Author's note: This is a really long chapter. So brace yourselves. 

--

"Have you calmed down?" He asked quietly, offering me a cup of tea he just made.

"Yeah." I answered weakly. I was on the sofa, still sniffing as I got the tea from Sasuke's hand. "Thank you." I murmured.

He sat at the far end of the sofa so there was a gap between us. I could see him sipping his tea and carefully watching the show aired on the TV.

"Do you know this show?"

I looked at him, then at the TV. "No. do you know what it is?"

"Yeah. I used to watch this before."

"Mmm." I replied.

Silence once again.

"Can you tell me why you were crying?" he asked, his voice, careful.

I didn't respond.

"Okay then. I see you aren't ready to tell me. Then forget I ever—"

"Naruto." I said firmly.

He was quiet for a moment.

"Oh." Was all he said. There was something about his voice that made me think that he understood what I meant.

"I personally think that he misses you too." He finally said.

I looked at him.

And I found him looking back at me.

And he was smiling.

"Yeah. I think so too." I uttered as I smiled back at him.

--

Ring-ring!

The sound of the phone ringing surprised my sleeping self. It was around 1 am and I didn't notice I was asleep on the sofa.

Ring-ring!

I hurriedly reached for the phone on the desk near the side of sofa. Gosh, who could it be? At this time of the night?

"Hello?" I asked groggily, my voice a bit pissed.

"Sakura!" Gah. It was Ino.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly, hoping she'd notice the lethargy in my voice and considerately tell me to call again tomorrow.

Knowing her, she didn't as she continued squealing at me over the phone. "Oh my gosh, Sakura! I have something to tell you. Something major! Something big! Something—"

"Fuck! Just get on with it!" I snapped angrily. Her usual habit of storytelling involves going around in circles—and at times like this, it never fails to piss me off.

"God, you're such a killjoy." Ino muttered under her breath. "So anyway, you're probably wondering why I called you at this hour…"

"Hell, yeah." I interrupted. "Come on, Ino. What is it you want to tell me?"

I heard her took a deep breathe before saying this, "Okay. Here's the thing, one, I'm at Sai's house right now."

"What?!"

"Two, I just slept with him."

"Oh my fucking—"

"Hush! Don't speak yet. And three," She took a deeper breath. "I think I'm in love with him."

I gasped. Now, that woke me up!

"W-w-w-wait! Are you serious about this?" I stammered. I mean, sex at our age isn't that big of a deal and all, but Ino seriously falling in love with someone is something you'd call abnormal. "I mean, I don't mind the sex part and all that, but saying you're in love with him?!"

"I am, Sakura! I seriously am!"

"Maybe Sai's just really good in bed and you're disillusioned about his love-making skills! It's probably just lust, Ino! Definitely not love!"

"No! I'm really serious about this!"

"Come on, Ino. This isn't true, is it? I mean—"

"Shut up! Will you listen to me?!" I heard her scream furiously on the other side of the line. Her loud voice almost tore my eardrums out. "I cannot believe you're doubting me. I'm not stupid to know the difference about lust and love! And yes, I really am seriously in love with Sai."

"How do you know it's love?"

"I just know, Sakura. I just know." I can hear the seriousness in her voice. Maybe she really does love Sai. They have been hanging out a lot recently. And for the past few days, Sai is all Ino talks about.

I sighed deeply. "Look, I'm sorry, Ino. I was just dumbfounded by all this." I said apologetically. "I mean never in my life have I heard you say that you love somebody and really mean it."

"I know! It sounds so weird coming from me, isn't it?" She muttered. I can imagine her nodding in agreement right now and blushing madly. I laughed at the thought of it.

"Yes! Well, I guess you should see it as a good thing." I said, my voice all happy and giddy. "Well I'm rooting for you. I hope things will work out well between you two."

She giggled. "Yeah. I hope so, too."

