START OF SOMETHING NEW

It was like a scene from a mid-2000's teen, coming-of-age, romance film.

Or maybe a cringey musical wannabe movie, Sasuke wasn't really sure. It was 30 minutes before the New Year and Sasuke watched as Naruto sings or wails his throat raw, his blond locks bouncing as he grooves to the music and blue eyes sharing giddy glances with his duet partner on stage that surprisingly also has the same color palette as him.

How he ended up at this party, you could probably blame his mom for that. His mother wanted to change the tradition where they all just stay inside their home and celebrate New Year with only the four of them. Mikoto is a social butterfly unlike the men in their family and her calling the shots meant Sasuke, his brother Itachi, and their father Fugaku couldn't say no.

That's why they ended up at the party hosted by the Uzumakis every year.

Minato and Fugaku went way back with their rivalry but were now good business partners; Mikoto and Kushina were also good friends from college who now saw each other occasionally. So, it only made sense that he and Naruto would also develop a bond, no matter how it's driven by occasional affection and admiration to one another and frequent friendly competition and rivalry.

Sasuke thought it was going to be a fancy party with geezers and politicians and business tycoons swarming up the place. He didn't know that he would be a living witness to Naruto dramatically singing his way towards the new year with the majority of their student body around. The blond invited their entire campus, safe to say.

The crowd of people was suffocating; the colored bright lights dizzying. His best friend and the blue-eyed girl singing a cheesy love song about the start of something new were getting on his nerves from all the sharps and flats of Naruto's croaking. His eyes roamed around for an exit and saw the balcony door open.

Stealthily, Sasuke made his way to it. He didn't want his brother or his parents to see him getting away from socializing and people in general. He wanted to take a break from the loudness inside. Once he got to the door leading out to the veranda, he quickly slipped through and closed it.

Once out, he exhaled a breath right after and took a step back when he heard a small gasp behind him. He turned around quickly and felt the sting of the cold on his cheek in the process.

Right there, amidst the almost midnight sky and the white December snow, a pink rose bloomed and blazing green orbs filled his vision like wildfire just like from that series he liked before—it was a girl.

"Sorry," he muttered. The girl's eyes were wide and Sasuke panicked a little, "I- ah... I'll leave if you want."

He hadn't seen her before. If he did, he'll remember for sure. She was very striking with her pink hair and emerald eyes that seem to pop out from the monochrome setting outside. Sasuke was sure she doesn't go to their school as well because he would've seen her on campus.

The girl waved her hands no while shaking her head. She answered back softly, "No, it's fine! I was just startled earlier. You can stay, I don't mind." She gave him a small smile. She turned her back on him after that and continued looking at the expanse of the city from the balcony.

Sasuke thought he should leave her alone, but curiosity had already gripped his chest in a tight hold... and he has always been a curious one. He approached her form slowly to join her on the balustrade.

From there, he could see his breath from the cold. Sasuke burrowed his face further into the scarf he was wearing and pulled his coat closer to him. His eyes darted subtly to his side to take a peek at the girl. The apples of her cheeks were turning red and her eyes were closed. She is pretty, he mused silently.

He was staring a bit too long when she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him. He got surprised and faked a cough to hide his embarrassed face. He waited for a few breaths before taking a chance to look at her again, then got a bit flustered when he saw her still looking at him.

She softly laughed before looking away, "So... has it been a good year for you, mister?"

His brows went up for a second. He expected something else, to be honest. That's new, he thought.

Sasuke mulled over her question sincerely, surprising himself in the process. What happened to him this year? He passed all his subjects with ease, his father gave him his first car as a gift, Itachi went skiing with him out of the country, his mother took care of them all as she always had—it was good. He felt good.

Then why was he hesitating to answer her?

There was a silent voice in his head whispering something he couldn't fully grasp. It felt like, amongst the accomplishments and presents and small things he's had, there was still something missing—the thrill, the excitement, the wild beat of heart Naruto was always babbling about—something about life that never fails to make you move in more ways than one.

His head was in sudden disarray, completely throwing him off. In the end, he settled with, "I don't know... I guess so? Every year's the same to me."

Sasuke saw her nod her head solemnly as if she knew what he was thinking about prior, "Is there anything you want to change for the next one? Anything you want to experience?"

