Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to the wonderful CLAMP, not me. :'(

Sensei, I Love You

Chapter 14

They ate a simple breakfast consisting of bread and coffee since Syaoran had slept in. He was tired after the long hours at the cosplay cafe and Sakura's heart went out to him. He was so sweet to stand-in for her and even got his friend to come over to look after her. Her mood soured at the thought of her ill-mannered friend. How did the two of them become friends? Syaoran was kind and polite while his friend, Eriol, was the total opposite of him.

"Hiiragizawa-kun is your friend? Truly?" Sakura blurted out the question that plagued her. "And you told him to come?"

Syaoran nodded his head. "He's one of my closest friends and yes, I thought you needed some help at home since you are not feeling well."

"Oh... Um... Thank you," Sakura said and felt a little overwhelmed by Syaoran's considerateness. He even sacrificed his weekend just to help her. "I hope Junko-san wasn't angry with our arrangement."

"No one could be angry with me." His chest puffed out with pride as he replied. "I'm just that good."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really. What? You don't believe me?"

"Well... I do find it hard to imagine when all you do in school is to act like a grinning idiot everytime," she retorted.

"Ouch, that hurts," he winced. "Well, being an idiot is my profession if it makes people happy."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "What nonsense is that? Has working at the cosplay cafe addled your brain? Perhaps they forced you to wear my maid uniform?"

"Oh, kinky," he said and grinned at her knowingly. "I didn't know you were into that. Well, if you insist that I wear it, I'll probably wear it at home for you. Ah... Imagine me in your sexy maid uniform and strutting around in my own house..."

Sakura shuddered at the mental image he had placed in her mind. "Eww... Stop that! You're ruining my appetite."

"How about you wear it at home instead? After all, I burnt my weekend for you and that could be my compensation."

"Heavens, no!" Sakura protested immediately. "That's embarrassing! It was difficult enough to wear it at work. There's no way I'm going to wear that at home too!"

"Aww... I'm the only one who's going to see it!" he whined. "Don't I get any reward for helping you?"

"I didn't ask for your help," she reminded him.

"But I helped you anyway so I want a reward," he insisted.

"Should a teacher be behaving this way? This is unseemly!"

"Well, this teacher is different from others. Unique. One of a kind. Can we talk about my reward now?"

Sakura shook her head.

"Aww... That's too bad then..." he drawled out and glanced at his watch. "Time for us to go, muffin."

Sakura sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me muffin? I'm not some kind of food."

Syaoran got up from the table and walked towards Sakura, pausing right beside her. Her bread froze midway to her mouth as she stared up at him inquiringly. "What? You can go on first. I'll make sure I reach school on time."

Not to bothering to reply her, Syaoran swooped down and pressed a lingering kiss on her cheek almost near her lips. She went shocked still and he chuckled at her before leaving for school. Darn the man who could make her react this way.

This was getting dangerous. She never knew falling in love with her teacher would be so dangerous but she couldn't help it.

She knew she was already way too deep in trouble.

Her trouble came far too early to suit her liking and left her feeling miserable throughout the day in school. She wasn't late for school and she was never once in her entire life late for school. It was either school or work and she was never late for either of which. Work was her priority since it was her source of income and she would gladly skip school for work if she was tight on cash.

What shocked her totally was the picture that was put up at the big noticeboard at the entrance hall. No one would miss it since all of them have to pass through the entrance hall to get to their lockers for indoor shoes. If only it was a normal picture. it wouldn't have made such a big commotion within the school. Everyone was talking about it during lunch break that Li-sensei had made a move on one of the school's student. Naturally, the picture posted on the noticeboard was that of Syaoran, with his back to the camera. It was evident that there was a student on his lap. There was no mistake as to the gender of the student since she was wearing a skirt. It was a miracle that her face wasn't shown on the picture. They were in deep trouble and it would be difficult to get out of this.

