I love you, never forget that I love you
The bartender kept looking at the man who came every night to sit in a corner of the room and drink until the place closed.
He didn't know what had caused so much sadness in a man in this way, but according to other co-workers of his, that man has been coming for years and lives drinking alcohol all day, being one of the drunks of the town.
"Hey, Naruto. He stops looking at the drunk and serves the customers."
"It's okay, it's okay Kiba. I was just curious and to know who he is."
"Oh, the other day when I was paying he said his name was Iruka or something like that, but I don't know who he is now that I think about it. He came to town a few years ago."
Both men, after that brief conversation, began to do their work in peace, only breaking the tranquility by the occasional drunken fight.
They were both jovial young men.
Kiba had a fierce and mischievous look. His black hair and his way of being complemented his look, as he was reckless but fiercely protective of his friends and family.
Naruto had wild blonde hair and deep, understanding blue eyes. He was courting the daughter of one of the richest men in town, who both of whom were madly in love.
But Naruto, for some reason he couldn't stop thinking about Iruka, so he decided he left his friend in charge of the bar and went to the man to ask and solve the mystery that surrounded him.
As he got closer, he could see that the man was handsome and middle-aged, betting between 40 and 50 years old. His clothes were old but he was well cared for. He was wearing suspenders and a beige shirt stained with a few drops of alcohol. His face and complexion showed native ancestry, though Naruto couldn't pinpoint where.
"Excuse me. Hello sir. I'm one of the bartenders. I was wondering if there is anything you need."
The man, who had long hair in a ponytail, looked up and Naruto could see how deeply sad his gaze was bright from alcohol and a long scar that crossed his face.
"Just another bottle of whiskey or tequila, if you have. If not, bring me what you have."
Surprised by the clarity in the voice, the bartender only managed to bring him the bottle of alcohol that the stranger had asked for. And still captivated by the mystery surrounding the man, Naruto decided to ask why he drank so much.
"Excuse me but I see you so sad sir. You who come here every day to drink. Don't you have a family? A wife to take care of him?"
Apparently he had said something wrong, because the dark man made a strange face, as if something was hurting him deeply.
"Tell me, boy. You are young and you look happy without major worries for the world. Why do you care about an old drunk like me? I'm nobody special apart from having been a teacher in another town."
"Oh, I really don't know why, but it makes me very curious. You don't look so old and we have ladies working for a very low price right here."
"Oh boy. I am already older for my age. I have lived everything there was to live and love everything I could love. Now I just have to survive and wait for my death."
Naruto, not wanting to give up, insisted on talking and trying to resolve Iruka's grief.
"But sir, there's so much to live for. Life is short and there is no reason to waste it drinking. And the company is never lacking. Sakura is our best dancer and lady-in-waiting, Anko is a great confidant and Ino is an expert in pleasing men."
"Boy, understand. Those women don't interest me, in fact I could never be interested in any of your friends. You are naive to the world thinking that everything has a solution but it is not like that."
"I had a perfect life years ago. I was a teacher in another town and I had a home, my horses and I had found love but my love could never be accepted, it had to hide. And do you know why? Can you imagine it?"
Naruto imagined situations, such as falling in love with a married or engaged woman, but he never thought it would be due to another situation.
"I had fallen in love with a man. The best man I could have ever met. He was a hero, he was the sheriff of Konoha but he was killed, flogged in the public square just for "'committing a crime before God'". And do you know what he told me? Hmm? "'I love you, never forget that I love you'"
The man was crying before the youngest who was petrified from the impact, he did not know what to do. On one side there was an enormously sad and desolate man but on the other he had done something that he had never imagined. Feeling attracted to another man? He was disgusting to Naruto.
"Sir, it would be better if you go to another salon and get out of here. We cannot allow such a man to be in a place of entertainment and rest for our clients."
Hoping that he had made the right decision, Naruto expelled the long haired man from the place.
He honestly couldn't imagine being with another man, of course, his best friend was a man and he loved him, but only as a brother causing him disgust to imagine Sasuke as more than just a friend. May God save his soul and free him from all his demons.
And Iruka, without looking back and staggering, put down some gold coins and left the place with a bottle of whiskey in hand.
The next day, that same man was found dead with the empty bottle and soaked clothes. No one knew how he died and no one had cried for him. Only Naruto wished that man had found the peace that he so desired.
End.