Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
AN: Please ignore the chapter name at the drop-down box at the right of this window. I kind of forgot to change those… Sorry. And I noticed that my chapters seemed to be written episodes or something. Sometimes connected to each other, and sometimes very much unrelated. Hmmm… I have to work hard and improve.
Dedicated to Spirit Seer for being such a sweetie. D
Chapter 6
Hatsukoi
"Sakura!"
A cliff… her body full of mud…
"Sakura!" He rushed into her side with the help of the sakura near the cliff.
"Sasuke-kun, I-I got it. I found it."
That smile… that sweet, sweet smile.
The same as that smile…
…way back then.
Chin resting on his clasped hands, Sasuke scanned the room with those cool eyes of his. The classroom was as lively as ever, students loitered around the room, chatting with delight about the treasure hunt. A ball of paper could even be seen flying across the room and landing on a random head.
The treasure hunt that ended last Friday had been quite a disaster. It's supposed to end yesterday but due to unforeseen things – namely Sakura's wit (and luck) – the treasure hunt lasted for only a day.
And instantly, they (Sasuke and Sakura) had been the talk of the town.
"Man, that Uchiha-Haruno pair sure is something, huh? They found the treasure in just a day."
"Mm. The blank map was really hard to decipher. It would take me weeks or even months to figure it out."
The two talking men walked past Sasuke, one of them had a soccer ball in hand.
The growing noise irritated Sasuke to no end. It would've been better if it was just noise; but then, they were talking about him and her (and he's even in the background). This is why the memories of that rainy Friday kept playing in his mind (for a hundred times since that day).
Sasuke remembered the mud, the rain, her dirty clothes, his wet ones. He had carried Sakura on his back –
Just like before…
- and rushed towards the cave. Luckily, he came across a volunteer. Both of them quickly took Sakura to a teacher's van and proceeded alleviating Sakura's fever. The volunteer advised Sasuke to go to Kakashi and report what had happened, and since they had already found the treasure, there's no point of continuing the hunt.
Sasuke haven't seen Sakura since then. He heard that a car came to take her home.
The bell snapped him out of his trance.
"She's still not here." his forehead creased in perplexity.
- - - -
The morning was more uneventful than the afternoon with the loud noise that erupted all throughout the school. Students were stampeding out of the school's premises as soon as the P.A. system announced that the afternoon classes were suspended because of an impromptu staff meeting.
Sasuke heaved a sigh in relief. At least, he would be spared from hearing more of those obtuse rumors and chatters.
Not.
"Poor Haruno-san… I heard she was rushed to the hospital after that treasure hunt."
Sasuke's head turned towards the source of the voice that with some force that it may actually snap.
"Really? Maybe that's why she was absent today. But it's already almost three days since that time. Was it – was it that terrible?"
"I don't know. I just heard it while I was placing our notebooks at the faculty room." The girl shrugged.
Sasuke watched as the two girls disappeared from his view. He knew those two. The first one was the famous chatterbox of their class while the second was one of their classmates. It was a surprise that there's still someone who believes on what that chatterbox said.
And he would never be the second one at that, right?
- - - -
He had resolved a while ago not to believe that chatterbox.
Wi wong. Wi wong. Wi wong.
Then why is he standing beside the lamp post, wearing aviator sunglasses across the hospital?
"Damn it. Tell me why I'm here again?" Sasuke cursed. Nevertheless, he strode towards the entrance of the hospital, looking as calm as ever, muttering colorful words on his way to the concierge.
Sasuke pursed his lips into a thin line. "Damn that chatterbox. I don't even want to see her. There's no chance that –"
"Sa- Uchiha-san?"
Sasuke froze but with years of experience, he still appeared indifferent. Slowly, to ward off any suspicion, he turned around and saw none other than –
"Haruno."
"Ah. Why are you here? D-did you come to visit me?" Sakura braved out. She knew that this wasn't the right thing to say, and she got to stop making any assumptions before it's too late. But…
What uncanny accuracy. But would the Uchiha admit it?
"No." He turned his back to her and added, "Why would I?"
Oh yes, the finishing blow.
"Oh. Of course. Why – why would you?" Sadness was evident in her voice that even Sasuke could notice it.
"Well, I was just wondering and… surprised… Yeah. Sorry." Sasuke could see her bit her lower lip and wondered, wondered why he suddenly had the urge to stop her from doing that, from doing those stupid expressions that he never wanted to see.
From seeing her hurt.
"It's a shame letting Uchiha-san see me here. Getting sick because of a little rain. I'm like a kid." Sakura continued. Suddenly, her face brightened. "Mah. We're not always on control."
Sasuke idly wondered how she could change her expressions so easily. A thing that he could never, ever do. Maybe this is another reason why he is attracted to her.
She turned around and started to walk away. "Uhmm… See you, Uchiha-san."
The soft patter of her footsteps was heard as the distance between them increased. He felt something bothering him, urging him to at least, do something, make this meeting not go to waste. However, he doesn't want to do it; it was against his strong pride.
Sometimes, pride isn't enough.
"Haruno."
The said girl twirled and looked at him with wide and questioning eyes.
"You did well."
After saying this with such an indifferent expression, he walked straight, and out of the hospital. And he wondered, again, if this would appear as a compliment.
It's a shame he couldn't see the priceless smile that he had caused.
- - - -
The next day, Sasuke was (more than) glad to see Sakura as she entered the classroom, looking very lively, although he wouldn't show it.
Simply because he couldn't.
- - - -
Dear diary,
I was just released from the hospital yesterday. I feel a lot much better after I've seen Sasuke-kun at the hospital. I did embarrass myself by saying and assuming stupid things. But then, he complemented me! She said that I did well! I feel so happy and fulfilled.
Or do you think I'm assuming things again?
Do you think it's wrong to raise my hopes just because of that? For all I know, he was just saying that because he was guilty about what had happened. Today, at school, nothing much happened or changed between me and Sasuke. I greeted him this morning and he just nod back in reply, without even having any reaction. Ugh. I suddenly feel miserable.
No. I mustn't think like this. I'm not a weak person anymore. And nothing's wrong in hoping and dreaming about becoming happy, right?
Hmmm… I wonder what tomorrow might bring.
- - - -
AN: As promised, here's a very, very early June update. (It's not even June in our country…) It's short, I know. Uneventful, I daresay. But I want to cut it right there. Short and sweet, me thinks…
The reason behind those recurring voices (those italicized lines that says random things like 'She gave you something. Importance. Blah) and about Sasuke's past and that oh-so important bedtime story will be revealed on Chapter 6/7. I'm not really sure where I'll put it. It's because I don't want to make Sasuke and Sakura's love rushed. If you're not sure what I'm talking about here, just keep reading. I'm just trying to give you some preview. (Meh. And I think I failed in doing that.) D
Hmm… I'm so weird.
Sapphire Snowflake