Chapter 3
When Eriol arrived at the studio where he usually composed songs, he was a little surprised seeing Mei and Nakuru, his composer waiting for him so early in the morning. They're not usually this early so there might be something going on between the two.
"Good morning, Eriol." The two ladies greeted with big smile on their faces.
"Good morning. Why you so early?" He frowned.
"Aren't you glad that we arrived here earlier?" Nakuru beamed at him.
"It is unusual. So, I assume that something's going on?" Eriol said and put his bag on the couch near the piano.
"Well, actually we just thought of something for your career. You know, how you can cope up?" Mei declared.
"Okay? I wanna hear it." Eriol sat on the couch.
"It's Tomoyo Daidouji. We need to pair you up two again. You know, recording duet songs again. Having concert again, just like before since she already came back here in Japan." Nakuru happily said with twinkling eyes as if she thought of the best idea in her entire life.
"No." Eriol calmly replied.
"What? Come again?" Nakuru wide eyed.
On the other hand, Mei remained her calm features as she just looks at Eriol. She already knew that this would be Eriol's answer.
"I said no. I won't work with her again." Eriol said.
"Look, this is your another chance to be famous again. Imagine, after three years of being separated, you and Tomoyo are re united again. Don't tell me, you haven't forgotten all the things that happened to both of you before." Nakuru said but she has gone too far.
Eriol shot him dark glares. And if only glares can kill, Nakuru would be dead by now. "Tell you what. She just came here to have a vacation. Nothing more, nothing less. She won't go back to that kind of life again."
"Why? Did you already talk to her? What if she wants to go back as a singer again? You might not know." Nakuru snapped.
Then again, Eriol gave her composer a dark look. "Yes we talked already yesterday. She told me that she's just having a vacation here."
"Then try again."
"And what if she refuse?" Eriol raised an eyebrow.
"Then keep trying. If you have to court her again, then do it!" Nakuru almost yelled for Eriol being so stubborn.
Eriol blushed at the thought. "No. Why don't you just help me create songs and leave the rest to me? Stop thinking of stupid ideas."
Nakuru narrowed her eyes at Eriol from his comment as her face turned red in frustration but Mei tapped her on the shoulder to calm down. "Just do what he asked of you."
"But Mei…" Nakuru trailed off then looked at Mei. The latter shook her head. Nakuru sighed in frustration. "Fine."
"I'll be leaving now. I still have meeting with some of our sponsors. Please both of you be calm here, okay?" Mei said and started to walk towards the door.
Eriol stood up and sat in front of the piano while Nakuru sat on the couch. Before finally leaving, Mei looked at Eriol. "But if I were you Eriol, I'll consider what Nakuru suggested. It might be good for your career, too you know? And maybe finally you two will be able…"
"Just go Mei. I'll do whatever I can to revive my career. I just need some time to think of a better song." Eriol said without looking at his manager. He doesn't want to hear what his manager has to say.
"Okay. Whatever you say." And Mei left.
Tomoyo woke up late the next day. She got tired yesterday from her flight from England. And she hadn't sleep properly because of her thoughts of Eriol.
She fixed herself and went down immediately hoping that her mother is still in the house. They hadn't talked last night because her mom went home late. Luckily, she found her mom having a coffee while reading a newspaper in the dining room.
"Good morning, Ma." Tomoyo greeted her mom and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hey, how's your sleep?" Sonomi asked.
"It's fine."
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to come home early last night. You know paper works." Sonomi smiled apologetically.
Tomoyo sat in front her mom and smiled back at her. "It's okay mom, I understand. No worries."
"By the way young lady, why did you escape your body guards yesterday. You were supposed to be with them."
"Sorry mom." Tomoyo grinned. "I just wanted see Sakura immediately, so I went there."
"So why did you leave your body guards, then?"
"I just want to be a normal person like I used to be in England." Tomoyo replied.
"But you're not in England anymore. You were an ordinary person in England, yes. But consider that you were once a star here. There might be interviewers coming after you again." Sonomi explained.
"Yeah. Just like what Eriol told me." Tomoyo said and started to prepare her breakfast.
"Did you two talked already?"
"Hmm not really. Well, he happened to come in Sakura's house, too yestearday."
"Oh I see. Anyway, I took a day off today. So where do you want to go?" Sonomi smiled as she didn't want to press the issue between Eriol and her daughter.
"Actually mom, I want you to teach me the cake you were baking before when I was little. I missed that. What was that called again? Blue..."
"Blueberry cheesecake." Sonomi finished for her.
"Yeah that one. Can you teach me, please?"
"Sure. No problem. As long as it pleases you. But, you eat your breakfast first." Sonomi said.
LINYA DITO
Eriol is still sitting in front of his piano while Nakuru is still pissed off, sitting in the couch with crossed arms.
