Chapter Nine
He crumpled up the page in his hands. Today was the day.
A tall, gray building towered against the stormy skies. Across the street, a young woman stood shivering, arms wrapped around her as she stared pensively at the formidable structure. She stomped her feet for warmth, her eyes never leaving the building, even when a voice spoke behind her.
“They demolished the playground about a year ago. Some business company bought the land, and built this here instead.” If Sakura had turned around, she would have seen the owner of the voice staring just as intently at the building.
“I see…” Sakura replied softly. She gathered up her strength, closed her eyes briefly, and turned around, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
“How…has life been…Li?” Sakura forced the question out, the “Li” falling from her lips unnaturally; it sounded foreign and cold, but the estrangement of two years seemed to call for it.
“Last name basis, hmm, Kinomoto?” Her last name fell quite easily off his lips, as if Syaoran thought of her daily using that name.
The thing is, Syaoran shouldn’t have known that name. Ever.
“E-excuse me?”
Syaoran looked startled, unaware that he had said something wrong.
Sakura took a few breaths to steady her voice, and was quite proud when it came out steady. “You called me Kinomoto.”
Syaoran let out a laugh, and Sakura almost flinched at the harsh sound; this was not a happy laugh. Syaoran raked a hand through his hair, and sighed unhappily.
“I read your letter, and put two and two together. It was quite obvious after I figured it out, actually. I’m surprised I didn’t see it sooner.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.” The words were so soft; Sakura could barely hear herself say them.
“What do you mean?” His response was equally soft.
Sakura turned around, and stared at the building again. “It…gave me more time to spend with you, and for me to make up my mind.”
“To ruin my life?” Sakura turned around with anguished eyes.
“I didn’t want that for you, so I left, and you-”
“You didn’t ruin my life.” Syaoran cut her short. “You merely turned my life upside down.” Sakura said nothing. What could she have said? “You know, I did love Sakura—Kyoko, I mean. Even though I loved her under the name of another woman, I still loved her for who she was.”
Sakura replied, “I’m glad to hear that. I…didn’t want you to be alone. I hope you’re having a happy marriage.”
“We’re not married.” The blunt answer shocked Sakura.
“But—that ring, you—”
“I never gave it to her. After I confronted her, Kyoko confessed. She—she told me that she really did love me, and in spite of deceiving me, she hoped that I would forgive her.” He laughed that bitter laugh again, saying, “I couldn’t hate her. She…offered to leave for some time, and we both agreed that that would be the best course of action. She told me to contact her when I was ready.”
“That’s…very nice of her.” Sakura had imagined a cold-hearted, jealous woman who couldn’t let go of the past. The idea that she might have just been one desperate woman in love had not occurred to her.
“Yes…Sakura.” Something in his voice caught Sakura’s attention, and her eyes lifted to his. “I haven’t been in contact with her for nearly two years. I haven’t had contact with you in nearly two years. I need to know this, before I tell you anything else.
“I need to know if you are still in love with me.”
Sakura found herself searching within her heart for an answer, and realized that she could not answer that the way she wanted to.
“I-I…I don’t know,” was her defeated reply. She could not understand where that answer had come from. She had thought that she would love Syaoran all her life. Apparently not.
“Okay,” Syaoran replied readily, which roused Sakura’s suspicions. Why was he so calm?
Syaoran hesitated, and plunged ahead. “I want us to start over.”
“I’m not sure if I can do that, Syaoran. I’m not willing to compete with another girl for your affections.”
“I—” This time, it was Syaoran who had nothing to say.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen.” Sakura sat down on a nearby bench and sighed, her breath visible in the cold air. She stared straight up at the gloomy skies, her head tilted back, saying, “You were supposed to get married to her, not break up with her.” She sighed again. “What was I thinking? Of course you’d figure it out. You’re not stupid.”
There was a pause, where Sakura stared thoughtfully at sky. Was this what she wanted? This was her chance to claim what had been rightfully hers ten years ago. But that was just it; it had been ten years. Was it what she wanted? Sakura was no longer the same girl she had been all those years ago.
“Hello. My name is Sakura Kinomoto.” Sakura’s eyes closed as she spoke, her face unreadable.
“And mine is Syaoran.” Sakura opened her eyes, blazing with an unreadable emotion.
He smiled, and she smiled back. Syaoran quietly stepped closer to the bench and sat down. They could do this; they could start from the beginning. They would learn all about each other again, rebuild their broken friendship, and work from there.
No comments:
Post a Comment