#ssm15d28

At first, it seemed he really wasn't. She found the room blissfully empty. She took in the blue walls, the simple furniture, the sole poster hanging form the wall: a painting of a woman by Egon Schiele. It was a clean, simple, but nice room, just like she expected it to be. There was a bed, large and soft; a desk, neatly organized; a bookshelf, filled mostly with books about History and Philosophy, and a wardrobe, large and also well-organized, containing mostly dark clothes.

This wardrobe is the only reason she hasn't been caught yet. When she heard the door open, she ran and hid inside of it. Thus, here she is now, watching her crush through the half-closed doors of the wardrobe, hidden by the darkness, heart beating wildly inside her chest.

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At first, he thought she was only being silly.

He'd already seen this girl around. She was one of his sister's best friends, and she was, well, just another fifteen-year-old girl. She dressed the same, spoke the same, moved the same... Unremarkable, except perhaps for her pink hair, her pretty face, her big green eyes, and her wide forehead. She was exotic looking, and in a good way, but that was all there was to her... or so he wanted to think, because she was his sister's age, and he could not think much else about her. It was kind of illegal.

But right now, he is starting to wonder if maybe, just maybe, it would be alright to think more about her – to let his thoughts and imagination go beyond what he's allowed them to.

Because there she is: hidden inside his wardrobe, previously hoping to sneak in and have a look around, thinking he would not come back tonight, and now trapped with him, in his wardrobe, with no one else to see or hear.

Okay. That's it. He cannot deny it ay longer: he is attracted to her. There is something about the way she looks at him, and the way she seems to stand out from the crowd despite dressing, speaking, and moving the same as the other girls. He can't really explain it. She is just four years younger, too; the age gap is not alarming, but it is still pretty exciting to him. Many guys are into younger girls at some point – although he never thought he'd be one of them. Maybe she is an exception to all his rules.

Sakura. That is her name – he finally remembers. Haruno Sakura. He tries to picture her among his clothes in his wardrobe, blushing and trembling with nervousness, as he calmly takes off his clothes, leaves only his lamplight on, and sits on his bed, knowing she is watching him through the darkness, heart beating wildly inside her chest.

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He is naked.

Because he apparently sleeps naked. Dear God. Is it really that surprising? Many people sleep naked, especially during the summer. Dammit, even she sleeps naked sometimes, and of course, having no idea someone was hiding in her wardrobe, she'd do it as freely as he is doing it now.

This is so wrong. That is all she can think of. This is wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. She's such a creep – sneaking into his room, hiding in his wardrobe, watching him sleep naked. She deserves to die right here and now. Dying would be much better than being found out, after all.

But death is not the best solution, she knows. Really, she has no other choice but to stay in the wardrobe until he turns off his lamp and falls asleep, so that she can sneak out and end this hell. There is no way she will stay all night here, or come out and be all like, “Oh, sorry, wrong wardrobe!” Only imagining the embarrassment she'd feel in that situation makes her-

“Sakura, I'm getting bored. Come out already.”

She practically chokes on her spit in that moment.

Coughing and gasping, she accidentally falls out of the wardrobe and on the floor. Trying to regain composure, holding on to the last remains of dignity she has left, she hurries to her feet and presses her back to the wall.

Sasuke sits on his bed, body from the waist down (thankfully) under the covers and hands behind his head. He seems casual, cool, unnerved: all the opposite from what she might seem now. Under his heavy dark gaze, she wants to cry. At any moment, she will probably melt off into a puddle of embarrassment.

“I'm sorry,” she squeaks, trying not to notice his bare, muscular chest. “I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm so-”

“What are you here for?” he interrupts. “Just answer that.”

Through the knot in her throat, she murmurs, “Um, I... I wanted to see your room. I thought you would not be back for the night. Your sister said so. I... I was curious. Only that. I swear I-”

“Okay.” Slowly, he leans forward, resting his palms on the bed. “But I did come back. And you got caught. Now what?”

Confusion clouds her panic briefly. “W-what do you mean?”

“You're here,” he explains. “I'm here... naked. What do you want now?”

She doesn't get it. It takes her a long while. And even when she does, she thinks she's got it wrong, so she pretends she still doesn't get it, until he rolls his eyes and motions her over.

Maybe I had hit my head and blacked out...

I stood up straight and breathed in the cool moist air. There was nothing but grass. No one was there but me. Or so I thought.

“Hi?” A voice spoke behind me. I turned myself around and saw a girl. She was smiling at me. She was... Beautiful. She had short petal pink hair, pale skin and green eyes. She’s probably around the same age as me. She looked, human.

But then again, who is she? And where am I?

“Who are you?” I asked her and she giggled. Was my confusion funny to her?

“You seem lost. Not from around here, are you?” I remained quiet.

“My name’s Sakura.” She extended her hand. I would’ve taken it but I had to be cautious. What if she was a ghost? Or a witch? And what if I touch her, I could not go back from wherever this place was? But she seemed friendly enough. There was nothing wrong with telling my name.

