Her midterms are coming-and yet, she can not focus, can not think straight. Because she misses him-so much she feels her heart is going to burst. She misses his smirks, his scowls, his annoyed remarks - just every little thing about him.
She keeps on staring at her phone hoping, pleading to whomever up there to finally see the one name flash on her phone's screen- just one text message will do. She does not even care if it is just a blank message. She just wants to know if he's alive and well and that he's completely fine without her.
She knew it before they were even five. That she was hopelessly in love with Sasuke Uchiha.
It was only a few months since she left Japan to pursue her dreams to become a renowned doctor. She worked hard until she dropped literally, just to get the scholarship she was aiming for ever since. And now, she is here. She is a few steps away from her dream. She can't-shouldn't just drop everything away for him.
She left him without saying goodbye. And she regretted that, but it was his fault for being such an ass. And being the stupid, emotionless Uchiha that he is, he had never bothered to contact her at all after all this time. She always tried to ask Naruto about him-how he was doing, if he said anything about her. However and much to her dismay, her goofball friend had also no idea about Sasuke's whereabouts. It worries her.
She thought that it was rather childish of her to not reach out to him when they had a huge argument and she left without really talking to him. But this, this silence from him for so long is killing her. She just wanted to hear his voice and just to assure her that he is fine without her constantly reminding him to eat properly and sleep enough.
Before she knew it, the tears blurred her vision and they dropped onto her phone. She tried to call him, to message him, to send an email. She tried everything-she apologized even if she clearly remembered he was the one who started their fight. And to no avail, no response. How long will he really punish her?
A loud knock disrupted her thoughts, thinking it was her dorm mate, she hastily wiped her tears and got up from her bed to open the door. Three more impatient knocks vibrated throughout the room. Sakura mutters an impatient curse before swinging the door wide open. But then, instead of the Hyuuga heiress, standing before her is a man with familiar onyx eyes and midnight black hair, his hand clutching a plastic bag of her favorite dango. But before she can open her mouth to say something, anything-he had beaten her to it.
"You really are damned annoying." He smirks at her as if nothing happened over the past three months.
She was too stunned. Her eyes so wide she feels the tears threatening to fall once again. There is a battle going on inside her head; she's not sure whether to flung her arms around him or close the door to his face pretending not to know him.
And then, she came to a conclusion.
Her eyes hardened and she punched him hard she could feel his jaw getting bruised.
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The little girl kept on glancing at the clock, frowning as the minutes go by. Her Papa hadn't woken up yet, and she was getting a little impatient. He had promised last night that he would be the one to take her to school today. But Mama, upon hearing it from her this morning, insisted not to disturb her Papa and just let him be.
"Come on, Sarada, finish your food. I'll drop you at your school. After all, I'm coming back to work today!" Her Mama cheerfully announced as she sat down across from her.
"But Auntie Ino said you should not go to work yet." Sarada's scowl deepened.
"Oh, shh, baby, don't listen to your aunt. I'm perfectly fine now. I've already had enough sleep for the past few days. It's Mama's duty to save the world again." Her Mama smiled brightly.
Sarada did not say anything for a few seconds staring at her plate thinking whether to insist on her Papa's promise last night or coax her into letting her Papa join them, Sakura could not tell. But when her daughter looked up at her again, she was not scowling, instead, Sarada was biting her lower lip trying not to cry.
"Are you really okay now, Mama?"
At the sight of her daughter's worried face, Sakura could not help but feel guilty. Her earlier excitement about going back to work (please let her go back, please do not let Dr. Tsunade find about it so soon) died down. She was about to say something to assure her daughter but Sarada was not looking at her anymore, but past her.
"Papa! Good morning!" Sarada was back to her cheerful self, jumping down from her seat to hug Sasuke.
He was wearing blue pajamas and an old college shirt Sakura barely recognized. His eyes seemed unfocused indicating he was still barely awake, looking down at his daughter. Sakura also took note of how sexy his bed hair is with its messy and curly style as if it was styled by a professional. She always teased him about it before. Yeah, right. Before everything fell apart.
