Chapter 5
Everything went by so fast, like a blur. In one flash Sasuke was against the wall while her dad's big hand is around his neck with a tight grip. He couldn't do anything. Mr. Haruno is fuming with anger.
"What did you do to my daughter?!"
"Honey, I thought you were with Ichigo last night," her mom said. She's confused. "What happened? Why is he here?"
"Ma, I can't be with Ichigo anymore. He- she had a sex change. I can't marry a she…who used to be a he…who turned into a she who is prettier than me." Sakura tried to explain. She doesn't know what to do. "Let him go dad! He's red!"
Mr. Haruno didn't budge. Sasuke is choking.
"That does not explain why he's here. What's going on? What happened?" he interrogated, loosening his grip so Sasuke can answer.
"I took her home last night from a bar. She was drunk," Sasuke managed to choke out.
"Then what? Nothing else?" This time it was Mrs. Haruno asking questions. She turned to her daughter, "What happened Sakura? What really happened?"
"It's just as he says mom! I swear!" she can't lie properly. She can't even think properly.
Mr. Haruno let loose of Sasuke and walked towards the door. "I know you well, Sakura. I know when you aren't telling the truth," he said flatly. Sakura cringed. "Bring him to the mansion later. We will talk about everything there."
"Good thing you came," Sasuke said as he saw Sakura approaching the front door. He is outside the Haruno Mansion waiting for Sakura. Earlier this afternoon, Itachi paid him a visit in his apartment telling him that Sakura's dad called him to remind Sasuke about their 'meeting'. "I was waiting for you."
Her face darkened as she saw him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sasuke said. She is staring at him like she wants to choke him to death or worse. She just ignored him and started walking inside her parents' humble abode. He just followed her trail. "They're like cooking me inside. Your dad watches me like I'm a criminal or something. You have to take to them. They're talking like they're planning our wedding! or something like that. I went out before I get grilled."
"Wedding? What wedding?!" Sakura answered, alarmed. "You must have heard wrong!" Why are her parents planning something like that? She hates it when mommy and daddy decide on something she doesn't know, especially when it's something that has to do with her. Sasuke must have heard wrong. That's right! He's just hearing things. He is a cuckoo.
"Itachi called mom. They're setting up the wedding date. For now, Itachi and his wife would be the ones who would represent my parents while they are still out of the country."
Sakura just wants to scram or disappear or die. But that's the consequence of her wrong doings. Is it right to run away from that? Stupid moral issues! "Why didn't you stop them? DO you know what wedding means?" she asked, stopping her tracks and turned to face him. "Life long commitment!" she answered for him.
"Shouldn't you be the one doing that?" he said. "They are your parents after all."
"You're the guy! Take your responsibility!" she yelled. "Face your responsibilities like a man!"
This wouldn't have happened if Sasuke just left and not take a shower in the first place. Screw hygiene. It's his fault for being such a drama queen. His fault, his responsibility.
"You can't, can you?" she taunted.
"Look, I know that you just want to explode and commit suicide right now but I still have my life. I want to live it," he responded. "Let's go in."
"Blue should be the colour theme for the wedding. It is the groom's favourite colour," suggested Mrs. Haruno when Sakura and Sasuke came in the room. She still hadn't sat down and yet the wedding was already the topic.
"Mom will be arriving in a few days before your big day," Itachi said when Sasuke settled down next to him. "Hisana already called a wedding coordinator. The same one for our wedding, so no need to worry. She's good. The coordinator would be handling all the preparations so that you wouldn't have any problem."
Her eyebrow raised while gawking at the people around her. All they talk about is the wedding, which by the way, isn't even happening! The only person who didn't say a word is he daddy. He's sitting in a corner fuming, sulking. Daddy can't accept that his little princess is not so little anymore.
She inhaled, exhaled, "Who said that there is even going to be a wedding?" she asked. "I don't have any intentions on marrying to this guy!"
Everybody stopped what they were doing. The first person who recovered was her mother. "Sakura dear, there has to be a wedding. You have to get married to Sasuke. After what you two did."
"And I called my mother Sakura." Itachi said childishly. They're so excited to hear the news. Who wouldn't be? Hearing Sasuke saying, 'I do' that's just priceless!"
