NARUTO SHIPPUDEN - LOVELIFE OF A HEARTTHROB MAIDEN

Chapter 4: Feelings Remain

Chapter 4: Feelings Remain

Quote for the chapter title: “Feelings do not fade away. They feel.”

"Because...I love Naruto."

     I actually responded Dad's question in my mind, not literally saying it out loud. Naruto had been away for three years, and here I thought these annoying feelings are gone. Dad asked me why I couldn't go out with Lee, in that moment, Naruto just suddenly flashed in. I thought it would put me on a smile, but I didn't.

I felt...broken.

"For now.. an intimate relationship is not in my plan, Dad..." I muttered.

     It was midnight, a sleepless night. Every second, I kept forcing myself to sleep. My eyelids were drooping, they were steadily open at the same time since my mind was preoccupied.

     I found myself staring at a beautiful view of the night sky. Moon was full and so bright it lit on me while the bed was just beside my window. Quite breathtaking, however, it did not divert my thoughts about Naruto. Childhood memories came rushing back to me.

      A flashback popped in where I first met Naruto. I remembered him retreiving my candy, which reminds me...

       I sat up and turned towards my side drawer. I slid it open, and inside was a red wooden box that seems to be alittle old. Curving my lips as I saw the round lollipop in it. This lollipop gave me so much memories and had brought values that I decided not to eat it.

       But, why bother? Naruto had forgotten all about me...or hasn't he? Well, I bet he did. He barely spoke to me when he became so popular in the village, when he gained more respect from everyone---even my own father!

 "Ash...!"

      I gasped and was like waken up from a dream. It was daytime. I realized I was in the Hokage's mansion slicing 'sushi' with Ino.

"You've been staring at nothing for like, a long time! It was like you're being possessed or something!"

She exclaimed, holding a kitchen knife, wearing white apron. I quickly shook my head and re-adjusted my vision, blinking, trying to stay fully awake. No matter how much I tried, my eyelids felt pretty heavy.

"Hey, are you okay, Ash?? Are you sick??" she asked, touching my forehand to check altered temperature.

"I'm good, I'm good."

I grabbed a big slice of fish from the basket that was just beside me, then started chopping it into smaller pieces. As for Ino, she wasn't doing her work. All she did was complaining how lame it was to be working in a kitchen.

"Good?? How could this task be GOOD?? Ugh!"  she grunted, tossed the knife and grumbled words I could not hear.

I nodded and said,

"Yeah! How lame is this?? Why are we doing this anyway, when we're suppose to be out on cool missions??" I added, as if supporting her. She made a furious look at me and yelled,

"Helloooo! This is your FAULT!!"

"Wh-What? How is this my fault?" I asked, puzzled for being blamed for.

"Don't tell me you don't remember, Ash! We were actually on a mission few hours ago, but then YOU blew it! Thanks to your clumsiness!"

Crossing her arms around chest, she glared.

"What??"

I hang my jaw open. Trying to recall the past events that happened when she said 'few hours ago'.