So far, I'd been surviving. Barely surviving. Ugh, it had been three weeks since I let him go and it had been hell for me. I should have been more prepared. But then again, how long would it have taken me to prepare for that? Probably even my lifetime wouldn't be enough.

I did the right thing, letting him go completely without planning it firsthand was the easier way. But no lie, it hurt like a nasty bitch. I felt like I was a living dead since my brain could barely function because of ridiculous amount of vodka that I'd been drinking since I got home three weeks ago.

The shitty thing was even though my brain couldn't function very well, I still couldn't forget even a little thing about Neji. He was everywhere. I felt that when I looked at one thing, I could relate it to him. I felt like a crazy crack-whore because not only I saw him everywhere, I also heard his voice at the back of my head. I really thought for a minute that I was losing all the screws in my head.

"Darling," my dad walked into my room, clearly troubled seeing me being like this. I hated seeing my dad being anxious about me but I needed this liquor to help me lessen all the pain that I was feeling. "Please drop the alcohol for a moment. Someone's here to talk to you."

I looked at the door and Sasuke came in. Genuinely, I didn't want to see him right now. I didn't want anyone to see me right now. I didn't even want to see myself right now.

"Be nice to Sasuke," my dad told me before he left me and Sasuke alone.

"I'll appreciate it if you will just leave me alone for now," I told Sasuke, who was staring at me. I didn't know why he was here but I could really care less. I wasn't in a mood to deal with anyone.

"I heard what happened from your dad," he stated. He knelt next to where I was sitting at. I wanted to pretend that I cared about what he was saying but I just couldn't. I just wanted him to get the hell out of my sight. "Ino, I'm here to be with you – I love you and am sure that you have feelings for me too. If he made you happy, am sure I can too."

I focused my gaze on his eyes, "Love is not and will never be the best thing for us, Sasuke."

"He's the person that made me feel like I wasn't alone in all the shitstorms that I'd been through in the last three years," I continued. "He's the person that made me happy the most and I don't think you can ever top that."

I could see him getting discouraged but he didn't give up, "We won't know until you give me the chance to prove to you that I can make you happy too. I know I hurt you but all I need is that second chance."

"Neji will always be the most important to me."

"I don't care," he took my hands and kissed them. And then he spoke again, "I don't need to be the most important to you, I'm satisfied just to be with you."

"Like, right now, if I told you that I didn't you want you to be with you," I gulped but carried on, "what would you do?"

"I wouldn't believe you."

"What a conceited ass," I didn't notice until it was too late that I smiled at him. I smiled for the first time in three weeks. It was because of Sasuke that I smiled.

"You look even more beautiful when you smile," he smiled right back at me. "You should do that more often, and I bet he likes it too when you smile..."

I nodded, "Neji would always make me smile whenever I felt down." Remembering how we were made me even sadder. "He would do everything, and I mean everything, just to make me happy."

"I'm never gonna lose to him, Ino."

"You already did."

"But you're with me, not with him."

I shook my head and told him the truth, "I would have given up everything in this world for him, if he asked me to. Sasuke, I let him go not because I don't want to be with him because the truth is, I really, really, really do want to be him – I let him go because he deserves more than I can give him."

"Let me rephrase it then," he cockily corrected. "I hold your heart, and he doesn't."

Sasuke couldn't have said it any better, but I wouldn't tell him that.

Neji wanted to see me.

He called on our house phone and he left a message for me. He said he wanted to meet up with me. I didn't know why, but he sounded pretty depressed. That's why for the first time in three weeks, I would actually leave the house.

He asked me to meet him up at rooftop around 9PM. I got a little excited, I had to admit that so I arrived two hours earlier. Damn, I couldn't believe I survived three weeks not having Neji on my side. Although it was hell, I was able to not kill myself. And because of that, I was proud of myself.

It was 8:55PM when I decided to step out the car and headed to the rooftop of the hotel we used to hang out a lot. It took me about four minutes to reach the rooftop. Just in time.

When the elevator opened, it revealed a place full of red roses and a table for two. And there he was, standing. I walked towards him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Normally, I would just jump on him like there was no tomorrow but it wasn't the same anymore.

He pulled out a chair for me to seat on – like he always did. He sat on the other side and filled in my glass with my favorite red wine. He then looked at me and smiled weakly, "So, how has it been for you since...you know, that day?"

I could only think of one answer, "Hell. How about you?"

"Hurtful," was his simple response. "But I'm getting through it."

"You're lucky because I don't think I can get through this," I told him sincerely. "Not having you is pretty destructive. I'm fortunate that I haven't killed myself yet."

"Ino, I'm leaving Japan," he said plainly as I froze. "Tomorrow morning is my flight."

I gulped, "That's..." it was hard to continue but I still did, "...surprising."

"I called you here to say goodbye," he didn't look happy. I knew that I didn't look overjoyed as well but I knew for a fact that I had no rights to stop him. He'd leave this country because of me. "Because I probably won't see you for...awhile."

