Chapter Text
I’ve only been working here for a week, but it’s mostly okay. Sure, I never imagined myself at a Fro-yo place, much less wearing a teal shirt opposed to my usual all-black choice, but it pays and it’s not that hard.
The job isn’t complicated, it mostly involves weighing the cups, charging people for their stuff and frowning at customers when they do stuff they’re not allowed to. When it’s calm, I even have time to study, and the owner doesn’t mind much. He’s always running late anyway.
“Excuse me, you can’t just grab a cookie and give it to the child” the lady turns towards me with an offended look, probably preparing a sassy reply “You have to put it in the cup, I’ll charge you for it and then he can eat it.” I finish, running out of patience.
She says something and I ignore her. I barely hear what the customers say anymore. Like I cared what they think. The child cries a bit, but that’s her problem, not mine.
She puts a few more cookies in the cup, which looks like a disgusting mess of gummy bears, chocolate and other bits of semi melted candy I wouldn’t even dare touch, and hands it to me. I put it on the scale, give her the total, and wait too eagerly for her to leave.
When she’s gone, I slump back down on my chair, grab my book and force my mind to learn the contents. It takes me a bit to focus, but once I find the sweet spot, I’m drowning in words.
I like that, studying is one of the few things I’m good at, and I enjoy it a lot because it’s something that involves no interaction with other people.
I’m lost in my book when I hear the door chime. I place the bookmark carefully in the center, and set my things aside.
When I look up I notice three people coming in. I don’t greet them, just meet them with my usual frown, because Kakashi doesn’t make me do it and I don’t like faking smiles.
By the look of it, they must be students from my campus. I ignore them for a bit, while they help themselves, filling up their cups in the machine.
They seem to be having fun, talking a lot and laughing loudly while they pick out the flavors. The door chime sounds again and I overhear a familiar voice say something about a party. I glance up trying to match a face with that voice.
“Aw man, Shikamaru just texted me. They won’t make it here, but he says Chouji is picking up the drinks and snacks, and that we should meet them at his place. Everyone will be there around 7” says a blond guy. Then I realize who that is. Uzumaki Naruto.
He’s in one of my classes, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. Not the brightest, but hell, everyone, and I mean everyone, loves him. Even the teacher swoons whenever he speaks. Not that he’d know who I am, I sit way at the back keeping my participations at the minimum.
I don’t recognize his other friends though, there’s a pink haired girl, a guy with very thick eyebrows and dark hair, and a quiet girl with pretty gray eyes. They must be majoring in completely unrelated fields, but of course, Naruto does strike me as the kind of guy who has friends everywhere.
As they approach the topping table, Naruto speaks again.
“Grab whatever you want, it’s on me. Fill up those cups.” He says excitedly.
“Oi Naruto, you’re the best” says the guy with the thick eyebrows as he proceeds to dig up some rainbow sprinkles from the container.
“Thanks Naruto” added the girl with the pink hair planting a kiss on Naruto’s cheek. Unexplainably, the gesture made me feel uncomfortable. Those two are probably dating, though. Discretely, I study them again and notice that the girl is indeed very pretty. She has a warm smile and one of those easygoing postures. He towers over her, looking sure of himself. He’s muscular, and his skin is beautifully tan.
Beautifully tan? Seriously Sasuke, you get more ridiculous everyday.
Both the thick eyebrows guy and Naruto’s girlfriend, fill up their cups with toppings enthusiastically, but the other girl, the pale one with dark hair and gray eyes, only picks up a few pieces of fruit. I notice Naruto has two cups in his hands and he looks excited as he fills both of them.
The guy must be rich, though. What is he thinking, offering to pay for everyones’ yogurt. It’s not like they’re cheap. If you ask me, frozen yogurt is way overpriced.
Maybe that’s the way he makes friends, showing off like that.
I think he catches me staring at him, because a smirk appears on his face. I look away because the way he starts to annoy me, not because I’m embarrassed or anything.
Who does he think he is? Acting all nice and sure of himself. Mr “Oh I’ll pay for everything”.
Good thing I don’t have an urge to make everybody like me. I’d be broke.
Anyway, Kakashi will be pleased. He loves it when people spend well here, it’s good business.
The two girls come up to the paying counter and hand me their cups. Pink haired girl’s actually looks tasty, a perfect balance between tart and sweet. She picked out the natural yogurt flavor and added a few berries with a dark chocolate swirl and some coconut flakes.
She has good taste, I tell myself, though I’m not sure if I only mean it about the yogurt cup.
