Chapter Text
It's been a week since the last time I was able to look Sasuke in the eyes. Ever time my eyes would accidentally meet his, the image of his passionate kiss with Sakura filled my mind. I couldn't bear to be reminded of that night, so I avoided him. I wanted to hold onto the last remaining shards of my heart before they were completely destroyed.
I thought Sasuke hated Sakura...then why did he kiss her? Was he lying all this time? Did he really love Sakura all along and pretended to hate her? Why...why did I have to find out about their love right in front of my own home?
"Dinner's ready."
I sat at the table, facing down as Sasuke placed the plate down in front of me.
"Thanks..."
We began to eat and the atmosphere around us was thick. Neither of us spoke as we ate, and my eyes made sure to glue themselves to my plate. This is a mess...Everything in my life right now is a mess...
Suddenly, I heard the sound of Chopsticks hit the table. "Naruko."
I couldn't look up, but I placed my chopsticks down on the table and continued to look at my plate.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked.
I was shocked by his sudden question. "No..." Of course, there's something wrong, idiot!
"Then why have you been so lifeless?"
Because you broke my heart, jerk!
"You've been like this since that day you came home late last week. What happened?"
I saw you eating Sakura-chan's stupid face!
Anger and sorrow consumed me as I remembered the events of that night. My emotions were beginning to cloud my mind, hindering my control over my own thoughts. As I stared at Sasuke with narrow eyes, I couldn't help but imagine the long rant I would have yelled at him:
Oh, so you really want to know why I'm so lifeless Sasuke? Then let's review all of last week to see the many possible reasons for my lifelessness! Hmm well, it could be because I'm faking my feelings for Gaara as I maintain our relationship. Or maybe it's because I've had my heart broken so many times in one week that my heart can't take it anymore. Then again, it could also be the fact that I saw you and Sakura-chan eating each other's faces in front of my own damn house!
I wanted to yell at him. I wanted to cry. I wanted to punch him and make him pay for playing with my heart. But mostly, I wanted to love him. I wanted to tell him I only wanted to be with him, and that I'm sorry for taking so long to realize that.
But I can't. He's moved on to Sakura, and I would have too if I were him. It's not easy being in love with an idiot. All they do is hurt you because of their ignorance.
I sighed as I stood up, leaving my food on the plate. "It's none of your concern. I'm doing just fine. As a matter of fact, I'm going out with Gaara tonight to have a date at a fancy restaurant, so I won't be needing your third rate food."
I tossed my hair to the side as I began to walk towards the door. "Don't stay up too late, and if you're gonna bring a girl over while I'm gone, I'll be back around 11, so you'll have time to clean up."
"What the hell are you talking about, Naruko? Why do you sound so passive-aggressive? What's going on?" He asked as he stood up from the table.
I quickly placed my shoes on to walk outside. Nope, I am not going to confront him right now!
I went to open the door, but my hand was quickly caught by his. "Naruko, what's going on on?"
I began to shake in fear from his tone of voice. "L-let me go!"
"Naruko..."
My eyes widened as I heard him say my name with such sweetness. I was trembling. I was scared. I was pinned against the door with no way to escape. He had me trapped.
He placed his hand on my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "Naruko, are you okay?"
As he asked me those words, I felt my eyes begin to water. "Let go of me!"
I went to push him off me, but he pulled me into an embrace instead.
No! Please! Stop hurting me!
I began to punch his chest as his grip on me tightened. "Let go Sasuke!"
"No!"
His shout was enough to make me freeze in fear.
"I'm not letting you go until you tell me what's wrong."
I dug my face into his chest and indulged in his warmth. "I'm sorry...I can't..."
"Why?"
"Because it's my own unfortunate situation that I have to deal with."
"Then tell me so I can help you...I'm already unfortunately yours."
My heart ached in pain as his voice echoed a false sense of love for me. He already had Sakura, yet for some reason, he claimed to be mine. I need to get away from him...I need to leave...I can't be with him anymore...it hurts too much!
"I can't!" I yelled as I finally shoved him away.
