Chapter 19

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-Hinata's POV-

The tour continued without mishaps, quite unlike the first one. Each show went wonderfully, in fact. Issues only appeared beyond the curtains and cameras. It appears I'm the only one having struggles.

Gaara and Sakura becoming engaged snapped me out of a daze I didn't even know I was in. Now, it's impossible to ignore every instance of them or Sasuke and me having to alter our actions or words for the public.

My boyfriend jokingly flirting with fans or interviewers never bothered me, so why is it now irritating as hell? I knew the moment we agreed to date that those types of things would often occur and accepted it without hesitance because the Uchiha man's worth the suffering.

Currently, we're on the tour bus, driving back to Konoha for the final performance of the tour. Everything brought bittersweet memories of two years ago when I had health and family issues. This time, though, Prestige has its own bus, as does Akatsuki and Konan's band.

The four of us were drinking in a minor celebration of another successful performance and working casually on the song with which Gaara asked for help. Truthfully, the three of them were working, my notebook in front of the redhead alongside the others', while I pretended the alcohol affected me more than it was so I wouldn't have to mask my pouting.

Sipping my third glass of wine, I held a pillow in my lap and allowed my vision to glaze over as I thought about the beautiful Uchiha man across from me. His feet were outside mine as we sat with our knees bent, facing one another. Sakura was at his side, and Gaara sat facing all of us, using his portable keyboard to assist their efforts.

I'm not blind or completely self-aware. I know I'm being a massive baby about this. Sasuke and I have been dating for over three years, and I believe that if we weren't celebrities, he'd have proposed marriage long ago. There's also the matter of him asking me to be patient for a few more years. Sasuke doesn't want the same thing as me, and I'm trying to respect that. That's why I haven't brought up the issue since he made his stance clear.

It's my belief that I've successfully hidden my disappointment. Even now, they're almost certainly assuming I'm feeling emotional because of the wine. After finishing my third glass, I set it aside to wrap both arms around the fluffy pillow in my lap, closing my eyes and burying my face in it.

Okay, maybe I am drunk, but I'm not so far gone that I'd tell anyone why I'm truly sulking.

Throwing a full-on tantrum would be unbelievably selfish, and I refuse to do it. I just need a little time to get over it. I'm sure I'll feel normal about it all again in a week or two. ...Right?

"Aw, are you sleepy, Hina?" Sakura's amused voice interrupted my inner monologue. Lifting my head, I saw her green eyes were warm, as was her tipsy grin.

A tightness met my chest when Sasuke tilted his head, pulling my attention from the pink-haired woman. His gaze was adoring, making my stomach flutter as it always does. The man smirked when I nodded with a red face, parting his bent knees further and gesturing with a few fingers, "C'mere."

Tears welled in my eyes as I fumbled over to sit with my back to his chest, his arms wrapping around my waist as he kissed the top of my head. "Cry baby," he snickered when I nodded rather than verbally respond.

The three of them returned to working on the song, leaving me to return to my inebriated brooding. I sighed and turned so my back faced Sakura and Gaara, and my cheek rested against Sasuke's chest. He didn't comment but casually interlaced his fingers on my hip, moving my shirt up enough to soothingly rub his thumb up and down, skin-to-skin.

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