Hi guys, sorry I've been MIA for the past couple of years. Breakups, graduation, new job— meh, life in general.
From now on I will try to update this story weekly!
Disclaimer: No I do not own Naruto, it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Chapter 3: Gossip
It would be a complete and utter lie if Sakura said that she was fine with all the attention that her boyfriend was getting.
Truthfully, she was fine if it was merely attention showered by college girls from Konoha University, but this was large-scale media attention!
It seems that Sasuke's return to Konoha had attracted unwanted media attention (namely, tabloids and gossip magazines) and soon articles such as "Konoha's most eligible Bachelor is back!", "Uchiha Sasuke: The secret fan fueling Uchiha Enterprise's fire" and "What Uchiha Sasuke wants in a woman" spread across Konoha like the ten plagues of Egypt.
She could see her boyfriend's face everywhere she goes. Every magazine stands she frequent, every magazine aisles in the supermarket she walked by and every salon or coffee shop she visited.
Most annoyingly, were the content of the stories told in the taboid. So, instead of studying at the library like she had planned on doing, she was flipping through the library's various tabloid subscriptions.
The articles were slightly amusing but downright annoying.
One would read: 'Uchiha Sasuke, international playboy is currently dating Sawaka Yuki, the beautiful heir of the multi-million company Sawaka Inc. Sources claimed that he was recently spotted shopping at Tiffanys & Co. Wedding bells anyone?'
Another would read: 'Uchiha Sasuke was caught cheating on his on and off girlfriend Sawaka Yuki with Ren Kazuha, heir to the multi-million energy company Ren Resources Inc. Sawaka was reported to be devastated…'
And Sakura's personal favourite was those that read: 'Sawaka Yuki sporting a baby bump while shopping in downtown Konoha. Rumour has it that this was the reason behind the youngest Uchiha Enterprise heir's return to his former lover.'
"Still reading those trash?"
A familiar voice brought her out of her reverie.
She looked up to see the object of her (and the media's) attention.
Sasuke hovered over her table holding a paper cup. "French earl grey, honey, no sugar," he recited, placing the tea over the library's tabloid.
"Thanks," Sakura smiled.
Sasuke kissed her on the crown of her head before he slid into the chair in front of her, observing her reading materials, "I thought you were studying."
"I was," she said, "and then I missed you."
She smiled cheekily at him to which he responded with a sarcastic snort. "I couldn't see you all day yesterday," he said.
Her brows furrowed, "I was at the hospital, you know that."
Disregarding her reply, he continued, "And you said you won't be able to spend time with me today because you had to… study?"
Heat rose up to her cheeks and she answered, defending herself "I was studying! Look I'm comparing the charts of the kids from the teaching hospital with the test subject from the researches done in the United States!"
"I see."
She frowned, "You don't believe me? Fine! See if I care!"
He quirked his lips slightly, which annoyed the pink haired girl even more.
"Someone left the magazines here okay?" She lied, putting both her hands up in defense, "So I just had to take a look to see what the big fuss is all about."
"I'm sure."
He sat back and folded his arm. He was enjoying this. Seeing her face flushed with agitation, green eyes blazing at him and her hair swaying at her every move.
Sakura realized that he was teasing her.
"You bastard!" she scoffed.
Sasuke chuckled, "Hurry up so we can go to dinner."
Sakura nodded and switched her attention back to her medical journals. Sasuke made himself busy by replying to a couple business emails on his tablet phone. Without Sakura and the dragons, his life would be marketing proposals, business deals, legal meeting and the annoying media gossip and rumours.
Yes, even he was bothered by it. He also knew that even if Sakura didn't want to admit this, she was vehemently annoyed by the ridiculous reporting courtesy of Konoha's notorious tabloid writers.
He will have to do something about that, because as advised by the company's Public Relation and Marketing division, the behaviour of Konoha's gossip magazines and tabloid press was such that it wont die down even if he ignored it.
He certainly didn't want this causing his girlfriend to be secretly anxious. She needs to focus all her attention on being a paediatrician and he wants their growing relationship to last.
One hour later, Sakura finally slammed the medical journals shut, squealing, "I'm done!"
Sasuke was relieved. "Italian?"
Arriving at a slightly more expensive Italian restaurant, Sakura couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when the restaurant's hostess gushed at the sight of Sasuke before letting them in to a private dining area despite not having any reservation.
After placing an order of garlic bread, goat's cheese tomato ravioli and mushroom risotto, Sasuke started to speak, "Our six months anniversary is coming up."
Sakura made a puzzled face and proceeded to use her fingers to count the months since Earth hour. A bright smile lit her features, "That's right!"
