He was attending the wedding of one of his closest friends when he caught sight of her. She wore a striking black strapless dress with a neckline that teased the imagination, standing gracefully amidst flowers that matched her vibrant pink hair. She was engrossed in laughter with her friends, seemingly oblivious to the effect she was having on him. He found himself entranced by her beauty, his mouth slightly agape, and in his distraction, the glass of drink in his hand went slack. Shaking himself out of the daze, he cleared his throat.
"I should talk to her," he thought to himself.
"Hey, Gaara! Where are you going?" Kiba asked.
"I - I'll be right back," he replied, smoothing his hair. Determined to approach the captivating woman, he took a couple of steps forward, only to see a tall man coming up behind her and wrapping his arm around her waist. She happily turned into his embrace, sharing a tender kiss with him.
Gaara came to an abrupt halt, the reality hitting him hard. Of course, a woman of such beauty would already have a partner. And naturally, it had to be Itachi Uchiha, the man capable of sweeping someone like her off her feet. He couldn't help but let out a sigh, trying to collect himself as he straightened up and adjusted his collar, concealing his disappointment behind a composed facade. Nonchalantly, he turned on his heels and made his way toward the bathroom instead.
As Itachi led Sakura to the dance floor, the soft melody of the music enveloped them. The warm glow of the chandeliers above created an intimate ambiance, setting the perfect atmosphere for the couple to share a tender dance together.
Sakura smiled as she looked up at Itachi, feeling a mix of happiness and a hint of sadness at the time they had missed together. She placed her hand gently on his shoulder and wrapped her other hand in his, feeling the familiar comfort of his touch.
"Itachi, this is such a beautiful wedding," Sakura said, glancing around at the elegant decorations. "I'm so happy for Naruto. And I'm glad we could make it here together."
He smiled back, the tenderness in his eyes reflecting his feelings for her. "Yes, it is lovely, just like you," he said, pulling her a little closer. "I know we haven't had as much time together as we'd like lately, but I'm grateful for moments like this."
Sakura nodded, trying to keep the tension beneath the surface of her words. "Me too. We've both been so busy with work, but I appreciate every moment we do get to spend together."
The soft rhythm of the music guided their movements as they swayed gently to the beat. Itachi's gaze seemed to hold a mix of remorse and determination, as if he regretted the time they lost but was determined to make it right.
"I promise I'll make more time for us," Itachi said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "We shouldn't let our schedules keep us apart like this."
Sakura felt a warmth in her heart at his words. "I know it's not easy for either of us," she replied, trying to convey her understanding. "We're both committed to our passions, and I admire your dedication to your family business. It might get tough sometimes, but we'll get through this."
He nodded, appreciating her understanding. "You're incredibly important to me, Sakura. I want to be there for you always."
She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. "I love you, Itachi. And I believe in us. We'll figure this out, together."
The song continued, and they danced in each other's arms. In the soft embrace of the dance, they found solace in knowing that despite the challenges, they were still connected. They knew there were more conversations to be had and obstacles to overcome, but for now, they were content in the warmth of each other's presence and the promise of a love that was worth fighting for.
Sasuke stood at the edge of the dance floor, hidden in the shadows, watching Itachi and Sakura sway gently to the music. His dark eyes followed their every move, but his expression remained stoic and unreadable, as usual. Seeing her with his older brother tugged at something inside him, igniting a sense of longing he couldn't quite shake.
The conflict within him was evident. On one hand, he wanted his brother to be happy, and he knew that Itachi genuinely cared for Sakura. But on the other hand, he yearned for a chance to be the one dancing with her, to share those intimate moments and create memories of their own.
Sasuke's heart tightened as he reminded himself where he was. He couldn't risk revealing his true feelings, especially not to Itachi, who had always been the golden son in their family's eyes. Instead, he turned away slightly, allowing the shadows to cloak him, as he tried to push his emotions deeper inside.
"Sasukeee!" Karin's voice rang out, her hand grabbing his wrist with a firm grip. "Let's dance! I can't believe you've been standing here all alone like a wallflower."
Sasuke's eyes darted to Karin, his lips pursed. Karin had inserted herself into a relationship with him for a few weeks now. Every time he resolved to end things with her, she would deploy her seductive charm, and regardless of how stoic people might think he was, he was, after all, a man. He couldn't deny that Karin's presence injected a certain level of excitement into his life, with lingering glances and intimate touches hinting at a passionate connection that transcended their other issues.
Their moments together were filled with an undeniable intensity, especially behind closed doors, where Karin's tantalizing allure and mesmerizing prowess ignited a fiery passion that made it difficult for him to resist her, even if the rest of her behavior, which was often a rollercoaster of wild and unpredictable emotions, seemed somewhat erratic. Despite that, he felt trapped in this charade, knowing that the image of having a girlfriend was an easy way to maintain appearances.
