Letters

All For You

Finally, he’s home.

With lyrics from “All For You” by Seo Inguk and Jung Eunji 

It’s already been a few days since you haven’t called

Sakura stares at the phone in her hand. It was a foreign object to her almost and even though it’s been six months, she still wasn’t quite sure how it worked. Actually, that was a lie. She knew how it worked. She just didn’t have the courage to dial his number yet. She flips the phone cover up and stare at the screen as it stares back at her. The time reflects back and tells her it is almost 10 pm. In the corner of the screen, the date is shown. 

Do you know that it’s my birthday soon?

March 27. Her birthday was tomorrow. She stares at her phone again, willing it to ring. It doesn’t. Sakura sighs as she tosses the phone onto her bed. Sasuke had been back for almost a week now and she thought everything was fine between the two of them. They had converse a lot through letters and mail by hawk but since he had returned to the village, he became distant and cold. 

But time keeps ticking without concern

Sakura wasn’t sure what changed. She was sure she didn’t change. Did that mean he had? It worries her and bugs her and as she stares at the small clock on her dresser, she is only reminded of the time again. In the confinement of her bedroom with the lights off and just the light from the outside street lamp, she could feel the walls almost closing in on her. Tick, tick, tick went the second hand of her clock. A constant reminder that time will continue to go on without concern. Worry fills the pit of her stomach. 

Because I was more worried than annoyed

She gets up in the dark as she walks to her front door. Quickly, she makes up her mind as she slips her feet into her shoes. Throwing the door open, she runs out into the street. Without a moment’s hesitation, her steps echoes throughout the empty streets as she runs to the only place her heart knows right now.

I went to the entrance of your street without planning it

Coming to a slow stop, she finds herself standing outside of Sasuke’s apartment. Her emerald eyes just stares at the front door as she contemplates on whether to knock or just leave. So she just stands there for another five minutes with a hand raised about to knock but never really reaching to that point. 

Slowly, she lowers her hand and her back turns to leave. It was late. Sasuke was most likely asleep. She could try tomorrow morning. As she turns to walk back out into the street, she hears the door open behind her. 

“Sakura?”

Turning slowly to the sound of her name, she is both surprised and glad to see him. Sasuke stands at the door, seemingly with the same expression as her on his face. She didn’t know how to react. She wasn’t expecting to see him at all so she could only sort of gape at him. But when his face turns into a soft smile, her heart quickly melts into relief and that worrisome feeling in the pit of her stomach dissipates.

I didn’t think I’d see you but you greeted me with a smile

Sasuke didn’t know why he opened the door that night. He thought he heard movement outside his place but he didn’t care enough to bother to check it out. More so, he was staring at the clock in his kitchen and counting down the minutes. In just an hour, it would be Sakura’s birthday. 

Actually, I worried about this a lot

He should have contacted her earlier on in the week. But he didn’t. Coming back had made him realize how different things were in the village. It was difficult adjusting and even more difficult facing everyone and everything he had left behind for so long. 

The stares he get from the other villagers weren’t as bad as they used to be. Many are surprised to see him but they don’t look at him with fear like they used to. Still, everyone in town is a gossip and word of him staying for good spread throughout the village like wildfire. 

He didn’t care for the gossip or what people said. It was more of coming to terms with the fact that he was finally settling down. For so long, he had been traveling and was never in one place too long. He didn’t have a reason to stay in any place too long. 

Until now. 

Sasuke just stares at Sakura as she stares back at him. Finally, he breaks the stare and gives her a smile. He was happy to see her. He wanted to see her and the fact that she came to find him made him feel more at ease at what he was about to do. 

“I’m... sorry,” he starts. It was a good start. He had a lot to apologize for. He knew he wasn’t exactly Mr. Friendly with her when he first came back. “I didn’t treat you as nice as I should have.”

Sakura sort of laughs at this. “When have you ever?” she jokes. Despite her joking temperament and quiet laughter, Sasuke could tell that she was forcing a pretense. Deep down, she was still hurt and bothered and confused in general. It was uncanny how perceptive he had gotten just now. Perhaps it only works with Sakura. He usually doesn’t have much luck with other people.

“You’re right,” he agrees. “I kept my distance.”

An expression of confusion and sadness crosses Sakura’s face. “Why?” she asks softly.

Because I had nothing I could do for you

Taking a step forward, he closes the slight gap between the two of them as he stands directly in front of her. 

Because I have fallen for you. And I’m scared. 

Even though I lack so much and I don’t have much

He locks his eyes with hers. The words remain stuck in the back of his throat.

She stares up at him, her emerald eyes cloudy with confusion. But she takes a step closer towards him. Slowly, she holds out her hand as she takes his hand in hers. He didn’t realize how cold his hand was until he felt her warmth radiating from the palms of her two hands. 

“Did you know? Even when you don’t speak, your eyes say so much. Before, they used to be cold and hard as if you hated the world.” 

Slowly, she finds her words as she replies with certainty. “Stay by my side,” she whispers. “You don’t have to answer the reason why. Just stay by my side.” Her eyes brim with tears but she never breaks her gaze with his.

Will you still accept me?

Sasuke leans forward as his lips come just centimeters away from Sakura’s own. “Don’t let go,” he whispers.

It was always you.

Did something new happen in Naruto fandom recently? I keep seeing posts talking about some novel. 

Carol, you better be doing your reading instead of being on Tumblr