The other girl’s cup includes every fruit we have, though her cup is only filled halfway. They both thank me kindly after I’m done with their cups and make space for eyebrow guy who hands me a gross looking cup that reminds me of the little kids who don’t know what flavors go well together and just pick anything that has bright colors.
“Dude, you don’t have any protein powder I could add to my cup?”
His mere request makes me want to puke. What the hell? Who’d add protein powder to their yogurt cup? His muscles aren’t as thick as Naruto’s, though he looks like he works out a lot. He may be an athlete.
I try being friendly with the guy, but it only comes out as
“No.” And a frown. At least I didn’t make a retching sound.
He looks a bit disappointed, but lets me carry on with my work and moves away for Naruto. I’m embarrassed when he comes up to me.
If this kid’s rich, he’s probably going to judge me by working at the yogurt shop while wearing the stupid teal shirt I couldn’t talk Kakashi out of. I’ll feel weird if he recognizes me.
What am I thinking? Of course he won’t know who I am.
The class we take together has about thirty people, none of whom I speak to, and I always sit at the back. He’s also too cool to know me. Who’d learn the antisocial asshole’s name when you can do so much better and hang out with all the fun, happy people in class.
Anyway, I look up and am immediately shocked by the pair of bright blue eyes staring into mine. They leave me breathless for a few seconds and I only snap out of it when I hear him say
“Hi, Sasuke”. He smiles idiotically.
Wait a second. What?
“Uh hi” I say before I can stop myself.
How does he even know my name? He knows who I am and he’s greeting me like I’m his friend. Unbelievable. Just fucking unbelievable.
How dare this guy come in here and act like he’s my friend? Does he know I don’t want to be his friend? I don’t care if he can buy the whole fucking store, he doesn’t have the right to come here and annoy the hell out of me and make me feel…
I search for the anger or the discomfort at least, but somehow, they’re not there.
It’s probably hunger. I haven’t eaten anything in all day.
Itachi is not a good cook, neither am I. He basically picks up anything on his way to work and I always grab an apple or a pear before class.
Today we were out of fruit, so I didn’t have anything except for a cup of bad filter coffee. My class ended later than usual and I rushed back here without a bite of anything.
I take Naruto’s two too-full cups, weigh them and hand them back to him.
“Oh no, this one’s for you. You look like you could use a bite.” He says without wiping that dumbass smile from his face and pushing one of the cups back into my hands. “We’ll be hanging out at Shikamaru’s, you’re welcome to join us. It’s two blocks away from here, just across the ramen place. You’ll know where when you see it, it’ll be the noisiest place on the street.”
Unable to process his gesture and what he was saying, I pointed to his and his friends’ yogurts and said
“That’ll be a total of -“
“It’s okay, just print the ticket and hand it to my dad. He kind of owns the place. Anyway, see you later. I’ll be expecting you.”
And just like that, I heard the door-chime and Naruto is gone.
Did I just get invited to something? I’m not planning on going, but he had actually considered me for something. Then again, he also knew my name. I can’t be sure if it’s been mentioned more than a couple times in class, yet, the only way he could’ve known it is if he was paying attention.
I stood dumbfounded for a moment, lost in my thoughts, unable to make sense out of it all. Naruto’s deep blue eyes etched in my memory. They had a sense of familiarity, almost as if I had known them in another life. Even though I’d only seen those eyes five seconds ago, I started to miss them.
This is it- I must be going insane. It’s the only explanation. I’ll have to talk to Itachi about switching my therapist and doctor so I can get new meds again.
My inner monologue is cut off by an angry lady tapping at the counter.
“Are you going to charge me for that or what?”
“Uh, sorry, right away” I say, realizing that I am still holding Naruto’s ticket in one hand and the fro-yo cup in the other.
Quickly I set them aside, weigh her yogurt, have her pay and send her off. When sh’s gone, I examine my own cup of yogurt.
It’s a little bit melty now, but it’s a combination of the chocolate and caramel flavors. I notice the vast choice of toppings Naruto chose for me. Okay, being honest it looks like the guy chose them for himself, because that much sugar would never appeal to anybody else.
There’s chunks of oreo, chocolate chip cookies and rice krispies treats, a swirl of dulce de leche spread with sea salt flakes in it. Before I take the first spoonful, I turn the cup around to make sure there are no peanuts, which I’m allergic to, and have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop a smile from forming on my lips.
Naruto arranged a bunch of chocolate chips in the form of a happy face.
Starving, I take a spoonful of the yogurt and am surprised by how good it is, but then...
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT.
Naruto didn’t pay.
And it was a big ticket.
Oh, Kakashi is going to kill me. Fuck. Sasuke, say goodbye to your job.
But didn’t he say his dad owned the place? Is he Kakashi’s son?
