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There are moments in life when people just want to disappear and become irrelevant to the world. The lonely hearts want to lock themselves inside and want the marks of the past just to disappear along with the whole time itself. They don't want to be seen. They don't want to be heard. They don't want to be touched. But life, as the tricker it is, won't simply let them alone. Life won't let them become invisible.
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Once all hopes are lost and all the dreams have turned into nightmares, some people simply walk away. They're tired of suffering because of the others. They fear their past returning and repeating itself once again, so they simply give up and try to isolate themselves until the end. It works perfectly, indeed. Or that was what that young girl believed.

If I were to say she was a normal high school girl, who was enjoying her last year with all her friends, I would be lying. Her differences started with the color of her hair. It was pink. A natural bubblegum pink, which was long enough to cover her neck and to tickle her shoulders. It wasn't something that was easily ignored by the crowd, but, just like any innovation, it became normal for her classmates after some years. In fact, her lack of words also became normal for them. So normal that none of them realized when she decided to shut herself and close her eyes to the ones around her.

And what was her name, you ask. Her name was Sakura Haruno. Such a beautiful name for such a mysteriously quiet girl like her. Always seen alone, with her head down and with the earphones in a considerably loud volume during the break between the classes, which she liked to spend in her chair. Rare were the times when she would stand up and go to the cafeteria to feed her own body. It was all perfect for her. She didn't bother anyone and no one came to interrupt her daily ritual. In her mind, she just had to keep up with that style until the graduation. After that, she would go to a college and focus her mind in what she believed would be the best for her. It was all a matter of eleven months and twenty three days- counting weekends and holidays- until the so expected day arrived. Barely she knew that her life would turn upside down after a simple and ordinary sunny day in Konoha High.

Sakura didn't understand when the principal called her name that morning. She hadn't done anything wrong, in fact, she hadn't done anything. How could she? The pink haired girl hadn't joined any extracurricular club nor had stayed after classes to study in a long time. Sakura would simply go to school in the morning and go home as soon as the last class finished, and, doing so, she was the second best of her class. Her own study routine seemed to be working really well for her. Still, she couldn't understand why on earth she was being called.

After the girl gave up on trying to figure out the reason, she decided to do as she was told. Sakura, with her hands hidden in her pockets and a not so excited face, walked into the principal's office and waited for the old man to start talking. He was a really serious man and he cared a lot about his student's grades. He wanted the best for all of them, and he would do anything to help. The principal was an admirable man, and he knew the true potential of that girl. There was no way he would let her waste it like that.

"Sakura Haruno, why didn't you join the academic club? I'm sure they would love to have a brain such as yours by their side, specially for the inter-school competitions. Your tests show really good scores, specially in biology. What do you think?"

" I'm sorry principle Sarutobi, but I'm not really into this things... Group activities aren't my forte. They will be fine without me."

" I see Mrs. Haruno... But I'm sure you understand that I can't simply let you isolate yourself for another year. It's your last year and your last chance to make some memories with your classmates. Don't you think it's already time for you to have some friends again? It's already been two years since that day..."

Her calm and stoic expression suddenly changed when she heard his words. Sakura normally wouldn't exceed herself in front of the others, but she couldn't simply accept someone talking about her past, something she wanted to forget by any costs.

Her brows arced and she threw a serious glare at the man standing in front of her. Maybe he knew he shouldn't have mentioned her past. Maybe he regretted his words, but it was already too late to take them back.

" I'm not joining the academics nor any other club, and you can't make me do this. Do you need any other thing from me, principal?"

" actually no, but-"

" then I should go back to my classroom... Thank you for your concern but I know what I am doing..."

With all her teenager audacity exhaling from her intense green eyes, Sakura started to exit the principal's office. Her hidden hands were clenched in fists and she would probably have to discharge her anger into something. Just the mention of her past was enough to make that calm girl lose her head. She definitely hadn't moved on yet.

As he watched one of his best students walking away like that, the principal found himself with no other option than using his plan B, for the lowest it could be.

" wait, Mrs. Haruno!"

" what?"

" you give me no choice... I tried to give you a chance of moving on and returning to your old self alone, but I can't stand here and watch as your past destroys what's left from you..."

" with all respect, principal, but you have nothing to do with this... There is nothing you can do."

" yes there is. From now on, I, as the school's principal, am assigning you to the young tutors program."

" what did you say? Y-You can't do this-"

" you will start tomorrow and you will teach our best student some biology. His name is Uchih-"

" you can't do this to me! This is not fair! I haven't done anything wrong to deserve this! Why can't you just leave me alone like everybody else?"

"... It's already decided, Mrs. Haruno. I wish you good luck. And I know I'm doing the right thing. At least you can help him with the only thing he's having some problems with."

The man had driven her to her limit. Sakura was clenching her teeth and, were the principal a young man, he would have suffered from her fists when he signed that paper with her name. When he gave it to his secretary, the pinkette simply stepped out of his office before she did something she would regret.

Sakura exited the office without looking to the way she was heading to. Her head was a mess and she just couldn't stop thinking about ripping that stupid paper he had signed. Why did he have to be so annoying? Why did he have to interfere in her perfect life? Sakura couldn't understand the reason. She didn't even know who was the one she needed to help. So what better way of meeting each other than a quick meeting at the hallway?

During her murderous rage, the pink haired girl didn't pay attention at the one who was about to turn the corner of that hallway. It took them just some seconds to finally look at each other's faces for the first time and for the girl to be held by his strong arms that prevented her from falling on the ground.

" pay attention to where you're going, pinky."

" take your hands off of me! You weren't paying attention either!"

"Hn, a feisty girl, huh? Can I at least know your name?"

" go to hell, you jerk. I'm not in the mood for this..."

" hn, whatever... I have no time to waste with you, I need to go and meet my new tutor."

When the 't' word was said, Sakura couldn't help but feeling a strange sensation running down her spine. There was no way he would be the one she would have to spend her afternoons with. She couldn't meet someone in such a cliche way. But she did.

" no... Don't tell me you are the one who needs help with biology..."

She hoped for a 'no'. She hoped for him to say she was crazy. She prayed not to be him. But nothing worked.

" yes... How did you know it?"

" oh crap... Why does it have to be me!?"

" what are you talking about, pinky?"

" I am your tutor!"

" what!? No way... It's impossible... You're not Sak-"

" Sakura Haruno, your biology tutor..."

" damn it... This can't be true..."

" unfortunately it is... We start tomorrow, so don't be late."

With her palm resting on her forehead in disbelief, the girl started to walk away. She needed to go home. She wanted to go to bed. What else could go wrong?

" hey, Sakura!"

" huh?"

" I'm Sasuke... Uchiha Sasuke..."

And so their paths had finally crossed. She just wanted it to be over, but he knew somehow that their study hours would be interesting. He just had that feeling as he watched, with a smirk playing on his lips, as the girl walked away. It would be a long year for both of them.

End of the Chapter