I'm In Love with a Plumber
Rule Number Six:
Never judge a book by its cover,
Cause you'll never know what's behind those hidden pages.
oOo
Sakura didn't get a good night sleep at all last night. She kept turning back and forth in bed for some strange reason. She couldn't bring herself to fall asleep as a certain something kept lingering in her mind, but she didn't know what it was that had bothered her.
She left her house right after she woke up, skipping her father's breakfast altogether, which was somewhat a shock to both her and her father. Sakura had never skipped her father's breakfast—it just wasn't normal.
The cab pulled up slowly in front of the rotten, raggedy apartment building as Sakura stepped out hesitantly. She took in a deep breath and walked inside, wondering to herself what her so-called roommate was doing at that hour. Did he even notice that she wasn't back yet? Did he care at all? If he did, then why should she have cared? It wasn't like she cared whether he cared that she cared that he cared... Okay, enough.
What are his words doing to my mind!? She practically screamed aloud.
As soon as Sakura stepped into the lobby, she was greeted with a horrifying sight in front of her eyes. In the midst of the commotion was her brown haired roommate, shoved and pushed; not to mention suffocated between the gifts and the women that swarmed around him like a pack of hungry wolves. Syaoran met Sakura's eyes out of all the females that stood in the room. For some strange reason, Sakura's face started to heat up a bit just meeting his eye contact. His expression begged her to help him.
Sakura turned her head away, pretending that she didn't see anything. Serves you right for being such a daggon player.
"Li-san, we heard you got stuck in the elevator yesterday," one woman said. "You must've been so scared! I made you chicken soup."
Sakura snorted in her mind. Puh-lease! Chicken soup? He was stuck for like a few hours, not like he caught the flu.
"Try my green herb," another said quickly. "It helps to sooth your mind."
"Ladies, I am very grateful," Syaoran attempted to say. "But I can't accept your gifts."
"Why not?"
"Don't you like it?"
Sakura grinned evilly and started to walk away.
Li Syaoran, feel the evil claws of women.
She waved cutely to Syaoran as she walked by.
Ohh that sure made my day.
zZz
Sakura walked out into the living room with a dry towel around her neck, just in time to see Syaoran slammed the door close as he came running into the apartment. He leaned against the door, breathing breathlessly like a dog had been chasing him.
"Aren't you having a good morning?" She couldn't help but to tease him a little.
He sent her a quick glance over and arched his eyebrow into the air slightly. "Why are you so dressed up?"
Sakura looked down at her plunge terry tube and gave him a confused look. "Is the dress ugly?"
"N-no, it's not that." He started to stutter a bit. "Just why are you so... erm... dressy?"
"Can't I be?" was her answer before she turned around to walk towards the bathroom.
"C'mon, I can keep a secret." He followed her, standing in the doorway with his arms across his chest as he observed her slowly. "So, when is the date?"
Sakura plugged the curling iron into the outlet and started blow-drying her hair while she waited for it to heat up. "Can I take a few hours break at noon?"
"So you do have a date." He said, amused. Sakura didn't bother asking him what he had even meant by that. She just rolled her eyes and drowned his voice behind the sound of the hair dryer. "Straightener."
She turned the hair dryer off. "What?"
"You'll look better in that dress with straight hair," he said. And with those last words, he walked away casually.
Sakura looked at herself in the mirror, finding it hard not to laugh at his words. Like she should listen to him. What did he know? Hah!
Ten minutes later...
"Like this?" she asked as she went out into the living room.
Syaoran looked up from the bikini magazine he was reading and smirked ever so cunningly. "Perfect." He smiled.
Sakura, you're so pathetic. She told herself, not understanding why she even bothered to take his advice. His stupid little advice; which turned out to be not so stupid after all.
"So who's your date?" he asked again.
Sakura sighed and fell into the armchair. "My fianc—someone," she quickly caught herself. She couldn't tell him she was betrothed. She didn't know why it even mattered, not like she and the man had any sort of relationship with each other. He was just an annoying, pesky neighbor slash boss.
He shrugged. "Whatever."
Sakura waited for him to continue.
"This is coming off your pay check."
She knew he was being too nice.
"Fine." She groaned. "I'll just take a sick day then. I get pay for sick days, right?"
He chuckled. "Do you think I'm filthy rich to pay you sick days?"
No sick days?
"What about holidays?"
