a/n: oh-so-watered down.
Upon reaching the lobby, Sakura saw Naruto standing near the exit, waving enthusiastically at her. She returned the gesture and shifted her eyes over to the lady standing beside him who was sending her a warm and exuberant smile.
The lady was petite and tall, only a few inches shorter than Naruto, and her black silky hair flowed with the occasional soft gust of wind that entered through every time the sliding doors opened. As Sakura came closer, she thought she had never seen eyes that were as gentle as the lady's lavender eyes which aptly mirrored the features of their flower counterpart – pale to the sight but tender to the feeling. Sakura then immediately knew that the couple standing in front of her was sealed by destiny and their perfect togetherness radiated with every beam of Naruto and every shy smile of his beloved.
"Sakura-chan! This is Hinata, my fiancée," Naruto proudly declared.
"Nice meeting you, Hinata-chan," Sakura shook her hands. "You look...stunning."
Hinata blushed visibly, and Sakura thought that this woman was admirably genuine, real in her every emotion. Sakura decided she already liked her.
"Thank you, Sakura-chan. You look gorgeous as well," Hinata shook back Sakura's hands before smiling widely. "Are you Uchiha-san's – "
"Friend," Sakura briskly supplied. "Yes, I work at Konoha Hospital and he was my patient months ago," she offered with a smile. Sakura somehow anticipated this misunderstanding, so she was quick to thwart it before it even took root.
Naruto then turned to his fiancée, his lips stretching into a wide grin. "Can you actually believe it, Hinata-chan, Teme actually has a friend! And it's a girl!"
Sakura giggled, a sudden burst of real emotion. "Is it that unexpected?"
"Well..." Naruto cocked his head, his mouth quirking upwards in contemplation. "Sasuke has had flings, but never friends or girlfriends," he shrugged.
Sakura involuntarily winced at this statement, and she quickly obliterated the images of Sasuke with another woman forming in her head, trying to get her rational side working. She thought that if she was already friends with Sasuke, then by all means, she shouldn't judge him. She should even give him support in case one of those flings bloomed into a serious relationship. She tried to ignore the sinking feeling inside as Naruto finally led the way out.
...
Naruto was behind the wheels, Hinata was on the passenger seat, and Sakura could only observe the two from the front-window mirror as she answered some quick questions about the location of her best friend's shop. Sakura then learned that Hinata was working as a fashion designer in some glamorous company in New York and that she was actually the one designing her bridal gown with the help of some colleagues who were also managing the motif and other aesthetics of her wedding. But she said that they had to do all the preparations in Japan because she would want to have her wedding in her home country.
Hinata made a move to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, and Sakura caught a glimpse of Hinata's engagement ring. A slow, reminiscent smile spread through her face as she recalled her own fantasies about her wedding ring. Hinata's ring was a three-stone diamond ring with a pave-set detailing, which really glimmered from Hinata's pale and slender fingers.
"That's beautiful."
Hinata followed her gaze and blushed.
"Thank you."
Naruto saw them through the mirror, and he grinned.
"I actually wanted to buy her something bigger than that, but Hinata-chan likes everything simple," he threw an affectionate glance at his fiancée before focusing back on the road.
The three of them remained in comfortable silence until Sakura asked Naruto to turn at the corner of street. It wasn't that long before the shop came into view.
When they finally entered the shop, Ino's voice floated across the room.
"Apology, you say – "
"No. I don't want to call it apology."
Sakura saw a man standing across the counter, his hair up in a tight ponytail.
"Oh, but you said your girlfriend walked out on you, hmmm?"
Being acquainted with the tone of her best friend, Sakura knew how much Ino was currently enjoying teasing out some more details about the man's story with his girlfriend.
"That's not my problem anymore," the man just sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Anyway, I'm just gonna pick up some flowers – "
"Uh-uh. You can't just give her random flowers, Mister," Ino shook her head in mocking disappointment, her arms now folded against her chest.
"Are girls always this troublesome? I don't think she even likes flowers."
Ino raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, but a flower of apology will surely do something. Here, I'll wrap you something."