"Are you still not going to talk to me?" Eriol asked.
"Look all I want is to revive your career."
"I know and I like that to happen also, but what you ask of me is beyond my will. I can't do that." Eriol said.
"But she might be the key." Nakuru countered.
"I know what you mean, the crowd loves her, her angelic face, angelic voice. Everything about her, actually. But you can't possibly ask me to work with my ex." Eriol explained.
Nakuru sighed. "Fine. But..."
"Fine. I'll try. But don't expect anything from it, okay. She might reject me, again." Eriol smiled weakly.
Nakuru's face brightened up. "Really?"
"Yeah. Yeah. After all, Mei suggested it, too."
Because of Nakuru's excitement, she stood up and pulled Eriol into a hug. Eriol almost choked from what she did.
"I-I can't breathe Nakuru." Eriol said.
"Oopps... Sorry." Nakuru released Eriol and grinned at him.
"You don't have to kill me, you know." Eriol chuckled.
"I'm sorry. I was just so happy." Nakuru has still her smile on her face.
"Whatever, Nakuru. Let's go back to business."
"Wait, when are you gonna do it? When are you going to talk to her?" Nakuru asked excitedly.
"Can you just leave it to me? I promise, I'll do whatever I can. Now, I just want to make songs. Just help me out now." Eriol said.
"Fine. Fine." Nakuru is still smiling.
It's been one and a half hours since Tomoyo and Sonomi started the lesson about baking of blueberry cheese cake. Tomoyo was having all the fun. Except from she learned a new recipe, she also had a bonding time with her mom which she missed doing since she left for England. And now, they're finishing the final touch for the said cake.
"This is so fun." Tomoyo said happily.
Sonomi looked at her daughter and smiled. "Now, that's finished. You can do the tasting now."
Tomoyo cut two slices for her mom and for her and they both tasted the cake. Tomoyo felt giddy upon tasting the cake. "This is so good mom."
"Well, I'm glad you liked it. Can you now make your own?" Sonomi asked.
"Yes, I can handle it."
Suddenly, Sonomi's phone rang. She fished her phone from her pocket and answered the phone. "Excuse me for a while Tomoyo." Sonomi said and walked a little from Tomoyo
On the other hand, Tomoyo started eating her piece was really delighted from its results. Guess, her mom was really genius in baking cakes which she inherited. She used to bake cake way back then too. She always bake cake for Sakura and her other friends and of course for Eriol. Eriol. Her stomach suddenly when she thought about him. She shook her head as if she will be able to forget about him if she do it.
"Didn't you like the cake?" Sonomi asked upon returning from the call.
"No. It's good. I mean it's great. I just thought of something." Tomoyo said.
"Oh I thought… Anyway, I have bad news." Sonomi said. Her face saddened.
"What is it mom? Is it something serious?" Tomoyo frowned.
"I know I promised I'll be on leave today, but there's an emergency in the office and I can't avoid it." Sonomi explained.
"Oh mom, don't do that again, okay? You had me worried. I thought something bad happened." Tomoyo said.
"I'm sorry. But I promise, I'll be home early, is that fine?"
"It's okay mom. I understand your responsibility." Tomoyo gave her mother a reassuring smile.
"Thanks. You're really a great daughter. I'll just change my clothes and I'm off to go."
Once alone, Tomoyo let out a heavy sigh. "Guess I'll be alone again in this big house."
"Hey Eriol, check this out. I already wrote few lines and I think it will be nice." Nakuru and handed the papers to Eriol.
Eriol read what Nakuru wrote and was quite surprised. This is what written in the papers:
You came so easy
All the love you gave me
The feelings we shared
And I still can remember
How you touch me so tender
You told me you cared
Eriol put down the papers.
"So what can you say about it?" Nakuru asked.
"What's this? A song all about second chances?" Eriol asked.
"Yeah. Isn't it great? If Tomoyo agreed on working with you, you can finally sing love songs that are all about second chances. And who might know, you two will have second chance in love again." Nakuru grinned.
Eriol shot him a dark glare. "Oops, not that look Hiiragizawa. It might kill me." Nakuru mocked.
"Then stop meddling with my personal life." Eriol replied.
"I am not. I'm just telling you the possibilities."
"Whatever Nakuru. But, these lines are nice. Maybe I can go along with this." Eriol said.
"Really? You'll give that song a chance?"
"Yeah. I'll arrange a melody for this. And I'll think of the next lines."
"Nice. This is great. Let's start making love songs about second chances." Nakuru grinned.
"Do what you want. I'll just go out for a walk." Eriol said.
"What for?"
"For a walk."
Tomoyo headed outside to buy new books from the store when her mother left for the office. As she walked down the streets going back home, she can hear people asking questions to each other about her. There were people looking at her.