He hasn’t mentioned anything about having a son.
Fuck how did I let myself fall into this. I’ve always been the reliable type, I do NOT get carried away. Hell that account is worth my week’s wage. That fucker probably just served me the yogurt to distract me, and the worst of it is that I fell for it, for those damn blue eyes.
As if he’d cared that I hadn’t eaten anything all day. I’d even let myself believe for a moment that Naruto wanted me at the party, idiot Sasuke.
Stupid Sasuke.
Fuck just wait until Itachi finds out how I lost my job. Ah, the shame.
How could you even think he’d invite you? Stupid Sasuke. This is the most popular guy at school. Ugh and it’s not like you even wanted to go to the party, probably full of obnoxious people like Naruto.
“Sasuke, I’m back” I hear Kakashi’s now familiar voice right after the chime. The sound alone sends shivers down my spine.
This is it. I’m done.
Kakashi comes in with a noticeable smile under his mask, which kinda makes me feel worse. The guy is a bit weird, but an okay boss. He’s whip smart, fun to be around, and most importantly, he’s never forced me to act friendly and greet the customers in that happy voice like many other shop owners make their employees do.
Kakashi knows I’m not the friendly type, and he respects the way he I am, so I’ve respected him back, which is weird because I don’t respect a lot of people.
But now, hell that respect will be over. Ensnared by a pair of blue eyes, whom by the way, have an owner already. The image of the pink haired girl kissing his cheek strikes my mind again like a slap. I have to get rid of it and also find a way to explain all this to Kakashi.
Think. Think something Sasuke.
“Uhhh, Kakashi ....” I scratch the back of my head unsure of how to approach this. Fuck. Nothing.
“Yes? Do you want to ask something, Sasuke?”
Instant regret. Goodbye job.
“Um you wouldn’t happen to… by any chance... do you” I can barely form any words, so I sound like a toddler “do you have a son?” I spit out.
Kakashi laughs.
“God no. I don’t.” Another chuckle. Fuck. he doesn’t have a son. Which means I was scammed by that filthy, lying, good looking, idiot.
Good looking? You’re about to lose your job thanks to this guy and you think of how well he looks?
“Is there any chance do you know a tall, blond guy? Big blue eyes, about my age. Wears a bright orange hoodie most days and dirty white sneakers.” I say trying my luck one last time before I admit my defeat.
“Ahhh you mean Naruto.” He says cheerfully. Relief washes over me when I hear this. At least he knows the guy, maybe there’s still a chance for me. “Why, do you like him? Do you want me to arrange a date and help you out?” He adds nudging me with his left arm and winking. Gross.
“No”. I snap back. Way too quickly probably. My cheeks burn. Not wanting to come across as rude I ask in the calmest way possible “But, why did he say he was your son then?”
“He was here? Hmm that kid…” Kakashi doesn’t stop with his smiles “He’s Iruka’s son. Though now that we’re married, I guess you could say he is my son too. He’s never callad me dad though. Iruka and I co-own the place. You’ll love him, I was planning on introducing you next week. He’s almost never at the store, because he teaches at the university, but he’s great help when he comes. Anyway, what’s up with Naruto? What did he do this time?”
Now that the business is clear, and Kakashi IS responsible for Naruto, I breathe a little differently. So the job is kinda safe, but I feel furious.
I grab my things, including the too-sweet but good fro-yo, and press Naruto’s ticket to Kakashi’s chest, I’m done for the day.
“He owes that.” I say simply. “See you tomorrow.”
“You’re welcome to dinner at our place whenever you want!” He shouts after me, then he adds something else but I can’t make out the words correctly because I’m already closing the door. Maybe I imagined it, but somewhere in Kakashi’s voice I could distinguish Naruto’s name.
I go straight to my apartment. Itachi isn’t there, so I take a long hot shower, put on some sneakers and a hoodie. I leave again, taking a short walk to my favorite place.
When I get to the park, the sun is setting. I sit down beneath the weeping willow and took out my book. The view was magical and the leaves hadn’t failed to shelter me. This was the place I felt the safest at, because I could just sit back, be myself, and stay hidden from everybody.
Focusing on my book is hard, even though I brought one of my favorites, The Unbearable Lightness of Being. A gorgeous story about our faults as people, but I can’t stop thinking about what had happened today. It didn’t make sense to me.
Unable to concentrate I close my eyes and lean back. I must’ve fallen asleep, because I open my eyes and it’s dark already. I feel foggy, so I wipe my eyes, there’s a figure standing in front of me.
“You’re not at the party” says a familiar voice, so warm it doesn’t startle me.
