Fated

“I don’t buy it! I think you’re faking it!” Naruto said while slurping the ramen noodles.

The five boys were in the izakaya where ramen, seafood, beers, Karaage, and many more were served. Neji, Shikamaru, Sai, Kiba, and Naruto always have their after-work dinner. They’ve been good friends since college and currently working together in one company. They shared a lot of things, had known each other for so long, and cared so much that sometimes Shikamaru finds it annoying. They are the reason why his love life is so fucked up right now. Everyone has a girlfriend except him, Shikamaru doesn’t even care about it and he knows he’ll find someone soon. Right now, his priority is work and himself.

His friends started convincing every single girl in their company to date him, literally everyone. The four boys swayed these girls and told them a lot of sweet and good things about Shikamaru, making them fall for him. Because you know, they wanted him to have someone. And he dated them, he just doesn’t find anyone interesting enough to be his girlfriend. He immediately told them that it will not going to work since his friends only pushed him to date and he wanted to cut his time and effort short. To summarize, he finds it too troublesome.

But there’s this one girl, she was so heartbroken after he rejected her and his friends started teasing him about it. Shikamaru thought that the “fake relationship” thing he had with Temari could also be a way for his friend to stop, to stop teasing him and convincing a lot of girls in their company to date him. And of course, she will resign after a month, so it’s a win-win situation.

“I don’t care if you don’t believe” Shikamaru said while lighting his cigarette.

“How did it happen? It’s too fast! We just met her like Yesterday?” Kiba exclaimed while munching the karaage from a stick and a beer in his other hand.

“We already met before” He replied

“Oh, come on Shikamaru! You cannot fool anyone” Neji is still not convinced, it’s too fast to happen. They’ve known him for a long time and falling in love with a girl that fast is impossible.

“Well, let’s just observe them. I have a keen eye for faking stuff, I know someone if they’re telling the truth or not by their body language” Sai said before gulping the beer in his hand. His eyes focused on him, catching if he shifts his emotion after what he said.

Naruto, Neji, and Kiba nodded at Sai and moved their mocking gazes at him, he is still unfazed. Shikamaru knows what his friends were thinking, they will do anything to make sure that it was true, so nowwwww…he needs to be serious as a fake boyfriend in their fake relationship.

After their dinner, they waved each other’s goodbye and walk to the path leading to their homes. Shikamaru was walking to the parking lot when Sai walked beside him.

“Tell me the truth. I’m not telling them about it” Sai said

“Why would you think we are faking it?”

“Oh c’mon, you know I didn’t tease you or pushed you to any girls. What’s with you and her? I thought you hate her. Your sudden change of mind just felt…….fake”

“You really know about people’s emotions huh?”

“Believe me, I’m not. I'm just good at observing emotions”

Shikamaru looked at him, he must admit that he trusts Sai more than the others. He felt like he is always true to his words.

“Right, we’re faking it so they’ll stop teasing me and we had a deal”

“What deal?”

“That she’ll resign after a month. That’s the goal”

“Oh, alright. That makes sense now. That’s surprising. Don’t worry I will not say a single word to them” Sai smiled at him, he did not know if it was a fake or genuine one. Sai immediately left his spot and walked towards his car.

When he reached his apartment, Shikamaru prepared himself to sleep, he lay in his bed and remembered what he dreamt last night. It was so vivid and he could still feel his numb body. He was trying to reach something, but still hazy, then a sudden realization hit him. He was reaching for the hand of the unknown woman who was lying beside him. His hands felt the warm and familiar touch of the woman’s hand. Shikamaru raised his hand in front of his face and starts observing it.

Why is it so familiar?

The next day, Shikamaru walked immediately to Temari’s office without knocking, again. She was sitting on her desk and reading all the files.

“We need rules” he said

“Do you know how to knock? Why are you here?” Temari raised her brow while looking at him.

“If we’re going to pretend this relationship. We need to have rules”

“First rule, you need to learn how to knock. Okay?” She mockingly said to him. Temari hates when someone doesn’t knock on her door before entering.

“Alright! Sorry, your majesty, I’ll knock next time. Can we now make serious rules here?”

Temari rolled her eyes, since this was her idea and he was getting serious about it, she will let him make the first few rules “Go on, you can make the first ones”

“First rule, no weird stuff”

“Pshh, that’s easy. I don’t like it either so go on”

“Second, no kissing”

“Eww, why would I kiss you?” Her face was all in disgust

“Be serious! Third, make sure you’re acting naturally. My friends have been doubting me”

“Of course! Duh, you’re the only one who always ruined the act”

“That’s all for me, you?” Shikamaru walked towards her desk and sits on the chair in front of her.

“Fourth, you’re going to follow my orders”

“Wait! You’ll follow my orders too” Shikamaru wanted to make sure that he will also have the advantage in this fake relationship.

“Alright! Fourth, both of us will follow each other’s orders. Is that what you liked?”

“Yup! Go on, what’s your next?”

“Fifth, have fun! This is just fake. Don’t get too attached” She smiled at him, Temari sees him as weak and easy to manipulate but she could be wrong about it.

“You’re too confident saying that”

“Of course, I am! I’m just warning you”

“Let’s see about that”

It was already lunchtime when they decided to take lunch together so that Shikamaru could convince his friends and for Temari to have her little revenge on Matsuri. Temari grabbed his hand when they entered the pantry which he did not decline. Shikamaru felt her hand was a little familiar and it starts growing on him now.

Temari pulled him to the table near Matsuri and he agreed because it was a one-table gap from where his friends were sitting. Then, they start their little fake scenario.

“I swear to God Shikamaru, smile!” Temari whispered in her angry tone

“I’m fucking trying” Shikamaru curved his lips to one side, trying to smile

“Okay quick, put your hands on my shoulder. Pretend like you’re caressing me” she said in her low tone, afraid that someone might hear their conversation. She giggles after just to mask her frustrated tone.

“That's not what caressing looks like!” He whispered in her ears

“Do you really know how to handle a woman!? Huh seriously?” She looked at him smiling, pretending they were having a sweet conversation but all they do is bicker.

Shikamaru put his hand on her shoulder and starts gliding it up and down “Is this what you want!? Huh?”

“Better!” She glanced at Matsuri who was now looking out the window, she was avoiding them.

Shikamaru looked at his friends who are now gossiping like little kids. He wasn’t sure if they were convinced or not at this point. Temari loved what she was seeing, a sad and guilty Matsuri. Her plan is working so well that it satisfied her heart.