"What's awhile?" I had the guts to ask, and even I could hear how panicky I sounded. "A month? A year? A decade? Neji, I need to know how long you will be gone."

"Until the hurt fades," he avoided my eyes. He lied earlier because obviously, he wasn't getting through anything. "I'm still hurting badly, Ino."

Truth to be told, awhile could mean eternity. I was scared that I might not see him ever again. He could probably see the terror in my eyes.

"You said there will be someone out there who's more wonderful than you," he added unhappily. "But that can't be true because you're the most wonderful person that I know."

"I'll always be here for you," I indicated. "And I know that you'll find her."

"Remember that day when I told you that I was very unhappy until you came along?" he made me remember, and I did. "When I told you that, I was ready to make you love me...even if it took forever."

I gave him a small smile, "But you don't deserve to wait – that isn't fair. I've been a selfish bitch for a long time – and although it was truly difficult, I had to change that for your own good. I hope you see how important you are to me."

"I do."

"Please be happy," I begged. "Because that isn't any less than you deserve."

"I'll try," he tried to smile. He stood up from his seat and hugged me. "Promise me that you'll be happy too, Ino...and also, promise me not to hurt yourself anymore."

"I...I pr-promise," I stuttered because I was unsure. It would be hard to be happy and not hurt myself when he wasn't on my side. But for him, I would try to fulfill that promise. "Neji?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for everything."

It had been six months since when Neji left Japan. I found out that he planned to stay in Switzerland for some time. Of course, it was hard for me but I was hanging in there. Neji said I had to be happy too, and that he wished me well.

"Um, Sasuke?" I called his name as he looked at me. "You told me before that Neji wanted a trophy wife, why did you say that?"

"He gave me that vibe," he answered annoyingly. "And I hated him so I didn't want you get to closer to him."

I rolled my eyes, "You're such a douchebag."

"Tell me, Ino," his face was serious. "You liked Neji at first sight, but why couldn't you love him in romantic way?"

"Because I'm stupid and fucked in the head," that was my honest response. "And I think I got traumatized when you hurt me that's why my heart just automatically closed."

"Thank God you're stupid then," he chuckled a little bit. "Although, I thank him for taking care of you while I wasn't with you."

"Not only taking care of me," I added with the most genuine smile. "But also loving me cause I needed that as well."

"Ino," he didn't sound certain when he called me this time. I looked at him as I waited for him to continue, "Are you sure about our relationship?"

"We've talked about this, Sasuke," I told him tiresomely. "We won't be official until the pain of letting Neji go lessens. For now, I just want to enjoy each other's company without any commitment."

"Like what you and Hyuuga had?"

"No," I smirked at him. "Not the sex part – well, you see, Neji and I had sex for more than two years and no, we're not gonna have that until we're officially together."

"What?" it seemed like it wasn't a good news to him that we wouldn't be doing it until we actually became together. "Why not? I don't see the difference between my current relationship with you and what you had with him."

"Exactly," I said, not taking my eyes off of him. "I've learned my lessons, Sasuke."

"What lessons?"

"Not to sleep with someone if you care about them deeply unless you guys are together," I filled him in. "It'd be lesser complicated this way if you and I decided that we weren't really meant to be."

"This sucks," he was very irritated but I knew he could understand. "But if this is what you want, then it's fine with me."

"Thanks," I leaned toward him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I appreciate it."

He nodded as he wrapped his arms around me, "Anything for you."

"Uh, Sasuke?"

"Hm?"

"Can you hand me the newspaper near the TV?" I politely asked. "Please."

"Why for?" he arched his brow. "You don't read the news."

"I know but I wanna check my horoscope for today."

He touched the newspaper and after hesitating for a minute, he crumpled it. My eyes widened and I had to ask him, "Why did you do that?"

"You should stop reading those stupid horoscopes," said Sasuke in a serious manner. "You shouldn't base your day off of that bullshit. It's you who make your own fate, not some kind of astrologer."

"Ugh," I gave up easily on this one because deep down, I knew he was right. I smiled, "Okay then."

And there was a moment of silence until he broke it, "Ino."

"What now, Sasuke?"

"I'll take care of you more than he did," he kissed me on my forehead. "I won't let you down this time."

"I know."

A/N: DONE. I'M DONE. I'm very happy that I'm done with this story. :) Thank you everybody for being very supportive. I had to admit, the ending isn't as solid as I wanted it to be. I don't know why but I'm still kinda satisfied with it. I mean, Ino needs more time since it takes so much thinking and energy to move forward with life. I can't just make her be with Sasuke officially that easily. Everything needs time. :) Every good relationship progresses with time. :) Every person needs to grow in their own time. :)

I'm sorry that I posted this quite delayed because I've been on vacation. I currently am 500 miles away from Los Angeles (SoCal). I am in North California for a two-week long vacation. Although NorCal isn't as fantastic as SoCal, I am hanging in there. Though, I wanna be back home. I miss the awesome beaches in Los Angeles. Also, it's pretty humid out here in NorCal.

Please review. :]