Paper Dance

Long Lost Bestfriend

"N-Neji?"  my eyes widened as I saw my bestfriend sitting beside me...Um no actually...former bestfriend? Ah! Whatever!!

Why the hell is he here!?

"What are you doing here?" I asked him angrily

"No. That's should be my question. What are you doing here?" He asked back.

"That's none of your business." I answered and turned my back against him,

I just wish I could just stormed out in this room and just skip the class for the day but that would be a bad decision if I want my father's acknowledgement.

"Sasuke, why are you here in konoha?" Neji asked again and slightly tugging my arm but i quickly swatted his hand away without looking at him.

"Are you still mad at me?" He asked in a low voice,

Ofcourse I am! You didn't even said your goodbye the day you left..

"I'm sorry Sasuke. But, trust me when I said I didn't want to leave you, I meant it." He said, his voice were covered with guilt and longing.

"Can I atleast hug my bestfriend that I missed so much?" He pleaded

I didn't answer him and just continued to watch outside. He pat my shoulder and I angrily swatted his hand away at me angrily and looked at him with full of hatred in my eyes, but before I could utter a word our teacher suddenly pooped at the door silencing the slightly loud class and proceeded to discuss our topic.

The entire subject was a legit torture to me, Neji Hyuga who were sitting beside me and glancing at me from time to time.

Can my day go a little more painful? This is too much.

After an hour and a half the class finally ended and I hurriedly put all my things inside my bag and stormed out inside the room, luckily Neji didn't got the chance to grab me because someone suddenly grab him when he pass the door.

I immediately headed to my next class because I have one more before lunch, and again, luckily Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino we're not my classmates.

As I entered the room there's a fifteen students that are already waiting for the room to be filled by students, I sat at the back where no one else will be willing to sat down.

After a Minute or Two the room were filled by students and our teacher arrived after.

I looked like I'm listening to my teacher as he discuss about politics, but my mind is wandering about a certain long haired brunette with pale eyes,

Why is he here? Is this his hometown? He's a year older than me so how come we're classmates at one of my subjects?

It's not that I'm very mad at Neji, I'm just hurt because he left me and didn't even say a word. Yes, he informed me before hand but it was a month before he left, he didn't even meet me for a week and then the next thing I knew he and his family flew back at their hometown. He left me without even saying his goodbye..

The the bell rang so our teacher dismissed us and headed out first so I slowly packed my things and headed towards the cafeteria.

I'm not yet sure if I'll cut the bond that I made with Shikamaru. I don't want to do it.

But maybe I could give myself some distance from them, some walls so that I could protect myself for the time that will come.

Father won't know anyway.

"Sasuke! Here!" I look at my left side when I heard Ino's voice and I started to step closer to them.

"Are you hungry?" She asked when I finally arrived at our table

"Not yet." I answered and sat beside her, she blush at the action but I didn't commented about it.

At the table there's a lot of meat and some vegetable salad and onigiri, there's even some tomato ramen beside the vegetable salad.

"The tomato flavoured ramen is yours. You like tomatoes right?" Ino said and gave me the bowl of ramen

"No. I love it. Thank you Ino." I smiled a little at her and she blushed once again, "Where's Shikamaru?" I asked her when I didn't see Shikamaru

"He's buying some pasta because I ordered him to." She laughed

"Guess he said 'What a drag' huh?" I asked and she laugh while nodding

As soon as Shikamaru arrived we started to eat our lunch, though I didn't really bought something and just ate what Ino bought.

"Sasuke. You okay?"

"Huh?" I jerked my head up when Choji suddenly asked me

"Are you okay? You felt so distant." Shikamaru blurted out

Am I? Must be because of what father's said. Or maybe because I saw that Neji again?

Am I okay?

Why is Neji here? And why I am still mad at him? Why am I mad at him? He did nothing wrong right?

He just left because maybe, I'm not that important in his life as his friend. No, I'm just—-

"Sasuke! Earth to Sasuke!" The shaking made me bring back to the reality, I looked at Ino who's eyes were reflecting some worried look and confusion.

"H-huh?"

"Are you okay—no, you are not. Do you want to go home? Are you sick?" Ino asked while checking the heat in my forehead but I stopped her before she get the chance to touch me.