Love, Naruto's voice echoed in his memories. It's called love, bastard. We'll find it soon, believe it!

Sasuke frowned a little from remembering Naruto's ridiculous statement. He angled his body to slightly face her, "Is there any reason why you're asking all these questions?"

Instead of being affronted with the way he asked that, she looked amused. "What's wrong with them?"

He was used to girls asking him his name or his height or if he is single to start up a conversation; people asking about his last name and the legacy it holds and trying to put their claws on him and their wealth. He wasn't used to this—a simple question that suddenly made him contemplate about what he had done and actually made him think that maybe being Uchiha Sasuke isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

What do you want, Sasuke? What do you want to achieve or change or feel? What do you want to do?

Sasuke opened his lips to answer but words were stuck on his tongue. He continued to look at her, at this girl who opened up a part of himself he hadn't explored yet, and he saw her patiently looking back at him. He felt his face frown from his silent musings.

A few moments passed and she smiled in contrast to him, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I was just curious. I'm sorry if it was intrusive of me."

He frowned even more. He didn't mean to make her feel sorry for it; that wasn't his intention at all. He was thinking about things that he hadn't thought of before, all because of her questions, and now she made him feel guilty because she said sorry for asking it in the first place.

Sasuke clicked his tongue, "Were you always this annoying?"

Her eyes widened in response and she chuckled softly, "This is the first time someone said it aloud actually."

Sasuke was so bewildered. He could admit he was a little rude with that statement but he thought it was the perfect adjective for her with the way she makes him feel right now. Tch, he silently mused. Yep, annoying it is.

Her gaze turned teasing and there was a tingling sensation at the back of his neck just by seeing it. Then she asked, "Were you always this defensive, though?"

"You're psychoanalyzing me. What are you? A shrink?" he bit back.

"Nah, I just like analyzing people," she smiled, "I'm studying to be a surgeon now, though. I've always wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid. How about you? Let me guess..." she said as she looked up and down. "You look so uptight, so maybe a lawyer? Or will you inherit a good fortune and never work a day in your life again?"

He thought he should feel a little insulted by her condescending tone but Sasuke fought the inexplicable urge to smirk. This girl was slowly turning his world upside down and back. "Close enough, but I'm studying music."

Her brows rose. "Really? I didn't peg you as a musician. Though..." She briefly poked his exposed hand on the balustrade with a finger. "...I guess you have the fingers for it."

Sasuke looked at hers, small and delicate, and he touched it back with his knuckles lingering a little too long. "Yours could save millions one day. That's much better."

She laughed a little and it echoed through the empty open space they were in. "It's not a matter of who or what is better," she countered. Her green orbs met his black ones again, "As long as you love what you do."

He could feel adrenaline simmering inside his veins and he felt ready to do something, anything, everything. Sasuke felt weird in his stomach, guts churning, and palms sweating against the cold. Sasuke whispered in the wind, with dark eyes tracing her face, fascinated about who she is. "Who are you?"

She stared at him for a moment to roam her green eyes on his face, her lips forming a smile in the process. "Me? I'm just a chaperone for tonight," she answered.

Inside the party, both of them could hear two voices ending their last words on their song.

I never knew that it could happen til it happened to me

I didn't know it before but now it's easy to see

"That," she pointed with her thumb towards the party inside, "is my best friend right there feeling like a singer. She's not even drunk yet, and she will later, so I need to take her home safely."

Sasuke's brows met. "You're friends with the blonde Naruto's singing with?"

She scrunched her face that Sasuke found annoyingly cute, "If the Naruto you're talking about is the karaoke version of Troy Bolton, then yes. Ino is the perfect Sharpay but she said she can sacrifice just so she could be the main lead." She giggled. "I'll choose Sharpay over Gabriella any day."

He wasn't sure if he knew what she was talking about but he felt a little giddy nonetheless. Sasuke felt a flurry of wings underneath his ribcage that was rattling his insides in the most pleasant of ways.

The green-eyed girl continued to speak and asked him, "I'm sure you can sing since you study music. You can probably sing better than your friend there." She nodded her head towards the party inside.

He smirked. "I have always been better than him."

