LUNCH BOX LOVE
Summary: Sakura had always brought Sasuke a lunch box. Sasuke falls in love with the food in the lunch box. It all seemed so normal but is it as it was supposed to mean? Or were there more than the eyes can see?
PART 1
Then a tray or two of hotcakes, man I can't decide, uh...
All's I know is hit them things with Aunt Jemimah
How 'bout an egg fajita for some Texas flavor
No drama but my momma wants a breakfast bagel
McDonald, the rap.
Sasuke POV
"Sasuke-kun!" a girl called from behind my back. I do not have to turn; the voice that shrieked in my ears every day belonged to Sakura could never be easily forgotten. I closed the locker door when I had stuffed all my books inside the crowded messy uncoordinated small space. I was never an organized student in books arrangement (I tend to just left everything in a pile), but my homework was surprisingly neat.
It was a habit of me so that I could see mistakes in my work. Back to Sakura... she skipped to me as if I had made her day just by my appearance. She was carrying something in her hand; it wasn't rare of her to bring me something to eat since she thought that I'd be hungry to death if she didn't.
"Sasuke-kun! Here! I made this for you!" she said, handing out the lunch box to me. I had to admit, she was a good cook but I would never tell her. I accepted her lunch box and nodded before heading to the garden to eat.
She squealed loudly and skipped the opposite direction to her lecture. I was glad that she was gone. Now, I could enjoy my peace while eating and reading the notes.
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Sakura sat down next to Ino, smirking smugly at the blond girl. She had won yet another step towards Sasuke's heart. She was sure that by the end of the semester, Sasuke would be hers. Ino was twitching angrily; she could practically see it. She would prove that no other girl was worthy of Sasuke's attention other than her.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Ino asked in annoyance.
"Guess what? Sasuke accepted my lunch, Ino-pig", said Sakura, sticking her tongue out mockingly.
"Your lunch? You don't even make it!" cried Ino accusingly.
"You don't have the evidence to accuse me", Sakura accused Ino back. The blond girl clenched her fist but held back the attention to attack.
"I know where you buy your so-called lunch", said Ino between her gritted teeth.
"Really?" said Sakura in a mocking tone.
"You bought it from that vendor boy that always sells lunch boxes in front of the high school gate! I saw you did that yesterday!" Ino exclaimed angrily.
"What vendor boy are you talking about, Ino?" Sakura raised an eyebrow, pretending to be confused although she knew that Ino was right. Sakura didn't cook the lunch she always gave to Sasuke; she bought it from her ex-classmate, Naruto Uzumaki. She couldn't cook as good as Naruto, hence, she used his meal to get Sasuke's attention.
She was just helping Naruto with his business by being a regular customer. Naruto needed the money. He was poor and he stopped going to school when he was fifteen. If there was one thing Naruto was good at, it was his culinary skill. It was Sai (also her friend in her sophomore year in High school. He was also the football team captain) who suggested that he opened a little business. Naruto had taken the idea seriously. Ever since then, he had started the lunch box vendor of his own in front of the high school gate with given premise by Tsunade, the high school's headmaster.
It wasn't just school student buying from him; poor university students and office workers often stop by during lunch hour to buy lunch boxes. It was the only good food they could afford. Sakura thought that the price should be more expensive to gain more profit but Naruto was against the idea. He liked to see people enjoying their food, be it just lunch boxes.
"Are you admitting that you don't actually cook the food?" asked Ino.
"...Maybe", said Sakura, smiling at her. She shouldn't let her guard down like that. She had to prove that Ino was wrong.
"YOU!" Ino shrieked.
"Okay, girls. Sit down so I can start my lecture", Professor Kakashi commanded. He was late as usual but nobody cares because a professor who was late everyday was someone that you had got to get use to.
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Sasuke POV
I finished the lunch box Sakura had given me. As usual, it was really good. It made me hungry again just by thinking of eating yet another spoon of the soup and rice. I collected my bag pack and decided to walk home. Itachi wouldn't be back until five anyway and if I waited for him to pick me up, I would be left doing nothing since the library was close for renovation today.
I was walking pass the high school building when I saw a crowded vendor stand. There was a blond teen giving away lunch boxes to his customer. His entire customer seemed to like him so much; they thanked him whenever he exchanged money with the lunch box.
I walked over just to see the vendor stall. The food must be good if there were so many customers buying from the vendor boy.
"Naruto, I want to have chicken soup and rice!" A high school boy called from the gate.
"One chicken soup and rice coming up!" the blond teenager cheered. He passed the readymade lunch box to the boy who thanked him in return. For a lone vendor boy, he was sure working at a fast pace. It made me wonder how he managed.
