Chapter Text
"I don't know where you find the audacity to skip classes when we're in the middle of hell week."
"I can manage."
"Obviously," Sakura stares at the bulletin board with their names side-by-side, sharing the number one spot. Another tie. She wonders what she can do to be in that spot alone. "I still don't understand why."
"You are way too curious about someone you don't like." He deadpans.
Sakura sighs. "I wonder about that, too." as her gaze trails to what he's currently doing: rummaging through his bag, searching for his keys. When he found what he was looking for, he searched for any witnesses before grabbing his bag again.
Sakura knows she's been staring for too long. Too curious, too invested. Just like in kindergarten when she saw him alone during lunch, or that one time during middle school where he exhibits his God-given talent for kyudo.
"What? Find something that interests you?" He smirks.
Oh, to take that shitty smirk off your face. "You know I can report this to the principal, right?"
"But you wouldn't."
"What makes you so sure?"
Sasuke looks up then chuckles. "I just know you too well, Sakura."
Her heart throbs hard. God, he is so annoying. "Over-confident asshole."
The latter smirks knowing he has won again. Sakura wants to take out those annoying lips for some reason. "Next time, Ms. Haruno."
"Fuck you."
“Sakura,” Ino sighs for the third time in their conversation. “For the love of God, will you please stop pacing around? You're getting your dress wrinkled.”
“I’m just--” she takes a deep breath. “--nervous.”
“Haruno Sakura? Nervous? That’s unheard of.”
“It’s prom, Ino. What’d you expect? Not everyone can be as beautiful as you.”
Ino’s laugh filled her room, before having Sakura sit to apply another blush. “Have you seen how Uchiha Sasuke looks at you?”
“Why is he part of this conversation?”
“Because you have been working for years to be validated by the guy you hate.”
Sakura groans. “Ino, please. Not now.”
“You know what,” Ino puts down her brush. “Let’s bet on it.”
Oh, no. No. No. “Sure.” Fuck.
“If Uchiha Sasuke asks you to dance tonight, I will do anything you ask me to.”
“It’s on.” She says sealing the deal with a handshake.
Sakura needs to stop with this strange addiction toward bets.
Sakura, in her silver satin dress that hugs her figure perfectly, enters the ballroom. Everyone’s attention is obviously on her, much less on Ino who is happily linked to her boyfriend.
“See what I mean,” Ino whispers with her eyes in Sasuke's direction. All black from head to toe, except his neck-tie in deep red, like the color of her lips.
His onyx eyes are burning in her memory, as she shifts her gaze and looks for familiar faces.
In the entire duration of the prom, she lets herself be swayed by the crowd to avoid being alone. There is something about tonight that Sakura knows will happen.
Crazy, feelings-induced something. One that she’s been avoiding for too long.
When she heard the song transition for a slow dance, Sakura was already fighting her thoughts and Ino’s bet. No way in hell would her great rival ask her to dance. That’s just crazy.
“Hey,” Ah. Sakura and her big mouth.
“Hey yourself, Sasuke.”
His hand stretched to hers; a familiar gesture that has been repeated for so long. It wasn’t supposed to be special. It should be cliché if there’s any but Sakura’s heart gave out first before her brain did.
“Hmm?”
Sasuke sighs, taking Sakura’s hand. “Dance with me.”
“Wow.” Sakura chuckles, hiding her blush against the dim lights. “Not even asking the question?”
“You might say no if I asked.”
“And taking my hand like that will prove you otherwise?”
Sasuke’s hand is already threaded on hers. The hold was not too tight, yet not too light either. Like the boy she loathes doesn’t want to let her go, yet at the same time, he can do the opposite. Sakura’s unconscious knows why. It’s her conscious self that denies it for so long.
The boy looks at their intertwined hands and Sakura swears she saw a glint of a smile as he does.
“You’re already here.”
They dance slowly.
Sasuke’s hand is on her back. Her arms around his neck. Distance is almost non-existent. Sakura is almost falling deeper into the happiness that is swelling in her chest.
Just one night. She tells herself. One night to keep for the rest of my life.
“Hey, Sasuke.”
He replies softly, “Hmm?” just a few inches on her ear.
“Not to be a party pooper--”
“You already are, Sakura.” He turns her around, before pulling her back closer. “What is it?”
“We’re dancing.”
“Yes, Ms. Obvious. We are.”
“People are looking.”
“Yes, and?”
Sakura sighs. “When did you care after all?”
Then Sasuke laughs. It wasn’t a first for Sakura, but it is a first to hear it this close, because of her. She was the reason he’s laughing so carefreely.
“Since when did you not care?”
“Just now.” Sakura’s eyes are on him now. Not shifting, just giving him the same burn he had given earlier that night. “This seems okay.”
“Good.” He tells her. “Naruto would be elated.”
“Why?”
“Because he asked me to dance with you tonight.”
“Wait,” she stops her movements. “He asked you?”
“Yeah, he texted me because you look lonely by yourself--”
Ah.
Her face fell for a second before she took a deep breath to put it on the back again. What did she expect from Uchiha Sasuke? What did she even expect about tonight?
Sasuke was about to take her hand again when the song transitioned to something else. It was her cue.
“Thanks for the dance.” Sakura coaxed her voice with such strength that she almost choked. “Next time, don’t ask someone to dance just because your friend asked you to.”
“Sakura--”
“Asshole.”
And this time, she meant it.
