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Chapter 2
How Could An Angel break My Heart?
Tomoyo was watching Eriol play the piano on the screen. Sighing,
she popped more chocolate on her mouth. "I’m a genius.
A film making genius. "What she was watching was a camera
footage of her crush she taped secretly. Hidden behind the bush,
she captured her living Adonis on a tape which she watches over
and over again. She tried to imagine that Eriol was playing the
beautiful music for her.
The screen zoomed on Eriol’s intense pacific-blue eyes
hidden behind the glasses which pushed its associated word ’nerd’
into extinction. Tomoyo nearly melted with the intense eyes
boring through the screen. She wished she was a piano so Eriol
would look at her that way.
"Tomoyo, we need to talk." came Mrs. Daidouji’s
voice from outside her room.
Tomoyo panickly turned the vhs and TV off. "Coming,
Mother!"
Sonomi entered the room. "I thought I heard someone playing
classical music awhile ago on piano."
She blushed. "M-Must be one of our neighbours."
Her mother didn’t look convinced, but she decided to let
that one go. "Tomoyo, it’s about your father."
Tomoyo turned serious. "What about him?"
Sonomi’s face crumpled. "He’s dying. He only has a
few years to live and he wants to spend it with us. He’s
asking us to move to France where he’s hospitalised right
now."
Dread filled the girl’s heart. "D-Dad’s
dying?"
Her mom clasped her hands tightly. "Please, Tomoyo. Let’s
grant him his last wish."
"Yes Mother" She nodded "But when will we
leave?"
"The day after tomorrow."
"Oh Tomoyo, that’s terrible!" wailed Sakura as if
she might actually cry. Tomoyo just narrated to her what happened
last night. "First I lost Syaoran, and now you!"
"We’ll still be in touch with each other through
letters and phone calls. "Tomoyo reminded her friend.
"But it still won’t be the same as when you’re
around!" protested the short-haired girl. "And what
about Eriol?"
She looked down. "I’ll tell him this afternoon. I want
to tell him how important he is to me because I know it will be a
long time before I will get to see him again.
Sakura hugged her friend. "Good luck."
Tomoyo hugged her back. "Thanks, I’ll need that."
From deep inside, she was aware that the chance of Eriol not
getting disgusted with her for falling shamelessly in love with
him is as miniscule as a grain of sand.
Inside the shrine, she saw Eriol in school uniform already,
holding a white dove. She felt her heart thunder furiously. Eriol
is so good-looking-no, scratch that. Eriol Hiragizawa is the
best-looking man her eyes ever laid on. He’s smart,
sensitive, witty, thoughtful, caring and a dozen more she can’t
put down to words.
Sensing someone’s eyes on him, Eriol turned around and saw
Tomoyo standing beside the torii, staring at him with mixed
sadness and longing. "Tomoyo!" he called. He was about
to lecture her about the importance of punctuality and
time-consciousness when something stopped him.
Her face. The usual sunny smile wasn’t there. Her cheeks
weren’t red as before. Her eyes lack their usual twinkle.
"Tomoyo?" He was about to walk towards her when she
turned around and ran away.
That afternoon, Sakura gave her a thumbs-up when she saw Eriol
walking with her to the shrine. Tomoyo nodded.
Upon arrival, they changed into their shrine clothes and began
their work in silence. Minutes later, Eriol broke the silence.
"Tomoyo, what’s wrong?"
She tightened her grip on the handle of the broom.
"Um.." Her heart started beating erratically again. Say
it! She instructed herself. Say it before it’s too late!
This is your last chance!
He stood in front of her, gesturing for her to speak her mind and
he will listen. "Tomoyo?"
She summoned all her courage before looking up. "I’m in
love with you."
She saw his eyes widen with an unknown emotion before its usual
calmness and coldness returned. "You’re kidding."
he said curtly.
Tomoyo felt her breathing stop, but she struggled to go on.
"I am not, Eriol! I will never kid about anything that
involves my heart love you, Eriol! I don’t know when,
how,why or where it started but I’m sure with what I feel. I
love you."
He turned his back on her. "You’re just tired. Get some
rest and I’ll talk to you in the morning."
She felt as if she was slapped.. no, who was she kidding? She
felt like she just died. The agonizing pain slicing her heart and
tearing it to pieces. The biting truth that the one she loved the
most is not capable of returning her love. It hurts.. it hurts so
much .She sank to her knees, feeling every ounce of her strength
deserting her. Worst of all, she could do nothing but cry. Cry
until she drowns in her oceans of sorrows and frustrations.
She stood up wearily. This is no place to do it. She lost enough
face to last a lifetime. Suddenly, leaving Japan seemed the only
option left for her to survive her grief. She tool one final look
at the shrine. "Goodbye."
The next morning, Eriol was late for class. He was quite annoyed
by Tomoyo’s irresponsible attitude of tardiness. He waited
for her in the shrine for one solid hour but she didn’t show
up.
He glanced at Tomoyo’s empty seat. "Is she sick?"
he wondered. Probably, because she didn’t look too happy
when they parted ways yesterday. Maybe she took his advice and
had a bed rest.
At recess, Eriol asked Sakura if she wanted to accompany him to
Tomoyo’s house.
"What for?" asked Sakura nervously.
"I want to visit her because she might be sick. It’s
unlike her to miss classes without any valid reason at all."
explained Eriol.
Naoko Yanagisawa came up from behind them. "But Tomoyo’s
not sick. She’s gone!"
"Come again?" Eriol was not sure if he heard her right.
"Tomoyo’s gone. The teacher just told us this morning
that she flew to France with her mom and their return is
indefinite." the girl explained.
Eriol suddenly didn’t feel well. He collapsed to his seat
weakly. "S-She’s gone." He compressed his head
with his hands. "Oh God! I’m an idiot!""
His classmates watched him with awe and amazement. Eriol
Hiragizawa never shows emotion, may it be good or bad. Until now.
Someone touched his shoulder. He looked up and saw Sakura looking
down at him with understanding. She already knew what transpired
between him and her best friend even if she wasn’t told
about what happened.
"Oh God, help me! She’s gone!" he wailed
miserably. He never realized how much space she already occupies
in his heart till now. And right now, she could already feel thew
empty hollow feeling in his heart.
"Tomoyo!" his foolish heart cried.