"You never know when those pipes and drains are going to need fixing."
What had she gotten herself into? What was he—a workaholic? God, he knew how to work a slave! ... Wait... that didn't come out right at all. It sounded so wrong now that she replayed those words in her mind. Heavens, his mind was contagious!
"Do you always do that?"
She snapped out of her thoughts. "What?"
"Do... that." He looked at her strangely. "Like, you know, space out while having a conversation with someone."
"Sometimes..."
He went back to reading his magazine. Sakura observed him quietly from where she was sitting. She didn’t know why, but she was hoping to get some sort of reaction from him that morning.
She wondered if he even remembered what he'd said to her in the elevator. Was it just a joke to him? It seemed as though the words didn’t mean anything to him. Maybe she was right to think that he was a player. After all, his cousin casually implied that he slept around a lot, so why should she be surprised at all if he was only playing her? It was expected from him.
“I meant what I said,” his voice came out of nowhere again.
She couldn’t see his face behind the magazine. “What?”
“What I said in the elevator,” he continued. “I meant it.”
“H-how?” She meant to ask ‘how is it possible’ but the words dangled around in her throat.
He shrugged, still hiding behind the magazine. “I just do.”
Sakura looked down at the floor with confused eyes. “D-don’t toy with me.”
“It’s almost noon,” he said instead, quickly changing the subject. “You should go.”
She thought that it was a good thing for her to do at that moment—leave.
She reached for her purse and stood up slowly, walking over to the door. Silence filled the room as her footsteps echoed throughout. She turned around to look at the back of his head and left, silently.
zZz
"Miss Kinomoto!"
Sakura scanned around the room for the person that was calling out her name when she stepped into the restaurant. She spotted a black haired guy waving to her from the right corner. Sakura squinted her eyes a little to look at his features.
Wonderful. Black hair and bookworm looking.
Nakuru didn't lie after all. Sakura took in a deep breath before walking over to his direction. She put on the fakest smile in the entire universe when he stood up to pull out a chair for her.
"Thank you," she said gratefully and took her seat. "Did you have to wait long?"
"I just got here myself," the guy replied politely. "Miss Kinomoto, would you like to drink anything?"
"Water, please."
Sakura watched as he called the waiter over to order their drinks. She had to admit that he was a gentleman. Maybe being betrothed to him wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. For one thing, this guy was much better than that Li Syaoran.
She quickly gathered her thoughts together. Why did she think of him all of a sudden? And what was with the comparison?! Of course Syaoran couldn't beat this guy—a graduate from an Ivy League school. Or was it the other way around...? Syaoran was better looking, though.
She told herself to snap out of it.
"Miss Kinomoto..."
Sakura cringed at the formality. Weren't they engaged?
"You can call me Sakura."
"Miss Kinomoto..."
He's really persistent, isn’t he?
"Sakura." She told him again, annoyance clearly visible in her voice.
"Sakura," he took the hint. "My boss—"
What was his boss doing in their first conversation?
"He asked me to pass the words that he will see you three months from now." He paused when the waiter brought out the drinks. He waited for the waiter to leave before speaking again. "I apologize on behalf of my boss because he can't make it today. He feels that it is still too early to meet you, and he asks to push your meeting date to three months."
Sakura put her hand up to stop him. "W-wait... you're not my fiancé?!" He shook his head. "Then who the hell are you, and why am I sitting at the same table with you if you're not him!?"
"My name is Fujiwara Koji," he said calmly. "I am Mr—your fiancé's assistant."
So Touya and Nakuru were talking about the assistant?
This is so frustrating. "So... what's his name?"
Koji smiled politely. "I'm sorry, Miss Kinomoto, but I'm only a messenger. You will have to ask your family."
"Can you tell me what is the deal with all this secrecy stuff?" Sakura asked. "I know he lived in America most of his life—oh my god, he's not like one of them Mr. Smith or James Bond guy, is he?"
He laughed. "I'm afraid my boss is far, far from that."
"So... you're not him?"
He shook his head.
Great. She dressed up for nothing. "Want to have lunch with me anyway?"
He smiled. "I can't tell you anything, Miss Kinomoto."
"Can you tell me what he's like?" she said. "Like, what is it like working for him?"
"He loves to work."
"Sounds like somebody I know."
"Strict, but good to employees."
"What about his history... relationship wise?"