As I panted in fear, I looked at Sasuke's shocked expression. His eyes seemed to carry a type of sorrow as if he had just gotten rejected. My chest began to fill with an unbearable amount of guilt, so I quickly turned around and left through the door to avoid any more problems.
"Naruko! Please, don't go!"
I ignored him and continued to run.
We're just in an unfortunate situation...we're not meant to be anymore, but why am I still unfortunately yours?
"Naruko, aren't these dishes amazing?" Asked Gaara happily as he placed a fork full of food into his mouth.
I nodded my head as I gave a weak smile. "Yeah...amazing!"
I couldn't take my mind off of the events of this morning. The way he held me and told me he was mine, it all felt so surreal, but it confused me. His words did not line up with what I saw that night. He was clearly making out with Sakura, yet he had the audacity to say he was mine.
He really is a playboy, huh...? To think I almost got caught in his web like every other girl...Ugh, I'm so stupid. Maybe it was best if I just never understood my feelings...Tch, too late for that now...
I began to munch on the food slowly as I continued to run negative thoughts through my head. I was completely stuck in my own world that I had forgotten that I was on a date with Gaara. Suddenly, the sound of Gaara's metal fork hitting the plate made me snap out of my selfish trance. I looked up from my plate to see Gaara with a sad expression.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I watched his saddened expression.
"Naruko...do I make you happy?"
Another one of these questions...
"Of course you do! Why wouldn't you, Gaara?!"
He gave a weak smile as he stared at his plate. "Naruko, I know you don't love me."
"Huh?! No no no, I do love you Gaara! I love you so so so much! Like my love for you is like--!"
He placed his hand up, indicating me to stop speaking. "It's okay Naruko...You don't need to keep pretending."
The warmth from my blood turned cold as he called me out on my charade. Did he know all along?
"I knew you didn't love me...I already knew you were in love with Sasuke...Everyone knew in fact, except for yourself."
I rubbed my temples in embarrassment. Ugh, even Gaara knew before I did! Why am I so freaking dense?!
I let out a long sigh in an attempt to calm my embarrassment. When I was ready, I directed my attention back to Gaara. "Why did you ask me to be yours?" I asked.
"Well, when I first heard your confession, I was so elated to know you were in love with me, but when I saw how you reacted to my own confession, I knew that I had misunderstood the situation. And even though I knew all of this, I wanted to still have the chance to try going out with the girl of my dreams, even if it did only last two weeks, haha."
The guilt that I held was almost as physically painful as it was emotionally. My eyes dropped to meet the table. I had no right to look my best friend in the eyes. I'm just as cruel as Sasuke...
His hand slowly reached out to mine from across the table. His warm touch and smile had my eyes filling with tears.
"Naruko...I want you to be happy, and even if I wish for you to be happy with me because I know I can make you happier than any other girl in this world, I know you'll never truly be happy unless you're with the one you love: Sasuke."
"Gaara, I'm so sorry..." I didn't deserve his kindness, yet he still gave it to me. He was the one that needed to be held and reassured, but instead, he gave that all to me.
"It's okay..." he took a deep breath before taking the chance to smile at me, "Naruko, I want you to be happy...so go to Sasuke, and tell him he's got nothing to worry about."
I felt my eyes finally release their tears at his kindness. "Gaara...I-I'm so...sorry!" I said between cries.
"I know Naruko...I know..."
As I sobbed loudly, the people in the restaurant began to stare at us. Gaara looked around the restaurant awkwardly as he held my hand in an attempt to calm me down. "Um, Naruko, we're still in the restaurant..."
"S-sorry! I just-ugh I can't stop crying!" I whined loudly. I held a week's worth of pent up emotions, and now that they were released, there was no way to stop them.
Our waiter timidly walked up to our table, asking us to leave. My loud cries echoed through the restaurant causing angry stares from every customer. Gaara quickly dragged me out of the restaurant, apologizing repeatedly to the people within the restaurant. The moment the restaurant doors closed behind us, he took my hand, holding it firmly as an act of reassurance.
That night, I cried until my tears had dried. Even though Gaara was the victim of my cruelty, he kept me company the whole time. No matter how much I pained him. I was still unfortunately his. And just like Gaara, my love for Sasuke was also endless, making me unfortunately his.
