*SASUKE'S POV*

I still can't get over with what Shino said to me two days ago. He'll try to get Hinata. Aish! You shouldn't be affected, Sasuke. Remember, you should end your relationship with her. Just thank Shino for he's helping you with that. He's planning to court her. So what? It's not a big deal, okay?

"Stop making faces, Sasuke," Itachi said.

I looked at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"

He sat across me. "You're doing funny faces a while ago. What are you thinking?"

I looked away. "Nothing."

"Tch," he didn't buy it.

"Mind your own business, bro."

"Your business is mine as well."

I gave him a glare. "What?"

"Now, tell me. You're thinking about Hinata, right?"

"Stop annoying me, please. I'm not in the mood."

"Okay. I'll just guess," then he paused. "You're annoyed of what Shino told you, right? That thing about him courting Hinata bothers you. You're affected but you're telling yourself you're not." He smiled. "Am I right?"

How did he know that? "Yah... You're eavesdropping!"

He shook his head. "I'm not. I overheard."

Again, I glared at him. "Stop spying on me."

He shrugged. "I'm not."

"Tch," then I turned the television on, but I'm not planning to watch.

"So what are you going to do?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Should I do something?" I said nonchalantly.

"Yes."

I kept my focus on the TV. "I won't do anything."

"Are you letting that Aburame get her? Aren't you afraid that he might succeed? Aren't you going to stop him?"

"I won't, okay?"

"Then I'll do it."

I looked at him. Tch. He really wants to waste his time for this matter. Part of me's thanking him for that. "I don't care, Itachi. Do what you want to do. I'm not going to stop you from doing what you like."

His face brightened up. "Really?"

That expression's weird. I can sense that he's planning something. "Yes. Just don't tell her I'm here."

He nodded. "Okay," then he stood up. "I have to go now. I still have something very important to do. See you later!" He dashed off from the living room to his room. Is he leaving already? Is he that excited?

I turned the TV off and looked at the box, which is now on the top of the shelf. Three days from now, it'll be her birthday. Honestly, I want to give that box to her. But how? I'm leaving tomorrow. I don't want to back out from my flight just because of her. Maybe I'll just keep it or leave it here. I'll just think of it as a gift for myself, gift for succeeding in forgetting her.

*HINATA'S POV*

Fudge! We only have two days and we're not done yet! What should we do? I need to see him now, hell now!

"Relax, dude. You look like you're going to pass out. Breathe, Hinata," Kiba said.

I looked down. My face is burning. Don't cry! Not now, okay? "I can't stop from thinking that maybe… maybe we're late. I don't what him to leave us."

"As long as we're doing our best, as long as this game isn't over yet, he's not going to leave us," Sakura said.

"Are you ready to join us now? Or do you still want to stay here?" Shikamaru asked.

There's no need for me to rest now. "I'm coming with you, guys. I'm coming with you."

He nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

We went inside the car. I sat beside the window, as usual. I tried to distract myself by counting the trees we passed by. But the thought of him leaving continued to fill my mind. Aish! Yah, Sasuke! Where the hell are you hiding?

"Mind calling him?" Shino asked.

I looked at him. "I'm afraid that he'll just reject it."

"Just try. I know you want to hear his voice."

He's right. So I grabbed my phone and waited for him to answer. But there's nothing. I knew it. Hurt started to spread all over me. He's avoiding me again.

"It's okay. Maybe he's just busy or something," Shino said.

I shook my head. "No. He's really ignoring my calls."

I saw him took out his phone. Who is he calling? "Yah!"

Is that a friend? Or maybe some relative? I'm curious so I listened attentively to what he's saying.

"Why are you like this? You shouldn't have done that." Impossible. Is he talking to… "Yes. I'm with her. Probably she already knew who you are. And maybe she's wondering how I got your number."

I took a deep breath. "I-Is that… S-Sasuke?"

He looked at me. "… Yes."

So I'm right. He's ignoring me.

"Do you want to speak with her?" he asked him. "Of course you should. Remember what I told you. I'm serious, Sasuke. You'll regret this."

I looked back outside and started crying.

"It's your choice. Let's see what happens," then he tapped my shoulder. I assume he already ended the call. "That's right, Hinata. Cry."

"He's mean," I blurted out.

"I know. That's why I'm wondering what you saw in him."

I shrugged and wiped my tears. "I don't know."

As expected, nothing happened. We went home with nothing but just stress. Two days. We can make it. We will make it. Tch. What am I thinking? Stop hoping, HInata. Just accept the truth that… you're not going to see him again. Dig a deep hole and bury your feelings for him. If he's trying to forget me, I might as well try it. It's better, right?