"Sasuke, you can't go to the gazebo yet!" Naruto pulled him away from the path he's about to take.

"... so she really is preparing a surprise party." Sasuke stated as he looked at his blonde friend.

'I've already told her not to do any of those parties.' He sighed.

His girlfriend for 3 years, Yamanaka Ino, doesn't listen to him. Sasuke Uchiha NEVER liked any party, even if it's his own birthday party. She promised she won't be doing anything stupid but here she is, preparing for a surprise party.

'Though it really is sweet.' He smirked at the thought.

"H-how do you know?!" Naruto cried at him. He was shocked that Sasuke already knew the plan.

"I could read you." He sighed again. He could easily read what's going on with his friend's mind. It's so obvious.

"Geez! Ino's gonna be mad at me!" He rubbed his spiky blonde hair.

"Well, that's your fault." He just ignored Naruto's worry.

"Just a little bit and we're done!" She cheerfully put the last piece of ceiling decoration.

"Ino." Sakura called out to her.

"We should be finished by 6:30! I need to arrange the chairs and stuff!" She still doesn't looked at her pink-haired friend.

"Ino." Sakura called again.

"Just continue what you're doi-" She was trying to say something about how was sakura was doing in her artistic decors.

"INOOOOO!" Sakura sounded pissed.

"WHAT?!" She finally decided to turn around at her friend's direction and was shocked to see...

"Sasuke! w-what are you doing here?! Where's Naruto?!" She was really surprised and pissed at the same time. She was planning this surprise party for a week. Now, it's all ruined.

"H-hey!" Naruto tried to smile as he hides at Sasuke's back. He knows what will be his punishment. LIVING HELL.

"NARUTOOOOOOOO!" Ino slapped his arms.

"Ouch! I'm-aww! sorry!" He put his hands into praying position.

"Now, it's all ruined!" She cried. She really wanted a surprise party.

"You don't really have to do this, Ino." Sasuke tried to calm her down. He already expected this scene. Ino wants to go according to plan. Whenever the plan is ruined, it's either she'll be too depressed or too irritated.

"But I really want to give you a very happy birthday..." She looks depressed and unmotivated.

"It would be better if it's only the two of us." Sasuke whispered as he looked at his blonde girlfriend.

"What?" Ino frowned.

"There are just some things that are better to be celebrated in private. I'm sure you'll regret this party later." Sasuke told her.

Ino just became more depressed.

After a while, the whole gang arrived.

"Yo! Happy Birthday dude!" Kiba greeted along with his signature playboy smile.

"Oi Sasuke! Happy Birthday!" Tenten arrived with her boyfriend, Hyuuga Neji.

"Happy Birthday! May the beauty of youth never leave your body, my dear friend!" Rock Lee gave his words of inspiration.

"Ha-happy Birthday, Sasuke." Hinata gave her shy and sincere smile.

"This is troublesome." Shikamaru just rolled his eyes. Ino came beside him.

"Shikamaru! I thought you won't come?" She asked his pineapple-haired friend. They've been friends since they learned how to talk. Childhood friends, along with Chouji.

"Naruto won't stop bugging me." He glared at their friend who seems to be too 'in-the-zone' in the party.

"Come! Let's eat!" Ino handed him a plate.

"I'm not the birthday boy, ya know." He looked at her, as if reading her mind.

"Well, the birthday boy here doesn't appreciate my efforts." Ino made sure Sasuke will hear her.

Shikamaru went to Sasuke's side and tod him: " Oi Sasuke, this can't be ruined."

Sasuke knew what he meant. The plan can't be ruined. This is the night.

The party went on. After an hour, they all started to give their gifts to Sasuke.

"Ino! Give your gift!" Kiba teased her.

"I won't!" Ino's still pretty mad on Sasuke.

"Ooooh! Lovers Quarrel!" Kiba laughed along with the others.

"Maybe he won't also appreciate my gift." Ino said as a fact.

Shikamaru just sighed and so is Sasuke.

"If you won't give yours then I'll give you mine." Sasuke stood up and walked towards her.

"W-what gift? It's not my birthday!" Ino arched her brow.

Sasuke faced her. He could see her blue eyes. Oh how it drives him mad.

"Sorry if I can't enjoy this party you prepared for me but I really am happy that you've always thought about my birthday." He said as he got something from his pocket.

All of them were surprised when he pulled out a small box. They knew what's inside. It definitely is a ring!

Ino was speechless. Her mouth fell as Sasuke opened the box. There it was a REAL diamond ring.

"S-sasuke.."

"I won't kneel but Ino, … Marry me." Even in his proposal, Sasuke's still composed and in-charge. As if the proposal was a command.

