Chapter 15: Feelings are Rewarded
Tenten went out of Sakura's room and went to the canteen to find some food. She had nowhere else to go. She was not in the mood to go back home or have some training. She wanted some time alone to ponder about things and if she was going to go outside, it would be cold and she is not yet used to the low temperature. She might freeze.
So Tenten decided to sit on one of the chairs outside Sakura's room. It was a set of chairs for visitors and patient's relatives and such. She finished her food at the canteen and spendt some time outside Sakura's room and wait till Naruto is finished talking to her (Sakura).
But while she was waiting and enjoying herself for a moment, someone came and she took a look at whoever was it. And when she saw him, she flushed seeing the boy she had loved all her life. It was Neji. Tenten looked away and tried to ignore him.
"You want to visit Sakura? She's in the room. She's feeling a bit better now." Tenten informed, trying to change the topic that was going on their minds – that they needed to talk over about things. Neji walked towards Tenten and stared at her. She glanced back timidly.
"We need to talk, Tenten." Neji said seriously. Tenten swallowed. This was what she didn't want to happen. She didn't want to talk to Neji about her feelings. She felt so shameful about it that he knew everything. And this time, she really expected that Neji would break their friendship now that her feelings towards him were not mere friendship.
"What do we need to talk about, Neji?" Tenten asked nervously, pretending not to know. Neji looked down and glanced back at her. "Your feelings. We need to talk about it and clear everything out." Neji said with some concern. 'This is it. This is the end of our friendship.' Tenten thought anxiously. Her heart was beating faster and faster. She stood up courageously to face Neji.
"We needn't talk about it, okay? Look, Neji. I'm sorry if you had to know everything. I really apologize about it. It's not my fault that… that… I fell in love… in love with you. Now don't mind it, okay? Please forget about it because it doesn't matter." Tenten said breathlessly.
"It doesn't matter to you?" Neji asked surprisingly. Tenten glared at him. "No, it doesn't matter to me. And I hope it doesn't matter to you too. Well I know it really doesn't. You don't have to care about my feelings, Neji, because this might be the end of our friendship." She said hurriedly now tears running down her cheeks. She walked quick, trying to run away. But Neji didn't let her escape. He gripped her on both her elbows. They were now face to face and Tenten couldn't run away now.
"The end of our friendship? Why, Tenten?" Neji asked with all concern.
Tenten tried to force back tears but simply couldn't. "Why, isn't it the end of our friendship? Neji, don't pretend. I know you feel that I betrayed our friendship because my feelings for you have changed and I no longer look at you as a simple best friend. I know you're mad at me for feeling this way, but look, Neji. I'm really sorry. I know this is my fault and I shouldn't have loved you in the first place." She felt so angry at herself.
"Who told you that I feel that way? I'm not mad at you, Tenten. And I understand how you feel. This isn't the end of our friendship. We're best friends right? And I understand completely. It isn't your fault, Tenten. Don't blame yourself… but Tenten? A lot of things will change." Neji said sadly. Tenten sobbed even more.
"I know… I know everything will change between us… Even if I don't want that to happen. Probably you'll avoid me and we'll pretend that we don't know each other, that this friendship has never existed." Tenten said with disappointment and gloominess.
Neji let out a small laugh and settled Tenten on the chair (he sat too). "Tenten, don't think that way. That's not what I mean by the change I mentioned. And if your feelings don't matter to you, to me it matters." He said, with a small comforting smile.
Tenten grew puzzled. "I don't understand. Why does it have to matter to you? You love Ino, right? I saw you two in a tight embrace back at Peach Island. And what do you really mean by that change?" Tenten asked stunningly.
"That embrace? It meant nothing. Ino and I decided to let go of each other. We both can't bear the pain our relationship has caused us. Yeah, we broke up and decided to move on with our own lives." Neji explained.
"Is that it? Oh, I feel so sorry that it has to happen… You still love her, don't you?" Tenten said with the pain obvious in her voice.
"It has been enough for me, Tenten. Everything is finished between us. I will never forget that I once loved her but now and here, all that matters is your feelings for me." Neji said. Tenten's knees grew weak. What does Neji mean by that? And he seemed to understand how puzzled she was.
"Really, Tenten. It matters to me. When I first knew about your feelings for me, I honestly didn't know what to do. You are my best friend and I simply can't believe that you… you love me. But as time goes by, I realized a lot of things. You really valued me the way I am. You had always been there for me when I was in pain because of Ino. And even if it hurts you, you still supported me when I was courting her. You were always there for me and did not leave me. And I blame myself for being so blind about your feelings…" Neji paused for awhile. Tenten listened carefully. She couldn't believe that he appreciated all her effort to make him notice her.
