Chapter 2

She froze.

His heart skipped a beat.

When Tomoyo decided to come back in Japan, she of course knew that he will see Eriol again. But not this soon. This is too soon. She just arrived here in Japan but now they're already face to face. Well, fate does really funny things.

She doesn't know how to react. She's too shocked as well as Eriol. From the looks of him, he didn't expect her to be here, too.

"When did you come back, Tomoyo?" Syaoran broke the silence for the first time.

"Oh. I-I just arrived here today. I went directly here from the airport to see Sakura." Tomoyo replied, regaining her breath after seeing Eriol again.

"So the news is true then?" Eriol spoke. All eyes turned to him.

"What news?" Tomoyo inquired.

"That you're back. I heard that from the people down the street when I was walking." Eriol flashed his usual smile. Her heart froze once again. She didn't expect that.

"Actually, I was shocked when I saw her in my doorstep. Because this friend of ours, didn't say a word to me that she's coming back the last time we talked on the phone." Sakura said.

Tomoyo chuckled. "I really am sorry. I just really wanted to surprise you."

"Well, you surprised us all." Eriol commented. Then they fell silent again. Sakura looked at Tomoyo and gave her best friend the I'm-Sorry-I-Didn't-Know-He's-Coming look. Tomoyo just smiled at her in an understanding.

"By the way, it's nice that you visited us here, Eriol." Sakura spoke.

"Actually, I saw him on my way here. So then, I invited him here." Syaoran said.

"I'll go now, if I'm not welcome here." Eriol calmly said.

"Hey, don't be like that. You're our friend, so don't think that way. I was just surprised with you and Tomoyo coming here all of sudden. I mean you know, we're complete again." Sakura laughed nervously.

Syaoran cleared his throat. "By the way babe, is lunch ready?" Syaoran beamed.

"Oh yeah. I'll serve it but I need to buy something. I'll be right back." Sakura said and hurriedly went downstairs.

"I'll go with you then." Syaoran said and walked after his girlfriend.

Soon, Eriol and Tomoyo found themselves alone together. Both frozen at their spot.

Sakura's mind is drifting into space as she walked with Syaoran hand in hand towards the store. Syaoran noticed her behaviour so he squeezed her hand. Sakura looked at him and saw his smiling face. She smiled back at him.

"May I know what's on your mind?" Syaoran asked.

"Actually, I was shocked, seeing both of them together. You know it's been long years since they broke up. And I can't bear being in an awkward situation, you know." Sakura admitted.

Syaoran chuckled. "So you just made all these things up?"

"Yeah." Sakura shyly replied.

Syaoran's chuckle got louder this time. "Did you ever consider that probably they're creating a drama scene now?"

"I don't care. I just needed air. Come on let's go." and she pulled Syaoran towards to wherever that store is.

Tomoyo, realizing that Eriol wouldn't budge, she went downstairs and started to clean up the snacks Sakura prepared.

"So, how are you?" Tomoyo asked as she put the cups on the tray.

"Why did you come back?" Eriol asked and moved forward towards her.

"I'll just take three months vacation. I see you haven't changed a lot." Tomoyo said pertaining to his physical appearance.

"Well, as for you, you have changed a lot." Eriol countered but didn't smile at her. He sat on the sofa. And as soon as Tomoyo finished putting all the cups on the tray, she sat across him. He didn't expect that. Well, guess what she does is always unexpected, like her leaving Japan and suddenly coming back.

"Is that for better or for worse?" she managed to flash a smile.

"Hmm, for better?" He replied. "Well, you look more mature than the last time I saw you."

She blushed. And Eriol noticed it. He secretly smiled. "So... how's your career, I see you're doing good? And you have released some albums these past few months?" Oops, she was caught. This time Eriol didn't hide his smile.

"I bet Sakura told you that?" Eriol commented.

"Well, yeah." she shyly replied. "But why so dark?"

Eriol frowned. "Dark?"

"Yeah. You weren't used to make dark and sad songs. You usually make happy songs." Tomoyo explained.