"Have you heard? Li-sensei has been called to the principal's office," one of her classmates exclaimed during their lunch break, catching the attention of the rest in the class. As Sakura couldn't wasn't in class for some period due to work and when she hardly interact with her classmates in school, she didn't know what her classmate's name was. "I bet he would be suspended! To think he is this kind of sleazy teacher who preys on his gullible student. Yuck!"

Sakura opened her mouth to protest when she remembered that she shouldn't attract too much attention to herself. Syaoran would surely understand her need to remain invisible in the situation.

The urge to run to the principal's office to explain the situation gnawed at her but she refused to be tempted. Syaoran knew the risks of letting her stay at his house and getting close to her so he should already have anticipated such an outcome. Perhaps the principal would just give him a warning and be more watchful over his actions. Nevertheless, it would be a wise decision to move out of his house in case people would investigate his house for clues. She made a mental count of how much she has so far. It should be sufficient to look for a cheap place to stay at the moment. Perhaps she would have to skip school again to earn her rent. She's getting tired of this kind of lifestyle. She made a mental note to grab her belongings after school and contact Tomoyo to ask if she could accommodate her for a night while she searched for a room to rent.

"I'm so glad that you're here!" Tomoyo exclaimed as she showed Sakura into her room for the night. "As I've said before, you are most welcome to stay for as long as you like! You don't have to worry about my parents since they are seldom around."

"I'm really sorry for troubling you. I couldn't find a place to stay for the night so... Um... Anyway, I will be finding a new place to rent and will be moving out in a day or two."

"That's too fast! You should at least stay for a week, a month and even a year and more!" Tomoyo wailed, grabbing Sakura's hands and squeezing them for emphasis. "You made it sound as if the two of us are strangers! That's mean!"

"Ah... I don't mean it that way!" Sakura explained. "It's just... I feel bad to be intruding here. Besides, your parents don't really like it whenever I come over..."

Tomoyo clucked her tongue impatiently. "Didn't I say you don't have to worry about them?" she said, pushing her wavy dark hair behind her ear. "I'll take care of them. You can stay here forever if you want to."

"I..."

"I insist! Another who dares to chase you out of the house will face my wrath," Tomoyo said, her hands balled into a fist in the air. "Hell yeah!"

Sakura gaped at her and then burst into laughter. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"What?" Tomoyo asked, sounding a little offended. "You mean hell yeah?" she asked, doing a fist pump in the air again. That only made Sakura laughed even harder and she had to clutch her aching sides.

"I think I'm going to enjoy staying with you for a while," Sakura said after her laughing fits has subsided. "At least until your parents come back. Don't try to talk me out of it. I've already decided."

"I already said that you don't have to worry about them." Tomoyo pouted and began sulking.

Sakura shook her head and smiled ruefully. "I don't want to cause a rift among your family. I'll be all right on my own, I promise."

"And the rent is expensive," Tomoyo protested, hoping Sakura would give in.

"Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura sighed. Her best friend could be very persistent when she wanted to be. "My decision is made."

"Fine," Tomoyo said as she walked to the door. "I'll have you know that my offer stands if you change your mind. This place will always be reserved for you."

Emotions swelled within Sakura as she was touched by Tomoyo's kind words. She suddenly had the urge to throw her arms around Tomoyo and hugged her to death but she restrained herself. What if Tomoyo didn't like that kind of closeness with her? It would be downright humiliating.

"Thank you," Sakura said softly. Tomoyo nodded her head in acknowledgement with a smile before she went out of the room, leaving Sakura alone for the night. Exhausted, Sakura plopped onto the king size bed and sighed. Many thoughts plagued her mind and the most nagging of them all was about Syaoran. Was he worried about her when he went home and found her missing? Should she call him? Wait. She didn't even have his number so how was she going to call him? "Let's just hope he isn't too worried," Sakura murmured as she stared at the ceiling until her eyelids turned heavy and she was soon drifting off into sleep.

To be continued

Opps! The secret's out? *anxious*

This chapter is a little short. I think I was having some minor writer's block at that point of time. Forgive me? *puppy eyes*