You, Always {Uchiha Sasuke}

Play Matchmaker

        Sasuke walked casually into the library in hopes in finding a particular brown headed girl snoozing somewhere, since he searched for her all over school. Once he slid the door open, there was no one in sight so he decided to raid the area.

        Accomplishing in walking to every corner of the room, he finally found her but not a waking manner. Snoozing soundlessly, her arms were outstretched over the table as her head laid on one side. Sasuke peeked under her when he recognized a familiar book she's sleeping on, which was the journal he given her for Christmas. It moved him.

        He was careful not to wake her up, instead he screeched a chair beside her while peering down at her peaceful face as he was unknowingly mesmerized by Ayu's sleeping form. It was almost soothing how the orange sun sets over her head, creating an invisible halo and soaking her skin with yellow light. With his head against his arm while facing her, Sasuke gazed at her longingly and took a second in sinking her image.

        Without warning, he unconsciously brushed a strand from her cheek along with her bangs over her forehead. He stopped, snapping back into reality once he saw her closed eyes squeezed alarmingly. He drew his hand back.

        "Sasuke?" her voice trembled as she rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes but then they snapped open. "Crap! Is it time to do our homework?"

        "That was the reason why I was looking for you," he said matter-of-factly. She sat up in her chair, fixating her school uniform and putting away her needless journal and other supplies away for him to have room.

        "Sorry. Let's start now!" She was oblivious to his previous action.

        For some reason, it was hard to concentrate in studying when Ayu made a distracting sound while working on a math problem, growling at her paper and her hand stayed on the same spot for the past few minutes.

        Sasuke has been looking at her different, lately. This time, the ravenette didn't mind her childish behavior and continued to lay his eyes on her, watching hawk-like as he discarded his homework on the side.

        She yawned for the fifth time already.

        "Talking to Satoshi all night again?"

        Ayu flinched by his assumption being abrupt, jumping into the conclusion without any warning. Why does he sound so assuming? So she quirked a brow.

        "Talking to him isn't the only thing I do," she argued. "I was helping my mom bake pastries for her work." That sounded more informative.

        "Speaking of him." An idea provoked his mind to speak as a certain boy protruded his thoughts, making him question. "Are you going with him this Friday?"

        She understood what he meant as she assumed that the upcoming day is spring dance that everyone is hyping about. So Ayu gave a weary sigh and stared back down at the annoying math problem.

        "He's not going actually," she said.

        "Why not?"

        "He can't buy another plane ticket to fly here for the weekend. He doesn't make his own income, so he feels bad for asking his dad for money," she informed and he just groaned under his breath at her answer.

        "You're probably not going then, right?"

        "No, of course I'm going." Her determination surprised him.

        "And you're okay with it?" The thought of people thinking she would be depressed about his absence insulted her.

        "I am," she cheered. "We've talked about it and it's really understanding. I can't be upset and force him to see me when he can't. Besides, Satoshi's already done enough for me as it is. I just have to stop expecting things from him."

        It was like speaking to a different side of her. Before, it used to be just a puppy love from the beginning, but now Sasuke can see that her love for him matured, more accepting and genuine. Her change of affection made him feel so far away yet significant that he sort of influenced her as the person she is right now.

        He couldn't be any more proud.

        "That makes sense." Then he heard a warming chuckle, glancing up to find a teasing smile on Ayu's face.

        "Sasuke, are you telling me something? Sounds like you have a little crush on my Satoshi, do you?"

        His brow twitched disapprovingly of the idea and rolled his eyes. "Get real. That idiot is better off with someone who's idiotic as him."

        She just laughed at his blunt response and grinned. "Well, what about you? Are you going to the dance?"

        He seemed to be bothered by the question, leaning his head against his fist and try to avoid eye contact. "I never go to these things. I never plan to."

        "It would be fun if you go."

        "I don't think there's a point in going. I'm never the tuxedo kind of guy who hangs around that type of crowd. It's too disturbing," he told her, but Ayu gave a brief shrug about his insistence.

        "Who knows? You might like it."

        "I doubt I will," he muttered and then rubbed his temples. "Look. You don't have to make me involve with this kind of stuff. I understand you're trying to encourage me to be busy so I don't have to dwell about my parents' death. It helps, but I don't need to do so all the time."

        She waved her hands defensively. "I'm not saying that at all. I just thought it would be nice if you go, just this once, for the experience of it since I'm going."

        "You're not going to be my date, are you?"

        She made a disgusted face. "We're not going in together if that's what you mean. I'll make sure you have a great time, and a date that is," she explained happily but Sasuke looked like he didn't approve the idea by furrowing his brows at her.

        "What are you, cupid? I don't need a date."

        "Come on," she snorted a laugh. "It's not going to be just any girl. You should totally go with Sakura."

        "Sakura?" By the sound of his voice, the name didn't fond him so well.

        Ayu just kept on insisting. "Yeah! She's really pretty and nice, not too clingy, not very obnoxious... She's the perfect match for you, right?"

        His eyes aimed somewhere else when she listed all those qualities, unconvinced. "Not entirely..."

        "Well, you guys can go as friends. You don't have to like her or any of that dating stuff. Just hang out!" She sounded too indulged in pairing him with Sakura, hoping that he can make a sudden interest in her.

        "I don't know, Ayu..." He was too unsure.

        But once he inspected her face, Ayu looked eager for him to attend this useless dance even if it's just an event that he could care less. At the same time, she was smiling at him with the same tenderness - the one she always gives him. Just by glancing at it, he felt his cheeks being bothered and his chest churned in an indescribable way.

        It was like he was being compelled.

        "You'll be there," He stated correctly, and she gave a nod.

        Sasuke knew he was going to regret this, but for once his mind didn't care what he thinks and instinctively accepts the challenge.