Chapter 16: A New Chance
Ino was humming a tune as she was cleaning out her desk at the flower shop. Hinata was watering the flowers. Both were enjoying what they were doing. There were no customers yet, since of course it was cold outside and who would really want to rush at the shop to get some flowers. But Ino loved the shop and felt like opening it. Besides, her mother instructed her to manage that for today.
But no matter how cold it is outside, a customer went in. Or probably, it wasn't really a customer. Hinata was the one who saw him first. He was shaking and probably felt really cold. "Sh-shikamaru! What are you doing here?" Hinata exclaimed as she went near him. Ino saw him too and she pretended not to care and instead be busy with what she was doing.
"Ino! Will you please give Shikamaru a glass of water? I think he's feeling badly cold." Hinata tried to order. Ino stamped her feet and went away. She finally returned with a glass of water and handed it to Hinata. She went back cleaning her desk. Shikamaru drank the water. "How are you? And why are you here?" Hinata asked, putting down the glass of water. He felt better now.
"I need to talk to Ino." Shikamaru managed to say, glancing at Ino to see her reaction. But she pretended to be undisturbed by it. "You want to talk to Ino? Why? Did something happen?" Hinata asked worriedly. Obviously, Ino hadn't told anybody much about Shikamaru confessing his feelings. Hinata looked reluctantly at Ino.
"Ino, Shikamaru wants to talk to you. And I feel like it's something important. Will you?" Hinata asked, when she neared Ino's table. Ino thought for awhile and nodded. "I'll be leaving for awhile to fix something in the inner room." Hinata said, going into the room where the important stuff are placed.
Shikamaru stood up and went towards Ino, who continued cleaning up and pretending not to notice Shikamaru. "What do we need to talk about?" Ino asked dryly. Shikamaru felt so ashamed that he had confessed his feelings to Ino recently and now didn't know what to say. "Look, I'm sorry if I really had to tell you at that moment. I just couldn't find the right time." Shikamaru said awkwardly. Ino stopped brushing but couldn't look straight at his eyes.
"Shikamaru… I-I don't know… I don't know what to say." Ino muttered, with a small sadness in her eyes. She doesn't know what to say or how to react about it. "You needn't say anything, Ino. Don't worry because I am not going to ask you to love me. I just want to ask you if we can still be friends, like before and if nothing will certainly change." Shikamaru said, forcing out a smile.
Ino put down the cloth she was using to clean the desk. "Shikamaru, I've known you for so long. I hadn't really expected it to happen. We've been friends, teammates, classmates but now knowing that you have feelings for me, I don't know how to react about it. It's just hard…" Ino said. It has been different when Neji confessed his feelings for Ino, because he wasn't really some guy close to her or even some guy who teased her and talked to her always. But Shikamaru was different. Shikamaru? The guy who always thinks that everything and everyone is troublesome? Impossible.
"It's okay, Ino. I understand how you feel. And I hope you don't make it a big deal at all." Shikamaru answered hopefully. "But Shikamaru, it's a big deal. We're friends right? And your feelings matter to me. I'm… I'm flattered… that you like me…" Ino said, smiling at him.
"You are? Really? I'm glad to know that… I really like you, Ino…" Shikamaru said. They both fell silent. "But Shikamaru? I hope you understand that I cannot think deeply about your feelings for me. I mean, I have a lot of things in mind that is bothering me now. Apart for your feelings, I mean. With all the recent heartbreaks I experienced, I feel like my heart has been pounded and broken so deeply. I feel so helpless right now, Shikamaru, and I'm thankful that you listened to me back at Peach Island." Ino explained.
Shikamaru understood her well but at the same time feel sorry for her too. Two consecutive heartbreaks were really harsh. He understood everything because his heart has always remained broken when Ino loved Sasuke first, then Neji after. And he wanted to comfort her so much.
"I understand, Ino. But I am still here. I am here to comfort you and make you feel well. I don't want you to be sad. I don't want to see those tears running down from your cheeks. I will try to mend your broken heart, Ino, even if I know I'm not the one who can completely do it." Shikamaru comforted sweetly. Ino started to cry. She still hasn't forgotten the heartbreaks and here was Shikamaru who was offering to help her out. Shikamaru, whom she always mocked.
