Rain
It rained the day of his birthday.
And somehow she felt that the fact that it was pouring waterfalls outside affected her more than him.
It rained and she hated that. Hadn't he suffered enough? Wasn't life cruel enough already? He was alone since childhood, he suffered discrimination, his best friend betrayed him, and she….
It rained. Why did it rain? Why today? Of all the days of the year…
She thought of him, as she lie there on her bed. She could see the water fall outside her window. It was gloomy, lonely, depressing…
So, she thought of him.
He doesn't need more rain in his life. He needed sunlight. He was meant for sunlight. He was sunlight.
But, you see, today it rained; and that just reminded her of how unfair life could be.
She stood up, got dressed quickly. Why didn't the heavy feeling in her chest leave her? As she looked at herself in the mirror, it only reflected once again how unfair life was.
Stupid life.
She ran out the door, forgetting her umbrella. She ran, and ran…..and kept on running.
Stupid rain.
Somehow tears got mixed in between the rain. Tears? Of all things? He didn't need tears dammit!
She brushed her tears away, even though the rain itself concealed them. No time for crying. No time for being a child. She had to grow up. However, that thought alone made her think of a small little boy and a whole village against him.
So she cried more.
She ran and thoughts kept on coming. Thoughts of three friends and happiness. Thoughts of childish emotions that caused more pain than joy. Thoughts of a cruel girl who kept hurting a wonderful boy. Thoughts of so many regrets and so many unfairness…
Stupid, stupid rain!
She suddenly found herself standing in front of the door to his apartment. She was soaking wet, shivering cold. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore, because it was just rain.
She knocked the door furiously, not stopping until he suddenly opened it, his eyes wide in shock. He couldn't help staring at her from head to toe, she was soaking wet.
"Sakura-chan? What….?" He looked at her, worried. It was obvious he was having a lazy day, still wearing a loose t-shirt, slacks, panda slippers, and there was the distinct smell of ramen, obviously just prepared.
"It's raining, Naruto…" she stared deeply into his eyes, very seriously.
"Uhh…I can see that…" was the only answer he could think of.
"Naruto, it's raining…." She says again, emphasizing her words more.
Now he was utterly confused. Why did she feel the need to tell him what the weather was today?
"Sakura-chan, are you o.k.? You look a little….off."
"I look…off?" she questioned him, her eyebrows moving in an awkard manner, as if she was trying to put the phrase together in her mind.
There was 10 seconds of pure silence….and then it was like an explosion.
"I'm off? I'm the one who's off? It's your birthday for crying out loud, and it's raining Naruto…it's raining like hell! And you have that stupid look in your face, like nothing's wrong in the world! And you dare tell me I am off?"
He really could only stare.
And then she cried. No, actually she wept and sobbed and cried loud and ugly. It broke his heart.
He immediately held her and guided her into his place. She kept crying, and he waited.
When she finally had only few whimpers left, he dared speak.
"What's wrong, Sakura? I mean…why are you so upset about…rain...my birthday?" He really still didn't understand the present situation.
She looked at him.
"You never…….you…..Naruto, you keep on laughing and smiling. You joke around, you speak positive words, you live as if nothing is wrong. And….and everything is just so wrong. Why? You never cry…even after everything, you never…"
"Uhh…well, that still doesn't answer my question. Why are you crying?" he looked at her, and she suddenly felt that he was the mature one of the two.
"I…..really don't know. I just…..it's your birthday, and the one day that could have been nice, and it starts raining…and everything is so ugly and sad, and you….you've always suffered, and yet you keep on going…..and today it's your birthday, and I'm…"
I'm weak, I so damn weak. Everything is so screwed up…and he deserves so much more…..I'm so weak.
But he smiles.
He couldn't help smiling. Something warm and sweet surrounding all his insides. He knew she always would have a problem showing her affections towards him. Yes, affections…he knew she loved him. And this was Sakura, she would never be able to express it as it is…she would always replace it with something else.
"Thank you." Was all he could whisper and he held her closer.
Her eyes open wide as she felt him hold her closer…very tightly. She doesn't understand, she can never understand how he…..he was always so…..Naruto.
So she hugs back.
"Happy Birthday, Naruto….."
It rained the day of his birthday…..and it was beautiful.
I hope many of you understand the indirect implications throughout their conversations. I like to use something "physical" (you might say) to actually represent something emotional going on between the characters. This is obviously a chapter base on their younger stage of life (16?). I'm not entirely happy with it, but it kinda just created itself (is that too weird? ha). Anyways, enjoy and lets hope I can write more cheerful things next time.
