Disobedient Desires (KakaSaku)

Holding Back

Sakura left the classroom with her head buzzing. Her conversation with Professor Hatake echoed in her mind long after she stepped into the bustling hallway. She couldn't quite shake the intensity of his words or the way his gaze seemed to pierce right through her.

"You hold back."

It was like he had seen a part of her she didn't even fully understand yet-like he knew things about her she wasn't ready to admit. She tugged at the strap of her bag, trying to focus on her next task instead of the strange, magnetic pull she felt toward him.

"Forehead! How was it?!" Ino's voice shattered her thoughts as she bounced up next to Sakura, grinning widely.

Sakura blinked, momentarily disoriented. "Huh?"

"Your writing class! With the hot professor." Ino's grin grew even wider as she nudged Sakura with her elbow. "He's so dreamy, isn't he?"

Sakura felt her cheeks heat up, but she quickly shrugged it off. "Yeah, I guess. He's just a teacher, though." The words sounded hollow, even to her own ears.

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Just a teacher? Come on, Sakura. Spill the details."

Sakura hesitated, trying to find the right words. She couldn't exactly tell Ino about the strange connection she felt in that classroom. That would only lead to more questions she wasn't ready to answer. Instead, she went with something safer. "He's... serious, I guess. He expects a lot."

Ino pouted. "Boo, that sounds boring. I was hoping for something juicier!"

Sakura forced a laugh. "Well, I'm sure you'll find out soon enough when you have him tomorrow."

Ino sighed dramatically, linking her arm with Sakura's as they walked toward the front doors of the school. "You're right. Guess I'll have to wait. Still, can't wait to see him for myself."

Sakura nodded absently, but her mind was far from Ino's chatter. She couldn't help but wonder what Professor Hatake thought of her. His words had stuck with her-"I'll be looking forward to it." There was something almost... intimate in the way he said it, as if he wasn't just talking about her writing.

The next day felt like it dragged. Sakura's classes blurred together as she tried to keep herself from constantly thinking about creative writing and Professor Hatake. It was almost maddening how much space he had taken up in her thoughts after just one encounter. She'd never been so distracted by a teacher before, and it was starting to frustrate her.

When fifth period finally rolled around, Sakura found herself sitting with Ino and the others, trying to focus on the usual gossip, but even that couldn't hold her attention. Her mind kept wandering back to the classroom downstairs, to the way Professor Hatake's eyes had lingered on her. What would today bring?

She couldn't help but check the clock every few minutes, anticipation growing with each tick. By the time the bell rang for her final class, her heart was already racing.

Sakura entered the creative writing room with more nerves than the first day. She slipped into her usual seat in the third row, and as the rest of the students filed in, she kept her eyes glued to the door, waiting for him.

When Professor Hatake finally walked in, her stomach did a small flip. He looked effortlessly composed, his white hair messily spiked, the mask still covering his face. Today, he was dressed in a simple black sweater that clung to his lean frame, sleeves pushed up just enough to expose his forearms. There was something almost intimidating about how casual he seemed.

"Afternoon," he said, his voice steady and low. He wasted no time, immediately launching into the lesson. "Today, we're going to explore dialogue. Writing conversations is more than just words on a page-it's about understanding your characters, knowing their motivations, and letting that drive their words."

Sakura tried to focus, but the weight of his presence seemed to press down on her, distracting her from the lesson. She wondered if she was the only one who felt it-this strange, tense energy between them. It was ridiculous, really. He was her professor. This wasn't some romance novel where the teacher and student exchange forbidden glances across the room. Right?

She shook her head, pushing the thought aside. Focus, Sakura. You're overthinking this.

But then, halfway through the class, Professor Hatake's eyes found hers again. This time, there was no mistaking the way his gaze lingered, like he was challenging her in some unspoken way.

"Haruno," he said, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Why don't you read some of the dialogue you've written?"

Her heart skipped a beat. Of course, he'd call on me.

She stood slowly, her palms sweating slightly as she picked up her notebook. The words she had written earlier felt shaky, but she pushed through, reading the short conversation aloud.

When she finished, she dared to glance up at him. His eyes were locked on hers, unreadable behind the mask.

"Good," he said, his tone measured. "But you're still holding back."

Sakura's chest tightened. He could see right through her, as if her words were nothing but flimsy paper hiding something much deeper.

"Your dialogue should reflect more than just the conversation," he continued, leaning against his desk again, arms crossed. "It should hint at what's unspoken. What's underneath."

His words seemed to hang in the air, heavy with meaning.

Sakura felt a strange mix of emotions-frustration, confusion, and something else. Something she wasn't ready to name.

Class ended, and Sakura packed up her things quickly, eager to escape the tension that had built up inside her. But as she moved toward the door, Professor Hatake's voice stopped her.

"Sakura."

She froze, her hand on the doorknob, and slowly turned to face him.

"Stay behind for a moment," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The last of the students filtered out, and soon, it was just the two of them in the empty classroom.

Sakura's heart pounded in her chest as she stood near the door, unsure of what to expect.

Professor Hatake leaned back against his desk, arms still crossed as he studied her. His gaze was intense, and she felt pinned under it, as if he was waiting for her to say something.

"You're talented," he said after a long pause. "But you're still holding back."

Sakura swallowed, her throat dry. "I don't understand what you mean."

"You do," he said quietly, pushing off the desk and taking a few slow steps toward her. "You just don't want to admit it."

Her heart raced as he came closer, stopping just a few feet in front of her. His presence was overwhelming, and for a brief moment, she could barely breathe.

"This class is about more than just writing for you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper now. "It's about being seen."

Sakura's pulse quickened. "Seen?"

He nodded, his eyes holding hers. "You want to be understood. To be noticed for who you really are, not the version of yourself you show everyone else."

Her breath hitched. How could he know that? How could he possibly see the part of her she kept hidden from everyone?

Professor Hatake leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a tone that sent shivers down her spine. "But the question is, Sakura... are you ready to be seen?"

She stared at him, unable to speak, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts, none of them making sense. His words lingered in the air between them, charged with an intensity she couldn't ignore.

Before she could respond, he straightened, pulling back as if nothing had happened. "Think about it," he said simply, turning toward his desk.

Dismissed, Sakura hurried out of the room, her heart pounding louder than ever.