"I'm okay. I'm sorry." I answered and looked down at the same time.

"You are not. But if you don't want to tell us honestly it's okay. But remember that we are here for you Sasuke. So don't distant yourself from us." Shikamaru said and move his seat beside me

"I'm okay. Don't worry." I reassured them and continued to eat the tomato ramen that Ino bought.

We continue to eat and sometimes Choji talks about his day and his funniest and dumbest moments, I hate to admit but I really find it funny and it really warms my heart.

"Ino.." I turned my head around together with Ino and Shikamaru to see who is the owner of the voice.

"Sakura?" Ino called out the certain pink-haired girl who is shock to see me sitting beside Ino.

"Sas—" the girl named sakura trailed out but she suddenly interrupted by someone—blonde.

"Sasuke!" The dobe beamed as he flash his wide grin and started to walk close at my direction

"What do you want?" I asked as I shoved his face away from me. He only chuckled and wrap his arms around my shoulders pushing Shikamaru slightly to give him some space to sit beside me.

"Is it wrong of me to greet my friend?" He asked and I frowned at him

"Since when did we become friends?" His eyes widened as if some realization hits him.

"Oh," he trailed and I tilt my head at the side due to confusion

"Um...since earlier?" he answered with hesitation

"Hah. Naruto, you dumbass." Shikamaru said as he took a seat beside Choji, who keeps on eating and didn't give a fuck at his surrounding.

"Since when did you became friends with Sasuke Uchiha? Ino-pig!" the pink haired girl ask Ino as she pointed Ino's nose

"Hah! Since the first day of school forehead! So back-off." Ino smirk and I just rolled my eyes at continued to finish my ramen, but then again this blonde took my utensils and started to eat my ramen.

"Thanks, Sasuke!" He smiled sheepishly, I frowned at him but also let him finish my food, it's not that I have an appetite anyways.

I can sense the confusion and shock coming from Shikamaru and Ino but I didn't mind them.

It's not that I also know what was going on! This stupid blonde just suddenly became so friendly towards me, I don't even know that he actually exist for the first week because I barely see him. It's not that I'm searching for him anyways.

The pink haired girl left fuming mad, which I don't know why, and is headed to her own table she even asked naruto to come with her but naruto shrugged her off and continued to eat my ramen. Ino sighed and hand me one of the onigiri she brought so I took it and bite a little.

"Sasuke."

Just when I sip at my cucumber juice a familiar voice called me out so I spit my juice at naruto.

"Oh fuck, sorry." I said, eyes widen and wiped the side of his face using my handkerchief

Ino, Shikamaru and Choji snorted and it suddenly into laughter, but naruto didn't laugh, which I kinda feel bad.

"Sasuke," the familiar voice once again called me. I ignored him and continued to wiped Naruto's face, he looked at me confusedly.

He grabbed my hand to stopped me from my movements so I turned to Shikamaru, asking for help.

I think he understood what I meant because he switches his position with Ino who look so confuse as well, like naruto.

"Can I borrow Sasuke?" Neji asked, I don't know who he asked.

"Neji?" Naruto turned at him with full of confusion at his eyes.

"I want to talk to sasuke, can I, Shikamaru?" he said and Shikamaru is just looking at me.

Naruto squeeze my hand, I'm surprised he haven't let go of it yet.

I looked down at my lap, asking myself if I wanted to talk to Neji as well. But I know that my desire to talk to him and hang out with him is still weaker that my hate towards him.

I just need some time.

I think I just need some time.

"If Sasuke wants to talked to you, then it doesn't matter. But if he doesn't then, it's a no." Shikamaru said and patted my shoulder.

I stood up slipping my hands off Naruto's and grabbed Shikamaru. I headed towards the cafeteria exit and went at the stairs that will lead to the roof top.

Just as I looked back at Shikamaru who I'm still holding, my eyes immediately widened.

"You—-you're not Shikamaru!" I exclaimed at naruto as I let go of his hand.

"Hey! You're the one who drag me out of the cafeteria and bring me here! And wait!!, did you just mistaken me as Shikamaru? That hurts Sasuke!" He exclaimed as he pouted.

