Love, Anon.
Author's notes: yay!! Hahahah!! I don't know why but I'm kinda' hyper today!! So that's why I'm updating!! Well, I told you before that I'm a graduating student—and well! I'm already a graduate now!! (It's vacation time already guys so I can now have regular updates…!)
Tenshihana- -Unyield Wish-It's been a while since your last review so I got worried that you got tired of my grammatical and typo errors… ehehehe… but now, you're alive again! I'm an author that remembers those who really reviews my stories. I treat reviewers my friends coz my inspiration comes from them—and I'm so glad that you came back!! (So much for the drama… but I really mean it! Promise!) And well, yah! College na ako next year… hahahahahaha!! Sa wakas!!
moonlesslife-I think the academic calendar here in the Philippines is different from other countries… we start the school year by first or second week of June and ends it by last week of March or first week of April… well, for the other one.. (:watery eyes:) whaaaaaaaaaah!! He is really like Sasuke!! I hate him!! I didn't confess to him! Who is he anyway!? How dare he tell us, his friends, "Just start trying to forget me." Tsk. Such a cold jerk! It's as if telling me "just forget about your feelings!" Che. Just don't worry about that anymore… anyway, I have no luck when it comes to love life… (that's why I'm writing fics…)
nhix: This one is the exemption of all exemptions! Well, I think I should really emphasize that since all of the members of that club are handsome EXCEPT Rock Lee…heheh. I was touched about your reviews in Hamlet and Juliet… wow… that's…that's really inspiring!! (one of the reasons why I'm hyper today! Hahahahaha!!) thank you so much! I'm hoping for your reviews again, ne? whether it's negative or positive… (you can even nag about grammatical errors or whatever… you already became a good friend of mine, I wouldn't mind if you do that… hehehe) (I'm in the drama mode again…)
CrAzY-SiLLy-Me-oh… I see, you know nhix-san, eh? Well, how should I say it? Anno…uhm… well! I'm flattered! Hahah! Ehem… (:serious:) well, I saw your stories and wow, you have a bunch of reviews over there… you must be a really good author—and I'm happy to receive a review from you… I hope you could bear with my errors… you know, I have lots of them. Thank you for the review!
Joey's-mine,Sadbrowneyes976,sakura the lover,Sakuno 101 and tammy-chan… thank you for the review!! You rock!! hahahaha!! I'll give you a hug one time!! Oh… just let Sasuke hug you instead.
For other readers, just try leaving a review… it's vacation time and I have a lot of time to reply to your reviews…
Well, I think I overdid the replies… heheh they're long!! I consumed one whole page for that?! Well, I think being hyper is good…
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! So much commercial!!
Yosh!! Let's start!!
-standard disclaimers applied…
Chapter 10: doubt and pride
"Sakura-chaaaaaaan!!"
"Uhhhh?"
"Sakura-chaaaaaaaaan!!"
"Uhh?" I snuggled the pillow I'm hugging that time. "Okaa-san… It's too early to wake up…" I lifted my head to look at my alarm clock.
5:00 AM
Ahhhhh… still early to wake up… I stayed up late last night because I'm doing another chapter of the fanfiction I made for my favorite anime couple…
Besides… I usually rise at 6:30 AM—I sat up and saw myself on the mirror in front of my bed. "Ohay…o." I greeted myself.
"Sakura-chaaaaaaaaan!!"
"Hai… hai!!" I answered as I lazily scratched my head. I'm wearing my favorite pajamas—a pink one with a big print of Hello Kitty on it.
As I was walking down the stairs, I heard my mother laughing sheepishly. I wonder who is that person she's talking through the phone this early…
I closed my sleepy eyes as I yawned lazily—
"Waaaaaaah…"
"Sakura-chaaaaaaaaan!!"
I opened my eyes.
Of course I saw my mother.
"Ohayo." A male's voice.
"Oha—"
I then saw Sasuke on our dining table.
"Sakura-chan, Sasuke-sama went here to pick you up." My mother said cheerfully with a grin. I know what's that strange spark in her eyes… 'bingo!' yeah. She's probably yelling bingo.
"Sa…Sasuke?"
"Breakfast is ready my dear." My mother said while walking towards the kitchen counter. I looked at Sasuke.
Am I still dreaming?
I rubbed my eyes.
"Hn."
"Hn?"
"Your hair…" he pointed at me.
"My hair…" I looked at the nearby mirror.
-my eyebrows twitching-
-Sasuke sipped his tea-
"Hmpf!! Who do you think you are to go to our house that early?!" I yelled as I ride my bicycle going to school.
"Just leave your bicycle there and I'll give you a ride." He said while talking through his car's open window. He is driving slowly so he could keep up on my pace.
"Who told you that—" I suddenly stopped while looking at a dress shop. On the display window, there's a beautiful white gown with pink ruffles and a big ribbon tied tightly on the waist like an obi.
