Chapter 4
"Eriol…" Tomoyo muttered under her breath. She felt dizzy because of the situation she's in right now. She can also feel her feet trembling.
Eriol moved his head a little closer to her as if he's going to kiss her. He can smell her strawberry scent perfume which she always used before. They were like that for quite some time when Eriol backed away. Tomoyo felt relieved at the same time.
"I'm sorry." Eriol said.
"I have to go now." Tomoyo finally uttered.
"No. You can't go alone outside."
"I can handle it." Tomoyo's heart is still beating fast.
"I told you to quit being stubborn." He looked at her seriously.
"I'll take a cab."
"I'll drive you home." Eriol said.
Tomoyo couldn't help but grin. "You have a car?"
"Yeah. You have a problem with that?"
"Well, then why were you walking down the street, too earlier?" Tomoyo asked.
"I was relaxing. I was trying to think of the next lines from what Nakuru started."
"Oh I see."
"Wait. Why do I need to explain to you?"
"Oh I don't know."
"Whatever. I'll drive you home. Just wait for me." Eriol said.
Tomoyo sat on the passenger seat while Eriol drove the car. They were silent as the wheels go on. Eriol is focusing himself on the road while Tomoyo watched the view outside.
"Eriol…" Tomoyo muttered.
"Yes?"
"Why did you help me?" she looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Earlier. From the crowd. Why did you help me? You could've abandoned me." Tomoyo asked softly.
Eriol looked at her and frowned then looked back at the road again. "You're really asking me that?"
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"Do you really think I will do that thing when I already saw you in that situation?"
"Well, I just thought…"
"What?"
"Well, what happened to us before… I mean you know…" Tomoyo trailed off pertaining to what she did to Eriol before. He understood.
"Oh. You know I can always help an old friend. I'm not that bad." He smiled.
"Thank you." She smiled back. She could have hug her if only they're still together.
"Tomoyo?"
"Yes?"
"About what happened…" he shook his head.
"What is it?"
Eriol slowed down the car to the side and stopped. That's only the time Tomoyo noticed that they're already in front of her house. "We're already here."
"Yeah thanks. Uhmm do you want to come inside? Mom and I baked blueberry cheesecake a while ago." Tomoyo offered.
He shook his head and smiled. "No. But thanks. Maybe next time."
Her heart skipped a beat. So there's a possibility that they will see each other again next time. Tomoyo opened the door and was about to go out.
"Tomoyo?"
"Yes?" she stopped and looked back at him again.
"Can I see you again some other time? You know like old friends?" He asked bravely.
She blinked at first. It seems what he asked didn't register on her. "S-sure."
He smiled. "Okay. Thanks. Bye."
"Okay. Thanks. Bye. You take care." She said and headed off the car.
Once she got inside the gate, she saw Sakura waiting for her. "Hey." Sakura greeted.
"Sakura. What are you doing here?" Tomoyo asked.
"Actually I just wanted to see you. Ah, were you with Eriol?" Sakura smiled more like grinned.
"Yes. Well, we just met accidentally." Tomoyo replied.
"Hmm? May I know?"
"Well, I was on way home here from the bookstore when a crowd of people gathered around me. I was cornered and didn't know how to escape but he came and grabbed me. We went to the studio room first before he drove me home." Explained Tomoyo.
"Studio room?"
"Yeah. The studio room where we used to compose songs, remember?"
"Oh yeah I remember now." Sakura replied.
"Come on let's go inside. Mom and I baked a cake earlier." Tomoyo smiled.
"Really?" Sakura's eyes brightened. She really loves sweets.
Tomoyo chuckled. "I knew you would like it. Let's go."
Tomoyo and Sakura are having snacks in Tomoyo's room. They're having tea and the blueberry cheesecake Tomoyo and her mom baked.
Sakura ate the last bite of her piece and was delighted by the taste. "This is really delicious. How did you do that? Mostly the blueberry cheesecake I have tasted before wasn't this good."
Tomoyo chuckled. She's delighted by the reaction of her friend. "Actually mom did the most out of it. I don't know how she did that but I know the procedure. She thought me a while ago."
"Really? Can you teach me also? I want to bake this for Syaoran, too." Sakura said.