"A-are you serious?" Ino stared at him. Tears started to fell from her eyes.

"Yes." He looked directly into her eyes.

Sakura butt in. "Sasuke, you do know that this is a VERY serious matter, right? You can't go back." There was a tone of warning in her voice.

"Of course he does. I know he loves Ino that he will surely make her happy. You'll protect her, right?" Shikamaru answered for him.

"Yeah, I will." Sasuke reassured them.

"Ino, give him you're troublesome answer. This is so boring." Shikamaru just sighed. His comment made the atmosphere lighter.

"I…." Ino started. They all anticipated what it's gonna be.

"I-I don't know….." She shook her head in confusion.

Sasuke's face dropped as he looked down. She doesn't want this.

"I don't know… but of course I won't miss my chance to be your wife, Sasuke." He heard her. He looked up and she saw her smile at him. They hugged each other . Ino pulled out.

"So that's why you don't want a party? You planned this?" Ino asked him, slapping his chest.

"Yeah. Along with Nara." He smirked as he looked over Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru? You knew?" Ino waore a look of disbelief on her face.

"Yeah. It's really troublesome." Just his usual answer.

FLASHBACK

Shikamaru was sleeping under the shade of a tree until he felt someone's presence.

"Surprised to have you here, Sasuke." He said, his eyes still closed.

"I need a favor from you, Nara." Sasuke directly said.

Shikamaru opened his eyes and sat up.

"It's the first time you asked for a favor. It gives me the creeps." He chuckled. He never thought that the day Uchiha Sasuke will ask a favor from anyone would come.

"So it's about Ino?" He added.

"I am planning to propose to her on my birthday." Sasuke answered right away.

"You serious?" Shikamarau hed never been this shocked his entire life. Well, he was also shocked when Sasuke and Ino got together.

Sasuke just nodded.

"Why?" He stared at Sasuke.

"I love her."

"You're only 20, Sasuke." He reminded the Uchiha. He must be kidding. They still haven't graduated College.

"I have plans. Just.. just help me." Sasuke sighed. He's becoming more irritated.

"whatever… but.. promise me one thing." Shikamaru's voice became more serious.

Sasuke looked at him.

"protect her and don't you dare hurt her." He warned Sasuke.

"She's like my sister even though she's a very complicated woman. She wants many things. She's moody. She loves spotlight. She's often insecure. She's perky and very noisy. She's indeed the most troublesome woman in the World…. Well, the second most troublesome next to my mother." Shikamaru added while he chuckled.

"Yeah. I know." Sasuke Smirked.

"But she's very caring, a true friend who'll never leave your side. Her childishness results into good things. She's noisy because she sees something wrong. She's moody but once she's in a good mood, you can't help but be carried away by that sincere smile of hers. She's the second most troublesome yet so un-troublesome woman in the World." Shikamaru said.

"You know her too much." Sasuke frowned.

"You jealous? Don't be. Do me a favor and never be jealous of me. I hate it when she comes knocking on my door, crying and complaining about your quarrel" He patted Sasuke's shoulder.

"That happened?" Sasuke doesn't remember a thing about that quarrel. He was never jealous of Shikamaru.

"When she was dating that Gaara. I despise that guy." There was a hint of anger in Shikamaru's voice.

"Don't worry, I'm confident that she's all mine." Sasuke gave him his signature smirk.

"Yeah right. So, what's that favor you need?" Shikamaru asked him.

"Help me choose a ring."

END OF FLASHBACK

Everyone went home. Ino and Sasuke were the only people left.

" Ino, I called someone who'll clean this place. Let's go home." Sasuke called out to his fiancé.

Fiancé. Damn, it sounds so right. He kept to himself.

"I should be the one cleaning. I'm the one who did this." Ino refused help.

"Ino. Let's go." There's a warning in his voice.

"No. Are you fighting with me, UCHIHA?" She placed her hands on her hips.

"Uchiha? Don't forget that this will also be your last name soon, Yamanaka." He smirked at her, claiming the throne of their mini battle.

Ino smiled at the thought.

"Ino … Uchiha. Do you like it?" Sasuke came closer and wrapped his arms on her waist.

"It sounds awfully good." Ino chuckled and wrapped her arms on his neck.

Sasuke claimed her lips.

"I love you… so damn much, Ino." He whispered between kisses.

"I love you too, Sasuke."

Hey guys! Sorry it took me a year to update! I was very busy, joggling my time in school, friends, family and creating a new story plot. I'm also a writer at Wattpad. I have a romance fiction story posted at my account! It's a great place for writers! For the followers of this story, Thank you so much! I really appreciate all of you! :)
Happy New Year! This chapter is for all of you! :)