"Kirei…" I mumbled as I remembered the upcoming JS Prom on the 14th of this month. I looked down and saw the price. It's too expensive for my mother to afford.
I snapped out when I heard Sasuke's car run. He waved his hand on the open window on the driver's seat.
"Mou… I can't understand him! No wonder my feelings for him easily faded!" I then started biking my way to school.
At school…
"Nee, Nee… Shikamaru asked me to be his first dance on the prom night!" Ino cheerfully greeted me with that news just this morning. Jeez… does she know that no one has asked me yet?!
I feel kinda' insulted, Ino…
"I wonder what dress I should wear for Shikamaru to fall in love with me more?!" She then sat on the chair next to me. "Nee Sakura, do you have a dress already?"
I glared at her.
I then sighed.
"I don't think a tomboy like her should attend the prom."
Tsk. THE CHICKEN…
He's just there, few chairs away from us, with his feet resting on the chair in front of him, hands on his back and open uniform—
He's…
Cool.
Suddenly, I felt blood rushing on my face. I hid my face under my desk. Damn blood… I shouldn't be blushing just because he is cool!! I should hate him for being a 'meanine' to me and for looking at me as a little sister!!
"Hmp. I don't really mind not to attend the prom night." I stood up and started walking towards the door. "It will be a waste of time if it is with you." I rolled my eyes and slammed the door close.
"That Chicken-butt boy… I don't care if he won't ask me about my first dance! He's being so rude!! Who is the tomboy then?!"
"You did it to discourage her, right?" Ino talked to me right after she left. I rolled my eyes defensively. What can I do but to discourage her—I know she'll just tail after that Hyuuga to ask him for the first dance.
"Tch. Your tactics are so obvious…" She said with a wide grin. I looked at her. "Obvious?" I asked. Hn. What's so obvious about that? I'm just like a big brother protecting his little sister from a bad guy.
"It's just obvious that you don't want her to dance with other guys."
I felt like disappearing in front of her. "You... you're mistaken! There's no way I would be thinking that…"
"Eh?"
"I only see her as my little sister. Nothing more than that."
Defensive, eh?
Maybe we should put it that way. How will you call this wavering feeling of mine everytime I see her? Why am I so jealous and envious of Neji?
Love?
Come on… it can't be love.
For now, I think I like her because I have no siblings younger than me…
"Demo…"
"Hn. And who would like her anyway? She's so hot tempered and acts like a guy! She's so—"
I stopped upon seeing someone.
"You... you're mistaken! There's no way I would be thinking that…" I heard him say. I was in front of the door the time I saw Ino talking to him.
"Eh?"
"I only see her as my little sister. Nothing more than that."
It hurts.
It felt like something is gripping my heart tightly from the inside…
Little sister…
And nothing more than that.
"Demo…"
I walked towards my seat. I wanted to slap him!! To make him realize that I don't see him as a big brother!!
"Hn. And who would like her anyway? She's so hot tempered and acts like a guy! She's so—"
I stopped.
Who would like me…?
I felt tears forming on my eyes… matte… I should not cry in front of him… I should not make him see that I was affected so badly…
I'm strong.
Haruno Sakura will never ever cry again…
Not now—
Not in front of him.
I saw Ino turn to look at me. "Eh? Anno… Sakura… anno…" Defensive as ever, she must be thinking of a very good excuse for the things I heard.
"I…"
I looked at him.
"I just forgot to bring my wallet with me…" I said with a smile. A painful smile. "…onii-chan." I then ran away.
There's no hope.
He's like a stone—a rock.
A person with an empty heart.
I can barely remember the reason why I liked him…
I hate him!!
Sakura.
She heard the things I said?
"I…" She then looked at me. "I just forgot to bring my wallet with me…"she said with a smile. A painful smile.
I clenched my fist.
Damn Sasuke—you're so stupid… you're so careless…
I looked down.
I think I should apologize to her? But that will only make me guiltier…for me to say things like that, it must be—
"…onii-chan."
I quickly lifted my gaze.
I saw her ran away.
'onii-chan.'
'I only see her as my little sister. Nothing more than that.'
"Sasuke!!" Ino yelled at me. "Go after her and apologize!!" She said, her eyebrow rose.
Apologize?
What should I say?
I didn't mean that?
No way. That will degrade my pride.
Yeah. PRIDE.
That's what we boys have—and the only thing we could really keep for good.
"Why should I apologize? You've seen her—she's smiling."
Whaaaaaaaapaaaak!!
"Baka!! You've hurt her with your words!! Did you know that she likes—"
"She likes me. So I'll be the one to go after her."
That voice.
We both looked behind us and saw Hyuuga Neji. "Hyuuga…" I hissed his name. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms on my chest. "Then go after her—it's you that she likes anyway."