"What?" He looked up at the pink-haired woman expectantly, an eyebrow raised.
That was when Sakura noticed how she was ogling at him intently. She swallowed hard before bringing back her attention to their daughter reminding her of her things for school. She made herself busy by ushering the little girl into her room.
When she went out of Sarada's room, Sasuke frowned at her, his hair already back to its spiked hair in the back. "I'll take Sarada to school today. Just like I promised last night." He looked at her like he smelled something bad. "If you want to die, go on ahead, don't involve my daughter into it."
Sakura was not sure whether to laugh or roll her eyes at what did he say. "I'm perfectly fine, why, thank you Sasuke-kun for your concern." She glared at him in return, challenging him to argue with her.
"I'll take her. And that's final." He gave her one of his signature death glares before going into the bathroom to take a quick shower.
She let out an unimpressed huff of laughter not bothering to conceal her anger too early in the morning. She rolled her eyes as she heard the door of the bathroom slam a little too hard. And then, the idea occurred to her.
She quickly went to Sarada's room urging her daughter to finish fixing her things. She smirked inwardly; she knew she could not win against him, however, she can outsmart him. After all, what can he do when they've already left?
Sarada complained nonstop as her mother continued to pull her into the car in the garden. "But Mama, can't we wait for Papa?"
"Your Papa's busy. We should not disturb him, Sarada." Sakura replied quietly trying to lower her voice in case Sasuke could hear them. The little girl pouted, insisting that it is still early and that they can wait for him.
But life really has to fuck with Sakura.
Sasuke, already dressed in his usual business casual clothes, emerged in the garden. He crossed his arms as he glowered at Sakura, who by the way, was frozen in place as she was putting her medical coat at the back of her car.
"Really, Sakura?" He did not bother to conceal his annoyance even if Sarada was around.
Trying not to emit a frustrated growl, Sakura gritted her teeth. She was so close. She settled to let out a defeated sigh before looking at him. "I already told you, Sasuke, I'm going to work today so I might as well take Sarada on the way. I do not wish to bother you." Her voice so tight the Uchiha heir was sure she was struggling not to strangle him-well, he was trying not to lose his temper either.
"And I made myself clear it is not of any inconvenience if it is Sarada. I did promise her so I'm going to keep it." He strode forward, snatching Sarada's bag from the equally furious pink-head's hands. His voice so deep and clear, challenging the woman before him to dare argue with him once more.
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Sarada tearfully gazed back and forth towards her Mama and Papa. She never witnessed them disagree before, let alone argue. She could feel her Mama's temper rising as well as her Papa losing his patience.
They were too absorbed in their argument they did not notice that she was already crying seeing them fight for the first time. "I'll just go with Aunt Ino. Please don't fight." Sarada bravely spoke, her voice just above a whisper.
And like magic, their earlier death-glaring match dissipated into thin air releasing all the tension as they looked into her confirming her earlier suspicion that they forgot all about her presence as they fight.
Mama opened her mouth to speak but it was as if she was still processing what was going on, too shocked to notice she was actually there standing worriedly gazing at them. But then, her eyes became hard once again and her lips set into a thin line addressing her Papa. "Sasuke, please, just let us go in peace. You heard our daughter."
But Papa merely snorted in response before shaking his head slightly and crouching down to her level altogether. His eyes were not angry anymore as he wiped the tears on her face. "Your Mama and I were just concerned about your safety." Sarada frowned, clearly not believing a word her father just said.
Out of the corner of her eye, however, she was relieved to find her Mama seemed relaxed as well. "Sarada, who do you want to go with?" Her Papa questioned her. She could feel the pressure as they eyed her expectantly.
"I want to go with Papa and Mama. Please?" She looked at her Papa, pleading with her eyes, knowing he could never resist it. And that she could never really convince her Mama as she saw her mother frowned clearly not liking her decision.
