No Need for Love

C h a p t e r 21 - I Can't Lie

I remain seated beside Sasuke with my back slouching slightly. My eyes are closed tightly while tears continue to slip through them. My body begins to shake a little, the cries becoming harder to conceal. One after another, my falling tears land on top of my hand that's still gripping Sasuke's palm. It's at that moment when I feel something grabs ahold of my hand. Letting out a silent gasp, I look down. To my surprise I find that it's Sasuke, he's holding my hand. My wet orbs trail all the way up until our eyes meet each other.

"Sasuke..." I whisper in complete surprise to find that he's awake.

Due to the shock of Sasuke's awakening, I don't even bother to move as his hand rises towards my face. I just continue to stare at him wide-eyed. Our skin comes in contact when his right hand cups my left cheek. His thumb wipes away the forgotten tears that still stain my face. I'm completely frozen as my mind gets caught within this moment, only to realize a second later the situation I'm in. Quickly pulling away, we lose contact and I look down embarrassed. Deciding to break the silence, I speak up. Facing him once again, I place a small smile on my face.

"S-Sasuke, I'm glad to see you're finally awake. How are you feel-" I'm in the middle of asking before he interrupts me.

"Is it true?"

I stare at him with a poker face expression before responding with, "Is what true?"

"What you said a moment ago. Did you mean it?" He asks with a hint of forwardness in his voice.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I tilt my head in confusion.

'What is Sasuke talking about?... No, wait! Did he hear what said earlier?! My confession. He was awake that whole time?!'

I begin to panic internally as all these thoughts race through my head. I don't have time to think and this situation is unavoidable. Though nothing prepares me for what he says next.

"...Do you love me?"

My orbs widen once again and my mouth hangs open slightly. My lips are parted and yet nothing is able to come out of my mouth. My facial expression settles and I break eye contact with Sasuke.

'How can I look at him right now?'

"(Name)." Sasuke states waiting for my answer.

I keep my eye lids shut tightly while contemplating on what I should say. I don't know what to do!

'I might as well just tell him. He heard me say it so he already knows he truth. Which means there's no point in lying about it.'

I smile to myself when finally coming to this decision. Taking a deep breath, I exhale before opening my eyes. Immediately after, I stare directly at Sasuke and say...

"Yes, I do."

As soon as those words flow from my lips, the surrounding air remains completely quiet. Sasuke doesn't say anything either. The only thing that shows he actually heard what I said is the slightly surprised look on his face. Taking another breath, I decide to continue speaking.

"I guess you could say I've felt this way ever since team seven was formed. I don't know why, but I began to see you differently. I didn't only see you as the stoic loner who always sat in the back of the class anymore. I got to know the actual Sasuke, and that's what made me fall. I had tried to deny my feeling so many times, but deep down, I always knew I was only lying to myself." I pause before saying one last thing.

"Now you know everything. Look Sasuke, I don't expect you to-" My words are once again interrupted by Sasuke when he suddenly sits up and pulls me into a hug.

My mind goes blank for the seemingly the one hundredth time today. With my face pressed against his chest, I notice just how warm he is.

'S-Sasuke, he's hugging me...'

I lie still within his grasp. I remain this way until I hear something I never thought Sasuke would say.

"I love you too, (Name)..."