My Ex Want To Marry Again

Part - XXVII

10th Nov, 2023
13:03

"I should have told you, but it was just after Itachi's accident and you were so under water between handling your own emotions, dealing with the medical decisions, and trying to take over the family business and get up to speed on everything. I didn't want to add to the stress and I thought I could handle her." Naruto continued further, "I was taking over most of the meetings and trips for our business to take things off your plate, so she had plenty of opportunities to find me alone. I told her there was no chance, and that she had to stop harassing me. It lasted about three weeks, then she finally got the message. I really thought it was done. I had no idea she would ever be capable of something like this. I mean, I know she never got over you, never forgave you for not loving her back and rejecting her so many times. Especially rejecting her for me, but this... God, Sasuke, I can't believe she did this."

Sasuke sat there, trying to process everything he had heard. He believed Naruto. There was no question. Yes, Naruto should have told him these things, but he understood why he hadn't. Didn't blame him. Part of him felt an incredible relief that the hellish reality of Naruto cheating on him, of not being enough to hold the one person who mattered to him, was not true. Naruto had never betrayed him. But then...

Sasuke leaned forward, his head in his hands. Memories of that last night together crashed into him. Memories of Naruto, destroyed. Crying. Broken. Because of him. And how could he take that back? How could he make that right?

"God, Naruto -"Sasuke didn't know what to say. How could there be

anything to say? What kind of words could erase actions that he had meant to be as hurtful as possible?

He looked into the eyes of his friend, searching them for some clue, some cue for what he should do next. "I'm sorry. Naruto - please... tell me what I can do to make this right. I... I saw your paintings at the gallery, and god, I -"

"Stop. Don't." Naruto stood, his face closed. "I don't want to talk about that, Sasuke."

Naruto stood abruptly and walked over to the canvass he was working on, staring at it blankly. He didn't want to talk about that time. The utter pathetic waste he had been... he didn't want Sasuke to see that. He didn't want himself to see that. It had been the absolute lowest point in his life, and his weakest. He felt disgusted with the person he had been at that time.

Sasuke felt at sea... Naruto had always worn his heart on his sleeve, his emotions there for all to read. With Sasuke especially, there had been no barriers. Naruto would come to him with whatever problem he had, big or small, and pour everything out about it. And Sasuke would either roll his eyes and say something biting to snap him out of it, or would quietly listen and let Naruto purge himself of his turmoil, then offer advice. Either way, Sasuke always tried to fix whatever was bothering his friend. But this time it was Sasuke himself who was the cause of his friend's agony. And Naruto clearly did not want to talk to him about it, not that part at least. Sasuke knew why. Expected it. Understood it. Even deserved it. But God, it hurt like hell. He sat there, looking at the back of the only person he had ever loved, ever would love, desperately trying to think of what to say.

"Are you hungry?" Naruto asked abruptly. "I don't have food here, but... we could order something."

Sasuke wasn't hungry, but he didn't want to leave, and didn't know what to say, so he just nodded. He knew Naruto was as much at a loss for how to handle this as he was. But at least he wasn't asking Sasuke to leave. "Sure. Anything is fine."

"There is a decent Thai place nearby. Do you still avoid spicy?" Sasuke was shocked that Naruto hadn't suggested ramen. It seemed... wrong.

"I'll eat whatever," Sasuke said.