"Can't believe you remembered Sasuke-kun," she said, purring his affectionate suffix in a teasing manner
The corners of his mouth tugged slightly at her antics. He then leaned forward, "Unfortunately there's company party to launch the three new hotels in Konoha, New York and Paris."
She smiled at him warmly, "You know I don't need you to always celebrate this things. You surprising me in the library or getting me my earl grey are what matters to me the most," she continued, "besides, I understand that you need to be at these events. You have your work and I have mine."
Their conversation was abruptly disrupted by the arrival of a plate of garlic bread.
Sakura mouthed a 'Thank you' to the waitress and began digging into the food.
Trying to pick up where they left the conversation, Sasuke said, "That's not what I have in mind."
"Huh?"
"I want you to come with me to the party."
Sakura blushed. They've been together for only less than a year but Sasuke already wanted to make their relationship public. Uchiha Enterprise is one of the biggest company in Japan, with subsidiary companies dealing in property, insurance and security. Their family is always in the spotlight, so Sakura would totally understand if Sasuke wanted to keep their relationship a secret to avoid unwanted news.
"Are you sure your pregnant girlfriend Sawaka Yuki is fine with this?" she teased.
Sasuke repressed the urge to roll his eyes, "All the more reason for you to attend, I want to put the rumours to rest"
"So, for our six month anniversary, your idea of celebration is to take me to one of your boring office parties? Misery needs company?"
Sasuke frowned, "I do have something planned for you after."
Sakura gave in. "Fine, I'll go with you."
oooOOOOOOOooo
The party was one that remained to be the most talked-about parties in magazines and newspapers' social columns.
It truly reflected the legacy and power of the Uchiha family.
The entrance of the new Uchiha Hotel was decorated in dim midnight blue lights, like diamonds and fireflies circling ropes that dangled from the ceiling to the floor. The dimly lit entrance created a sense of mystic and magic leading the guests to the main ballroom where the stairs and round tables were adorned by majestic arrangements of red roses, both colour representing the famed fan logo of the legendary enterprise.
Every single member of the family were present. People with raven locks and pale complexion, the two telling traits of an Uchiha, were found in every nooks and crevices of the new hotel.
Sawaka Yuki, mother of the inexistent baby bump scanned the room for the youngest Uchiha heir. Wearing a plunging white dress in an attempt to be resemble her namesake, the blonde haired socialite whined to her mother, "Where is he?"
"I'm sure he will be here soon, dearest," she answered, lightly tapping her fingers on to her daughter's hair to fix any fly-aways on her otherwise perfect updo.
"Oh look dear, there he is!" her mother pointed at a men standing near the stairs at the entrance.
"That is Uchiha Shisui, mother! He heads the Enterprise's Insurance portfolio. Doesn't make that much money," the blonde social climber dismissed with her hands.
Likewise, the said man was also waiting for the arrival of his cousin. Shisui hasn't seen Sasuke since his return to Konoha. His aunt Mikoto has been talking non-stop about this 'Sakura', a childhood friend of Sasuke. The rumour mill in the family has it that his younger cousin was completely besotted to this lady.
Thus, it interested him to see what kind of woman had such power to successfully melt that ice-cube of a cousin that he is.
Mikoto mentioned a couple of times that the lovely lady is studying to be a paediatrician. So Shisui automatically deduced that she was unattractive. Which made a lot of sense, because plenty of busty, attractive and easy women had been throwing themselves at his cousin and he managed to reject every single one of them.
His train of thought was halted by a sudden rush of photographers and reporters racing towards the entrance of the hotel. Flashes were going off from every possible angle to greet the long awaited family.
Shisui could see his uncle Uchiha Fugaku and aunt Uchiha Mikoto stepping out from their limousine, with his uncle supporting his aunt as she had to still walk with the aid of a cane.
Out came his other cousin Uchiha Itachi who apparently flew back in to Konoha only yesterday. Itachi quickly went to his mother's side, aiding her as she walks.
And finally, Uchiha Sasuke walked out of the limousine and held his hand out for his date as she stepped out from the car.
Shisui's jaw hit the floor.
Boy was he wrong.
In the arms of his cousin was a pink haired ethereal beauty in a figure hugging shimmering pale green dress. She was all sorts of beautiful with her pink hair in a stylish messy bun exposing her long neck and a dimple as she smile shyly for the cameras.
Unlike the other girls who go for his cousin, this lovely lady didn't wear a plunging neckline. Yet, she showed enough to intimidate any competitors.
She was ethereal, beautiful and innocent.
He watched as his cousin guided her protectively across the hotel entrance and briefly wondered if Sasuke would be the first one in their generation of Uchiha to settle down.
