CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LAYING THE CARDS DOWN

In the rules bounded by love, it was a silent deal that the players should never fall for the other players as well.

Sakura's eyes instinctively gave a death glare at the crinkled eyes of Syaoran, who is looking back at him in amusement as if saying, don't hate the player; hate the game.

Oh yeah, she suddenly realized what a dim-witted fool she'd become.

Hating him for not selecting her in the dating game?

That's just also another way of admitting she wanted another date with him.

Good grief.

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Sakura stifled a yawn as she waited for the lift to stop at her floor. She had decided to come with the trio (aka Tara, Ema and Mae) and spend the third day of her vacation lounging on the pool. She casually tightened the sarong covering the lower part of her body, just to make sure that they were in place. With a frown, she glanced at her reflection in the glass located in the hallway, surveying her one-piece swimsuit. She couldn't help thinking that red, it seems, is not really her color.

As soon as she heard the familiar ding! of the elevator, followed by the familiar sound of its doors opening, signifying that it already stopped in her floor, she briskly walked towards the lift, intent to go down once and for all.

"Down please," she casually called out.

As soon as she saw the lone passenger (that is, before she entered inside), she couldn't help but gasp in surprise at the face she'd grown to recognize in her whole stay here in Tokyo.

"You really have a habit of running into me, I see,"

"Unfortunately." Sakura scoffed. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of Syaoran, who looks so well-dressed for a casual walk in the sun. She wanted to ask him where he was going but she knows that it's none of her business. So she pretended to not care and tried to spend the next few seconds staring at the glowing numbers on the lift, silently hoping that 'G' (groundfloor) will already light up.

25…24… Sakura counted in annoyance. Gosh, this effing sucks…for a hotel, they really have quite a number of floors

"Hm, I see you're out to have some swimming in this glorious day, isn't it?" Syaoran continued to comment, much to her dismay.

"Yeah. And I see you're out to have some fun yourself." She retorted sarcastically.

She watched him at the corner of her eyes and noticed the way his lips twitched slightly in what seems to be, a suppressed smile.

"I'm with Rina."

So they're on first name basis, eh?

Sakura frowned. Okay, so why does she suddenly care? As trivial as the fact that they are calling each other based on their first names, why does she actually care?

"We get to have a nice quality time together, since, you know, I've chosen her yesterday on that game…"

That's it. She's definitely pissed. Who is he to mock her anyway? As if he knows she wanted to be in that game. As if she cares whom he choose. As if she gives a damn as to whom he dates.

She winced as a sudden realization hit her.

Oh wait. She did care.

Sakura couldn't help the small frustrated groan that escaped her lips at the small voice mocking her inside her head. Syaoran looked at her scowling face in amusement, the smile he'd been trying to smother earlier, finally making its way to his handsome face.

"You don't need to look so sad, Sakura."

15…14…

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You're jealous,"

Her beautiful eyes narrowed dangerously. A faint of angered flush is evident on her cheeks.

"I am not."

Syaoran smirked.

"You don't have to deny it."

Sakura's eyes darted once more at the glowing numbers blinking right before her very eyes.

12..11…

"I am not denying anything. And I don't care whoever goes out on a date with you."

"Sometimes, you know, it doesn't hurt to be honest just for once."

Sakura sighed in annoyance at the pestering voice of Syaoran who never failed to make her seemingly, once calculated, emotions all rattled up. And how she hated him for always doing it so perfectly.

"The same could be said of you, Li."

9…8…

Come on! Sakura almost pleaded at the elevators, knowing that it won't speed up no matter how much she wanted it to.

"I think I don't have any problems expressing myself. And we already know how candid I could be when I want to say my feelings to a person." He replied with such certainty, as if stating a fact that has been already known for a lot of years.

6…5…

"Coming from a player like you, I must admit, you know how to play the cards right." Sakura uttered, for lack of anything witty to reply to his last words.

4…3…

"And for someone who plays the card with me, you certainly know the tricks of that game you've been accusing me of playing, haven't you?"

Her eyes blinked in surprise at the unmistakable irritation that became evident in his voice. Sakura's head whipped to look at him but his face wore an unreadable expression.

Sakura refused to be letdown by such a remark. Whatever feelings she was having for him, Syaoran knows it and she's a stupid one to let him realized it. If there's anything to admit, she's scared. She's scared to fall for him that's why she's trying her best to deny everything. The attraction is becoming too much for her to bear and it scares her. Maybe everything else is really indeed, just attraction. She never knew how it really feels to fall in love, and back then, even though she's been in a lot of relationships already, there was a point when she thought she already knew the meaning of love but she'd end up usually wrong. And now, in just a few weeks she have known this certain guy, and all the new emotions she's been feeling, how it scares her to be suddenly vulnerable to someone she still doesn't know that well.