"Um, sir? Do you want a lunch box?" he asked when he spotted me.
"I don't eat lunch boxes", I told him and walked away. I heard him shouting something like: "Bastard!" Not that I care what he thought of me. My comment, however, didn't affect the number of people crowding the vendor. Again, not that I care...
When I was home, however, my brother was already in the kitchen, eating his lunch. There were plastics on the table; it must have been the take away day. I sat opposite to him and watched my brother eating something that looked like chicken soup and rice.
"Don't tell me you bought that from that vendor in front of the high school", I said.
"Well, bad news for you, it is from the vendor. Not that I mind. He's a good cook", Itachi said before spooning some more into his mouth.
"What are you doing coming home this early?" I asked him.
"Meeting ends early so I go home immediately after the meeting", he said.
"How does it go?" I asked.
"Real smooth. Gaara agreed to merge with us fortunately", he said. Itachi finished his last bite, putting the polystyrene container inside the plastic bag and dumped the waste in the rubbish bin. He let out a small sigh and whistled merrily as he made his way upstairs. He must have forgotten about my lunch; or maybe, he assumed that I have had mine before returning home, which was partly true.
I went back to my room. I might just as well rethink of my relationship with Sakura. I mean, even though she was a bit annoying, she had a better culinary skill than any girls that I've known. That was a bonus that comes along with her physique, I guess. Not that I was interested with her physical or anything like that, hell no, I would never dare to even think about her that way. It was just, I should try going out with someone. At least, I won't be alone for the rest of my scholar life.
I decided then that I would accept her offer to be her 'boyfriend'. What were the chances, right?
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Sakura slumped her shoulder exhaustedly; letting out a sigh escaped her mouth. Both Ino and Hinata just stared at her, wondering what actually happened to Sakura. The rosette haired girl would never come to lecture feeling all pathetic.
"What's up? Have a long day?" asked Ino, pushing her reading glass closer to her eyes. Sakura glanced at her and sighed again.
"Sakura-chan, are you alright?" asked Hinata.
"Guess what? Sasuke agreed to go out with me", she said, propping her chin as she looked far into distance. All she sees were dull grim days ahead, what with the condition that the raven heartbreaker had given her... Ino's book fall from her hands to the floor, her eyes widened in shock.
"No way..." Sakura heard her mumbled.
"Sakura-chan, Sasuke agreed. Aren't you supposed to be happy about it?" asked Hinata again. That girl could be really curious sometimes.
"Yeah, big forehead. Why so down when you won?" Ino inquired as she approached Sakura.
Sakura sighed again for the hundredth time of the day. How could she possibly be happy when all Sasuke clearly stated that he loves her cooking? She couldn't feel anymore pathetic after hearing it from Sasuke herself.
"Sakura-chan?" Hinata tried to get her attention.
"Huh, he only loves the food I brought and I don't even cook it for the love of god", she admitted solemnly.
"I knew it!" she watched Ino pointed her accusing finger to Sakura.
"Why don't you make your own lunch box?" suggested Hinata suddenly. Sakura looked as if she was about to jump from the window while Ino snickered snidely at the sight.
"I don't know how to cook", she admitted yet another embarrassing truth.
"I'm sure Sasuke won't find out, big forehead", Ino smirked.
"Ino-pig. Listen. The only food that I have ever seen Sasuke eat given from his fangirls is mine. I don't cook the food but I bought it from the vendor boy in front of the high school which happens to be my friend, and Sasuke loves the food", Sakura paused, her arm slung behind Ino's back, "Do you understand where I'm getting at?"
Ino's eyes widened again when the realisation hit her hard. "It's not like what I think, is it?" asked Ino.
"It is", Sakura nodded. Hinata was rather confused to what she was actually blabbing about. "What I mean to say is", Sakura started again, this time crystal clear, "Sasuke is practically saying I love you to the cook of the food. That is bad, Hinata-chan".
Suddenly, Hinata lit up, "Why don't you ask your friend to teach you to cook?" At that moment, Sakura was ready to hug her to death. Hinata could be fantastic sometimes. Right then, she was the best damn thing that Sakura had ever called a friend.
"Thank you, Hinata-chan! I'll go and ask Naruto to teach me!" she cried and ran to Naruto's vendor's direction.
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"Please come again!" Naruto waved at the little boy who had just bought the last lunch box from him. The little boy smiled and ran back to the woman whom he assumed the mother of the kid. Naruto watched him bounced happily home with his mother until they disappeared from the corner of his eyes.
