Yellow Carnations
Sakura was five when she met Ino.
She was hunched over against a wall of the school, crying and trying to keep her whimpering down so as to not give herself away to her bullies. They had tormented her ruthlessly, calling her names, pulling her hair and pushing her around and to the ground. It was a matter of time before they started throwing rocks at her.
She hated going to school.
She hated having to put up with her bullies.
She hated that no matter what she did they seemed to always find something to torment her for.
She wished everyone would leave her alone.
“Hey, are you the girl with the huge forehead?” A blond girl poked her forehead, Sakura assumed she was here to make fun of her too. It was all everyone ever did. “You should show it you know?”
“Huh?”
The blonde girl pulled the red ribbon off her hair, “Your forehead, you should show it. It will stop the teasing.” The girl smiled kindly as she tied the ribbon on top of her head, moving her bangs to the side. “There! Now you’re as pretty as a cosmos.” Sakura sniffed, she was shocked that another kid would be nice to her for no reason. It made her happy.
It made her feel normal.
“Um… Hey, what’s- what is your name?” her eyes were a pretty shade of blue, she extended her hand and picked Sakura off the ground. “My name is Yamanaka Ino! And you?”
Sakura smiled for the first time in a long time, “Haruno Sakura.”
“Alright Sakura! Let’s stay friends!”
Sakura was six when she started comparing herself to Ino.
She was pretty, confident, smart, fashionable and one of the best ninjas in her class. Ino was the heiress of an old and very important clan, she was friendly and people liked her.
The complete opposite of Sakura herself.
Ugly, shy, average, weak and useless. She was jealous, but she couldn’t bring herself to hate the only friend she has. So she keeps it to herself. But people still bully her, even if she does have Ino to stand up for her now. However, the more Ino stands up for her, the more determined Sakura becomes to be someone who won’t embarrass her best friend. Slowly Sakura becomes a little less shy, and a little more confident.
It takes little by little, but slowly she starts to be as open and friendly as Ino. Little by little she becomes the friend that Ino deserves to have.
Little by little Haruno Sakura starts to come out of her shell.
Sakura was seven when her mother had told her a friend will always be more important than a boy.
Sakura had been daydreaming and thinking about a black haired boy with fair skin for days now. He was super cool and very skilled, top of the class even. He was Uchiha Sasuke and Sakura couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to go on dates or even become girlfriend and boyfriend with him.
She really really liked him.
Which was exactly why it hurt so much when Ino claimed she had a crush on him.
They were having a sleepover in Ino’s compound. They did it every two weeks to catch up on things and to train a little since Sakura lacked the fighting experience and Ino always had new gossip to update Sakura on.
“He is soooo cute Sakura! And he is also super cool and the way he brushes off other girls?” Ino let out a dramatic sigh, holding her pillow close to her chest. “Oh Sakura, should I confess to him? I mean I know every girl in Konoha basically likes him too, but I think I really have a chance at him!” Her blue eyes stared right to her soul, “What do you think?”
Sakura’s chest felt heavy with despair, “Well, why not wait a bit?” she questioned.
“Why wait?”
She blinked rapidly, partly to stall and partly to hide any pain from showing, “Um… okay, think about it. A million girls are asking him out already.” she reasons “He is turning every single one down without thinking, you should wait till you have a chance! Maybe in a couple weeks!”
“Huh, I guess I never thought about that. But you’re totally right!” Ino stood up lighting quick, determination all over her features. “I will find out the kind of girls Uchiha-san likes and when I become totally his type, and he totally falls in love with me, I will confess to him!”
Sakura stared at Ino’s lovestricken smile, knowing that it all comes down to a choice: Losing her best friend, or losing the boy she liked.
Ino turned back to look at her with a devilish smile, “So Sakura, any boys that you like?”
I’ll give him up.
She faked her best cheerful laugh, “Haha, not really.”
I’ll give up on ever liking Uchiha Sasuke.
Sakura gulped back her feelings and kept smiling at her best friend. “I guess I haven’t found anyone that’s my type yet!”she reasons with a shrug.
I can sacrifice this piece of my heart, if it means never losing my closest friend.
Ino pouted, nudging Sakura with her shoulder, “Ahh~ That’s no fun! Promise me that when you find a boy you like you will tell me!” the blonde says, extending her pinkie.
I will never pursue my crush on Uchiha Sasuke.
Sakura wrapped her pinkie with Ino’s, letting out a small breath “I promise.”
Sakura was eight when she enrolled in the Academy.
She had decided to become a Kunoichi since nothing sounded less appealing than growing up to get into an arranged marriage and letting her husband take over her family’s business.
She did not like tea that much anyways.
Ino had made a “bulletproof plan” to make Sasuke fall in love with her: She would sit next to him everyday until he noticed her. They do say perseverance can triumph over anything, but Sakura had her doubts about her blonde friend’s method. Her biggest concern was that Ino had actually taken into account that Sakura lives the closest to the Academy, therefore she should guard off the seat next to Sasuke for her.
