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Sakura's POV
We've been friends ever since we first met.
When we first met in a set for a kid's educational show--something both our parents thought at the time, would be a good activity so I can get over my shyness, and he can be exposed to more kids his age. He was shy but he wasn't very reserved. He wasn't awkward around girls yet.
Young, curious, and friendly... the two of us quickly became friends.
After that, though, we've lost contact to one another and he became just that someone I got to work with. Our careers started that way. And after that, whenever we see each other in the studios, we would still greet each other, but I really couldn't call him a friend. He was just an acquaintance.
I had expected he would be a classmate when I entered Kishimoto Academy and I wasn't wrong. It was one of the few schools that has a program for celebrity students.
I was happy to be able to meet with him every day again but something had changed between us.
It was like we were new friends meeting for the first time. I think I was even closer to Naruto than I was with him.
He was rather awkward at school. Not just around me but to everyone in general. I think he was shy. The Uchiha Sasuke seen in television was very different from the real Uchiha Sasuke.
You'd think other girls would be disillusioned, but it only made him more attractive.
His naivety, his innocence and his awkwardness... It was strangely cute that he was trying not to be cute.
I never knew about him and Karin. I should have noticed it, though, how he had become undeniably happy, it was annoying at times.
But I never knew it. Not until the rumors got out.
And during that time, it was already over for them. Everything happened so fast. The next thing I knew, Karin already transferred school.
It was purely by chance that I saw him.
It was the first time I saw him in the rooftop. Usually, he would just stay at our classroom. The rooftop was often empty save for me and sometimes, Ino.
It was an accident that I heard him. I didn't notice him at once, and I was already too close when I did.
It was the first time I saw him crying for real. And not because he was happy, either.
I knew at once why. Karin, of course.
I had planned to backtrack and pretend I never saw him. But then I tripped.
He looked up sharply and saw me.
I expected for him to look away and hide his tears (it's what I would do). But he surprised me when he suddenly got up and hurried towards me.
"Are you okay?" He asked, worriedly.
I looked at him in surprised and asked in return, "Are you?"
I mentally kicked myself. I had told myself to forget about seeing him there.
He blinked and then wiped his face, though there were already no more tears.
"I am now, I think. You're a good distraction." He said, helping me up.
I smiled at him. "Well, glad to be of service." I told him.
And after that it was like when we were back to our childhood days and we'd always hang out in the rooftop. We talk about nothing and everything. We were very comfortable around each other.
One day, when we were in the rooftop, he asked me.
"Can you be my best friend?"
I smiled at him. "Yeah, sure."
I could still remember how Ino rolled her eyes at me when we were walking home that same day.
It was our last day as first year students.
"But I am your best friend." She had told me.
"Yeah, you are. And Naruto is Sasuke-kun's best friends, as well." I said, nonchalant.
She snorted. "Besides, what's with this asking to be a best friend? That's just weird. I mean, we never asked each other if we can be best friends. You'll just know you are!"
After that, we were practically inseparable. We always ate lunch together, we walk home together, we became each other's permanent lab partners (resulting to Naruto becoming Ino's), and automatic seatmates when there's no seating arrangement.
My second year in high school was filled with memories with him and our other classmates. The class that was initially shy and a bit formal around each other was now close friends. Being a small class, it was to be expected.
I started to think of our class as my second family. They all act like my brothers and sisters to me, anyway. And we were a solid group. But then, somehow, I couldn't seem to look at Sasuke as anything but my best friend.
During our third year, there came a big change. Both Sasuke-kun and I became so busy that we hardly see each other. During that time, I was mostly with Naruto and Ino (who incidentally, had started going out the same year). I couldn't believe how much I miss him each day. We started calling each other before we go to sleep. That had become a new routine for us. And most of the time, we fall asleep with the line still on.
Many cried during our graduation, including me. It just felt so unreal that the years have already passed; that it was time for us to say goodbye to Kishimoto.
The ceremony was over fast. Like what they say, when you're dreading something, it always seems that time speeds up. Of course, I want to graduate, it was the goodbyes I was dreading.
After the ceremony my family immediately sought me and congratulated me. After that, they let me go to my friends.
Sasuke-kun wasn't crying when I found him after the ceremony, which wasn’t surprising. He’s truly sentimental, but he really doesn’t show that side of him, much.
I raised an eyebrow at him and he seemed to understand. He shrugged and then pointed at somewhere. I followed his hand and saw his family.
