Chapter 12: Diversion part 1
"Here's the song you have to perform later."
"Hey, I thought we're going to draw the songs?"
"We actually did if you've listen with the announcement 15minutes ago, you could've pick one yourself." Mei Lin grabbed his hand and stuffed the piece of paper in it. "Just shut up and take this. It's the last one."
"What's wrong with you, effects of your "monthly-thingy"?"
"None of your business!" Mei Lin scoffed and left, still pretending to be pissed and struggling not to burst in laughter with his brother's awkward position of asking her about her period and for not seeing through her lie.
"So what is it?"
Syaoran carefully unfolded the paper, peer inside and read aloud. "Dirty little secrets by The All American Rejects."
"Yey, my favorite band." Rika cheered and looked expectantly with her temporary band.
Andy heartily laughed for some reason. Syaoran just smirked thinking that luck is on their side. While Sakura pretend to be ecstatic about it though in her mind she's beating herself up.
'Damn, isn't it fitting!?' Sakura cursed inwardly with her luck.
"C'mon, let's surf for the chords and the lyrics" Andy hyperactively dragged Rika off to the internet room in the camp, leaving Syaoran and Sakura behind deliberately.
"Um… thanks for that…"
"It's cool…"
"Um… look for this, you could take the stage.
"Huh?
"Sing lead. I'll do the back up.
"Oh so you could flirt with her during the performance?"
"N-no, its—"
"Chill, I'm just kidding. And it's cool I have a sore throat anyway. I sounded like a member in a boy band than a rock star…"
Upon entering the room, Sakura shoved Syaoran to Andy whose busy surfing on the other side of the room while she approached Rika to help her out.
"Hey"
Andy looked up, quite surprised. "Oh, hey."
"What's up?"
"Nothing much."
Lost for words, Syaoran looked over what's keeping her busy with. "Who are they?"
"Oh, convicted minds. Have you heard of them?"
"Yeah, it's your other band right? How do you do that?"
Andy just gawked at him in confusion. Syaoran cleared his throat and clarify his question. "I mean balance your time with two bands?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw you perform in one of your gigs, last week."
"You mean at Stripped-Rainbow?" Syaoran just nodded. "You we're there?" Mesmerized with her eyes solely focused at him, he nodded again.
"I was there too, but I never played." Andy pondered, trying to remember the exact night.
Confused with her answer, Syaoran tried to remind her of the incident, "I accidentally bump into you that night when you emerged from the back stage. You were wearing a blue limited edition Nike cap that night during your performance."
"Oh that was you?" Syaoran embarrassedly nodded afraid to look at her eyes. "I thought I would be squished to death." Andy continued her musing completely oblivious of the torment she's inflicting on him.
Realizing the silence of her companion, she decided to begin her contribution to the plan. "I'm not a member of convicted mind, neither did I owned that limited edition cap."
Knocked from his stupor and forgetting his earlier embarrassment, Syaoran gawked at her. "Huh."
"That was Kura, rhythm guitarist, sometimes the vocalist and the only female member of the band. Isn't she great!"
"That wasn't you?"
"Nope! I could never pull it off like her. Even if I can play the keyboard and guitar, drums are my forte."
"But at the orientation—"
"That was also her, I injured my hand five minutes after I bumped into you and I begged her to take my place at the last minute." Andy looked at him again but now with stars in her eyes. "Isn't she so talented!?"
Syaoran bowed his head to hide his eyes with his cap and just nodded, dumbfounded from what he discovered. 'It's not her?' He then gazed at the giddy drummer beside him, happily clicking at random stuff in the net. 'But… Andy…'
He silently pondered on his predicament at hand, 'I don't know this Kura person yet. Andy… Andy's really a talented drummer too… even if I've been falsely admiring someone else. I'm sure there's still…'
"Andy…"
"Hmm…" Andy stopped playing with the computer and turned to face him.
"Um… I know it seem sudden but I've been drawn into you the first time I saw you, rather bump into you. I really like you and… umm… is it okay if you could spend some time with—"
"I'm sorry Syaoran… umm… I have someone else..."
Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
"What's that gaki doing with my sister?"
"Um… playing a song for the camp?" Yuki wittingly answered.
"I can see that but—"
Yuki heave a sigh, pat his shoulder and cut him off. "Relax Touya it's just a camp activity, besides I don't think he's gay though to like Sakura that way."
"Will you take a rest with your paranoia for a sec, Kura's not here; it's Ikki who's up there. No one will ever know about it unless you ruin everything because of this brotherly overprotectiveness." Ken scoffed, fed up with Touya's permanent sister-complex syndrome.
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way we survive
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
"If you help me set-up Syaoran with Kura, I'll definitely help you with Tomo."
"Really?" Eriol eagerly agreed then ask. "Wait, who's Kura?"
"Kura, Sakura Kinomoto, Ikki's cousin, Tomo's cousin, Touya's sister, and the guitarist in cap of Convicted Minds. The very one that Syao's been drooling for days ever since he laid eyes on her, the one that he have mistaken to be Andy. She's also the one he accidentally kissed in our last gig."
"What kiss?" Eriol gasped in shocked. "How come I didn't know anything about that kiss?"
"You know how that brother of mine is with these things. So would you help me?"
"Of course"
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping thoughts won't lie (won't lie)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this life out
"What are you now scheming?" Ren hissed at her stealthily to avoid unwanted attention from their temporary band mates for the evening.
Tomoyo bewilderedly looked at him. "What makes you think I'm up to something?"
"You're seriously asking me that question? Damn, Tomo I'm not dense! So just spill it." Ren scoffed trying not to blow up from annoyance.
"Only if you swear to not ruin this for us"
'She's not working alone. Damn this is bigger than I thought.' Deeply troubled, he could only asked, "Us? Who's the us you're talking about?"
"Just swear if you want to know."
"Fine, I swear. Now what is it?"
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret)
Enlightened with the plan they've cooked up, Ren had the difficulty restraining himself from frustration. "You three did what?" It's a good thing the band is still playing or the whole camp would have heard him.
"You swore!" Tomoyo fretfully reminded him of his promise.
"But … we're talking about Kura here… you can't possibly—"
"Oh yes we can." Tomoyo cut him off with a glint of mischievousness in her eyes.
But Ren firmly not backing out, countered her. "No, you can't if I have a say in this."
"But, but you swore." Tomoyo again attempted to use that line again on him.
"So, I also swore to Touya I'll keep her away from harm even if it's from you guys."
"Damn it! We're not harming her."
"Yes, you ARE and you WILL."
"It's not fair."
"Tomo, she's your cousin and like a sister to me. Kura's not a toy you can just give to anyone." Tomoyo looked crestfallen, so Ren bargained. "Okay, give me one valid reason and I won't interfere with it if you consult every detail with me first."
Tomoyo widely grinned and answered.
"She's starting to fall."
I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Tomoyo left her gaping best friend and look for someone in the crowd.
"Ren knows." Mei gave her a skeptical look. "Don't worry I got it covered."
"Eriol too has joined in. I'll try to convince Rika and Miyu when the time arises."
Who has to know
"Oh before I forgot nice song choice."
"Nothing to it, just stick with the plan."
Tomoyo snickered. 'Brilliant, simply brilliant'
Who has to know
- to be continued -
A/N: Words that are bold and italicized are lyrics to the song, "Dirty Little Secrets" by the band AMERICAN REJECTS. Thanks please review.
Mar 27, 2009 bangag_pa
June 21, 2013 revised
September 23, 2015 updated