Chapter Text
Sakura had never been this nervous for an award night before, but tonight is different. There is strong buzz of her finally bagging that Best Actress award. No more “she’s too young”, “not for this film”, or “there’s still something missing” comments. This time, it’s universally agreed that there is no other choice but her for the award. Years of hard work finally paying off. The one thing she has yet to achieve is finally within her grasp.
She had spent the entirety of her morning getting ready. Making sure that there is no blemish to be seen. She scrutinizes herself in front of the full length mirror after hours of people doing her hair and make up. Her hair is carefully tied into a low bun nestled in her nape. Her makeup is light, only there to accentuate her features. The red gown she wears fits perfectly. The last thing to check is the shoes. Sakura steps into them only to find them too tight.
“The shoes are in the wrong size,” she tells her team, trying to sound calm and composed.
Everyone in the room panics. Calls were made. There is no alternative, Sakura is contractually obliged to wear these specific design of shoes as part of being the face of a luxury brand. There is no time to get another pair so she must endure it.
“It will be fine,” says Shizune, her manager, “It will be just a short walk on the red carpet. A few interviews there. You’ll mostly be seated anyways, until they call your name for the Best Actress award that is,” she assures Sakura.
“It can’t be helped,” Sakura replies. What’s there to do anyway? She’s an actress, she can probably mask the pain for a few minutes.
So she goes through the red carpet like a champ. She does her best poses for the sea of photographers and stops by a few reporters to provide short interviews.
“Did you know you’ve been going viral lately,” an interviewer asks.
Sakura shakes her head, “Absolutely not,” she says. This makes her nervous. Being viral could mean anything these days. That's why she had stayed decidedly offline.
“Well, it seems like there’s a new wave of fans for you and your former onscreen partner Sasuke!” The interviewer informs her, “People are resharing old clips and even fan edited videos are raking up millions of views in TikTok.”
Just then, a phone was shoved in front of Sakura, showing said fan edited videos. A short video with a trending audio that is a compilation of moments of her youth and Sasuke. God, they looked so young then. Did they really look that ‘in love’? Sakura was not at all prepared for the sudden wave of nostalgia and longing. All she could do was smile politely and say, “Oh wow”.
Trying to evade the awkward encounter (and the feelings it stirred within her) Sakura signals for her PR manager before she waves goodbye to the crew and proceeded to go into the main event hall where she found her designated seat.
As the ceremony builds up to the most-awaited categories, so does her nerves. She had poured so much of her heart out for this movie. She played the main character, a doctor of an impoverished village dealing with corruption and violence. It had been her most challenging role yet.
Tsunade, unsurprisingly, had won the Best Director award for their movie. Sakura had even earned herself a shoutout. They have worked closely over the years to make movies centered around women and their struggles.
The lights dim again. The long awaited Best Actress announcement is here. Behind the stage, a tall figure emerges to present the nominees. Sasuke steps into the spotlight. Her Charasuke. The ghost that had been following her into the corners of her life.
Out of every single person in the industry it had to be him for this moment. Sakura zones out as he introduces each nominee and their accompanying movies.
“And the award for the Best Actress goes to,” he says, voice deeper than what she remembers. In that miniscule pause as he opens the envelope, his eyes find hers. Or maybe it was the trick of the light. Sakura doesn’t know anymore. She cannot tell if the jitters are from the anticipation of the award or from the sight of him.
“Sakura Haruno.”
The whole room roars. On the screen, her shocked face is shown. Sakura manages to find the strength to stand up from her seat and find her way into the main stage. The stage lights dulls out the rest of the audience as she zeroes in on the other person waiting on the podium.
But above all, she cannot look past the look of pride in Sasuke’s eyes. It undoes something in her–all her walls crumble down for a moment enough for her to smile back at him. He hands her the award, their fingers touching for the briefest moment.
With him being so near her and overwhelmed with all the emotions running through her, Sakura circles her arms around him. “Thank you,” she whispers.
