Love triangle

Half an hour into the school day and Tai was already bored out of his mind. It was the same thing everyday: the teacher lectured while the students dozed off. Today, however, was one of those rare times where the teacher was either too busy or lazy to preach and left an assignment for the class to do. Today's topic: Love.

Of course, without supervision, it was expected for more than half the class not to do their work. Sora, however, was among the good students who always do their work and as usual, she would make Tai do it as well. When the instructor exited the room and left the students to fend for themselves, Sora and Tai shared a quick glance, a nodd, and they both quietly snuk out of the room. Ditching class was always an exeption for Sora. Who wants to stay in an overcrowded buzz-filled room? Either way, homework and classwork must always be completed.

The two crept along the hallways and headed for the courtyard outside the cafeteria. There they found the privacy and quietness under a tree to do their work.

"Heh, love." Sora sighed and chuckled while sitting down.

"What's so funny about that?" Tai sat next to her.

"Well, seeing as how I'm the digidestined of Love I am expected to be an expert on the topic, right?" She replied and Tai nodded.

"But I actually don't know anything about it!" She dramatically threw her arms in the air.

Tai's face softened. "Sure you do."

Sora looked at Tai as he continued to talk. "You know how to love your family and friends." he smiled.

"Yeah, but I don't know what true love is." she sighed. "Mr. Fujiyama did this on purpose; he knew we wouldn't know anything about the subject."

Silence permeated between the two friends. It was minutes later that Tai spoke. "I do." he said with a smile and confident air.

"Oh, you do?" Sora raised an eyebrow and smirked sarcatically.

"Yes, I do."

"Then please, explain." she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back on the tree.

Tai looked down at the ground. His eyebrows furrowed as he thought about the words to say. "Well..." he began

"First you have to know what love is not."

Sora tilted her head to the side like a confused puppy. Tai began to speak once more.

"When you get really nervous around someone its not love, its a crush. When you can't keep your hands off them its lust. If you stay with them because you like the way they flatter you with nice comments then its low self-esteem. If you are faithful to them then its just loyalty. If you want them because they are there, its loneliness. If you stay with them because you don't want to hurt them, then its pity. If they make your heart skip a beat, then its an infatuation. And if you tell them that they're all you think of then that's just a lie!"

Impressed with Tai's reflection on what love is not, Sora looked on and listened more carefully.

"When your heart aches and breaks when they're sad, then its love. When you cry for their pain, even when they try to be strong, its love. If they see your true heart and touch your soul so deeply it hurts, then its love. If you stay with them because an unexplainable mix of pain and pleasure draws you closer to them, then its love." Tai paused for a moment and looked up at the sky.

"Because even though love hurts, its all we search for in life. This comfort and sweet pain...its the purpose and meaning of life-to love." Tai finished, still looking up.

"Tai..." Sora was at a loss of words.

Time stopped for the two. The light breeze tickled their skin but they paid no attention. Their eyes were fixated on each other and in the heat of them moment, Tai reached out to Sora and caressed her cheek. "Sora..." RING! The bell cut him off in mid-sentence.

Rushing teens filled the courtyard; lunch was upon them. The two watched everyone settle on the benches as they waited for their third and fourth party members to arrive.

"Hey." a voice was heard from above.

Matt peered from behind the tree and looked down on his two friends. "Hey." Tai greeted back and Sora blushed and looked away.

"Where's Izzy?" Tai asked

"Uh, he said he had some work to do in the library." Matt replied as he kept his eyes on Sora while sitting down.

Tai quickly got up, dusted his pants, and fixed his ruffled shirt. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting something to eat!" he jolted into the cafeteria and lined up to receive his meal.

"Hi." Matt nugded Sora with his elbow. "Why so glum?"

"Um, its nothing." Sora tried to hide her redened face.

"Come on Sora, I can tell something's wrong." He leaned forward, trying to look at her face.

Sora avoided his gaze and turned away. "Ok, you don't have to tell me, I can guess and if I'm right you nod." he concluded.

"Hmm, lets see...did you have another fight with your mom?" he asked and she nodded.

"Are you stressed about schoolwork?" she nodded.

"Are you afraid that if you don't make the grades you won't be able to play tennis?" she nodded.

"Is that all?" he asked but this time she shook her head. "There's more?"

Matt looked at the sad girl and observed her expressions. "Does this have to do with a certain guy?" she nodded.

Afraid of going further into the subject and learning that Sora loves someone else, Matt stood quiet. He was surprised to hear her talking.

"He doesn't take notice in me." her eyes watered.

"Who am I kidding anyway, I can't compete with all the other girls he has drooling over him." tears trickled from her ruby eyes.

Matt cupped her face with his hands and lifted her to meet his gaze. "You really don't know how beautiful you are." he whispered.

"Hey Sora I got you some chocolate milk!" Tai's voice rang as he ran towards them.

Matt and Sora quickly separated and tried to look casual as Tai sat down next to Sora.

"Thanks Tai." Sora smiled and took the beverage.

"Here, you want some?" Tai offered Matt some pastries which he happily took.

The three friends ate and converesed. They joked and laughed as they always did. A normal and sweet sight from afar, but no one knew of the secret bond between them. A silent war raged between the two boys as the confused girl stood at the side lines, waiting for one of them to claim her as his prize. As an endless turn of the wheel, this love triangle would always be.