Oh No I'm In Love With The Bartender!

Ch 14

Sasuke felt like he was staring at art. Her green emerald eyes were back to normal, regaining that shiny gloss he admired. "Sakura it's you." He didn't even recall saying those words but they slipped out. "Ah ha! Sorry sorry I know it's late. I just had to come check in with you because you weren't answering your phone." She said as she scratched her head nervously. Sasuke raised a brow and fished out his phone. There it was just as she had said two missed calls and a couple of messages. (I didn't even feel it vibrate. I must have been too busy) he told himself.
"Sorry I didn't get in touch with you sooner. Something came up. Don't worry it won't happen again." She beamed at him. Sasuke watched the way she pulled off her parka. She seemed to glow under the bar light like a diamond. Was it his eyes playing tricks on him or was he starting to lose his mind. Sasuke couldn't really tell and he didn't really seem to mind. "Do you need help taking drinks to the table? I notice you guys are busier today." She smiled. Sasuke was too caught up by her presence that he didn't even notice a customer asking for a drink. "SAKURA-CHAN!" A loud voice could be heard across the bar. "Here comes the stumbling oath." Sasuke said as he took the customers order with a small smile.
       "Sakura-Chan! We were so worried about you! You didn't answer our calls or text so we went looking for you. Kakashi, me and even Sasuke." He explained. Sakura turned her head to look at Sasuke in surpise. She wouldn't have believed him if she hadn't caught the way we was looking at her before abruptly turning his eyes away. A small blush settled on her cheeks. "I'm sorry to worry you. I didn't realize my presence meant that much to you." She said shyly. "Of course your presence is wanted here. We are a team aren't we?" Kakashi said as he joined the conversation.
       "Right Sasuke?" Kakashi asked while giving him a nudge with his elbo. Sasuke shot him an annoyed look to which Kakashi simply smiled. "Right.." Sasuke said in a low voice but just loud enough for her to hear. Sakura felt the warmth rising to her cheeks. It didn't slip by her that her heart had sped up. She however blame her sudden warmth to the  increase of bodies in the bar. Just then Sakura's phone began to ring. She gave an exasperated huff as she took out her phone to silence it. "Who is it?" Naruto asked, being nosy as he always was. "It's Ino. She's been on my case about something recently." Sakura said as she ran a hand through her hair. Ino's name was enough to make them snap out of the blissful reunion they were sharing and go back to the grim reality. The reality where Ino had asked them to fire Sakura.
      The three shared a look of concern. It was however, Sasuke who decided to break the silence. "Sakura can I have a chat with you in my office?" He asked as placed his towel on the counter. "O-oh ok." Sakura answered hesitantly after feeling the tenseness around them. "Sasuke.." Naruto said as he tried to follow them only to be stop by Kakashi who shook his head.
        The walk to his office felt like he was walking a prisoner to be executed. Sasuke had racked his head about the situation all night. He honestly didn't expect to have to make a decision this fast. And having to tell sakura that she could no longer work for him felt like he was pushing her again. Something he didn't wish to do at all. "Sit down please." He said as he closed the door behind him after letting her pass before him. Sakura did as he said and he moved awkwardly across the room to his desk. "If this is about my sudden absence. I can assure you It won't happen again." She said nervously. Sasuke gave a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to run away from this conversation. But he was the boss and he had to learn how to have hard conversations. It's what his father always said. The thought of his father made his palms sweaty. That was another situation he wanted to run away from as well.
          "Sakura I know we had a contract saying you were going to work for me for a time frame of three months. But I want to dissolve the contract.... Take the last month off." He said as he forced himself to maintain eye contact with her. Sakura's eyes went wide. Like a deer in headlights she stayed still. "W-wait Sasuke ah- I mean Mr.Uchiha please don't do this. I promise I won't-." The sudden correction of his name to a more formal form forced him to remember how his outburst had landed him in that situation. Brining with it a new wave of guilt. Sakura's pleads reminded him of his own when he begged his father not to put him in boarding school. He closed his eyes and shook his head trying not to let his emotions get the better of  him.
