Hello! I apologize for the late update.

Sorry! ^.^'


Chapter 7

Cigarette

Everyone was happy for Sasuke and Karin and everyone was singing. Well, Naruto was singing and playing with Sasuke's guitar. They were still around the bonfire and Sakura couldn't help but notice Sasuke holding hands with Karin. She couldn't stand her jealousy anymore so she stood up and excused herself.

"Uh, guys, please excuse me. I need some fresh air," she lied, holding back the tears as she went to the beach a little far away from her friends' site.

When Sakura got to the spot she wanted and as she sat near the shore, that's when her tears started to flow freely. She covered her eyes with her hands as she let out a small cry so that nobody can hear her.

Sasuke! I love you! I love you so darn much!

She cried, letting the hurt go along with her tears.

"Hey, Sakura."

Sakura was startled by the familiar voice and at the same time, by a hand that gripped her shoulder. She didn't bother to look at the person but rather wiped her tears so that that person will not notice that she was crying. Said person joined her in sitting near the shore.

"What are you doing here, Lee? Shouldn't you be joining them with the celebration?" she said, hiding her hoarse voice because of the crying.

"I should ask you that, you know?" he said calmly.

There was a moment of long silence and the only sound that could be heard was Sai's singing and guitar playing from afar. Then suddenly, Lee broke the silence.

"I know you love him, Sakura."

After Lee said that, Sakura looked at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't lie to me. I've always known you were in love with him."

Sakura went silent, looking at the waves on the shoreline. Then suddenly, Sakura began to cry again.

"Oh, Lee! – she threw herself on Lee – I have always loved him. B-but he never notices me! He never told me about Karin until recently and he just sees me as his best friend! I-I don't know what to do anymore. I have always been there for him. I always do the things which makes him happy, but why is this happening to me?" she confessed.

Lee was hugging her, listening to her and keeping her calm.

"I have always loved him since we were kids!" Sakura added while still crying.

"Sakura? I know that, too. I've always known you were in love with him ever since we were in kindergarten," Lee said with a hint of sadness in his voice as he caressed Sakura's back.

Suddenly, Sakura stopped crying because she was surprised at what Lee just said.

She moved away from Lee's embrace and looked at him, wiping her tears away.

"What? How did you know that?" curiosity overpowered her.

"Because... I have been in love with you, too, since kindergarten," Lee confessed while looking at the sky with the stars and the bright shiny moon.

Sakura was really surprised at Lee's confession.

"I'm sorry, Lee. I... didn't know." she said, feeling guilty.

"Don't worry about it. I always told myself that whenever and whoever you're happy with, then I'm happy with that too."

"Why? I mean, why did you fell in love with me? And how did you know that I was in love with Sasuke?" Sakura couldn't help but ask.

"I fell in love with you the first day of kindergarten. I was really shy back then and never really knew anybody. You were the first person to notice me and welcomed me into the school. That's when I knew I loved you. Ever since that day, you never seemed to leave my mind. I always thought about you because you were so kind to me. Whenever I see you smile, it brightens up my day. But reality struck me as I noticed that you have your eyes set on another. I have always observed you silently from the distance. How your eyes sparkle whenever you see him, how you smile whenever he's around. No matter how much I tell myself that you're not in love with him, it's just not the reality. But you know? I swore to myself that I will always make you happy, even though there is no chance for us to become together. I have always known you love Sasuke. No matter how much it hurts me, I still want to be with you when I know that it can never happen," Lee stated with a bit of sadness and hurt.

Sakura really couldn't believe what she just heard. She was speechless.

Lee has been in love with me but I didn't even pay that much attention to him before. It's always Sasuke. I've hurt Lee without even knowing. Here I was, thinking that I'm the only one hurting so much from being broken hearted when in reality, Lee's the one who's really been hurt.

"Lee... I..."

"It's okay, Sakura. I'm alright. I hope after this, things will just be the same as before. I never meant to say all those things to you. I know you really love Sasuke. I don't expect you to return my feelings but at least now, I can say that I got that out of my system. I can finally say that I had no regrets as I already told you how I feel. I'm just also happy that were friends," Lee said with a smile.

I know you're just faking your smile, Lee. I'm very familiar with it.

"Okay," was Sakura's only reply.

"Let's go back to the guys now. They're probably wondering why we went missing for too long," Lee got up and offered his hand to Sakura. Then they went back to the group.


When the bonfire at the beach was over, they went to their rooms and Sakura couldn't help but feel awkward on being in the same room with Karin.

"Congratulations again, Karin!" Tenten shouted.

"Thank you, Tenten," Karin smiled shyly.

"Alright! The only ones who haven't got a boy yet are Sakura, Tenten and Hinata. When will you girls get your boys?" asked Ino.

Hinata and Tenten blushed while looking in different directions but Sakura was just staring blankly into space, unable to hear what Ino just said.

"Sakura! Hey! What were you doing with Lee at the beach? You two where the only ones not around the fire," Ino asked Sakura while shaking her.

"What? Oh! We were just talking," Sakura answered, matter-of-factly.

"Really?" Ino asked with a hint of disbelief.

"Yes! And it's none of your business, Ino! I'm going to sleep now so don't bother me," she said as she wrapped herself with her blanket.

