"Kiba, thank you so much! You don't even know how happy I am right now."
Kiba, only wearing his boxers, glared at his best friend before flopping down on his bed and covered himself with his sheets.
"Why are you here so early and on a Friday?" he asked with annoyance.
"I lost my fucking charger and I need to charge my phone. It's been dead since a day ago."
"Why did you have to wake me up so early though?"
"I haven't texted Hinata in a week. She must be worried."
"Oh man." Kiba sat up and stared at his friend in an almost sympathetic way. "She's probably piss."
"Mad? I…I don't think Hinata can get angry."
Kiba stuck out his tongue and covered himself again. "Anyone can get angry Naruto, including your girlfriend."
"She'll understand, right?" asked Naruto worried, furrowing his brows.
"How would you feel if she didn't text or talk to you? Tell me, Naruto?" Kiba just wanted to sleep.
"I'll be sad…" Naruto stared at his phone and once he saw that it was on, immediately called Hinata. He placed the phone to his ear and cursed when it went directly to voicemail. He disconnected and saw that there was a notification. He tapped on it and saw it was a text message Hinata sent him last night.
Goodnight. I love you.
"Fuck," he said and tried calling again only for it to go to voicemail. "Why is it going to voicemail?"
"Maybe her phone's turned off. I don't know Naruto but I honestly want to fucking sleep. I don't want to hear your drama right now."
"I have work in an hour and I don't come out till six at night. I won't have time to call her." He ran his hand through his short hair and he sighed. "What am I going to do, Kiba?"
When he heard nothing, he turned to see his best friend snoring loudly. He sighed and glared at his phone, trying once more to call but it went directly to voicemail. What if Hinata has her phone turned off because of him? What if she was so mad right now that she was trying to avoid him? He gripped his sweater and tried to calm down his heavy breathing. No, she would never ignore him like that. She loves him and he knew that. So, instead, he sent her a text message and hope that she'll respond once he got back from work.
"Kiba, I'm going to leave my phone here to charge. Don't look through my stuff, alright? I'm coming back here after work."
His friend only mumbled his acceptance and Naruto couldn't help but smile. He stood up and stretched, wanting nothing more than to sit beside his phone and wait for any kind of message from his girlfriend. But he knew that work was just an hour away and that if he misses a day, he'll miss his check too. With a heavy sigh, he left his friend's apartment and tried to ignore the little pull in his heart. She'll respond, he knew she will.
Really? How can this be happening to her? All Hinata wanted to do today was finish her work, go hang out with her best friends, and possibly wait for any message from Naruto. But how can she check if her phone turned off. How did she manage to forget to charge her phone last night? And—to add to the whole mishap—she forgot her charger. She almost cried when Ino shook her head when she asked if she brought her charger. So now here she was, half way through her day, with her phone turned off. Maybe she needs a new phone.
"Hinata," sing song Ino, waving her hand in front of Hinata's face, "you look sad. What's up?"
She sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's just…my phone's turned off."
"I know." She cocked an eyebrow. "You were never one to fuss over your phone turning off. What's really wrong, mm?"
"Naruto and I…got into a fight."
"You WHAT?!"
"Ino! We're at work!"
The few customers they had turned around to give her blonde friend a weird look. Hinata gave them a smile, trying to alleviate them but she found that nothing can ease them when Ino was gripping her shoulders like a maniac.
"Hinata, how can I be calm when you just told me that you and your boyfriend got into a fight?" Ino took a deep breath before releasing her grip on her friend. "Okay—okay what happened exactly?"
"Well…" And Hinata told her every detail of the fight. At the end of it, she looked at Ino in waiting, hoping that maybe whatever Ino would advise her would give her hope that this kind of situation happens quite often in couples.
"Honestly, I would try to make time for you." She leaned against the counter and cupped her chin. "This kind of thing happened between me and Sai."
"Really?" asked Hinata in bewilderment. She nodded at Ino to continue.
"Yeah. We both just got super busy with life that we kind of forgot to talk. I guess it was around when you first started school and Sakura and I were just starting our business. He forgot to call and text me and I forgot to pass by his house. He finally called me one night and—mind you, Sai has problems with adjusting to social situations including relationships—started to tell me with every little detail how he felt. It kind of made me realize that even though you got the man or whoever you like, it doesn't mean that the love notes and sweet text messages stop there. You'll never stop conquering their heart in your life, even though you guys are together as a couple." Ino paused and scratched her cheek.
Hinata couldn't help but smile at her friend's blushing face. "I guess you learned a really important lesson."
"Yeah. But back to your story, he hasn't texted you, right?"
"Right."
"And you texted him but he never responded."
"Yes but I believe it's because he was already asleep. I did text him late at night."
"Okay yeah that's a possibility but what's his excuse for the last eight days?"
"It was actually five and I think it was because he was just tired from work and school."
"But you're hurt by his ignorance, right?"
Hinata slowly nodded and covered her face with her hands. "I just have a feeling that he's too tired to call me but I feel so bad that I want him to talk to me despite his heavy work. Am I being selfish?" 'Am I a horrible person?' she thought in horror.
"Oh no, Hinata, you're not." Ino walked around the counter and hugged her friend. "You are not selfish. It's just that you miss him so much. Actually, there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish. It just depends on how selfish you get. So Hina, it's alright to feel sad that he hasn't contacted you in those five or so days. You are important, hun."
Hinata nodded slowly then glanced at her bag. "I wish my phone was on."
Ino stepped away and put her hands on her hips. "To check if he's called?"