Sakura is thankful for the weekend.
She had 48 hours to compose and remind herself that there are more things in life than that night and the events that happened then. Ino’s right. She was pretty, but the memory of the night wasn’t. Her phone was exploding with Ino’s of stress where the hell are you??? And you better not be making out right now!!!
Home. She typed then. Don’t worry, pig, and enjoy the night.
Sakura sighed. She hates how he can take over her feelings like that and how she lets him do it over and over again. 48 hours will not change things in a snap, but one step forward is the only way to go.
She decides to approach things as normally as possible. Talk when he talks. Ignore when he does. College is just a few jumps away. Pre-med is waiting.
Pretty soon, they will never see each other again. She’ll move on and Sakura will forget she ever had feelings with that pathetic asshole she’s loved for twelve years.
She looks at her mirror and checks the length of her hair. It’s past her shoulder now. She could use a haircut. A short one just in time for college too.
Her phone vibrates again, disrupting her thoughts. When she checked the notification, she quickly deleted it from her messages without checking the full contents. Not even putting it on read.
Are you sure you want to block this contact? Blocked contacts will not be able to message or call you.
She hits yes.
“HE WHAT” Ino’s loud voice made the couple beside them flinch.
“Ino, you’re not loud enough. Say it louder for the people at the back.”
Sakura sighs as she runs her fingers on her freshly cut hair. It felt refreshing and free. As if a huge weight was cut off her shoulders. It was just a hair-cut. She feels beautiful and liberated, and that’s what matters.
“I can’t believe he did that. What the hell.” Ino sips her coffee furiously. “I will kill him when I see him.”
“No need, Ino.” She bites her bagel. “It’s alright. There are better things ahead of me.”
“Still, he’s such an asshole. I will kill Naruto instead. That fucking bastard.”
“I don’t think that’s appropriate to say to your cousin.”
“He’s got the last brain cells of our family tree. That’s why he’s thinking like that.” Ino sighs. “Your hair looks great though.”
“Thank you! Finally!” She laughs. “Something worth noticing.”
“Sa--”
“Hmm?” She looks up from her current book and sees Sasuke with a peculiar expression. Sakura sighs. “Is it bad that you don’t have any words for it?”
“No. It actually suits you.”
“Thanks.” Sakura smiles while packing up her things. He’s here near her, and that’s her cue to leave. “Tell Naruto I said thanks too.”
“Why?”
“Oh, isn’t that why you complimented my hair?”
“Sakura.”
There is that goddamn tone again. She hates it. She absolutely loathes how it has a hold on her, but not this time.
She smiles without any intent of happiness.
“You didn’t answer my texts.”
“Did you? I didn’t receive any.” She says, showing her phone. “What is it? Is it about the exam?”
“It’s about the dance.”
“Oh, that? Don’t worry. That’s all in the past, Sasuke.” Sakura walks past him, like a stranger. As it should’ve been.
Sasuke grabs her arm, stopping her tracks. “Sakura, talk to me.”
“We are talking.” She says, removing the grip from her arm. “The final exam coverage in Bio is from chapters 34-40. Isn’t that what you are after?”
“Stop being so difficult.” Sasuke sighs. It’s the first time that he said a lot in one go. Sakura tries to shake the thought off. “I’m trying to apologize.”
“There’s no need, Sasuke.” Sakura taps his shoulder twice. “You didn’t do anything.
Her heart is aching, obviously.
As obvious as her hatred towards him that mostly overpowered her admiration and awe for the boy she loved since she could differentiate red to blue.
What happened has already happened. Just one blink away and she will be walking on the stage for the last time to receive her award--the highest honor in school and until the very last time, she will share it with Sasuke.
Fate did not let her graduate high school without torturing her one last time.
University life will be different. Time to direct all her newfound energy to someone who will dance her without any reservations, or any push from his friends.
She hopes.
She takes one last look at her high school building and everything feels like slow motion.
Cherry blossoms are everywhere and when a petal suddenly fell on her hair, it camouflaged well that she didn’t even notice there was one until he took it out.
Everything is fast again.
“Sakura.” Her name rolls on his tongue like a routine. There was no hesitation. Just pure confidence that he knows she will think like this. His awards aren’t just really for show.
“Sasuke.” She says the same way because that’s the only name she revered ever since.
Revered. Hated. Loved. Adored.
Somehow, all of the things she feels towards Sasuke became past tense. It was a good start.
“Congratulations on graduating.” He tells her as he gives her a stem of pink tulip.
“Congratulations to you, too.” She manages to say with a smile laced with sincerity. Congratulations, we are out of each other’s hair after twelve years.
She begins to walk away because the longer they stare at each other’s eyes, the harder it is to stay away. Sakura chose to dig a hole and bury all of her feelings and whatever is left.
And it’s a lot.
Sakura feels Sasuke’s hand grab her arm in full force, making her lean closer to him. No distance, unlike the dance and unlike every other day, they are on each other’s throats.
“I--” he starts to pull back, placing that distance himself. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry about what?”
“Everything.”
Sakura chuckles, fighting back her tears. A fighter until the end after all.
“Oy, Sasuke!” They both look back and see Naruto blaring his car horn. “C’mon, the gang is waiting!”
“Your friends are waiting.” She tells him as she pushes him in their direction. “Go. Congratulations again, Sasuke.”
When she walked away this time, she didn’t bother looking back.
Even so, she knows in the depths of her heart that he’s looking.