"Oh, Shikamaru… I don't know what to say… I'm very thankful that you're still here and I feel so comforted. But I don't know what to do now. I feel like my life is so meaningless after the people I loved turned me down. What am I going to do now?" Ino whined helplessly.
"Like I've told you, Ino… I'm still here and I will always be. I will never leave and fail you. I will not do what they have done to you. I know you don't love me… but we could give each other a chance… I'll help you forget everything." Shikamaru assured.
Ino seemed to like the idea but it simply struck her again. She was not going to make any mistake. "But Shikamaru… I don't want to repeat the mistake I did. Neji also did the same to me. He to give us a chance to be together and he promised me that he'd help me to forget Sasuke. I agreed but then I hurt him because I simply couldn't forget Sasuke. Shikamaru, I don't want you to be hurt. I want to stop hurting people…" Ino replied, crying so hard.
Shikamaru wiped Ino's tears with his gentle hands. "You will not make the mistake again, Ino. I am ready to do anything to help you forget Sasuke and Neji. It has been painful, right? I am here to ease the pain. Do you really want to forget? If you do, then it would be easy for us." He said.
Ino thought for awhile. Does he really want to forget that he once loved Sasuke and Neji? Sasuke was over because he now loves Sakura but Neji was hard to forget (she still didn't know about Neji and Tenten). She loved Neji so much but then, there was also no hope for them. Was she really determined to forget all the pain? She pondered.
"Yes, Shikamaru. I want to forget everything – the pain, the love I once had, all of it. But it would be hard for me, and for you too because I'm not sure if I can really forget." Ino said. Shikamaru smiled at her with understanding.
"You wouldn't really forget it. But you can let go of everything and free yourself from sadness and pain. Everything will remain a memory… and… I can help you with that…" Shikamaru offered. With that, Ino suddenly hugged him tightly. She released all of her emotions. He hugged her back and smiled.
"Oh, Shikamaru… Thanks for comforting me… Yes we can give ourselves a chance, can't we?" Ino said, forcing a smile. Shikamaru nodded. "We can try, Ino. But I know that right now you still don't love me and I am hoping that someday you will learn to love me too. But even if that won't happen, I'll keep on loving you…" He said. Ino was so touched that tears continued running from her eyes. It couldn't stop.
"I know someday I'll really learn to love you. But that 'someday' wouldn't be far from now. And I know I'll be happy with you… Even if I've always teased you!" Ino said, giggling. They both laughed.
"I am going to do everything to make you happy, Ino. I won't fail you… And well, I'm sorry if I always teased you and mocked you before… I just… I just want you to notice me." Shikamaru said, apologizing. "Oh that? That's fine with me. I'm sorry too if I ignored you so much and told you that you were always so annoying." Ino said. Shikamaru nodded, and they both hugged each other again.
"Everything's fine now between us?" Shikamaru asked. "Of course!" Ino cheered. They both smiled. Hinata finally entered the room again. Secretly, she had been listening to their conversation. And she felt touched by their exchange of words.
"Oooh… It's so touching. I didn't know that you had so much love with Ino… Ooh, that is so cute…" Hinata said in a dreamy state. Shikamaru and Ino smirked at each other. Hinata grinned at them. "But wait, Hinata… You listened to every word?" Ino exclaimed. Hinata nodded, laughing.
"I'm happy for you two… I know you will not regret your decision to give each other a chance. But I will always be here to support your relationship." Hinata said gladly. "Thanks, Hinata. You are a real friend." Shikamaru said.
"Anyway, I have to get going now. I have to visit the Hokage's building right now. Master Tsunade has to tell me some things. Take care of yourself, Ino." Shikamaru said. Ino walked him to the door. "Take care too, Shikamaru." She mumbled. He gave her a light peck on the cheek and left. Hinata found her friend daydreaming.
"Hey, Ino… You feel like you're in seventh heaven, huh." Hinata said, giggling. Ino didn't say anything as she walked to the table. She was grinning at herself and at the same time blushing. "Oh my gosh…" was all Ino could manage to say. Hinata sighed and laughed at her friend.
"You heard it that I said that someday I'll learn how to love Shikamaru too. Right, Hinata?" Ino said in a dreamy state.
"Yeah, why?" Hinata asked.
"I guess I don't have to wait for that 'someday'."
"I think I know what you mean, Ino, just by the look in your face."
"I think I'm in loved with Shikamaru!"
Hinata laughed and felt so happy for her friend.