SOS
IV.
What is more nauseating than a party where every single known bitch, every single dirty-looking varsity player, every single conceited I'm-so-high socialite kid in your school have gathered to form a union of bastards to rejoice for the 17th birthday of yet another goddamn bastard. Now that kills me.
A waiter was roaming on the poolside and I picked a glass from the tray he was carrying around. I emptied it in one gulp "Man, this taste awful!" The waiter stared at me. I didn't know what why the hell he was staring but he was terribly staring, I resisted stabbing his eye.
"You don't drink it straight, ma'am" He gave me one last unsatisfied look then went away shaking his head. The moron didn't even wait for me to return the glass. He just went away shaking his stupid head.
Anyway, my shoes were killing me so I decided to go to the lounging area where there was a relatively fewer people. I lounged there for around ten minutes, absorbing the grand place, when Hinata and Tenten came over. They looked perfect. I mean with those dresses and shoes, they looked pretty. I made a silent reconnaissance of myself. Well, maybe the best I could say about myself is that my nail polish looked great.
"Have you seen Sasuke?" Tenten asked silently as they sat beside me. We were really cautious. Just another one knowing our plan and we're dead.
"Nah, have you?" I said massaging my sore foot, "You know what, these heels kill me"
"Hey stop complaining!" Tenten said, "And I haven't seen him too"
I sighed and put back my sandals. There was a wall clock adjacent me and mentally, I computed that we had been looking around for the Uchiha for exactly two-hours, 26-minutes, eight-seconds exactly the same time we had arrived on the goddamn place. I was having the strange feeling that we had gone to a wrong party.
A waiter crossed the threshold and I approached him to inquire about the celebrant. He was awkward to answer but then he replied, his very words were that the celebrant was a certain 'handsome, somewhat brooding rich kid from the Uchiha family'. He missed the word 'bastard' but I let it slip for the time being. I asked if he had seen him— the Uchiha. He said the only time he had seen him was when he gave a short instruction to the service crew about how to entertain certain guest like Sakura-bitch. In short, he had not seen him during the party. I thanked him. When he left, I just realized he was the same waiter on the poolside.
"What did he said, Ino-kun?" Hinata asked when I returned. I told them.
"This is bad. No sign of Sasuke. No progress in the plan" Tenten looked devastated. We looked devastated.
I was nibbling a dessert which I got from another roaming waiter and said, "Oh is it that bad?" I was only joking but Tenten and Hinata practically gave me a stare. Boy, did it made my appetite gone. I dropped the dessert.
"Wherever Sasuke hid himself, we'll definitely seek him!" Tenten said with an outburst. I was simply tossing my hair "We'll split. I go there. You go there, Hinata. You go wherever you want, Ino" Tenten was in newfound spirit. Hinata was all in smile. I was all in sigh.
xxxxxxxxx.
I sighed. I know no amount of sighing could change things but one can't help but to sigh, can one?
"Okay!" I recollected whatever spirit was remaining within me. "I can't give up now or ever. Hey you, yes you wearing a lousy green shirt, have you seen Sasuke?" Too surprised to even answer a stranger like me, he shook his head "What about you, have you seen Sasuke?" I asked the couple beside the previous lad I asked. I received the same answer, which was shaking of head. I practically asked everyone in the room and in return, everyone was practically subconsciously asking who the hell I was. Sure, they don't know me. I was nothing but a commoner in our school. But after that day, it never occurred to me that the word commoner would never suit me again. Never.
Half an hour later, I was back on the chair I had sat on. Have I told you that no amount of sighing could change a thing yet once can't help do it? Hell, I might have sighed 10 tons of oxygen throughout my entire search to no avail. The goddamn Uchiha might as well bury himself.
"This is crazy" I began massaging my sore legs, stretching them over the place as I sat there on the chair. "Where the hell did you hide yourself, bastard" Just as I was stretching my legs, someone who seemed not to notice them passed. I knew I should help him but instead I laughed— very virtuous of me— when he fell FLAT on his face. Humor had me, it almost killed me. But when I recognized who he was, I almost really died.
Gaara stood up and when he did, he practically stood five inches taller that he was evidently gazing down at me with enigmatic eyes, so strange I could not comprehend if he's angry or what.
"Hey,uhm, are you alright? D-Did I hurt you?" I rushed close enough in case he was in dire need of support. Just great. When I couldn't even find Sasuke, here was Gaara.