Suddenly the thought of baking cake for Eriol came in Tomoyo's mind. She blushed slightly at the thought. "Sure, if I already mastered it. I want to bake for Eriol, too."
"Really?" Sakura lightened up. She noticed Tomoyo's face turned red.
"Well, I just want to say 'thank you' to him for what he did earlier." Tomoyo said defensively.
"Oh I see." Sakura is still grinning.
"Hey, what's that smile on your face?"
"Nothing. Hey, Tomoyo have you ever thought of you two getting back together?" Sakura asked seriously.
"Well, not really. But I thought of telling him the whole truth why I left him three years ago."
"Then why don't you try?"
"I'm scared. And I think he's okay now. So maybe he wouldn't care about my explanations anymore." Tomoyo replied sadly.
"Who knows? Maybe he wants answers, too."
"Oh I don't know."
Sakura smiled. "It's okay. You don't have to force yourself. But do you still love him?"
Tomoyo stiffened. "Well…"
"I get it." Sakura sipped on her tea.
"I still don't know how to interact with him. Actually he asked me if we can see each other again sometime."
"Really? Maybe he just wants to be friend with you? You know, same as old as time." Sakura said.
"True as it can be?" Tomoyo chuckled as she recalled the lyrics of the song 'Beauty and the Beast.'
"Whatever Tomoyo. I just hope you can be together again."
"Really? Why?"
"Because it seems that both of you are still in love with each other."
"I don't know."
When Eriol reached the studio, it's only Mei who is there. She's working on some papers and having a tea for herself.
"Hey." Eriol greeted.
"Hey where have you been?" Mei asked, not looking at Eriol.
"Tomoyo's house." He sat on the sofa.
Mei looked at him with a grin on her face. "Really?"
"Yeah. Why that look on your face?" Eriol frowned.
"You were with Tomoyo. Does that mean that you talked?" Mei's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"What kind of talk are you referring to? If it's about the two of us, well we didn't talk about it." Eriol replied.
"Oh I thought…"
"But I already agreed on Nakuru's suggestion. It's alright for me working with Tomoyo again. If and only if she would agree with it, too."
Mei's eyes brightened. "Really? You're doing this?"
"Yeah. But you gotta help me convince her too. This is not gonna be easy you know." Eriol said.
"I know. I know. Don't worry I got your back." Mei grinned.
"And by the way, Nakuru started making lines for new song." He looked around. "Speaking of… where is she? She said she'd only take a break."
"I don't know." Mei shrugged. "May I see it?"
Eriol handed her the papers. Mei read the lines. She smiled as she read it on. Once she finished reading, she handed the papers back to Eriol. "Wow, that's nice. Very catchy."
"Yeah. Just like what Tomoyo commented." Eriol replied.
"She read it also?"
"Yeah. She happened to see it while she was here."
"Wait…I'm lost. She was here? I thought you went to her house?" Mei frowned.
Eriol chuckled. "Actually I dragged her here. When I was having a walk on the street, I saw here crowded by some fans of hers. She was cornered so I dragged her here. And since, she was stubborn just like what she was before, I didn't let her go home alone."
"Oh I see. So our very own Eriol Hiiragizawa was the princess' knight in shining armor then?" Mei grinned.
Eriol rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up Mei. Look I need to focus. I need to write lines."
"Wait. Have you ever thought what will be the melody of the song?"
"Actually I already thought of the start. Do you wanna hear it?"
"Yeah. Can I?"
"Sure."
Eriol sat in front of his piano and started on the keys slowly. It's sad but the words are meaningful. Full of love and full of asking for forgiveness. Eriol felt it inside his heart. It's as if he really wants a second chance. He closed his eyes as he played the piano then stopped until where the lines were written.
"Wow." That was only the word Mei uttered.
"So? How will you compare it to the old ones I created these past few years?"
"Much better. But it will be better if you will join forces with Tomoyo. That song fits you both." Mei stated.
"Don't start mocking me, will you? This is no joke."
"And I'm not joking either. You know I still believe that both of you will be together again."
"Just help me convince her to do this thing. I don't believe that I can do this, you know."
"Changing topic." Mei grinned. "Okay, I'll do whatever I can. After all, I was her former manager. If I have to pay her double as what she's getting from being an architect, I'll do it."
"Whatever you want to do Mei." Eriol muttered.
