I've been working on something rather unconventional for some time now. This is a preview. It's quite different from anything I've written before, more daring and sensitive in nature. The inspiration struck while I was immersed in the manga 'Even if You Don't Do It.' This manga is a treasure trove of profound thoughts, sensitive topics, and deep emotions. Imagine my delight when I found out it was adapted into a live-action series this year!
Rest assured, though, this new project is nothing like it. It's a unique venture.
On another note, I've been contemplating a rewrite of 'Complicated Feelings,' my very first work, which was published exactly a year ago (hooray for the one-year anniversary!). I must admit that I'm not entirely satisfied with the quality of my favorite story, and I'm determined to revisit and enhance it in due time.
Just sneek a peek and let me know what you think so far. Thanks for reading :)
With her feet propped against the wall and her head reclined on the ground, Hinata found herself mesmerized by the languid dance of the ceiling fan, its gentle breeze barely providing relief from the scorching summer afternoon. She took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled a wispy plume of smoke into the air.
"I'll never forgive you, Ino-chan, for introducing me to this bad habit," she sighed.
Ino giggled, exhaling a puff of smoke before taking a sip of her beer. "That's exactly what I told Shikamaru."
Hinata was briefly lost in thought. The heat was unbearable, and her surroundings seemed to blur together.
"How are the roses doing?" Ino inquired.
"They're thriving, thanks to your fertilizers, Ino-chan. I can see the difference," Hinata replied, her happiness evident. Apart from her garden and flowers, her life seemed rather uneventful.
Hinata sat up slowly, extinguishing her cigarette, and took a sip of her iced tea. She gazed intently at Ino, who reclined on the couch with a cigarette in hand.
"I envy you, Ino-chan," Hinata whispered softly.
Ino sat up, smiling proudly. "Envy me for what exactly?"
Hinata frowned, "Sai-san doesn't have any friends; his entire world revolves around you."
"He has his hobby!" Ino responded dismissively.
"He's obsessed with drawing you!" Hinata sighed. "I wish Naruto-kun were obsessed with me like that." Her heart ached, and tears threatened to well up in her eyes.
Ino struggled to find the right words. "I'm sure he loves you in his own way."
After months of marriage, Hinata still couldn't decipher what "his own way of love" meant.
"Yes, I know," Hinata replied, mentally chastising herself for being so sensitive in front of Ino. But that was precisely why she enjoyed Ino's company. Ino never judged her; she was confident, empathetic, and open-minded, Hinata thought.
"I have to go now, Ino-chan. I'll see you in the Yamanaka gardens, just like last weekend," Hinata said as she got up to leave.
"Don't be late; Dahlia needs to be picked early. And thanks again for the caramel pudding, Hinata," Ino said, extinguishing her cigarette and accompanying Hinata to the door.
"It's nothing. I wanted to apologise for the small portion of cherry tomatoes I brought last week," Hinata added with a smile.
He ate almost all of them. Hinata had just lovingly gathered a generous basket of Ino's favourite cherry tomatoes, intending to deliver them. She briefly left to change her clothes, but when she returned downstairs, she was met with an unpleasant surprise. Naruto and his hideous friend, had returned, and the basket had vanished. To her disappointment, it was now in Sasuke's hands, and he had voraciously devoured more than half of its contents. How could someone consume tomatoes so rapidly? Hinata stood frozen, watching in disbelief as he continued to pop the tomatoes into his mouth as if they were mere peanuts, sitting casually next to Naruto, who was engrossed in his own conversation.
Sasuke noticed her teary eyes and raised an eyebrow. Hinata approached shyly, extending her hand hesitantly, silently requesting the basket back. He compiled without a word, not even bothering to apologise for devouring her cherries without her consent.
She overheard him ask Naruto behind her back, "You sure she knows how to talk?" It was an unforgettable unkind remark from that despicable human.
Naruto chuckled softly in response, "Don't be so harsh, Sasuke. She's just shy and probably really upset. But that won't last long. She's very forgiving."
No, she thought to herself, she would never forgive him. Sasuke didn't deserve her forgiveness. It's not about the cherries, she knows she is a generous person. It's about his egoism and arrogance that made her furious.
Her mind drifted back to Sasuke's bitter comment when she had first married Naruto, a comment that had left a lasting mark. It was a reminder of the hurtful words and actions she had endured, and it fueled her determination never to let Sasuke off the hook for his inconsiderate behaviour.
After a few days of their marriage, Naruto had suggested for Hinata to meet with his friends at a barbecue party. It was a few days into their honeymoon that was ruptured because Naruto missed his friends especially Sasuke dearly. Nonetheless, it was an opportunity for Hinata to get to know Naruto's friends better and step out of her comfort zone. As they arrived at the barbecue venue, Hinata couldn't help but notice Sasuke's distant and aloof demeanour, he looked definitely apprehensive. Determined to get to know everyone better, especially Sasuke as her husband's best friend, she decided to strike up a conversation.
Seated facing him at the low table, Hinata leaned slightly towards Sasuke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you okay, Sasuke-kun? You look uncomfortable," she asked with genuine concern, assuming that he might share her shyness in social events.