"I—" he stammered while staring ahead and holding his head, "I need to go the hospital"
My eyes were in saucers in horror "H-Hospital? Are you that badly hurt? I mean— … oh kami, don't joke around! You've got me, ok! You've goddamn terrified me!"
But he wasn't joking. His face neither showed he was in pain nor he was alright and it was goddamn hard to choose whether I would just run like hell or just drop dead. His face was just indifferent and that didn't clarify anything. He began massaging the back of his neck as he said, as casual as hell, "I reckon my neck's broken"
Oh, God "B-Broken?!" Suddenly, there was a lump on my throat. Suddenly, I wished I had a brain tumor and would breathe my last breath five second later. I tried to stop breathing so as to help death claim me but the image of Gaara rubbing his neck suffocated me back to reality.
This is fucking crazy, I thought to myself as Gaara suddenly appeared tired, forgetting he always looked tired, and descended down on the chair I previously occupied. I couched beside his sitting figure "Y-You want me to get you any— anything even your last will, I'll be gladly doing"
Gaara spoke softly and I realized I was intimidated "Yah, a pillow. Get me upstairs"
"But I can't go upstairs!" I exclaimed, forgetting he had broken his neck. I composed myself and addressed him more softly remembering it now "You know I can't. Sasuke forbade his guests—"
"Hey, hey I got my neck broken. You think Sasuke would rather have me dead than ban some of his damn guest" Gaara said rather slowly. I think he would break down any moment "Anyway, I'm giving you my regard so go get it" He said the last words sluggishly, almost slurred.
"Okay, okay. I'll get you a pillow. Just hang in there, will you? Don't die for heaven's sake!" His slight nod of affirmation was left unnoticed as I rushed away.
Actually, Sasuke banned guest to go upstairs because all sordid lewd things were happening there. It was the forsaken haven of sexual activities of him and his group and he doesn't want news roaming around on Monday about him having it or that he had let him and his group out of control— which was really happening. But right now it seemed if there would be news on Monday at school, it would be about Sabaku Gaara and his broken neck; Yamanaka Ino and her fucking leg.
"Why me?" I muttered as I ascended up the stairs
When I was already on the upper floor, I walked straight in the hall. It was dark since no light was turned on. Adjacent doors were situated on the wall leading to separate rooms. I knocked on the first door on my right. No one replied back. I went on the next room. Nothing. Again, to the next room. On the fourth door, I decided not to knock. There were very mundane sounds coming from the other side of the door that I dare touch the knob.
I went to another room, three doors away from the last one. This time, as my knuckles connected, the door silently creaked into a small opening. I resisted all my might not to peep inside.
Inside, I found two persons. No three, I realized as my eyes darted to the third person standing in the middle. Pink-haired. Sakura, no doubt. As my eyes scanned the room, I found the other two persons sitting on the edge of the bed. It only took me 5 seconds to distinguish them in the dim light.
Karin was sort of arguing about something while looking almost as if crying. She was having a fight with Sakura. Suigetsu, who sat beside her, evidently was taking side favoring Karin. Sakura was talking back. Statements I couldn't catch exchanged between them. Anyway, I don't give a damn. Only one word ran like amok in my mind.
Why Suigetsu and Karin?
I was standing outside, lonely and cold suddenly. Why not him and me?? I wanted to jump in the scene, make them realize I was out there listening. I wanted them to know my presence wasn't down there partying in the damn celebration; I was out there behind the door. In a split of second, everything I wanted to do flash in my mind. I would emerge in the room. I would stand in the middle. Everyone would freeze. Everyone would be dumbstruck. Suigetsu would be staring. I would be staring just the same. Then in 5 minutes, I would state publicly all about his liaisons and bullshits in front of my audience— Karin and Sakura.
I was too happy to think of all these. I was about to walk in when out of the darkness of the hall, a hand appeared and clamped my mouth. His strong arms dragged me away from that momentous spot.
xxxxxxxxx.
I was plagued by doubt.
Uchiha Sasuke sat on the edge of his double-canopied bed. His bare chest was smooth; his boxers tight around his thigh. His hair was messy because he "just goddamn woke up" as he quoted.
Earlier he told me he suddenly felt sleepy so he slipped out from the party— FYI: his party. He woke up in hormone craze so he decided to call up his fuck buddy, Sakura. But when he was in the hall, he saw me and decided to have me for the night instead.
