Chapter 16 Planning
The foundation day celebration was growing near and the different classes need to prepare what they would doing for the event. II-A wasn't different. Sawada Megumi, the class president, then took the lead. "Ok guys. What do you want to do this year? Last year's fashion show was a success. Let's now try something new." She said.
Naoko then raised her hand and was allowed to speak. "Hey classmates, what do you say to a play? Our class could conduct a play that would eventually be the talk of the whole school like the fashion show last year." She said.
There were murmurs from the different corners of the room. "What kind of play exactly?" One asked.
"Well it's going to be a light, musical/romance play. It's not going to be a typical romantic play where we all know how it's going to end. This one will be a little musical oriented since our class does is inclined to that. Why not use that to our advantage? Basically it's not really purely romantic." Naoko explained.
"But who's going to make the script? And with the short time left?" Another classmate raised.
Tomoyo then stood up and held up a manuscript. "We thought you'd say that so Naoko and Chiharu had already wrote a script so that wouldn't be a problem. If ever we do decide to go through with it, I'm volunteering as the costumes design head." Tomoyo said. Every one seemed to like the idea.
"So? What do you say? All in favor of the play, raise your hand." Megumi said. Every one in the classroom then raised their hands. "Ok it's settled then. We're going to do a play. Will the student council approve?" She said.
Sakura then replied, "Yes. If we are really sure we want to do a play, then it will be approved. There's no turning back though once it's settled."
"I don't think anyone is about to change their minds. Our class is really musically inclined and we could use that to our advantage." Chiharu then answered. Sakura nodded.
"Alright then. Tomoyo, Chiharu, Naoko, if you please, write the names of the characters on the board and give us the description of each so that we could start giving out roles as well as other heads on props, lights, music, everything." Megumi said as Tomoyo, Chiharu and Naoko went up front and did what they were asked to do.
As Tomoyo and Chiharu were writing the names of the characters as well as other positions that would be needed to be filled, Naoko started to explain the plot of the play as well as each of the characters.
"Ok, the play will start where there will be children's voices speaking some lines. It will be a girl and a boy. Then it will flashback to the present and the play will open in a ballroom where there is a masquerade party. The grown-up version of the two kids will be there and they won't know each other. They would eventually be attracted to one another during the party but they wouldn't find out the real identity of each other until later on in the play."
"The girl will have suffered amnesia and wouldn't know much of her past. Her only link to the past is a necklace with half of a pendant where it's written 'the promise', in which the other half will be possessed by the guy bearing an inscription 'to never forget'. Ironic isn't it? Well, it will help uncover some of the past through out the story."
"Anyway, they would get to know each other. Their friends would be pushing them together but the girl is reluctant because she believes she couldn't because of the promise that she made a long time ago. She's not sure if it was to a family member or a friend or a 'puppy love' thing but she knows that she couldn't because of her past. But as the story progresses, she will find out that she is in love with the guys she met in at the ball. The ending will be that they will finally learn each other's true identity and the girl will remember. Then the pendant will be made whole. In between, there will be dancing and musical numbers. We've incorporated light humor as well. So what do you think about the story so far?" Naoko said.
She saw that most of her classmates were nodding their heads, approving the story. They knew that that kind of story wouldn't be that hard to pull off. It would be easier than making a different genre of a play. Besides, if they really wanted to stand out, they knew that it would be the best way to go. They wanted their fellow schoolmates to relate. They wanted their class idea to be out there without really being out there. They wanted it to be a light thing that makes an impact to those who would watch.
"So obviously, we will need two people to take the lead. One female and one male." Tomoyo said.
"We were thinking that maybe Sakura could be the lead female." Chiharu then blurted out.
Sakura was completely taken by surprise. "Hey! Don't you think that the lead roles should go to two people who are actually close or maybe into a relationship like Megumi and Utaro so that it would be easier. At least they don't have a hard time proving that they are in love. I mean, that's the thing we are going for, right?" Sakura quickly said. "Besides…please…I don't want to disappoint the class if there will be some practice sessions that I might not be able to make it…I do have figure skating to worry about too…" She added.
Sakura did have a point. Megumi started blushing and some of the guys were patting Utaro on the back. "Well classmates, don't you guys think that that is more appropriate?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura does have a point, Chiharu." Tomoyo said. Chiharu seemed to think about it.
Naoko then approached Megumi and said, "Sorry about this Megumi but I think Sakura has a point. You and Utaro are perfect for the roles." Megumi blushed some more.
