The cool spring breeze entered the room uninvited, shaking light ornaments and materials in it's wake. It was nighttime. Mum's working late so I have the house all to myself for the night. Just logged out from Facebook after chatting with Ino. Mum and Ino's dad has already made the final payment for the apartment they rented for both Ino and I. It was a nice place that offered a good ten minutes walk to the school but a cumbersome walk to the main campus. A problem that could easily be rectified thanks to the cab Ino's dad hired.

Ino and I are to leave three days from now since all preparations and clearances were done. All our luggages has been moved to the apartment save for a few clothes and the food items that we will take when we leave finally.

The idea of going to school had not been that much of a deal to me but it seems the whole pent up anxiety was taking its toll on me. It's just ten o'clock and I don't even think I will be able to sleep a wink this night.

A very demanding appetite came along with the nervousness and the incessant churning of my stomach made me come up with the worst idea yet. The only living being in the house apart from myself was the security guard that was in his quarters, maybe sleeping or doing whatever it was he did at night when he was off duty. No maids or bodyguards courtesy of mum.

Honestly, what can two people use a mansion for!

It gets scary some nights when I'm alone, and my solutions were to either lock myself in my room and sleep with the lamp on or invite Ino to share both the loneliness and scariness of the night. This night, however, was different. I felt nauseous but at the same time, liberated.

The night was still cool and refreshing. The deep midnight blue spread across the sky, though this time, it was not accompanied by the puffy clouds that shared the quiet serenity. It might rain soon but the cool weather was too good to be wasted and what better way to save it than take a quick stroll to the closest supermarket and see what money could buy.

I got my red jacket, wore it over my loose baby blue jumpsuit and went out of the house. Many people were out bustling about to get to their destinations and the night hid various dreadful deeds that broad daylight wasn't allowed to witness.

The stroll to the supermarket was quite endearing. All apprehensions and anxiety washed out of my system and was blown away in the wind. I walked into the supermarket and headed straight to the products displayed on the shelves not disturbing myself to get a basket or trolley. The supermarket was semi full but the queue at the checkout points was still discouraging.

"Isn't that Sakura?" I jerked at the mention of my name and on instinct, glanced a little at the direction it came from. "Holy shit it is."

"Shut up, you idiot." A second familiar voice snarled. Then I heard a distant smack and an "Ouch" ensued.

"Hey, stop that you big grump. Sakura!" The first speaker called out and this time, I turned fully in search of the owner that I knew all too well. It didn't take long before I spotted the blonde boy already speeding up to me with his trolley. His shopping partner strolled lazily behind him with a can of malt hanging very lax from his hand.

So much for window shopping.

"Hey Naruto." I waved, positively ignoring his other friend. "What brings you here?"

"Just some snacks and some ingredients. Sasuke here, suddenly decided that he'll cook tomorrow morning and hadn't even bothered to check if the right ingredients were available." Naruto hissed. "What about you, where's your mum?"

My eyebrows raised, I felt insulted. "She's not with me as you can see."

"So you came out here on your own? by this time of the night? without your mum or Ino?" He asked incredulously and I could feel him working my nerve.

I shrugged, "Yeah. Anything wrong with that?"

The boy raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, a habit of his which he, regrettably, had not stopped. Old habits, they say, dies hard. "I just can't believe you're out here alone. Don't you have a curfew or something?" He asked offhandedly.

This was the reason I never hung out with these guys. Some may think me a feminist but what could a girl do when she was constantly belittled and underestimated? These guys were so insensitive, mostly Sasuke. Naruto wasn't per se, just a blunt clueless bimbo that wouldn't know truths and facts if it poked him in the eye. Trying very hard, the anger that was flittering through me receded and was perfectly concealed from the boys in front of me. "I don't have a curfew and do you know why? 'Cause I'm not a child anymore!" I replied coldly.

"Tch." Sasuke scoffed, something that did not go unnoticed by me as I sent him a sharp glare instantly.

"I think I'll get back to my shopping." I said still maintaining my glare at Sasuke. Naruto had not taken the hint that I was pissed and still kept that sheepish smile of his on his face. "We'll walk you home when you're done. How's that sound?" I honestly could not help the flittering feeling that crept up my stomach. This guy was nice to a fault regardless of his naïveté. The moment was fleeting however. The flittering sensation, sadly, depleted along with whatever enchanting feeling that had transpired in the moment due to the irritating scowl that had played on Sasuke's face for a millisecond. But as always, it did not go unnoticed by me.