"What's wrong with her?" she heard Tenten asked.

"I don't know," said Ino.

The next morning.

"Come on guys! It's time for us to go home! Hurry up!" Ino shouted at all of them.

"The boys are all ready, come on! They're waiting for us now at the lobby," she added. Hinata and Tenten were still packing while the rest of the girls were already packed and ready to go.

Sakura was already packed and ready to go home. She missed her own bed, most especially, she missed being alone. Even though it was just one night away from home, she couldn't help but miss it. Maybe it's because of what happened that night.


After all the girls were ready, they all went to the lobby to meet the boys.

"Hey girls!" Naruto greeted the girls as they approached the lobby where all the boys are.

"Hi, Naruto," Hinata greeted back, waving her right hand.

"Uhm... where's Shikamaru?" asked Tenten.

"Oh, he already went home ahead of us. Said his father called and needed him at their shop so he went home early," Neji answered.

"Okay, let's go home now," said Sasuke.

They all went to the parking lot of the hotel together because that's where all the rides were. When they arrived, all of them said 'goodbyes' and 'see yous' as they went to their respective cars that were parked somewhere in the hotel parking lot.

Neji, Tenten and Hinata all rode in Naruto's car while Ino was with Sai.

"Where the heck is Sasuke? What's taking him so long," Sakura complained as she waited for Sasuke to come pick her up. "He said he'd pick me up here after he found his car," she was talking to herself. Suddenly, a motorcycle stopped in front of her.

"Hey, Sakura, are you waiting for Sasuke?" Lee asked.

"Yeah, sort of," she answered.

"Oh, I thought that you would want to take a ride with me but I guess your things will not fit in my motorcycle," Lee joked as he looked at Sakura's luggage.

"Haha. Very funny, Lee," Sakura smiled.

Suddenly, a car stopped behind Lee and his motorcycle. It was Sasuke's. Sasuke went out of the car to pick up Sakura's things but Sakura saw Karin sitting at the front and decided to not join them.

"Sasuke, I'm going home with Lee. Can you please drop my things to my house? Thanks," she requested.

"Uh, sure?" he agreed.

After all of Sakura's things were in Sasuke's car, he said goodbye to Sakura and went off a little confused and annoyed at the same time.

"Lee, can we just go somewhere for a while? I don't feel like going home. Not just yet," she requested.

Lee noticed the sad tone in her voice so he headed somewhere where Sakura can have peace.

"Okay, is it all right if we go to Konoha Park?"

Sakura answered with a barely audible "hmm".


"This is depressing!" Lee shouted when they went to Konoha Park. All Sakura did was sit in the swing and do nothing and just wallowed in silence.

"You know what Sakura? I have an idea. Let's get out of here. Come on! Follow me!" Lee added in a very energetic tone as he extended his hand. Sakura just looked at him then she looked at Lee's hand and decided to take it. Sakura sighed and replied with an inaudible 'sure."

"You won't regret this, I promise," Lee smiled.

Lee took her in the good old Konoha Theme Park.

"What are we doing here?" she asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Let's have fun! Let's just enjoy this time. Let's forget our problems, you know, even for just a while."

Even though she hesitated at first, she gladly took Lee's hand and just like that, she enjoyed herself with the games and rides in the Theme Park. Lee and her enjoyed and had fun together. Riding on the rides, eating ice cream, just enjoyed the rest of the day. She never had this much fun before, you know, since Sasuke found a girl. This was one of the best feelings she felt in a long time. All those times that she thought of nothing but Sasuke and how much it hurts, disappeared slowly. She was very thankful that Lee was there, if not, she may be spending her time crying in her room right now. The rest of the day ended quickly, it was dark now.

"Come on, let's get you home. Your parents are probably wondering where you are right now," Lee said.

Sakura felt sad all of a sudden because the time was over and she didn't feel like going home yet but she had to agree because she didn't want Lee to be in trouble.


"Alright, here we are," Lee said as he stopped in front of Sakura's house.

"Thanks Lee! I sure had fun! We should do that again next time," Sakura exclaimed. She was genuinely happy.

"Sure thing, just message me. Bye Sakura!" Lee smiled and then went home.

Sakura was all smiles. She was unaware that there was someone in their front steps who was really pissed.

"Where were you? I was worried sick!"

Her smile suddenly changed into a frown.

"Why do you care? You're with your girlfriend, remember? So, why were you worried about me?" emphasis on the girlfriend.

"You're my best friend! Of course I worry about you!" Sasuke flared.

"Really? Worried? About me? Huh. Gee, I didn't really feel your worry since this time." Sakura said sarcastically. She just continued on walking towards their door and up the steps just passing by him.

"I called you a hundred times and you didn't even answer my call!"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you that I was with Lee and I also forgot to tell you that I kept my phone in silent mode. Mom and Dad are not even here yet, so why the hell are you mad?" she shouted. "I was with Lee the whole time I was away." Sakura grabbed the door knob.

He smirked. "And since when did the two of you become that close?"

"It's none of your business! Go home now, Sasuke! Go home to your girlfriend!"

Sakura slammed the door shut.


*Busy with school* ^_^"