Chapter 3
Between Love and Hate
"Hate. Only hate." seventeen-year-old Tomoyo reminded
herself as she got off the plane. As she passed by the arrival
area, she cant help but notice the second glances people
give her. She smiled to herself. She was used to these already
although at first, she was uncomfortable. She felt naked and
exposed.
"But now." She murmured. The key words are dressed to
kill and display. Shes aware of her loveliness and shes
going to use it as a weapon against the person she hated for five
years. "Ill show him.." She vowed to herself.
"Hey Kinomoto!" called Takashi Yamazaki. "A
beautiful ladys calling you. Shes waiting in front of
the school gate."
Sakura looked up. "Now who would be looking for me?"
She stood up from her desk and strolled out of the classroom.
"Sakura-chan!!."
"T-Tomoyo-chan!!!" Sakuras face lighted up. She
almost climbed the gates up if Tomoyo had not pointed to the
door.
"Oops!" Sakura came through the door and joined her
outside. She hugged her bestfriend tightly. "Im so
glad youre back!!"
"Me too." She seconded. "You grew prettier,
Tomoyo-chan! You look like a super model! I hardly recognized
you!". Gushed the emerald-eyed girl. She tucked a stray hair
behind her ear. "Thank you!" she said, smiling shyly.
Sakura suddenly pulled her into the school compound. "Come
in Tomoyo! Wait and see till our classmates see how lovelier you
have become!".
"Sakura, slow down! Im wearing heels!".
Complained Tomoyo, but there was a big smile on her face.
"Shes back." Eriol whispered watching the two
girls from the branch of a tall tree. His heart hammered
furiously. "She grew more beautiful. A rose in full
bloom."
"What am I saying?". He scolded himself. He already
sensed anger in her heart. Anger at him.
His eyes followed Tomoyo from afar. He ached to see her flushed
face again, or hear her apologized humbly for being late. He
wanted to see her shy smiles again when she offers him packed
lunch. He longed to be with her again.
But things would never be the same as before. Just because of his
cowardice that fateful afternoon in the Tsukimine shrine 5 years
ago. He leaned on the trunk of the tree sadly. "I missed you
so much, Tomoyo"
Tomoyo was walking out of the school with a big grin on her face.
It was fun reminiscing. About those old Tomoeda elementary days,
especially when its Yamazaki who facilitates the chat.
Their 2-hour-talk turned out to be informative and entertaining
as well. (She learned that eggplants cure AIDS and that John
Dalton is gay.)
"Theyre a riot! No wonder I missed them so much."
she said to herself although she was slightly disappointed that
she didnt see Eriol anywhere.
Suddenly petals of nadeshikos rained on her. She looked up and
saw Eriol looking back at her from the branch of a tree.
Automatically, her heart throbbed erraticaly. Once a looker,
always a looker. Only this time, he looked more incredibly
gorgeous with his matured looks. He grew taller, and his physique
shows promising signs of admirable body built. But aside from
that, the familiar hypnotic sea-blue eyes are still there, as
well as his soft-looking lips and perfectly sculptured nose.
"I missed you too, Tomoyo. But now, youre here."
He jumped down and strode towards her. "Tomoyo, I need to
tell you something important."
Tomoyo felt a feeling of deva ju. This happened before in the
shrine! Upon remembering the place, her vow came back to her
mind. Hate.. only hate. "I am not
interested,Hiragizawa-kun."
He was shocked. Her voice sounded so cold and distant and she
didnt call him by her first name. That could only mean-
Tomoyo turned away from his crestfallen face. "Now if you
will excuse me, I still have a lot of important businesses to
attend to." She marched away, her head held high.
"Good morning, Sakura!" greeted Tomoyo, now dressed in
the Tomoeda High School uniform.
"Suits you nicely, Tomoyo. Dont ever take it
off." Sakura replied meaningfully.
"I will never do that." she promised.
Soon they passed by the Tsukimine Shrine. Sakura gave her friend
a testy look.
Sadness and joy reigned at Tomoyos heart at the same time.
This place used to be her third home, but this place also became
her hearts grave. She frowned. "Sakura, lets go.
Well be late."
They didnt notice Eriol watching them from the torii. He
sighed. Hell execute this plan this afternoon. If he fails
this one, he just might lock himself up in the shrine and never
set foot on the outside world again. What good is his life when
the person he loves the most cannot love him back anymore?
He quietly dressed for school.
"Oh Tomoyo, you totally blew the poor guy off this
lunch!" said Sakura disapprovingly as they walked
home."He was just being nice by offering you his
lunch."
