Chapter 5: Unspoken Feelings

--

Tomoyo sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the tear-streaked reflection in the mirror. The room around her felt too quiet, as if the world had drawn back and left her in an empty shell. Her chest was tight, each breath ragged as she replayed the moment over and over—Sakura running away, her footsteps echoing in the halls.

She had held it in for so long, buried it so deep. It wasn't supposed to come out like this, not in the fragile, desperate way it had. Her confession had been clumsy, torn out of her in a moment of panic, and now... now everything was broken.

Tomoyo's hands clenched the fabric of her dress, her knuckles white. The pressure in her chest built up until she could no longer hold it in. A sob escaped, followed by another, until she was trembling with the force of it. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to muffle the sound, but it felt like her entire body was crumbling.

The door opened gently, and Sonomi stepped in, her eyes immediately softening at the sight of her daughter's pain.

"Tomoyo..."

Tomoyo quickly wiped her face, trying to compose herself. "I'm fine, Mama. It's nothing."

Sonomi sat beside her, her presence quiet but comforting. She didn't press for answers, but her hand reached out, gently brushing the hair from Tomoyo's face. "It's okay to let yourself feel it. You don't always have to be strong."

Tomoyo shook her head, her voice small. "I messed up, Mama. I told her... I told her, and now she's gone."

Sonomi didn't need to ask who. She wrapped her arms around Tomoyo, pulling her close. "Love is never a mistake, sweetheart. It's hard, and it hurts sometimes, but it's not something you should regret."

"But I've ruined everything," Tomoyo whispered, her voice cracking. "She'll never see me the same way again."

Sonomi held her tighter. "It's okay. Sometimes things change, but it doesn't mean they're over. Give it time, and let yourself feel everything in the meantime."

Tomoyo leaned into her mother's embrace, letting the sobs wrack her body. But even as the tears flowed, a part of her was already pulling back, trying to regain the control she had always maintained. When the crying finally stopped, she wiped her face, her expression hardening once more.

"It's okay, Mama. I'll be fine. I just need... I just need to make sure Sakura-chan is okay."

Sonomi watched her carefully but didn't press. She knew her daughter well enough to understand that the mask was going back on.

--

Sakura wandered aimlessly, her footsteps unsteady as she made her way back to Tomoyo's. The streets were quiet, but her mind was loud, filled with a swirl of confusion and guilt. The cold air nipped at her skin, but she barely felt it. All she could think about was Tomoyo's face, the way her eyes had shattered when Sakura ran.

She didn't mean to run. She didn't know what she meant to do anymore.

As her thoughts spiraled, the world around her began to blur. The edges of her vision darkened, and suddenly, she wasn't on the familiar streets anymore. The world shifted, and she found herself standing in a different place—somewhere distant and hazy.

Hong Kong.*

The last place she had seen Li. The memory came rushing back, but it felt wrong, like it wasn't her own. She stood in the crowded streets of Hong Kong, the noise of the city echoing around her, but everything was distorted. She could see Li's figure in the distance, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach him. He was always just out of sight.

Her heart ached, a pull deep within her that she couldn't explain. She wanted to find him, to understand why he had left without a word. But every step she took seemed to bring her no closer.

A soft glow appeared at the edge of her vision—a faint figure standing by a reflective surface. *Mirror.*

But Mirror wasn't whole. It was fragmented, like a broken reflection of the card she knew. It stood silently, watching her, as if guarding her from something. And then, just as quickly, the dream began to break apart.

Cracks formed in the air around her, shattering the vision like glass. The sound was deafening, a sharp snap that jolted her back to reality.

Sakura gasped, her eyes wide, her hands trembling. She was no longer in Hong Kong. She was standing on the front steps of Tomoyo's manor, the cold night air brushing against her skin.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling from the dream. *What... what was that?*

But before she could make sense of it, the door in front of her opened.

--

Tomoyo stood at the door, her face unreadable, though her eyes were red and puffy from crying. The mask was firmly in place, but Sakura could see the cracks. She hesitated, unsure of what to say, the weight of her guilt heavy on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry," Sakura whispered, her voice small. She didn't know what else to say. How could she explain the confusion in her heart, the way her emotions tangled together in a knot she couldn't untangle?

Tomoyo gave a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's okay, Sakura-chan. I'm just glad you're back."

They stood there for a moment, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Sakura's mind raced, the remnants of the dream still haunting her, but she pushed it aside. She couldn't deal with that right now. Tomoyo was more important.

"Can I... can I come in?" Sakura asked, her voice hesitant.

Tomoyo stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Of course."

As they walked into the manor, the warmth of the house enveloped them, but Sakura felt a chill deep inside. She could feel something wrong, a nagging sensation in the back of her mind. But she pushed it down, focusing on Tomoyo instead.

Tomoyo sat on the edge of the couch, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked composed, but there was an emptiness in her posture, a stiffness that didn't belong. Sakura sat beside her, the silence between them uncomfortable, and the air thick with everything left unsaid.

Finally, Tomoyo spoke, her voice softer than before. "You don't have to explain if you don't want to."

Sakura glanced at her, her heart pounding in her chest. "I... I do want to," she stammered. "I just don't know how to say it."

Tomoyo waited patiently, her eyes calm, but Sakura could still see the pain beneath her mask. She bit her lip, feeling the awkwardness creep in. "I'm really bad at this, aren't I?" Sakura said, trying to break the tension with a small laugh. It came out a little shaky, but it was something.

Tomoyo blinked, surprised, but then she gave a small chuckle. "Maybe a little."

Sakura's shoulders loosened slightly at the sound of Tomoyo's laugh. "I'm sorry," she said again, her voice more sincere this time. "I... I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't even realize... what you were feeling."

Tomoyo nodded, her smile fading, but the tension between them seemed to lighten just a little. "I know. It's okay, Sakura-chan. I don't blame you."

Sakura looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted softly. "I've never thought about... about you like that. But I don't want to lose you."

Tomoyo sighed, leaning back into the couch. "You won't lose me, Sakura-chan. I promise."

They sat there for a moment, the silence less heavy than before. Sakura could feel the warmth returning between them, but the undercurrent of confusion still lingered. She looked over at Tomoyo, her voice a little quieter now. "I don't want to ruin anything."

Tomoyo shook her head gently. "You won't. We'll figure it out, okay? Together."

Sakura nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. For the first time in a while, the icy air between them seemed to thaw.

But even with that brief moment of lightness, the unspoken tension remained. They both knew there was still so much more to talk about—so many emotions and truths still left unsaid.

As the conversation tapered off, the weight of everything slowly settled back in. They were okay, for now, but the unresolved feelings between them would have to be addressed eventually.