTER THREE: Sympathy
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I would like to thank those people who reviewed this story…
BabyPenguin: thanks…!
I've had this chapter stuck again in the pc not being updated for some time… But now, I've had it running again… I hope this would continue until before I go to school a few days from now…
Thanks to hikari for helping me choose the title of this chapter…
Anyway, on with the story…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Card Captor Sakura…
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o0o---- Sakura's Point of View ----o0o----
That night, Touya had visited us and wanted to check up on me and dad. He was, of course, with Nakuru and my 2 year old nephew, Hikaru. Of course, this was a time that we all have to cherish because since Touya had been busy with his work and his family, he rarely had time to visit me and dad at home.
"Hikaru! Look!" I smiled and called on Hikaru. I was holding a toy that I loved playing with when I was little. This toy was still Touya's toy before. It was a toy car. I know that I'm a girl but hey, I loved playing with Touya's toys… I grew like a guy but luckily, my dad had started to buy some girly stuff that I happened to like. So, in the end, I still turned out to be a girl.
As the night passed, it was time for them to go home since Touya still had work tomorrow. It was already 11 in the evening when they left the house. I started to fix up the mess that was made while I had my dad go to bed and rest.
It was a rainy night… Well, actually, the rain started just after Touya and his family left the house. They were lucky enough to escape the hard rain that was falling. They got in their car just in time when it started to rain a bit.
I sighed as I saw the mess. It was a total disaster… It was like a tornado ran through this house. "Next time, I'll have to remember to tell them not to mess up the house like this…" I complained as I started to fix the room. There were plates scattered around the living room, Hikaru's toys that are left here were scattered all around the first floor of the house, there was this table that Touya gave to dad and had it assembled – I had to put that in a place where everything would be clear to walk to. So technically, everything was really a mess…
After an hour, it was already 12 midnight. Wow… This was the first time in my working days that I'm still awake at this time of the day. Usually, I sleep at 9 in the evening or maybe 10… but not 12… Especially dad… He was so tired from that little party that we just had.
I walked upstairs to my room after closing all the lights downstairs. As I reached my room, I dropped instantly to my bed. Fortunately, I have taken my bath during the little party. So I don't have to worry about taking my bath… I didn't mind about the opened lights. Then and there, after dropping to bed, I instantly fell asleep.
The next day, I could feel my body aching. The sun had shown itself directly on my face telling me that I'm already late for work! But, I really can't have myself stand up from all the pains that I'm having. I'm not used to carrying Hikaru anymore… And, after all that cleaning that I did last night, I think I've had enough for one night… And, I think I should call on sick for today… Just today until I have killed these pains that I'm having.
I walked slowly to my desk to grab my celphone then dialed my secretary's number and waited for her to answer the phone. After a few rings, she finally answered, "Moshi moshi, Kodocha no Tsubasa, konbanwa. Yumina des."
"Yumina… It's Sakura. I'm calling sick today. Could you tell me my sched today?" I said to her amazed by the way she had learned the Japanese accent so fast. You see, she is not really from Japan. She came from Korea and just transferred to Japan – well, Tomoeda to be exact – to get a job and be separated from her family for independence. When I met her, she really isn't good in Japanese so I taught her. And now, she's good at it! (A/N: I ain't saying that I really know how to speak the Japanese language cause I, too, am still learning how… Just pretend that she really said the right words… I know I made mistakes in what I typed there… ;)
"Sakura-chan! Something wrong? I've been waiting for you…! There are clients here who wanted to talk to you and you have missed one of your meetings…!" Yumina informed me. I sighed and groaned said, "Guess I still have to go to work, huh…"
"Is something wrong? You sound like you're in pain or something…" she asked concerning to how I felt.
"It's nothing… I think I can take care of it… I'll be there in a few minutes as soon as I can drag my aching body off the bed. Can you dictate my sched for today…?"