2…1…

"If there's anything you have to know, it's the fact that, in this 'game', I never lose, Li."

And with that, she hurriedly walked out as soon as the doors opened, leaving him staring thoughtfully at her retreating figure.

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For the whole day, the fact that Sakura's out, hanging with Tara, Ema and Mae and that she should be enjoying it, was not really all that it cracked up to be.

In fact, her mind had been antagonizing her the whole day with thoughts of a certain brown-haired boy and the kiss that they once shared for what seemed a long time ago.

Sakura couldn't help laughing quietly at how she had come to like that guy she never thought she would end up having some 'romantic' feelings for. God, he was too arrogant for her taste!

But he was also handsome. And that's not a bad thing. And he could be sweet (as she remembered how he brought her up to that nice place on their last date) when he wanted to. And that's also not a bad thing.

She shook her head, once again trying to dissolve any thoughts of him. As if shaking her head would actually erase any thoughts of him. But she knew it wouldn't.

"Sakura's almost close to winning Syaoran." Tara said, her voice thickened with disappointment, as if she was the one rejected herself. "And well, she was also much, much prettier than that Otsuka girl."

Sakura chuckled, half in amusement and half in frustration.

And how she was trying hard not to think of him when here they are, and their conversation is once again darted back to the ever famous Li Syaoran. This discussion is certainly not helping her. And she must do the only thing that is reasonable right now.

"Guys, I think I got to go ahead of you. I have to do some…things." Sakura stood up and smiled at the girls apologetically.

Ema smiled at her in understanding, as if to assert her that it's just okay. With a final wave of her hand, she walked, not knowing exactly where to go.

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Sakura found herself walking in what seems to be, the hotel's garden, secluded nicely in the eastern side of the resort. She couldn't help admiring the beautiful flowers, and the trees, swaying softly along with the wind around her.

She settled for a smoothly sculptured marble to sit, its rectangular shape settling comfortably in the lush blossoms surrounding it.

Sakura must've been sitting for quite a nice few minutes alone now when she heard noises making its way to her place. She sat up straight, trying to look as if she's just relaxing nonchalantly in her own seat.

Sure enough, a pair, or a couple it seems walked past her slowly, as if taking the time to be with each other. She was supposed to not stare at them but she was intrigued by the familiar looking clothes of that guy, whose back was facing hers, chatting happily with the girl.

Syaoran!

Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw them stopped right before entering the hotel's massive lobby and saw Syaoran holding up Otsuka-san's hands, and proceeded to plant a brief, chaste kiss on it.

Sakura could literally feel her heart crushing, in that one simple, innocent act between two dates.

She never heard her loud gasp echoing across the silent garden but it seemed Syaoran have heard her for he turned his gaze around just in time to see her standing.

And then she walked briskly, as fast as her feet could take her. She would never let him see the satisfaction that she was really jealous.

Damn him.

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Sakura slumped in annoyance at her floor's balcony as soon as she reached their bedroom's floor. She knows she should be in her room right now but she feels like she couldn't face Ema's questioning should she notice her mood.

She propped her hands in her chin and stared in the sky. Geezz..she's acting like a lovestruck teenager who have caught her crush kissing someone else. She suddenly wished her friends back at school were here, so that they could laugh at how silly she has been acting lately and that she shouldn't be affected by anyway because of a guy.

Sakura stiffened at the sudden sound of footsteps in the hallway. She held her breath, the hushed sound she made not denying the silent frustration at the thought of having to share this balcony with another person. She just really wanted to be alone.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Literally, if it's possible to drain the blood off her cheeks right this moment, that's what she probably looked like right now.

Is this guy a seer that's why he knows where to find me?

"What the hell are you doing here?" She blurted out. She grasped tightly at the denim jacket she's wearing, trying to look as if she doesn't care about anything with regards to him.

Syaoran sat down, uninvitedly, at the cushion right across infront of her. His eyes stared at her intently as she shifted uncomfortably under the penetrating look he's been giving her.

"I wanted to explain. You see, Sakura what you saw was…" he stopped, a bit surprised at the chuckle emanating from Sakura's mouth. "What's funny?"

"Why are you explaining this to me? I'm not your keeper, Li."

He continued to look baffled at the way she's acting right in front of him. His brows burrowed in curiosity.

"As I was saying," he continued, ignoring Sakura's giggling. "I kissed Rina, just for show. There was a photographer standing right infront of us inside the hotel's lobby and because you were able to see just in time that 'oh-so-romantic moment ' we were in, as the camera flashed right before our very own eyes, I suddenly have the feeling that you got the whole situation wrong."