Sakura complained loudly, “What?! Why?! Just wake up early you loser!” Ino whined with her puppy dog eyes, “Please Sakura! I have to sacrifice an hour of sleep to get my hair and clothes just right! Please Sakuraaaaaaaa~” She extended the syllable till she ran out of breath, pulling at Sakura’s shirt and poking her sides. The pinkette groaned, “Alright fine! But you are gonna have to pay me for this!”
Ino jumped into the air in cheers, hugging her and kissing her cheek “You are the best friend a girl in love could ask for! I’ll bring you lunch everyday! I promise.”
Sakura sighed, then gave her a smile “No worries, just don’t be super late! I don’t want the rest of the girls in our class to have it after me for this!”
As per her request, Sakura had made it to class on time the next morning, but they hadn’t both been counting on the amount of girls who would want to get up bright and early just to see the Uchiha up close and personal. By the time she had gotten there, Sakura was sitting next to Sasuke with her face buried in her hands. She was red with embarrassment from having so many death glares on her, however the worst look was the one Sasuke had given her when she sat right next to him.
He didn’t say anything, just looked at her as if expecting a very public and very outrageous love confession. He had not counted on her actually taking the seat right next to his, and even less on her ignoring his presence.
As soon as the Yamanaka walked in, Sakura got up in record time and moved seats. The closest open spot happened to be next to a shy black haired girl with a pixie cut. She was sitting two rows in front and Sakura moved quickly until she was right next to her, “Hi, can I sit with you today?”
The girl jumped, she probably didn’t talk to that many people before. She fiddled with her fingers, avoiding Sakura’s gaze. “Um, yes. Of course.” came her voice, soft and delicate just like the girl.
“Thanks! I’m Haruno Sakura.”
The girl nodded, a shy smile on her face “Hyuuga Hinata.”
She’s so cute! Hyuuga-san reminded her of herself before she met Ino, minus the constant teasing. Sakura smiled brightly, “Let’s be friends, Hyuuga-san!” the timid girl jumped a second time, making Sakura giggle. The shy girl put her hands on her lap and finally looked at her directly, a faint shade of pink on her cheeks and a timid smile on her lips. “I-I, I would like that.”
By lunchtime, both of them had started to be on a first name basis, at Sakura’s insistence of course. When the last bell rang, Hinata had become part of Ino’s and Sakura’s two people group. She had learned that Hinata was an heiress like Ino, except that unlike her blonde friend, Hinata was more quiet and docile. Her friends were complete polar opposites and Sakura sat in the middle, bringing some balance in the group.
It became a routine.
Go to the Academy, sit next to Sasuke, then join Hinata when Ino finally arrives.
Slowly, day by day, Sakura became less and less nervous around him. The glares also stopped once his fangirls realized she wasn’t trying to steal him away from everyone. Soon enough, Sakura started to use the waiting time to read up on theory books, she needed to use the time to be productive anyways.
Some days, she could swear Sasuke looked like he wanted to tell her something. Sakura was sure he just didn’t wanna bother telling her to leave him alone, but it was okay. What Uchiha Sasuke did or did not do was not for her to worry about. After all, she made a promise.
Sakura was eleven when she buried her feelings for Uchiha Sasuke.
They were a perfect match: heirs to prestigious clans, good-looking, well-trained in shinobi skills and in fancy manners. Also both of them were rich!
Ino always talked to him during homeroom as well, it seemed like a matter of time until he realized that Ino is the perfect girl to be his girlfriend. Their type of people just naturally end up together, it was just logical.
It didn’t mean that her broken heart would not hurt as much. She liked him too, but boys like him never end up with girls like her, and Sakura would much rather nurse her own broken heart than break Ino’s. Her mother was a bit worried since she locked herself inside her room the entire day to cry, but she will be fine tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning she will take a shower, change into clean clothes, grab the latest book she picked from the library, go to the Academy and begin her day like she has every other day.
“You… Seem different.” Sasuke stated. She stilled in the middle of her reading, figuring out if it was her imagination or reality. Her green eyes locked with his black ones, her breath seemed scarce. “Um” it was the first time he talked to her since they began this ritual, she was afraid it was another daydream “I hope it’s not a bad difference, then?” she laughed nervously.
Before Sasuke could reply, Ino had walked inside the room, giving Sakura her cue to move yet again.
She felt a stare on her back, but it was very likely to be from the newest random fangirl. Sakura went about her day like she normally would, but sometimes she would pause and think back to that little interaction.
He… Was he worried?
She shook her head, there’s no way he was. He just made a comment because I was being a bit weird and that is all. She reasoned. They might share desks every morning, but that doesn’t mean they’re friends or anything. Besides, she continues, we will never become anything in this lifetime.
Somewhere deep in her heart, Sakura wished they could.