14
Plan was a total failure, obviously. I mean, Eriol's a senior, so we don't take any classes together (not even extracurricular ones, or club activities), but it was more than obvious that sooner or later we would end up running into each other at a hallway. And yep, that's just what happened.
What I wasn't expecting was to encounter with Li at that exact time too. And not only him, but also Tomoyo was there.
But let me explain.
I'm at the locker area. Standing in front of mine, to be precise. Just as if this was an American rom com, I'm placing my shoes in the locker, and when I close the door, Eriol's face is staring at me.
"Sakura…" He says, trying to catch his breath. As if he had just run across the corridor so to catch me. "I've been looking for you since yesterday morning. I need to talk to you. About this."
He holds my letter between our faces.
My heart skips a beat, but now, it's beating like crazy. This wasn't supposed to be like this.
"You mailed this, right?" He asks, but he doesn't give me any time to reply, because he immediately adds. "I mean; it has your name as the mailer."
He offers me the letter, and despite being shocked, I hurry and take it.
"Where did you get this?" I ask, pretending I know nothing about this, wondering if I can gain some time to come with an excuse.
"It came to my house yesterday morning." As he speaks, I hurry to place the letter inside my backpack. "When did you write this?"
"Ages ago." I reply. But i'm aware that's a lie. I remember exactly what I wrote about, and I know there are things there (I kinda hate myself for being so detailed) that occurred when Rika and Eriol were already dating, which occurred two years ago, if much.
"Then… Do you… I mean… Did you have feelings for me?"
I have to hold in this crazy need to cry. My eyes sting, and so I know I can't look back at Eriol (I pretend to be very busy closing my backpack), so I try to look as if this conversation isn't interesting enough for me.
"I liked you back then." I say in a hurry. "It was way before you and Rika dated, ages ago." I insist.
"Why didn't you tell me anything?"
I can't believe he just said that. Is he implying if I had done things differently, things would've been different? If I had confessed my feelings, we would've chose me over Rika? A part of me is hurt just at the thought of Rika and me being interchangable, and so I finally manage to look back at him, now trying not to frown at him.
I want to yell at him that there's no use to have this conversation now, since what happened in the past is in the past, and nothing can be changed. You picked Rika over me, I think, and I wasn't going to wait for you forever because…
"I'm seeing someone."
He looks at me, totally shocked. If I could see myself, I'm pretty sure I'd be looking at myself with the same disbelief he's looking at me.
"What?"
"I'm seeing someone." I repeat. "A guy I like a lot, so there's no use for you to worry about what I said or didn't say, what I wrote or didn't wrote."
"Who?"
His question takes me by surprise. I have to come up with a name, and better be fast. Aware I won't be able to lie about something as big as this, I stop looking at him, and focus on what's happening behind him, in the corridor. And that's when I see him.
Li Syaoran's standing at the other end of the corridor, chatting with his football teammates. With his perfect smile and messy hair that suits him so good.
"Syaoran." I say, without giving it a thought. "I mean, Li." Wait, what?, I say to myself. If I'm pretending he's my boyfriend, the most natural thing would be for me to call him by his first name, right? "Li Syaoran." I correct myself once more.
"What?" Eriol asks.
But at that exact moment, a lightbulb lights in my head, just as the bell that announces classes are about to begin, also rings.
"See ya later, Eriol."
And everything occurs so fast paced, but at the same time, in slow motion.
I start running, I pass Eriol, who can barely turn around to see me go. I run along the corridor, making my way between the few students that are heading to their classrooms. Then, smiling from side to side, I yell Li's name, with such a happiness and exciting tone in my voice.
"Syaoran!"
Li turns around so to see who called him. For a moment, he looks confused. Then, without giving him any chance to say not even a word, I jump and land in his arms. I have no idea if it's because Li's worried I might fall and hit the floor, but he opens his arms, wide open, and catches me midair. And then, due the impulse of my jump, Li can't help but spin around, as his arms now wrap around my waist, and mines wrap around his neck.
As we spin, I can see the faces of the few students that were still in the hallway, and obviously are now staying to watch the show. There are some of Li's football teammates. There's Eriol, who's still standing next to my locker. A little behind him, there's Tomoyo.
My heart stops beating for a second. No, please, not her.
"Good morning, Kinomoto." Says Li, in a tone that it's both amusing and sarcastic.
And since I can't risk him saying anything that might expose this dumb plan I just made up, still in his arms, I lean closer, and kiss his lips.
An early update since I'll be busy later.
Have a nice weekend!
Ribo~