"You will have to ask him about that when you see him," the black head replied good-humoredly. "It's my loss that I can't have lunch with you, Miss Kinomoto, but I have to get back to work. Is there a message you would like me to give to him?"
Sakura shook her head. "It was nice meeting you, Koji."
"The pleasure was mine, miss."
"And please call me Sakura."
He stood up with a smile. "Hope you will have a great day, Miss Sakura."
Sakura sighed after he walked away. Well, it was better than being called 'Miss Kinomoto', right? Definitely. She glanced down at her watch and frowned slightly. She left the apartment about half an hour ago. It would be so embarrassing if she went back to the apartment like this.
Great. She reached for the menu on the table. She nearly screamed in horror when she saw the price. Who was stupid enough to pay 13.95 for a freaking chicken salad? What was the stupid chicken salad made of? Diamonds?!
Sakura decided that it was better for her bank account if she chose to eat at some cheap diner or fast food place. She started walking slowly down the street, not sure where she was going. She just let her feet did the walking, leading her to wherever they wanted her to go.
After walking for a little while, she found herself standing in front of the coffee shop that Syaoran’s cousin worked at. She took in a deep breath and pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside as she tried to look for the other girl. Rather than finding the black head, she saw a far more entertaining subject.
His eyes slowly met hers, and he quickly grabbed a menu off the table to hide his face behind it. Sakura rolled her eyes before turning her attention to the girl that was sitting beside him at the table, her hands on his thigh.
She scoffed and walked over to the counter. Meiling walked out from the back room.
“Hey,” Sakura greeted.
Meiling seemed surprised to see her. “Oh. My. God. That looks so cute!”
Sakura smiled. “Thanks.”
“Do you want anything?”
“Cup of coffee is nice.”
The black head smiled at her. “Coming right up!”
Sakura turned her head around slightly to look at a certain brown haired man. He seemed to be enjoying himself, which was disgusting. She rolled her eyes in utter repulsion when she saw the other girl twirled her finger around his hair.
“Nasty sight, huh?”
Sakura snapped out of her thoughts. “Hoe?”
“I don’t know how he can deal with girls like her,” the black head scowled. “I know he goes around, but the least he can do is flirt with someone that’s at least more dignify.”
“Does he… sleep around a lot?” Sakura didn’t know why she wanted to do know in the first place.
Meiling looked at her for a brief second before placing the cup of coffee on the counter. “He’s a very faithful man once he finds someone he wants to commit to.”
“Has he found that someone yet?”
The black head giggled. “Why? Are you interested?”
“Of course not!” Sakura tried to hide her blush. “I was just wondering because he’s such a flirt all the time. It’s kind of hard to imagine him being committed to one person, you know.”
“Hey, Sakura, sorry about the other day.” The other girl started saying slowly. “I just thought that you were another one of them.”
Sakura just smiled. Maybe Li Meiling wasn’t so bad; she might actually grow to like the girl.
“It’s alright,” Sakura replied. “Syaoran told me that you are trying to make it out on your own.”
“Got fed up with living under family restrictions.”
Sakura giggled. “Tell me about it.”
“I suppose I’m more fortunate than you though,” Meiling smiled. “Working at a coffee shop is better than working as a secretary for my cousin any day!”
“You can say that again.” Sakura mumbled under her breath. “Your cousin is horrible.”
“I’m horrible?” Sakura jumped out of her seat with a squeak when a voice said behind her all of a sudden. “Are you talking behind my back?”
Sakura turned around to glare at him. “No, I’m talking in front of your face.”
He grinned slightly. “How was your date?”
She rolled her eyes. “It was absolutely, positively wonderful. How was your date?”
“Is someone jealous?” He laughed.
“Me? Jealous!? Of what?” Sakura snorted, darting a look at the girl that was clinging to his arm.
Syaoran brushed the girl’s hands off him. “I just treated her to coffee,” he said defensively, “and we talked. That’s all to it.”
Sakura turned away from him, forcing her eyes to stare into the dark liquid sitting before her. “It’s none of my business. I don’t care what you do, you’re just my boss.” She sipped her coffee slowly. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Li.”
Syaoran cocked his eyebrow in amusement. “Alright then, Miss Kinomoto…” he drawled. “Are you ready to get back to work?”
“What?”
“I didn’t hire you so you can sit on your butt and do nothing all day.”