Megumi then looked at Utaro. He looked at her too. "I guess if I don't have a choice…" Megumi said shyly.
Utaro then looked to the side and was blushing a little. "Yeah…if we must…" Utaro answered. There was then some cheering that erupted in class.
Sakura sat back and sighed a relief. She was sorry that she had to do that but it was better than actually going through with the role. It was one thing to be a lead in a play. It was another thing to take the lead and actually portray that you were in love with the other lead role.
Sakura found that Eriol was smiling at her. "You could have pulled it off, you know." He commented.
Sakura smiled and replied, "Maybe but I would rather not. I haven't really allowed myself to fall in love yet so I wouldn't know how it really feels. It would be hard to play a part where you have not much idea about."
"Don't be ridiculous. Every one knows how to play that sort of thing because everyone knows how to love. But anyway, if you don't like it, would like to volunteer with me to head music? I just have a feeling that you would be more inclined to that considering you play the piano." Eriol said. Sakura smiled and nodded.
Eriol then told Tomoyo that he and Sakura would like to volunteer for being in charge with the music. Tomoyo seemed to like the idea. She smiled over at Sakura and said that she was perfect in that role. She knew that Sakura had a good ear. With her heading the costume department, she knew Sakura would be a good choice with Eriol to head the music part.
It seemed that everyone already had a role. They had the script photocopied for those who were actually going to play a role in the play itself and those who headed each department so that more or less they knew how things would be flowing. Over lunch they were reading it over. Sakura couldn't believe the lengths that her friends had gone through to write it. It was indeed a very light script that would easily be acceptable to their schoolmates.
Eriol and Sakura started talking about ideas for the songs they could incorporate in the play. They knew that they had to come up with something really quick because it would be the basis for the choreography and the musical parts of the play.
Tomoyo had given them her impression on what type of music and the costumes that she was thinking of making. Naoko and Chiharu had shared their ideas too which really helped. Though they didn't have much time to study it and plan it detail by detail, at least some ideas were already floating inside their heads.
Eriol had invited Sakura over so that they could work on the music for the play and the music for Sakura's figure skating presentation. She had asked him for help since she was lost on what type of music she really wanted to skate to. Eriol was all too happy to help. He told her that he wasn't much an expert on that but he was really glad to help.
That afternoon, it seemed that the news that Ryu had kissed Sakura had spread like wild fire around school. Sakura tried to act as normal as possible. She knew that what Ryu did and said to her was his way of telling her that he was officially courting her. It was a bold move indeed but then she had a feeling that there was something that pushed him to do it. She couldn't put a finger over it. She knew that there something else going inside of his head that she doesn't know about but she was sure that her gut feeling was on to something.
Over lunch, Tomoyo, Chiharu and Naoko opened it up while they were eating. Sakura almost choked on her food.
"How did you know?" she said.
"The question of the day would be how could we not know?" Tomoyo replied.
"Sakura when will you learn that guys are just as bad when it comes to gossip. I'm guessing that it came from members of the basketball team and spread out from there." Chiharu said.
"So? Are you two finally getting serious or something?" Naoko asked.
Sakura gave a weak smile. She didn't know how to answer that. How could she tell them that it just happened and that it took her by surprise herself? How could she tell them that it was really nothing when Ryu made it clear that if there was a fight for her, he would be there trying to prove that he was worthy of her. Her mind was spinning. Things were turning out in ways she least expected them to be. Now she knew that it was really becoming really complicated.
She was determined to stay away from Shaoran. That was the reason why she had brought food to school that day instead of going to the cafeteria to buy something. She didn't want to bump into him just yet. It was enough that there was an incident at the leadership training that instead of her pushing him away, he needed her as much as she needed him to survive.
"We're not going steady ok. Maybe it's testing the waters and I wouldn't really call that a kiss. It was more like a small 'greeting' or something as a friend on the cheek. We're friends, ok." Sakura answered.
The three girls looked at her. They gave her a 'yeah right' kind of look.
"Come on Sakura. We're all friends here. It's just us girls." Naoko said.
"Yeah you don't have to hide anything from us." Tomoyo urged.
"Really! There isn't anything…like I said, it's just testing the waters sort of thing. It isn't really that serious." Sakura defended.
"Alright, Sakura. If you say so." Tomoyo replied.