Before she got to the task of picking out the suitable flowers, she turned to Sakura.
"Just a minute, Sak."
But it wasn't just a minute. Ino deliberately took all the time she wanted in preparing the bouquet, taking sadistic pleasure in seeing the man grunting and tapping his foot impatiently. After a few more minutes, she finally handed the bouquet to him.
"That should appease your girlfriend."
The man grudgingly accepted it and sighed.
"So troublesome." Then his phone rang, and he lazily pressed it against his ear. "Yes, yes. On my way to the headquarters."
He walked away briskly. But Ino had something more to say.
"You, sir, are a police officer?"
Sakura didn't see him in such an outfit. He was only wearing a buttoned-up gray polo and black trousers.
"Inspector," he shrugged then turned to leave again.
"Then I suggest you better inspect and get to know more about your girlfriend's likes and dislikes, then?" Ino teasingly quipped.
"Whatever," he said nonchalantly before completely exiting the shop.
The scent of the flowers that the man was holding wafted across Sakura's nose, and she staggered lightly, bringing her hand to her forehead. But afraid of getting noticed, she quickly shook off the dizziness and summoned her strength to grin at Ino.
"That was a scene there, Pig."
Ino rolled her eyes. "Poor guy, unlucky girl...Anyway, you've got...visitors?"
Hinata and Naruto introduced themselves and just like Sakura, Ino couldn't help but to linger at Hinata's countenance. Only when Sakura started speaking again that she was able to break the gaze.
"Ino, sorry I wasn't able to give you a call but they're here to inquire about your services."
"Oh, for what occasion?"
"We're getting married next month!" Naruto grinned.
"Oh, lovely! Congratulations, Hinata-san!" Ino clasped her hands in awe and gave the girl a quick, tight hug. "Don't worry. I got you! And since you know Sakura, you'll also be getting a huge discount from me."
Naruto and Hinata expressed their heartfelt gratitude, and they started discussing about the motif that Hinata was planning, the design of her gown and of the guests'. Sakura just rested herself on the sofa as the trio conversed excitedly. If she was feeling any better, she would join in the fun of talking about wedding plans. After all, despite her nonexistent wedding ceremony, she had read a lot of magazines that featured weddings of different couples, so she really wasn't that unknowledgeable.
Ino soon made them pick among the possible flowers that would match Hinata's plans, and they all agreed on Lilac, which is believed to symbolize love's first emotions. Naruto insisted that it would suit them as a couple because he "just can't stop falling in love over and over" with his soon-to-be wife.
When Sakura was asked for her opinion, she opted to nod, but the gesture made her feel worse, and soon enough, she was throwing open the swing door of the counter, running into the bathroom.
Though muffled by the closed door, the three could hear her.
"I wonder what Sakura-chan has eaten..." Naruto frowned.
Ino looked at him in mild disbelief. She opened her mouth to speak but thought better of it.
When Sakura came out, she was patting her loose strands of hair in place.
"I'm sorry for that. Where were we?" she smiled weakly.
"Sakura-san, do you need anything? We can fetch some medicines for you if you want," Hinata offered.
"Oh, uhm, thank you but this is nothing," Sakura shook her head convincingly. "Let's get back to the discussion, shall we?"
When she took her seat beside her best friend, Ino threw her a worried, questioning look. Sakura just smiled at her in return, closing her eyes for a moment and giving a faint shake of her head.
When they finally settled things, Naruto and Hinata then bade their goodbyes, with Naruto reasoning that they were out to have one of the final dates they would have before they becoming a married couple. And just like that, he was pulling a furiously blushing Hinata out of the shop.
After Sakura gave a final wave, she let out a sigh. She began to explain without looking at Ino.
"They're Sasuke's friends. Naruto-kun is one of his colleagues and Hinata-chan's his fiancée. Of course they don't know that I'm pregnant," she turned to Ino and suppressed a laugh. " Naruto-kun was even shocked that Sasuke had a friend, you know?"
"Wait, so that ass didn't introduce you properly?" Ino crossed her arms, her tone rising.
