Unpredicted Romance

Summary: AU. Love is unforeseen. She was asked by Sasuke to pretend as if she is his girlfriend so Sakura, his arranged fiancée, would leave him alone. However, everything unexpected has happened.

Chapter 9: Of Unconfident Choice

–

It was lunch, and they were there, at the bench they were sitting on when she was crying over her encounter with Shikamaru. It was the bench that witnessed how he had comforted her when she was once sad over her ex-boyfriend. Now, they were sitting on this bench again but the situation was completely different from before.

"Hey Sasuke," Ino called him; she could tell he had been worrying about something since the last few days. "What's happening to you?

He shook his head and spoke, "Nothing."

"Yeah right," Ino rolled her eyes, and she gave him a look that told him that she was already aggravated. "I'm a friend you know. You can tell me whatever."

"It's about…," he started as he sighed. "…the engagement between me and the daughter of Haruno group."

"You mean Sakura?" she arched an eyebrow. "…the nauseating skank?"

He nodded.

"So what about you and her?" she asked. "Are you guys gonna get engaged soon?"

"No," he answered, he didn't know what to feel anymore. He was very confused as of the moment. "My father and I had a talk."

"Go on," she reached for his hand and held it tightly. "Just tell me everything."

He held her hand tightly as well. "My father told me that if you and I don't get engaged in three months, I have to marry Haruno."

"What?" she was shocked. What in heck? She couldn't believe this. "I-I mean a-are you like s-serious?"

"Yes," he looked at her in the eyes. "I'm sorry for bringing you in this kind of mess."

"Don't say that, Sasuke," she just gave him a small smile. "I don't regret no nothing… but what are you planning to do?"

"You have two choices," he pointed out. "The first choice is continuing what we have started, and the second choice is tell everyone the real truth between us—that we are only friends and I have to marry her."

"Sasuke?" she was vacillating. "Can you explain to me the first choice? Do you mean like… we just have continue pretending or… I really have to get engaged with you?"

He didn't know what to answer. He wasn't sure, this was so sudden. It just had been almost three months since they started pretending. It just had been nearly a month when they went to Okinawa, and it just had been recent since they became close with each other.

"Sasuke, could you please answer my question?"

"W-We just have to continue pretending," he was irresolute with that reply. Ino could feel the sweat on his hand, which she was still holding. If Ino would let go of his hand, that meant she chose the second choice. But she didn't, she couldn't leave him hanging. They were friends after all.

"Well," Ino smiled brightly. She was not certain of this, but she had decided. "I'll go with the first choice!"

Sasuke was shocked. He didn't expect to get an answer from her this quick. But he was thankful that she chose the first choice, he didn't know what he would do if she chose the second one. He'd probably go nuts or suicidal. Nevertheless, why? Why did she choose the first choice?

"I-Ino…" he just stared at her.

"I bet you want to know why I chose the first option," she said considerately and he waited her to continue. "Well, you see… I have two reasons why I chose the first option. The first reason is, it seems really exciting, interesting, and fun…"

He stayed quiet. He patiently waited for her second reason.

"…and the second reason is, I don't like seeing you being sad. I know you won't be happy with her, so as your friend, I'm still gonna help you."

If he was an emotional person, he would cry. However, he didn't, instead, he let go of her hand and pulled her into a rigid hug.

"A-Are you sure?" he whispered, his jaw was shaking. He held his breath for a moment, but honestly, he was scared that she might change her mind. "Are you… really sure?"

"Nope," admitted the beautiful blond. "I'm not really sure with this but I am really sure that I can't leave you behind just that."

"…Thank you, Ino."

–

It just had been a day since she compromised to him that she would still help him. Ino lay down in her bed, it was already night. Today was Friday, no school for tomorrow. Yay! She was just looking at the ceiling, thinking what would happen next. But then, her thoughts were disturbed when someone knocked on the door.

"Hold up," Ino stood up from her bed and walked towards the door. "I'm coming!"

She was alarmed to see Sasuke standing in front of her. He seemed so depress and gloomy, this worried her. What was he doing here? She told him to come in, so he did. They were just standing there, a few inches from her bed.

"Sasuke?" Ino initiated the talk. "Are you okay?"

He didn't say anything. He just walked onto her and embraced her. She could sense that something was wrong… really wrong.

"Tell me what's wrong, Sasuke."

He didn't reply, he just fell with her in the bed; he was on top of her and he was still hugging her. This made Ino's heart thump like crazy. This was not an inside joke, this was different. She knew something was definitely not right.

"Sasuke?" she called him quietly, he was still on top of her and his embrace was still tight. He didn't respond, she cocked her head little to see that he was… sleeping? "Oh good… he fell asleep and he is sleeping on top of me. Did he come here so I could be his pillow?"

You really owe me an explanation, Sasuke.

"You must be really tired, huh?" Ino asked Sasuke, but she knew she wouldn't get any reply because he was already sleeping peacefully. "We'll talk tomorrow, good night."

(Next Morning)

Sasuke slowly opened his eyes. He looked at his surroundings; this was definitely not his room. His room was not yellow and purple as far as he could remember. He noticed that… he was top of Ino? What had happened? He tried to get off her without disturbing her sleep, but failed. The moment he moved, she had awakened, she rubbed her eyes as she sat up in her bed.