"Wow, you're really asking me that?" he thought. Tomoyo gave him a Did-I-Say-Something-Wrong look when he just stared at her.

Both of them already felt comfortable talking to each other when Eriol's phone rang. He fished it in his pocket and answered.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Eriol Hiiragizawa! Have you seen the news today?" A female voice yelled on the phone. Eriol removed his phone from his ear because of the loud voice. It's Mei, his manager.

"No? What about it?" he asked irritated. She always does that whenever she feels giddy.

"Tomoyo Daidouji is back in Japan." she happily declared. Eriol looked at the lady in front him.

"Oh I see. Well, she happens to be here with me." Eriol replied.

"What?!" Mei yelled again. Then again, Eriol removed his phone from his ear.

"Can you quit yelling? It's so annoying, you know?" He said.

"Sorry. I just feel so giddy." She grinned.

"You always do that whenever you feel giddy." Eriol shot back.

"Anyway, can I talk to her?"

"Fine." Eriol handed Tomoyo his phone.

Tomoyo looked at him with questioning eyes. "It's Mei. She wants to talk to you."

Tomoyo accepted it and answered. "Hello?" she greeted.

"Tomoyo Daidouji!" Mei greeted from the other line. Just like what Eriol did, she removed the phone from her ear because of Mei's yelling.

Tomoyo chuckled at her former manager's reaction. "No need for yelling Mei."

"So, tell me, when did you arrive here in Japan?"

"I just arrived today." Tomoyo replied.

"And you met up with Eriol? Are you two catching up? Are you getting back together?" Mei asked nonstop.

Tomoyo suddenly blushed at Mei's questions. "No. I mean, we just happened to be here together in Sakura's house. We didn't expect to see each other here." She looked at Eriol.

Mei's tone suddenly deflated. "Oh I thought… Anyway, are you going back to showbiz again? I mean are you staying here for good?"

"Well, frankly, I'll stay here in Japan for three month vacation."

"Oh. I just hope you can help Eriol."

"What? Why?" Tomoyo frowned.

"Never mind. Anyway, I gotta go. See you around. Bye."

"Wait…" but Mei already hung up. Tomoyo gave back the phone to Eriol.

"What did she say?" Eriol inquired.

"Nothing."

"Then why are you blushing?"

"It's n-nothing." Tomoyo turned away.

Eriol chuckled when the door suddenly burst open. Syaoran and Sakura are back. "Hi, we're back." Sakura greeted.

"What took you so long?" Tomoyo asked.

Sakura held up her hand, holding a box of cake. "We brought cake. Sorry guys."

"Can we eat now?" Syaoran asked. "You know I'm already hungry."

"Yeah sure. I'll just prepare." Sakura said and started to walk towards the kitchen.

"I'll help you." Tomoyo followed her best friend.

Sakura and Tomoyo started preparing lunch for the four of them. As they are doing their task, Sakura constantly looked at Tomoyo and the latter noticed it.

"What? Are you gonna say something?" Tomoyo asked.

"Were you two okay? I mean did you…" Sakura trailed off.

Tomoyo smiled at her. "Do you want to know if we talked about us?"

Sakura just nodded. "Well, not quite. We just ask how's going with each other. We didn't bring up the past. We just casually talked like old friends, you know."

"Hey I'm sorry if we left. I just don't know how to handle an awkward situation. I mean all of these is pretty sudden. You coming here out of the blue, then Eriol too." Sakura explained.

"No worries. I'm fine. And I know that there'll be chances that I might meet him. After all we have the same circle of friends. But I didn't expect this soon." Tomoyo replied.

"Well you're right."

"By the way, can you help me set up a date so I can meet our old friends? I want to see them especially Rika, Naoko, Chiharu and Yamazaki?"

"Sure. You can count on me."