From our little meeting, the only thing I could make out of Uchiha Sasuke's attitude thus far, was not only that he was a conceited, arrogant and demeaning macho but that subtlety was not his highest quality. Maybe he does what he does on purpose to scorn whoever it concerned or maybe in actuality, he indeed had no clue of his transparency.

"No thanks, I can go on my own." Flipping my ponytail at their faces, I stalked off into the long aisle between the product stacks. But that did not stop them, nothing stopped them from getting what they wanted. Shuffling footsteps accompanied by a rough screeching sound of the trolley tires echoed irritatingly in my ears. "I said 'no thanks'. Ya need me to break it down in a simpler term to you?" I said while increasing my speed in a bid to outrun him when all of a sudden, he doubled over with the trolley and landed infront of me.

"Eeeek!"

Aghast, I yelped and almost went into a panic attack when he wheeled around so hard that we almost collided. "Are you crazy?" I shouted, drawing the attention of some customers that were in the same section as we.

"We are going to walk you home." He insisted, no, it sounded more like a command.

I did not know how long I was staring and gaping but I realized it must have been embarrassingly long since it got the blondie waving and snapping his fingers at my face. Mortification had me under its wing and I tried my best to hide it. "No! That's nice of you and all but I can handle myself."

"Naruto, stop acting like an idiot and let's go." Sasuke finally said and suddenly, I was in the mood for one of our never-ending fights.

"Oh He speaks! And all this time, I thought you broke your voice box or something." I mocked, smiling contemptuously at the glare he hurdled my way.

I thought he was going to come up with a nice comeback but all he did was ignore me and look past me at Naruto. "She came on her own so let her go back the same way." He replied stonily.

Something within me quavered at his demeanor although the situation was not new to either of us. It was always war between us since I knew him in middle school. Not that we were friends or even enemies, we just couldn't resist the temptation of antagonizing each other. Looking at him now made me both angry and sad. Angry, because we never made up like I wanted us to deep down in myself and sad, because I would miss the times we spent bickering and cussing at each other.

"How gentlemanly of you. Your chivalry touches me to no end." I uttered sarcastically.

"Hn." and then he walked past me.

The constant opening and closing of Naruto's eyes was comical as he took in the scene with interest. What could be so interesting in this one-sided battle? I thought. Maybe he loved it when his best friend was pissed and being rocked from his high horse.

"But we're still gonna walk her home 'cause it's not right to leave a gi-"

"Shut up, Naruto. We're leaving." The way those words were spoken so succinctly, let alone from Sasuke, cut me down to the quick for some inexplicable reason. His entire countenance since we met this night after not seeing each other since our graduation in July the previous year, was quite painful. He had acted colder than usual and talked as if he didn't know me, as if I mattered so little to him. I, for one, knew I wasn't his most liked person and maybe was among the top three on his hate list, but to be honest, deep down I cared. Not that I would admit that preternatural truth to any living or nonliving being on earth including Ino, this secret would be locked up in the most darkest chamber of my mind. I became weak because I cared and now that it came to mind, I hated him, loathed him and hated myself for ever caring, for ever thinking he could change, for trying to force myself to see the non-existent good in him.

"Jerk."

But it did not ring in the ears of any eavesdropper at all, it remained buried in the wind along with other curses and negativities that left my mouth in a low toned mutter.

*-*-*-*-*

The silent walk back home wasn't so silent in my mind thanks to my repetitive cussing. The good night had been soiled. Even the cool breeze could not lower the boiling temperature of my body. I had lost all form of concentration while shopping as the hazelnut cookie flavor and bitter lemon juice was proof of that.

What has gotten into me? I was getting so worked up on the Uchiha that it was really biting my insides. His striking appearance; jet black hair, onyx eyes, black jeans, white inner and black hoodie that made every girl dreamy. All these worsened my newborn hatred for him. What was so likeable about him? Was it his 'good' and 'manageable' manners? Or his smarts? Or his composure? One would never know.

"Seriously!" I thundered.

Why was I fussing over the Uchiha? Anyway, it didn't matter anymore. In three days time, I'll go to school and forget both he and his friend forever. Contented with my new profound panacea, I gave a determined nod as I walked down the lonely dark road to my home.