Sasuke's eyes, filled with a mixture of annoyance and irritation, met Hinata's gaze. His response carried a hint of sarcasm as he replied, "Why would I be uncomfortable? I'm surrounded by lovely people like yourself." The sarcasm was lost on Hinata, who took his words at face value.
Relieved that he didn't seem distressed, Hinata smiled warmly. "Oh, that's good to hear. I'm glad you're having a good time," she replied, her naivety shining through.
Sasuke's mouth twitched with a blend of frustration and exasperation. Sensing his growing discomfort, he abruptly stood up from his place. "I'm leaving, Naruto," he announced curtly, before turning away and making his way home.
Hinata watched Sasuke's departure, perplexed by his sudden exit. She couldn't understand why he seemed so distant and why her attempt to engage with him had ended on such a sour note. Then a flicker of realisation crossed her face, and the true nature of Sasuke's words dawned on her. The sarcasm became painfully evident to her, and she felt a sinking feeling in her chest. The hope she had held of getting to know him better, quickly diminished.
Hinata's gaze shifted downward as she sat silently at the table, her sense of isolation growing amidst the ongoing party. The surrounding energy and excitement felt distant, and her confidence wavered under Sasuke's dismissive remark. She wondered if she was better off retreating back into her comfort zone, where she wouldn't risk encountering such biting sarcasm and potential rejection.
This encounter further solidified her negative impression of Sasuke, leaving her disheartened and pondering whether she would ever be able to bridge the gap between them. If it weren't for Ino, who quickly took her under her wing and helped her regain her confidence while connecting with the rest of the group, Hinata might have felt even more alienated.
Hinata couldn't help but feel a growing frustration towards the constant presence of that "creature" in her husband Naruto's life. She yearned for weekends filled with quality time alone with Naruto, to go shopping, visit her family, run errands, or enjoy a romantic date night. However, Naruto always seemed preoccupied, and it wasn't entirely by choice.
In her eyes, his… he… that "unhuman-like person" forces Naruto to spar with him relentlessly on his days off. The Uchiha would arrive early in the morning, often dragging Naruto from his bed and sometimes even down the stairs by his ankle. These encounters left Naruto with bumps on his head and back. He doesn't even let him have his breakfast. Naruto was happy with that, explaining that he looked forward to his days off all week and couldn't afford to waste any time.
Deep down, Hinata suspected that Naruto might be using the excuse of sparring with Sasuke as a way to avoid their shared responsibilities as a married couple. Yet, instead of addressing the issue directly with Naruto, she found it easier to blame Sasuke and channel her resentment towards him. Confrontation and arguments were not Hinata's preferred way of handling things. It's easier if you want a peaceful life and she wants that with Naruto. She avoided bringing up what bothered her, often enduring it or placing the blame on someone else.
Still, Hinata couldn't deny that Sasuke wasn't blameless in the situation. He wasn't an angel, he is not even close to being human. In her mind, Sasuke should be more considerate and understand that Naruto is now married and had someone special in his life. She wished Sasuke would seek companionship of his own, diverting his attention away from intruding on Naruto's time. Yet, she doubted there was a woman who could captivate the Uchiha's heart, given his history of admirers, but she couldn't fathom what it would be like to be married to someone as unpleasant as him.
Hinata was well aware of the harshness of her thoughts and feelings towards Sasuke, and she acknowledged the unkindness of her judgments. But with each instance of Naruto returning home with bruises and cuts from his sparring sessions with Sasuke, her resentment towards him grew stronger. She held him accountable for hurting her beloved husband and intruding upon the precious moments they could share.
Walking through the streets of Konoha, Hinata tried to push these thoughts to the back of her mind. She needed to focus on the present and plan what she would cook for dinner, hoping that Naruto wouldn't be late, as usual.
Naruto was occupied with learning the chunin materials he had missed while following Jiraiya, as well as the additional theoretical knowledge required for his time as an Anbu.
Inside the supermarket, Hinata browsed the aisles, hoping to find some inspiration from the day's sales for her dinner plans. She needed tea and coffee and found herself standing at the beginning of the tea and coffee aisle. To her surprise, Sasuke was at the other end. She flinched at the sight of him. Of all the people she could have encountered, she was face to face with the one person she genuinely disliked. This was an uncommon feeling for Hinata, as she was forgiving and sweet to almost everyone, even those who had hurt her. But when it came to Sasuke, she couldn't bring herself to like him. She walked hesitantly toward the tea she wanted to buy, unable to retreat now that he had spotted her and was approaching as well.
As they stood in front of each other, Hinata nodded courtesy and greeted the Uchiha softly. "S...Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke, however, responded with cold, emotionless eyes, not bothering to answer her greeting. His lack of acknowledgment only fueled Hinata's growing bitterness towards him.
Turning her attention to the tea selection, Hinata reached for the package she intended to purchase. To her surprise, Sasuke's hand also reached for the same package, causing his rugged hand to touch her delicate one. Hinata quickly withdrew her hand, as if getting an electric ripple, clutching it to her chest, and stammered, "S-Sumimasen!" She bowed repeatedly, apologising, surprise evident in her widened eyes. But Sasuke didn't miss also … a hint of disgust.