"Yes, I had been so blind about your feelings… and my feelings too… All this time, I had thought of Ino and how much I wanted her to love me. I thought she was the only girl in the world and my world revolved only around her. But when you came and became my best friend, I began to think that you are so nice. You had showered me a lot of kindness ever since at Ninja Academy until the final matches of the Chuunin exam until now. And you had never left me. Now, Tenten… I realized how much… how much you are important to me… how I cannot live without you… how I loved you too so much…" Neji paused to see Tenten's reaction. But she was so speechless and didn't believe what she was hearing.
"I know you might think that I am saying this because Ino had just broken up with me and I am just using you or something. But no, Tenten… I truly realized my feelings for you… And I am glad that you love me too… I don't know if you can still accept me after causing you so much pain…" Neji's voice vanished away with a tone of sadness.
Tenten did not stop crying. Neji loved her too? She couldn't believe it. Was she dreaming? She pinched her hand and saw that it was reality. And she had to say something to Neji, though all she wanted to do was hug him there tightly. "Oh Neji-san… I-I don't believe it… Are you sure?" Tenten asked awkwardly.
Certainly it was awkward to ask a guy if he is sure about his feelings. But Neji understood her feelings well. "I am sure about it, Tenten… You're the one I love…" Neji said. As he spoke those words, he felt that his feelings for Ino once were slowly vanishing away and were starting to be replaced by a newfound love for his best friend.
"Oh, Neji… This is my greatest dream ever. Of course, I will accept you with all my heart. It doesn't matter if you once loved Ino and hurted me before, because I love you, Neji and I want you to know that. You just don't know how happy I am that you love me back. I never expected this, Neji and I never in my life thought that I could be this happy. When I first saw you in Ninja Academy, I already knew that you were the one for me. And when we became teammates, I was glad that I had the chance to be closer to you. My friendship with you was something I value truly… But my love for you is the most important to me… Neji…" Neji gripped her closer and touched his lips against Tenten's. They fell into a deep passionate kiss.
"I love you so much, Tenten… Let's give ourselves a chance." Neji said when they've recovered after a minute or so. Tenten's smile was so wide. "Yes, Neji-san. We'll treasure this chance to be together. I love you too, Neji, and I always will." Tenten answered. They both hugged each other tightly. After a few moments, they both went to Sakura's room.
They found Naruto cracking some corny jokes to Sakura, and she was giggling too seeming happy about it. Naruto and Sakura both looked at them and they both smiled, finding Neji and Tenten holding hands. The new couple went to Sakura. "Sakura… are you well now?" Neji asked.
"I'm feeling okay especially now that I can see that my friend is so happy." Sakura said, smiling. She really felt glad that Tenten's feelings were finally rewarded. A very happy ending. "Hey! Are you two – ?" Naruto exclaimed suspiciously, giggling. Neji and Tenten just glanced at each other and blushed a deep red. They didn't need to answer. "Gee, you two look good together!" He remarked, laughing. Neji and Tenten glanced again at each other and smiled at themselves. Oh, what joy love can really cause!
Neji and Tenten stayed for a few moments at Sakura's room and enjoyed Naruto's corny jokes. After a while, they decided to have some time for themselves at the Konoha park. They walked together hand in hand. They both sat on a bench upon reaching the park.
"You know what, Neji-san? I feel so happy to be with you. I can't explain this happiness." Tenten remarked. "Neither can I. I feel so glad and I feel like I could not ask for more now that I'm with you." Neji said sweetly. Tenten blushed and grinned.
"But I feel sorry for Ino. What will happen to her now? I hope she finds the right person for her." Tenten said, who couldn't help but bring up the subject. Neji didn't avoid the subject either. "You don't have to feel sorry for her, Tenten. I know that the person is just there waiting for her. Don't you have a guess?" Neji asked. Tenten looked at him stunningly, thinking of some possible persons.
"I don't have a guess. What aren't you telling me?" Tenten asked a bit playfully. Neji chuckled. "You didn't know that? Shikamaru confessed his feelings to Ino." He said. Tenten's eyes grew wider. Ino hadn't told her that. She feels so surprised that Shikamaru really admitted his feelings. It wasn't so likely of him to do that. But then again, teammates certainly develop their feelings for each other especially like Sasuke and Sakura. Like her and Neji.
"Really, Shikamaru did that? He is so brave enough to do that. I mean, even before he always gets rejection from Ino and she's always annoyed with him. How did Ino handle that?" Tenten asked, thinking about it so much. Neji shrugged. "I don't know. She did not talk about it that much. I guess she had mixed feelings over it." He said.
"But I hope Shikamaru's really the one for him. I thought at first they look good together even if they fought a lot when they were teammates. I just don't know if Ino might develop some feelings for him. It's not far." Tenten said.
"Yeah, it's not far. But as for now, let's put our minds off that. Let's enjoy this moment that we are together." Neji mumbled softly and sweetly.
"Yes, we must. I love you, Neji." She replied.
Tenten leaned her head against Neji's shoulder and he put a comforting and gentle arm around her.