"Okay." Her Papa said after a while. She was so happy she threw her arms around her Papa expecting him to lift her up like he usually does. But Mama was having none of that as she glared at the two of them.
"No." Her voice was firm, with no room for arguments. "You're coming with me, Sarada Haruno. Now."
Her Papa set her down in an instant, an eyebrow raised at her Mama. "What is wrong with you?"
She could feel her tears gathering in her eyes once again, afraid of her Mama's wrath that was almost never directed at her. But her Mama chose to ignore her Papa and then addressed her once again. "Well, you just can't cry just because you can't have what you want, Sarada."
This time before the pink-head could pull her daughter, the Uchiha heir put himself between her and Sarada. "Are you serious, Sakura? Do you really want to do this in front of our child?" He was gritting his teeth once again.
As if the words the Uchiha heir just said had only registered on her mind, her earlier scowl on her lips slowly became a thin line before her eyes set upon their daughter fearfully peering at her. She then looked up at the man in front of her; the look on her eyes gave out that she was also surprised by her own outburst.
"I-Sarada-" She tried to reach out to her daughter but the little girl further recoiled from her, clearly she was shaken by her sudden temper tantrum. Hurt by her own daughter's actions, she felt a sharp pain in her chest as if she was getting stabbed.
It was then that Sasuke decided to interrupt. In a calming voice, he faced their daughter. "Sarada, it's fine. Your Mama and I were just discussing. We just want to be with you, okay? Don't cry anymore." He proceeded to wipe the tears from her eyes. And as expected, the little Uchiha threw her arms around her father mumbling repeatedly that she was just scared.
As he stood up carrying their child, Sakura avoided his eyes as he moved into the car.
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Sarada clutched at her favorite green stuffed dinosaur, Plushie, as she looked back and forth to her father and mother from the passenger seat of the car. Her father eyed her discreetly from the rearview mirror as he drove on the way to her school.
Meanwhile, her mother chose to stay silent throughout the trip looking through the window. Sarada bit her lip, still worried about her Mama.
She was having conflicted emotions as it was the first time she was able to go to school with both of her parents. It was not what she imagined it would be. She felt like it was her fault for dragging them both and causing their fight. If it would be like this, Sarada wished it would just be her Uncle Itachi to bring her to school like the usual even if other kids in school tease her for not having a Papa.
As they arrived at her school, she tried to make a neutral expression as her parents accompanied her to the entrance. Sensing her inner turmoil, her father stopped midway and crouched down to look at her carefully.
He sighed before speaking. "Sarada, look at Papa." She finally looked up to meet Sasuke's gaze but her saddened expression did not change. "You should have seen your face in the mirror. Are you not happy with us accompanying you today? Do you want your Uncle instead?"
She immediately shook her head no. "Of course not, Papa! I'm happy, so happy!"
"Then what's with that expression in your face?" Her Papa frowned.
At that time, Sakura crouched down to her level as well. "Are you scared of Mama?"
"No, I-I'm just-"
Then, without warning, Sakura suddenly pulled her daughter in a hug. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I did not- we did not mean to startle you like that. Forgive us?" She released her for a bit to look at the little girl's face.
"Of course, Mama. I love you!" She then buried her face into her Mama's embrace looking at her Papa, smiling once again.
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Sakura carefully slipped into her office once she stepped foot at the hospital entrance warning with her eyes as nurses and other doctors noticed her. She exhaled a sigh of relief as she scanned through the small pipe of her door with no signs of Dr. Tsunade storming after her.
However, she was not even able to take a minute of peace because her loudmouth of a best friend was already knocking furiously on her door. "Open the door, you stubborn Sakura Haruno, or I swear, Dr. Tsunade will be the last of your worries!"
Letting a frustrated growl, she strode forward opening the door. Not bothering to face the blonde, she abruptly turned around already putting on her white coat. She sat down on her desk picking up seemed like a medical record of one of her patients.
