happy new year everyone!

Chapter Sixteen.

Regrets.

Neji.

What if.. What if I wasn't born a Hyuga? Surely, a shift that significant would cause unmistakable changes in my life. I wouldn't be obligated to inherit a massive company, and I'd be able to pursue any dream I had. More importantly, Hinata would no longer feel so inferior as she wasn't going to be compared to me. I wouldn't be there to play the unforgiving wall she has to overcome and make her life miserable. Life would be so much easier without that enormous weight of guilt hanging on my shoulders.

"I like ramen. So much.", Naruto then interrupts my train of thought with an idea of his own.

"Shut up.", Sasuke, who was leaning against the other side of the old tree, said with the same coldness in his voice.

"Tch. You guys wouldn't understand.", Naruto retorted. "Captain?"

I turned towards him. "Hn. What?"

He kept his eyes on the blue sky. "Why aren't you killing us in practice right now?"

I couldn't resist the urge to frown. I, myself, do not know why I'm letting these guys waste hours of precious practice time.

"Hn. You wanna go back to the gym?", I asked.

"No, Sir!", His answer came so quickly that it was quite difficult for me to hide my amusement.

I sat down, my legs stretched out on the green grass, leaning against a tree opposite Naruto and the others. Shikamaru and Choji were sprawled on the green surface just a few yards to my right; Kiba was about two feet to my left, peacefully finishing up a taco.

The silence was comfortable, in the sense that it didn't really feel like I was in the presence of strangers. It was as if I were home.

"Ne, Sasuke. Just call her!" of course, Naruto just couldn't help himself. He never really appreciated the comfort brought on by silence. "What's wrong? Be a man, damn it!"

I glanced at Sasuke. He was holding his cell phone to his face, as if waiting for something.

"Hn. Shut up, Baka.", he answered and then gave Naturo a glare.

In one swift movement, Naruto took Uchiha's phone. If my guess is correct, I'd say the blonde's searching for that girl's, Sakura, if I remember it right, number. Sasuke, on the other hand, was struggling to retrieve his phone by means of brute force. Too bad Naruto was able to anticipate his movements.

After pushing a few buttons, Naruto shoved the mobile into Sasuke's hands with a triumphant smile. "There ya go!"

"Baka.", was Sasuke's only response. He hesitated for a while until he finally held the device to his ear. Immediately, the team turned their attention to the Uchiha.

"Hello?", he said after a few moments.

What Sakura was saying on the other end was inaudible. All we could hear was Sasuke's nervous tone.

"Y-yes.. The theatre?", it was quite funny, seeing him so shaken up.

"Uhm, are you busy or something?", he said. "Sure. I'll be there."

With that, Sasuke dropped his phone and ran for what I assume is the theatre. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's cell phone with a foxy grin. "About time."

I approached the blonde. "About time for what?"

"About time he confessed. Took him long enough.", and then he laughed. "It's not like you fall in love every day."

"When and how did you get so damn sentimental?", Kiba asked with a slight laugh.

"Dude, stop watching chick flicks.", Gaara adds with a smirk.

"I do not watch those sappy movies. I learn by experience.", Naruto retorted proudly.

"Experience my ass. You haven't even had a girlfriend, Baka.", and then the whole crew started laughing, with, of course, a few profanities here and there.

After the exchange of a few jokes about Naruto's "No Girlfriend Since Birth" status, the laughter finally died out.

"You think Sasuke's still breathing?", Kiba asked out of nowhere.

"Only one way to find out.", one-by-one, they got up and started heading to the direction of what I assume is the theatre. "Captain, you coming?", Naruto asked with a slight smile. "I'm pretty sure you wouldn't really want to miss an episode of 'The Uchiha-teme Show'"

I nodded, thinking this ought to be interesting. And with that, we made our way to the theatre.

Apparently, Konoha High's auditorium, including the landscaping, was designed by a Chinese architect, which explains the oriental garden theme.