        "I promise you, I'll work double as hard to make up for the time I was gone. I'll-." She was rambling. Sasuke could see her spiral out of control. (Listen, if she continues to stress out Sakura can die... so I'll say it one last time. Fire Sakura Haruno. ) Ino's words echoed in his mind making him furrow his brows. "Sakura you miss understand. I like the work you have done. I just want you to be safe. I care about ..." Sasuke  stopped, he was chocking just as he did when he had gone to look for her. He couldn't tell sakura he was sorry when he dropped off the papers at the hospital and he couldn't answer Ino when she had asked him what Sakura was to him.
      Here he was again stuck with the words in his mouth as she stared at him with sorrowful emerald eyes. Sakura could see him struggling to keep the conversation going, but she couldn't understand why. Had she over stepped her boundaries again? Had she done something wrong? Her mind bombarded her with questions to which she had no answers for. "Just give me one month. I promise to show a profit increase. I'll speed up my paperwork and increase the amount of media advertising and-." "Sakura stop!" Sasuke said, cutting her off before she could continue. Her eyes flickered in surpise at his increasing tone.
         "I'm not firing you. I'm am simply telling you to rest. I worry about your wellbeing, both physically and mentally." Sakura's eyes widen as he explained himself. "I've noticed how burnt out you've seemed the last couple of days. I'm worried that if you keep this up any longer you'll get sick and I will not let that happen. Not to you." Sakura was taken back by his words she had no idea he had noticed her fatigue. Did he know she was sick? If so, how did he find out? Sakura leaned forward rubbing her temples as she did. "Take the month off. Settle yourself in the areas you need and when you're ready come back. It's a temporary Hiatus for the contract. When you get back you can pick up where you left off."
        Sakura lifted her head to meet his eyes again. They showed genuine concern. Just then she remembered how highly the other crew members spoke about him. He really was kind in his own way. She let out a huff. "Is this a direct order from my boss?" Sasuke's widen his eyes at the question. He was put in a spot where he had to determine the nature of their relationship again. He didn't want to run away again. "It's an order from your boss and..." Sasuke took a deep breath before continuing. "...a request from a friend." He said the last part in a shy manner.
        Something new flickered in Sakura's heart as she heard his words. (Friend? He said friend?) she repeated to herself in disbelief.  She blinked a couple of times before nodding and letting a small smile settle on her face. "Ok.. I understand. I'll take the month off...But seeing as you are temporarily not my boss, I am going to keep making videos and posting them and there's nothing you can do to stop me." She said as she crossed her arms and tilted her chin up. Sasuke blinked his eyes a couple of times before furrowing his brows. "You're really stubborn." He grumbled at her. "Yeah, I get that a lot." She said as she smiled at him. Their eyes met again this time Neither of them ran away. With that they both began to laugh.
         Sakura's heart couldn't help flutter as she listened to the way his laugh rumbled through the air. It was electrical and addicting. She wanted to her it again and again and again. It was the same for Sasuke. Her laugh sounded Angelic. He couldn't really explain why he felt happy hearing it. Usually he found loud laughing annoying but she seemed to be an exemption. "I have to go back. Kakashi will nag if I lag any longer." Sasuke said as he stood up. "I think I'll stay. Sakura said as she also stood up. Sasuke raised a brow at her but didn't risk asking anymore questions in fear of sounding pushy. "Suit your self." He said as he held the door open for her. She tried her best not to blush as she walked past him. His Cologne filled her nose as she did.
          "Sakura-Chan! Are you ok? Did he hurt you?!" Naruto said as he grabbed on to her shoulders in an exaggerated manner. "What? No Im ok." She said as she gave him a concerned smile. "Who do you think I am?" Sasuke asked him in an offended tone. As he walked to the bar to take orders. "Really Naruto Im ok. We just decided on me taking a break for a month." She explained as she walked over to sit on a seat on the bar. "A month?!?" He practically yelled. "You're gonna be gone a month!" Naruto paced next to her as she rolled her eyes at his exaggerated demeanor. "I'm still going to see you. I'll pop in just to check in and take videos for social media and stuff when I have time." She expalined. If naruto was a dog he would be tilting his ears back and making sad puppy eyes.
