My mind drifted as I walk through the crowd.
I've been feeling so anxious whether to attend this reunion or not. What would I do if ever he was there? What if he is with somebody now?
Aaah! NO! That couldn't happen! He told me to wait for him and that's why I believe that someday..someday he would return this feelings I have for him for so long. Maybe I shou—
"Hinata—"
"Kyaaa!" I felt a hand tap my shoulder which made my soul return to reality.
"—sama?" I turned around to see my cousin Neji. He stared at me, his left brow arched in curiosity with my reaction.
"Neji-nii-san!" I gave him a short hug. "Y-You're a bit early."
"And so are you." He said smiling. "And what's with that horrifying reaction, do I look like a ghost or something?"
"Well, s-sort of." I meant it as a joke but I think my cousin isn't good at distinguishing a joke because he replied with a death glare. He hates being called a ghost, you know. His pale skin and white eyes makes him an eye candy for the bullies.
"Anyway, it seems like you've shopped ahead of me. Are you in a hurry or something? You could've just said no to me last week, Hinata-sama. It's not like I can't choose the right outfit for me." I'm glad the honorific '-sama' is still present after what I've said.
"Ah! N-No! I-I have nothing to do today a-actually. R-remember you told me to a-accompany you today, r-right? A-and these are j-jewelries. I-I know y-you'll be impatient while you w-wait for me." I said.
"Eh? That's actually nothing, Hinata-sama. I always get impatient to Tenten. She drags me to every store but still ends up buying nothing. What a waste of time and energy. But you are an exception, you know." He said.
He moved beside me, "So shall we resume shopping?" And we're back to our usual happy cousin relationship.
"A-Ano, w-where's Tenten-san?" I asked him.
"She's with me just a while ago but we saw Temari-san while making our way here." He said.
"So we'll f-fetch her later?" I told him.
"I guess. She said she'll go shopping with Temari-san instead." He was pouting but with a hint of relief in the tone of his voice.
"Are you j-jealous, Neji-nii-san?"
"N-No. Let's go." He grabbed my arm.
"Eeeh? B-But you just stuttered." I giggled.
He gave me another glare which is a signal for me to shut up.
We've been to like four stores until Neji-nii-san found the suit and shoes he really likes. And I really agree that it really looks good on him and makes him more handsome. Well, I shouldn't have come with him, I thought. He really knows what he wants.
Just as we stepped out of the store, "Now, for your dress Hinata-sama." He smiled at me.
I looked at him, "M-M-Me?"
"Is there any other Hinata-sama here? Obviously, it's you!" He said sarcastically.
"B-But—"
"But what? Are you planning not to attend the event?" He asked.
"I-It's not t-that." I was actually not yet sure whether to attend. "The clothes here are too expensive." I hope that's enough for an excuse. "I'm thinking of digging my closet, I guess I could still find a nice dress over there."
"Well you're not sure so we better buy a one right now!" He started walking and looking at the windows of the stores.
"Neji-nii-san! W-Wait!" He continued walking as if he was with nobody. "Clothes here are w-way too expensive." I catch up with him. "A-Are you listening?"
"I'll pay for it." He said without even looking at me.
"N-No!" It's not like I can't buy my own clothes. I can buy one anytime even if it's a bit costly.
"Yes." He said as he entered a store. I followed after him.
Neji-nii-san asked the saleslady to bring out a stock of the dress being displayed infront as he went deeper the store and looked at the other dresses.
I think this cousin of mine is much more excited than I am and take note, he isn't ashamed of picking girls' dresses. He picked out like ten dresses for me to try.
This wouldn't be an easy day, I thought.
He handed me one dress, "Here, try this first." Then the saleslady smiled at me as she led me to the dressing room.
Once I wore the clothes, I went out for my cousin to see. "N-Neji-nii-san, I d-don't like this dress.. M-Maybe I should just wear s-something like t-that." I pointed at the dress I saw on my right.
"You will look old with that dress, I tell you." He never dared to give a second glance at the dress I was pointing at. My sense of fashion was like torn into shreds by a lightning. I felt like I was embarrassed infront of the saleslady. "You should wear something that's appropriate with your profession. You decorate houses then you should look creatively beautiful with class just like what you do in your job."
I kept silent. I have nothing to say, besides he's right. I should look according to my profession.
He took my silence as an obedience to his words so he handed me the second one and told me to try it next.
After several minutes or almost an hour maybe, my cousin have chosen a dress for me. That's right, it was him who chose my dress because he said he'll buy it for me. Actually I don't like it. I don't like the other dresses either. We went next to a shoe store but I insisted that I'll pay for it this time.
I was trying on some shoes when I heard somebody called me.