"Yes. But after this, we're leaving directly to TGIF so I don't have time to go back to my studio and get my charger."
"Don't worry." Ino winked at her. "I'll just text Sakura and tell her to bring her portable charger. No worries!"
"Really? Oh thank you, Ino!"
"Meh, no problem, no problem! Now, let's just do our work so we can enjoy our night together!"
Hinata giggled at the energetic hop Ino gave before walking towards the customers they had. 'I hope Naruto hasn't texted me,' she thought in worry as she stepped around the counter. 'Then he'll misunderstand my silence as I perhaps have done to him.'
Walking in between her best friends, Hinata truly forgot how it felt to just be with them like this. She forgot the many times they got out of their way in order to go out at night and walk around the beach, eating ice cream or a warm doughnut while talking about the newest gossip in media or trouble in the house. Little things such as this brought familiar warmth in her heart and Hinata couldn't help but smile at the memories she's seeing right before her eyes.
"Hinata," said Sakura while adjusting her purse, "you know what you're going to order in TGIF?"
"I think I'm going to go with pasta."
"Why?" asked Ino with a wide, evil smile. "Is it because last time when we went there, you ordered the California Burger and you ate so much that you had diarrhea for two days?"
"Ino!" Hinata blushed madly, embarrass that her friend would say that in public. "You guys convinced me to try something other than my regular dish."
Sakura laughed and wiped a few tears from her eyes. She then glanced at her purse and started digging through it causing Hinata to perk up in interest.
"Um…Sakura, have I received any notifications or messages?" She's actually a bit embarrassed that she's asking this. Ino did manage to text Sakura to bring her portable charger but since Hinata doesn't use bags, Sakura decided to put Hinata's phone in her bag to charge. Throughout their walk to the restaurant, Hinata couldn't help but think back to Naruto and wonder about his whereabouts and wellbeing. What if he texted her?
"Hinata," Sakura gave her a scolding look, "we're out with friends tonight, remember? We all promised a long time ago to silence our phones so we won't get distracted."
"See it this way, Hina." Ino put her arms around her friend. "We just want to distract from your fight. We want to see that smile you always have." She playfully poked her cheek and Hinata felt the corners of her lips pull up.
"That's it right there," said Sakura who gave her a tender smile. "You're so beautiful, Hinata."
"Y-You are too, Sakura!" exclaimed Hinata, blushing at the statement.
"What about me?" pouted Ino.
"You're very beautiful too, Ino." Hinata looked at both of her friends and gave them a wide smile. "I'm so lucky to have you both as my best friends. Thank you."
"Hinata, don't thank us! We were meant to be," said Ino as she pushed Hinata towards the entrance of TGIF, Sakura following close behind.
"Ino is right, Hina. Now let's get our get-together started!" shouted Sakura as they were being directed to an open booth.
"Anyway, guess what Sai said to me yesterday?" Ino leaned forward, her eyes shining.
"What?" asked Sakura as she ate an ice from her drink.
"He said that he's planning on taking me to a resort sometime in the next two or three months." She leaned back and drank her strawberry lemonade.
"Really?" asked Hinata, smiling widely. "That sounds exciting, Ino. But does he have the money."
"Last time you told us," Sakura added, "that Sai was only working part-time in that museum of Arts. Is he still majoring in Art?"
"He is still working there but he said not to worry about the money. I also got worried when he told me that. In the past I had to give him money because he didn't have any for his books. And yes, he's still trying to major in that department. I hope he makes it."
"Yeah, it's a cruel world out there," said Sakura as she popped another ice in her mouth.
"Hinata, what about you? How do you like the business? And school?"
"Well…I like my job. You guys pay me well. I get enough money to buy my books and pay for my bills and rent. School is tiring since my major requires a lot of complicated classes."
"That's right! Don't you want to become a doctor or something?" asked Ino.
"Not exactly. I want to major in Counseling since I want to become a Marriage and Family Therapist."
"Sounds complicated," whispered out Sakura, sticking out her tongue.
"What are you doing, you weirdo?" asked Ino, giving Sakura a weird face.
"Shut up!" She put her tongue back in. "I think it got numb."
"So you thought sticking it out would help?"
"I thought this was a judge-free zone!"
Hinata laughed and gave Sakura a smile. "Don't worry, Saku, I wasn't judging you."
"Thanks! See, that's a real best friend right there."
"Hinata, I thought you were on my side," whined Ino, giving Hinata her best puppy look.
"B-But Ino! There's nothing wrong with what she did." She was getting flustered.
"I'm just kidding Hinata!" Ino gave her a wink before waving her hand to a nearby waitress.
"I'm going to the restroom guys. If you excuse me," said Hinata as she stood up and moved towards the restroom.
Once she did her business and washed her hands, she opened the door and nearly ran into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you!" Hinata immediately stepped back from the person who was carrying a tray with plates of food.
"Oh it's alright." The person turned to look at her but their smile fell. "Hinata?"
"T-Toneri?!" Hinata felt her heart drop and her blood rush to her head. "What…how?"
"I work here. I actually have to go. Are—are you eating here?"
Should she lie? Oh but that'll be bad if she did! Oh no, what does she do? "I…I'm actually here with my friends." Damn it, she couldn't lie even if her life was on the line.
"Oh, really? Let me just give the table their food and I'll go over there. Is that fine?"
"Actually, Toneri…" It was now or never.
"Hinata?!"
Her eyes widened and she turned around.
"Naruto?"