Yumina sighed and dictated my schedule. It. Was. Hectic. I can say. I have 5 meetings to attend to today and I have 8 clients that I have to meet. I never mentioned this but my business? It has something to do with children. It's like the work of Tomoyo's mom, trying to satisfy the children. Guess who I'm sampling my works to… Yup… Got that right, my nephew, Hikaru. That's why he has so many toys lying around at home. They don't have the space there at their house anymore since Touya is an architect and at the same time an engineer. He took the double course at the University of Minato-ku. (A/N: I just made up the University of Minato-ku if ever there isnt't a school like that… I haven't been in Japan… And that double course…. I don't even know if the is possible… But hey, this is my story… ;) It is so cool there. But I wanted to go to Toudai cause… Well, I have my reasons…
"So, are you really going to work? Can you handle it, Sakura-chan?" Yumina asked me full of concern in her voice.
"I have to Yumina. I guess I'll just have to leave early today. Anyways, I'll be there in a few minutes. I'll see you then…" I told her then hung up the phone after we had said our goodbyes. I then started to drag myself off the bed with an aching back. I have stressed out too much last night. I should have had Touya put that table somewhere else so that it wasn't blocking the way.
After an hour and a half, I was finally on my way to the office. I was still groaning though… I already took pain relievers so the pain will soon wear off… I hope…
That lunch, I was with Ray. I know that we are not a couple anymore… But we like each other's company. We like being together. Syaoran? Well, he comes to the office once in a while… But when he saw that I was with Ray this lunch, he backed out again. That's the 2nd time… Well… Not like we are going out again that is…But, I'd like to talk to him though and catch up with everything that has happened to him when he left the city. I haven't talked to him so I was thinking that I should go with him for a while.
That afternoon…. Well, after my office hours that is… I saw Syaoran waiting for me at the lobby of the building. I already told Ray that he doesn't have to pick me up on his way home cause I have something to do.
So, I walked towards Syaoran and greeted him. "Hi Syaoran!"
He looked at me with those amber eyes of his. They still tend to mesmerize me when I look at them. "Where's Ray?" he said. He's looking for Ray! I can't believe this! I thought he didn't like Ray!
"I told him that I have some business to take care of…" I told him. It was true… I did have some business to take care of... Him.
"Oh… So, why are you here so early then…?" He said starting to leave. He got his suit case and waited for my answer before he left the building…
"Um… Actually… That business is you, Li Syaoran…" I told him as I held on to his wrists. He looked at me like I did something wrong to him or something. "Me! Business with ME! What did I do?" He started to panic. He didn't know what he did that I wanted to talk to him.
"Silly… You didn't do anything… I just wanted to talk to you… You know… We need some catching up to do… starting now… What happened to you when you returned to Hong Kong?"
"Oh… I see…" he said. His face… He looks disappointed or something. But, somehow I can see that he's happy… "Let's talk about this on our way… where?"
"Um… Your choice… My treat …" I said. But, he resisted. He wanted to treat me out. So, I couldn't do anything. I gave up and finally said yes. "Fine… You win… So, where do you wanna go?"
"Hm… I just saw this restaurant near the park. Guess we can hang out there…" Syaoran said, smiling. He smiled again. That rare smile of his… He shows it only to the people he loves. He doesn't show it often though.
Once we reached the place, there weren't much people inside so I guess we came at the right time of the day. After ordering some food, we continued to talk. About what? Nothing exactly. Just about what he had been up to in all those 8 years he stayed in Hong Kong. According to him, he was training. For what? Well, he is the next heir of their wealthy business. So I guess he was training to know the things that are supposed to know in their business. Which I think would be a lot.
"Met any girl on the process of your training?" I asked knowing he would say no to the answer if he did say that he still liked me…
"Well, yeah… But, they aren't you…" he answered.
"What? You mean you still think of me even though you were there?" I asked, in disbelief. All those 8 years. I have moved on… And yet, he was still thinking of me. "I mean, Syaoran… You had 8 years of freedom. Why didn't you court any girl or something…"
"I told you… they aren't you…" he said once again. "I can't help it Sakura. I tried to move on… but… You image just keeps on popping out of my mind. I can't help it…"
"Well, you should have at least tried too…"
"I did! But, your image on my mind kept on sealing my heart, Sakura…" he continued. "I can't help it... I'm sorry…"
I looked at him with full concern. Even through those years, he still likes me… "Look, Syaoran… you don't have to be sorry… I mean, it's not your fault… I just want you to forget about me for a while… Try to get a life… If you can, then it means that you were really ready… If not, I'll be here for you…" I said trying to advice him on something. "Okay?"