Her eyes glinted with mirth against the fairy lights decorating the exterior of the Uzumaki mansion. "Has anybody told you humility is the mother of all virtues?"

Sasuke felt his smirk grow wider. "My mother raised me to always be honest. I'm just being one."

That it's the start of something new

It feels so right to be here with you

Her voice was teasing and playful when she faced him. "I think I'll take back what I said about you being uptight; you're actually quite funny. I didn't expect it with you looking too serious inside earlier."

Sasuke pivoted his whole body to face her to fully look at her face. "So you were looking at me, then?"

Pink hair fluttered in the winter breeze and snowflakes landed on the strands of her hair. His hands twitched from the desire to tuck her hair behind her ears. The challenge in her green irises was palpable and he felt the thrum of adrenaline rushing in him again.

And now looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart

The start of something new

She murmured her response, "What if I was?"

Flirting was something Sasuke was unfamiliar with, but he knew that this light and teasing dialogue with this beautiful stranger on New Year's Eve was definitely it. This was all that and more. He felt himself move closer to her until there was a loud feedback from the microphone inside before they heard a booming noise from Naruto himself.

"Thanks, everyone! Prepare to go outside for the countdown!"

Sasuke seethed inside, Damn it, dobe!

Amusement was all over her face when she spoke again. "I guess that was Naruto?" When Sasuke nodded, she laughed a little before visibly remembering something. "You know what else I find funny? We already said the names of our best friends while we still don't know each other's."

A small chuckle came out of Sasuke as well. He also found it amusing and a little stupid. "Sasuke," he said softly. He offered his hand and felt it tingle in anticipation. "Sasuke Uchiha."

She reached out her hand to his and shook it gently. He swore her eyes glowed even greener for a quick second as their eyes met and Sasuke could not, didn't, even want to look away. "Sakura Haruno."

Sasuke didn't feel cold anymore. All he was feeling was warmth simmering inside him and he wanted to stay basking in it for a long time. He gripped her small hand and felt hers squeeze back.

Their private space was invaded when the doors towards the wide balcony went open. Sasuke checked his wristwatch and saw that it's only less than 5 minutes before the start of the new year. The guests arrived outside to watch the annual fireworks display that the Uzumaki estate has every holiday.

He looked back at Sakura to see her watching the trickle of people in their quiet spot earlier. She sighed, "Well, I guess I need to find Ino now." She looked up at him and Sasuke realized just now that she barely reached his chin. "It was so nice to meet you, Uchiha-san."

"Likewise," he answered sincerely before frowning. "And please, don't be so formal. You were subtly roasting me earlier anyway. Don't be shy now."

Sakura laughed softly and the sound took over even the growing volume of people behind him. He could feel his chest thump erratically just because of it. He can't take his eyes off her as he waits.

Sasuke heard her answer softly that made his heart go even faster, "Okay then... Sasuke-kun." Sakura smiled one last time before saying her goodbyes. "Don't be a stranger. See you."

He watched her walk away and disappear among the crowd. His feet moved even before he could think, but his mother's voice halted him. "Sasuke, there you are! I was looking everywhere for you."

He looked briefly at her before shifting his eyes towards the direction Sakura went to. Even though she left him as swiftly as she entered his life tonight, Sasuke had a feeling it won't be the last time. Just like she said, she will be seeing him.

I'll be seeing you, Sakura.

Sasuke looked back at his mother. "Sorry about that." He leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Happy New Year, 'kaa-san."

Mikoto's eyes glittered with endearment as she held his cheek, laughing softly. "Sasuke, we still have a few minutes. Don't be too excited! We have to wait for your father and brother. Let me just get them, okay? Stay here." He nodded in return.

As his mother went away, Sasuke didn't bother to correct his greeting to her earlier, no—his new year, his very own start of something new, started a few minutes ago after all.

~fin~

a/n: hello everyone! i'm back to finally share with you the piece i did for our new year zine, beginnings! as some of you know, my work "countdown" was my original idea for the zine but since that one has some mature themes not suited for the sfw project we had, i had to come up with something light and fluffy. what better way to use as inspiration than high school musical right? hehe #TEAMSHARPAYALLTHEWAY