Prompt 15

"Because I love you"

Neji Hyuga was fuming. He had never been so mad in his life, and he didn't know what to do with all of his pent-up anger.

But taking it out on her wasn't the solution. Yes, she was the reason he was so mad, and yet, at the same time, it wasn't her fault at all. But if she so much as brings up that freaking date of hers, Neji wasn't sure he would be able to hold back.

As if reading his thoughts, the brunette beside him on the park bench said: "My date went well last night."

Neji's only reply was a grunt.

She went on, undeterred at his lack of interest. "I was sceptical at first, but he was really nice."

Was that his eye twitching? It was taking all of Neji's self control not to yell at her that she was being stupid for going on a date with someone else when he was right here.

"Are you listening, Neji?"

No. "Yes."

"He was such a gentleman. I haven't met someone that kind in a long time." Oh, how he resented that shy smile on her lips as she thought about another man.

Neji was grinding his teeth so hard he worried they might shatter. He took a deep breath to calm himself, but he still snapped his reply. "Are you going to see him again?"

Tenten's eyes widened slightly in alarm at the severity of her friend's tone. "I don't know. Maybe."

"If he was so great, why are you hesitating?"

"I just," a sigh escaped her lips before continuing. "I didn't feel attracted to him. I mean, we got along great, but there was no 'wow' factor."

He knew he shouldn't be feeling smug, but Neji couldn't help it. Another one bites the dust, he thought gleefully. "Sorry to hear that."

Tenten snorted. "No you're not. You've been sour about my date with him since I first mentioned it to you last week."

There was no denying that. But Neji couldn't bring himself to apologise for it. Instead, he asked: "How long until your next date with a new guy?" She had been going on blind dates for weeks now, and Neji needed to prepare himself before each one. He didn't want to do something he would regret.

Another sigh escaped the brunette's lips. "I'm not sure. They never work out. Maybe I should have a break from men for a while."

Except for me, Neji added internally.

"Besides, I'm afraid all other men are ruined for me because of you, and that's why they never work out."

Because of him? Neji focused on the woman beside him, noting the sudden flush on her cheeks as she gazed back at him with determination. "What do you mean?"

"That's exactly what I mean. You have ruined every other perfectly good man for me."

His brows crinkled at her words. "I don't understand. Why?"

He watched as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, holding it for a long moment before exhaling. Then, when she must have deemed herself ready, she opened her eyes and stared into his. "Because I love you."

Neji paused, mouth agape, convinced he had heard wrong. "Excuse me?"

Her flushed face darkened, but she still managed an eye roll at the dense Hyuga. "I said, I love you."

It wasn't the fact that the words weren't computing—on the contrary, they continued to play over and over again in his mind. The problem was that he didn't believe her.

"Why haven't you said anything before?"

"Because, Neji," Tenten sighed, exasperated. "I've been waiting for you to say something. Call me old fashioned, but I like it when the guy confesses first." At his sceptical look, she rolled her eyes again. "Why do you think I've been going on so many dates lately and then practically bragging about them in front of you? I've been wanting you to stop me from going."

Neji frowned, confused. "It is not my decision to make, whether you decide to go on dates or not."

"For a genius, you're ridiculously stupid sometimes, Neji. I've been trying to make you jealous so that you'd tell me to stop looking at other men when you're right here. You're very bad at hiding the fact that you're jealous, and yet you stubbornly refuse to say anything."

"We are not in a manga, Tenten. And I have no right to express my jealousy over other men you decide to see." Even though he had wanted to multiple times before. It wasn't his place to tell her not to see someone—she was a grown woman with the ability to make decisions for herself.

Another long-suffering sigh escaped the brunette's lips and she shook her head at him. "You're really bad at this romance stuff, aren't you? When you like someone and you don't want them seeing other people, you should tell them so. It shows the other person that you're serious about them. I wanted to know if you were serious about me."

Neji thought he was starting to understand. He still didn't quite get why the expressing of jealousy was important for her, but she seemed to want it. And if that is what she wants, then Neji had to oblige.

"I don't like when you see other men." He started, eyes locked on hers. "From now on, I don't want you going on dates with anyone, except me."

Tenten grinned, her cheeks once again flushed a dark shade of pink. "Neji Hyuga, I'm shocked! Are you asking me out?" She placed her hand over her heart in mock surprise.

Neji shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. He didn't think he would ever understand this strange and confusing woman. But, as she grinned at him with such unconcealed joy, Neji realized he didn't mind. He would gladly spend the rest of his life trying to figure out his puzzling lady if it meant he could see that smile of hers every day.

I took a few days off from writing because I haven't been feeling great mentally and emotionally, but I finally forced myself to continue with these prompts. I'm almost finished. There are twenty all up and I've already written three of the five left.

I was going to have Neji declare his love, but somehow it turned into this instead, and it became way longer than it was supposed to be. I struggled with this one and I don't know if I particularly like it, but here it is nonetheless.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the review section.