"You're goddamn lucky I found you on my way" he said in a tone that almost compared me to a lost puppy found across the pavement. I was standing in the middle of the room looking as tense as ever.
"You know we have all the time in the world but will you just undress now. My body's already itching"
This is crazy, fucking crazy. I wasn't here to be molested by this sex maniac. I was here to feign love and admiration, try to tickle him on his feet and win his ugly heart.
Sasuke tapped the bed motioning me to sit beside him "Okay, I can just do it in the process. Just get here, will you. For Christ's sake, why the fuck are you agitated anyway?" So I thought it wasn't evident. So I thought I was only thinking it. Now I realized I was indeed shaking in front of him.
I sat on the bed as composed as I could be. But when his hand snaked up on my back, I was lost— no composure at all. My skin tingled against his insinuating caress on my nape. He pulled me closer and closed the gap between us. For the first time, I received a real kiss. And in case of Sasuke, a real torrid kiss. I pulled away but his arm behind me would only allow a small distance where I could still feel his breath "Whoa Sasuke, take it slow"
"Sure, baby" he whispered and kissed me on my neck.
The sensation was and I was more surprised than pleased. He continued touching me, southward. He had managed to pull me down on the bed, with him on top, without my awareness of it. His long fingers held my shoulder and he was kissing me down on my lips with such force I thought it was bleeding. The weight of his body began going up and down rhythmically. He raised his head expecting satisfaction flushed over my face. I was compelled to give a satisfied look as part of my pretense but I failed. And it was because at the moment Sasuke got me on the better light, there was this gradual transition of his countenance from initial seductive to impassive, to puzzled, then finally to fury.
"You! You're not Temari."
"Of course, I'm not, you rat!" The insult was shot. He stared. I stammered, "R-Rat, you're zodiac sign, right?"
Sasuke pulled away and stood up. He picked up his discarded clothes from the couch and commenced dressing "I can't believe I took the wrong girl" He stopped and turned to look behind his shoulder "You planned this, didn't you? Only an obsessed cocksucker would have gone this far, you whore"
My inability to speak made him think it really was my intention to rape him. Rape him when he was the one molesting me. I was too astounded by the accusation I couldn't mumble a word. For only 5 seconds, he called me names I would not allow anyone to call me right in my face. I swear, he'll pay the price of this. But not now, not now.
Sasuke was finished dressing and he was walking toward the door. I ran ahead of him and blocked the goddamn door "I didn't plan it Sasuke-kun, I swear" I reminded myself to puke later at the expense of calling the bastard Sasuke-kun.
"So you didn't, huh. Lemme' tell you one thing: If I tell you you're a whore, you're a whore your whole life"
I glared at him. I was really angry, almost beyond wrath. But this was one-shot. I could not let opportunity pass away and be damned forever. For some reason beyond apprehension, I managed to cool my wrath as I came to a final decision. I'll play a goddamn whore if that's how he wanted things to be.
"Okay, so I did plan it. But at least, let me explain. You see, I'm more than in-love with you. And maybe you're right, I'm obsessed. But it's not right that you only see girls like Sakura and Temari. You don't even know I exist. You don't even glimpse my way. Every night I dream that tomorrow will bring us together. It didn't. So now I'm making my presence in front of you. And I'm telling you now, I love you Sasuke-kun. I'll do everything to win your heart"
Sasuke stared. He just stared. The blind motherfucker just stared. He wasn't even touched by my theatrical speech.
I continued, "Uhm, and you see, I know everything about you. And it seems we've got many things in common. And in our family too, we've got lots of similarity—"
"You don't give a fuck about my family!"
I was surprised I shut up.
Silence. Sasuke walked back in the bed and slept, his back turned to me, "Leave now"
Silence. I might have touched a sensitive topic. A very sensitive topic, in Sasuke's case. I decided to drop the subject but was determined not to give up the whole conversation already. I said, "Oh, yes, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yamanaka Ino"
"Who give a fuck about your ugly name?"
"Hey!" I snapped "My name ain't ugly" though I must admit, it is.
He was still feigning sleep, his back turned upon me. I could have stabbed on it a dagger, I swear. But suddenly he spoke and I was out of that bloody scheme "I already told you to leave, didn't I?"
"I heard you all right but I thought you didn't mean it"
Sasuke finally turned to me. He stared. I stared back.
