Disclaimer: Prince of tennis is not mine. If it was mine, it would suck. Kidding!!

Jealous, am I?

By: Crystal Sniper

Chapter 1:

Confessions

Sakuno's POV:

"Ahhh" I yawned again. I was still sleepy but today, somehow, I am walking to the school gleefully. Why? Nothing much. I just woke up feeling fine and happy. That's all. My eyes were closed while hopping blissfully and I was singing the lovely song that my mother used to sing to me when I was little. I was happy, remember? When…

Thud.

"Ouch! That hurt." I said with a rather angry tone. Odd, huh? I thumped on someone's back.

"Stupid. Why don't you try looking at the way so that you can avoid bothering someone walking peacefully in the street? A familiar boy said with a cold and slight pissed tone.

It turned out that it was Ryoma and he was walking to school as well. Yes, I am so stupid and not to mention, tremendously unlucky. Of all the people to get knocked on, why should it need be Ryoma Echizen? I brushed my thoughts and tried to apologize.

"I, I, I am s-sorry, Ryoma-kun. I am really sorry." I barely said properly. I don't know why I'm like this when talking to Ryoma. Especially when I'm apologizing. Maybe it's because I like him so I'm shy around him. Or maybe, it's because we don't talk often. Thinking about it, we are not really that close and we just talk when I've done something wrong and I would say sorry or when I say good luck or congratulations to him. And he seldom replies or talks me back.

"It's alright. Just be careful next time. You're too clumsy and just stop apologizing too much." He said.

"I'm sorry, I mean sorry for apologizing too much." Again, I asked for forgiveness. Even I don't understand why I keep on repeating that I am sorry especially to him when I could only say it once. What's wrong with me? I am such a fail.

"Hn." That was all he said and then, he proceeded on walking and I was behind him. I was looking at his back and he's slowly becoming distant from me. Wait a minute, nothing has change. We were like this from the start. We never became close.

So why am I worrying like this? I should be used to this by now. But it's just so hard. I really like him and I can't do anything. I can't even converse to him without stuttering. Why am I like this? I brushed my thoughts yet again and proceeded on walking to the school. This time, I kept my eyes on the road. I've done exactly what he said.

"Man, I'm really hungry I could eat a horse." I was really starving. I just remembered I didn't eat breakfast. How could I be so happy earlier when I hadn't eaten any breakfast? What just happened this morning entered my mind. I swept my thoughts one more time. I've been doing a lot of these lately. Maybe it's because I think about a lot of things recently. I think I'm becoming mature. Is that part of growing up? I think so. But if it really is, I would consider that growing up sucks. It's just that I haven't thought of these things before. I am so troubled right now.

I don't like this day. I feel alone and sad. Tomoka is absent today because she is sick so I don't have anyone to go eat with. It's not that I don't have other friends. I just don't feel like going with them today. It's no fun without Tomoka. She's a very good friend and I am missing her right now. I hope she gets well soon so that I can be with her again. I had bought food but I didn't find any available table inside the cafeteria.

"There!" I said as I spotted a vacant seat on a table. I went towards it and was about to sit when I saw him. He was the one who occupied the table. But he was not alone. He was with Sempai Momo and Eiji.

"Oh, hi Sakuno-chan. How are you? Isn't Tomoka with you? Is she absent today? Why?" Sempai Eiji asked.

"You have too many questions, dope." Sempai Momo said.

"No, it's alright." I said and continued to answer his questions. "Hello there Sempai. I am fine and Tomoka isn't with me today. She is absent because she's not feeling well."

"Ahh…" Sempai Eiji said.

"Now, why don't you sit with us Sakuno? It looks like no table is unoccupied."

"Uhm" I said looking at Ryoma. He didn't even greet me or anything. It was like he didn't realize I was there or rather, he didn't care. He was just eating quietly like he didn't give a damn that I was there.

At that moment, he looked at me and again, I was shy so I shifted my gaze and acted innocent. He caught me staring at him. It was embarrassing.

"Oi, ochibi, why don't you say hi to Sakuno-chan?" Sempai Eiji said.

"Hn." Ryoma said. I don't even understand that word. Is that even considered a word? Is it supposed to be like agreeing, insulting or does it have a meaning? He always says that. When he says that, he looks uninterested and bored. What would happen to him if he said more words and converse to people properly?

"Hello there as well." I assumed that what he said means saying hi to me even though I am quite sure it doesn't. I sat down and I was in front of Ryoma's chair. Then, Sempai Momo said, "Um, we have to go now, guys. We need to go somewhere."

"We do? Ouch!" Sempai Eiji yelped in pain.

I was worried so I said, "What happened Sempai? Are you okay?"

"Yes, don't worry Sakuno-chan. My foot accidentally hit the table." He said.

"Yes, he's alright. So, we do have to go. Ne, Eiji?" Sempai Momo stated.

"Yes, yes we do."

"Right now? you haven't finish your food yet." I said

"Sorry but we really have to go. So, bye now Sakuno and Ryoma." Sempai Momo bade goodbye and in a split of a second, they were both gone. Now, I looked at Ryoma and wahhhhh! It just sank in. Ryoma and I are all alone. What should I do? What should I do? I was panicking at the thought that I was all alone eating with my Ryoma. No, rewind. He is not mine. I had to say something in order to remove this awkward silence.

I opened my mouth and started to talk. About what? I had no idea.

"Ah, Ryo-" I stopped when he suddenly stood up.

"Ryuuzaki, I'm done. I need to go now. Bye." He said very fast but clearly.

"Um, yes. Bye Ryoma-kun." And with that, he too was gone. Now, I am all alone again.

I finished my food and I went back to my class when the bell rang. This day was awful and I couldn't wait to go home.

I was walking home yet again, all alone. Earlier incidents today just kept entering my mind even though I don't want them to. Then, I came to the realization that maybe, Ryoma doesn't even like me. He doesn't notice me at all. Perhaps, he doesn't even know I exist. I was being pessimistic again. That's what I hate about myself. I'm always shy, I can't fight for myself, I can't say or do what I want and I don't believe in my abilities and what I can do. I know we have different worlds and maybe I don't deserve him but the hope in me just never fades. It's like I somehow know that what I like could possibly happen if I just believe in myself. Then, I thought maybe, what I hate about myself is what Ryoma hates about me as well.

So, at that time, I was convinced that I need to tell Ryoma about my feelings. I just need to try. Tomorrow. I will surely tell him my feelings.

I woke up in the warm rays of the sun. Today is the day that I will tell him what I really feel. I went to school and when school was over, I saw Ryoma lying on the grass. He has practice because he is going to fight for the finals. Okay, this is my chance to confess my feelings.

I approached him and said "Um Ryoma-kun, I, I need to tell you s-something." I tortured myself mentally. I was stuttering again. Darn me!

"What is it you want to say?" He said nonchalantly.

"I-I just like to tell you…" Come on Sakuno, spit it out. You can do it. Just get through with it right here and right now.

"What?"

"I like to tell you that I love you, Ryoma-kun." There, I said it. I'm glad I could say that. Boy, I was so nervous. My heart skipped every beat and my cheeks immediately turned red. I looked at Ryoma and that's when I realized that he turned around and I was facing his back now. I couldn't see his face.

"Um, Ryoma-kun-" I said, a bit worried and still nervous.

"I'm sorry Ryuuzaki."

A/N: well, that was chapter 1.

Well…was it good? Bad? Awful? Dreadful? Or what? Please review. Constructive criticisms are more than okay…

♥Monika♥