That night, Eriol is in his room thinking if what could be the lines next to what he wrote. He's staring at the paper but no words came out of his mind. He's too pre occupied.
"Ughh!" He cried in frustration. "What can I do to be inspired again?"
He sighed and got up from his seat. He went to the divider and turned on the radio. Unfortunately, the song that is currently aired is the song Tomoyo Daidouji's hit before. And the song's title is: Have you ever. It was the song she last sang before going to England.
Eriol sat back on his chair and listened to the song. And the song goes like this.
Sometimes it's wrong to walk away
Though you think it's over
Knowing there's so much more to say
Suddenly the moment's gone
And all your dreams are upside down
You just wanna change the way the world goes round
Tell me
Have you ever loved and lost somebody?
Wish there was a chance to say I'm sorry
Can't you see?
That's the way I feel
About you and me, baby
Have you ever felt your heart was breaking?
Looking down the road you should be taking
I should know
Coz I loved and lost
The day I let you go
Can't help but think that this is wrong
We should be together
Back in your arms where I belong
Now I finally realized
It was forever that I found
I'd give it all to change the way the world goes round
Tell me
Have you ever loved and lost somebody?
Wish there was a chance to say I'm sorry
Can't you see?
That's the way I feel
About you and me, baby
Have you ever felt your heart was breaking?
Looking down the road you should be taking
I should know
Coz I loved and lost
The day I let you go
I really wanna hear you say
That you know just how it feels
To have it all and let it slip away
Can't you see?
I know the moment's gone
I'm still holding on somehow
Wishing I could change the way the world goes round
Tell me
Have you ever loved and lost somebody?
Wish there was a chance to say I'm sorry
Can't you see?
That's the way I feel
About you and me, baby
Have you ever felt your heart was breaking?
Looking down the road you should be taking
I should know
Coz I loved and lost
The day I let you go
Eriol sighed. That song has meaning. Before she even left him, she's already asking for forgiveness. That's what he thought so. But could it be true or was he just imagining it and he's thinking too much beyond his way of thinking of it. Whatever it is that's bugging him now. He must ask. He knows there's hidden meaning in that song.
"But it's just a song. What else could there be?" he muttered and sighed.
Tomoyo is listening to the same song as what Eriol was listening. Now, the song perfectly fits her. Every line and every word fits her current situation and it's kinda hurting her. It hurts a lot because that's what she's going through right now. She wanted to apologize to him to what she did before and she wanted to…get back to him. But she couldn't.
Her phone rand and when she looked at it, Eriol's name registered on the screen. Her heart leapt when she read the name and on the third ring, she answered the phone.
"Hi." Eriol greeted.
"H-hi." Tomoyo greeted back.
"Uhm is it the great time to call you?"
Tomoyo chuckled. "Now you sound like you were an interviewer and I applied in your company. Well, to answer your question, yes. It's a great time to call me. Am I qualified?" she joked.
Eriol chuckled lowly at Tomoyo's humor. "Well yeah. You are still qualified for the position." He said it with a hidden meaning.
"Oh thanks then." She knows he means something. "Enough of that. So what made you this call?"
"Actually I want to ask you."
She got nervous. "Okay?"
"Are you free on Sunday? Do you think it's possible that I can visit you in your house?" he asked nervously.
She blinked. Twice. "Y-yeah sure."
"Okay. Thank you. Goodnight. Have a rest." Eriol said.
"Goodnight." She hung up.
"What would that be all about?" she muttered. Then someone texted her. It's from Nakuru.
Nakuru: Good evening Tomoyo. I hope you're still awake.
Tomoyo replied.
Tomoyo: Yes. I'm still awake. Why? Do you need something?
Nakuru: I just want to know if you agreed to help Eriol.
Tomoyo frowned then replied.
Tomoyo: Help him in what?
Nakuru: Oops. He didn't tell you yet?
Tomoyo: He didn't tell me anything.
Nakuru: Oops. My bad. Good night Tomoyo. See you around.
Tomoyo: Wait. What was that all about?
But Tomoyo didn't get a reply from Nakuru. Now her mind is full of questions again. Oh it seems that thinking before sleeping is becoming her habit for these past few days.
"Could it be related why Eriol wanted to see me this Sunday? What it could be then?" she asked to no one really in particular.