          "I think that's a good idea. Hey Sasuke I need a month off." Kakashi said as he budded in to the conversation. "No way. Get back to work" He answered immediately. Causing them to laugh. It wasn't long before Naruto was busy taking orders again and They fell into rhythm of preparing drinks. "Are you going to miss us on your month vacation?"Kakashi asked her as he poured a drink. Sakura watched the way the clear liquid settled in the ice filled cup. "Well, like I said I'll still be coming to visit..." Sakura's eyes flickered to Sasuke who had moved away to take an order. "But yeah." Sakura said as she smiled fondly.
          Kakashi's eyes traced her own before smiling. "Some more than others I presume." He said in a sly tone. This made sakura flinch and look at him. "What do you mean?" She questioned as she tilted her head. Kakashi smiled behind his mask and gave her a teasing look. "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't look at me like that." She said as she narrowed her eyes at him. Picking up the silent hints he was giving. "I'm not looking at you like anything." He teased again. "Yes you are." She said as she pointed at him. "No I'm not." "Yes you are." "No Im not." "Yes you are." Their bickering went back and forward.
        "god you two sound like children. Kakashi shut up." The Uchiha said as he made his way back to them. "Why am I the only getting yelled at." He frowned. "Because sakura technically doesn't work for me right now so she's a customer." He explained. Sakura stuck her tongue out as a victory sign. Making Kakashi roll his eyes. "What were you arguing about anyways?" Sasuke said as he grabbed a cup. "Nothing!" They said in unison. Making him raise a brow. Kakashi did what he always did to avoid being talk to and walked away. Sasuke stare came back to sakura who simply shrugged and smiled at him. He sighed, deciding to drop it.
           "You should go home and rest." He said to her as she leaned an arm on the bar in front of him "I don't have to work tomorrow so I'll be fine. Besides I want to catch up with you guys. It seems like the bar is buzzing." She was happy to see that the fruit of her labor was finally coming to fruition. "Yeah it's. Thanks for that."The dark haired man in front of her said. Her gaze stayed on him. He was a strange one indeed. Hard to read and an open book all at once. "Can I ask you something?" She said suddenly. Sasuke stopped cleaning his glass cup to look up  from the bar and into her emerald eyes. "What is it?" He asked before flicking his obsidian eyes back down to the cup.
           "How did you know I was sick?" She asked. Her eyes studied his form. They watched him as his movements came to a halt, like he was in thought, before answering her. "You're eyes...They had lost their shine." Sakura's eyes slowly widen after hearing his words. (My eyes? He noticed my tiredness from my eyes.) she thought to herself. "You noticed my eyes?" She asked him in surprise. His own eyes flickered up to meet hers. It was just like the day he had brought her the papers at the hospital. The noise around them drowned out and it was just him and her in the room. "How could I not." Sakura wanted to pinch herself. Was this real? If not it was a cruel dream.
          Their staring match was broken by the sounds of cups being placed on the table. "Table 9 orders. Two Mojitos, a whiskey sour and a Manhattan." The voice said, bring back all the noise of bar with it. Sasuke's eyes shifted from hers before nodding and grabbing the cups and turning around. "What are you doing here?" Sakura turned to look at the source of the voice, only to be met with red hair. "Karin? You're working late today?" She asked her nervously. Her sharp gaze never left Sasuke's back. "I am. What's it to you?" Sakura was no stranger to a hostile work environment but she was on a different level than Amy. A bead of sweat dropped down her brow. No matter how hard she tried Sakura couldn't seem to befriend the red head next to her.
        "Ah.. just asking.haha.." Sakura said with a nervous laugh. "Cut it out Karin or I'll tell uncle that you're being a brat again!" Naruto's voice sounded out next to Sakura. " haaa?! VTell him it's not like the old man will actually do anything. He can't control me." She said defiantly and crossed her arms. Sakura raised a brow. "Uncle? Wait you two are cousins?" She asked as she looked between the blonde and the red head. "Unfortunately..." Karin huffed which made Naruto scowl. "You're so annoying!" Naruto growled. "And you're not?" "You boy crazy bone head. I'm going to make sure Sasuke never falls for you!" Naruto exclaimed as he point at her. "I will literally punch you, in the the throat, right now. I will throat punch you." Karin said as she lifted a fist at him.
