Obsidian Love

Chapter 22: A Walk to the Past Part II

"So, I told her I hate being paired up with every boy she sees as a 'gentleman,' and she was literally hurt by that!" Ino exclaimed, her voice sharp with frustration.

She and Sai were sitting on the edge of a small bridge, their legs dangling over the side, the river below reflecting the soft glow of the afternoon sun. It was one of those days when Ino felt the need to rant about her life, and Sai, as usual, was the designated listener.

Sai hums, trying to look a bit interested with what she is saying. Ino noticed and glares. "You're terrible at pretending you're interested with what I'm saying, you know that?"

"Be grateful that I'm trying," he said as if it's an honor. "You're welcome, by the way." They promised not to lie to each other out of whim, and so Sai took the job seriously that he never failed to honestly tell Ino he's the best companion she could ever had.

"Thick-skinned." Ino muttered, rolling her eyes.

It's been three months since their path crossed and times like this when Ino talked about nothing but her rants in life is already a constant whenever they are together. At first, their meetings had been by coincidence, but now they met deliberately. Somehow, they find each other's presence tolerable as they put it, too prideful to admit that they enjoy each other's company.

Sai found these encounters increasingly intriguing. Ino's bold, unfiltered nature contrasted starkly with the quiet, reserved life he had known. Growing up, Sai never know how it feels like to have someone be so honest and transparent around him. Whenever Ino go about how her life feels so suffocating, Sai tries his best to understand because he wants to respond accordingly. Of course, Ino always take his silence as a sign of disinterest.

At first, he was not interested with anything. Just a tiny perplexed with the woman's bold nature and trying to be a demure lady but failed miserably everytime her mouth started running off with multiple curses and insults towards him.

It made Sai curious- how can a woman be so happy and distressed at the same time, he wonders.

"Don't you ever tried giving them a chance?" he asked after a beat, catching her off guard. "Maybe you're just trying to hide yourself every single time."

Ino looks surprised, as if Sai asking about the things she talked about is a miracle or sign of incoming disaster.

"I was just asking. The look on your face is making me regret that I did." Sai added quickly.

Ino laughed-one of those carefree, genuine laughs that lit up her face, the sound ringing out over the water. The orange glow of the setting sun made her blonde hair shimmer, casting her in a soft, golden light.

"Beautiful," Sai murmured under his breath, the word slipping out before he could stop it.

Ino froze, her cheeks turning pink at the unexpected compliment. "What did you just say?" she asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Nothing." Sai looked away, flustered by his own honesty. She was just... too much sometimes. Too real, too vibrant, too good for someone like him.

"Are you sick?" Ino teased, pressing a hand to his forehead. "You're burning up!"

"I'm sure my current constitution is perfectly fine and functioning well. Aside from the fact that I did say something out of ordinary, I am in good condition." he explained, looking away.

Sai has always been told that he's too straightforward and honest for his own good- well, that is before he was taken by the Root and taught not to give anything towards the enemies.

Ino is not an enemy.

She's just too good for him that sometimes he thinks it will not lasts.

"I don't give them a chance because deep down I know they hate the whole setup just as much as I do," Ino started after composing herself. "Who would want their whole life planned out for them? Who wants a life where people constantly tell them how they should feel and who they should love? That's... that's not how it should be. I don't want to make anyone as miserable as I feel."