We Belong
Chapter 10– Sure
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And that smile, that perfect smile gave him a painful pounding in his chest. "What is this," he asked… "What is this? Could this be love?"
"Hello!! Earth to Syaoran please!!" Sakura rapidly waved her arms on him and did funny actions to catch to his attention but it seems like he was into some kind of a spell. "Syao, wake up!! What happened to you?!" She screamed. Getting really annoyed about being ignored.
"Why you! You're acting like you don't see me, now how about this!" She leaped above him, finally catching his attention and bringing him back to reality. He caught Sakura's body right on time and then they both plunged into the water. He was totally allured by her on top of him and he can't help but blush, and after what seemed like the longest time for him, they finally floated up.
"So, you awake now? Or are you still out of this world?" She laughed her wits out.
"Stop laughing, nothing is funny!" He nervously grumbled, averting Sakura's face that is very close to his.
"There is something funny, and that's you!" She laughed even more. "You look so dumb back there Syao. What are you dreaming about? C'mon don't be shy…" She provoked with a shrewd grin.
"Shut up Saks!" He shrieked before turning his back and swimming away from her.
Sakura pursed her lips, trying to stop her laughing and feeling a little guilty. "Hey Syao, where are you going, I'm just kidding!"
Syaoran ignored her and hurriedly got out of the pool. He walked through the chairs, took his towel and dried himself up. Sakura, feeling really convicted, hastily swam to get out of the pool but before she can make the first step out, Syaoran leaned down to her and smiled, "I'm not mad okay," he blushed, "I'll just go get a drink for us, so wait for me here okay Saks?!" He winked.
"Uh? O-kay!!" She mumbled. 'Weird uh, what's the matter with him?'
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It's only a couple of hours before midnight but the island is still so alive. The beach bars were all peppy with different bands playing, incredible fireballers, and dancers all over. Everyone in the island seems to be having a lot of fun, well almost everyone, but not Syaoran…
He walked through the sandy shore, hands jammed on pockets and gazing through the dark sky. 'Darn it, what the heck is this feeling! Do I love Sakura? Am I really feeling something towards my best friend?! Darn it, what would mom and aunt think about this, what would Sakura think about this! Darn, darn, I'm really an idiot! '
"Syaoran-kun! Hey Syaoran!!" Eriol shouted like for the third time. Syaoran searched for his cousin after hearing his voice and rushed to the table where Eriol is sitting.
"Hi, umm, sorry for that. By the way, I thought you were with Tomoyo?"
"I am, she just went to the powder room an hour ago and haven't come back yet until now… And you, thought you were with Sakura-chan?"
He blushed at the mention of her name. "Uh, oh yeah. I just went out to buy us drinks."
Eriol noticed his sudden expression when he mentioned Sakura's name and from that, he already knew. "What's the problem, tell me. I know that there's something bothering you Syao.." He asked, adjusting his glasses and eyeing observantly at Syaoran.
Syaoran shivered at the statement. "Uh, no, nothing's wrong," He stammered, "Sakura's waiting for me, have to go." He suddenly stood up from his seat, waved his hand and was about to leave the table when he heard Eriol spoke, "You don't have to hide it, I already knew. It has something to do with Saks right?"
Syaoran gulped. 'What the heck is he up to?' He meekly walked back to his chair and huffed, "Looks like you caught me as usual."
Eriol smirked. "You can never hide anything from me. So now tell me, what are you thinking?"
"Yeah right, fine. See, something unexpected came to my realization just now and it really bothers me. I don't know how it came to my mind, I can't explain it, I just… Just felt it. It hit me right then and there and now it's making me worry and happy all at the same time. I know it's weird but at this moment I don't really care, cause I know what I felt. What I'm pointing out is that," He panted, "I… I think I'm in--uhhh, ummm," He huffed and puffed, "I think I like Sakura."
"Of course you like her, she's your best friend. I like her too, she's a very nice friend."
"No, what I mean is that, I think I like Sakura more than a friend. I think I.. I…" He blushed furiously. 'Do I really have to say this to him?' Syaoran gulped, his heart beating faster and faster, "I think I love Sakura."
"Finally!!" Eriol cheered and rejoiced.
"What do you mean?" He questioned innocently.
"You know what Syao, you've always loved Sakura more than a friend from the very beginning! You just ignored your feelings before because you were restricted with the thought that you two are the best of friends. You always protected her, you care for her more than anyone else, you're afraid to lose her, you can't live without her. Everything you feel for her has always been love."
"Wait a sec, you knew this all along?"
"Of course I knew. Everyone in school knew…"
"Nani? Then Sakura knew as well?"
"Everyone except you and Sakura…"
"You idiot, why didn't you even tell me if you already knew!"
"Are you nuts? Things like this should be discovered by your self."