After school, Sakura waited for Megumi's final report on the class project for foundation day before she headed to the meeting at the student council office. When she entered, she was surprised to see Shaoran there with Ryu, Shiho and Kenishiro. Sakura tried to act as normal as possible.
Sakura then handed Ryu Megumi's report. Ryu read through it for awhile. He then looked at her. "A class play? Ok. If your class is sure then by all means." He said.
Sakura nodded and gave a small smile. Ryu then handed the paper to Shiho. "So are you going to play a role in it, Sakura-sempai?" Shiho asked.
Sakura smiled at her and said, "Nope. I'm just on the sidelines, thank goodness. I'm in charge with music with Eriol." Shiho smiled.
"How ironic that Hiiragizawa-san found his way to head the music department." Shiho commented. Sakura laughed.
"Speaking of Hiiragizawa Eriol, we have been discussing before you arrived that you and Shaoran will be in charge of Shinzo Mizuhara's concert here since you two know him personally and the rest of us have our hands tied." Ryu said.
Sakura hadn't expected that. Was Ryu up to something? She decided not to think that. It was going to be trouble and Sakura knew that. It would be harder to avoid him with that new assignment.
"You ok with it, right?" Ryu asked her.
Sakura nodded. "So what do we need to do? His schedule is pretty much booked and there isn't much really that needs to be done." Sakura said.
"Well just work closely with him. I think we need Hiiragizawa-san here with us for this." Ryu answered.
Sakura nodded and got up. "Ok. I'll get him." She then went out.
Sakura kept walking across the corridor when she heard Shaoran call to her and grab her arm. "Sakura, are you avoiding me?" Shaoran suddenly asked.
Sakura stopped walking and closed her eyes. Ok he said it…the question she had been dreading for a long time. She swallowed hard and said, "No. I'm not." Sakura then started to walk again.
But Shaoran didn't let go of her arm. "Sakura you do know that you are the worst liar that I've ever known." She then turned to him with a sad and tired expression.
Sakura then removed Shaoran's hand from her arm. "Look…I'm really not avoiding you…there are just a lot of things going on and I have my hands full of stuff…I'm just really tired Shaoran…don't be paranoid will ya?" She then turned and started to walk around the corner. Shaoran didn't follow her. He stood there.
Around the corner, Sakura stood there with her back against the wall. She listened and heard Shaoran's footsteps going the other direction. She closed her eyes and stood there. She took a deep breath to try and calm herself. Did Shaoran really believe her just now? She had pushed him away from her again and he seemed alright with it. It was painful but it was a necessary thing. It's not like she had another choice.
She remembered the time when they were heading back from the train station. It was an awkward silence. She really wished that he hadn't been there or he wouldn't have volunteered to walk her home. Sakura couldn't even make out what had happened and why she didn't want Shaoran to see it. It wasn't like it was a crime.
He seemed different though after it. Sakura could tell with the actions that he showed her on their way home. Shaoran seemed a little more distant after that. He was acting all weird.
In a way, it was annoying because Shaoran already had a girl friend and Sakura knew that he shouldn't be acting like that towards her or Ryu because they weren't doing anything wrong. They were both single and friends. Shaoran shouldn't be acting all jealous or something. They weren't together after all. Then a sudden pain struck inside Sakura when that thought crossed her mind.
Sakura shook the feeling out of her mind. She shouldn't be spacing out at that time. She needed to go and find Eriol because they had something to do before the foundation day festivities. She needed to focus more on her work at hand. She shouldn't allow herself to be easily distracted by her emotions. It really wasn't the right time or was it the right place. Sakura took a deep breath and started to head to the stairwell to go and look for Eriol.
She hadn't noticed though that at the other end of the corridor, Rika was there hiding with some friends. They had seen the encounter with Shaoran and what had happened next. They were silent. They watched. They started to talk among themselves except Rika. She kept looking at where they both disappeared to in different directions. She couldn't understand the blank feeling she was experiencing. In a way, it was hurtful.
(to be continued…)
Ok I really had to cut it here. The flow of this chapter maybe a little annoying but I'm telling you that things are beginning to turn. They are starting to unfold so don't be really um up-roared with this chapter. Hehe. Anyway, thanks for reading this far and extra thanks to those who submitted reviews. I really, really appreciate it. It makes me more determined to finish this fic. I already know the ending but I'm sure you are also wondering how things will turn out. Hehe. So I hope you keep on reading through the next chapters and reviewing. Thanks.
Michiko