"Are you seriously ignoring me, you wretch?!"
"Geez, Ino, keep screaming, it's not enough for us to be heard across the street." She looked at her blankly, continuing to read her files.
"Forehead, are you kidding me? Dr. Tsunade clearly forbids you to work for a week! Sakura, a week! And it's only been four days! I did not know you lost your ability to count." Ino continued to lecture the pink-head but obviously, the stubborn doctor was having none of that.
The blonde dramatically sighed before sitting on the nearby couch. "Is it really that unbearable to live with the love of your life?
Sakura rolled her eyes at that. "Love of my life? Are you kidding me? I'm a second away from strangling him!"
"My, my. Hope you hang in there, Forehead. Your kid can hear you fighting."
Sakura closed her eyes before exhaling loudly. "Speaking of which." She then proceeded to tell her best friend the earlier events.
"Wow, you guys are so matured." Sakura was not sure whether to kick her best friend or to defend herself at the comment so she settled to roll her eyes again.
"So until when will your precious Sasuke-kun stay in your apartment?"
"I'm not sure too. We really haven't talked about it since last night. You know, Uchiha family drama and all?"
But before Ino could respond to that, a not-so-happy Dr. Tsunade emerged from the pink-head's office door slamming it hard.
"SAKURA HARUNO!"
Everyone within the young doctor's office-nurses and doctors scrambles to run away afraid of the head medic's wrath.
There go the last few seconds of Sakura Haruno's life.
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Sasuke stared at the fleeing form of the mother of his child as she exited his car. He shook his head in annoyance at the woman at her stubbornness and temper before leaving the hospital's vicinity altogether.
After dropping Sarada off at her school, the pink-head just stared at him as if he grew another head as she got into the car. "Well, since you clearly insisted to bring your car, you got no choice but to drop me off at the hospital."
Sasuke was contemplating whether to remind her she was not yet to come back to work. But then it would lead to another argument, and to be honest, he was just tired. So he just settled to glare at her before driving.
The young Uchiha heir was called suddenly by his brother. He was expected in an important meeting with one of the key suppliers of Uchiha Enterprises. He was not sure how to face his father yet, but he knew all well how his father is. Business comes first, always.
Sometimes, Sasuke wondered if not for the fact that his brother did not become a lawyer, what would be his role in their family business? Will he gain even a part of his father's attention?
He was never his father's choice while growing up. He obviously favored Itachi to be the successor of his damn company. But then, his brother, one day, just left home without saying a word to anyone. Only a few days after, he called home saying he was fine and that he already obtained a scholarship for law school in a prestigious school in the United States.
Fugaku was furious, of course, not until Itachi became a lawyer, did he give up on persuading his older son to take a business major. That was the time when did his father finally pay attention to Sasuke.
And then, Sarada happened.
He threw his head back as he parked in the familiar spot of their building. It was of no use thinking about the past, he knew.
It was going to be a long day.
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Sasuke could not help but feel distressed for the rest of the day. His father did not even once acknowledge his presence in the meeting. His mother, though, who does not come to the office often, rushed to him as soon as the meeting was over.
"Dear, where have you been? Are you eating fine?" Mikoto worriedly inquired about his younger son.
"I'm fine, Mom."
But the frown on his mother's eyes did not subside. Sasuke suspected his brother had purposely told their mother that his presence was needed for the meeting that was why she was here. And he was proven right when he saw Itachi winking at him.
"Can't you go back home?" His mother persuaded.
"You know why I can't do that, Mom." Incidentally, Fugaku exited the meeting hall as well but did not dare to even spare them a glance.
"Don't worry about your father, I'll talk to him." Mikoto once again tried, looking at the direction where her younger son peered at.
"Please don't. I'm really fine."
Mikoto opened her mouth to speak, but Itachi decided to cut in. "I'll make sure Sasuke is okay, Mom. I'll guarantee it."
