Chapter Text
Naruko P.O.V
I ran out of the apartment after Sasuke's sudden embrace. I slammed the door shut and quickly slouched down before my door.
Why the hell did I say that?! And why the hell did he do that?! Most importantly, why did I even try to hug him back?! Am I stupid?! What the hell is wrong with me?!
I held onto my beating heart as I waited for my mind and body to calm down. I sighed in relief as I felt my heart slowing down.
Good...I'm starting to feel normal...
As soon as I had calmed down, I stood up and began to walk away to meet with Sakura at Ichiraku's.
"Hey Naruko, I saved you a spot!" I heard Sakura yell from inside the small shop.
I walked into Ichiraku's and sat down beside her. "Hey Sakura-chan, how's it going?" I asked with a weak smile.
"I'm doing pretty good, not that I can say the same for you. Why do you look so bummed out?"
"Me?! Nahhh never!"
Sakura looked at me with a face that showed she knew I was lying. "So...what did Sasuke do this time?"
I felt my heart stop at the mention of his name. I can't tell Sakura anything of what's happen...who knows how she'll take it...
I quickly scratched my head and began to think of a lie to tell.
"Sasuke? Who said this was gonna be about Sasuke?! What this is really about is...is umm..."
I began to look around, looking for something that could maybe help me make up a story. As I looked, I noticed the sand drifting all over the floor. I then quickly lifted my head and noticed the red color of the table.
Sand...the color red...that's it!
I cleared my throat and began to speak again. "What I was trying to say was that I need some help with my...feelings..."
Suddenly it went quiet, and in seconds, both Sakura and the old man started yelling in shock.
"Don't tell me you've fallen for Sasuke!" shouted Sakura in shock.
"My little Naruko is becoming a woman!" yelled the old man with a tear in his eye.
"No no no! You got it all wrong! And why're you eavesdropping on our conversation, old man?!"
"How am I not supposed to listen? I have ears!" He retorted as he emptied some noodles into a bowl.
I groaned loudly and slammed my forehead against the table. "Sakura-chan, I just need you to hear me out, okay?"
She stayed quiet for a while before she agreed to listen to me.
I lifted my head up and waited for the old man to give me my Ramen before I started.
"Two bowls of ramen! Now Naruko, please spill the tea," he said as he placed the bowls down and turned around to turn off his stove.
I sighed in embarrassment as I began to talk. "Okay so...I've been feeling this weird thing whenever I'm around this guy--"
"Who?!" They yelled in unison.
"Wait, I'm getting there!" I yelled back with a pink face. "Anyway! Every time this guy is suddenly nice to me or he shows me a side I've never seen before, It makes my heart do some pre-heart attack symptoms! Like why? Why does my heart suddenly do these crazy flips and turns whenever I'm around this guy?! I mean, he doesn't like me at all. I don't like him either. Then what's that wack feeling I get?! Is it...Is it heartburn?!"
"You're a freaking idiot, Naruko!" yelled Sakura as she hit me over the head. "Do you really not know that you're in love?!" she asked angrily with a fist.
That phrase again! Why does everyone think I'm in love?!
"Honestly Naruko, you're the densest girl to ever exist!" She yelled again.
"But Sakura-chan, what even is love?! How do you even know when you're in love?!"
I want to know...what is love and why am I starting to become victim of the very thing I never wanted to be apart of...
"Naruko, love isn't something that can be explained," she said sadly as if she knew who I was talking about. "It just happens."
"Yeah but--"
"Listen Naruko, do you love Ramen?" asked the old man while crossing his arms.
"Yeah? I love ramen!"
"Why do you love ramen?"
"Cuz it's freaking awesome and tastes amazing! All the different flavors, textures, and combinations are just so amazing!" I stated passionately.
He gave a chuckle as he saw my expression. "Well, why do you love the person you may have feelings for?"
I was taken back by his question. Why do I love Sasuke? I don't even know if I even like him...
"Let me rephrase that," he said as he looked ar my confused face. "What do you like about this mysterious guy?"
I crossed my arms and began to think. "Like? More like hate! This guy is super rude, co*cky, and a huge ass jerk! He's rude towards my friend and a nasty perverted teaser towards me! But...I care for him. He's my greatest rival yet a friend I would go across the world to save if he ever needed me.
Even though he has such a cold expression, he cares and treats me like a princess in small ways I never would have expected from him. He surprises me every day with his sudden actions. He makes my heart pound. He makes my face get all warm and takes my breath away. He knows how to get under my skin and make me fall to his touch...He makes me feel vulnerable...but not in a bad way. It's as if I could show him every part of me and he wouldn't care how ugly it was and just care for me unconditionally...
However, I'm not for him. There's no way he would ever love me...and even if he did, we're not fortunate enough to be together. We're just in an unfortunate situation..."
Oh f*ck...I do Sasuke...
I felt my heart drop in pain at the sudden realization of my feelings. Why am I unfortunately yours?
"You love Sasuke that much...huh?" asked Sakura sadly.
I saw her sad expression and it tore me apart. I can't tell her the truth...
"Sakura-chan~ you have it all wrong! The one I'm in love with is actually Gaara!"
"Huh?" They both asked in disbelief.
"Yeah! He's my greatest rival! He even beat me at being Hokage! I hate that jerk!" I yelled with a pout.
The old man sighed and went back to making noodles.
"Naruko, are you-?"
"Lying? Why would I lie about this?! I'm in love with Gaara...and Sasuke is yours."
"Naruko..."
Ahhh crap. I feel like crying...I gotta get outta here.
I quickly turned around and devoured the bowl of Ramen in seconds. "Gotta go!" I yelled as I stood up. I dropped a few yen on the table to pay and ran out.
I turned the corner to head out to the park to be alone. I needed time to recover from the sudden realization of my feelings. Everything everyone had said to me was true. I was in love with Sasuke, and not until now did I truly notice it. I loved him but I could never be with him. He wasn't mine to love.
As I ran blindly, clouded by sorrow-filled thoughts, I crashed into someone. I felt myself get pushed back from the force and my eyes had focused on the ground on reflex, making sure I was safely planted on the ground. Damn, good thing I'm quick on my feet or I would have fallen!
"Geez, watch where you're-!" I looked up from the floor to see Gaara staring at me with a bright pink face.
Gaara?! Why is he here?! And why does he look--f*ck! Did he hear me?!
"Uh hey Gaara! How's it going?" I asked awkwardly.
He looked down at the floor and began to twiddle his thumbs in nervousness. "Um, Naruko...is what you said...true?"
"What's true...?" I asked while feeling sweat go down my back. Damn it! f*ck! sh*t! Crap! sh*t-sh*tty-sh*t-sh*t!
"Um...are you really...in love with me?"
At that moment, I knew I had created a lie that was going to take me down to hell.
