You reviewers rock my world :)
Something at first sight.
Eriol fumbled to open the door. But before he opened it, he hesitated and thought the better of it. Being honest is always the right way to go - he heard the saying from somewhere. He decided that he should tell Syaoran the truth before he finds out for himself. Putting on a serious expression, he turned to his companion,
"Syaoran, I have something to confess."
"Huh? What is it Eriol?"
"Well don't get mad at me okay? I tricked you into coming to dinner so Tomoyo could set you up with Sakura" Eriol spoke hurriedly. His world came crumbling down as Syaoran uttered his response
"What? You bastard! I trusted you!" He was outraged, his face contorted into a betrayed scowl.
"This is it, Eriol." He shook his head in disgust. "This is it. I'm sick of you lying to me again and again. Our friendship is over." He spoke in a definitive tone.
"Over for today?" Eriol asked hopefully.
"No, over forever." He left no uncertainty, no door open.
Those were the words that instantly crushed Eriol's heart into a zillion nano-fragments.
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo" Eriol screamed at the sky as he watched Syaoran turn around and slowly disappear into the sunset -THE END-
"Eriol? Eriol?"
Eriol saw a hand waving centimetres in front of his eyes.
"Huh?"
"You phased out there for second. Are you alright?"
"No- I mean yes, it's nothing." Eriol quickly said. He was feeling the mental strain and showing it too.
"Well, then open the door. As much as I like standing out here in the stairwell, I much prefer the sofa."
Eriol complied and finally unlocked the door. He held it open and motioned Syaoran into the apartment. However, his heart was pounding. He didn't know how Syaoran will react. Hopefully, there won't be a big argument. Hopefully, he won't to call an ambulance.
Syaoran entered the apartment, oblivious to his impending doom. He observed the fixtures in the living room were still the same as the last time he visited. It was only a split-second when the smell of cooking reached his nostrils. Alarm bells were now blaring in his mind.
The door slammed shut behind him as he turned looked at Eriol. Eriol could only smile nervously.
"Eriol, Takashi better have learnt how to cook chicken curry, or someone will be paying dearly."
Before Eriol could stutter a response, a female voice chimed in.
"Ohhh, Syaoran, how nice of you to join us for dinner!"
"Hi... Tomoyo" Syaoran made sure his displeasure was known by displaying scowl. He did not like to be stuck in this awkward situation.
"It's been a while hasn't it? How are you lately?" Tomoyo tried to make small talk.
Syaoran however, noticed that she was unusually happy and receptive. No doubt she has something evil planned. Poison in the curry perhaps?
"I've been busy." The shorter the response the better.
"Really? Well, I must apologise for Eriol. It must be a real bother to have him dragging you out to watch stupid action movies all the time. I already told him off several times."
"How considerate of you." Was all of Syaoran's response.
"Oh, where are my manners. Sit down and I'll bring you a cup of tea." Tomoyo kept her facade.
"No, that won't be necessary, I just remembered I have something due to be done by Monday. I'll be heading home now." A quick escape is what Syaoran needed.
"Syaoran, I've made dinner for four and it'll be such a waste if you don't eat it." Tomoyo had planned too hard to have it fall on the first step.
"Well Tomoyo, I wouldn't feel right depriving you of the share of three." Syaoran didn't meant to offend, but it just came sliding off his tongue.
Anger grew inside Tomoyo as she fought to keep her composure. Syaoran moved towards the door.
"Eriol..." Tomoyo signalled in an low but audible voice.
"Syaoran, c'mon. It's just dinner. It'll be quick." Eriol said as he blocked the exit.
"Yeah, a quick death" Syaoran glared at Eriol. He still couldn't believe Eriol had betrayed him. The evil witch must've done it.
Just when another bout of snide remarks was about to be exchanged. A unfamiliar girl drying her hair with a towel strolled into the war zone. The sides were temporarily stunned by this development.
Noticing the sudden silence, the girl stopped and asked "Am I interrupting something?"
She noticed there was a unfamiliar boy with messy chocolate hair. A friend of Eriol perhaps?
Syaoran studied the girl now in the middle of the living room. Her glimmering auburn strands, still wet from the shower curled down her cheeks. Her emerald eyes shyly peering out of the towel she's drying her hair with. A strange feeling in his stomach arisen.
"Sakura, you're here just in time!" Tomoyo exclaimed as her foul mood was blown away. Clutching Sakura's hand, she drag her to Syaoran.
"Let me introduce you guys. This is Syaoran, Eriol's best friend" she said to the confused girl.
"Syaoran, this is Sakura, MY best friend." Tomoyo cheerfully announced.
Syaoran was frozen in place - a helpless prey surrounded by 2 predators and 1 beautiful girl. Even so, he could only stare at the girl in front of him who stared back. His angry mood was now dissolved with something foreign and unfamiliar.
He admitted that he was curious and wanted to know more about Sakura. Torn between staying with the beautiful girl and escaping from the wicked witch, he surrendered and decided he'll have the dinner.
Tomoyo sensed the change of wind and immediately seized on the opportunity.
"Syaoran will be joining us for dinner, won't you?" Tomoyo glanced amusedly at Syaoran.
"Mrryes" Syaoran could only mumble, his eyes still fixated by this girl.
"Sorry? I didn't quite get that Syaoran?" Tomoyo loved victory and decided to rub it in.
"Yes" Syaoran repeated, now annoyed.
"Yes what?" Tomoyo feigned.
"Yes-I'll-be-joining-you-for-dinner" Syaoran stared at the floor gritted his teeth.
"Wonderful. Now you two should get to know more of each other." Tomoyo grinned like Cheshire cat.