"Ino?" he sat beside her. "What am I doing in your room?"

"That's a good question," Ino yawned as she cracked her neck. "What are you doing here? Why did you just come here last night and hug me and then fall oin the bed and slept on top of me?"

"…I did that?

"Yes, Sasuke. You did that," stated Ino, she was annoyed. Did he have amnesia or something? "What was with you last night? You looked so sad."

With that, he realized what happened last night. "Father…" he muttered. "Ino, I gotta go."

"Not in your life!" Ino stopped him, she was angry now. "Tell me what happened to you!"

"Father had a heart attack and he is confined in the hospital," he explained, her eyes had gone wide. "I have to go."

"How's your dad?" asked Ino, very worried. "Is he going to be fine?"

"I don't know," he confessed sadly. "But I think he'll be alright."

"So you went here yesterday because you were stressed out?" she put her hand on his cheek, her face was so angelic. "Is it okay that I'll come with you to the hospital?

He nodded. "Thanks, Ino."

"I'm just gonna take a shower real fast, wait for me, mkay?" Ino stood up and went straight to the bathroom.

(At the hospital)

"Where's his room, Sasuke?" Ino asked, while holding a basket of assorted fruits.

"We're here," Sasuke turned the knob and they entered. They saw Fugaku… and he was perfectly fine. "Ino, just put the fruits on the table."

Ino did what he said. She greeted Fugaku with warm smile. "Sir, how do you feel?"

"It was not anything serious; um… what do you want me to call you, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law?" Ino was shocked at Fugaku's question. Daughter-in-law, eh? So, Sasuke had already told his dad that he chose Ino?

"I think Ino will be enough," Ino gave him a genuine smile. "It is really good to know that it was not anything serious, sir."

"What did the doctor say?" Sasuke asked his dad, he was emotionless as usual. "And where's mother?"

"The doctor said it was just a mild attack due to stress, I can go home tomorrow," Fugaku was emotionless as well. "And I told your mother to go home to get some sleep."

"I'll go outside to get some air," Sasuke said, Ino could feel the tense between them. "Do you want to go with me, Ino?"

"Nope, you go ahead," Ino shook her head. "I'll be staying here so your dad won't get bored and lonely."

"Suit yourself then," Sasuke open the door and went outside. "I will be back."

"Sir, would you like some oranges?" inquired Ino with warm smile to the older Uchiha. "I'll take off the skin for you, and they are really sweet and seedless. You'll love them, sir."

"Sure," he smiled back at her. "Thank you, Ino. And do me a favor, call me 'father' instead of 'sir', you'll be my daughter soon you get married to my son."

"Okay, father," she thought wrong about the head of Uchihas. She thought he would be rude and snobby, but he was here, smiling at her gently. She started taking off the skin of the oranges.

"I can see why he has chosen you to become his wife," he complimented her. "You're an amazing lady, Ino."

Ino was shocked; the great Uchiha Fugaku was actually giving her such flattering remarks. She was grateful because the words he just uttered were spectacular.

"Thanks, father."

"You changed my son," he affirmed, her heart wanted to leap out of her chest when he said that. Why? She didn't know why either. "He became less distant from his own family than he used to be."

"Was he really distant before?" inquired Ino, she was concerned. "Who was Sasuke…?"

"To tell you the truth it was my fault that he became distant from our family," he heaved a sigh. "When I told him that instead of Itachi, I want him to take my place as the head of our businesses, we barely talked… he was avoiding me," his eyes looked sad. "And he became more distant when I set him up with the daughter of Haruno group. I can see that she is not his ideal woman to be his wife – and I didn't know he already had you, I am sorry..." his gaze landed on Ino's eyes and he lowered his head. "Since the night he introduced you to us, my relationship with my son improved. Thank you."

"Please don't bow at me," Ino gave him a warm smile. "He changed not because of me; it was because he wanted to."

He shook his head and smiled back at her. "He changed because he loves you."

It's not like that, he doesn't love me… we are just pretending.

"I beg of you," he closed his eyes. His voice was sincere. "Don't leave my son."

Did I really choose the right decision…?

"I can't predict the future, si—father," Ino said. "But I will try best not to."

"I'm glad, Ino."

Visiting hours were finished so they had to go. While driving, there was a weighty silence between the two. However, knowing Ino, she never liked silence so she decided to break it.

"You were listening to us when we were talking," Ino asked. "…weren't you?"

"I didn't hear everything," he answered as he blushed a little, Ino rolled her eyes. "Just a little bit."

"You know, your dad loves you," her tone was soft. "He really does."

"Hn," he cocked his head a little. "He loves his companies more than he-"

"That's not true!" she cut him out. "If you just saw his eyes earlier… he was very sad."

"Whatever," this topic was quite awkward for him so he decided to change the topic. "Are you hungry?"

"Kind of," she replied. "…Are you?"

"A little," he stopped the car. "Let's eat in this place."

"Wow, this restaurant looks a little flashy, don't ya think?" Ino observed as they got off the car. The restaurant looked indeed great. There was no doubt that this restaurant was expensive and luxurious. But it was okay, they were rich, remember? "I've never eaten here before… oh well, it's not bad to try something new."

He grabbed her hand as they entered the prestigious restaurant in front of them.