Hinata Hyuuga appeared to be living the high school dream. She was a kind-hearted girl who had once dated the popular guy she'd always had a crush on, had good friends, and excelled in her studies. However, everything changed when her father introdu...
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The next morning, I was surprised to see Ena making breakfast. She had slept at our house. My father and Hanabi were already at the table. Ena served me coffee, making sure everyone had what they needed to start eating. After we finished, my father made an announcement. They exchanged a few glances, and then he spoke:
Ena was going to live with us because they were getting married soon.
I was shocked—and so was Hanabi. He never gave us time to process anything. If that's what he wanted, then that's what happened. How could he just bring a woman into our house and then, the very next day, say they were getting married? My shock must've shown all over my face.
"Girls..." Ena began, "Your father and I have been seeing each other for a while now. I really care about him. I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm not here to replace your mother or anything like that. You don't have to accept me right away, but I want you to know that I'm here for you—to care for you and make sure you girls have everything you need. I want to be your friend."
I had to admit, she was good at making speeches. At the time, she seemed sincere. I actually believed she might change my father—make him more caring. If not that, then at least she'd be around to talk to us.
But I was so wrong...
Hanabi and I had no choice but to accept the situation.
::
I went to my room, trying to process everything. A stepmother? Now, after five years? It was new to me, but then I realized that many single parents choose to move on and find someone new. Right? I had friends with stepmothers and stepfathers. It wasn't that big of a deal.
Anyway, I decided to call Sakura because she hadn't given me any sign the whole day. At first, she didn't answer, but I kept trying.
"Hi..." she finally answered, but her voice was shaky. "Sakura? Are you okay?" "N-No..." she started weeping. "I'm coming over!" I said, determined to find out what had happened.
::
I found her in her room, lying on her side, crying under the covers.
"Girl... what happened?" I asked, approaching her. "Y-You... were right..." she sobbed. "H-He dumped... me..."
I sat beside her as she uncovered her face. Her eyes were puffy and red from all the crying. She threw her arms around me and continued to weep into my shoulder. I gently patted her back.
"Sakura..."
Once she calmed down a little, she began telling me what happened. I had a bad feeling about it.
"S-So... after you left, Sasuke and I went back to kissing, and he said we should go to his room. I thought it was fine because it was getting cold outside. He drove me to his place, and we went into his room. He started kissing me, then began undressing me. I told him I don't sleep with someone who's not my boyfriend. Then he said he was my boyfriend now and that I had nothing to worry about. I was so happy to hear that." "Sakura..." "He undressed me, pushed me onto the bed, and kept kissing me. I was scared at first, but he assured me he knew what he was doing, so I said okay... and we had sex..." She covered her face with her hands and cried again.
Oh no... I thought to myself. Poor Sakura. She was too naive.
"It hurt so bad. He wasn't gentle at all, but we did it. Afterward, he drove me home, and I told him I'd call him tomorrow. I asked for his number, but... he didn't give it to me. He told me he was just joking—that he wasn't my boyfriend and didn't even want to be." "That jerk..." I was fuming. "And then... then... he said I should be grateful that he made me a woman!" she cried hysterically, hiding her face in her hands, hiccuping and gasping for breath between sobs.
"That scumbag. That... that bastard!" I was furious. He had just used her.
"You were right, Hinata. I didn't listen, and now it's too late. I'm not a virgin anymore," she said bitterly and lay back down, hugging her pillow.
"Sakura... everything will be alright. I'm here for you, and you're my best friend. That doesn't change. You're still Sakura. He doesn't deserve your tears. You're a million times better than him. Don't let this break you." "But... Hinata... I'm only sixteen." "Yes, but you still have your whole life ahead of you. I know girls who've already done it, and they've moved on with their lives like nothing happened." "Yeah... but how can I face him now?" "Ignore him. I'll be with you the whole time." "Thank you, Hinata. You're my best friend... I love you." "I love you too."
I told her about my father and Ena, and she was happy that we were getting a "mom" to help us.
::
On my way home, Naruto called to apologize for the night before.
"I'm sorry, Hina. I don't know why I drank that much. You know I'll wait for you—no matter how long it takes. I respect you and I love you."
He was so sweet. Of course, I forgave him. I told him about my new reality—having a stepmom—and he seemed genuinely happy for me. Maybe they were right. Maybe I should give Ena a chance.
One day, we went into the living room, and Ena introduced us to her son, Raiden. He was twenty-six—ten years older than me. She told us how he had graduated from the police academy and was a respected officer. She was clearly very proud of him. She also said he'd be moving in with us soon to be closer to work and to increase his chances of a promotion.
I wasn't really comfortable with the idea of another man living in the house. It was already small—where would he sleep? Then she told me that after the wedding, we'd be moving to a new, bigger house that she and Raiden had bought together.
::
Sakura and I were having our morning coffee from a vending machine. Summer break was about to start, and she was saving money for a trip to the Philippines with her parents. We were in the schoolyard when we saw Sasuke and his friends smoking.
They passed by us, and one of the guys stopped and looked at Sakura.
"Need a boyfriend, sweetie?"
The others burst out laughing, making it clear they all knew the story.
Sakura's face turned red and she froze in place. With Sasuke there, she didn't have the courage to say anything. She ran inside, ashamed.
I'm usually a shy person, and I hate getting into trouble—but in that moment, I was so angry I couldn't hold myself back.
