Fated

Temari and Shikamaru went to the bonfire after they unpack their stuff. They glanced at the crowd and saw an area where people sit in the blankets eating food and drinking beer, there’s an area where people dance, and in the middle was a big bonfire illuminated on the shore of Icha beach. Temari was mesmerized, she has never seen this view before. Shikamaru glanced at her and grabbed her hand.

“Let’s go?”

Temari nodded in response, she grab a blanket and placed it in the sand near the bonfire while Shikamaru was getting all the food and drinks. When he came to their blanket, he hands the plate and beer to her. Temari peeked at the plate, it has chicken wings, gravy, potato wedges, karaage, sushi, and dango. It was a weird combination but alright. She said thanks and starts eating the food on the plate.

“So, are you going to tell me about your scars?” She asked while munching the potato wedges.

He looked at her “I told you, it’s weird I didn’t know where I get most of it”

“Huh. Well, the other ones? The large scars on your rib and thigh”

“Oh” He rubbed his rib where the scars were and chuckled “Uhm, I got it two years ago” Shikamaru grabbed the beer and starts drinking it.

“Two years ago? From where?”

“From an accident” His hand starts grabbing the cigarette from his pocket and starts lighting it.

“Oh sorry” She returns her gaze to the bonfire.

“It was my graduation when I—” he starts puffing his cigarette then gulp the beer in his hand “When me, my mom, and dad got into a car accident”

Temari pursed her lips. She was clueless why he still sharing this with her but she was willing to listen that night. She looked at him, waiting for every word he said.

“And I’m the only one who survived” his eyes focused on the bonfire. He looked at Temari who was now all shocked “Hey?” he bumped her shoulder

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know”

“Don’t be, I want to share it since you asked about my scar”

“Did you miss them?”

“Every day. I never felt more alone in my life since that day and the only company I have is this” He raised his fingers and lift the cigarette.

“You should start finding someone if I were you so you never feel alone” she said before she gulps the beer in her hand.

“I did but it never worked. I don’t want to rush things. I want to be with someone that I am really sure of. I don’t want to have someone just because I’m alone”

“Wow, I didn’t know you have that kind of standards in love Nara” She laughed

“My parents set the standards high I cannot blame myself”

“Tell me more about it?” Temari was now curious, she never had any idea about it, about love. Her mother passed away after she gave birth to Gaara and never saw their parents being in love or anything. The definition of love to her is more like fiction than real.

Shikamaru looked at her and saw that she was curious “I really thought they were not that in love when they were still living. They always bicker and my mom always nags, I hate it if you’re going to ask me. But when they died, I just realized something. Their pictures on the wall, in the album, on the desk….you can see their subtle touches. It is so subtle but it speaks a lot about their love”

Shikamaru glanced at her curious eyes, he never saw her eyes this close. Then he proceeds to his story “I realized that my dad and mom are willing to suffer through tough times as long as they’re together. That you need to choose someone you’re willing to be with in every problem, every trial, all ups and downs. Cliché?”

“No, I think that makes sense and it’s sweet. I don’t really have any idea about love, honestly. What you said is just….it gave me a new idea about it, about love”

“Why? You haven’t been in love before? I thought you had a boyfriend?” He curiously asked

“Yeah. Two actually, Rui and Shira. But…”

“But?”

“I realized….about what you said that I need to choose someone that I’m willing to be with in every struggle…I just realized that I don’t see myself being with them in those scenarios”

“Why?”

“Rui and I broke up because he always depends on me, I always bought him things, and sometimes I think I’m his financer. I don’t want to be broke just to be with him. About Shira, since he cheated I don’t want to claim him back….never!” She laughed “But you know, I realized that I control him much. Probably because I don’t want to see our relationship being in the mud, I don’t want any mistakes and everything needs to be flawless”

“Right, scared seeing yourself being at your lowest? Are you afraid of losing? Failing?”

“I’m probably obsessed with winning because I hate losing to someone”

“That explains it all” He laughed while giving her the second beer.

Temari smiled while grabbing the beer in his hand. He’s probably right.

They continue their conversation, talking about their views on life and both of them were amazed. They have different perspectives but that gained them new things about how they view everything. After their fifth beer, Temari has the urge to dance. She grabbed Shikamaru’s hand and starts pulling him to the dance floor.

“Come on! It’s my first time dancing on the beach! Don’t be such a killjoy!”

“I’m not good at dancing”

Temari wouldn’t accept any no to her request so she keeps on bugging him until he said yes. Shikamaru stands up and lets Temari pull him to the dance floor. She was giggling, her nose and cheeks were red now due to the alcohol, and started dancing. Shikamaru just stands there looking at her dancing, Temari grabbed his hand and starts twirling under it. They had fun that night.

After they dance, they sit again in their blanket. The bonfire was now bigger than before, all they could hear is the gentle breeze of sea air and the melodic sound of waves at the beach. Temari’s eyes started to fall and her beer started to slip from her hands. Shikamaru grabbed the can in her hand and pushed her head to his shoulder. She could feel his hand starts gliding around her waist supporting her. Temari looked at him, her eyes flickering to see a clear vision.

“Why?” Her question speaks a lot about the confusion in her heart

“You’re slipping away”

“I am?” Her eyes were now closed while her head leaned on his shoulder

“Do you want to return to our room?”

“I guess”

Shikamaru lifted her up and support her shoulder. Temari could still walk but her eyes were heavy now from the crying, beer, and dancing. They reached their room and Temari went to the shower to prepare herself for sleep. She lay in bed and closed her eyes but her mind was still awake. She heard Shikamaru come out from the shower and starts preparing himself to sleep. She glanced at him, he was wearing a headphone and has a book in hand.

“What are you doing?” She asked

“I’ll read and listen to music before sleeping. I’ll just use this lampshade, go to sleep”

Temari stared out the window and watched the big bright moon outside. Shikamaru’s song starts playing and Temari heard the first song in her head.

Moonlight by Chase Atlantic

Shikamaru glanced at her who was now looking out the window. Temari’s heart was shot by the lyrics because every word fit of what she was feeling.

…. We're dancing in the open waves

You're hangin' for a good time………

…..She just wants to talk through the daytime

And I just want it all when the time's right

Yeah, she's about to fall for the third time……..