Disclaimer: I don't onw POT.

The Tennis Prince

If you want to know the meaning of true love, look me up.

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That was what was written on the scrunched up piece of paper Sakuno Ryuzaki found on a tray of one of the business class passengers. Turning her head back to where she came from, she caught sight of her ward, a handsome young man with smooth ebony locks and golden eyes. The young man, probably in his early twenties, was horribly flushed. Sakuno's auburn eyes twinkled knowingly as a thought crossed her mind.

She had an inkling that her attendee was in love.

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Being a stewardess for over a year had its perks. For Sakuno, what beat reaching far-off places was meeting people of high rankings in society. And her charge was no different. She knew him. He was Echizen Ryoma, the back-to-back Grand Slam champion. Of all the gossip of him having a woman, or a gay life-partner, she would never have thought of any of those to be true, even in the slightest. But as her eyes continued to wander to his figure looking so flustered and love-stricken, she knew in her soul that it was true no matter how much she wanted to deny it.

To say she wasn't dismayed by the thought was to say she was lying. Anyone, old or young, ugly or beautiful, smart or stupid, male or female, would end up grief-stricken with any news pertaining to their favorite idol finally marrying. And she knew Ryoma. He was the two kinds of men women would kill to call their own. He was the type who only gets married once. And the type who stays married.

How did she know? Ryoma himself had told her once, bluntly during their high school days. She knew he would've forgotten about her by now. But it was fine with her. She understood her friend. He always had more important matters to attend to. Matter like tennis, an now, his future spouse.

Pushing aside her silly musings, she proceeded to push her cart of goodies towards the hand raised near the tennis prince's seat. The sight that greeted Sakuno was that of an old woman, probably a high ranked business woman of a well-known corporation.

"A glass of scotch with a twist." The woman said with a hint of British accent in her words.

"Of course." Sakuno replied smoothly as she bended for the cupboards. From within it, she produced a bottle of fine wines and took what she needed. Carefully, she poured the beverage into a glistening glass. "Here you are."

"Thank you." The old woman said, turning her grey eyes over to catch a glimpse of Sakuno's build. With a final nod, Sakuno proceeded to a different section. Taking back her cart, she nodded off to a colleague and disappeared beyond the lush drapes of the business class to the economy class.

It took Sakuno over an hour before she returned to her usual station. The moment she did, she was first to notice Ryoma Echizen's languidly raised arm. Her heart tugged in her chest. She was about to approach him. When suddenly, her colleague beat her to it. Casting aside the faint shock chilling her movements, Sakuno brought it in herself to smile at the sight before her. She merely walked pass the two to the back where her plane seat was. Her friend Shioka probably has her own little crush on the tennis prince. It was rather obvious since the woman was usually very professional, given this one exemption.

"He wants another pad of paper." Shioka gushed in the faintest sound she could muster as she passed by Sakuno to get the pad she needed from the supply station. Sakuno smiled amused as her eyes followed her hurrying friend. "He's so cute." Shioka whispered once more as she passed Sakuno and headed straight for the tennis star. Nodding after her, Sakuno agreed silently.

My, she wondered. The woman who must've caught his heart was one beauty. She couldn't even start to fathom her whole being.

It was almost past midnight when Sakuno noticed an arm raised up in a distant with her drowsy eyes. Shaking her head to fight off the sleep tempting her weary eyes, Sakuno stood up and walked gracefully towards her ward. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the handsome young man from her musings look up to her with equally widened eyes.

Immediately, a smile garnered her features as she said.

"How may I be of assistance?"

"I—" Ryoma started. His face was still flushed. Sakuno noticed, albeit failing to notice her equally pink face. "Water."

"Just a moment." Sakuno answered, flashing him another pretty smile before turning her back to him. As she left, she could still feel the heat of his gaze. And by all means, it was killing her. Finally seeing him again for the first time was bringing back a surge of emotions she never knew she kept. She knew it was petty and stupid. But she still loved the man, she soon realized. No matter what they say. No matter what he did. No matter what he didn't do.

She was still that head over heels stricken high school girl from back then.

She loved him.

She loved those nights walking home with him.

She loved those games, those games wherein he would invite her under his own accord amidst the howling of his rumbustious teammates.

She loved those times he'd come over to her house to drop of something from his father.

She—she loved him no matter how much it died down within her. Finally setting sight of him after all this time was an indication of what she truly felt—

Thud!

Sakuno's face rushed with a sudden splurge of blood, realizing she had just tripped and fallen down. Looking around her, she caught the gazes of a few of the sleeping passengers now woken up by her crash's noise. Perhaps, a fallen stewardess was a sight not seen in a daily basis. Bringing herself up, Sakuno proceeded to brush away the invisible specs that stuck on her uniform and strutted, with the dignity her colleagues taught her, to get Ryoma Echizen's water.