“Neither are you.”
“Touché.” I can’t tell if he’s disappointed I didn’t go or glad that he found me here. Either option makes me feel weird. “You’re also sitting in my spot” he adds. He’s wearing the same orange hoodie and dark jeans he had earlier. The moonlight strikes his face and it almost looks like he’s a silver statue.
He tortures me all evening not bothering to explain his relationship to Kakashi, makes me think I’ll lose my job, wakes me up from my much needed nap, and now he pretends he owns my tree? Hell no.
“This is my spot” I reply bitterly.
“Uhm no, I don’t think so, Sasuke.” He states with a smug grin, which I hate immediately. “I’ve been coming to this park and sitting under this tree since I was little, I have a claim to it. But I’m a nice person, so I’ll share it with you. Now, scoot.”
Before I know it, the bastard’s already sitting down next to me, I didn’t agree to it. He sits too close. Way too close. I can smell the traces of smoke and alcohol on him, and beneath them, a sweet vanilla scent. He’s not drunk or anything, but it’s evident he just left a party, and he probably did have more than a couple beers.
“If this is your spot, how come I’ve never seen you here?” I challenge, trying to move a little further away from him without giving up my spot. “I come here every evening, have been doing so for about a year, and never have I ever seen you here, liar. ” getting more irritated by the second.
“I come at night.” He says kindly. Fuck. The way he holds himself, his cheery demeanor, making harder for me to stay mad at him. It makes sense though, why I’ve never seen him here, I never stay at the park later than 7. “I’ve had insomnia for years, so I just come here and read at night. It calms me. “
“You don’t look like a reading person”
I expect him to be offended, but instead I meet his deep blue eyes again and his infinite patience. Is he ever unfriendly?
“You don’t look like a frozen yogurt person, yet here we are” He chuckles. Fucking idiot. “But you’re right. I wasn’t a reading person, I learned to read too late. Now I just do it because I can.”
I glance down to see what book he’s holding and am immediately frozen. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. His copy looks worn, well read. It has a clip on light attached to it, that’s how he manages to read in the dark.
Impossible. Why is he reading my favorite book? I hide my own copy beneath my legs, careful not to let him notice. I don’t feel like talking about it with him.
Thankfully he gives no signs of noticing.
“Why didn’t you go to the party? I was waiting for you”
“I don’t like parties”
“Have you even been too one?”
My cheeks heat up. Of course not. I’ve never been invited.
“I don’t have to. I already know I’m not going to like them.”
“How?” Why is he pressing the issue? Fuck does he care?
“There’s people in them, I don’t like talking to people. So no, I don’t like parties.”
“You’re talking to me. Plus, talking to people isn’t bad. You can have loads of fun by doing it. When your friends like you and you like them back, time passes by so fast.”
“For the record, I’m only talking to you because you seem keen on invading my personal space and stealing my spot. Also, I wouldn’t have fun at a party because I’m not a likable person”
Something changes in his look, almost as if that last sentence bothered him. His eyes are stern now and the smile is gone from his face.
“I’m sorry, Sasuke, but that’s not for you to decide.” he looks down. “You don’t get to say if you’re likable or not.” He says this in a sad, distant tone, almost as if he’s reminiscing.
I get uncomfortable and he doesn’t look like he’s leaving, so I give up my spot, stand up and go without another word or even glance towards him. He doesn’t say anything either.
——
The next day I’m sitting again at the yogurt shop. It’s rather calm even though it’s Saturday, which is usually our busiest day. I guess it’s because the temperature is going down.
The leaves have turned golden and the wind sharper.
I brought the Unbearable Lightness of Being with me, reading it compulsively, trying to find pieces of Naruto. As if I could figure him out this way.
Time goes by slowly. Somehow my loneliness is more noticeable.
“Hello Sasuke! How are you doing on this really fine autumn day?” Says a too loud voice right after the door chime.
He’s. So. Fucking. Dramatic.
Forget what I said about my loneliness. I’d much rather have this guy go away.
I push the book away from me, as if it burns my hands. Wish he’d just leave me alone.
“What do you want, Naruto?”
“Can’t I just visit my classmate who also happens to work at my parents’ place just to enjoy his company for a bit?”
“No. You can’t”
Yes he can.
“I brought you food” he insists.
Just as I’m about to reject it, I am betrayed by my stomach. An angry, embarrassing growl fills both of our ears.
“Great! Let’s eat!” He says.
He pulls a chair from the closest table, sits down in front of me and places a brown paper bag on the counter. The salty, greasy, smell of french fries fills my nose. Against my will, my mouth starts to water. He notices, then pulls the fries and two big burgers out.