"I do not want to have a forced marriage, mom!" she fought back. "Who cares about Sasuke?! I don't want to be forced into something I don't want!"
Sakura's mother started crying. "We're not forcing you into anything, honey. But something happened between you two. You have to marry him to regain your virtue. Where is your pride, baby?"
Sakura slapped her forehead. She feels like her own family is turning against her. Their look on marriage isn't just modern. They have eighteenth-century beliefs. "Mom, it's my life we're talking about! What the hell! Virtue? Pride?! I'd rather be an old maid than to marry somebody I don't love. Heck, I don't even like him. I just… I just can't, mom." She said. "I'm leaving. I'm sorry."
And with that, she turned around and walked out the door. She doesn't regret what she just did. It was the first time she talked back on her parents and she can't tell if it felt good or bad. Sakura knows they would be angry. They could even disown her but she's happy with her decision. It would be one big mistake if she married him.
So what if she didn't get married to save her 'virtue'? It's still not the end of the world. If she did marry Sasuke, her whole life would just be miserable. Miserable!
"Sakura, wait!"
Sakura was confused when she heard Sasuke's voice. She faced him the second time this afternoon, "What do you want now? I just saved your ass."
"Why did you turn back from the wedding?" he asked with a confused tone. "What do you mean 'save my ass'?"
"What do you think?" she chuckled. "I just saved you from commitment. Be grateful, pretty boy. Besides, I'm not that desperate in getting married. I'd rather be alone and be the crazy cat lady than to spend the rest of my precious life with you."
"What would your parents say? What would our parents say? Did you ever think about that?"
Sakura pondered for a minute and grinned. "Are you scared of my dad?" she inquired with amusement written all over her face. "You're scared, is that it?" Not that it's any of her problems. Her life has become very problematic over night already. She admits that she did something wrong but the price is just too high to pay because of one night of stupid ness. She couldn't care less if something happens to him.
"I'm not scared of anything," he defended. "But it's not true that I can't face my responsibilities. I was just thinking of you."
She clutched her chest and sighed. "I'm touched," she replied in sarcasm. "as if you really care about me. You don't have anything to worry about, Sasuke. I won't be a threat to your single life. I am now officially taking away the responsibilities. Now, go on sand skedaddle you life-ruiner!"
With that, she got in her car and drove back to her place, took a shower and went to sleep and hope that when she wakes up this was all just one nightmare.
ring..
ring..
ring..
Sakura's phone kept ringing. She took a pick at her clocked and realized that she has been asleep for about two hours. It has been such a long time since she took afternoon naps.
She suddenly felt irritated. It's only six o'clock in the evening; her birthday isn't over yet. She went to the washroom, grabbed a fresh face towel and washed her face. She wised it's morning already so that the worst day of her life would be over.
The phone started ringing again. She guessed it's her mom or one of her friends. She wouldn't go to her birthday party that they prepared for her. What's there to celebrate? Growing old? Suddenly, birthday parties seemed ridiculous to her. If she would want to have a celebration, she would do that by sleeping.
Sakura dried her face and decided to pick up the annoying object. "Hello?" she answered, groggily.
"Sakura!" a chirpy voice answered on the other line. "I'm really excited that you're marrying my son! Who would've thought of it! Oh my God!! I-"
"Sorry?"
"-couldn't believe the news when-"
"What?"
"- your mom told me! OH MY GOD!!" she squealed.
"Sorry. Auntie?" The worst thing than having a hang over is hearing Uchiha Mikoto yapping nonsense over the phone. "Auntie?"
"Yes, dear?" Mikoto calmed down a little bit.
"Auntie, didn't Sasuke tell you what we talked about?" Maybe he didn't tell her that the 'wedding' is off.
"Oh yes. Of course. He told me that you were having second thoughts about this. Is he playing around with you? He promised me he would start getting serious."
"That's not it. I told him that-"
"Well, honey, I have to go. I'm happy for you. I can't wait to have grand babies. Congratulations, dear. You could start calling me 'mommy'. Bye. Kisses!"
"Wait- mommy! I mean, Auntie! Auntie?" Sakura tried to call her but she was only answered by a buisy tone. She didn't get the chance to clarify what she really wanted to say- what she was supposed to say. "What the hell!" she screamed. She had to talk to Sasuke…soon.