"Nice shoes, Hinata!" I looked up to see who it was. I noticed the red marks on his face while the other one next to him was wearing sunglasses.
"K-Kiba-kun! Shino-kun!" My happiness was overflowing that I want to hug them but I couldn't since my cousin was there.
Kiba laughed, "Hehe! Shopping for the reunion?"
"H-Hai." I smiled.
"Well, Shino and I are shopping as well but we're almost done." Kiba said. Shino just nodded.
I replied with a smile. I suddenly felt shy towards my childhood friends. We haven't met for several years, you know.
"Hey, why don't we hang out for awhile after we're all done shopping?" Kiba suggested.
I would love to but I don't think my cousin would allow me. I looked at him(he was watching us from behind) and he gave me a nod. Whoa! Well, I'm a big girl now. :)
Surprisingly, shoes was also the last on Kiba's and Shino's shopping list so I went with my friends after, while my cousin went to find his girlfriend though I let him bring my shopped stuffs.
—At the coffee shop—
"So, how are you? You haven't changed Hinata, except for your hair." Kiba said after taking a sip on his coffee.
"I-I'm f-fine. B-Both of you haven't c-changed either." I tried to smile even though it felt a bit awkward.
"Really? Haha!" He suddenly went serious after. "Hey, Hinata. What had actually happened to you after middle school? You left us without a warning! Aren't we friends? How dare you do that!" He said in a louder voice.
I was shocked from what he said. Why is he suddenly angry at me?
"What! Were you sucked into the black hole and had only managed to come out now? Tell me!" He said.
"I...I...I-I-I'm so—" I was stopped when two arms wrapped around me tightly.
"I missed you Hinata." I heard him speak in my right ear. I was about to cry, I thought he was really angry.
"I missed you t-too, K-Kiba-kun." I hugged him back.
We heard somebody cleared his throat so we cut off our cuddling moment. "Oh! Shino! You're here!" He's actually there ever since we entered the coffee shop, he's just not speaking so it seems like he's not there.
"I missed you too, S-Shino-kun." I smiled at him since he's at the opposite side of the table.
"A-Ano..T-The reason why I was s-suddenly gone was because of my dad. H-He had a long business trip and I-I-I guess he doesn't want to be separated to his d-daughters so he decided to bring me and my s-sister along. We were then e-enrolled to a school in that p-place. I-I t- thought of c-calling you guys but I realized that I don't have your n-numbers. W-Why would I need them when I don't have a p-phone, r-right? B-But I regretted it at the end. I now realized h-how important phones are." I said.
"My goodness Hinata! I kept telling you before to keep our numbers! Look at what happened now." Kiba chuckled after.
"Well, past is past." Shino interrupted.
"Whooooa! That's so very brilliant of you, Shino!" Kiba shouted. It might have even caught other people's attention on the coffee shop as well. I laughed at both of them. They really haven't changed—and I'm glad.
Kiba crossed his arms, "As expected from an entomologist!"
I looked and blinked in shock at Shino "Y-You're an entomologist, Shino-kun?" He nodded. "And w-what about you, Kiba-kun?"
"Heh! I'm a proud veterinarian! I could now take good care of Akamaru better! And I'm also a writer at a pet magazine." He said. "Hey, what about you, Hinata?"
"I-I'm an i-interior d-designer." I said in an almost whisper-like tone.
"Oh! Isn't that your dream? I'm so happy for you, Hinata! Good thing you were able to convince your dad." Kiba said cheerfully.
"Y-Yeah." I smiled at him. I think I'm not yet ready to tell them what I have gone through just to achieve this dream.
"Look at that! The three of us had achieved all of our dreams!" Kiba said. I smile at him again while Shino nodded.
"And it seems that our other classmates made it as well. You know what, Ino is now the best florist in the city, Chouji had just opened a second branch of his restaurant two months ago, Shikamaru is now a famous shogi player. I can't believe that that lazy pineapple head would be famous someday." I chuckled at Kiba's last sentence. "But here's more of a shocker, Hinata!"
I looked at him as if saying to spit the news immediately.
"We have two classmates who are so famous right now. The first one is famous locally while the other internationally." Kiba said proudly since he knows who those two were.
"W-Who are t-they?" I asked him.
"You won't find out until you go to the reunion." Kiba laughed, an evil-like laugh.
"K-Kiba-kun!" I tried to act angry.
"I want you to be shocked as well so it would be best if you find it out on that day." Kiba laughed again. Shino was just looking at us. "Well, I just want to make sure that you'll come on that day. I know you so well, Hinata." His laughter was cut off when his phone rang.
"Hey! Where are you? We've been waiting for you, you know? You should come here soon because we met a classmate along while we were shopping.—Alright, see you." Kiba put his phone back on the table. "Alright! Hinata, make yourself prettier, another classmate will be joining us in a while.", he grinned.
