Been busy with college work… sorry! XD

Chapter Six

"Truth or Dare?"

Numerous high school girls were standing along the corridor. It looked like they were all excitedly waiting for someone and would welcome and glomp him the instant he becomes visible. It was as if a famous celebrity just transferred to their school and they were all waiting for him to grace them with his presence.

Not long after, excited giggles were elicited from the waiting girls. A very handsome boy with messy chocolate hair was walking down the girl-filled corridor, and apparently he was the one they were waiting for. The girls couldn't help but stare at him with awe, or more like ogle. There was nothing exceptionally different or extravagant in the things he wore that would actually merit as much attention as he was actually getting. And yet, he stood out. It was not only because of his well-built physique, but also because of the impression of real manliness yet placidness at the same time.

Syaoran was walking on the busy corridor, his mind preoccupied. The girls waiting for him wasn't exactly a new thing – he is one of the popular ones in school, though he never pays them any attention. Although aware of his environment he simply smiles at them so as not to make them feel bad. However this time he didn't do what he usually does because he was lost in deep thought, too deep in fact that he bumped on a girl. The girl fell on the floor hard with her belongings falling all over the place as well.

"Oh, sorry," he apologized as soon as he noticed what happened. He offered his hand to help the fragile girl stand up, took her scattered things and then gave it back to her. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," said the girl, Syaoran smiled at her then her face turned fiery red.

He then on continued to walk; going straight, left and then straight once more, as if he memorized the school's interior. Still thinking of a picture that an annoying girl showed her, Naomi is the only one I know who has a butterfly tattoo on her shoulder, but doesn't look like Sakura at all. He opened the cafeteria door and examined the cafeteria. However, he couldn't shake away his thoughts filled with mystery and curiosity. And even if she did do it, what could she have against Sakura?

A group seated not far from where he stood turned and noticed him arrive. "Hey Syaoran-kun!" he heard a young girl's voice call out to him twice – Naomi's. His friends were seated on a table near the large windows; all of them were good-looking and by the looks of it, popular. Naomi, whose legs were crossed, waved at him. Eriol, who sat opposite of her kept on eating, ignoring him completely. Fuji had his hand in the air, directing him to come to their table while Kogure, Alicia and another girl who had long violet hair tied up in two pig tails were busy with a conversation.

He approached his friends. "Hey, where are the others?" he asked upon noticing that they were still incomplete. He sat next to Naomi; she kissed him lightly on the lips, as though it was a daily gesture.

"Well, Kou said that he'd come later because he was waiting for a girl in class," Fuji explained. "And we don't know about the others."

"So how's your first class this morning?" Naomi asked him.

Still thinking if he'd them about the picture, "Nothing special, really…" and decided not to. With that, he tried avoiding much more questions that would most likely bring up that topic.

With her mind still too preoccupied with the picture she received that morning, Sakura tried focusing on the book in front of her but found it too difficult. Unnoticed, a girl approached and stood firmly in front of Sakura. "Hey," the girl called in a tone manlier than what most girls use.

Sakura looked up at her. The girl looked like she's in her late teens; her long curly hair was tied with a band on her nape, and she was wearing their school uniform. "Oh, what is it?" she replied in a friendlier manner following it with a half-smile.

The girl's expression was very readable – anger or more like rage, etched on her face. To Sakura's surprise she swept the book with her hand which fell to the ground instantly producing a loud thud. Most people now looked at their direction. "Not another one…" Sakura heard someone say.

Bewildered, Sakura looked at her; straight at her furious stare. Her eyes were filled with hatred, and every inch of it was directed at her. "Since when did my boyfriend start going out with the likes of you?!" her voice became louder, and she held back her tears; her eyes were now watery but still ablaze.

Maybe this is the girl in the letter earlier. She knew she had to be calm.

"This isn't going to be pretty. We better leave," a voice interrupted before she could even answer back. Then the sound of moving chairs filled the silent room; Sakura still focusing on the girl in front of her.