'Is that Tomoyo Daidouji?'
'Wow, she's pretty.'
'Isn't she going to get together with Eriol again?'
Those were she heard them talking as she walked past by those bystanders. She felt uneasy now that she just came here and hadn't have practice how to ignore them. She looked down as she walked and pretended that she didn't hear them. But when she reached a coffee shop a bunch of teen agers gathered around here.
'I am a big fan of yours, please sign this.'
'I want your autograph, please sign this.'
"Oh." Tomoyo exclaimed. Now she doesn't know how to escape and ignore them now that lots of them are gathering around her.
Out of the blue, someone grabbed her wrist and the last thing she knew, she's running together with the guy who grabbed her. When she looked up at the man holding her, she was shocked knowing that it's Eriol.
"Eriol…" Tomoyo muttered.
Eriol didn't look at her, instead they kept running. "Just keep running or they will catch us."
They reached the studio room for only fifteen minutes which is unusual because it is too far from where they've been. Guess, adrenaline rush can do things without you knowing it.
"Why are we here?" Tomoyo asked before Eriol could open the door.
"To hide?" Eriol replied. "By the way, what were you doing walking down the street alone? Don't you have body guards with you?"
"I didn't bring them. I just went to the bookstore to buy new books. So I didn't bother to let them come with me."
"What were you thinking?" Eriol asked irritated. "You know you were not just a normal lady here in Japan. You should remember that."
"And I already told you that I want to live a normal life like I used to do when I was in England."
"Quit being stubborn. You know that can't happen."
"What was the commotion all about…" the door burst open and Nakuru came into view. Both Eriol and Tomoyo looked at her. "Tomoyo!" Nakuru exclaimed and pulled Tomoyo into a hug.
Tomoyo chuckled. "Nakuru I can't breathe…"
But Nakuru didn't seem to hear her. "Nakuru, Tomoyo can't breathe." Eriol tapped Nakuru's shoulder.
"Ooops sorry. I'm just happy seeing you again. Wow, you're more beautiful than ever." Nakuru commented.
Tomoyo blushed at Nakuru's comment. "Thanks."
"So she's the reason why you want to go for a walk?" Nakuru looked at Eriol, grinning.
Eriol suddenly blushed. "No!" he almost shouted.
Tomoyo looked at Eriol and she doesn't know whether to smile or just stay still. "Actually, he helped me out." Tomoyo interrupted.
"Hmm? May I know?" Nakuru asked.
"Will you let us in first? We don't need to talk here in the corridors." Eriol said.
"Oh yeah. Sorry. I forgot."
As soon as they are inside the music room, Eriol sat in front of the piano while Nakuru gestured Tomoyo to sit on the couch. "So what happened?" Nakuru asked.
"I was walking back home from the bookstore when bunch of people gathered around me wanting my signature. I was shocked. And then out of nowhere Eriol came and grabbed me." Tomoyo explained.
"Oh. Why were you alone? As far as I remember you have lots of body guards." – Nakuru.
"She wanted to live a normal life like the normal do." Eriol answered.
"You should be careful, Tomoyo. You're not an ordinary person here."
"Yeah. Just like what Eriol told me."
"Anyway, I will go grab some snacks. Any of you want something?" Nakuru asked.
"I'm fine." – Tomoyo.
"I'm good." – Eriol.
When they were left alone inside the music room, awkwardness filled the two. Tomoyo looked around and noticed that nothing much has changed.
"You preserved the old style of the music room." Tomoyo remarked.
"Mei doesn't want to change it so we just let it the way it was before." Eriol replied.
"By the way, I want to thank you for what you did earlier."
"Just don't do it again."
Tomoyo stood up and walked towards Eriol. The latter was surprised. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Currently, I'm writing a song. Nakuru made the first lines and I have to think of what's next."
"May I see?"
Eriol looked at her first then nodded. He handed him the paper. Tomoyo read it and after she finished, she handed it back to Eriol.
"Catchy. But quite dramatic." Tomoyo commented. Actually it hit her when she read the lines.
"Yeah. But nice." Eriol said. Then few lines popped into his head, he wrote it down and Tomoyo watched it.
"We had a once in a lifetime
But I just didn't know it
Till my life fell apart
A second once in a lifetime
Is it too much to ask?
But I swear from now on."
Tomoyo turned away from him after he wrote those few lines. It's not because his busy but because what he wrote was hurting her.
"I have to go now." Tomoyo said and started to walk.
Eriol suddenly stood up and grabbed her hand. "Wait."
But he regretted what he did. Tomoyo turned around and now their faces are few inches away.
He could hear her breathing.
She can smell his scent.
They both froze.
Heart stopped beating.
Both shocked while they hold each other's hands.
Disclaimer: I don't own the song 'If ever you're in my arms again.' Peabo Bryson does :)