CHAPTER EIGHT

"The Ring"


12:00 P.M. | Sunday | Sweety's Dango Shop


ITACHI

"Has Sasu-chan told you anything yet, 'Tachi-chan?" my cousin asks suddenly which kind of catches me off guard. Fortunately, I managed to rein it back. I stare at him with inquiring eyes because I don't understand what his question was.

He sighs. "So, he didn't say anything to you."

I narrow my eyes and wordlessly put down my cup on top of the saucer. "Explain, Shisui," I demanded. Is something wrong with Sasuke? If so, why haven't they said anything to me immediately.

"I am not sure if I should tell you this — No, no, nothing has happened to your precious little brother, 'Tachi-chan," he immediately tries to calm me down after seeing my piercing glare directed at him. It definitely works everytime. "Do not waste any more time, Shisui. Tell me everything," I said. He sighs once more, muttering something about me being disrespectful to him because he is older than me, but I simply ignore what he said. Instead, I raise an eyebrow at him to urge him to spill everything. What is Sasuke hiding from me?

"Well, it's about Saku-chan..." he trails off, avoiding my eyes, and it's probably a good thing because I freeze on my spot. Ever since we found out the truth, Sasuke had shut himself inside his room. He refused to eat or talk to any of us for three weeks and he stayed even longer inside his own room when we tried persuading him to come out. Of course, I didn't believe immediately at the accusations they had for Sakura because I knew that she wouldn't do that. I have known her ever since she was a child. She would never do something like that.

Therefore, I was really surprised that one day Sasuke announced to us that Sarumi is his new girlfriend. There's nothing I could do especially when my foolish little brother's eyes were cold and dead like a fish. But I could tell that he didn't really love Sarumi. If he truly loved her, how would you explain the occasional shoves he did to her whenever she clinged into him? Only Sakura was the one who he let hanged on his arm.

Then, when we found out the real truth, Sakura has already disappeared. It was too late. Too late for all of us to fix our mistakes and to apologize to her. I am to be blamed as well for I did not do anything to knock some sense into my little brother's head. I just foolishly let everything happened.

I must have been dozing off for a while because I noticed that my cousin kept waving his hand in front of my face. I blink and look at him clearly, there's a frown on his face.

"I knew it," he huffs, "You're still blaming yourself because you didn't do anything as what you repeatedly say 4 years ago. Look, 'Tachi-chan, you did nothing wrong. You didn't know what was going on at that time and blaming yourself wouldn't exactly bring back Saku-chan, you know? Trust me I know what I am saying," he looks at me with a serious face, "I went through that stage too. I was actually there when everyone was against her and I didn't do anything. I was just glad that Okā-san knocked me out of self-pitying state."

"Hn."

He smiles at me and comfortingly pats my shoulder, "Now as what I am about to say, Sasu-chan and the others believed that Samantha Sullivan's sister is Saku-chan."

My eyes widen. "What?"


12:30 P.M. | Sunday | At the Shiori Hotel


SAKURA

"Now that father has agreed on our investment in the medical project, I will discussed the time and day of my meeting with them over the phone, after that, you will stand in my place," Samantha-nē said.

"Ne, I think the funds we are going to pull out will not be enough. I mean, it's not like I am doubting four influential companies or anything, it's just that I think it would benefit us if we have two-to-three more companies investing in the project. That way, we would pull out not more than 40% of our own," I suggested.

"Ah, you got a point there, little sister," Samantha-nē grins, "It's not really a bad idea. I can talk to them about it."

I nodded with a smile, quite happy to help my sister.

"By the way, since we aren't doing anything here, why don't we go to the mall? There's a new clothing store that is recently opened according to the information that I got from my twitter. Let's check it out. I read some of the comments and they were all positive."

Oooh~ Shopping spree! It has been a long time since we roamed inside the mall. I kind of missed the smell there.

"Same. In fact, I think we haven't been able to go to the mall for months."

We are quite busy — No, you were busy with paper works while I was away.

"You sound so guilty. Why is that?"

Because I left you alone!

"No, you didn't. You were always part of me."

It didn't change the fact that I still left you.

"We've been over this, Inner. I said it was alright and I understood."

But —

"No but's, Inner."

Alright.

"I am going to change, Sakura," my sister says, before looking down on my outfit, "Aren't you going to change as well?"

