Hoping to Find Ourselves
(Ino's point of view)
I check the time on my phone and see its already 7:30 AM. I have to get up soon if I want to make it to work on time. I sigh and slowly sit up on the bed. I look to my side and notice Sai isn't there. Where could he be? Did he make it to bed at all last night? I get out of bed and walk to the guest bedroom where he has a makeshift art studio.
I see him sitting on a wooden chair in front of his latest painting. "Sai? Is something wrong?" I ask unsure. He doesn't acknowledge me. I sigh and shut the door. I walk to the bathroom and take a quick shower.
When I'm finished showering I sit down at my vanity and apply some makeup. I stare at my reflection as I finish applying makeup. I look beautiful, I know that. I don't mean it in an egoistic way. I know was born with natural beauty and makeup enhances it.
I wish I was as beautiful on the inside as I look on the outside. I wish I didn't have to skip meals in order to feel this way. I take out my phone a take a selfie. I post it on my social media account and immediately I begin to get hearts and comments on how good I look. But most of all I wish I didn't need to feel validated by complete strangers in order to believe I am beautiful.
I set my phone down and look at myself in the mirror.
What if they are all lying?
They don't really think I'm pretty, they just pity me.
They think I'm hideous.
They think I'm FAT
Ino-pig!
Ino-pig!
INO-PIG!
I look away from the mirror and dry the tears that have gathered in my eyes. I just have to go on a diet. Or fast for a week. Then ill be truly beautiful. Right?
Sai walks in, I finish wiping my tears and look at him. "Hey, Sai. Did you figure out what you wanted to do with the painting?" I ask sweetly. He crashes down on the bed, "yes... I've decided to re-do it. But this time have my assistant model it" he says tiredly as he covers himself with the blanket.
"You're replacing me as your model?" I ask. "Yes, with my assistant" he replies casually. I scoff and stand up, "Your skinner and younger girl assistant?" I ask again hoping he will catch the hint. "Yes, my assistant that is skinner and younger than you," he says in an emotionless voice.
I walk towards him, "So you think she's prettier than me? Is that why you're choosing her to model and not me?" I say accusingly. "No, I'm choosing her to model because she is more flexible than you," he says calmly. How would he know she's flexible?
"You son of a bitch! Are you having an affair with her!" I yell and begin to hit him with the pillow. He gets up and tries to defend himself. I hit one last time before walking out of the bedroom and going to the front door.
He follows right behind me, "How can you accuse me of sleeping with my assistant when your the one who spends all her days with Sasuke Uchiha!" he yells. I turn back to him, "He's my boss and-" before I have a chance to continue he interrupts me. "The man you were in love with for years!" he yells back. "How dare you! That was a long time ago!" I yell.
I begin to feel tears gather in my eyes again as I am struck with a realization. "You didn't deny it..." I whisper, he looks at me confused. "You didn't deny sleeping with her..." I say.
Before he has a chance to say anything I run out of the condo we share together. I walk outside and desperately wipe away my tears. I refuse to drive to work with the car he gave me and begin to walk to the bus stop. As I do, I begin to regret my decision to wear high heeled shoes.
I make it to the bus stop and wait for 30 minutes before the bus comes. As I get on the smell of sweat and cheap perfume hits me. I begin to breathe through my mouth. I pay my fair and sit down close to the door. When was the last time I took the bus?
0000
(Neji's point of view)
I stop walking and look at the door number. 4C, "Is this the room Neji?" I turn around. "Yes uncle, this is it" I answer. He moves in front of me and begins to bang on the door. "Naruto Uzumaki opens this door!" he yells. From inside we hear shuffling. He continues to bang on the door. He stops just time for a very disoriented Naruto to open the door.
"Father-in-law! What do I owe the pleasure?" he says. His hair is ruffled and he has on a bathrobe that is half open from the top. Hiashi pushes him aside and steps inside. I follow behind. "Naruto why is it every time I turn on the news I see you in it?" he asks as he sits down on a green one seater couch. I look around the hotel room. So this is where he's been for the past two weeks? Its cleaner then I would have thought.