"So, as I was saying why are you.." She paused, trying to hold back her laughter. Although she must admit, there's really nothing funny about it. She's laughing because she's faking it and she got no other way to fake it but this. "..explaining this to me? I don't care, Li. I don't."

He stood up, and she almost thought he was walking out on her, returning to where he come from but she was wrong.

"Why are you still denying it?" His voice came out cold, detached and annoyed. She watched as he walked slowly towards her, looking down at her own figure slowly sinking deeply in her seat.

"Deny what?" She squeezed her eyes shut. God. She's still denying it.

"When are we going to stop this charade, Sakura? I've already played long enough with your game and I'm getting quite sick of it, honestly."

"I don't know what you're saying…" She said, her voice almost too soft that she thought he didn't hear her.

"Fine. " Sakura looked up to see his eyes darkening, blazing with anger at her. "If that's the way you wanted it."

Syaoran hastily walked out of the balcony, the soles of his shoes making a noise in the immaculate silence that engulfed the hallway.

Sakura was still in her seat, a bit stunned at the way he just acted. Syaoran was always the one more patient than her and she was definitely surprised at the sudden outburst he just had. She wondered slightly just how complex a person could be. The next thing he's making her laugh, then the next thing she knows, he's walking out on her, looking furious just like the first time they met at the airport.

But isn't it she's also acting as complex as he is lately?

And then it dawned into her.

"Syaoran! Wait..!"

Syaoran looked up from where he was standing at, infront of the elevator doors, to see Sakura rushing to catch up with him before he retreat to his room.

"Gomen nasai." She stopped, catching her breath. He noticed her glanced at his face for a brief second before pulling away. "I'm sorry for acting weird lately. It's just that ..It's just that…"

Syaoran nodded, when she looked at him once again, encouraging her to speak.

"I'm scared, you git! I don't know why or how you're making me feel this way! It's like, I hate you and then the next minute…" She paused. "I don't know what the hell you're doing with me for making me feel this way! I never felt this way before towards somebody and ..and I..I'm confused."

So there it is. She literally confessed to him she's having some feelings towards him. She could feel her heart pounding in nervousness and agitation. What if he rejected her? What if he didn't like her? What if..-?

"I understand. I'm confused myself." Syaoran sighed, raking his fingers through his hair in such a way that made him look almost naïve. "You see, not to..not to brag or anything but I was never the one who ran after women. And I really don't care about women running after me, I don't care about them. But with you.."

He took a step forward. Sakura could literally melt with the way he's looking at her. She instinctively walked a step backward, suddenly afraid to get close to him.

"You're different, Sakura. And I liked it. At first you irritate me but then I eventually found out that it's because you were treating me in a way unlike other girls I've been with. And, and…eventually I'm beginning to like your attitude."

He paused, as if expecting her to react but when she didn't, he still continued, his face a look of confusion and hesitation.

"I suddenly found I like you amidst the arguments, amidst our differences. And it frustrates me to see that you're denying it…"

Sakura thought she heard something banging on the hallway but she was not surprised to realize that it was her heart making all the sounds she's been hearing. It's as if her breath was caught in her throat and that the beating of her heart doubled all at once.

Is this..is this what falling in love feels like?

"If you just so give me a chance to prove to you that I'm serious about you, then you'll see just what I mean. Sakura, being the hard-headed girl that you are, just in case you might not notice it… I think I'm beginning to lo-"

Oh my god. Is he going to say what I think it is?

Sakura's heart nearly tripled in beating.

"I think I'm beginning to like you." Syaoran finished off, looking as if he had just wanted to say something else but decided the last minute against it.

Sakura frowned.

"Shut up, Li."

Syaoran's eyes faltered for a while at her reply. But before he could say anything else, Sakura already stepped towards him, and the next thing he knew he felt the soft lips, (he had grown to miss as soon as he tasted it), kissing his own.

Syaoran was a bit shocked but he recovered soon enough. She could feel his lips moving, returning the kiss, and his hands move in its own accord as they rested lightly on her waist. She placed her hands on his neck and the way they molded together feels so right that she wondered briefly at the sane portion of her mind just how long she waited to feel something this right.

The kiss continued, and the sweetness of their kiss could literally dissolve every argument they ever had; as if nothing mattered but that kiss.

And when they reluctantly broke apart for air, she couldn't deny that her face is flushing and she might've looked silly, smiling like an idiot but you know what? She realized that she didn't care.

"I…-"

Syaoran just smiled at her, a smile she rarely see in him as he reached out to hold her hand and entwined his fingers into hers. He knows that they don't need to speak anything anymore. They just know.

……

kotsch