Chapter 9: A Walk Home

Tomoyo made a deliberate effort to avoid Eriol that day.

She took another route to school that day even though it meant another ten minutes more of walking.

Eriol has been trying to talk to her all morning. He tried to catch her eye during classes. He even passed her a note but she just crumpled it. During breaks, she always managed to be with their other classmates.

And now, she was at the rooftop sketching. She told Sakura that she'd be having lunch with the other members of the choir so she wouldn't worry about her.

Sketching gave her something to do. Took her mind off things. When she's sketching, she was in another new whole world. Nothing matters.

Suddenly, someone coughed. Tomoyo looked up. Standing in front of her was Mito Dojima.

"I've been standing here for full five minutes and you still didn't notice me. I must say, it's a first for me," Mito smiled. Tomoyo couldn't help feeling disappointed that it was him. Not Eriol.

"Disappointed at seeing me? Are you expecting someone else?" Mito looked over his shoulder.

Tomoyo finally found her voice. "No! Not at all! I'm just surprised! What brings you here?"

"I usually come here after lunch. Just to get away from everything. Give me time to think. So what are you doing here?"

"Trying not to think," Tomoyo smiled.

He sat beside Tomoyo and peeked at her sketchpad. Tomoyo also looked down at her drawing. It was the first time she really looked at what she drew.

She was surprised. She drew herself and Eriol holding hands with the Ferris wheel as their background.

"The girl looks like you. Who is the guy? Your boyfriend?" Mito asked, curious.

"No! He is just a friend. I'm actually here at the rooftop trying to avoid him. Looks like I failed," she smiled bitterly. She heard him sigh. In relief?

Here she was alone with the guy she has been dreaming about since freshman year and all she could think about was the moment at the carnival when Eriol held her hand.

What was happening to her?

Tomoyo came out of the music room, her choir practice just finished. Thank God it's Wednesday, she didn't have to go to cheerleading practice and see…

"Eriol?" Eriol was leaning against the wall with his hands on his pockets.

"Tomoyo," he greeted her.

"Waiting for someone?" Tomoyo asked coldly.

Eriol just shrugged.

"Riyo is not a member of the choir. Sorry," Tomoyo said and started to walk.

"I'm not waiting for Riyo. I'm actually waiting for you," Eriol said, falling into step beside her.

Tomoyo glanced sideways. "Why?"

"To apologize."

"For what?"

"For yesterday morning."

"Do I have any reason to be upset?"

Apparently she is not going to make this easy for him.

"For having coffee with Riyo."

"I don't remember being upset about that."

"Come on Tomoyo. I couldn't think of any other reason why are you mad at me. You've been avoiding me since yesterday."

"Why? Because you left me standing alone at the sidewalk to be with Riyo?"

"I'm sorry about that. You saw what happened. Riyo just dragged me."

"What are you? Completely helpless?"

"Well, the easiest way of dealing with Riyo is just agreeing with her."

Tomoyo made no reply to that. Truth to tell, she's not really mad at him. She has forgiven him since the moment she saw him waiting for her. The guy has been waiting for her for practically two hours.

They walked in silence for a while when suddenly Eriol held her arm. She glanced at him and saw him looking so serious. Just staring at her.

Suddenly, he started making sort of silly faces. Tomoyo couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay! I'm not mad anymore."

"Good."

"So are you walking me home?"

"Seems like it."

"It's out of your way. I can manage to go home alone. Don't worry," Tomoyo insisted.

"I missed you."

Tomoyo looked down, trying to hide her blush. She didn't know if he's telling the truth or not but she'll die first before she look at him and let him see her blush.

When they were just a few blocks away from her house Eriol suddenly held her arm again, stopping her.

"Wait."

"Making silly faces again?"

"No," and he touched her face. Her cheeks automatically reddened.

Then, he showed her an eyelash. Her eyelash. Placing it in his palm, he told her, "Make a wish."

Tomoyo closed her eyes and wished. She opened her eyes and blew the eyelash away. She looked up to Eriol and saw him just looking. At her. Not anywhere else. And she found herself looking at his intense eyes. For all Tomoyo knew, she might stop breathing and not notice. All she could think about was that she also missed Eriol. He has been a part of her life since he came back. Pretending that he didn't exist, even for a day, has been hard for her.

Suddenly, something happened, breaking the moment. Tomoyo wasn't sure what.

Then, they continued to walk. Neither one of them was talking. They were already outside the gate when Eriol broke the silence. "What did you wish for?"

"A swing. I've always wanted my own swing ever since I was a child."

"That's it?"

"Yes. Would you like to come inside and have some tea?" Tomoyo said, changing the subject.

"No, thanks. I'd better start home. Nakuru and Spinel might start worrying."

"Thanks for walking me home."

He waved goodbye.

Too many conflicting emotions in one day.