"Boyfriend? What are you talking about?" trying to make her voice steady.

"Oh, don't play dumb with me!" her voice becoming more hysterical. "You left me a letter last semester, saying that your conscience was forcing you to tell me that my boyfriend was cheating on me with you!"

She was certain that she never sent anyone letters. It was her who received them. "I never sent you any letter," she tried explaining in a calmer manner. "Why'd you…" but was cut off by a solid hit on her right cheek. It was too sudden for her to have reacted.

"HOW DARE YOU! WE BROKE UP BECAUSE OF YOUR FILTHY LIES!" Tears she held back were now flowing down her cheeks.

When she raised her hand to slap Sakura again, a hand held her wrist tight. That would be enough." It was Tomoyo, her voice serious and deadly.

Still in a state of shock, Sakura could only feel her numb cheek. Her eyes were watery but she wasn't crying – she's stronger than that.

Knowing that she did what she intended to do, she left without saying another word. Tomoyo went to comfort her hurting best friend, "Its okay… you can cry," she said as she knelt beside her to give her a hug.

"I'm sorry…" Sakura couldn't help but cry, it was just too much. Slowly, she let her tears fall. The numbness of her cheek disappeared and was replaced with stinging pain. As she let it out, sobs escaped her mouth though she was very eager in hiding it. The people who stayed were silent; keeping their distance. Some of them pitied her. Although most of them felt that she deserves more. Much, much more.

"Come on, let's wash your face."

Tomoyo helped her as she stood up. Her cheek was not only red but was a little swollen. What she accused her of doing was, without a doubt, not her doing. Such things don't ramble about her head, not even in her subconscious state.

They went towards the wash room; they still had time to spare before their next teacher comes. So Tomoyo decided to keep Sakura out of others' eyes. Good thing the ladies room was empty. Avoiding people is the best option for her.

"Really Syaoran, can you do that?" Kogure asked him, one brow raised.

Still thinking whether he'd accept it or simply decline, he kept noiseless for a few minutes. "So? What will it be?" he asked again but with a more annoying tone of voice. A wide smirk evident on his face.

"Okay. No Problem," he replied, his voice proud but mind uncertain.

Kogure almost chuckled. "Then today will be the start. You'll date Kinimoto and make her fall for you, just before this semester's end."

"That's really low, Kogure." Eriol taunted Kogure, though feeling more disappointed and angry at Syaoran for taking the bet. Syaoran grimaced.

This comment was not what he'd expected. "Low? She deserves it, really, and more if you ask me!" his knuckles gripping the bottle of soft drink tight. "She's the one making all the mess here at school, right?" he asked him. "So why bother take her side than ours?" his voice was bitter.

Eriol's voice was calm and collected, he needn't lost his temper on his friend. "Kogure, have you talked to her before, even once?" he asked him attempting not to insult him anyway possible.

He took a deep breath before answering, trying to calm himself. "No. And I have no plans of doing it either."

This made Eriol sigh in distress. "Why don't you go meet her first before judging her like that? I'm sure if you do, you'll know that all of the rumors you hear are only rumors after all." His voice was as calm as it was before.

"Why take their side, Eriol?" Naomi asked. "It's not like you know them very well," following it with her usual annoying snicker. She didn't know that she was at the edge of the line.

Only Eriol found it most annoying, he was starting to lose his temper. "I know them more than you do," he said, his voice lost its stillness.

"Maybe with Kinomoto, but you don't know how immoral your Tomoyo is."

That was it. She crossed the line. Eriol easily loses his temper when somebody badmouths Tomoyo. He kept silent, closed his eyes and took deep breaths. "Really, Eriol, she doesn't deserve the trust you place on her."

Suddenly his fists hit the table hard making everything on it tremble. "I trust her more than I trust you!" His voice became loud; he lost his patience on her.

Naomi almost jumped out of surprise. An angry Eriol was a rare thing to see. "Don't place your anger on her, Eriol!" Syaoran interrupted.

