Wasn't really planning for this to be lengthy since it's just a snippet but IDK, it became some sort of a practice in writing a fic with pure conversations. Please let me know your thoughts on each snippet! I'd highly appreciate fangirling with you and knowing your comments! :D

o - o - o

"Sakura."

"Ne, take care when you get there, alright? Wear appropriate clothes for the weather, eat a lot, rest when you must, and—"

"Sakura, I'm sorry."

"...It's not your fault, Sasuke-kun. I know how valuable your dreams are for you. I can't compare to that."

o - o - o

"It doesn't even hurt anymore."

"Are you sure? Bec—"

"I'm fine, Ino. I've been fine for a while now. Sometimes it still stings. But scars still get itchy sometimes, right? Doesn't mean the wound is still open though."

"Makes sense. But don't you miss him?"

"I..."

o - o - o

"Not again, Naruto."

"I'm not here to give another 'unsolicited info about his life in the US', Sakura-chan. But, Sasuke's coming back."

"That's...nice. He probably needed a vacation to his hometown after 6 years, huh?"

"I guess not."

"Eh?"

"He's staying this time."

o - o - o

"You came."

"Wouldn't miss it. Naruto said the entire Konoha 11 would be here, so, yeah."

"I...appreciate it, Sakura. I really do."

"Sure. Uhm...congrats to you & Karin!"

"...Sakura, I'm so s—"

"Don't...Sasuke. I've heard that before. I don't need to hear it again."

o - o - o

"None of us was prepared for that. Heck, even Naruto didn't know! I...I don't like this, Sakura. No scar is supposed to be opened again, right?"

"N-no. This is...I guess this is a new wound, Ino. And I...I don't...Ino, I don't think it'll get healed any time soon."

o - o - o

"As I was saying, we need to send one of our best doctors to Suna for a year to join the ongoing research for this vaccine. It's going to be a huge adjustment so—"

"I'll go."

"Sakura?"

"I'll go, Dr. Senju."

"Are you sure about this?"

"If I go, I'll get healed too."

o - o - o

"Next patient, plea—Sasuke?! Sasuke! What are you d—"

"Is it true, Sakura?"

"Huh? What do you mean? And what are you doing in my clinic? I'm a pedia, Sasuke. Set an appointment with anoth—"

"Is it true that you're going to Suna?"

"...yes. How did you know?"

"Don't go."

"What? Wait a second, Sasuke...you suddenly returned to Konoha after 6 long years, surprised us with a reunion-slash-engagement party, and then now you suddenly decided to barge inside my clinic just to tell me not to go to Suna?"

"I broke off the engagement."

"..."

"Just...please don't go, Sakura."

"Excuse me, but I'm...wow...you have no right, Sasuke. Who are you to stop me? And not to be insensitive, but I don't think your engagement is my business at all. So why are you sud—"

"I still love you. I...I never stopped."

"You're not making any sense. I have patients waiting for me, Sasuke. Just leave."

"Sakura, please...just...please listen t—"

"6 years. It's been 6 years and now that I'm finally moving on with my life, you want me to listen to whatever explanation I should've received a long time ago? Just leave, Sasuke. Just leave, like what you always do."

"That's my mistake, Sakura. That's my biggest mistake. And if this is my only chance to correct it, I hope you could just hear me out this time."

"..."

"I'm...sorry. For everything until now. I...I'm sorry that I chose my career over you, Sakura. I was naive. My eyes were fixated in making it big in the business world so we could gain everything that my family has lost since...since Itachi's passing.

"I worked hard and slowly made it to the top. Yet at the end of every single day, I had this nagging guilt in my heart because I have left you just like that. I'm sorry that I didn't even reach out. The guilt consumed me, Sakura. It did. And every time I think about you, I just taught myself to accept that maybe...maybe you're meant to be with someone better after all. I couldn't even push myself to contact Naruto and ask about you, because I know that regardless of the information I would get, I've already lost you anyway.

"And the engagement? It was all for the business, Sakura. Nothing more. I could've said no but yet again, I was blinded with the power associated with the merging of our companies, and the shadow of guilt that told me to let go of all hopes of being with you again.

"But then I saw you at the engagement party. You...Sakura, you came. Despite everything. And when I saw your eyes again I just realized how having everything is nothing without you. How empty it has been in the past 6 years because I didn't choose you. It's my worst regret. Now I know, Sakura, that reaching your dreams is more meaningful when you're with the right people—the right person. So if...if you would give me a chance, Sakura, I...I want to start over with you. Just like how I'm willing to start over in the business world because I lost the CEO position after breaking off the engagement, I want to begin again with you."

"S-sasuke, I..."

"I'm sorry. I'm always making you cry."

"No, I'm—thank you. T-thank you for telling me all these. But this is a lot to take in, Sasuke. And...I'm leaving tonight."

"...tonight?"

"Yes. I need to think about all these, Sasuke. And I...I need to heal too. Over the years, I've always felt like I wasn't worth fighting for because of your decisions, and that intensified when you came back and I learned about your engagement. So Sasuke, I don't think...l don't think I can answer this now.

"I appreciate it, really. But I'm—Sasuke, I need this. I believe I do. You know that despite everything, I would still support you again and again, but this time, I'm going to support myself and strive for my own pursuits too."

"I understand, Sakura. You deserve this. I won't take this away from you. Until when will you be in Suna?"

"A year."

"Alright. I understand. Take all the time that you need. It doesn't matter how long, when you come back, I'll be here. And I'll respect whatever decision you would end up having about us, Sakura.

"This time, I'll do the waiting. This time, I'm choosing you."