Work Text:
Sasuke: Sakura, have you already stocked up? I'm running a grocery errand right now. Do you want me to get some for you? I'm actually doing grocery for 3 households. We had an elderly couple neighbor, as well as a single mom.
Sakura: Sasuke, it's okay. I've already done some shopping the other day.
Sakura: Thank you.
Sakura: I think it'll also be better if we don't meet in the meantime. We have covid cases here in the hospital. It's safer to assume that I'm a carrier now. I don't want you to get it from me or something.
Sasuke: Do you have stock enough for at least a month? Will you still be able to have day offs? I heard it's really busy in every hospital.
Sakura: Yes, we still have day offs. So if ever I ran out, I can just buy some more.
Sasuke: I have a car, anyway. It wouldn't be too inconvenient. I'll just do your groceries, too.
Sakura: Sasuke, you really don't have to. Don't go to the condo. You might get exposed.
Sasuke: I'll see you later.
Sakura: You really don't have to, Sasuke. If you're really getting me some groceries, you can just leave it in the condo. Don't stay there, okay?
--
Sakura really hope Sasuke didn't go to her condo, or at least he didn't stay there. He has his own keys so he can go there whenever he wants, but it really wasn't safe now with the pandemic and everything. Sakura also hasn't cleaned much since she has been quite busy.
And that was fine, usually since she's living alone and she's barely at home. She was practically living in the hospital these days. The only thing she can really do when she's home is take a bath and sleep.
They really weren't prepared for this pandemic, unfortunately. They lack manpower, budget and facilities. Then there were a lot of challenges due to the restrictions, and because some of their patients and citizens in general, are uncooperative.
Sakura really didn't know how much the health workers can endure this. Most of her friends from Internal Medicine are getting sick, since they are the most exposed to the virus. Even Ino, who is a Dermatologist, is saying some of her seniors are getting sick. And some from her department, Surgery, has also been exposed.
--
As per usual, it was already late when Sakura reached her condo. There was just too many things to do at the hospital, and everyone is just trying to help as much as they can, even if it meant staying after your time out. In all honestly, each day is blurring into a continuous day for her. All she does these days are hospital duties, sleep and eat, then repeat once more.
She at least was optimistic that since it was already late, Sasuke must have already gone home. There is a curfew, after all, and Sasuke isn't part of the exemptions.
Sakura went right up to her unit and opened the her door. She was expecting to see grocery bags, but there was nothing.
What welcomed her was a clean condo. She blinked, feeling a little daze. She is truly exhausted, and somehow it just felt surreal right then. She was probably already half asleep. But she could still register that Sasuke must have cleaned the condo for her.
Sakura placed her bag down the sofa and was just about to check the kitchen--she was thinking Sasuke must have also already arranged the groceries he bought. But then Sasuke himself appeared in front of her, seemingly coming from her room.
She was so surprised, and she felt more awake than before. The first thing she thought of was that she wasn't wearing any mask. And she hasn't taken a bath.
Sakura moved a few steps back and tried to cover her mouth with her hand.
"Why are you here??" She asked.
He just smiled. "I was thinking that maybe I should stay here for a while.."
"Huh?" Sakura asked. "Sasuke, I'm a potential carrier. I might get you infected. Your dad is already 62 years old, and he's hypertensive. They're very high risk, if you get exposed he and your mom can also get exposed."
"That's one reason why I thought it'd be better that I stay here instead..." He said.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"My boss tested positive." He said simply. "I only knew when I got here earlier. I was with him a lot of times before he showed symptoms and got tested."
"Sasuke..."
He shrugged.
"So we're the same. Potential carriers. And I don't wanna risk it and stay with my parents. As you've said, my dad is already a senior citizen, also hypertensive. I don't wanna risk mom either." He continued saying. "But I guess this is a good thing."
I look at him incredulously.
He looked sheepish. "I just mean, this way, I can come near you, right?" He said as he took a few steps towards me.
"Sasuke, it's still not advisable for you. There's still a chance you didn't get infected. Unlike me. Everyday, I have all the chance to get it. When they said quarantine, it really means isolated even if you're both potential carriers." I tried to say.
"I know, Sakura." He said, still walking towards her. "But I don't really have anywhere else. I can't stay at home. I think it's better that I'm here so at least I can be with you."
When he was about 3 feet in front of Sakura, he looked at her seriously. "I'm not saying this to romanticize being infected or whatever, okay? If it's better that we sleep in separate rooms, we'll do that. But that's a privelege on itself. Don't worry, I'll just share the rent with you." He said, chuckling a little.
"But at least with this, I can take care of you. You're taking care of all your patients, but who's taking care of you?"
Sakura didn't know how exactly she was feeling at his words. But she was tearing up. She's really exhausted, and if feels like it was only then that someone asked her how she was faring with everything that's happening. If she was still okay.
"I guess this will be my contribution with the pandemic. At the very least, I'll make sure this one passionate doctor is being taken cared of. That she's sleepinh and eating properly, at least when she's at home. Or at the very least, I can be someone she can vent all her stress out on." Sasuke said.
Then, he surprised Sakura when he stepped forward and patted her on her head. "I really wanna hug you but that might not be allowed. You really look tired right now, love. Are you hungry? Let's eat first then you can rest. You still have to wake up early tomorrow."
And then, Sakura finally smiled. It felt like it has been a long time since she was able to do that sincerely. Somehow, she felt some of her stress melting away.
Sakura nodded at Sasuke. "Let's eat." She said.
'I can still do this. I will endure this.'
END