[high school AU, bittersweet]
SAKURA
Today's the day. I practiced night and day in preparation for this moment. I know the competition doesn't start until about three hours later, but I need to get my practice in on the grand piano.
I pulled my hoodie over my head and scanned through my closet. Appearance is everything. So I settled on a simple, black dress that fell to the floor. I put it on, applied makeup, and stumbled out the door to my car.
I knew it. I can't believe I'd forget something as important as that. Before I left, I felt the need to write it down before I forget again. So that's what I did. Also so that maybe one day, Sasuke could know what this really means to me. And I'm not talking about the music scholarship or the competition.
I drove out onto the main road and within only a few minutes, I'm glad I wrote it down. Because that's the last thing I remembered before my life had completely changed...
_________________
SASUKE
"How about this?"
"Nuh-uh. I don't think blue's your color."
"Of course it is, damn it!" I shouted and threw the necktie into the rejected pile on the floor, "then you pick a tie for me to wear!"
My over-zealous older brother waltzed over to my closet and pulled out a black necktie, "here."
"You're kidding me..." I muttered, "Itachi, what the hell?! That's the one I didn't want to wear!"
"Don't be ridiculous." Itachi rolled his eyes, which only made me more and more annoyed with him, "this is classy. Besides, I think this is the same one you wore a few years ago at your last piano competition. Isn't that ironic?"
"Hn..." I grabbed the cloth from him and turned to the mirror.
"By the way..." He continued, "how did you wind up going to this piano competition, anyway?"
"A friend."
"Oh, a friend?"
"She invited me."
"Oh, it's a 'she'?"
"Shut up. She's dating Naruto."
"... Oh. And here I thought I'd get to do some third-wheeling."
I internally groaned, "no, that's my job..."
"How fun." He smiled sarcastically, "well, you're going to be late. So go out and have a good time."
"Yeah, yeah." I stared at my tie in the mirror then ripped it off, "Itachi! This necktie is from three years ago! Of course, it's going to be too small!"
"Oh, oops."
I grumbled to myself until the vibration of my phone on my bed caught my attention. I picked it up and cleared my throat, "Hello?"
___________________
SASUKE
I ran through the hallway until I reached the waiting room, "Naruto!"
The blonde stood up from his chair, "Sasuke, good you came."
"What the hell happened?!"
"She..."
I followed his gaze to the shut double doors of the emergency room. The way his voice trailed off, I was bracing myself for the worst.
"Her car got hit. It flipped over the safety rails of the road and she was trapped underwater for about ten minutes before someone came and saved her."
I paled, "she..."
"She was on her way to the piano competition."
My hands clenched angrily into fists as they shook violently.
"Sasuke!" Naruto grabbed my arms, "Sasuke, calm down! There's nothing we can do for her now! The doctors are giving her the care she needs. Right now, we just need to wait."
"Her condition..." my voice was barely a whisper, "how is it?"
"She's..." Naruto squinted his eyes to keep from crying, "even if she makes it, she won't be the same."
_____________________
SASUKE
We waited outside those doors for what felt like days. But only two and a half hours had passed. I glanced over at Naruto who looked ready to pass out or cry. I bent over and covered my face with my trembling hands and fell into a state of unconsciousness. My senses fired off the moment the doors of the emergency room opened. Both Naruto and I stood up.
"Well?" Naruto ran up to the doctor first, "how is she?"
"We stabilized her only a little, but she's slipped into a coma." The doctor explained, "we have her on a number of machines right now. It'll take a miracle to save her now. I'm sorry..."
At that moment, my arms fell to my sides and I felt a feeling of emptiness. That's when the doctor held out a wet, wrinkled, and folded envelope to Naruto, "this was in her pocket when we changed her clothes."
As the doctor went back to the ER, Naruto squinted at the washed-out lettering then looked at me, "it's for you..."
My hand still shook, even after I took the envelope and tore it open. I swallowed hard and read the words:
Dear Sasuke,
Wow, it's really weird saying that name. After all, it's the name of a famous pianist I once knew and thought very highly of. That's right! Let me tell you my story from the very beginning, since you were wondering.
When I was little, I was a troublemaker. I ran around and messed with every boy in school, and when we got to middle schools, things only got worse. That's when for a class field trip, we went to a piano competition. It made me sick to my stomach to sit through every boring performance. That's when a performer unlike any other stepped out and played the Moonlight Symphony. That was you. Out of every adult on that stage, they saved the best for last. You inspired me to learn piano, and after that, I became a whole new person. I tried to be nicer to everyone, and that's what explains the run-in I had with those girls the first time we met in high school. The boyfriends of those girls cheated on them with me in middle school, and they sold me out. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my past before. I suppose I didn't think it mattered. I mean, before a couple of days ago, I was suffering from memory loss. But now I remember. I remember why I'm here, and it's all because of you.
By the way. That's not all I didn't tell you. Let's just say...
I lied.
That single lie?
I'm in love with Naruto.
Sasuke blinked a few times at the words, "a... Lie...?"
The truth is that he's a really nice guy, but there's only one person I looked up to and greatly admired.
That'd be you.
So the moment high school came around and you completely quit the piano, I was devastated. I also learned that you became the bad boy of the school, and that made me even more determined to get closer to you. To make things right.
So there it is.
You can call me a liar, but it all ended for the best. If I hadn't lied about that, I don't think I ever would've gotten to talk to you. Naruto's the one that introduced me to you after all.
I hope all this made sense. You can hate me if you want, I'd understand. But please don't give up on the piano just yet. Someday, I want to compete against you in a piano competition and be at your level!
I can't wait for that day!
Sakura
Unbelievable.
I clenched my fingers to the point where the paper was completely crushed.
"S-Sasuke?" Naruto looked at me uneasily, "what happened?"
Then I heard her voice.
"Let me show you something that you'll never forget."
I stood up and checked my watch, "when does the competition start?"
"Uh..." Naruto stood up, "in about thirty minutes... Why?"
"That should be enough time..." I shoved the letter into my pocket, "Naruto, stay here until Sakura's condition improves."
"Where are you going?!"
I didn't look back or even answer him. I just kept running until I got into my car and made my way to Yuki Concert Hall... With a speeding ticket. Lovely.
___________________
"Next up," the announcer's voice boomed through the concert hall, "we have Kory Gwellyn."
"Ahem..." The coordinator backstage pulled aside the announcer as Kory walked out on stage and bowed, preparing to perform her piece.
"What is it?"
"Sakura Haruno is up next, but..."
The two whispered for a moment until Kory's performance was finished after about ten minutes.
"Unfortunately, our next performer will not be joining us today. So we--" the voice was cut off. There was a number of disputing voices backstage until suddenly, Sasuke walked out on stage.
"What..." The announcer stared at the coordinator, "why did you let him go?!"
"Don't you recognize him?!" The coordinator gazed in awe.
"Ah..." The announcer scratched his head, "Sakura Haruno...?"
The coordinator grabbed the mic, "Sasuke Uchiha!"
There was a hushed silence in the audience. The name settled with them as Sasuke bowed then sat on the piano bench.
This is just like from a couple of days ago. He shut his eyes and set his fingers on the keys. Now, Sakura, let me show you something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
~~~
Written by xX_Fang_Xx