I have to admit it, they smell too good to reject.
Giving in, I shrug and grab the burger he placed in front of me.
I unwrap it, preparing to take the first bite and-
“Why are you staring at me? Stop it. It’s weird.”
He probably didn’t realize he was doing it, because he blushes deeply and utters a short barely understandable apology.
We eat our burgers in silence. I have to control myself not to finish it too quickly. It’s delicious.
Naruto wipes his fingers with a napkin as I pick up the trash and take it to the can in the back. When I return, he’s smiling again.
“Did you like it?” He asks
I don’t want to reply because I can’t lie to him about this, and he knows it.
“Yes” I muster up quickly.
“Good. They’re my favorite.” He sits back and relaxes. “Anyway, now that we’re friends-“
“We’re not“
“Can I ask you a favor?” He scratches the back of his head and pauses, unsure.
“If I say no, you’re still going to do it, right?”
“I’m not the best student, Sasuke- I mean, I try my best, but I- I struggle.” Seeing him nervous is a first for me, he always looks like he hasn’t a worry. “I know the professor looks like she really likes me and everything, but my grades have been far from good. If I can’t understand the theory and get a good score on my final essay, it’s over for me. Iruka will be so disappointed” He calls his dad by his name?
I already know what he’s going to ask.
“I’m not going to write your essays for you. I know I work at a yogurt shop, and yes, I need the money too, so I can pay for my tuition. But I’m not that desperate. I won’t cheat for you just so you can pass your class and become a mediocre activist or an assistant for a corrupt politician. Ask someone else who will, I know there’s tons of people like that on campus, you might be able to get a bargain for a half decent essay. Just not with me.”
“Uh, what?” I’m mad when he says this. Can’t he get it? I won’t do it and he’s going to keep insisting because he’s so fucking-
“I want you to tutor me. I want to learn. I don’t like the easy way out. I’m going to work hard because one day I’m going to need that knowledge to make the world better. I’ve seen your essays. You get the highest scores, and you’re a genius with theory. I could realize it by reading just two paragraphs. Just please, please, please teach me, I swear I can do something to pay you back.” He really does look desperate. I almost feel bad for him.
I tilt my head the slightest and he takes it as a nod. It wasn’t, but before I’m able to stop him, he starts saying…
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. You’re the best, Sasuke.” He’s bursting with happiness. He stands up, and rushes to hug- no- crush me with his strong arms and lean torso.
I try to pull away from him, unused to the physical contact. A part of me though, a very small tiny part, wishes he’d hold on to me a little longer.
“You have to do the readings by yourself and try to understand most of it” I start setting the conditions of our arrangement. If I have to do this, I’ll do it my way. “I’ll only answer questions you can’t google. I’ll help you outline your final essay and proofread it for you. After that, we’re done. If you pass, you pass, and if you don’t that’s not my problem.”
“Awww Sasuke you really are the best everrrrrr!” He nods excitedly “and I know how I’m going to thank you!”
By getting away from me, I hope.
“I’m going to get you some friends!” He gives me the biggest smile in the whole. fucking. galaxy.
“No”
“No? Sasuke, you’re always alone. I bet you can make some great friendships and you’ll have a ton of fun. I can’t wait to introduce you to Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Lee, Kiba, Sai ....” He continues with a long list of names I don’t bother listening to.
“I said no, Naruto.”
“But-“ he pouts. Fuck. He looks positively adorable. I try not to fall for it.
“I’m not a likable person. No- besides they won’t even want to hang out with me.”
I see a flash of sadness in his eyes, but it disappears quickly.
“Tell you what. Since you seem so keen on saying you’re not likable, let’s figure it out.”
“And just how do you plan on doing that?”
“I’ll decide.” are you kidding me? “Since we’ll hang out a lot now, I’ll have plenty of time to decide if I like you. If I don’t, you win and I’ll leave you alone so you can frown at the clients and sit at the back of our classroom in peace. If I do, then I’ll have a new friend, which is awesome.”
I don’t like it. His upbeat personality is too annoying. I don’t want to spend more time with the guy, much less become his friend.
“Okay.” I hear myself say. Did I just agree? I put on my serious tone again “Now let me work.”
“But there’s nobody here.”
“Do you want my help or not? Leave.” I nod toward the door.
“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow, though, I can’t wait to start. Gold leaf cafe 10:30.” I do like that place a lot, does he know? “I’m going to finish reading the current material today. Come prepared, Sensei”
He doesn’t wait for me to confirm it. I roll my eyes as he exits.
He’s as obnoxious as it gets.
And as much as I hate to admit it, it just makes me want to spend more time with him.