Why is it? Ino thought bitterly, furiously wiping away the tears that stubbornly refused to stop. Why is it that every episode of my life begins with crying? Ends with crying? Has crying in between?!
She brought her knees to her chest, huddling closer to the tree she was sitting under. Thousands of bright lights shimmered in her eyes….Ino tilted her head, resting it on the calloused tree trunk, imagining that the lights were stars. Bu no matter how hard she tried, the imagination didn't work. They were windows, windows to a huge, gorgeous mansion. The UchihaMansion.
And the noises that polluted the silence of the night were that of the ball taking place inside, without her.
She should have known Sasuke asking her out was just too good to be true. But, this? This was not just a-a heartbreak, a school girl crush…It was utter anguish, an unbearable crushing, smashing of her heart. Don't even add the truck-load of humiliation and embarrassment she had to endure….
FLASHBACK
BBRINGG…!
The bell chimed. Ino gave a last glance at her reflection, critiquing every inch of herself. She had donned on a baby-blue cocktail dress that fell till her knees, and had a delicate, yellow design on one corner. Elegant bracelets wound around her dainty hands. Petite crystals hung from her ears. Her feet were strapped into high heel stilettos, and her blonde-hair was tied back in pony-tail. But most of all, it was her face, radiating with natural beauty, lighting it up, elevating its beauty to a level words fail to describe…
At least these were the thoughts running through Shikamaru`s mind, as he stood in Ino`s door, mouth slightly open. His eyes trailed over her.
Surprisingly Ino blushed under his intense gaze. Her heart fluttered a gentle fluttering that excited yet calmed her down at the same time…much unlike the violent butterflies that invaded her stomach whenever Sasuke chanced her glance…Ino decided she liked the flutter more.
"Shika? What are you doing here?" She asked, desperately trying to pull both of them out of whatever trance they had fallen into.
"H-huh? Oh yea," Shikamaru slowly regained himself. Shrugging, he said "I just wanted …if you were okay…"
"Why wouldn`t I be?" A confused Ino asked.
"Well, maybe…you know that troublesome Uchiha, maybe he didn't show up…"
"Well, I have." A cool, almost cold voice interrupted them. Both of them turned to see the handsome owner of one of the two most successful business company of Japan, looking…well, handsome, extremely handsome in tailored tuxedo.
Let the butterfly torpedo begin…Ino thought dreamily.
"Ino lets go."
Shikamaru couldn't control his fuming at Sasuke`s obvious lack of interest in her.
END OF FLASHBACK
All eyes had swiveled toward Ino, like moths attracted to light, the moment she had stepped into the huge room.
But that wasn't good enough for Sasuke. The reason he had asked her out became clear the instant she saw the pink haired owner of the infamous Haruno company; Sakura Haruno with Naruto, head of the Uzumaki Company (the other one of the most successful business company of Japan).
Sasuke only danced with her once, and then left her stranded on crowded, suffocating dance floor. She danced with a few more (eager) men, hoping against reason that Sasuke would come back. All such absurd hope came crashing down when she saw them making out in a hidden corner behind the curtains.
That had broken her, snapped her cleanly into two…
And she found some comfort being alone, away from the ear splitting noise and the crushing suffocation of the crowd…
"Ino?"
Ino looked up with blood-shot, puffy eyes. "Sh-Shika?"
Shikamaru sighed heavily, that troublesome Uchiha….
He settled onto the ground, beside Ino, snaking his arm around her waist. Ino settled her head on his shoulder. Somehow, with Shikamaru here, she didn't feel so bad…the ache in her chest slowly subsiding.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No."
"Alright…talking is troublesome anyway."
A soft, feeble chuckle that sent his heart soaring,
"Mmmm…."
Silence, a warm, comfortable silence.
"Ino?"
"Yea?"
"Why do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Let him walk over you?"
Silence.
"I love him…"
"Really? I don't think so. He's got you trapped Ino. And you're gonna die if you don't break free. Maybe, not right away because you're strong, but….sooner or later that fire, the life and the spark I…I love about you Ino, its gonna burn out."
…..
..
"Its not up you to save me, Shikamaru."
"You're right, only you can do that."
WOW,
Not to brag or anything, but this was good, huh?
A few notes,
1) Yes, the last dialogues are from a VERY famous movie…
2) This is the second last chapter :,(
Anyways, pleeeaaase review!