If only I chose to be with the one who loves me...
If only I chose to be loved and not to love...
If only I chose to learn to accept than to be accepted...
If only I chose to stay with you than to leave you...
If only I did it before than do it now...when it's already too late...
...
Part Six:
Regrets and Revelations
...
"He's not here..." I managed to say.
There, I stand bewildered. Not knowing what to do and not knowing what would happen now. After all the decisions and situations that I've gone through, this is what I've got.
Shikamaru's absence...
Sakura, Hinata and Tenten tried to comfort me by rubbing my back. Good thing that they were there or else I have nobody to turn to right at this very moment.
"Ino, daijoubu... Shikamaru-kun would be back..." I heard Hinata whisper.
Be back? Be back for what?
For me?
For the woman who hurt him and left him behind?
I don't think so.
"Hinata's right. He won't be gone for long." Tenten added and gave the others a meaningful look.
Oh heck he will be gone for long.
Of course! I'm just stupid enough to think that he would still be here waiting for me to come back. He's not an idiot to wait for nothing.
To wait for the impossible—rather.
"Is he still coming back?" I heard Sakura asked the maid.
"Yes, but there's no guarantee of when he would come back." The maid answered and handed out a letter. "And master said that if a woman with a blonde hair drops by, I should give this to her."
The others looked at me with those eyes that are saying, "Read it" as the maid walked away.
Clearing off my throat, I took the letter and opened it—the same way I did when Sasuke handed the letter that was technically for me.
Ino,
Kind of stupid to left a letter for the one whom I know would never come back. I don't know why I wrote this one. Maybe... just to shut up my troublesome instincts that kept on telling me that you would be back.
I went somewhere far away. Far away from troubles and far away from the sad memories. I just want to be isolated for a while.
No, definitely not for a while.
Well, I want to apologize if ever you came all the way here and didn't find me—which I know is troublesomely impossible. I just... have to go.
I don't want to wait for nothing. I don't want to wait for you. I don't want to be stucked in here and live my life waiting for someone I know that would never return, would never love me back and would never accept me. Sorry, Ino. You've just wasted your time.
Now, for my final remarks, I sent a letter to Uchiha also. He'll take care of you. At least, I hope I made your fairy tale dream come true.
Till then.
Signed,
Nara Shikamaru
Before I knew it, tears streamed down my face for some unknown reason.
...
Was it guilt?
Anger?
Sadness?
Fear?
Guilt because I treated him that way and made him felt unwanted.
Anger because I hate myself for being like that. For being stupid—to be exact.
Sadness because it's already too late...
Fear because I'm afraid that I would never see him again...
"Ino... why? Why do you cry for the one you've rejected? For the one you've hurt so much that made him go away? For the one you've taken for granted because of a guy that never paid attention to you? Why the tears Ino? Why do you cry after you've been so cold to him?!" I heard Sakura asked sternly that made me look up despite the tears.
I shook my head and said in a whisper, "I...I don't know, either Sakura. I... I just felt like crying."
A hard slap.
On my face.
"Sakura! That's enough!" Tenten exclaimed and ran in between us.
Hinata tried to lower the tension but it seems that it has no use.
"Stop it, Sakura! She doesn't know anything!" Tenten said again trying to calm Sakura down.
I don't know... anything?
What is there to know? Is there something going on that I don't know?
"Then she should know! And I would let her know!" Sakura exclaimed again.
"But... Sakura... Hokage-sama and Sasuke-kun told us not to tell her about it..." Hinata sounded almost pleading.
My heart pounded faster for some sort of reason. It's definitely not the tension and not my best friend slapping my face. It's some sort of unexplainable that makes me want to run off and find him.
Find Shikamaru and say sorry for everything that I've done...
"Hinata is right, Sakura. It's Hokage-sama's order that Ino should never know about this! Don't make things appear more complicated to her!" Tenten exclaimed.
Being the Sakura I know, she stepped a few paces closer to me with a smirk on her face.
"Shikamaru is ill. Not the common cold nor the fever or flu sickness we all know. Shikamaru has a weak heart. Not involving the love thing. He literally has a weak heart and his days are numbered. After we knew about it, we asked what his last and final wish is."
Hinata and Tenten lowered their heads trying to hide away their tears.
"And you know what, Ino-pig?" Then, Sakura looked at me with tears in her eyes also.
"He wished to be with you..."
...
Author's Notes:
For all the readers to know, this is the last chapter of Ino's P.O.V. The next chapters would be Shikamaru's. Till then, please let me know what you all think!
Irukapooka:
I don't know if the end would be coming soon. But the story is all planned out inside my head. No, Shikamaru doesn't like her. He LOVES her! XD A sequel??? Hmmmm... let me think about it. Thanks for the review!
For the other reviewers and readers many thanks to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And sorry if this one is kind of short and... uh... gruesome.
Peace out everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!