Now three months later, Sasuke could say that Sakura was one of his good friends. At least she wasn't annoying like his fangirls who followed him like pests as if he would date any of those sluts. Snort. Sasuke also knows that he had done something wrong in the process of getting to know her. He didn't know where he went wrong but it must have been something important because after three months, Sakura wouldn't have been his friend. But his lover. Perhaps his "Hn"s and "Aa"s weren't as attractive to Sakura as it was to his other fangirls? There he said it. Although Naruto said that good friendship is important for a relationship yet he couldn't wrap around the fact that Sakura was just his friend. A very good friend. What he couldn't understand was how Naruto managed to get into a relationship with the shy Hinata Hyuuga. Even the lazy Shikamaru was dating Ino even if she was a 'troublesome woman'. He could also see the protectiveness in Neji's pearl-like eyes for his partner, Tenten whenever she was mentioned.

The group Chemistry assignment which their teacher, Mr Hatake gave them was a hit. They got A+ on their assignments. He needed to thank Kakashi later for pairing them up together for the assignment. Thereafter, they had mutually consented to do the rest of their assignments or the studies together. Sasuke acted like a lovesick puppy and agreed readily. What happened to the stoic and supposed asexual boy (Naruto's words, not his)? This was the first time that he felt attracted to a girl whom he saw only through video calls or during the online parties that his and her friends organized. It wasn't his fault that Sakura was so sweet, beautiful, caring, kind, intelligent...and the list goes on. Also, her carnation coloured locks, her soothing voice and her big greengreen eyes were always forcing Sasuke to focus on her face and voice instead of what she was speaking. It didn't matter. What mattered was that Sasuke was restless everyday anticipating for her video calls on his laptop. Itachi noticed his strange behavior and snickered on seeing his 'dear, foolish little brother' so restless over a girl. Even his sweet mother was overjoyed at the prospect that her 'dear Sasu-chan' was finally attracted to a girl. He would kill that traitor Itachi later. Wasn't there something like brotherly secrets?

Sakura's condition was the same as him. At first, she felt attracted to Sasuke only for his good looks. After three months of their regular video calls, she understood that there was more to Sasuke Uchiha than his good looks. Like her, he had a dry sense of humor accompanied by that infamous smirk on his lips. Also, the fact that both of them had almost the same level of intellect was a good reason too. When Sasuke asked her about how she knew Itachi, she said that it was through her cousin brother. She got to know that he hated his fangirls from the bottommost core of his heart so she tried to control her Inner Sakura's fangirlish tendencies. She acted nonchalant at him but in reality, heat pooled at her abdomen whenever Sasuke complimented her for her ideas or smirked that smexy smirk. She was thankful that at least Sasuke considered her worthy enough to place her in the list of his good friends. What she didn't like about him was his monotonous 'Hn's and 'Aa's or his silence. She couldn't even understand his emotions through his stoic face. She hated not knowing something or someone. Sigh.

Sasuke decided that he would ask her out that day when they would video call each other. Enough was enough. He needed a closure now. He would join the meeting, wait for her to finish talking and ask her out. Yes, that was the plan. He would definitely do that, or at least, try to. When did Sasuke Uchiha become so nervous at the prospect of asking a girl out? He was an Uchiha and Uchihas never get nervous. His father would scoff at him for his Un-Uchiha-like behavior. At 11 am, Sakura video called him for the English assignment that Kurenai-sensei gave them. It wasn't a group assignment though Sasuke would never complain even if it was. They started the discussion after exchanging pleasantries and the news of the coronavirus situation. As their discussion was about to end, nervous jitters were making their arrival in his stomach.

The discussion ended uneventfully except for the nervous jitters in Sasuke's stomach. He took a deep breath and decided it was time that he ask her. It was now or never.

"Hey Sakura?"

"Yeah?" Sakura had a puzzled expression on her face on being called by Sasuke.

"Umm, are you...free this evening?" What the hell? Did he just stutter? Naruto and Itachi would laugh at him if they ever find out.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I was thinking that maybe, we could watch some movie later this evening?"

"Yeah, that would be nice. Wait, are you asking me out online?" Sakura asked with a coy smile on her lips.

"Yes. So what if I am?" Sasuke tried to keep his pale cheeks from reddening. He could already feel his neck was warming up at the intensity of Sakura's stare through the screen.

"Just asking. Yes, I will join this evening. Bye bye."

Sakura disconnected the meeting and Sasuke released a sigh of relief. He managed to ask out a girl without embarrassing himself. What more did he need? He would finally have an online date with her later that day. If Sasuke was honest, he couldn't wait for evening for his date. If only he could meet her face-to-face.

The evening arrived soon. He joined the pre-scheduled meeting ID at 8.00 pm and saw that Sakura hadn't joined in yet. He looked at his video and saw his inky locks of hair disheveled. He got up from his chair and went to the mirror to brush his unruly hair even though it didn't affect much. After the tragedy of his bangs by his mother, he pledged that he would never ask her again to trim his hair. Three months later, they were almost back to the old style. Almost being the keyword. He adjusted his shirt and took deep breaths. Unbeknownst to him, Sakura had joined the meeting when he was brushing his hair. She looked at him with an amused expression of face and inwardly laughed at the fact that Sasuke didn't know that she was watching everything. He came to his chair and sat down. He saw that Sakura had joined the meeting already. The crimson coloured dress that she was wearing was looking quite gorgeous on her.

"When did you join the meeting?"

"Long ago to see you brushing your locks." Sakura said with mirth dancing in her green eyes.

"Hn." Sasuke was feeling embarrassment and trying to not let his cheeks redden. He hoped that Sakura couldn't see his expression.

"So, which movie are we watching?"

"You choose."

Sakura browsed through her Netflix to find a movie. She came across a rom-com movie and asked Sasuke if it was fine. He shrugged and said that anything was okay for him. She played the movie she found and shared her laptop screen for Sasuke to see. Both of them leaned back on their chairs and started to watch the movie selected by Sakura. Sasuke had to agree that the movie she selected was a good one but seeing Sakura's concentrated face was even better. Sakura didn't know but he had Sakura's face pinned on his screen to watch her watching the movie. Sasuke found out that Sakura chewed her lips when she was concentrated in something. He wondered if it was as soft and plump as it looked like? He wanted to feel it with his own but the damn screen between them was a barrier. The movie ended after two hours of their planned date. They talked (well, Sakura talked while Sasuke was listening and sometimes he spoke) after the movie ended.

After their online date ended uneventfully, both of them retired to their beds for the night. They both wished to meet each other physically before sleep overcame their consciousness.

Continued~