Naruto was leading, crouched down and moving in caution. I'm sure he's aware of the fact that he'd be dead by morning once Uchiha finds him sneaking around. The others followed him with the same vigilance, and then positioned themselves just behind a perfectly pruned bush. I on the other hand, prefer the spot behind this age old tree. A few meters from our location was Sasuke, his hands on his pockets, his face without emotion.

"Here she comes..", I hear Uzumaki whisper. The auditorium's door opened, out came Sakura with her cellphone in hand. She walks up to Sasuke, exchange a few words, and then started making their way towards God-knows-where.

"Move out!", Naruto said in a hushed tone. The moment Sasuke and Sakura were out of earshot, one by one they stood up.

"Captain, you comin'?", Kiba asked as he walked pass me.

"Hn. You go on ahead.", I answered. For some reason, I wanted to see the auditorium first. Like there's something in there calling me.

And then they were gone.

I entered the theater, and the moment I laid my eyes on her, standing there on the set's balcony, I knew that she was that 'something' in here calling me, pulling me in. Her eyes were shining against the spotlight. Her hands were on the balcony's railings. Her hair wasn't in its usual buns, she had nothing but a simple head band on.

It was as if someone completely different took over my body when I started verbalizing lines from Romeo and Juliet. "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?", right at that line, Tenten turned towards me, and the gave me that sweet smile of hers. "It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!"

"What are you doing here, Romeo?", she asked. What? I honestly have no idea. Not able to find the right answer, I just went on. "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief. That thou her maid art far more fair than she."

"Okay, fine, show me what you've got!", I can't help it but smirk at her words. Challenging me, huh?

"Mind if we skip a few lines, Juliet?", I asked. She smiled, and then started to speak.

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?", I could feel the smile forming on my face. "Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet. Tis but thy name that is mine enemy.", she really did have this pull on me as I found myself walking towards the stage.

"Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo.", the lines were pouring out of me. We exchanged a few more lines until finally, I was below her.

"Not bad, huh?", I asked her. "You'd make a pretty decent actor, Hyuga.", she answered and the invited me to join her at the balcony.

We started talking, and then..

"Like you're not a fan. I never thought you knew those lines, Mr. My-Life's-All-About-Basketball.", she said in a playful tone.

And from then on, things started to be nothing but a blur.

"My life isn't really all about basketball now. I mean, it used to be, but not anymore.", I heard myself say. My heart was pounding. It was as if the words were just spilling out of me. What am I saying? What are you doing, Neji?

And when she asked why, I told her how she knew better than anyone else.. "Ever since you came..", I began, wanting to finally get these feelings of mine out. It's now or never, isn't it?

My emotions were starting to take over. Maybe I should just stop holding back..

"I'm not gonna fall for that again, Neji!", she said, obviously not taking my words seriously.

"Then why don't you fall for me instead?", I answered her with all the courage I have, remembering the time I played that joke on her. Isn't it ironic, how I've fallen head over heels?

"I'm not playing tricks, I'm done with that foolishness, Tenten.", I said in frustration. What is happening to me? Why am I so lost for words? "I-I mean.. You.. You are something else."

"Wh-what are you saying?", what am I saying, she asks? What does she think? Isn't it clear?

I looked at her. "What I'm saying is that.. My life's starting to be all about you.." Staring into those beautiful hazel eyes, I was finally unafraid. Never in my life have I been more sure.

"I think I'm in love with you, Tenten.", I took her hand and placed it over my chest. Hopefully feeling how my heart was pounding would convince her how genuine my feelings are. "I've never been in love before. Is this how it feels like?"

She surprised me. "I-I don't know. I've never been in love too.", she said. "Not until.."

The auditorium's door swung open. Not until what? I wanted her to continue, but she didn't.

"I'd be going then. Bye, Neji.", was all she said and the she ran off. And right at that moment, I felt as if my heart.. no.. my entire being has been shattered into so many pieces. She doesn't feel the same way, doesn't she? Why would you blame her, Neji? She obviously deserves someone better than you.

I shouldn't have told her.