"I never asked for any food." countered Tomoyo.
"Besides, I have my own."
Sakura looked upset. "Tomoyo, what is wrong with you? Why
are you being so high and mighty? Cant you see hes
atoning for what he did?"
"That is not enough! He broke my heart, Sakura! You just dont
know how I feel because you never experienced it yet. Your life
is too perfect. Everyone you love loves you back."
"That is not true." said Sakura softly. "I know
how it feels because I once had my heart broken by Yukito
too."
"You had Li to comfort you." she pointed out. "But
how about me?"
Her best friend was at loss for words.
Tomoyo inhaled deeply to calm her rampaging emotions. "I dont
know whats the motive of Hiragizawa-kun for doing this but
I dont think I want to find out anymore."
"Maybe you should give him a chance to explain. Eriol was
really devastated when you left." Sakura put in.
"And do you want me to believe it?"
Sakura pouted. "If you dont trust your best friend
since third grade, you can ask our classmates, They saw how Eriol
grieved when you left."
"Grieve? Now why would he do that?" she asked, baffled.
"Why dont you ask me?" a voice said from behind.
The girls turned around and saw Eriol looking at Tomoyo with an
uncertain smile.
Sakura beamed. "There you go! Get the answer straight from
the horses mouth." she ran away.
"Wait!" Tomoyo was about to follow her best friend when
Eriol grabbed her hand.
"Let me go!" screeched the girl.
He suddenly brought out his rod. The symbol of Clow appeared
underneath. Tomoyo suddenly lost conciousness. The last thing she
saw was Eriols blue eyes gazing at her.
When she woke up, she discovered she was inn the Tsukimine
shrine. She tried standing up, but she collapsed. She felt so
weak.
"Dont move, Tomoyo." advised a deep male voice.
She raised her eyes and saw Eriol standing in front of her.
"What did you do with me?" she whispered.
"Dont be scared. I wont hurt you. I merely
weakened you spiritually. I didnt harm you
physically." he explained. "I just want to make sure
that you wont run away when I talk."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Yes we have!" he boomed. This silenced her.
"Tomoyo, Im really sorry for hurting you 5 years ago.
I admit that Im a fool. An idiot! But back then I was too
scared to admit that ..that.." he gazed at her with his
sincere blue eyes. "I feel the same way because I was scared
to love again. I already felt how painful it is. I once loved a
woman but she didnt reciprocate what I feel."
Tomoyo suddenly remembered the woman Sakura battled back when she
was still a cardcaptor. The woman was looking for Clow Reed.
Could it be? she thought.
"But when you left, it hit me that it doesnt matter
the love is one-sided. The important thing is you know how to
love and you showed it during your lifetime. So although I try to
avoid you because you just might cause me a heartache, I still
broke my heart when I couldnt see you anymore."
continued Eriol, smiling bitterly.
Tomoyo shut her eyes as she felt the icy wall she formed around
the embers of her heart melt by Eriols words.5 years of
hate eroded by 5 minutes of monologue. She cant believe shes
letting him get away with this.
Eriol sat beside her and touched her forehead. The weakness spell
was broken. "You are now free to walk away. But first, let
me show you something." He took an old scarf from his
pocket. "Remember this?"
She nodded "The scarf of our elementary uniform. The one I
used to wipe your face when we were cleaning the CR back in sixth
grade." he added. "I took good care of this because
this is the only tangible memory that I have. That once upon a
time, you loved me too." finished Eriol before standing up
and walking away.
The next morning Eriol was watering his flowers in the pots
beside the well. He was in no hurry to get his job done. He wont
go to school today, tomorrow and the days after it. He cant
bear to face Tomoyo after all he had confessed. He checked his
watch. In the past, at about this time, Tomoyo rushes to him and
bows apologetically. Her cheeks flushed, she would say-
"Im sorry." a voice said.
Eriol froze. Is it possible or is he just hallucinating? He
cautiously turned around and saw Tomoyo Daidouji in the flesh,
bowing in front of him in apology.
A huge grin spread across his face. "Youre late.
Anyway, you could look up now. You are already forgiven."
She straightened up, and now he could freely see those flushed
cheeks and dancing purple eyes. He ran his eyes on her sunny
smile. Everything seemed just as the same as before, but not
quite.
Tomoyo rushed to him. He then imprisoned her in his arms
lovingly. They stood there for a while, locked in a passionate
embrace.
"Well be late for class." she reminded him.
"To hell with the school. Lets play hooky today."
he replied gruffly.
__________
The end