It was the worst day to play chase, as the sun was beating down and her uniform suddenly felt too heavy and not to mention how badly she was sweating. It was not at all flattering, considering she was on her last year at junior high (ninth grade) and had promised herself she'd put an effort to look pretty last year, better yet, she was starting to get more attention than usual, and THIS situation was not helping.
A couple of weeks ago, she was the perfect wallflower. It was not like she was plain and people did not notice her, but her personality and attitude towards things made her appear so. She had a basic circle of vibrant/dull friends, the balanced mix, and she did her duties well as the 'reality-check' friend.
Now that she had gone from unknown chick to the school's most sought out girl, she had to go through many hurdles and obstacles. But this particular one, where she had to run for dear life, has proven to be the most difficult, considering that the one stubbornly chasing her was none other than Sasuke Uchiha, the boy she kinda sorta left hanging when he so bluntly asked her to sit by him at lunch.
It all started when her friend, Tenten, who gunned a personal relationship advice at school every Monday and Thursday after the News slot had been taken down after a while, needed a replacement for a day when she got a bad grade and the principal refused to let her continue if it jeopardized her schoolwork. The replacement for a day idea was the only way she could keep the show going, as she had high spirits and did not want to see it end up like the News did. She naturally weighed her options carefully- a girl would be the most likely option, and she trusted her baby with no-one but her friends possibly. Hinata would not be able to stay conscious in such cases, and Ino would somehow turn the show to her advantage. Sakura is not realistic.
"So what's my business?" asked a slightly creeped out redhead, her hand clutching her bag strap tightly.
"You're my only hope Kushina!" sighed Tenten, "I need you."
Great, now I feel guilty.
She gulped when she was sat down on a chair in front of a camera in the school's former news room. She would have to read a few predicaments from the students about their relationships, and give advice over the big screen in the halls and cafeteria. She was not shy or anything, it's just that she was too….harsh….
"Alright, five seconds left!"
A girl scrambled quickly to her with a few papers as the camera-man counted down, and when she turned to run off the set, she pulled off Kushina's hair tie.
"And we're on air!"
She felt her hair spill out of its ponytail, and felt a little disorientated. The girl waved to her and pointed to the camera, indicating that it started.
"What happened to Tenten-san?" mumbled a girl in between the group of students watching in the hallway. "And who's she?"
Everybody in the caf too, were wondering the same thing.
"Hey, um, good morning, I'm Kushina Uzumaki, a third year, and my friend had asked me to do today's show so," She pulled back some of her hair behind her ear, "Excuse me while I state my harsh opinion on screen."
"I like her," Kiba said to his group of friends on the table.
"She went from nervous to nonchalant in two seconds," commented Chouji.
"Pshh women," Shikamaru yawned.
"The first question is, I confessed to a guy a while ago and he said he didn't like me back, kissed me, and then walked away, what does that mean?" Kushina read while slowly scoffing at the paper. "Well it means he's a boy." She answered with a roll of her eyes.
Half the student population bursted into laughter.
"Well I'm guessing I sound stupid since I can literally feel the earthquake coming from outside, but I kind of have to read a few more questions, so bear with me."
"I really like her," Kiba reinstated. "I hope she's not a fan of Sasuke's"
Said boy remained unfazed.
"I went to party last Friday and accidentally kissed my best friend," Kushina sighed loudly, before continuing. "We can't look at each other straight because of that, so how can I possibly stop this and save our friendship because I don't really like him that much." Kushina stared straight at the camera with a what-the-hell face. "What is wrong with people these days, like don't you dance? I go to parties and I dance, I take some pictures, and go home at like six, CALM YOUR HORMONES! God it's like a drama up in here and I wondered sometimes why this wasn't taken down." She took a deep breath before saying, "These kinds of situations are best dealt with by just confrontation. Go up to them, apologize for it and move on, because like what's the worst that could happen? Life sucks so yeah…"
"And obviously, if he because all defensive and whatevs then the friendship was weak." Kushina sighed. "How many of these do I have to answer? One more? Yeah. Okay."
"My name is I'm not saying your name kid and I am wholly in love with a boy in my year but he doesn't even know I exist. Help?" She shook her head. "Why do you people throw around that word so much; I swear it has lost all meaning in my eyes. Like your name is familiar to me, meaning you're my age, so this boy you're oh so in love with must be Sasuke Uchiha from class D,"
"AW MAN!" Kiba sulked with anime tears.
"And the school is dead silent just because I said his name. Wow. I'll have you know that I am not ashamed of saying I haven't formally met him, and I've only seen him around school, and seeing that I know who he is clearly states how this is becoming an issue. Look girls, don't go pick up your pitch forks and hunt for a wack-job with red hair, because I assure you, I understand why you all like him. I mean, who wouldn't? He's got a whole lot going for him, and his bad boy bullshit just pulls you in like metal to a magnet, but come on, all the romance novels you read or all the dramas you all watched proved very much that the guy is really a hot mess, just like all of us. So, whatever, ignore all I said, I went out of topic, yada yada yada- love is something that none of us truly understand until we're broken and lost and needy; and since we all really love being in comfort and security, there is no way in hell you'll feel love romantically."
Kushina got up and was about to leave the room, before she realized she had forgotten something.
"I need to mention that, I have never been in a relationship, and somehow none of this should not be valid since I have less than zero experience. Deuces."
"What class is she in?"
Kiba turned to Sasuke like he grew another head and did not just ask a simple question.
After that, apparently she had been asked to do it again, and again, and again and agai-
"How many more times are you going to fail a damn test!" she asked enraged after two weeks and a sudden request of doing it all five days instead of two.
"I'm sorry Kushina! I don't purposely intend to fail!"
"I'm not even getting paid for this….this drama! Have you seen the show lately? It's gotten too emotional and awkward!"
"Well, at least you're popular now?" Tenten tried lamely, and received a menacing look from her redhead friend.
"I have never dated in my life! How do they still insist I give out advice?!"
"I guess they're tired of hearing that It will all work out crap. You say it as it is."
"Well-"
"Kushina,"
Said girl turned annoyed, before furrowing her eyebrows. Tenten giggled slightly before winking at Sasuke Uchiha and slowly slipping away.
"Do you have plans tomorrow?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Uhh no…"
"I'll treat you to lunch," he stated, as if it was not weird, and stood patiently waiting for a response.
But she had no such thing.
So she did the most logical thing she could come up with.
She started running. Like a boss.
But like hell did she expect him to chase her!
And now she ran for dear life, her hair sticking to her cheeks. Her legs began to ache and her breaths too cold, but he did not falter. Damn was he stubborn.
She couldn't take one more step and collapsed on a conveniently placed bench, before she tried to regain her steady breathing and tame her red cheeks. Kushina was a fearless girl. Emphasis on was, because Sasuke Uchiha sat down next to her and did not look like a mess unlike herself, and she knew very well that her fearlessness had crumbled the moment she took off from the school's gates.
Some of that fearlessness was still there when she decided to look at him, but was quickly burnt down into smithereens,
She had never seen him smirk. Ever.
And she was pretty sure no-one else had either.