"Tell me the more about this tomorrow, okay? I don't think I can handle it for tonight." I yawned. "And by details, I don't mean every single thing you guys did in bed. You know, the other parts."

"Pervert!" She laughed. "Of course, I won't tell you about those. Anyway, yeah. I better hang up."

I laughed along with her.

Just when I was about to hang up the phone, I heard a sleepy voice say, "Sakura… Keep it down, will you?" And I'm pretty sure it wasn't Ino or somebody over the phone, because the voice sounded like it was from behind—whispering in directly in my ear.

I felt my face become pale and the hairs on my arm felt like they stood up altogether. I jumped off the sofa out of shock and was surprised to see a human figure leaning on the sofa, his position looked like he was trying to sleep. I took a step forward to take a good look at him.

I should've known.

It was Sasuke.

"Hello, Sakura? What's happening? You okay over there?" Oh my God, Ino! I totally forgot. I immediately put the phone over my ear.

"Yeah, hey. I'm still here." I said, out of breath.

"And whose voice was that? Are you letting some guy sleep at your house?" She gasped. I didn't even bother responding to her, considering I'm trying to figure out why the hell is Sasuke sleeping at my place.

"Yoo-hoo! Sakura?"

The phone was still stuck between my ear and my shoulder as I smacked Sasuke's head with a magazine to wake him up.

"Ouch!" He yelped, his voice, angry. Without even looking at me he said, "What the fuck was that for?!"

Ignoring the thousands of questions that Ino is parading to me over the phone, I smacked the Uchiha once again. "What the fuck are you doing here?!" I asked an evil glare in my eyes.

I could see Sasuke standing up, rubbing the part of his head where I hit him. He looked around the place and gasped. "Oh, shit!"

"Now, you know what I mean. Now tell me, what are you doing here?"

"Hey aren't you on the phone with someone. Talk to that person first. It's rude." He just totally ignored my comments. I am seriously pissed off.

"Looks who's talking?!" I snapped irritably. "Well then, tell me if staying over at someone's place without their permission isn't rude?"

"SAKURA! OH MY GOD. IS THAT SASUKE?"

"Sheesh. I just fell asleep. I didn't intend to." Sasuke rolled his eyes as he fixed his stuff and himself before heading out the door.

"YOU ARE SUCH A SLUT! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S AT YOUR HOUSE AT THIS HOUR!"

"Gosh, Ino! Shut up for a moment, will you?!" I yelled over the phone.

Sasuke looked over at me with that shocked look on his face. "Are you talking with Ino right now?" he asked, with interest glittering in his eyes.

"Yeah, what does it matter to you?"

Instead of going out of the door, like he was supposed to do, he rushed over to where I was standing and rudely grabbed the phone from me.

"Hey! What are you—"

"Hey, Ino. It's me Sasuke." He completely brushed me off. "What's up? Haven't heard from you for a long time… Oh yeah?... That's awesome…" Then I heard him laugh.

I wonder what they're talking about.

"Uh huh… I heard you're with Sai now?... Well take care… What? Oh okay. What is it?"

There was a long pause.

Sasuke's expression was unreadable.

I'm badly anxious to know what they're talking about. Badly.

"Well, yeah, okay." He smiled. "I can do that. It's a deal, then."

Then he clicked the phone shut and handed it over to me. "Well, I'm going back." Sasuke didn't even look at me as he walked past me towards the door.

"Sasuke, wait!"

"Hm?" His hand already holding the door knob.

"What were you and Ino talking about?" I asked shyly, my eyes looking away.

"Nothing in particular."

I looked at him one last time and I swear I saw that annoying smirk on his face before he banged the door shut.

--

Author's note: Ino and Sai? Not really the typical pairing, right? But they're so cute together! Don't you think so, too? : And what is up with that phone call between Sasuke and Ino? Fishy, much. ) Reviews are very much appreciated. ;) Thanks for reading!

Btw, see I told you I'd update three chapters. ;)