"Sasuke…" Ino then looked at me "how could you…"
"What?" I asked. Pissed. What the hell is going on?! "I don't care about her! She's just one of the annoying and noisy girls out there tailing handsome guys like Neji… just let her be."
I don't believe that I said those words.
"Tch. Don't worry Uchiha, your words will be delivered to her…"
And I can't believe this Hyuuga Neji is my friend.
I stood up and walked away from that bastard… who cares about her anyway? She's just a little annoying girl to me…
Aah. Annoying.
Just ask Neji to be her date in the upcoming Js Prom—
I stopped walking when I saw her sitting on a bench. I looked through the window.
"BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!!" I screamed my heart out since it's break time and no one's around the garden. Che. That heartless moron… how could he manage to tell those words to other people?
I curled myself on the bench I was sitting on and buried my face on my knees.
That guy—he's stupid. He's unfeeling!! Doesn't he feel that I care so much about him? Doesn't he care that I cannot last a day without even talking to him?
"Class, you have your new classmate today… please introduce yourself."
"I'm Haruno Sakura… Nice to meet you…" first day on this exclusive school. No friends. No background. No idea what will happen next.
"Eh? Isn't she a poor girl who passed the scholarship?" I heard her say…
"I heard she's the daughter of a divorcee…" so what if my mother was divorced?
"Poor thing."
"Don't come near her… she's a social climber. Her mother—"
"Eh? There's no vacant seat?"
Everybody looked around—obviously, there's no seat for me.
"Anno… could anybody please go to the staff room and ask a chair and desk for Haruno-san?"
No one raised a hand.
"…" why? Don't they like me?
My eyes began to water. I'm about to cry…
"Here. You can sit on my chair…"
"Sakura-chan!!"
"EH?"
"Mou… you're spacing out there!!" I saw Ino when I looked up. "Ino…" She sighed and sat beside me. "Don't be sad—he doesn't mean to—"
"It's okay, Ino… what he said is the truth." I smiled at my friend. "Demo… you like—"
"YOSH!! I'm okay now Ino!" I stood up and gave her a wide grin and an ok sign… "Nothing will ruin my day!!" Ino stood up and tapped my back. "That's Sakura-chan for you!"
"How about the prom?" she asked. "Of course I'll attend!!" I answered cheerfully. "How about your first dance?"
"I'll just ask…"
"Ask who?"
A pause.
I paused for a while. It seems that I like to ask— "I only see her as my little sister. Nothing more than that."
Uhn. Never mind him.
"I'll just ask Neji about it!! Ahaha!!" I suddenly looked back. "Doushite, Sakura?" Ino asked, looking at the same spot where I was looking. "Uhn… I just thought someone is there a while ago…"
Ask Neji… Neji, Neji, Neji. It's Neji she had been talking about everytime she's talking to somebody… then go ask Neji.
That bastard. He already knew that Sakura likes him…
I continue walking down the hall way, going to the boy's locker room. My hands were pocketed as usual. Man… why am I so affected to hear that the one she wanted to have her first dance is Neji?!
I should not react this way… if I see her as my little sister, I should be supporting her to—
"Neji-kun…" What the…a girl inside the boy's locker room? Could it be?! "Don't worry, I'll be your date during the prom night…"
Tch. What a pain.
Asking Neji inside the boy's locker room?
Hn. Just as I thought—she's just like any other girls out there—chasing handsome men whenever they like…
With that, I started walking towards the school parking lot and went inside my car.
I turned on the engine and drove my way back home when I stopped in front of a particular shop. I parked my car and went inside the store. "Irasshaimase!!" The saleslady greeted as I walked inside the store and looked at the dress.
"Ano ne, Sasuke-sama…"
"Hn?"
"Do you have plans for the upcoming JS Prom?" I remembered her mother asking me just this morning while waiting for her. "Iie, it's not for me to decide. My mother will arrange everything I need."
"Sakura-chan always wanted to wear a beautiful dress but did not tell me…"
"She doesn't want to bother me with other expenses other than her studies. So please, ask her to attend the prom for me…"
Her mother asked me to come to their house without her knowing to ask me a favor… but I did the opposite…
February 13
"Please, let me be your first dance during the Prom tomorrow!" A girl bowed to me. My back is leaning on a tree, arms crossed. I sighed while I closed my eyes. This is the 57th time. "Sorry but I can't give you what you're asking…"
The girl walked away, crying.
"So the great Uchiha is defending himself from being taken on a date tomorrow…waiting for somebody?" I looked behind and I saw Ino sitting on a bench. "Hn. I hate fangirls who are so obsessed."
"I think you should ask HER yourself… or else she won't have a date tomorrow…" Who will I ask?