He stood frozen for a second but then she felt his hands around her and pat her back. “Well deserved,” he tells her softly.
They separate, eyes stealing another glance at each other before Sasuke steps back to give her the spotlight. Sakura steps onto the podium and takes a deep breath. The audience continues to applaud as she composes herself. Then they begin standing and cheering for her.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” she says tearfully, “I am overjoyed and grateful for the amount of support I’ve gotten. I want to say thank you to Tsunade for always believing in me and guiding me. The cast and crew of the movie, you all deserve the recognition and accolades as well. Above all, I want to use this opportunity to highlight and give attention to the women who continue to face the same struggles as the character I played in the movie.”
Sakura finishes her speech and steps away from the podium. There is a shooting pain at her heel that causes her step to tremble, her knees also decided this would be the perfect time to give out and of course she will fall flat into the floor in front of the entire industry and the country in the most important moment of her life.
But there is a firm arm around her waist that catches just in time. A familiar, comforting warmth at her back.
Sasuke steadies her. “You okay?” he asks, frowning somewhere below. Sakura looks down to where he is staring and sees her blister-ridden feet.
Sakura could only nod. His hand remains on the small of her back as they follow the ushers toward behind the stage where photographers and reporters are waiting for Sakura.
After, it was a blur of interviews, photoshoots, and a lot of “thank you”s and more people to talk to. Sakura never saw Sasuke again after escorting her to the backstage area for winners. She tells herself she’s not disappointed.
Her dismay was short-lived when she sees him in an exclusive afterparty hosted by Kakasi, a director they used to work closely with. By chance, they are seated next to each other. “What a coincidence, you two are seated next to each other. What a perfect opportunity for a reunion!” Kakashi tells them with a wink.
“Well, I’m very honored to be seated next to the Best Actress winner,” Sasuke says, that boyish charm that earned him the Charasuke moniker appearing once again. Sakura is unable to resist the roll of her eyes nor the smile forming at her lips.
He always does this, Sakura remembers. He’ll say a ridiculous remark as bait and she inevitably takes it. A familiar dance they fall into. He always did have a knack for sneaking past her walls. Who else can manage to make her talk this candidly? Who else could possibly pry away all her defenses?
And yet, for all she knows the familiarity of him, the man sitting next to her also feels like a stranger. Sakura is overcome with the hunger to know him, to fill in the gaps between the years. The years have sanded down his penchant for flirtations. Nevertheless, he is just as charismatic. He had certainly matured, but that playful side of him is still there.He still does acting. A few major film roles here and there. What surprised her was that in recent years, Sasuke has been collaborating as creative director for a major fashion house. He’s done photoshoots for magazines and even runway shows.
Talking to him felt like homecoming. A loose end trying perfectly in a neat bow. Something changed within the years of then and now. A weigh lifted, freeing her from her past anxieties.
Sakura could not remember how they ended up sitting so intimately close to each other nor could she remember how his jacket ended up around her shoulders. His arm had also managed to snake around her hair, creating a protective barrier around them.
“So, what’s next for you?” he asks.
Sakura shrugs, “I don’t know to be honest. But I think I want to take a break for a while. I feel like I’ve been working nonstop for years.”
“Hmm,” he hums, waiting for her to continue.
“I wanna go to a quiet, peaceful place. Away from all of this,” she tells him.
Suddenly, his face moves closer. Sakura thinks he might close the distance between their lips but at last second, he veers off course and whispers to her ear instead, “I know exactly a place.”
Months later, a blind item hits the online tabloids about an A list actress who had been spending her break in a private island owned by the family of her former onscreen partner. It will mention them being a little too cuddly during an afterparty and were caught making out.
As usual, the internet goes crazy with this information. Dissecting every bit of interaction on that award show–every subtle body language, every word spoken, every glance from that night was interpreted in different ways. More rumors emerged. More speculations.
Somewhere, two people sit by the beach watching the waves as the sun sets along the horizon, unconcerned of what is going on outside.