He packed the plastic bags and remaining spoons and forks; and wiped the vendor surface before going home. He was about to go home when he saw Sakura running in his way.
"Naruto!" she called, waving both of her hands to him.
"Hi, Sakura-chan. Something good happened lately?" he asked her. Sakura's eyes darted to other places but him.
"Sakura-chan?" he asked in confusion.
"Um, you see, Naruto... I want you to help me with something", she began.
"Just tell me already. I don't like surprises and you know that", Naruto said, smiling at her genuinely.
"CanyouteachmehowtocookcausemyboyfriendwantstoeatlunchboxthatIprepared?" she said quickly. Naruto blinked because he couldn't understand what Sakura was asking at all. Looking at him with annoyance, Sakura repeated again slowly. Geez, Naruto's brain was the size of a green pea after all.
"Oh, sure! Why not?" Naruto immediately agreed. Sakura was his best buddy after all. How could he refuse? Sakura beamed happily and she followed Naruto back. The blond boy kicked the door opened; his hands were occupied with the sales' materials.
"I'm home!" he said.
"Someone else lives here?" asked Sakura. Naruto nodded when Kakashi and Iruka suddenly appeared out from the kitchen looking all messy.
"Kakashi sensei?" Sakura asked dumbfounded.
"Ah... I've been found. Well, looks like I have to go now, Iru-chan", said Kakashi and he fled away... Iruka invited Sakura to come in while Naruto dumped the stuffs he was holding on the table.
"So, Sakura-chan. You want to learn how to cook?" confirmed Naruto.
"Yeah... Just that my boyfriend wants to eat something that I cook", said Sakura, smiling sheepishly. A red blush spread on her cheeks.
"Okay then. Let's get started", Naruto waved to her to move on.
"But first, the apron".
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It was 5 freaking 30 and Naruto was glad for the first time in his life that Sakura left. She was definitely hopeless. He just hoped that Sakura's dear boyfriend doesn't die of food poisoning. Naruto had taught her every single step to bake the cookies and she had followed closely what he had been doing. Care then to explain why when he took a bite of it, he immediately felt like puking because it was so damn inedible?
The cookies were hard, salty and sour at the same time. He had checked the ingredients' expiry dates but they were all okay. Seriously, anyone who could turn a food into that taste was condemned not to cook forever.
He closed the door. He just hoped that Sakura was alright.
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Sasuke POV
Sakura dropped by this evening with a package. I took it. I ate it and looked where it ended me. In my bed. Hurling for the fifth time of the day. I didn't know why her cooking suddenly turn really, really bad. I should tell her later. Or maybe now. Where was that phone? Ah, there. On the nightstand. I reached for it. I typed the message to her:
Never give me bad food again or I'll reconsider our relationship.
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When Sakura received the message, the first thing she had done was called Ino and told her what Sasuke's feedback was. Of course, calling Ino was the wrong move because she laughed at Sakura behind the line. The rosette haired girl imagined that Ino was there and helplessly being straggled by a huge wrestler.
"I mean come on, Ino. The point is, it is still bad", said Sakura, biting her blanket so to not snap at Ino's seemingly undying laughter.
"I know... I know... Oh, wait. Does that mean you have to start buying again from the vendor boy?" asked Ino.
"YES! WHAT DO YOU THINK?" Sakura lost her temper. Ino could be stupid sometimes.
"Wo, wo, chill you big forehead woman", Ino said.
"Chill? Ino, do you know how serious this is? Right now, I don't feel all lovey dovey with Sasuke. All I feel is..." she stopped.
"Hello? Are you still alive?" asked Ino.
"I FEEL LIKE A DELIVERY GIRL! IT'S LIKE IT IS ONLY NARUTO AND SASUKE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!" she shouted angrily.
"Woah, I think you ruptured my eardrum", commented Ino insultingly.
"Ino... what should I do?" Sakura lied on her bed helplessly.
"I dunno... give up on him maybe?" suggested Ino.
"Hell no", said Sakura sharply.
"Then, you are on your own", said Ino and she disconnected the line. Sakura sighed. She tossed the phone on the couch on the other side of her bedroom before deciding to sleep.
A/N: This is going to be three shots... guys, I don't want to write more than it is. Lemon+SasuNaru more next chapter... I'll be writing my first real lemon... Note that first real lemon. It means I have written lemon before but they are either stuck somewhere in the middle because I don't have the courage to continue or I had no idea what was happening. Now, I'm collecting my courage just for you guys so be grateful by sending me reviews or something later.... Oh, check out my other oneshot stories while you are at it… They're all nice…. I assure you :) Update for next chapter would be next week!