"Jeez… You sure are slow, Uchiha—ask her or she'll ask Neji herself!" Ino exclaimed then walked away. What did she say? Sakura has no date for tomorrow…yet?
But…
The last time…
"Neji-kun…"
"Don't worry, I'll be your date during the prom night…"
I slapped my head hard. BAKA… how come she'll be inside the boy's locker room? I just saw her with Ino and I left the area first… BAKA…
I should find her immediately or else… Tch… that Neji.
I should find Neji-kun now… it's already dismissal time— I should ask him for my first dance… demo…
I looked around and there are many students walking on the hallway… I looked everywhere but still I couldn't find Neji-kun.
Tch. It still reminds me of that Chicken… if he's not interested on being my date tomorrow night, then I have no choice—I think I should ask Neji myself. It seems that he rejected all of the girls who invited him… since he's close to me and he's treating me well—maybe… just maybe…
Tsk. Baka… Where are you now, forehead girl? Don't ask Neji about the dance… he already had his date!!
I ran and ran and ran everywhere I could think she would go but still I couldn't find her.
Why?
Why am I so worried about her getting hurt by Neji?
Brotherly love…?
I think so…
Or so it seems—I can't think of anything that will blossom more than that.
It's already 5:30 in the afternoon and it's getting late. Mou… I got tired of running all around this big campus!!
I saw a light post and leaned on it.
I heaved a deep sigh.
I'm already thinking of not attending the prom tomorrow night if I will just sit there and watch the other girls having fun…
I looked down on my feet.
That Sasuke—I think I should start trying to forget him… all of my efforts went a waste. He didn't even felt that I care for him—he only sees me as an annoying little girl…
That Chicken… I thought…
I thought…
He likes me.
If he really likes me—then he should be the one looking around for me—asking me to be his date tomorrow but look at me now…
My eyes began to water. I poked my head hard. Look at me… I'm the one who is chasing for a date…
Tears started to flow from my eyes…
I'm such a stupid jerk. I should have asked her in the first place…
I don't know why but I can't really explain what I feel for her… I believed what the book said that I only love her as a brother.
Tck. I clenched my jaw.
BAKA.
I kept on running until I reached the school quadrangle. There I saw her crying.
She's crying.
It must be—
"I don't think a tomboy like her should attend the prom."
I made a girl cry. What should I do?
I walked slowly towards her. The sun is setting letting the shadows grow tall, cold breeze blew. I then remember the first time I met her—she's about to cry.
"Class, you have your new classmate today… please introduce yourself."
"I'm Haruno Sakura… Nice to meet you…" it's her first day on this exclusive school. No friends. No background. No idea what will happen next.
"Eh? Isn't she a poor girl who passed the scholarship?" I heard them say…
"I heard she's the daughter of a divorcee…" so what if her mother was divorced?
"Poor thing."
"Don't come near her… she's a social climber. Her mother—"
"Eh? There's no vacant seat?" the teacher noticed.
Everybody looked around—obviously, there's no seat for her.
"Anno… could anybody please go to the staff room and ask a chair and desk for Haruno-san?"
No one raised a hand.
What should I do?
"…" why? Don't they like her?
Her eyes began to water. She's about to cry…
Hn. I rolled my eyes. Usually, crying girls won't have my sympathy—it's just a sign of being weak. But this girl… I just met her for the first time…
And even she is about to cry in front of the class—
I don't think she's weak.
It's as if she'd gone through many things that made her strong—
…by crying.
"Here. You can sit on my chair…" I stood up and saw her startled expression. "You can use my chair…if you like." I added. She smiled at me "Arigato."
That smile.
Was the sweetest I've ever seen so far.
"I'm Haruno Sakura…" She offered her right hand to me. "Hn. I'm Uchiha Sasuke."
I stopped walking.
She lifted her gaze.
I stopped sobbing when I saw a shadow of a person standing in front of me…
I lifted my gaze.
The person hugged me.
He hugged her.
"Neji-kun?"
Notes: Yatta!! At last I've finished this chapter!! It's very long!! My fingers are now aching!! Maybe you're asking 'What the hell happened on the preview last chapter?!' or something like 'OMG…she changed it!!'
Sorry!! I altered the one written on the preview last time because I had a better idea… you know… would you mind if I tell you something? Actually, most of the scenes or ideas in this story really happened to me—you know…the true-to-life thingy. I just added some elements for the scenes not to be too plain.
Well, for the first preview I wrote for Chapter ten entitled, left behind Cinderella, I skipped this part where you can clarify some unexplained things—well, that's a secret just for now. But this altered chapter will help you understand the story more…
Hope you understand. (I'm just a human you know!! I commit mistakes and I have that mood swing that occurs every 5 minutes!!)
the next chapter goes something like the last preview so no need to put it... i guess?
If you have a friendster account... you can add me... that's ! well, if you like...
ja ne!
moO-chan