Eriol stared at him with dark eyes feeling pissed off. It was three against one. He opened his mouth to defend himself but was cut off by another. "I've talked to Tomoyo-chan, and she was nice… forgiving. She held no grudge against me whatsoever. Even though it was our first meeting, I felt both of them were honest." It was Alicia. All of them were surprised to hear that from her, especially because Alicia was a possessive type of girl, and she knew that Tomoyo was a rival that's very difficult to deal with. Alicia was definitely turning a new leaf. Eriol couldn't help but smile as he looked at Alicia.

"Those are just first impressions…" Naomi insisted her opinion.

"Enough, Naomi," it wasn't a request; it was an order coming from Syaoran. "I'll just do it and get this thing over with."

Eriol couldn't help but feel more disappointed at his best friend. "Is toying with her emotions what you really want to do?" a direct question that he asked him. "She'll hate you if she finds out."

Syaoran was certain that she doesn't deserve any more pain than she's already experiencing, moreover he being the one to do the most painful thing of all. Yet his mouth said otherwise. "Yes."

Eriol shook his head in disbelief and could say no more. It is a decision only Syaoran could make after all. Supporting Syaoran didn't even cross his mind, but it's not like he did anything to stop him either. Syaoran was old enough to make decisions for himself. Though in the end, he feels that both of them will only get hurt. He knew for a fact that both Sakura and Syaoran's pasts might catch up to them.

The violet haired girl spoke breaking the silence. She felt that her silence wouldn't help much anyway, but saying something would be able to change things, even slightly, maybe. "Are you really sure about this, Syaoran-kun? I've seen you years back and it seemed like you and she had a very strong relationship," she said, her voice was soft.

Her words felt like knives stabbed directly at his chest. They were the truth. He hasn't gotten over her yet. "We were only friends," he lied.

She felt a little disappointed that he didn't turn back. Because they've been friends since the start of high school, she was a bystander who knew how much he was hurt when their relationship ended. Although he was never clear on what their relationship was. "I think you were more than friends."

Gradually, her words crept up on him. Little by little, her words made him recall what he has been tying to forget for the past two years – her. Enemies? Merely too impossible to describe what they shared in the past. More than friends, yes, they were more than just that. Best friends would have been better, but it wasn't enough. Only one word could describe what they were – lovers. They used to be a couple whose love was unconditional and sweet and pure. But the word bore a hole in his heart. A feeling of regret filled his body. It was his love for her that was sweet, unconditional, and pure, not their love. She cheated on him. Though hesitation and doubt occupied his heart, betrayal was what his mind told him.

"We were nothing more than that, Satsuki," his voice was solid.

And then silence.

It took quite a few minutes before somebody broke the awkward silence.

"Is this alright, Naomi?" Kogure asked, looking at her with caring eyes. "You are Syaoran's girlfriend after all."

She thought of the things were this could lead to. "It's okay…" deciding that it was not much of a threat to their relationship. "…as long as you won't spend all your time with her. I, too, have my needs, you know," looking at Syaoran with an oh-so-sweet curl on her lips, nevertheless uneasiness lucid on her brown eyes.

"Of course I won't," placing his lips on hers. A perturbed smirk escaped her lips as soon as he removed his. "By the way, what will I get if I succeed?" he faced Kogure, a wide and confident smile on his face.

He thought of options, and decided that it should be grand. It was, in any case, a very big challenge. "We'll think of something." His right hand perched on his muscular chin, still thinking.

"Class is about to start," Satsuki said in a remorseful manner. "Calculus… ugh."

The sudden sound of the bell surprised Tomoyo. She looked at her watch; it was already time for their class. "Hey, Sakura-chan, do you still want to come to class? I think we'd better sit this one out," as she touched her less red cheek, "you shouldn't strain yourself." Her cheek wasn't as red as before, but was now a little puffy.