"Mom's already crying so much. I figured it wouldn't do if I start bawling as well." He said.
I grinned at that. "Mama's boy?" I teased.
"You're one to talk. I saw you with your family.” He teased. Maybe I did cry a little bit when they congratulated me.
I whacked him playfully but he dodged and grabbed my hand. He suddenly pulled me into him and hugged me.
"Congratulations." He said.
I laughed. "Congratulations." I greeted back.
That was the last time I saw our class together. The year passed by after that. I rarely saw any of my high school friends except during accidental meet ups in studios or if I'm lucky and I get to work with them. Exception to this is Sasuke-kun.
Ironically, we never meet anywhere during work. But he saw through that by visiting me in our house during holidays and whenever our off coincided.
One time, though, he surprised me by appearing in one of our location shoots. It was only for a commercial and we finished early. I was planning on going to the mall to buy a gift for Ino (her birthday was only in two weeks). But then someone called to me and I saw him. He was just sitting in his car, in his usual disguise.
"Sasuke-kun?" I had muttered softly as I moved towards him.
"Sakura!" He called, waving at me.
I hurried towards him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked when I was near enough.
"Are you done for today?" He asked.
"Yeah. We've already wrapped up." I answered.
"Perfect." He said, grinning. "Wanna go to the mall with me?"
Still bewildered, I answered. "Well, I was planning on going there but why?"
"Why what?" He asked back. "And is that a ‘yes’?"
"Why are you here and why are you inviting me?" I clarified. "And yeah, sure. Free ride."
"It's our anniversary." He said simply, starting the car's engine.
"Anniversary?" I asked, now really confused.
"Third, actually. It's the exact day I asked you to be my best friend." He said, grinning at me.
I couldn't help but laugh. "You actually remembered?"
He laughed as well. "Not really, but I remembered it's also the day Tenten confessed to Neji. It's also their third anniversary today. Neji was definitely not trying to let anyone know." He said with a roll of his eyes, which just tells me how Neji was probably lowkey boasting about it. "We didn't exactly do anything the last two anniversaries."
I shook my head at him in amusement.
He gave me that 'What?-It's-fine-isn't-it?' look and shrugged.
I just laughed at his antics.
"Sakura." He called.
"Yeah?"
"Happy third anniversary." He said playfully.
"Happy third anniversary." I just said, going along with him.
After that, I don't know why but we started seeing more of each other. Sasuke's visits, rather than being once in a while, once a month at most, has became a weekly occurrence. And at times when he can't come, I'll compromise by visiting him at work, instead. And calls to each other everyday became a permanent routine.
During the last quarter of that year, we were offered a project together. Just a commercial for a toothpaste. I was happy I get to work with him again, but I hesitated when I heard that there would be a kissing scene. I don't really know why it's necessary but that was the main scene for the commercial. It wasn't like I haven't kissed on-screen before. I have, I think a thousand times. And it wasn't like I was Sasuke's first kiss on-screen as well. Almost all his dramas following our graduation, he'd have roles with love interest.
And it was Sasuke. I should feel lucky it was with my best friend. I shouldn't be feeling nervous or awkward.
I agreed to the offer when I heard Sasuke did, but I was still anxious about it.
I didn't know how he felt when it was already time. We didn't really talk about the commercial even though we talk every day prior to that day.
We hardly talk during our shooting. And when it was finally the moment, I tried so hard not to betray a hint of blush. I was a nervous wreck even though I tried to think about it professionally.
When the director had shouted, "Action!," I braced myself and closed my eyes as I saw Sasuke's face moved near mine.
We were asked to do it a couple more times. No doubt it was due to my fidgeting. I couldn't believe I messed up so bad. But when it was at least our fifth try, it was Sasuke who asked for a break, looking a bit flushed. When the director consented, he immediately went away, not looking at me once. And I realized that he too, was nervous and uncomfortable. I tried to calm myself during the break. I didn't know what was wrong with me. We already did it so many times, but I was still so nervous like I was initially.
After the break, Sasuke came back with a determined face but before the camera started rolling, the director had moved towards us.
He smiled at us. "Just relax. Don't think about the cameras. During this moment, it's just the two of you." He said softly.
Strangely, his words relaxed me and when we took our sixth take, he'd deemed it perfect.