"All the while I thought I'm really smart, but after what you've said, I guess I'll have to admit that I'm really an idiot." They both laughed. "You're right, I do love her so much… I'm just too foolish not to realize that…" Syaoran continued, having so much passion in his eyes. The most beautiful smile of Sakura suddenly flashed in his mind and he can't help but smile. "Now I know why I've always wanted to be with her, why I always feel mesmerized when she smiles at me, and why I always catch myself staring at her like crazy. Everything's clear to me now…"
"Yeah you're really an idiot! So what are you planning now?"
Syaoran was twitched out of thinking. He shrugged his shoulders off and had a confused look, "Plan? I do not have a plan."
"No, what I mean is that, what are you going to do now? When are you going to tell her how you feel?"
"Tell her?" Syaoran huffed. He shivered at the thought of confessing to his best friend. "Honestly, I don't really know."
"What's the problem, you can just tell her right away!"
"It's not that easy. What if Sakura doesn't love me the way I love her?" He was suddenly saddened. "Confessing to her would surely ruin our friendship and I can't live with that. And another problem is our parents. See, they've always pictured us as the bestest of friends, if ever they would find out about how I feel, they might not approve of it, and worst, they might even keep us away from each other." Syaoran explained.
"You must be positive Syaoran. Aunt Yelan would surely be happy to know that you're in love with her most favorite girl in the world and I'm sure that Nadeshiko-san would be happy as well knowing that her most favorite guy in the world is in love with her daughter. So, there's no problem with them, that's for sure. Sakura is the only problem for now because you don't know how she feels for you." Eriol patted Syaoran's shoulder and said reassuringly.
Syaoran felt a little relieved with what Eriol has said. He smiled, "Yeah right, I must be positive." He continued, "Mom and aunt would understand, and as for Sakura, I think I would have to wait for the perfect time to tell her how I feel. I just have to make her feel how special she is to me for now. Well, guess I have to say this to you couz, arigatou gozaimasu!"
"You're welcome. I guess you have to get back to the pool already, Sakura might be really mad by now." Eriol simpered after glancing on his watch.
Syaoran gasped. He was jerked out of his current thinking and his heart pounded much faster than it has before. "Darn you Eriol, why haven't you told me earlier! I've been out for 45 minutes now!" He shivered. 'I'm dead!'
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"Tomoyo dear, what took you so long?" Eriol grunted.
Tomoyo sat beside her boyfriend and embraced him. "Gomenasai Eriol dear, I had to go back to our room because I forgot my comb. Sorry…" She sweetly apologized and cutely smiled.
"No big deal." Eriol grinned. "This is the big deal, I have a news that would surely make you happy…"
"Really? About what? What is it?"
"It's about our cousins…" Eriol smirked, having that triumphant glow in his eyes. Tomoyo knew already what was going on inside his mind and excitedly sat back and listened…
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Sakura trampled through the sandy shore. She was soaking wet with her towel wrapped around her shoulders and her hair was all messy. Her eyes were blazing and her cheeks were fuming red. "Where the heck could that jerk be?" She searched around the bars and sea stores but found no sign of him there. She continued walking, getting even annoyed as time passes by.
Meanwhile…
"Shoot, have to hurry, hope she's still there…" Syaoran ran through the crowd. He is carrying two sodas and he was sweating really hard. He felt relief when he finally reached the pool they rented. But unfortunately, he found it empty. He gulped. "I'm dead!" He ran as fast as he can and proceeded straight to their hotel.
He waited patiently as the elevator slowly ascended. 'Where could she be? Darn, I hope she's not mad…' He dashed through the hallway of the 7th floor and rushed to their room, quietly opened the door and stepped in. He left the sodas on the table and slowly walked through the bedroom door. He peeked in and gingerly entered. "Oh great, she's not yet here… Then where could she be?"
Back on the beach…
Sakura, tired of walking and hungry, decided to take a meal alone. She entered a store on the farthest end of the beach where only a few people were eating. She ordered a cheeseburger, fries, Coke, sundae and salad. Her anger had cooled down a bit but she still feels irritated. Once her orders had arrived, she started eating.
'Oh that stupid Syaoran, how could he ditch me like that. Maybe he is enjoying his time by now with some saucy girl out there. That freak, he could've at least told me that he's not enjoying my company!' She chewed her food hard. 'Hmmm… He's really getting on my nerves, that's it, I'm not talking to him no matter what.' She was switched out of her thoughts when a group of boys sat with her on the table.
"We assume that no one is sitting with you miss, so I guess it's okay to share the table with you." A very tall guy said after seating beside her.
Sakura raised her eyebrow, getting much annoyed. "Hai, no one is sitting with me and I prefer no one to." She responded, glaring deadly at the guy on her right.
"Oh, looks like she's not so happy with your company Kai." The two other guys sitting in front of her chorused, teasing the guy with black orbs besides Sakura. The latter just smiled.