Sakura was about to go in the washroom to finish freshening up when this time the phone rang, again. No. The doorbell rang. "What is it now?" she sighed. Groaning, she walked over to the main door and opened it only to see Sasuke's smirking face hovering over her.
"Good. You're here. We have to talk. We need to talk." She said sternly.
He let himself in, knowing that his hostess would just leave him outside. "About what?" he took off his shoes, looking at her back while she headed over the dining table. He followed her and sat down to one of the chairs.
"Well, you're mom called. She doesn't seem to know that there is no wedding!"
"Who said that the wedding is not happening?"
"Didn't I announce that five hours ago? I had you as a witness! There is no wedding! I backed out!" she pointed out.
"Did I back out?" he asked smartly. "I don't remember backing out. We're getting married."
"You're joking." Sakura scoffed. "It's not funny. You getting married? You must be kidding. You don't want to get married with me. You were so angry when they announced the wedding and now you're saying that you're not backing out? What the hell?!"
"Don't blame me for this, Sakura. You changed my mind. I thought about what you said. That 'responsibility- speech' you gave me an I thought 'What the heck?' so I decided to go on with the wedding and take my responsibility."
Sakura hates herself now. She just gave him a reason to marry her. But that doesn't mean she would do it. She just wants him to learn how to face her family, that's all. She didn't even mean that 'responsibility' crap. "Marriage doesn't work out with only responsibilities. We don't get along at all. How is that going to work out?"
"Well, if we don't get along, our relationship won't be boring. I'm tired with chicks whom I always get along with."
"We are not compatible. Marriage needs compatibility," she fought back. Tried to fight back.
"I asked Chekai and she said that our signs are compatible. And besides, we have the same favourite colour- BLUE!" Sasuke answered with a hint of cheerfulness in his voice.
Sakura stood up and walked around; leaned against the wall. "Sasuke, it's not about having the same favourite colour. What is wrong with you?" she threw her arms around. She's beginning to feel frustrated. "Pink is my favourite colour by the way."
"Oh. Sorry," Sasuke walked over to her. He held her wrists above her head while she looks at him with confusion. It's almost impossible to breath with his face so close to hers; not to mention, his intent stare.
"What?"
He chuckled. "Sakura, sweet Sakura. You are forgetting something very important. There is another department where we are extremely compatible," he whispered in her ear.
"What department?"
Instead of answering her, he claimed her lips with a kiss. He is playing with it. And as if hers has a mind of its own, she kissed him back. It seemed so right.
Everything seemed so right until-
"The guests are waiting for you."
Quickly she pulled away from him when she heard Itachi's voice. Her eyes widened when she saw him leaning against the door frame with that famous Uchiha smirk on his face.
"Itachi-san, what are you doing here?"
"Your mom asked me to pick you up. I thought my brother wouldn't have the guts to pick you up after what happened earlier," she blushed of embarrassment. "I see that I'm wrong. You two get along well."
"It's not like that!" She defended herself.
"We were just leaving when you interrupted us, nii-san." Sasuke spoke.
"Excuse me? Interrupted?! Interrupt what, Sasuke?" Sakura asked him annoyingly. If Itachi didn't arrive she would have been molested by him 'again'.
Itachi smiled teasingly. "Yes, it does seem that I was interrupting. I should leave you two. I'll go ahead to the Haruno Mansion and explain to your mother Sakura. Oh and Happy Birthday."
Chapter 5: Commitment, end
Author's Note:
Hey guys! Thanks for all those who reviewed on the previous chapter. Oh, and thanks to those who patiently waited for this one. I'm just so happy that I finished chapter 5! It's like a birthday treat to myself. Yes, yesterday was my 15th birthday. I can't believe I'm halfway to 30!!!!!!!! (feel so old)
Anyway, I will be editing the next chapters because I keep on changing the name of Mrs. Haruno. I can't seem to find a perfect name for her! HELP! I decided to name Sakura's dad "Himeko" so her mom could call him "Himmy". This was a suggestion by Dolphinebreeze. Thank you, Dolphinebreeze! YOU ROCK
Anyhoo, have a HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A GOOD CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!
p.s.
Someone once asked me if Ichigo would show up again. I don't know yet. Do you guys want him/her to show up again? Let me know please.
KIMBIE \m/ (0)\m/