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Mei Lin mom picks her up, and my dad picks me up. It's so cold that once again he has the heater on, and he even asks me if I want to go grab some hot cocoa, or maybe some lunch. I simply say no thanks, I'm too tired, and I want to go home to sleep a bit.
I say the same when I step out of the car and Rika and Misaki (who are sitting in the living room, watching NatGeo) ask me if I want to go to the movies. Both of them believe my lame excuse of "I'm too tired for anything", so I head upstairs, close my bedroom door, and lie on my bed. But I don't fall asleep. I just can't. I'm still thinking about what Syaoran said to me.
No, it's just impossible for him to like me. It's even less possible he has always liked me. Is this one of those popular guy shenanigans? Kissing me on seventh grade just because he could, and then picking Daidouji instead of me, just because he could do that too? To pretend we were a couple just because he can't even imagine to be seen without a girlfriend at school? To be more than ready to bounce back with Tomoyo, and forget about me the very next day?
A part of me wants to believe in his words. I do want to believe Syaoran did had feelings for me. That he didn't kiss me just because of a whim. I do want to believe Syaoran still has feelings for me. That his feelings for me are deeper that whatever he felt for Tomoyo. I want to believe in it, despite I'm being a coward who couldn't reciprocate his feelings, and yet, he'll come for me.
But my fairy tale ending doesn't occur. I stay in my bedroom during the rest of the day, until I'm finally hungry enough to look for something to eat at the kitchen.
My happily ever after ending also doesn't occur during the next days. Dad and Rika are busy downtown (buying last minute presents, food, and decorations), while Misaki and I keep on decorating the house, as we clean and redecorate everything, all the time. These Christmas preparations keeps us busy during the whole day, that when it's already night time, I barely have a couple of minutes to think of Syaoran, before lying in bed and falling asleep.
I also haven't had a chance to speak with Eriol, so I got no idea if he's got plans with Rika. Have they even talked? Have they mended everything? Maybe they're not getting back together, but can't they at least go back to be friends? I'm pretty sure they haven't talk about anything, since Rika is even busier than me, with all this Christmas dinner preparation.
Our grandparents show up for Christmas dinner. Just as the tradition says, Rika, Misaki and I are the first ones to hand our presents, which are obviously nothing compared to what our grandparents gift us: since we're their only granddaughters, we're the only ones they have to gift stuff to. Since we also don't see each other during all year (except Bom festival, but that's a celebration focused on mom), we have a lot of stuff to chat about, and so dinner ends past midnight. Rika, Misaki and I are so tired that dad's the one in charge of driving them back home.
The next days, since it's vacations, Misaki, Rika and I do nothing. Misaki's got a ton of new toys, so she spends most of her time in her room, playing. Rika received a ton of books, so she also stays in her bedroom, reading. I got a ton of new clothes; since I don't want to go out alone (it's so cold, and spending time alone during this season isn't festive at all), I also stay in my room, planning outfits I could wear in these imaginary situations: to the movies, to an amusement park, to the aquarium, to a coffee date…
It's the last night of the year. Rika arrived this morning (she went to take out the trash) and said she ran into Eriol and they both finally talked. I'm in the living room, looking at the tv, but hurry to look at her, and listen. For a moment, I even forget how to breathe.
"Eriol says the book club has a party planned for tonight." She says, as she sits next to me, and takes a bunch of popcorn from the bowl I'm holding. "I dunno if I should go."
"You must go." I reply. "It's New Year's Eve. Why would you want to stay home with your two boring little sisters? Dad also has that faculty staff party, so Misaki and I probably will go to bed early."
"It also doesn't mean you and Eriol have to get back together." Misaki adds. I thought she was in her bedroom playing with her new toys, but now she's sitting in the floor, watching tv with us. "You can go as just friends."
Rika blushes.
There's no xmas party with the neighbours and old friends and so (as in the OG book), since I really don't want to write about Eriol being a douche and fighting with Syaoran. Also, as you can see, there was no hot tub scene since that's just plain gossip and I wanted this adaptation to be more than that. Hope you understand/like the change.
Ribo~