"Men, she must be really losing it." Again, the all too familiar voice spoke, really audible in the night's quiet. My body whirled around faster than my brain commanded to face the incoming person; a feat that led to my utter mortification as my long ponytail slapped me in the eyes. "Ouch." A wincing me erupted as my fingers rubbed my stinging eyes.

"And she said she could take care of herself." the person I never expected would tag along, mumbled.

"I understand why Naruto's here since he so adamantly refused to listen to me but as for you, I draw a blank." My eye had stopped its irritation although I knew it was probably red from all the rubbing.

"Hn geek." He whispered.

"I heard that." My eyes, one of which was teary, moved to their hands and saw the heavy shopping bags they were carrying. "Go home. Your hands are fuller than mine. My house is not far from here so I can cope." But once again, my plea did nothing to deter Naruto who just walked past me and kept going as if he knew where he was headed.

"Did someone send you!?" I shouted. Sighing, I turned to the other person that had not taken a step since. He, too, did the same thing.

I broke our little staring competition and followed Naruto who was now leading the way. I caught up to the blonde boy and surprisingly, Sasuke did too. "I thought somebody was against walking me home. Maybe he just wants to tick his good deed for the year box."

Naruto laughed to my little joke. "Sasuke has a pole that's glued up his ass that I'm sure he can taste."

Sasuke didn't reply to my sarcasm. I felt like an idiot. Whatever happened to hating him? Why was I trying to rile him up? Why was I trying to get him to talk to me when clearly he didn't want to?

"Pff." I huffed in annoyance. My arms folded with the nylon bag that carried my snacks swinging back and forth in its suspended state under my arm, we all strolled to my house. Naruto heard my little interjection and grinned, Sasuke didn't and just kept looking ahead of him. "He's just grumpy because Karin went to HLC instead of the Uni-"

Agitated, Sasuke spoke grittily, "Shut your mouth Naruto."

But he didn't. Maybe he was deaf all night long since he never obeyed what he was told. "- because Karin didn't go to the university that they both planned on going. Now he's sulking over the fact that mum told him that we'll both go to the same school."

"So that's why he's extra jerky. It explains much." I replied finally understanding his mood. "So which university are you two going to study at?"

"The University of Konoha. We'll leave next week."

My feet stopped dead in their tracks after hearing that. Naruto stopped as well, surprised at my behavior and maybe wondering if I had reached my house. " Did you just say ... Why Unikon?"

"Huh?" He looked at me dumbly.

"Why can't I just get away from you guys?" I huffed and noticed Sasuke was still looking disinterested.

It took a minute or two for Naruto to understand what I meant and when he did, his eyes were wide as saucers. "You're going to Unikon too?"

"Mm hmm."

"That's great! Now we can see each other more." He said to me and I grumbled. "Isn't that cool Sasuke?" Meanwhile, Sasuke had not even reacted at all. No smirk, hateful glare, signs of discomfort, smile or anything. No 'congrats Haruno, be seeing more of you' or 'hn so annoying' or anything that matches his usual replies and teases. Just nothing.

"That's my gate up ahead and your stop. Goodnight." And I walked on to my house. Not replying to Naruto's goodbyes and goodnights, not waving back or in the least sparing them one last glance. Trudging down the remaining road, I entered my compound and slammed the metal gates behind me. What a horrible night!

*-*-*-*-*

"I call dibs on this room!"

A shrill voice called from inside the house as my mum and I entered with some luggages. The day had finally come. Ino and I have finally moved to our new apartment and it sure as hell was stressful. My blonde best friend and new roommate had not wasted a minute's time to move into her so-called room. "Dream on pig! You better not be referring to my room!" I shouted back and mum chuckled.

"Too freaking late forehead." My best friend said as she walked into the small parlor where my mum and I were. Grumbling at her childishness, I threw a bag at her which she so easily caught. "Ha! missed me." She exclaimed in triumph. I rolled my eyes and turned just in time to see a tired and sweating Mr. Yamanaka making his way to the front door with two boxes that looked unearthly heavy. He was breathing as if he ran a marathon race.

"Just what did you pack in these boxes Ino?" He asked breathlessly. To be honest, I felt the man's pain. Ino must have packed her whole closet and a boyfriend in there.

"It's just some of my clothes, shoes and bags daddy and the other one has my toiletries and accessories." She said as she waved her hand dismissively. The look on my mum's face was priceless. It was one of disbelief, amusement and incredulity. How I got myself this kind of friend is still shocking.

