I Am You?! (NejiTen)

14- Neji's perspective

"Oh no Tenten..." Neji licked his lips for he had no idea where to start explaining from. So this was why Tenten was prompted to do what she did. "I would never do that to you." He said after moments of silence.

"What do you mean?" Contrary to the outburst Neji half expected from Tenten, she was calm when she asked the question.

"I would never do that to you." Neji repeated louder this time. "I am not sure how that happened but I fell ill the night before the presentation." He confessed. Tenten's eyes went wide with surprise at that.

"What?! That...but you sent me a text saying you had to study..." Tenten was greatly confused. Neji never lied, he considered it immature to say false things, so she knew that his statement about being ill was real. If so then what about the text?

"I don't know about that text but let me tell you things in my point of view." Neji offered. Tenten nodded solemnly and listened to Neji's story.

• Years ago... •

Neji felt heavy and warm, too warm for his liking. Despite feeling warm he was very cold, much so that he covered himself in a duvet. His skin was clammy and his throat burnt. His head was throbbing with a nasty migraine and he felt horrible over all.

"Nii-san?" A knock followed by the sound of the opening door to his room reached his ears. It was his younger cousin, Hinata. She seemed like she was about to inform him about something when she took note of his appearance. "Neji-nii!" Hinata yelped and scurried over to him.

"H-Hinata..." Neji rasped.

"You are burning up!" Hinata gasped upon placing her hand on his forehead. "Wait a minute, I would call in the doctor while I do something about your fever." Hinata was about to leave when Neji's burning hand on her wrist stopped her.

"T-Tenten..." Neji breathed. "P-Please help me tell h-her that I can't make it." His breaths came out as heaves. "A-and please t-tell Sasuke t-to help her. He knows what to d-do." Neji managed before fainting.

Neji did not get better until a few days after and he was happy to be back on his feet. He swore never to stay too long under the rain again but who was he kidding? Neji was giddy about meeting Tenten to ask her how the presentation went with Sasuke. Though he knew that she must have been surprised and awkward.

He had Sasuke be his understudy for fun because the younger teen wanted to try his acting skills. Sasuke was a good actor but the guy preferred to perform rather than act. With Sasuke's help and Tenten's talent Neji was sure Tenten made it into the theatre arts school. He had to apologize for bailing on such a short notice too.

When he received an e-mail from the Ivy League that his admission fell through due to his student reputation, Neji was confused, sad and a mess of emotions. His uncle was greatly disappointed. He did not know the reason or source of the bad comments about him but one thing remained and that was Neji was never going to a top class university again because of this damage.

When Neji traced back the source of the bad reviews about him, he was shocked beyond words to find that it was Tenten. He didn't know what to feel. He was hurt, he was angry, he was heartbroken, he was confused and he was betrayed. Why would she do this to him? Why?

Her reason when he confronted her was because he didn't show up at her presentation. Neji was dumbstruck. She did this to him just because he didn't show up?! Neji had to leave her presence to keep from lashing out. He told himself over and over that she must have had a reason and that she would reach out to him and apologize but she never came.