34

One week before the semester ends, and winter break starts, dad goes to the airport to pick up Rika. Her flight landed when Misaki and I were still at school (and dad didn't let us skip classes), so when the bell rings and I'm free from my last class, I jump off my chair, run out of chemistry class, and run out of school.

I'm running across the main yard, when I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I take a moment to catch my breath, and look at it: I got a text from Syaoran, asking me why I didn't wait for him. Maybe I kinda forgot to tell him my sister landed today, but oh well, if we're gonna break up soon, there's no need for him to know about it. I haven't introduced him to Rika, and I'm more than sure I will not do so.

I ignore his text, but I do send one to Eriol. Yes, they broke up, but they're not done yet. Maybe this distance during all these months make them realize they're meant for each other. Maybe the magic of Christmas will even help them get back together, and decide to try on a long distance relationship.

I run again, and arrive home just eight minutes later. Exhausted, I hold onto the door frame, as I try to scream:

"Rika!"

"Sakura!" Rika walks out of the kitchen, and we both hug each other.

"I can see you already decorated the Christmas tree." She whines.

"Misaki just couldn't wait." I reply. "You know her."

"Where's she?"

"She's not as fast as me."

Rika frowns, unable to believe I didn't wait for my little sister. I pretend not to notice, and head to the kitchen, to grab a glass of water.

I'm washing the glass when I hear Misaki's scream.

"Rika!"

As they both hug each other, I take a peek at my phone. I got a text from Eriol, replying "I'll visit you guys later." Yeah, maybe it's best for him to come over when we're all together, instead of facing Rika on his own.

Syaoran also sent me another text. He sent several texts, actually, asking where am I. I answer reluctantly.

"I'm at home. My sister Rika just arrived from Scotland."

He reads my text almost immediately. And he also replies in less than a second.

"Can I go see you guys?"

"She's got jet lag." I lie. "Maybe another day."

This last school week comes and goes in a blink. Rika missed so many things from Japan, that basically Misaki and I spend our afternoons with her, going to the mall, to eat ramen, sushi, dangos and takoyaki, or just walking around Penguin Park. I'm back to exchange messages on pieces of paper with Eriol, in front of our windows, every night before going to bed. He says it's still too soon to get close to Rika, and maybe it's best for her to spend the season with her family, before forcing her to face him.

Thanks to that, I also get the perfect excuse to spend less time with Syaoran. I now feel as if he's trying to hold onto me (I'm getting paranoid he suspects I'm planning on breaking up with him), but I try to maintain firm in my decision. Especially now that I know he was with Daidouji. It hurts me to know I won't have to pretend to be in this fake relationship anymore, but at least now I got Rika. It's like she's my lighthouse in this black ocean.

Rika says she missed us like crazy, and since we still have to buy some Christmas presents, ingredients for Christmas dinner, and Christmas decorations for the house, I just don't have any time spare to spend it with my fake boyfriend, since I have to focus on my family. After all, my grandparents are coming, and besides Bon festival, we only see them once a year. With all these Christmas festivities I have ahead of me, it will only be easier and much more believable to break up with Sayoran: an inevitable distancing. A love that grew cold.

Unaware of this, Syaoran agrees to all of my excuses, but he also says he somehow feels as if he's watching me live my life from the outside. I can only cross my fingers, wishing for everything to end up fast and painless, as I do my best not to cry.