He reluctantly followed her onto the dance floor. Karin's erratic movements contrasted with the gentle sway of the couples around them, but she seemed entirely unfazed by it. "Come on, Sasuke, loosen up! Let's show them how it's done!" she declared, pulling him closer and attempting some elaborate dance moves.
Sasuke sighed inwardly, going along with her dance moves, but his gaze inevitably wandered back to Itachi and Sakura. He couldn't help but admire the genuine connection they had, and a part of him wished he could experience something similar, free from the constraints of this superficial relationship.
Karin, oblivious to his divided attention, chattered on, her voice loud and animated. "You know, I'm the envy of every girl here with you as my boyfriend. We look so perfect together!"
"Sure," he replied nonchalantly, trying to keep up the act. "If that's how we look."
Karin beamed, seemingly satisfied with his response, and continued dancing, twirling around him with a flair that drew the attention of a few onlookers. Sasuke felt like an unwilling participant in a performance he didn't want to be a part of, but he couldn't find a way to extricate himself from the situation gracefully.
As the song came to an end, Sasuke watched as Itachi and Sakura exchanged a warm embrace. His eyes involuntarily flickered with a hint of envy. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check, to maintain the appearance of composure even though turmoil brewed within.
Karin hugged him tightly, her ample curves pressing against him, seemingly oblivious to his inner struggles, and clearly pleased with their dance. "See? We make a great team," she said, her voice filled with confidence. Sasuke didn't say anything. He extricated himself from her embrace and quickly left after saying something about needing to use the bathroom. He needed to get away from her. And from them.
The sound of the crowd and music dulled as he entered the bathroom. He leaned over the sink and splashed water on his face, trying to wash away the turbulent emotions. Straightening up, he gazed into the mirror, but the reflection staring back at him was not one he liked. It was the face of a man in love with his brother's girlfriend – the woman he might one day marry, and he would have to stand and watch it all happen as the best man.
Sasuke clenched his teeth, questioning how he could call it love when he barely knew her. Sure, she had labeled them as "friends" and they had spent time together in their group outings, but they had hardly had any private moments together. And when they did, he had been a reluctant participant in their conversations.
She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world, yet every time she entered a room, he felt captivated. His heart and mind were overwhelmed with desire and longing. It felt as though they were destined to be together, two halves meant to be one. But there he stood, trapped in a sad, lonely charade of a relationship. And there she was, with the wrong brother.
Yet, despite these feelings, he couldn't bring himself to pursue Sakura as long as she was with Itachi. He could never betray his brother in that way.
As Sasuke stood in the bathroom, lost in his thoughts, the door swung open with a burst of energy, and Naruto barged in, looking for him.
"There you are! I've been looking for you all over. The party isn't complete without my best buddy!" Naruto said with a wide grin. "By the way, I'm surprised you're still with Karin! I thought it wouldn't work out, but you've been together longer than I expected."
Sasuke sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was just a temporary thing, not a serious relationship," he replied curtly, not wanting to delve into the details of his complicated connection with Karin.
Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, I figured that much. She's kinda crazy, but I thought she'd make for a good distraction, you know? Like a little escape from your thoughts about someone else."
Sasuke glanced away, not wanting to reveal too much. "It wasn't like that," he said dismissively, trying to steer the conversation away from his feelings.
Naruto, being Naruto, could sense that there was more to the story. He leaned against the bathroom counter and looked at his friend with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Come on, Sasuke. I may not be the most perceptive guy, but I know you better than anyone. Something's been bothering you lately, and I have a pretty good idea what it is."
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat, but he tried to play it cool. "You're imagining things."
Naruto chuckled again. "Imagining, my foot! It's written all over your face. You've got a thing for Sakura-chan, haven't you?"
Sasuke's gaze snapped back to Naruto's, surprised that his friend had picked up on his feelings. He remained silent, not confirming or denying anything.
Naruto grinned, giving his friend an encouraging pat on the back. "Look, Sasuke, I know she's with Itachi right now, but you never know what the future holds. If you really care about her, you should do something about it. Don't let opportunities slip away."
Sasuke felt a mix of gratitude and discomfort at Naruto's words. "I don't know, Naruto. It's complicated," he muttered, struggling to express the depth of his emotions.
Naruto nodded, understanding that his friend wasn't one to openly discuss matters of the heart. "I get it. Just remember, I'm here for you, no matter what happens," he said, offering a reassuring smile.
With that, Naruto patted Sasuke on the back once more before leaving the bathroom, leaving Sasuke to ponder his friend's advice. The weight of his unspoken feelings for Sakura felt both burdensome and hopeful. As he returned to the festivities, he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Naruto was right – maybe it was time to consider taking a chance and seeing where his heart would lead him.