"I better take these to my new room. Please help me daddy." She said and I looked dumbfounded at the direction they were both going.

"Ino, you better not be serious about taking my room." I yelled but she just laughed.

"Too late! Finders keepers."

Sighing, I plumped down on the couch. "Have you taken Mr. Ebisu's number from Ino's dad?" Mum asked. Mr. Ebisu was the designated driver Ino's dad got for us.

"Yes mum. I better go check out the other room." And I left.

Hours later, mum and Mr. Yamanaka left. Not without helping us to move the heavy luggages and putting them in place. Ino and I arranged till it was late at night.

_

Ding dong*

"I'm coming!" Taking a little peek through the peephole, I happily opened the door to my dinner.

"Cho Pizza." the delivery guy announced handing over the square box. "Your chicken flavoured pizza with extra cheese."

"Thanks." I checked my pocket and brought out the right amount of money to pay. Smiling, I handed the money to him which he in turn collected but did not look like he was going to scoot any minute. "Thank you." I dragged once more, signaling with my head that he was free to leave already but he simply stood and with twinkling eyes and a little smirk.

"Hey there." He adjusted his uniform shirt and tried embarrassingly to put his hand in his tight pocket.

Did I really look nice that he had the effontery to subject me to the ridiculousness he calls flirting? In a snide manner, I replied with a smile on my face. "Bye there." And the door was slammed on his face with me rolling my eyes at my luck. Sucky love life.

"...uh huh. I know already." Ino still had not finished the gist on the phone, or so I thought. "Yes." She was exasperated from the looks of it. Taking a sit on the couch, I delved into my pizza as she walked into the room. "Bye. Gaaahh"

"And who does that sweet exclamation belong to?" I took another bite from sweetness. "Oohh, let me guess." I forestalled her, putting an index finger to my chin playfully. "Daddy dearest."

"I don't understand why he feels the need to listen to my breath every now and then." She crashed beside me. "Why can't he just be like your mum and think that I can handle myself! It's been what, ten days since we moved and he's already missing me?" Then she took a breather while staring at my pizza with dilated eyes. "You ordered?"

"No, I found it here on the table." I chimed with smelling sarcasm and swatted her hand from its journey towards my pizza. "Trotters off, pig, it's my dinner you're looking at."

Releasing a huff, she folded her arms. "So you're gonna finish all that?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I'm gonna." I said with my eyes closed, savouring my meal and sweet lie.

"Tch, and you call me the pig."

"It's your fault for cooking yam-shrimp balls and you know how much I hate it." I defended with a pout. "You, enjoy your shrimpy sourness while I enjoy my pizza."

She rolled her eyes and heaved a strong sigh. "You know something? I just realized that you're a stingy nerd."

"At least I'm smart, unlike someone I know."

"Oh, I have brains and it takes a smartass to know a smartass."

"Really? Alright, surprise me. Say something smart."

Pausing, she mimed thoughtfulness. "Hey! do you remember that hunk of joy we met at the grocery store on Monday?" She beamed, changing the topic while making another attempt at stealing a piece of pizza.

I had no choice but to play along after thwarting her plan of attempted theft. "You mean eye-candy? What about him?"

"Weeell, he somehow got my number and called..."

"By somehow, you mean you gave him your number." I corrected. "And so you riled him up before nipping it in the bud?"

"What?" She shook her head in confusion. "No, but.." she drawled before continuing, albeit in a jumbled nonsense. "heaskedforyournumber and I gave it."

I felt my chewed pizza go down the wrong pipe and almost choked on my own spit. "You what!" I thundered. "Why would you -" But I was hushed by the chime of the doorbell.

In a flash, she knifed out of the room, perhaps to the kitchen. "We are not done, Yamanaka." I boomed as I went to answer the door.

Opening the piece of timber, I was met by the sight of two very familiar faces. With wide eyes, I slammed the door on their faces, although not on purpose as my thinking faculty had hitched and left my sense of reasoning in the mud. Ino walked in with a book in her hand and a blank look on her face. "Who was that?"

I blinked a few times. It's the pizza. It was probably spiked with something, something that maybe caused hallucinations. "Hello, earth to forehead." Ino snapped at my confused face. "Why are you all frozen up? Who was at the door?"