"E-Eh? W-Who is it?" I have a bad feeling about this.
"Naruto!" He said. "We met him last week, you know. It's really perfect that you're also here. I think it's more fun if we hang out together!"
I stood up as I grab my handbag.
"Hey! Where are you going, Hinata?" Kiba asked. Shino was just staring at me.
"I-I-I n-need to g-go." I said.
"Why??" Kiba was confused. "Don't you want to see Naruto?"
"I-I'll just see him at the r-reunion. I n-need to go!"
"But he's already here." Kiba said.
"Eeep!" I feel like my body froze when I heard what Kiba said. I look at my side and on the back to look for a blonde hair guy with blue eyes.
"Just kidding!!" Kiba burst into a victorious laugh knowing that he did a good prank. "You're still blushing like those days, Hinata!"
"T-That's not e-even f-funny, K-Kiba-kun!" I told him.
"What's the rush anyway? Why don't you join us longer? Don't tell me you do not want to see Naruto?" Kiba asked. I really have nothing as an excuse, I wish I could just run but Kiba would surely run after me.
Suddenly my phone rang. "Ah! I f-forgot, N-Neji-nii-san and I have to f-fetch H-Hanabi from school." I looked at my phone and saw that it was my cousin who was calling. Perfect timing! I answered it immediately.
"Hinata-sa—"
"Y-Yes, Neji-nii-san. S-Sorry to keep you w-waiting, I'm c-coming." I ended the call after.
"Hey! You've changed! You now have a phone!" Kiba laughed again.
"I r-really need to go, Kiba-kun. M-My cousin is already g-getting i-impatient from w-waiting. S-So, see you g-guys at the r-reunion then, b-bye!" I hurriedly went out of the coffee shop. I hope Kiba-kun doesn't realize that it was just an excuse not to see Naruto.
"Hey!!" Kiba followed me.
"W-What is it Kiba-kun?" I told him in an impatient tone.
"Give me your number. Duh!" Kiba said.
I let out a sigh and immediately opened my bag to look for a calling card and gave it to him. "Okay, thanks! See you, Hinata!" Kiba went back to his seat while I continued to walk out.
Neji-nii-san, I really owe you for that. You're such a lifesaver.
Just a few seconds after Hinata left her two friends, the blonde boy arrived.
"What took you so long!" Kiba asked Naruto.
He didn't answer Kiba's question. "Where is that classmate you are telling? " He sat beside Kiba.
"She already left. You're late!" Kiba said.
"Eeeeeh!!! Why!! If it wasn't for the heavy traffic! I didn't know traffic would be this bad even on weekends!" Naruto pouted.
"She said it's something urgent." He crossed his arms. 'Oh right, it's weekend. Damn, that Hinata really had tricked me well. Fetch her sister? I couldn't believe I fell on her trick!'
"She? Who's that? Sakura? Heh! I've been with her abroad so no need for any surprises!" Naruto said proudly.
"Not Sakura." Shino suddenly spoke.
"Oy!! Shino! You're here!" Naruto patted Shino's shoulder.
"Of course I am. Are you blind?" Shino replied. Naruto just laughed.
"That's because you barely speak, Shino." Kiba said.
Naruto smiled. "Anyway, I need you guys to help me with my plan for the upcoming reunion."
"Sorry but we're not interested." Kiba said blatantly.
"EEEEEEHHHHH???!!B-B-But!!" Naruto was already beginning to be hysterical.
"I'm just kidding! What is it?" Kiba grinned.
"Oh! I didn't noticed that Kiba! HAHA!" Naruto's cheerful face became serious after. "Uhmm.. You see....."
**(We will all find out Naruto's little plan on the reunion day! Haha)
"Hinata-sama, I thought you'll stay with your friends." My cousin asked me as I met him and Ten Ten.
"M-My friends already w-went home and I t-thought you were w-waiting for m-me." I told him.
He stared at me for a while. "Okay—"
"Well at least we get to hang out again together!" Ten Ten hugged me. "It's nice to see you again Hinata-chan! You're going to tell me a lot of stories about you tonight!" She smiled at me.
"Y-Yes, Ten Ten-san." I smiled back.
I'm sorry Naruto-kun, I just can't meet you this time. But the next time is for sure.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Whew! My apologies for taking so long. I've been so lonely a month ago and I just can't barely touch this story. I was also busy with anime this past few weeks. Lol. But I'm almost done with it. :) My next update would probably be on September already since I still have to make something by the end of August. I hope you understand. :)
Alright, so I just made Neji a super caring cousin right there! And Shino still quiet as always. Lol.
Why run away, Hinata-chan? You've wasted the chance!!! >.<