Did I just mistaken him as Shikamaru? omygod Sasuke Uchiha! Before you drag someone please make sure if it's the right one.

I sighed, it's not that I can help it. My mind went black and I didn't have the time to check if it's shikamaru who I grabbed.

I open the door to the roof top and I went straight the center and seated at the sit that was in there.

I massage my temple as I felt an headache, Naruto followed me and seated beside me. I didn't mind him and just focus on calming myself.

I don't want to have some panic attack right now. That's the last thing I would want to happened at the moment.

"You okay?" Naruto asked me as he hold my hand, I Ignored the slight tingling sensation I felt when he clasped my hand with his.

"What are you doing?" I asked him but didn't moved.

"Calming you," he answered, I didn't said anything and just remained quite. He's right, it did calm me a bit when he's holding my hand.

Why do I feel so close with Naruto? We just only interacted earlier in the morning, so why does it felt like we've done this many more times?

What's this warm feeling that I'm feeling right now? Why does this feels so familiar?

And why does it felt like I've known this dumbass for a long time?

"I'm okay." I answered him, he hit my head lightly so I glared at him

"Don't lie."

Why's he prying? and why is he acting like we've been friends since forever?

"Neji. He's my bestfriend." I nearly slapped my face when I blurted that out. Why is it so easy to tell to this blonde about my thoughts?

"Hmm," is the only reply I got. Which I was thankful for.

"We've been friends for around six years. He's one year older than me, I know. But he's the most easiest person I know I could talk to. But then one day, he left. Without saying goodbye." I said, holding back myself for crying. I wanted to cry, I wanted to let it out. I wanted to punch Neji.

"Did he not tell you about him leaving?" Naruto asked.

"He did. But then, when the day he's supposed to left, he didn't say his final goodbye." I answered him sadly.

As I look back at that day, I can't say that I'm not broken, that it didn't broke my heart. Neji, he's the guy who I always run to other than my brother. He gave me this trauma about making friends,

I don't know. I'm afraid to make friends, thinking that they would also leave me just like Neji did.

Neji is the only friend I had.

My human diary, my confidant, my safe place, my friend, my bestfriend, my brother.

He's the one who always stands for me, he's always there to protect me and defend me. Mother was so proud of me and happy for me when she knows about Neji. Father also did.

Neji was the one who approach me first when we first met, he's not the type of person who's very talkative like someone, he's not also loud like someone, he's not the type of a guy who liked to pry like someone, he's not also blond like someone.

I missed Neji. I really do, but I still need some time. I still need to absorb the fact that he's just an arm length now.

I held on the necklace that I'm wearing, it's the same necklace that Neji has gifted me when I was 10 years old. A silver bird pendant with black string. I clearly remembered that day when he gave me this.

"Why you giving me a bird pendant, Neji?" I asked him while staring intently at the necklace, it's very beautiful, a silver bird pendant with a black string, I put it in my neck and admired it. It fit perfectly in the skin color and it also compliments it.

"Because for me that is the symbol of freedom." He said, I looked at him as I saw him caressing the necklace that I also gifted him, it was silver half moon pendant with black string—also.

"Freedom," I repeated him

"Mm. I wanted to be free from being a branch family. I wanted to live my life as a normal kid. I don't want anyone to look at me and my family like we're some lowly peasants." He said and wore the necklace that I gave him.

"Neji," I called

"I wanted to become a bird," he said looking in the sky

"Is that your dream?" I asked him and that made him laugh, what? why? what's so funny?

"You're really good at cheering people up Sasuke, and it's even effortless." He said as he regained his composure.

"Promise me Sasuke that you won't ever, ever leave me." He seriously said as I frowned at him.

"I'm not gonna leave you Neji, like the moon that I've given you, I'll always be there for you, I'll always light your way in your darkest way." I said and put an arm at his shoulder

"Hmm. I won't ever forget you, you know? Because like this moon that you gifted me, I'll always remember you just by looking at the moon." He said and smiled at me.

"I promise you Sasuke. I won't leave you." He said and we laugh while we walked towards our homes.

He promised he won't leave, and yet.

Why did you leave me, Hyuga Neji?

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