I shook my head from my stupefied state and opened the door again. And standing on my front porch were the two people that I hadn't expected to see, at night no less. "Hey Sakura and ouch." Naruto greeted and walked past me. "Thanks for the warm welcome." Sasuke walked in also, both leaving me at the door with mouth agape and in a halted process to make speech.

It wasn't the pizza. I wasn't hallucinating. They were both here. In the flesh and inside her house. Ino beamed and happily ran over to Sasuke, inviting him to my spot on the couch and indulging him to take a piece of my pizza. "What are you guys doing here? And most importantly, how did you know where we lived?"

Naruto, with a slice of pizza in hand, answered with unadulterated happiness and obliviousness. "Oh, that? Ino gave us the address."

Shocked, I felt my face heat up as a result of pure anger as I turned to the blonde that was smiling as if she had been caught stealing a dress while proving not guilty. "So, am I missing something that you haven't told me?"

Smiling with plea, she raised the book to her chin. "I got our album." She cheered quietly. I rolled my eyes at her and sat on the floor with my legs folded hindu style.

"Nice place you got here, Sakura." Naruto commented, receiving a clear of throat from Ino.

"I live here too and it's not her house." she intoned childishly.

I sighed. "Thanks, Naruto. I see your friend is still an active mute." I pointed, referring to Sasuke who was busy relishing my spot on the couch in suspicious silence and munching on a slice of pizza.

Chuckling, Naruto nodded. "We moved in three days ago. I saw a post Ino made on IG, so I asked for the address and had to drag that bum's butt here."

He still was silent despite the fact that everyone except Ino had the urge to push his buttons. Naruto poked his nose in the air and inhaled deeply. "What's that? Wait is that ramen? No it's -"

"It's Ino's tomato stew.. which she chose to make today of all days." I realized that now. She had expected them, that was why she decided on preparing that soup.

"I'm eating if you're not." He told Sasuke. "I'm starving."

"Oh you wouldn't want to do th-." I remarked.

"And why?" Ino interjected angrily.

"It actually smells better than it tastes."

"Haha very funny, forehead. Oh, that reminds me of that picture when you were fifteen and choked on your salad 'cause you shoved the whole plate into your mouth."

Through gritted teeth, I gnashed. "And how is that relevant or helpful to your horrible stew?"

"I will so show it to them." She smirked, already turning the page to the boys.

"You wouldn't."

"Will." and she did. "This one, she slipped on Mr. Slimy McTackles and fell hard on her tushie and on my new heels. I captured the picture when she was bawling on the same spot 'cause she couldn't move."

"Ino!" I bellowed helplessly. My cheeks flared up so did my twisting stomach but she did not spare a glance at all, just continued hosting my embarrassment. "Priceless!" The feeling of being laughed at by none other than Naruto was sad and worse was when Sasuke produced a short chuckle, which was unbelievably cute and at the same time, hurtful. I really could not blame them because the way I grimaced in the pictures were horrible and Ino had been rather gifted in picking me from the wrong angles. "What's a Slimy Me.." Naruto questioned.

"Mr. Slimy McTackles? He was her pet snail." Ino concluded.

"He wasn't my pet." I corrected. "And don't show them those pictures." I grabbed the book and sat on it. Ino tried getting it back and said, "Hey, I haven't showed them the Sakura on fire or dumped bum or when you tried on your braces."

"You had a pet snail?" That was the only thing that the blond guy couldn't get over.

"Just what type of album is this?" I frowned, peering at the book that l sat on. "U-mem? What does that mean, and why would you have such an album?"

Ino dramatically gestured. "Ugly memento. It's meant to show the captured moment and who wouldn't keep such a memorabilia?"

"Almost no one?" I replied sullenly.

"Can we order ramen? I heard there's a cool joint around." I had completely forgotten about the two guys, well, mostly Sasuke since he had not uttered a single word since he started sharing my private space. And as for my pizza, he had eaten the last slice. We agreed on ramen and Naruto made the call. Feeling the seething anger for my foiled dinner, I nagged. "Is no one going to offer our mute freeloader some water to push down my pizza that he has munched to the crumbs?"

"Freeloader?" He finally spoke.

"Well isn't that what you are, barging in and eating without having the courtesy of remaining little for the owner of the- Ino, your stew is burning."

"Tch. Stupid." He muttered under his breath as Ino dashed to the kitchen but I caught it.

"Sorry, what?"

"Good gesture; the basic rule of being a good host to your guest. Welcome warmly and entertain, none of which you did at all." He recited.