She smiled at her while removing her hand, "I don't want you missing out on the first day of Calculus." And followed it with a soft giggle, her hand still held Tomoyo's. Gently but with enough force, she pulled Tomoyo outside the room.

"You're one to talk," laughing as she let Sakura drag her outside.

Fortunately when they arrived, they heard noise from the other side of the classroom door. As soon as Sakura slid the door open the whole class kept quiet. The noise continued as Sakura and Tomoyo came inside. Apparently, they weren't the one they were expecting.

"Oh, it's just…" a girl was about to say when she noticed Sakura but was cut off by her seatmate.

Only three chairs at the end of the room were vacant – Tomoyo's, hers, and the boy seating besides her earlier. With her head down, Sakura walked though the crowd. Her hand holding on tightly to Tomoyo's while trying her best to ignore whatever words the people whom she passed by muttered.

Sakura took a deep breath before letting go of Tomoyo as they arrived at the farthest part of the room. Knowing that her best friend wasn't feeling so good about the way they treat her, Tomoyo gave her a pat on the back. This made Sakura smile.

The book she was reading earlier was still on the floor. It seems like nobody even dared to take or touch her book as if it was cursed by dark magic. She sighed at the sight of it. She bent down, picked it up and placed it in her bag.

Feeling down over the matter earlier, she sat down in silence and stared mindlessly out the window.

Not long after, the door slid open again. Everybody fell silent, thinking that it was their late professor arriving. She looked up in front only to see that it wasn't. Some girls began to giggle and whisper something to the person seating besides them as soon as he walked passed them. Some guys' sighs were heard.

"So typical." she mumbled to herself.

It was only then she noticed that the boy seated in front of her was the same boy seating next to her earlier that morning. "Tomoyo-chan," she called out to her left side trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. "Tomoyo-chan!"

"What?"

"Switch seats with me, please," she didn't notice that he was already standing next to her.

"Why exchange? Don't you want to sit next to me?"

It was a familiar voice; a mild yet tough voice. Sakura took a deep breath before looking behind. A wide smiling Syaoran greeted her. "No," she said looking directly at his auburn eyes.

Murmurs got louder. She noticed the girls in front staring at her with angry eyes. Good thing their teacher still wasn't there, she wouldn't want more attention than she was already getting. Syaoran followed her eyes and noticed the girls' reactions. "Come on, don't be shy," he taunted. "Don't worry, nobody will hurt you if you sit besides me," noticing Sakura's puffy eyes and a small lump on her left cheek. He tried reaching her cheek with his hand, an unnoticed frown on his face.

She moved back as his hand reached her. "Hurt me?" she repeated, feeling a bit humiliated that he, of all people, would recognize the small lump on her cheek.

"Who slapped you?" he asked trying to feel her face again.

She kept still, waiting for his hand to reach her cheek. But when it was about to, "None of your business," Syaoran's steady hand twitched, and he pulled it back.

"Just curious…" he finally said as he took his seat smiling at her before turning front.

The girls who were looking at their direction quickly looked in front. Their faces flushed from embarrassment.

The whole class kept soundless. Everyone was surprised at what Syaoran did. He normally ignores everyone in class. This day was, to everyone's surprise, an exemption.

It was Sakura who broke the moment of silence. "Tomoyo-chan?" she asked, shaking her head to Tomoyo's direction.

"Uh… sure." Sakura stood up, about to transfer seats when a hand got grab of her arm. She looked to her immobile arm, "What?" her eyes widened and her voice sounded irritated.

"I won't let you go unless you tell me who did that to you," he was serious.

"What?" confusion was written all over her face – she was clearly stunned by his demand. "It's none of your business," she retorted, her voice more irritated than before.

"It is," he insisted.

"Don't act like you're my friend." Her words were true. He has been treating her badly for the past two years; never talking to her, acting as if she didn't exist. What little relationship they had for the past two years, he has destroyed.

He loosened his grip. "Fair enough."