Oh No I'm In Love With The Bartender!

Ch 13

Ino was glad that Sakura was showering when Sasuke had come looking for her. After hearing the news that her friend was suffering from a heart condition she wanted to keep her away from any stress inducing situations. That included Sasuke. It was no new knews that he treated Sakura with a cold and aloof manner. Sakura had told her about his little three month limit on her working for the bar. It was unsettling for Ino to know that her friend was working for someone like him.
The second Sakura was released Ino had taken it upon herself to make sure her best friend was stress free. And to do that she confiscated her phone and paid all her bills. Still Sakura would insisted she was ok and would throw herself into coming up with Ideas for the bar, to which Ino disapproved. "Who was that?" Sakura asked as she walked out of her shower with a towel around her wet body. "No one, they just got mixed up and buzzed the wrong apartment on accident." She lied as she finished making a green smoothie. "Oh, ok.." Sakura said as she rubbed a towel on her hair to dry herself. "Hey Ino can you give me my phone back I need to get in contact with Sasuke . It's been three days. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought I quit."
           Ino felt a tinge of guilt settle in her stomach as she mentioned the man who had just been there looking for said pinkette. (Avoiding stress would be wise in her situation.) Tsunade's words echoed in her mind, making the guilt quickly fade. "Maybe you should quit. It's not like you need the money now that you have me helping you. That way you can have more free time to relax." She said as she poured the drink into a glass and handed it to Sakura. She simply raised a brow as she received the drink from her blonde friend. "Um no, I already gave my word that I was going to help advertise the bar and I still plan on paying you back for this." She explained as she drank the juice in her hand.
           Ino sighed and rolled her eyes, "I already told you, you don't need to pay me back." She said as she started to wash dishes. Sakura frowned as she watched her friend. "I want to pay you back. Where did you even get the money to pay my medical bills and everything?" Sakura asked her before finishing her drink. The question made Ino stop washing dishes. "I might have taken it from my wedding  funds, but it's ok Sai and I agreed to push our date back." She explained as she continued. Sakura eyes widen and turned to look at her friend. A familiar feeling of Guilt and sadness settled in her heart. It was the same as the time she had left to school and her mom burned her hand on the stove.
         Sakura knew her mother would have done anything to try and raise money for her to go to school. But her mother's tiredness was begging to be more and more evident until she fell further into her mental illness. Sakura would never openly admit it, but she blamed herself for how bad her mother had gotten. If only she had stopped trying to finish school and taken care of her mother ealier... maybe her mom wouldn't be were she was at right now.
        "Ino... I'm sorry. I know you and Sai were looking forward to getting married this year. I-..." Sakura said as she placed the drink on the counter and lowered her eyes. "I'm going to stop you right there. I already said it's ok... but if you want to repay me, repay me by quitting that stupid bar job already." Ino said as she dried a dish and placed it on the dish rack. Sakura pinched her brows together. "What... I'm sorry I can't do that." Sakura said as she frowned. "I'm not going to quit my other job. I'll find another way to make it up to you. But I can't just abandon them like that." She said as she moved her hands to explain.
        Ino stopped washing dishes and turned to look at her friend. "Sakura you're working everyday. When you're not at the hospital you're at the bar or brain storming ideas for the bar. You're running yourself ragged, and for what? Because you owe someone a "favor" ? You want to make some more money? I already told you, me and Sai got you with that." She said as she crossed her arms. "Well thank you, but I told you I don't want to keep relaying on you and Sai. It makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of you." She said as she began to pace around. "You're not. Nobody thinks that!" Ino said as she raised her voice.

        Ino's words cut into her skin. Could her friend not understand that she didn't want to be an annoyance for her. No matter how many times Ino said the opposite. Sakura felt like a burden. She had learned a long time ago to do things by herself. She had been doing it all the time her mom was in a bad state and it had stuck with her. So when her friend urged her to rely on her, Sakura felt like she was doing something bad. "I do!" Sakura said as she shook her head in frustration. "Look Ino I'm glad that you're worried for me but I'm fine." Sakura urged as she rubbed her head. Ino frowned at that, she began picking up signs of distress in Sakura and she wanted to do everything to avoid that.
       She decided to drop the argument in fear that she might trigger another Angina attack. "Fine.. just don't push yourself, too much." She said as she uncrossed her arms and dig into her pocket. She pulled out Sakura's phone and gave it back. "I won't... thank you for understanding Ino you're the best." She said as she hugged her blonde best friend. "I know I am." Ino said as she smiled at her. "I look out for you. It's what I do best." Ino's smile faded as her gaze focused on something far away.