"Neji! Why don't you take a seat?" Naruto offers. "I'm fine, we aren't going to be here long," I say. "Naruto, is it true what they are saying about you on the news?" Hiashi asks. Naruto begins to fidget, "Hiashi, you out of all people should know that the media says whatever lie they can that sells," he says.
Hiashi chuckles, "Do you think I'm an idiot Naruto? An easily manipulated fool?" his voice vibrates the room. "At the beginning of this whole shit show, I thought it was a lie... But then people in your own company began to confirm it... Your own company Naruto" he continues.
"Not only were you being unfaithful to my daughter but you were stupid enough to be public about it... While my daughter is being a good faithful wife. You were messing around with some whore!" he yells.
"B-But she wasn't being faithful H-Hiashi she was messing around with Uch-" he begins. Hiashi stands up and walks threateningly toward him, "Don't you even dare blame your shortcomings on her! My daughter would never even think about cheating on her husband. I raised her to respect the sanctuary of marriage! She is fighting for her life and you're sleeping with another woman instead of being at her side" he yells.
"Hiashi I-" he gets interrupted. "Listen here boy, you are going to check out of this hotel and move back home. Then you are going to go on live television and deny these accusations. And if I so much as hear of you being seen looking at another woman then you will live to regret it" he threatens. With that he walks to the door and leaves, I look at Naruto and chuckle. "One more fuck up like that and you will be the one in the hospital bed fighting for their life" I mutter and walk out of the hotel room.
000000
(Ino's point of view)
Currently, I'm sitting in a shitty bar near where I work drinking a very needed martini. All I wanna do is burst into tears but I refuse to be the girl who cries in the bathroom of a bar. I take out my phone and check for any messages from Sai. I frown when I see there isn't any, I check my social media to see how many hearts I got from my picture from this morning. Its a lot less than what I usually get. As I scroll through my feed a picture catches my eye.
Its a picture of Sai looking away from the camera, his assistant posted it. There is no caption just a bunch of heart emojis. I set my phone on the counter angrily and finish my martini in one chug. "Another?" the bartender asks. "A bourbon instead" I answer. He walks to the other side of the bar.
He comes back and sets down my drink. I take a sip and feel the warm liquid go down my throat. I look around the bar, why haven't I been hit on? Usually, I'm not here for 5 minutes before some guy comes up to me.
I sigh, my own boyfriend doesn't want me why would someone else want me. I finish my drink and the bartender sets down another one. "What are you doing in a place like this?" I look up and see Neji. He sits down next to me, "I could ask you the same thing" I say and smile.
The bartender walks towards us, "the same thing she's having" he says and the bartender walks off. "I didn't take you much for a bourbon person, I thought your signature drink was a martini," he says.
"It is, just felt like bourbon tonight," I say. "Whats wrong?" he asks. I look at him, "nothing much" I say and take a sip of my drink. The bartender sets down his drink. He takes it and takes a sip. "Your sad" he states. "So are you" I murmur and take another sip. "I guess we're just two sad people in a bar drinking bourbon," I say. "We aren't the first," he says.
I chuckle, "And we're certainly not the last," I say. "You know today is her birthday" he whispers. I smile sadly, "yeah" I whisper. "You know the day it happened I told her to leave him..." I feel him turn to look at me but I continue to look forward. "I begged her... But she wouldn't listen..." I whisper as I feel the tear slip down my face.
"It isn't your fault Ino," he says comfortingly. I wipe away my tears and turn to him. I don't know what happened. Maybe it had to do with the both of us being depressed or the alcohol but... the next thing I know it was in a taxi on the way to his apartment. Sloppily kissing each other hoping to feel something other than sadness. Two grief-stricken souls hoping to ourselves in each other...