Gambler of Feelings

Chapter Eighteen

It had to stop. Those hallucinations and dreams about Boruto had to stop! In Sarada's mind, it suddenly made sense why her friend behaves over-the-top when she thinks she's in love. Sarada had no responsibility to heal Boruto from his emotional scars just because of him helping her feel better.

Love is scary. That's the thought that appears when her expectations and stupid things invade her mind. Sarada managed to avoid Boruto just for one day. Not that it mattered, since she would go to buy a new mobile phone with him today. As much as her inner feelings were a total mess, there's no way for her to avoid him without appearing fickle. Not to mention after they both talked it out and agreed to be friends.

"Pull yourself together, Sarada! You started like Boruto for Boruto not a dream version of him." Yes, that's right. In the moments of confusion about what's happening with her usual stoic behaviour, Sarada used these words to remind herself why she's head-over-heels for the guy in the first place. 

Taking the fancy red shirt knee-length black skirt and espadrilles in her hands was natural for Sarada. She wasn't over-thinking what to wear. At least tried not to, since her meeting with Boruto wasn't supposed to be a date. But the two friends casually meeting with each other. Just friends. 

Sarada always tried to plan how to use her time to prepare. Maybe that's why she was ready to go out relatively quickly, so her appearing first in the school as well clubroom wasn't anything new. With a stoic expression on her face, no-one could guess how nervous she's feeling.

Boruto arrived early to Sarada's surprise. He wore the same clothes he wears every day. She felt relief that she didn't overdo it while picking what to wear this morning. 

"Good afternoon, Boruto," she greeted him first. Usually, he was the one initiating conversations with her. A small change in their daily interaction wouldn't hurt. Her dying on the inside after discovering her feelings towards him is a different issue.

Boruto couldn't hide his stupid grin, "Hey, Sarada. It's a different atmosphere you're displaying today. Did something good happen?" 

Sarada only response was silence. Different atmosphere? What he's trying to imply here? Did she appear that snobbish to him? Why she's caring how Boruto views her a lot recently? Before she didn't care about this kind of things. 

"No. I just wanted to greet you in a friendly manner first. That's all. Thank you for telling me what happened between you and Asami yesterday." At first, she felt jealous Boruto talked about this girl so highly considering she was the reason why Sarada got labelled as 'cheater'. Nevertheless, the past is the past. Holding a grudge was quite childish on her part after all.

"I see! Ya know, it's feeling quite refreshing to me too." Right? Sarada noded in an understanding. It's not only her greeting him that was refreshing, but more relaxed atmosphere between them too. Considering all the elements of their relationship and the strange tension every time they had a conversation with each other, feeling relaxed felt good.

"I indeed feel our relationship improved a lot in comparison to how we were treating each other when we met," she laughed at the memory of anger she displayed because of her destroyed smartphone. Laughing wasn't something she did often. That cosy, comfortable feeling in Boruto presence was probably the cause of it all. That feeling of safety overwhelmed her like a fire truck. It almost felt too awesome to be real. And at the same time scary. Just like love.

"We're better friends, but our bet never got solved. The lack of progress on either side is disappointing somehow, ya know?" Boruto shook his head. The lack of progress was indeed disappointing for her too. Four months of trying to discover something without any result was tiring her out.