Sakura rolled her eyes. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”
"Li-san, do you mind driving me back to work?" said the slut... err... what she meant to say was 'brunette'.
“Do you know how to drive?” he looked at Sakura.
She blinked a couple of times. “W-What?”
“It would be most appreciated if you drive us.”
“It’s your car,” Sakura scolded. “Why don’t you drive?”
He smirked. She ground her teeth together. He smirked again. She rolled her eyes. He smirked even bigger. She groaned and grabbed the keys from his hands. “Thank you.”
Sakura growled. Ohh… I hate that man.
zZz
Sakura tried to keep her eyes on the road, but it was hard to drive with a big hungry gorilla sitting in the back seat, acting like a crazy darn hyena. No, she wasn’t talking about Syaoran. She was talking about the bobble-head that was clinging onto his arm. She couldn't believe he made her into his personal driver—what was up with that!? She felt utterly disgusted the way the hyena girl practically threw herself on top of him in the back seat. Didn't she have any dignity, or shame to begin with?
How could he stand her!?
Men. They would put up with anything to get some. What a sad, sad world she lived in.
Sakura slowly stopped the car in front of a daytime bar. Oh, no wonder. She silently rolled her eyes.
She pretended to look away when Syaoran walked the girl into the bar. She looked at her watch and timed to herself how long it took him to come back out. Six minutes and 37 seconds.
He knocked on the driver's window. Sakura rolled down the window. "What is it, Mr. Li?"
"An elegant lady like yourself shouldn't have to drive while wearing such a beautiful dress."
Oh, how ironic were his words?
Sakura climbed over to the passenger seat. He got into the car and turned to look at her slightly with a look that she didn't quite understand. She didn't know why, but she could never comprehend what his expressions were, or what could be going on in his mind. He was like a mystery—an unsolved puzzle. One moment, he was the stupidest pervert on the face of this planet; the next moment, he could be the scariest thing ever; and then the next... he was the sweetest man—a perfect charmer. She didn't get him at all.
Take that day for an example. The Syaoran from that morning was different from the Syaoran in the elevator. When he told her to straighten her hair instead of curling it, he showed a side of him that she saw earlier when he made her breakfast. Then all of a sudden, he changed back into his flirtatious self when she caught him flirting in the coffee shop (not to mention he tried to hide his face in the beginning). Then out of nowhere, like he suddenly pulled a 180-degree rotation, he turned into the sweet charmer that had faintly told her that he had a crush on her. Just what was his deal? Which was the real him—the player, the thoughtful man, or the all-rounded heartthrob?
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked softly, touching his hand to her forehead. "Doesn't feel like you're sick. Think you can work today?"
She nodded, removing his hand away from her. "Y-yeah."
He just shrugged his shoulders lightly and put the car into motion. "Do you want to go back to the apartment to change? You will be doing heavy work today; don't want to ruin your pretty little dress."
Sakura rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. "I'll be fine, thank you very much."
"If you say so," he grinned.
zZz
"You did not tell me I'd be doing jobs like this when you hired me." Sakura ignored the aching pains in her fingernails, and pulled onto the refrigerator with all her might. "You only said paperwork and cleaning up. You never mentioned anything about hauling a refrigerator!"
"I still can't see the back," he said. "Pull it out a little more."
"Why can't you do this?" She whined for the sixth time in the last five seconds.
He walked over to stand in front of her with his arms across his chest. "I told you that you will be doing heavy work today."
She pouted. "Not funny. Help me!"
He chuckled. "This is how you do it, baka." Before Sakura realized what was happening, he had suddenly came up behind her and placed his body up against hers. "On my count... pull." He directed, putting his hands on top of hers. "One..."
Sakura could feel her heart beating faster.
"Two..."
And faster.
"Three."
She lost her balance when the refrigerator moved and flew backwards into his arms. This position was getting too familiar...
"I told you this was how you do it," he whispered into her ears.
"I-I need to use the bathroom." She quickly wiggled out of his arms and ran out of the kitchen. "May I use your bathroom?" she asked the home-owner when she walked into the living room.
"Down the hall to your right."
"Thank you."
Sakura splashed cold water onto her face, hoping it would give her the wake up call that she needed. She stared at herself in the mirror. Just standing there and staring at her reflection. Stalling.
She hoped that by stalling she would be able to give herself some time to think about what was going on. Maybe with some clear thinking, she would be able to figure out the whole thing.
Figure him out.
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