22

Li keeps on practicing for next Friday football match, so I now go back home on my own. I was waiting for him to kiss me after classes, but when I'm done changing my shoes (yep, this is already a daily thing it seems), when I close the door of my locker, Eriol's face is smiling at me, which makes me forget about Syaoran and his kiss.

"Long time no see, Sakura." He says, just as if I haven't been avoiding him for weeks.

"Hi, Eriol." Is all I can say.

But there's really no need to say anything else, and so we both proceed to walk back home.

"Isn't it a waste of fuel and an excess of contamination for Li to pick you up in a limo, every morning?"

I side eye him.

"I mean, you never complained of having to walk to school with me."

"I'm not complaining." I answer. "But Misaki loves the ride."

"You pamper her too much. You and Rika."

I don't say anything.

"Or maybe, you're just avoiding me."

"I'm not!" I cry. "I've just been busy."

"With Li." He says, almost whining. "I know. I mean, all of the school knows. I just that… I don't want you to forget about your friends, just because you're now dating someone."

His words hurt me in three different ways. One, it means Eriol sees me only as a friend. Two, Eriol is perfectly aware that besides of Rika, he's my only friend. And three, because this whole Li is just fake dating, and even if it was real, that wouldn't make me forget about my friends and about where I belong.

"I'm not forgetting about you, Eriol." I say softly, and so to patch things up, I add. "I'll ask Syaoran to not pick me up anymore. And you, Misaki and I can go back to walk to school together, every morning."

He smiles, visibly pleased.

I texted Li, asking for him to stop picking me up every morning. He didn't reply, but I know he got the text, since he left me on read. I'm not mad, after all, the next day he does not come pick me up, and so Misaki and I walk with Eriol, just as we used to do. Just as if nothing had ever happened.

This afternoon, after lunch break, I read Li's note of the day "Want to have an ice cream after school? My treat." I don't reply, but I do wait for him outside the locker room when he's done with his training, and so, we join the rest of the football team on a trip to Penguin Park, where we all buy ice cream. I get myself a cherry blossom ice cream, and just as Li said in his note, he pays mine, which makes us look as a couple deeply in love.

Li's friends are funny. Kinda crazy, but very nice and kind. When Li takes me back home, I can't help but smile like an idiot: it does feel quite good to know you fit somewhere. Even if it's just for a moment.

It's Friday night, and I'm doing what I like the most: baking. Misaki's school is throwing a festival, and she's required to present two dozens of cupcakes, which actually makes me a little bit angry since it's a lot of work, and Miskai (who should be helping since it's her homework) is nowhere to be seen.

And then, the doorbell rings.

Finally, Misaki appears (she runs down the stairs, and opens the door without checking who is it first), and screams:

"Syaoran!"

And yep, when they both stand in the kitchen door, the mysterious visitor turns out to be my fake boyfriend. I wonder what he's doing here.

He also asks what am I doing.

"What are you talking about?" I say, as I keep on measuring sugar cups.

"I left you a note yesterday, remember?"

"I had a math exam and kinda forgot. What did it say?"

"I needed you to come with me to a party tonight!"

Misaki looks at both of us, as if she's watching a ping pong match. And then, we all hear how the front door opens again.

"Who parked that convertible in front of the house?"

Dad looks inside the kitchen, and sees us three.

"Oh." He says when he sees Li. "Li Syaoran." Does my dad remember him? "It's been a while, kid."

"Good night, professor Kinomoto." He says in such a polite way. Does he also remember my dad teaches at Tomoeda University? "I came to pick up Sakura. We have a party to attend. If you allow it, of course."

"Sure!"

"But the cupcakes!" I hurry to say, as I point the bowl filled with sugar.

"Misaki is the one who should be doing that." My dad and Li say at the same time.

Misaki growls.

"Just don't bring her back too lake, okay?" My dad adds, which makes Li respond in a military salute.

And then, the three of them stare at me.

Aware I lost this one battle, I leave the bowl, and take off my apron.

Hope your week is going much better than mine, lmao.

Ribo~