The lunch went smooth for the four of them. Tomoyo and Sakura sat beside each other while across with Syaoran and Eriol. The four were reminiscing their past since elementary days of their lives. And Sakura led the conversation. Good thing, she has this ability as a conversation maker, there was less tension between Eriol and Tomoyo. And as their conversation went by, the topic changed to Syaoran. How he once fight with Sakura and how he developed his feelings towards his now fiancée. All in all, Syaoran was being bullied verbally by his friends and as well by Sakura. That's how their conversation went. But unknown to the couple, Tomoyo and Eriol were throwing stolen glances at each other. They just couldn't help it. They sometimes smile at each other when the other caught the other looking. But sometimes, the other will look away before being caught by the other. That's just how the situation for both of them is. It's like their eyes were doing the questioning to the questions that needs answers. And from that kind of situation they have, Tomoyo couldn't help but to blush and as if there are butterflies in her stomach.

Time went on, Tomoyo finally decided to go home. "Thank you for the time and lunch, Sakura." She smiled.

"I'm glad you liked it. Come back here soon okay? Let's have a sleep over. We have a lot of catching up to do." Sakura beamed.

"I thought, you were always talking on the phone?" Syaoran asked.

"You know it's better when you're talking face to face, right Tomoyo?" Sakura said.

"Yes. You're absolutely right." Tomoyo agreed.

"Whatever you two." Syaoran muttered.

"I have to go now. Mom, might be waiting for me." Tomoyo said.

Sensing that the couple will do some 'other thing', Eriol stood up, too. "I'll go now, too. Thank you for the lunch Sakura. It was delicious." Eriol smiled.

"No problem, Eriol. You two take care, okay?"

The two just nodded and went outside already. As soon as they closed the door behind them, Eriol opened the gate for her. "Thanks." Tomoyo smiled at him. Eriol didn't smila back. His expression is blank.

"How are you going home? Where's your car?" he asked.

"I didn't bring it. I took the cab when I came here."

"Really? Don't be irresponsible Ms. Daidouji." Eriol said and started to look for the cab.

"I'm not being irresponsible. I just want to feel free here, like the way I used to in England." Tomoyo explained.

"Well, you're not England anymore. Remember, you're back here in Japan." Suddenly, he became cold. Eriol hailed the cab that passed by him.

"Here, take this cab." He told Tomoyo.

"No. It's fine. You take it." Tomoyo said sternly.

"I can manage my own. Go on now."

"I can take care of myself, too."

"Now don't be so stubborn young lady. The cab's waiting." Eriol is starting to get irritated.

"I told you to take it." Tomoyo snapped.

"Are you going to ride or not?" the driver interrupted, pissed off.

"Fine I'll take it." Tomoyo said in resignation as she sensed that Eriol won't move.

She hopped in the cab and looked at Eriol as a goodbye. Eriol just nodded at her before the cab finally darting off.

Tomoyo took last glance of Eriol from the side mirror.

When Eriol reached his house, he immediately went to his room and slumped back on the couch. Lots of things are running in his mind. He clenched his fist when he didn't succeed to control his emotions. He was not supposed to be nice to her. He was not supposed to be talking to her as if nothing happened between them years back. He's supposed to be mad. He's supposed to be cold towards her. But why all of sudden his heart melted and all the pain he kept has gone when he saw her? Why? That question kept repeating in his mind as he finally resigned from his frustrations. He's too tired to think. He just wants the time to stop.

All he knew that time is Tomoyo flooded his mind.

That night, Tomoyo sat on her bed as she watched the news on TV. But her mind is occupied with Eriol's thoughts. Her first encounter with him after three years. How she interacted with him earlier in Sakura's house. And how they stared at each other whenever their eyes met. And how they stole glances as if they were still teen agers. It seems that she just really haven't gotten over him. But she left him so probably Eriol doesn't have any feelings for him anymore, just hatred instead.

As her mind continued to drift away, she noticed the headline on showbiz news on TV. Her face and Eriol's face flashed on her TV screen with caption 'Eriol and Tomoyo: Time for Second Chance'. The headline wasn't all about the career they had together but it also talks about the relationship they had before.

Suddenly someone texted her. She picked up her phone and read the message. It came from Eriol and written in it is:

'We're on the news.'

Tomoyo sighed, slumped back on her bed and closed her eyes.

"Maybe I won't be able to forget about you." She muttered as she rested herself.