Sakura studied the boy named Syaoran. Even though she was confused, she could tell Tomoyo and Syaoran weren't in the best of terms. Eriol just thanked the gods that everything is alright... so far.
zz
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Syaoran admit that even though having dinner with Eriol and Tomoyo on same table sucks, Tomoyo was not a bad a cook. He actually enjoys a home cooked meal.
The friends initially ate in awkward silence. Eriol was the first to break the mould.
"So Sakura, how was it like, being exchange student?" Eriol asked
"It was an enlightening experience, seeing other cultures and their way of life. Australia is really relaxed and laid back, stark contrast to the fast paced cities in Japan." Sakura answered.
"So did you have a relationship with anyone during your stay? I heard those Aussie guys are hot." Tomoyo loved twisting the topic.
"Well, not really" Sakura said flustered. "I knew I wasn't going to be there permanently, so I didn't really want to start a relationship."
"But did you get asked?"
"Well, a couple of times, but I turned them down." She didn't want to give too much details.
Syaoran and Eriol remained silent.
Sakura decided to quickly change the topic before she gets served with harder questions by Tomoyo.
"So, Syaoran, how did you know Eriol?" Sakura inquired.
Syaoran perked up from his dish. He had a mouthful of vegetables. All eyes were on him, while his audience waited for his answer. The chewing time gave him a few seconds to come up with a coherent response. Once he swallowed, he began,
"Well, I went to Eriol's school and we became friends"
Tomoyo decided it was a good time to interject.
"Yes, Syaoran was an exchange student from Hong Kong! His best subject was maths, where he always topped the class. Since school, he has been working at his parent's company as an executive. He's still single and looking!"
It was like an advertising blurb, and the boys could only stare. Eriol wondered if she had this rehearsed.
"Oh" Sakura knew he didn't look local.
Tomoyo charged on,
"Well, Syaoran, what do think of Sakura?"
Syaoran immediately choked on his curry chicken. Sakura was also surprised at Tomoyo's question, but she was curious how this boy would respond. As Syaoran struggled to swallow, he now had to think of a response that won't make him look like a fool.
"Uh, I think she's very smart" he answered while keeping his eyes on his food. Though, he could see Sakura grinning slightly.
"How could you tell?" the voice came from Sakura. Her eyes studied at Syaoran.
"Uhh well, you got the exchange scholarship? Didn't you?
Tomoyo however, was not impressed. If this is the way Syaoran is going at, they'll be going out in the year 2012.
She immediately, got up and fetched a few empty dishes - a guise for a emergency meeting with her partner in crime.
"Eriol, would you help with the dishes?"
"Oh, alright" Eriol knew she was getting cranky.
Once at the kitchen, Tomoyo began planning.
"We need to get Syaoran to ask Sakura now."
"What? So sudden?"
"Didn't you hear, Sakura is a big catch. She'll be gone in a week if we're not careful!"
Eriol thought about Tomoyo's whole plan of controlling Syaoran by puppeting Sakura. Condemning Syaoran to a life of slavery? He really didn't want to be part of it.
"Tomoyo, why don't we just let Syaoran handle it?"
"You just don't want Syaoran to be tied down!" accused Tomoyo. "So you can go and play with him whenever you want!" She continued,
"Why don't you think of Syaoran's feelings? He's never going to find love if we don't give him a push!"
Tomoyo managed to give the whole situation a different spin.
Back at the dining table, the two strangers generated small talk.
"What did you study at the university?" asked Syaoran
"Well, I took classes in literature and journalism."
"That's interesting." He didn't know much about either.
"Tomoyo and Eriol are taking a long time, I better check on them." He need to get away. Any longer alone with her will suffocate him.
Syaoran walked into a heated argument between the couple.
"Eriol, this is the last warning" Tomoyo spoke in a stern voice. Then they noticed Syaoran.
Tomoyo immediate dragged him into the conversation.
"Syaoran, you have ask to Sakura out now!"
"What?"
"Don't you like her?" Tomoyo quizzed,
"I can see the look in your eyes."
Syaoran was speechless.
"If you don't ask her very soon, then she'll be gone." she warned.
"Well..." Syaoran hesitated.
"I guarantee she'll say yes, Syaoran. I think she likes you too."
Eriol could only stare as Tomoyo sweet talked Syaoran into agreeing.
"Okay, then it's decided. Don't worry, Eriol and I are backing this 100" smiled Tomoyo, little bit too sweetly as she strolled back to the table.
zz
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Silence fell on to the table once again. Syaoran knew this was an opportunity, but he was hesitant. After all, he usually don't ask anyone in their first meeting.
A kick came from under the table. It was probably from Tomoyo or Eriol, whoever, he didn't care. If he didn't ask soon, he won't have any legs left to go home with.
"Sakura..." he began
"Yes?" Sakura inquisitively looked at Syaoran. Syaoran really didn't want Eriol or Tomoyo to be here, but he knew they wouldn't allow it any other way.
"Do you want to go out with me?" Syaoran said in calm voice.
The question caught Sakura by surprise and she had to ask for clarification.
"You mean go out as in-"
Syaoran didn't want to ask again or rephrase the question. His skin wasn't that thick.
"Yes, that's what I meant."
All eyes were turned on to Sakura, waiting for her answer. Sakura's face started to turn pink from all the attention, and this was all so sudden. She baulked.
"Syaoran, you're a nice guy and all that. But oh, let's just be friends."
Tomoyo's mouth dropped.
Sheesh, long dinner eh?
I'm sorry it took longer than I promised, but I've added more detail to it than previous chapters.
I'll probably also be re-doing the first few chapters, so they will have greater detail.
Please review! More reviews more motivation for me to update :)
1/2/6