"Excuse me?" I still could not get over the fact that he called himself a 'guest' and just lectured me on hosting etiquette. He was, by far, the last person that had right to lecture me on manners seeing that he never had the good side of manners. "If you had wanted a nice welcome, you wouldn't have thought of coming here in the first place and you ate my dinner. So regardless, you are a freeloader." Pausing for effect, I continued. "First rule of being a guest; wait for an invitation before barging in and second, don't be a bother. And you violated both."

"Haruno, shut up."

"How would you like it if I went about calling your surname like that?" I questioned.

He mustered a light smirk and I was so sure he wanted to be on my bad side. "Why should I mind?"

Naruto took a nice spot in the floor and stretched his body. "This place is not only cool but has a nice vent. I could live here."

I hadn't been paying attention but that hit me. "That better be a joke."

"Nah, for real. We live up in an apartment, where the sun singes our skin and the breeze refuses to visit." Naruto replied.

I smiled. "Wow. Did you learn that from a poem or something?"

"Leave it to Haruno to make a deal out of nothing." Sasuke spoke, more to himself than others, with a velvety voice.

Embarrassed, I shot back. "What was that, Uchiha?" But he gave me a 'Hn' as a reply while making himself comfortable on the couch. "How's Karin? And your long distance relationship?" I smiled a little in satisfaction at the bitter look that flashed on his face.

"It's none of your business." the black haired teen intoned.

"More like a not distant relationship." Naruto added in a muffled tone. "I can't even tell if he's over her."

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeding my curiosity.

Sasuke attempted to shut him up but he just continued blurting. "First, I thought it was a fling situation but now I'm not even sure anymore." My ears perked for more gossip and my eyes narrowed to slits as my mind worked up another question. "You thought it was a fling? You mean they were not doing the do?"

Sasuke eyed me with curiosity and maybe an expression that passed for annoyance and embarrassment. "What's it to you, Haruno?"

"Nooo, I don't think so." Naruto declaimed. "Sasuke's a weird person."

The object of our discussion grunted with twitching eyes. "I'm right here." He informed with controlled anger.

"So you guys weren't dating? Prom? Football season?" I asked passively. He simply hiked an eyebrow at me. "Your point?" He asked in irritation and I shook my head. "You guys were always together, so I thought -"

"Oh please, forehead. Enough with your jibber-jabber." Ino came in with a tray of yam balls and darkened stew. I could smell the burnt matter. Sasuke still looked at me with suspicion and I never allowed myself finish what I was about to say, not that I even knew what to say. Karin had made my life a living hell in highschool. She was second in command in the cheer squad and I was a mere 'nerd' on the bleachers. I was, however, the leader of my handball team, so school wasn't all bad. Except, Sasuke had to come into the equation. I still cannot remember how Karin and I started off, even though it was clear that it was on the wrong foot, but Sasuke was unbearable when he lasted until he eventually stopped his disturbance. Shaking, I cleared my head of such irrelevant thoughts.

We ate when the noodles came. After dinner, we talked, reminisced on highschool- the good, the bad and the ugly, friends, enemies, teachers and some family issues. Sasuke, surprisingly, contributed.

"Coach Gai was an ass." Naruto lamented. "He never allowed us start a game without running laps round the gym."

"I thought it was hot." Ino said seductively. "But no one was my type, including the hot Mr. quarterback." She sighed and gestured towards Sasuke.

"That's weird, I thought you and your cheerleading squad had the hots for Sasuke." Naruto said.

"You know what's weird? The school's photographer who happened to be the leader of the cheer squad." I added.

Ino looked offended. "And what was wrong with that? Taking shots was my passion but now I want to be a florist or botanist, both counts. But mum wants me to be a lawyer." She bragged with shrugging shoulders but huffed at the last sentence.

Having a new topic of conversation, I asked, "Naruto, what do you wanna study?"

"Political science. I've got high hopes for the future!" He beamed bravely. Then he died his enthusiasm down a notch, and seeing the way he carried himself, made me see how mature he was behind his childish outlook. "Mum wasn't so happy about my choice but she never showed it and never complained. But I will make her proud, believe it!"

A smile grazed my lips. "That's sweet." Facing his partner, I asked, "And you, Sasuke?"

He took some time to ponder, or think up a lie, I couldn't tell. "Medicine." He said paving way for me to cast a shocking look his way. "What?"