He looked at me with those amber eyes of him. They were still the same, cold amber eyes that he had. Only, this time, it had love in it. Unlike before… "I'll try to, Sakura…"
o0o---- Normal Point of View ----o0o----
For a few weeks, Syaoran tried his best to forget about Sakura. He had gone soft to others too. But, for that few weeks, all he thought about was Sakura. How he wanted her to be just happy… Then he dialed her number. He wanted to talk to her on the phone, or better yet, meet her this lunch and talk to her. It was another Friday that day… Another ordinary day for everyone…
"Hello, Kodocha no Tsubasa. Good afternoon, Yumina speaking." Yumina said.
"Hey Yumina… It's me again, Syaoran Li… Anyways, I wanted to talk to Sakura, if she's not busy that is…" Syaoran said trying to be polite even though he can't take his anger anymore. He was going to explode with all these feelings that he had had within those few weeks. He felt anger, confused… he had felt almost everything that a person can feel… Even pain. Pain that Sakura couldn't accept him that easy again.
"She'll be right with you in a moment. She's just talking to a client. They're about to finish…" Yumina said.
After a few minutes, someone finally picked-up the phone. "Hello?"
"Sakura?" Syaoran said on the other line. "It's me, Syaoran…"
"Hi…!" Sakura said as she grabbed a chair nearby assuming that this talk would be long. "So, what's up? We haven't talk for several weeks now… Found someone?" she asked. Although she knew that she doesn't have feelings for him anymore, she still felt jealousy inside her. It somehow hurts her to know that Syaoran, the person he loved before – at the least she knows, is already in the arms of another girl.
"Sakura… I really can't do this… No matter how hard I tried to forget about you, I just really can't…" Syaoran said, trying his best to explain his side.
Somehow, Sakura felt relieved to know that Syaoran still hadn't found someone else to replace her. But then again, there is still the guilt inside her knowing that Syaoran couldn't move on because of her. "It's your choice Syaoran. Like I told you, I'm here for you. If it helps, I can help you find one that you'd like…" she said even though those words were stabbing her heart and tearing it to pieces.
"No Sakura… I've had enough…" Syaoran said with a sigh. "I can't do this anymore… Is it okay if we meet, this lunch?"
Sakura thought about it and looked through her schedule on the desk. She saw that she was already free that afternoon. She had no more meetings. Unless, a client suddenly pops out from no where… "Sure… Where?" she said, in a sort of, happy tone…
"Um… How about I pick you up and we'll talk about it…" he replied.
"Okay… I'll wait for you at the lobby, 'kay?" Sakura said, smiling for the first time that day. It had been so hectic, that morning, that she had barely had time to fix herself.
"Sounds great… I'll be there in 10 minutes, okay?"
"Fine… I'll see you…" Sakura answered and then they said their goodbyes to each other and hung the phone.
"I see someone's got a date today…" Yumina said as she came inside the office with a smile plastered on her face. "Sakura-chan, I haven't seen you this happy…! He's got to be the one you were telling me before, am I right?" she said as she walked towards the chairs in front of Sakura's desk and sat down while she watched her comb my hair and freshen up.
o0o---- Sakura's Point of View ----o0o----
While I was freshening up, Yumina walked towards my desk saying, "I see someone's got a date today… Sakura-chan, I haven't seen you this happy…! He's got to be the one you were telling me before, am I right?"
I didn't notice that she had a smile plastered on her face… Well, not while I was trying to fix up that is. Well, at what she said, I could feel myself blush. I guess she didn't notice it since she didn't start teasing me…. "Yeah… he is the one that I've been telling you about… He's changed so much, Yumi… I mean, I don't know…" I said, then a sigh finished my sentence.
"You can do it Sakura… I can feel that the two of you are really meant to be together…" she said, still with a smile in her face.
I groaned and then said, "Come on, Yumi… I don't think I still love him that much…"
"But you still do! Admit it Sakura-chan… you still love the guy!" Yumina said full of confidence that me and Syaoran are still going to be together. I know that deep inside me, I too wanted that to happen… I still do like him… But, as I said, we both have to move on, whether we are together or, we live separate lives…
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah… I know… another lame chapter, isn't it? Well, I don't know why but when I start writing a story, so many other plots cross my mind which wants me to open up a new story… But, I didn't do that today… Instead, I tried to finish this chapter…