Evidently, Shisui wasn't the only one who wondered, because as Sasuke and Sakura entered the hotel ballroom, they had to stop and chat on multiple occasions with so and so from such company or so and so from this family. Unsurprisingly, the topic of the conversation always lead back to how serious their relationship is. Sakura blushed meekly at the question and let Sasuke answered for her, "Yes we are serious."
Sakura smiled politely as she made small talks to people who she won't remember the next day. She looked up to her boyfriend, so achingly handsome in his sleek and shiny jet black suit. She was about to give him a light peck on his cheeks when shrilly voice invaded her space.
"Sasuke-kun! How are you?" asked a feminine voice. She looked like the queen of winter, no correction— the evil queen of winter, with her white dress, blonde hair and icy blue eyes.
Sasuke nodded politely, "Sawaka Yuki-san."
"And, who are you? I don't think Sasuke-kun ever mentioned you before?"
Noticing a small flinch from his girlfriend next to him, Sasuke replied, "It's because I like to keep my private life… private. This is my girlfriend, Haruno Sakura."
Sakura looked at him adoringly before smiling at the evil queen in front of her, the kind of victorious smile usually given by winners to losers. "Nice to meet you, Sawaka-san."
"Oh?" Yuki raised a blonde eyebrow, "And where are your parents and what do you do?"
Sasuke was about to raise a fit with her line of rude questioning, but Sakura pacified him with a gentle pat to his chest, "My parents passed away and I'm a doctor, currently studying to be a paediatrician."
Yuki looked at her in confusion.
"Doctor for kids," Sakura explained, mirth visible in her twinkling eyes. Impatient with Yuki's stupidity, Sasuke quickly excused the both of them for the event is about to start. As he whisked her away, he whispered, "Satisfied now? No one and nothing compares to you."
His words caused her to blush, a tinge of pink adorned her face as she sat down at the main Uchiha round table. She was greeted again by both Mikoto and Fugaku and proceeded to made small talks with them before the ballroom's light were dimmed low. The fact that his family had accepted her with open arms created this unbelievable sense of warmth and lightness inside her chest.
Nevertheless, the event was tedious and boring. If it weren't for Sasuke's hand, which he kept clasped over her own the entire night, Sakura's mood would be far sourer. Suddenly, sometime between dessert and coffee, Sakura could feel her phone buzzing from inside her small bejewelled clutch.
After flipping it open, she noticed a new text message from her supervisor at the teaching hospital. She groaned inwardly at the content of the message. One of the doctors called in sick and they were swamped with patients courtesy of a holiday school bus collision in the highway somewhere. Her stomach churned nervously since Sasuke had planned something special for their six months anniversary, but she simply can't walk away from her duties. Dejectedly, she showed her boyfriend the text message and waited until he finished reading its content.
Sasuke glanced at her, "I'll take you."
Sakura huffed in protest, "No, no, you stay! This is your event." But the young Uchiha didn't take no for an answer and growled, "This is our anniversary, at least let me be with you."
She smiled in defeat and kissed her boyfriend on the tip of his nose, "All right."
After explaining Sakura's situation, the couple soon excused themselves. Sasuke's family was completely supportive, with even his father complimenting Sakura on being a good young doctor for not neglecting her duties.
Flurrying out of the hotel, Sakura and Sasuke soon made their way to the hospital. She kissed Sasuke goodbye before briskly entering the hospital. Sakura mentally thanked herself for keeping spare outfit in her wardrobe at the hospital and head to her supervisor's office to look at her roster.
After hours of running non-stop graveyard shift— granted only menial tasks were given to her as a junior, she was still tired. She headed towards the interns room and was quite surprised at the lack of noise in the hallway leading to the room. Usually the other interns were there gossiping, laughing, discussing their studies, crying— well, everything under the sun basically. It was almost seven in the morning, prime time for gossiping!
So, she was shocked to find none other than Uchiha Sasuke, still in his black suit from last night, sitting and waiting for her in the interns' room.
"Good morning," she greeted him tiredly, "what are you doing here?"
"Breakfast?" he responded, holding out two large Japanese breakfast bento on one hand, "and the news?" while holding today's issue of the Konoha Daily on the other hand.
She sat next to him and snatched the Konoha Daily from his hand, "You just came back from the party?" and she unfold the newspaper to see a picture of the two of them on the front cover of the semi-tabloid newspaper, titled "Uchiha Sasuke settling down with mystery woman."
"What do you think?"
"My forehead looks big here." She could see him rolling his eyes, "I'm kidding! Happy Anniversary!"
"You too," he replied, planting a kiss on her tiny lips, "I didn't just came back from the party. I waited for you in the car the whole night. Just in case you finished early."
"WHAT?" her eyes widened in shock, "you must be tired and boooored!"
He smirked, "Let's go to my place so you can make it up to me".
-Until next week -
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