First of all, I would like to thank you guys who continue to read and review my story. Thanks so much. You inspire me to write even more. :) Well, here goes. R/R

Chapter 6.

Lost and Found.

Maybe I haven't told you this before, but I live alone in an apartment near the school, well, not technically "alone". It's just that, I don't have my family here with me. You see, I came from the country side, where my family still resides. Back in our place, I was the "lucky girl" who scored a scholarship into one of the country's top high schools. Konoha High's a big-shot high school if you must know, and there's practically only two ways to get in. Either you pass the overly difficult entrance exam, or have the financial capabilities to pay for the monstrous tuition fees. Well, enough of that.

My apartment, or more likely, the room I'm staying at, is located at the top floor of a bakery near the school. The bakery is owned by the Haruno family. I'm related to them after all. I pay rent in terms of labor. Yes, I work at the bakery during the weekends and after school along with my cousin, Sakura. And no matter how tired I am from all the hard work Hyuga Neji put me through, I can't just abandon my work down at the bakery. I owe the Haruno family so much.

Hyuga Neji.

And all my hard work of forgetting what just happened about an hour ago went to waste. My mind started playing back what happened. Again.

"Not everyone thinks of you like that."

...

Maybe he.. maybe he's playing a joke on me..

Yeah, maybe he's just playing with me. Trying to get on my nerves, huh?

But that look in his eyes.. almost like he really meant what he said.

"I don't think that."

And the way he spoke to me.. His tone was just.. just..

Oh forget it. The more I think about what happened, the more I get confused.

"Tenten, could you hand over that tray for me?", I turned my head and saw Sakura staring at me. "You look kinda distracted.", she said with a slight pout. I took the bread tray on the shelf I was holding on to and handed it over to her. It was already 7 in the evening and the shop's just about to close.

I was still in my school uniform. My white blouse's sleeves were to my elbows. My plaid (blue and black) necktie with the school's crest hung loosely around my neck. On the other hand, my plaid knee length skirt, also in our school colors of blue and black, was in a worst condition. Remember how Hyuga Neji tossed an open bottle of energy drink? Yes, that's what caused this sticky dark spot right here.

Hyuga Neji. Well. There goes that name again.

A second later, her chin was on my right shoulder. "Something happened?"

Should I tell her? After all, she knows about everything I've been through the past week AND she too thinks that Hyuga's sort of a jerk. Well, she IS my best friend.

"It's just that.. T-the basketball team.. uhm.. H-hyuga Neji-", and before I could form a proper sentence, she cut me off.

"Oh? What about Hyuga Neji?", she too was on her uniform. She moved, carrying the bread tray in hand until she was in front of me.

"I-it's just that.. He..", again, before I could even say anything sensible, Cherry Blossom-Sakura cut me off again.

Her head was turned towards the direction of the bakery's glass door. Her green eyes were slightly widened.

"That's Hyuga Neji right there.", she whispered.

I didn't know what to think. You too, playing a joke on me, Sakura?

"Sakura.. This isn't a time for jokes like that..", I said. But still, joke or no joke, I couldn't help but look towards the door too.

And she wasn't kidding me.

Hyuga Neji was here. No, there. Outside the bakery. He had a plain white shirt on and black slacks. His sling bag was on his shoulder and in his right hand, was something familiar..

He pushed open the door.

"G-good evening, Sir.", Sakura greeted him with what was most likely a fake smile. "What can I do for you?"

"Can I talk to Tenten?", he said in his same old stern voice. What?

"U-uhm, sure. Go Tenten. I'll finish up here.", Sakura then gave me a slight push towards him. Of course, as much as I am so darn nervous, I walked over to him. I thought he planned on saying whatever it was he wanted say to me here inside but he led me outside instead.

He pulled open the door and stepped out. I followed him. His long brown hair was tied up in a low ponytail. It;s funny how it swayed back and forth in the cool wind.

Then he faced me. He was leaning down on me and staring with those eyes of his.

"W-what do you need?", I asked, trying not to stutter. I kept my eyes on my black school shoes instead of looking at him.

He brought up his right hand to my eye level. It was closed up into a fist.

No. Don't tell me he plans on beating me up. Right in front of the Haruno's bakery.

Oh God. I knew that it would eventually come to this.

Then to my surprise, he opened of his hand. Revealing my floral handkerchief. I must have dropped it on the way out.. but how did he-

"I left something in the gym. I found this on the floor when I came back in there. Figured it might be yours.", and at that time, I couldn't stop myself from looking up to his eyes.

What on earth is happening here?

He was so mean before. Not even bothering to talk to me last week even after making me suffer hard labor. Giving me all that dirty laundry, making me clean up the gym by myself, even making me polish the weights once every morning. Now he.. he suddenly changes into this.. What is wrong with you Hyuga Neji?

On impulse, I took the handkerchief from him and shoved it into my skirt pocket. "T-thanks.", I muttered.

Then he turned around. "Good night." and then he left.

Was it really possible for a person to change overnight?

Or was this really part of some joke?

You confuse me so much, Captain.