"But where are you staying? Just tell me that please. I've already checked all of our hotels and you weren't there. I even asked Naruto if you were staying with him." And that was why he opted not to go to either.
"Mom, just let Sasuke be. I know it is accustomed to an Uchiha to stay in our private town. But don't you think it's ridiculous? We're already grown-ups." Itachi voiced out.
"Itachi! How can you say such a thing!" Their mother gasped. In a voice barely above a whisper, she added. "Your father might hear you. You know we, Uchihas, are not ordinary citizens. We're not just businessmen; we've practically considered royalty back in the days."
"Back in the days," Itachi repeated before frowning. "Why are we still upholding those kinds of old traditions?"
"Itachi.." Mikoto warned once more, before looking back at Sasuke. "Fine, don't tell me, just please take care of yourself, okay? And answer my calls and text messages."
She kissed her youngest on the cheek before running after their father.
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"I'm so happy that Papa is staying with us. But he and Mama were fighting because of me. Is it my fault, Uncle Itachi?"
"No, of course not, Sara-chan. Your parents just love you so much they don't want to part with you even just for a little while."
Sasuke did not mean to overhear it of course, but surely, his daughter could not really forget such a sight that occurred earlier in the morning right away. They had just come home from fetching Sarada from school. And now, she and Itachi were in the garden eating some dango.
He was about to turn around and forget what he just heard when his daughter squealed and jumped from her seat.
"Uncle Kiba! Hi!"
Sarada ran to the man, enveloping him with a hug. His daughter giggled further when a white, furry dog emerged from the man's back and started barking towards his daughter.
"Hi Akamaru, how are you? You are so pretty!" The little girl proceeded to cuddle the dog.
Not a few seconds after, Sakura entered the gates of her apartment with a sad, resigned expression on her face. She recognized Itachi first as she said hi.
"You were back early?" Itachi questioned before politely extending his hand to the woman's companion, introducing himself.
"Yeah, Dr. Tsunade sent me home. And this guy right here insisted to take me home." Sakura tiredly explained as she greeted Sarada.
Kiba Inuzuka, a surgeon, smiled politely at Itachi. "Wow, you are the famous Itachi Uchiha, the lawyer who graduated top in his class at Harvard and top the boards as well." Itachi merely nodded with thanks in response.
It was then that the young surgeon noticed the other presence in the garden. He extended his hand to Sasuke introducing himself. "Kiba Inuzuka, I am one of Sakura's colleagues."
Sasuke merely looked at the extended hand of the man, glaring at it. Seeing the whole exchange, Sakura butted in. "Don't mind him, Kiba. What can I get for you? Coffee? Tea?"
"No, it's fine. I have to go back to work, anyway. See you next week. Hope you regain your strength fast." He smiled at the pink-head before gathering Akamaru. "I shall take my leave. Don't hesitate to call me when you need anything." He gave Sarada a hug as he saw the little girl pouting.
The pink-head laughed. "You really are a nice guy. Thank you." Sasuke snorted hearing it.
Itachi then cleared his throat making an excuse of going back to the office as well. He then smirked in his younger brother's way, who actually glared at him, before hugging Sarada goodbye.
Sarada, on the other hand, who was disappointed not to play with Akamaru for long, decided to go inside their house to play with her dolls and Plushie.
After a while, and after making sure Sarada could not hear them anymore, Sasuke hissed at the pink-haired woman. "Who's that?"
Not understanding at first, Sakura just stared at the Uchiha flatly. But then after a while, it dawned on her judging from his earlier regard with Kiba-an idea that occurred to her.
"What? Are you jealous?" She smirked, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall.
"You wish. I just don't want Sarada to grow up knowing her mother is fucking another while her father is sleeping not five meters away." His eyes holding so much anger she hadn't seen before. And just like that, he turned around slamming the door.
Sakura wished murder could be legal.
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A/N: Hi guys! I know it's been a while. Hope you enjoy the rest of the holidays! Happy New Year! And please don't forget to leave a review, will appreciate it so much. Thank you.