"What could he have said, Ino? Someone who's neither his wife nor his girlfriend but pregnant with his child?" she scoffed.
"I'm sorry, Sak. I didn't mean it like that," Ino reached for her hand.
"It's okay. I've accepted whatever mess I'm in. They know me as a friend and I do believe that Sasuke and I can be friends anyway. He said he wanted to start anew," Sakura smiled, squeezing Ino's hand on top of hers.
"Does he mean it?"
"Being friends? Well, Ino-pig, we've been hanging out – eating breakfast together – for weeks now!"
As much as possible, Sakura kept Ino posted about the updates in her life and in her relationship with Sasuke through her phone because she hadn't been able to give a visit the past few weeks. So obviously, telling her this information wasn't necessary. But Sakura couldn't think of any reply to give to that question.
"I'm quite serious, Forehead."
"I don't know but we can try. I think being friends will make it easier for my child. "
"If you think so. As always, I'll just be here to support you, Saku."
Ino pulled her into a hug, and Sakura just patted her arm before breaking away.
"Enough about me. So how's your love life?"
Sakura crossed her legs, propped one arm against her knee, and leaned her face against her palm. She peered at Ino from her position.
"He's the avoidant type of guy. You don't know when he's serious and when he isn't," Ino said dismissively, playing with the curled end of her ponytail.
"So you think he likes you?"
"Maybe so, maybe not. But I have set my eyes on him so he's mine for the taking."
Ino winked at her, and Sakura playfully shoved her away.
"Fine, fine, Pig. Can't wait to meet him!"
"And can't wait to have a first talk with your Sasuke-kun~."
Sakura just snorted.
Suddenly, her phone tuned up.
"Hello? Sasuke? Hmm...I'm with Ino. No, no it's...Okay."
She looked at her phone and threw it into her bag.
"So what was that about?"
Sakura shrugged, feeling tired again. "He was asking where I am."
"Wait, wait, I just realized...you call him Sasuke?" Ino was staring at her in horror.
Sakura squinted her eyes at her, not sure if that question was even worth answering.
"Just Sasuke? Without darling, without an affectionate –kun?"
Sakura remained silent, her look of are-you-serious still painted on her face.
"I mean, you're friends now, right? Aren't you supposed to be closer? Like aren't you supposed to treat each other as husband and wife now more than you did before?"
She wanted to say something, but she forgot about it as another bout of nausea plagued her senses. She just slumped into the sofa and covered her face with her hands, her fingertips trying to massage the taut muscles somewhere above her eyes.
"I feel like throwing up again."
"You look pale, Sakura."
"I'm just tired."
"Don't you really want to take a break from your work?"
"I can still do it, Pig. I'm just getting too much work right now but it'll all pass."
Ino stood up to get a glass of water for Sakura when she heard the front door open. She was quick to turn around, putting on her professional friendly face, when she saw who it was exactly.
"Look, who's here, Forehead."
Sakura removed her hands from her face and tiredly looked up to see Sasuke standing there, hands in his pocket, as usual.
"I thought you'd be here."
Sakura was about to speak, but her best friend beat her to it.
"I'm glad you showed up. I was just about to take her home. Look at her. Take care of your wife, will you?"
"Ino..."
"Oh, wrong term, sorry. Take care of the mother of your child, will you?"
But Sasuke didn't pay Ino any attention. His gaze was transfixed on Sakura.
"I'll take you home, Sakura."
Sakura nodded faintly and pushed herself off the sofa. She wobbled on her feet, and Sasuke made a move to go to her, but Ino was right there by her side, guiding her while sending his way a scorn look from which he just averted his eyes.
Ino helped Sakura until they made it to Sasuke's car.
"Take care of yourself, okay, Forehead?"
Ino hugged her lightly before Sakura got inside the car. Ino was still sending Sasuke a pointed look until he, too, climbed inside.
...
Tbc.
(this chapter sucks because my recent 'academic' life sucks)
(on lilac and its meaning: src is theknot (.com))
(i'm also saying hello to my fanfiction friends. i'm not okay but i haven't forgotten about you!)
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