"You know miss, I like girls who play hard to get. How about I invite you on my room tonight? What do you think?"
Sakura clenched her hands into fist, stood up and pounded her hands on the table. "What the heck do you think of me, you ugly fool! You expect me to go with a freaky monkey like you?" She shrieked really aggravated.
The two other guys laughed their wits out. "Heard that Kai? This girl just called you a monkey!!"
"You don't have to repeat what she said you two fools! Shut your mouths up!!" The guy shamefully yelled at his friends. He grasped Sakura in the wrist and pulled her out of the small restaurant.
"Where the heck are you taking me? Let me go, you freak! I said let go of me!" Sakura struggled hard from Kai's grasp but she failed to. Kai pulled her hard, dragging her to the empty shore. Kai pushed her down the sand and laid her there helplessly.
"I've never seen such a beautiful face like yours…" He caressed her shoulders. "You'll make a very lovely wife… I'll sure be the happiest guy in the world if I could spend just this night with you…." Kai smirked, his eyes fiery and feral.
"Let go of me, help!! Please, help me!" Sakura struggled, but no matter how hard she tried, she still failed to. Kai tightly held her wrists above her head as he was above her, cornering her in his legs. He pulled her towel off, revealing her remotely naked body. She shivered in fear as tears started welling up her orbs. Kai scoffed, leaning down closer to her body and to her face.
"Syaoran, please save me…" She cried before shutting her eyes in fear.
All of a sudden, she felt unchained. She hastily opened her eyes and was relieved; Kai was out of her sight now. She sat up and there she saw Syaoran --- his eyes unusually sharp and his face looked so scary. He seized Kai by his shirt and punched him at the face several times. Seeing Syaoran there, tears started flowing from her orbs. And a smile hovered on her lips. She felt peace from within, she felt safe and secured.
Syaoran kept on punching Kai though the latter is already bleeding. Sakura saw how serious Syaoran was and he can kill the guy anytime. Upon realizing that, she hurriedly ran to Syaoran, hugged him from the back and pulled him away from Kai. All she cares about is to keep Syaoran from getting into trouble. She clearly knew what Syaoran will be facing if by chance he killed that guy.
"Stop it Syaoran, that's enough. C'mon, let's just go back to our hotel."
"But Sakura…"
"Stop it already. I don't want you to get into trouble because of this. Besides, he hasn't done me any harm." She begged.
Syaoran somehow cooled down. He held Kai's shirt tightly and whispered something on his ear before letting him go.
"Ha--i, I---- pro---mise." Kai stuttered before running of in fear.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Sure am…"
Syaoran blanketed her with the towel and held her hand tightly into his. Silence overwhelmed the two of them as they were walking hand in hand. Sakura shivered in the mere silence and decided to speak, "Syaoran, domo arigatou gozaimasu for coming to my rescue." She said lovingly with a smile painted on her lips.
"That's my duty. I am your… best…friend after all." He responded, his voice lowering down on the last words. He looked away to the sea as he let go of Sakura's hand. "Sakura, gomenasai for leaving you in the pool earlier. I saw Eriol on my way back and I ended up chatting with him that I forgot about you. Sorry…" He said plainly, jamming his hands on his pocket and still averting Sakura's face.
'So, he's not flirting with anyone out there. That's a relief.' She smiled. She slipped her hands on Syaoran's pocket, caught his hand and pulled it out. Syaoran looked at her surprised. Sakura intertwined her fingers on his and smiled lovingly at him. She again mesmerized him; he smiled back and blushed beet red, tightening his grasp on her hand.
"You must thank me as well, for not getting mad at you for ditching me back there…" Sakura muttered as she raised her brow.
"Thank you!" He smiled. 'Everything you do makes me know how much I love you…'
"You know what Syaoran, you really came in on time. I just whispered your name then when you came to save me… That's odd…"
"Well, I don't know… but it seems like my body voluntarily moved for me, and my feet brought to where you are," He wondered, "maybe it's my instincts…" He winked at her.
"I see…" She nodded, "by the way, what did you tell that maniac guy back there?"
"Uh.. That?" He blushed, "never mind that, it's nothing…" He grinned.
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"Never lay a finger on my girl again or else I'll kill you right away."
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Author's Notes: Hello everyone! Sorry for the very, very late update of this chapter… I have a very busy schedule now especially that I'm already in college, so please bear with me… But no worries, I will finish this story come what may… Oh, let Lady Raiah take this opportunity to express her gratefulness to her reviewers and readers out there… Thank you, thank you very, very much!!! I love you all, for you always inspire me to keep on writing!! Thank you so much!!
So… coming up: Chapter 11 – The Ending!! ---- oh, not yet, I'm just kidding… I'm just getting on the good part of the story!! Well, I haven't thought of the perfect title for chap11 yet but I'm planning to make the next chapter about making Sakura feel… got it? R&R!!
+Lady Raiah+