I shook my head. "I am quite satisfied with my choice of clothing."

"Alright," she ruffles my hair before walking towards her room.


2:45 P.M. | Sunday | At the Mall


SASUKE

"Let go of me," I demand, but as if she didn't hear anything, she continued to clinge in my arm, pressing her torso to me. I hold back the urge to make a disgusted face. Is she acting like a whore? God, this woman had serious issues. She's degrading herself.

"Sarumi, let go of my arm. Now!" I didn't even wait for her to pull herself away for I snatched back my arm and briskly walked faster than our usual pace. I can hear her calling out my name and then, it follows her annoying heels. She latches herself to me again, this time with a tighter grip.

"Sasuke-kun! That was embarrassing! How could you pull away and leave me alone?!" she screeches in annoyance.

"I don't like you hanging on my arm," I said bluntly, disregarding the flash of hurt in her face. Yeah, get hurt by my words because I don't care. This is a payback for what you did to Sakura and me. I pull away from her again and enter inside the nearest jewelry store, I hear her let out a noise of frustration before following after me. I sigh in irritation.

"Hello, sir and ma'am, let me assist you two for today," a female employee bows at us.

"Sasuke-kun, what are we doing here?" Sarumi asks in confusion.

"I am going to buy something," I replied curtly before turning my attention to the assistant, "Can I see your selection of rings?"

"Right away, sir."

The pink-haired heiress brightens up as a delusional thought appears inside her mind. "Sasuke-kun's going to buy a ring? Oh my gosh! Is he planning to propose to me soon?! I can't believe this is happening!" she squeals in delight. Nevermind that she easily forgot that Sasuke didn't want to do anything more to her.

We waited for about a minute before the same employee came back carrying a large glass box case with different golden and silver rings inside. One could tell that it was ultimately very expensive. I look at the set of different designs carefully. My onyx eyes immediately caught the lone ring at the farthest right side of the box. It seems to be isolated among the rest. It was quite simple for an expensive piece, but he knew for the fact that the lone diamond on top of the silver ring is what makes it very... pricey.

The employee must have seen where I was looking at because she gasped loudly, catching my attention. She turns pink and quickly explains, "I am terribly sorry, sir, but the ring you were looking at is already reserved by someone else."

My eyebrows furrow. What?

"If it was reserved by someone else, then you should have taken it out, but since you didn't, obviously the ring would automatically be bought by Sasuke-kun!" Sarumi glares at the nervous lady.

"I-I am really sorry, ma'am, but I can't do that. Samantha-sama specifically told me that the ring should be reserved," the employee said hastily with a hint of fear. The name catches my further attention. She said what?

"Do you even know who you were opposing to?" Sarumi challenges. "He's Uchiha Sasuke, one of the heir!"

The employee's eyes widened in shock.

"Can you repeat that? Did you say Samantha?" I asked.

"Y-Yes, sir."

"Sasuke-kun, why are you focusing on that name more than the ring?" my companion commanded.

"As in, Samantha Sullivan? She's the one reserved this ring?"

"Yes, sir. However, it wasn't Samantha-sama who wanted the ring, it was her sister."

I freeze for a second, my mind chanting the word 'sister' over and over again. It took me a full minute to comprehend everything and before I knew what I was doing, I was already seizing the woman by her shoulder, tightening my grip on her. "What does her sister look like? Does she have a pink hair color and green eyes? Tell me now!"

"S-Sir!" the employee is completely terrified of my actions. And from my peripheral vision, I could see some people looking at us, but I didn't care.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Answer me," I demanded impatiently.

"H-Her s-sister's h-hair is n-not completely pink, t-there's a-a b-black part, and h-her eyes are green," she stutters out of fright.

I immediately let her go. "So, it's true... Naruto and the others were right," I shook his head, "When are they going to take the ring?"

"I-I don't know, sir. Samantha-sama didn't say anything."

"Sasuke-kun, what's going on? Why are you asking weird questions?" Sarumi asks curiously. "Why would he ask something like pink hair and green eyes? He should know that the Haruno's are the only ones who have pink hair."

"If they took the ring, call me immediately," I took out a golden business card and gave it to her. She nodded and accepted it.

Honestly, Sarumi just wanted to tear her hair out for being ignored.