It took her a few minutes, and a few deep breathes by the supply station, before she returned to Ryoma with her huge cart.

"Here you are, sir."

"Thanks." Ryoma muttered under his breathe, not even bothering to look up as Sakuno handed the glass to him. Apparently, he was back to his diligent note-taking and analysis. This delighted Sakuno to no end. Not only did he fail to witness her display of clumsiness earlier, he also forgot about her. As bitter as she was about all this, she couldn't help but take it as a gift from the heavens. After all, she didn't want to be reacquainted with the man. It would've been too awkward. Plus, she was more of the love-him-from-far-away type of girl. This was just perfect.

"Hey."

"Yes?" Sakuno smiled, automatically turning once more as she cursed her luck, back to the handsome young man. "Did you need anything else?"

"No." Ryoma answered back frankly. His face was still pink as he batted his eyes, looking deeper into Sakuno's features. "It's just that—"

Blushing, he turned away immediately.

"Never mind."

"Hai." Sakuno replied, unsurely staking away with her cart. The whole flight, that was the last time she had gone anywhere near Ryoma.

When they had landed, Sakuno waved off to her colleagues and proceeded to the terminal's gate. Looking around for a bouncing twenty-two year old with lush brown hair, Sakuno's eyes widened as her eyes rested on her friend apparently talking to none other than the tennis prince himself. It was a good time to curse her karma.

"Sakuno!" Tomoka Osakada screamed from the waiting area. Blushing at the shared gazes of Ryoma and Tomoka, Sakuno proceeded to walk towards them stiffly.

"Tomo." Sakuno smiled uneasily as Tomoka enveloped her in a huge embrace.

"You won't believe who just walked out your terminal, Sakuno!" Tomoka exclaimed as she pointed over to Ryoma who stood handsomely with his hands inside his pockets. "It's Ryoma-sama." Tomoka told Sakuno in both a soft whisper and a cheeky grin. Sakuno turned her gaze over to a rather miffed Ryoma.

"Yes." Sakuno said with a smile adorning her pretty features. "I actually got to wait on him."

"Oh! Really?" She cried in glee as she turned to Ryoma with glittering eyes. "Why didn't you tell me, Ryoma-sama? Don't tell me you've forgotten all about Sakuno!"

Taken back, Ryoma said in a curt tone.

"I didn't forget about you, okay?"

"Then what's her name!" Tomoka prodded, raising a challenging brow at an irked Ryoma.

"Tomo, please."

"This is ridiculous."

"How about her birthday! You've attended practically half of her celebrations!"

"I—"

"Her first crush? Her grandmother?"

"Her address? Her job?"

"Tomoka!" Sakuno practically screamed. Laughing, Tomoka turned to her friend with a cheeky grin and Cheshire eyes.

"I'm just joking. Just joking." She said, winking over to Ryoma who suddenly went back to blushing. Sighing, Sakuno turned to Ryoma.

"I'm sorry about that, Ryoma-kun."

"It's okay." Ryoma replied casually, not bothering to turn to her as he adjusted the strap of his body bag.

"Where are you headed, Ryoma-kun? If you don't mind me asking." Sakuno asked with a gentle smile. Shrugging, Ryoma told her.

"I'm taking a cab home. I'm actually here to surprise everyone."

"Oh, that makes sense. Since you've gone home incognito, there's no press around."

"Hn."

"Why don't we help you hail a cab?" Sakuno offered as the three stared walking towards the gates of the airport. Turning to her, Ryoma told her simply.

"No need."

"No, let us!" Tomoka grinned, urging Ryoma to start walking with them towards another section. "After all, it's the least I can do after pestering you so much since you've arrived."

"Whatever." Ryoma grunted as he saw Sakuno laugh behind them. When the three got a cab, Ryoma was about to bid the two girls farewell when Tomoka suddenly stopped him.

"Oh, shoot!" She cried. "I have to leave as well. My boss needs me."

"Take care of Sakuno, alright?"

And with that, Sakuno was shoved unceremoniously into the cab with a rather fazed Ryoma.

"I'm so sorry, Ryoma-kun." She apologized for the nth time that day as the cab drove speedily away. To her bewilderment, Ryoma turned to her amusedly.

"It's alright." He said softly. His face was suddenly at ease as he stared into her eyes. Sakuno's auburn eyes softened as she returned his gaze. Slowly, a smile made its way into Ryoma's handsome features, yet again taking Sakuno by surprise. And he told her, with the smoothest voice she has ever heard, "I guess this is the time where I tell you that I didn't return to surprise my folks."

"I-then why?" Sakuno stuttered in a hushed tone as Ryoma's dazzling gaze continued to capture her. Smirking, Ryoma told her finally.

"I returned just to tell you how much I love you."

END.

I could give it a spin from Ryoma's workings if you want. And re-edit too, if you want. Just tell me. And feel free to comment.