      (Jeez the people who work at this bar Sure are.... Unique.) Sakura said to herself as she watched them bicker. "You two shut up. Here are the drinks."  Sasuke said as he finally returned. He placed the drinks on the racks and watched as they both took the trays and went back to serve the tables. Sakura looked at her phone only to see that it was almost midnight. "Crap gotta catch the last buss outta here. I guess I'll take my leave." She said as she began to stand up. "Get home safe.." he said softly as he watched her put her coat on. "I will- Ah Sasuke who's drink is that?" She said as she pointed at a martini glass on the bar. "Shit. It was supposed to be for Karin's order." He said as he ran a hand through his hair.
      "It's ok I'll take it to her." Sakura said as she grabbed the drink. "Thanks." He said as he watched her disappear through the crowd. Sakura's squeezed through the sea of people as she searched for the red head amongst them. She spotted her out of the corner of her eye towards the back of the bar. As she got closer sakura could see her body posture was uncomfortable as she took an order. The men in the booth seemed oddly close to her. It was then that sakura put two and two together. They were harassing her.  she saw the man closest to the edge slide his hand on her thigh edging closer and closer to her rear.
        Sakura didn't know what happened but her body seemed to move on it's own. She walked forward and grabbed Karin's hand pulling her away from the men. "Hey! What are you doing?" Karin said but she didn't struggle. Sakura finally stopped pulling her after she had gotten a good distance from them. "Are you ok?" She asked in a worried tone. Karin widen her eyes in surprise before  rubbing her wrist. Why would she care? Karin had been nothing but mean to her since they met. Yet here she stood asking her if she was ok. (What a weird woman.) she thought to herself
       "..Yeah I'm fine." She grumbled.  Sakura couldn't understand why Karin hadn't stopped the approach. She definitely had the attitude to stop them. Yet she refused. As if Karin could read her confused face. She rolled her eyes before giving her an answer.
       "Sasuke is finally getting customers to come to his bar again. He's happy. I don't want to be the reason they leave again." She said as she frowned. Sakura seemed to understand. But she still didn't want her to go through something like that. Karin was rude and mean to her but no women deserves that sort of treatment. Sakura watched as a group of girls left the restrooms and rejoined the table of men. "Wait here." She said as she got an idea of how to get back at them without ruining the bars reputation. "Where are you going?" Karin asked as she watched the pinkette make her way back to the table.
         Sakura had seen it multiple times in movies and shows. Her heart bumped rapidly against her ribcage. Maybe it was a warning to calm down. Maybe it was excitement. She had no idea but one thing sakura knew for sure. She was about to ruin these men's night. Sakura still held the drink in her hand as she stopped in front of the table. The group turned to look at her as she lifted a finger and pointed at the man who had touched Karin. "I can't believe you! You're cheating on me! Why bother asking me to marry you if you're going to cheat behind my back!" She yelled. The girl in his arm stood up. "I didn't know he was engaged. He said he was single." She said as she scooted away from him.
        "What! Wait I don't-." Sakura cut him off before he could continue. "Don't even try pulling this 'I don't know you crap!' You know what were over !" Sakura quickly dumped the drink in her hand on him. This caused a few gasp from the crowd that was forming around them. She finally turned to the other people in the group. "You guys knew about it too and didn't tell me. Shame on you! These guys are red flags ladies." She said as she turned around and walked away. Karin watched as the girls got up and left the group. Sakura quickly made her way back to Karin and gave her the empty glass in her hand.
      "Sorry tell Sasuke I owe him a drink. I gotta go or I'll miss my buss." She said as she zoomed out the door. Karin was stunned. She had no idea what she had just witnessed but it was amazing. She felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that the pinkette had ruined their night. She smiled as she brought the cup to the bar. "Hey what was that commotion?" Kakashi asked her as he grabbed the empty glass. "Nothing to worry about." Karin said as she smiled. "Good as long as we don't have a fight today I hate breaking those up. They're such a pain... huh? what are you smiling about?" Kakashi finally asked as she noticed her good mood.  "Nothing.... I guess .. that Sakura girl is ok." She said as she went back to taking orders.