I blinked a few times before responding. "Medicine? You want to be a doctor?"

Frustration played between his eyebrows. "And it's hard to believe because?"

"Well, I thought you'd want to be a boring accountant." I joked. "But how will you cope with your social impairment. Being a doctor requires a lot of talking energy, one that you weren't born with, so don't you think it's much of a demand?"

Naruto laughed, hard but Sasuke didn't. Traces of mirth disappeared from my face when I saw the genuine anger on his. Why was he so uptight? Couldn't he take a joke? "I was just kidd-"

"Is everything a joke to you, Haruno?"

Cowering a little, "Relax, I didn't mean it."

"Yeah, you idiot, calm down." Naruto defended and thankfully, his little anger waned.

He didn't say a word to me or input to the conversation. We switched to watching a short movie but Sasuke got up to leave. However, his partner refused to go, leaving him to stay put in the house. It was ten on the clock and both Naruto and Ino were asleep. They really were those type of people that slept in between movies. I packed up all our stuff, the cans of our drinks and the bag of chips that Naruto used to adorn the floor.

"I'm leaving." Sasuke said, more broodingly so, out of nowhere in the silence and headed for the door with one hand in his pocket. Honestly! It was late in the night, why the handsome posture? His habit. Although, I doubt he did such to impress and I would be the last person be would try to make that impression on.

I stumbled after him, jumping over the limp body of Naruto that laid on the floor. Then something clicked. "Without Naruto?" He did not chance a reply at all and only opened the door. He most definitely ignored me, again. I held the door, just as he was about to close it and I stood out there, facing his retreating back on my porch. "Sasuke!" Stopping in his track, he threw a nonchalant gaze over his shoulder. His standoffish attitude was so annoying and not needed at the moment. Who did he think he is? He turned his body to regard me with his side, waiting for what I had chased him for, not that there was any. His face betrayed nothing but I was so sure his emotions had a stark contrast. I opened my mouth, motioning inside the house with my thumb. "Naruto -"

"He knows where he lives." He digressed, cutting me off with a tilt of his head and a cool voice. And after saying that, he continued walking away but I barked his name again from my door step. He stopped once more. "Why are you behaving like this? Is it because of what I said? I kid, you know?" He silently walked back to stand closer to me but maintained a little space in between. He still did not uttsr a word, so I kept going. "Do you think, that you are in the right position to be angry at me?" I hissed, feeling my suppressed anger take over my body and his silence aggravated my feelings the more. Maybe I could let off my frustrations with him right here and now. His brows knitted in confusion, because he didn't know what I was saying.

Finally, he opened his mouth but what he said showed the height of his smugness and his aloofness and that really set me off. "Go to bed, Haruno."

The ground was levelled and the line was cut. But unlike him, I still had a bit of rationality left to think things through before letting wrong emotions on people that didn't deserve it. He had been angry Karin left for school and used that to dampen the liveliness of my evening the night we met at the supermarket and now, he shut himself off because he still a brat that didn't like when things didn't go his way. I scoured my mind for an opening but what I said shocked me and confused him he more. "There it is again-" I found myself saying without thinking.

"Wha-?"

"Haruno. That's what you've always called me." Sadly, I divulged but did not feel free. "We've known each other for like what, three years? and you haven't, not even once, called me by my name."

"Well, isn't that your name?" He said aloofly.

"You know what I mean." I chanted. "What about Karin, huh?" What? I really wondered where I was going with this. Sasuke's face darkened but I had to continue what my heart was saying. "Both of you had a job of in-insulting and belittling me in public and what did I ever do to you guys?"

Shifting on his stance, he eyed me with dangerous slits. As if what I said wasn't worth a nickel of his time and spit. "And what does that have to do with anything?"

"It has to do with everything!" I exploded at the flap of my arms. "Why else do you think I pick fights with you? I wanted to keep being this annoying person and it's all your fault. And you never..." This was pointless and I was sure as hell not making sense again. Nonetheless, he didn't give a flying damn about my dilemma and just stood askew with his signature fathomless face. "Since, we're still on surname basis, goodnight Uchiha."

And I slammed the door on his face. Out of my house. And out of my life.

*

And that was the last time we ever talked. At least for a long time. He never came after me, never confronted me or showed signs that he was in the least bit affected by the disconnection. I, in turn, did the same.

I really hated his guts, his charisma, his everything. And so, I sieved him out of my life. Or at least, I thought...