"I assure you and your young ass that I mean it. But if you still insist, well then, fine. Just stay" He said then jumped out of the bed. Sasuke moved to the window overlooking the parking lot. Outside, I heard engines starting. I made a discreet look at my watch. Past twelve ."Looks like everyone's already leaving. Thankfully, here's a girl who would not" His smirk was evident in the divine moonlight casted from the window where he leaned "You know what, I'll truly appreciate it if you stay for the night but needless to say, you said you would not leave"
I smiled back at him. He approached this large cooler situated on the corner of the room and made a devil act of turning it full blast. I felt the instant change of temperature beneath my cocktail dress. 3
Sasuke returned to his bed, "Night, Yagami-san"
You bastard. You rat. You— "It's Yamanaka, not Yagami"
"And before I forgot, you can sleep in the couch or on the floor— whichever struck your fancy" He pulled the thick blanket all over him and descended to slumber while I tried to analyze how to survive the peril of the night without thinking of murdering him in cold blood.
"Hhhggeyy, Lllllaaadhyy"
Indistinct voices. I was hearing indistinct voices around me.
"Hhhggeyy Lllllaaadhyy, wheeeykkk uuuppp…."
Open your eyes, Ino. Open your eyes.
Daylight struck my eyes. I turned my head away and rubbed my still persisting to close eyes.
"Hey lady, wake up. The sun's already high"
"Where am I?" I looked around, my mind deranged. The room was so unfamiliar "Where am I?" I repeated.
The lad told me about the part yesterday and I recalled everything. I looked at him and realized he was the same waiter I spoke with in the party. He told me the service crew remained to clean the mess.
Everything was clear now. But something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong. I woke up in bed, which shouldn't be because I could clearly remember I slept in the couch. "by any
chance, do you know how come I'm in the bed" Suddenly, I found myself assuming. I found myself hoping he did this.
"Oh, he carried you there. That was like four hours ago"
That guy? My heart was beating fast "You don't mean Uchiha Sasuke, do you?"
"But that's exactly him"
A tint of pink washed over my face. Uchiha Sasuke did that? Why? Suddenly, I felt I could really fall in love with him. No pretense. Sasuke after all was a caring guy, if not a gentleman.
Unknowingly, I was smiling. But the waiter disrupted me.
He straightened picking something discarded from the floor, "By any chance, is this yours?"The waiter held up a very familiar looking cocktail dress and a very familiar looking brassiere.
I was having a funny feeling that I was naked beneath the blanket. I peeped under the cover.
O.M.G.W.T.F
"SASUKEEEEEE!!"
xxxxxxxxx.
"Achoo!" Sasuke rubbed his nose and sniffed. 5 pairs of eyes turned to him. Sakura and Kin were on his either side. Neji and Shino were on the other side of the bed. Gaara was lying on the bed. They were inside a VIP room where the auburn-haired lad was advised to stay for another day.
"Caught a cold yesterday" Sasuke said dismissing the stares.
"You suddenly disappeared from your party and caught a cold. Where did you go?" Neji asked.
Sasuke chuckled, "You wouldn't believe me. But I went to bed and took the wrong girl with me. And she turned out to be an ugly girl with a disfigured body"
Sakura pouted who was still disappointed she didn't find the room where Sasuke was that night, "Then you should have looked for me"
"Well, taking you then would have tormented Sasuke. It would have been traumatic for Sasuke, can't you see?" Kin laughed as Sakura shot her a cold stare.
"Maybe she wasn't that bad, Sasuke" Gaara said.
Sasuke turned to him, "No, she's actually that bad. I swear"
Shino said, "So how about you Gaara? You disappeared from the party then suddenly appeared in the hospital" Everyone in the room laughed.
But Gaara was passive and he replied casually, "I tripped and broke something"
"You tripped?"Sasuke laughed, "Then I guess you were looking at a girl instead of your way"
Gaara closed his eyes, suddenly looking tired "Yeah, maybe"
"So Sasuke, tell me, who's this girl you mistakenly took?" Sakura asked. She already decided to make that girl's life a living hell the moment she knows her name.
"Yamato? Yagami? I forgot. Why care anyway? I told you she's ugly. That makes it definite"
"Maybe she wasn't that bad, Sasuke" Gaara stated again.
Sasuke just smirked as he pictured the girl back in the room where he left her.