After that, I didn't know why but I was aware that our relationship had changed. Or perhaps changed was the wrong word – it had shifted, in the same way turning a gem in the light revealed different facets of it. And something told me that this shift had been building for a long, long time. Had been happening for a long, long time, and I was only now aware of it.
Now I was consciously aware of my feelings for him.
-
The first thing I felt when I saw him entering the restaurant (in his usual disguise) was guilt.
One look at me and then he frowned (pouted, more like), his eyes going over my table which have two sets of plates.
He made his way straight to me.
"Hi, Sasuke-kun." I said sheepishly.
His pout became more pronounced. "You forgot, didn't you?" He asked.
"Not entirely." I said. "You didn't have to remind me. It just kind of..."
"Slipped your mind?" He finished.
"Yeah." I said apologetically.
"Hey, Sasuke!" Someone said from behind me.
"Tenten. Long time no see." He said in greeting.
Tenten looked at him. "Didn't you watch my concert just yesterday with Neji?"
"Yeah." Sasuke shrugged. "But we weren't able to talk." He said simply. He went ahead and took a sit right next to me.
"You were there, too?" I asked him and then looked at Tenten. "I'm really sorry I couldn't come." I told her.
She just shrugged it off. "It’s fine, Sakura-chan. You have work." She said, taking her seat.
She looked at Sasuke in question. "So, what brought you here?" She asked.
Sasuke pouted once more but sighed in resignation. "I was planning on celebrating our anniversary, sadly Sakura forgot." He said, looking at me.
Tenten's eyebrows rose up. "Anniversary?" She asked, giving me a look that clearly said, 'What-is-this?-What-have-you-not-been-telling-me?'
I shook my head at her and said. "This is the fourth year since Sasuke-kun asked me to be his best friend."
Tenten's eyebrows rose higher at this. But it was gone after another second.
"Oh." She said. "Then, I guess I should leave now. I don't wanna ruin the day for you two."
"No, Tenten, you really don't have to—" I try to say.
"It's fine. We've finished with our lunch anyway. I'll just come by your place later, okay?" She said. I got the message. 'You're definitely giving me all the details later.'
"Yeah, sure." I just said. She said goodbye to both of us and proceeded out of the restaurant.
"How did you know I was here?" I said as I turned to Sasuke.
He just shrugged. "Neji told me you and Tenten were having lunch today."
I just nodded. Just then, my phone vibrated. I excused myself and opened the new text.
It was from Tenten.
'Anniversary? As best friends. Seriously?' I could already imagine the grin she must be sporting right then. I typed a quick reply.
'No comments from you.' Then, I turned off my phone, knowing she'd be barraging me with texts for the whole day.
I turned back to Sasuke. "So, what's your plan for today?" I asked.
He grinned. "I was planning on going to Disneyland. We haven't been there for ages. What do you think?" He said.
I smiled. "Yeah, sure. Let me just get my disguise."
After that day, my friends have, I think, considered Sasuke as 'not my best friend,' if you get my drift.
And I wasn't very dense to see their reason. We do treat each other not as what normal best friends would. Hanging out, going to the movies or to the amusement park can, I think, still be counted as friends' activity. But I think texting each other every hour, calling each other every day, going out to dinner to different fancy restaurants and fetching me from work every day had crossed an invisible boundary of being 'best friends.'
I was prepared for our '5th anniversary.' We had agreed to meet at my apartment for the celebration, and for the first time I bought him a gift. I had decided I would be confessing that night. I dressed up, even asking Ino to be my dress coordinator for the night.
I waited for him anxiously, and a bit excited as well.
He had work till the afternoon, so he had told me not to expect him till around seven, so while waiting, I opened the television and surfed through the channels, not really absorbing anything.
It was past seven when he texted me saying he had just got out of work and he was sorry he was so late.
I just replied that I didn't mind and that I'll wait for him.
Past eight and still, he hasn't arrived. I was growing worried, so I texted him asking him where he was.
He didn't reply.
Around nine, I decided to go out. Maybe look for him even though I don't really know where he was.
But as I opened the door, someone was already opening it from outside.
Relief surged to me as I automatically thought of Sasuke.
But it wasn't him.
It wasn't someone I know.
It was the police.
What he was saying wasn't really registering in my head.
It felt surreal.
I felt detached from my body as if realizing what happened from another person's point of view.
Haruno Sakura's best friend died on an accident on his way to her home.
Found in the car was a bouquet of flowers and a card that read:
'We've been best friends for the last 5 years, now let's be lovers for the next 50.'
END