39

It wasn't hard to convince Rika. It took her less than fifteen minutes to text Eriol, asking for him to pick her up at eight, and less than five for him to reply back saying he'll be punctual. Since dad also has that office party, it's around eight thirty when me and Misaki are finally alone, watching tv. Misaki said we should marathon all Harry Potter movies, and I said okay, but not even half-way the Philosopher's Stone, Misaki stops paying attention to the tv, and looks at me.

"Why didn't you go out too?"

"Someone has to stay and take care of you." I reply, still looking at the tv, but not actually looking at the movie.

"Can't you and Sayoran take care of me, together?"

"I'm pretty sure he does have a party to attend."

"And why didn't he invite you?"

"I already told you." I sigh, since talking about Syaoran is making me uncomfortable. "I have to take care of you."

"I'm pretty sure Syaoran wouldn't mind not to attend a party, in order to be with you, Sakura." Misaki says. "Especially in New Year's Eve."

I don't answer. I just shrug my shoulders, and keep on pretending I'm looking at the movie. My thoughts are just too far away. It's New Year's Eve. What is Syaoran doing? Is he at a party, just as Rika? Just because I know Syaoran doesn't know anyone in the book club, it could be a funny turn of events that he ended up in the same party as my older sister, and she could tell him I'm alone at home, and then he could hurry to come here… But I'm sure he's at a popular guys' party, with Tomoyo holding his hand, a beer in the other one, and there's no way he'll show up here.

"Where's Syaoran, Sakura?" Misaki asks, taking me away from my depressive thoughts, and bringing me back to my depressive reality.

"I don't know." I reply, as she frowns.

"Did you guys have a fight?"

"Something like that."

My words make Misaki's lower lip tremble.

"Did you guys broke up?"

My heart hurts. I feel like crying, and suddenly I cannot speak, so I just nod. Misaki gasps.

"Why!?" She asks in a hurry.

"You wouldn't understand." I say as my voice trembles. I'm about to cry, I know.

But it seems my words are not enough for Misaki, since she keeps on insisting, apparently wanting me to tell her everything but the truth.

That's when I know I can't keep on lying to her.

"We broke up because our relationship was fake." I say, so she can finally stop hitting me with so many questions. "He received a letter on the mail, a letter I wrote many years ago, when I used to like him. We only decided to pretend we were dating so his ex-girlfriend could leave him alone…"

"What do you mean fake?"

"I already told you." I growl, angry. "It was all because of those letters that got mailed…"

"The letter said nothing but the truth." Misaki says, and then, forgetting I'm just about to cry non-stop, I look at her, eyes wide open.

"You knew about the letters."

She puffs.

"Of course I know. I sent them."

"You what!?"

"You know what grandma says!" She hurries to defend herself, getting up from the sofa, and making enough distance between me and her, so I can't grab her. "Actually, everybody says it: you need to stop reading your romance novels, and watching those rom coms, and live your own life, Sakura. I just thought that if I sent all the letters, one of the guys would write back, and then you could begin living your own love story. I'm happy it was Syaoran."

"But all of this was fake!" I cry, unable to believe what Misaki has just done.

But she's not listening. She's actually ignoring me, since she leaves the living room, and runs upstairs.

I'm about to follow her, so ready to scold her and demand more answers about how and when she did it, and even considering to hang her even when I know dad will then hang me, when I see her running back into the living room.

And that's when I see it: she's holding my hatbox.

Hope you had a merry Xmas with your family and loved ones. Hope you also got the presents you wanted, but most importantly, you got the love you guys deserve.

We're just 2 chapters away for this fic to end, so I'll do my best to finish posting before friday, since I'll be out of town due the holidays.

Have a wonderful week.

Love, Ribo~