“Sasuke.” She nodded and made her way to leave. She was going to leave me alone. What should I do? Should I follow her? Should I stay? Wait, where did the wardrobe go?! All I saw was just grass.

“Come on!” She gestured for me to come with her, as if sensing my troubles. I guess I could follow her...

I tailed behind her and we walked several steps before a forest seemed to have slowly materialized right in front of her. I halted. What in the world is this place?!

“It’s fine, Sasuke.” There’s something about those eyes, those green eyes that made me trust her. I let her grab my wrist and guided me into the forest. The giant trees stood tall and proud, shielding the sky from view and us from the heavens.

She easily found her way around, turning left, then right, then left, jumping over creaks and logs. Then I spotted smoke from what might look like a campfire. Maybe we’re heading towards a village? Could it be her village?

I was right. It was her village. Everyone greeted her with smiles and friendliness. Some of them even spared glances at me and nodded their head in respect. We kept walking side by side, wandering to be exact.

“So where did you come from?”

“From a wardrobe.” She laughed at me. But then her face turned pensive. She murmured–softly but loud enough for me to hear–something like, “Could it be?”

She looked around her and dragged me far from the crowd. She was beginning to whisper.

“Shh my parents once told me about this “gate”.” I quirked my eyebrow at this. This was beginning to sound like a dream, a fairytale.

“Mama said that only those who are special could enter the gate. She said there was once a woman who came from a photo frame! But I didn’t really believe her.” Her face looked bewildered, as if she had seen a ghost.

“And here you’re saying that you came from a wardrobe?”

“I was playing hide and seek with my brother–” She giggled then urged me to continue.

“–and I was hiding in a wardrobe then I went further in and... Here I am.” Her expression had morphed into something of amusement.

This was beginning to sound interesting. Maybe her mom could get me back home!

“Can I talk to your mom?” In a second, that amusement turned sullen, into grief and sadness.

“She passed away two years ago.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Fortunately, the mood didn’t stretch for too long for she was already guiding me through the village again for what felt like hours, telling me stories of this place while picking flowers along the way.

“It’s springtime now.” She sniffed on the flower and her eyes gleamed under the sunlight.

“I love spring. The flowers are at full bloom and the trees bear most fruits. People are happy.” She picked another flower and tucked it in her pocket.

“Then there’s winter. It doesn’t last that long but it’s scary. The trees don’t bear fruits, flowers are buried and frozen underneath the ice, and people are sad.” The living plants in her grip were crushed.

Something about her story didn’t seem right to me, as if there was another hidden mystery waiting to be discovered. This girl was also another mystery.

Suddenly a loud chime echoed through the forest. It was coming from this bell that I saw in the middle of the village. I glanced at her and her face instantly changed. She looked panicked.

“Oh no! You need to leave!” She stood up from the log we were sitting on and pushed me further into the forest, away from the village, away from the crowd, away from the chime.

“But how?”

We started to run and yet I didn’t know why. The forest was getting denser, branches hung carelessly, grazing my body every time until one of them cut my forearm. I could feel the sting of pain, but I kept running, again I was tailing her.

“The same way you came here.”

“But I don’t know how!” They arrived at a large tree that seemed to stand out from all the other ones. It had a thicker bark with darker color. Its roots dig deep into the soil, extending to the far ends of the forest.

“My parents believed this is where the gate is.” In front of us was a hole, no much bigger than a man’s size. It was dark and it looked like a tunnel that led to an underground hideout. She nudged my arm and I almost fell in. Was this all even real?!

She turned her head around, fear apparent in her eyes with the way they wildly scan the area.

“You need to leave! Now!”

“Wait! Will I be able to come back?” She smiled at me. That was the second time she smiled and it felt warm.

“If destiny lets you.” She pushed me, hard enough until I lost my footing and fell into the hole. I was sliding through the underground tunnel and if it weren’t for the current circumstances, it might’ve been fun.

I landed with a thud. It was dark again. My hands were probing around when I finally touched something. It felt like wood. Wood?

Am I back in the wardrobe again? That realization was such a heavenly feeling.

I quickly followed the woody texture and soon enough I could feel the furry coats and clothing grazing my head. Yes, yes, yes! I’m back home!

I could see light shining through crevices along the way. I must be close to the door. When I finally found it, I pushed as hard as I can until I tumbled out of the wardrobe and fell onto the cold hard wooden floor.

Oh I’ve never felt so relieved to be at grandma’s house.

“Itachi!!” He probably sensed something wrong in my voice because he dashed through the door at the end of the corridor and ran towards me.

“Sasuke–“ He looked worried for a moment, as if he thought I had injured myself. But then his face softened and raised his index and middle finger and poked me on the forehead. Just like always.

“Got you. Why did you come out of your hiding place so soon?”

“Huh? But I was in there for hours!”

“You’re being silly again, little brother.” He ruffled my hair. He didn’t believe me!

“I’m serious! I hid in the closet but then when I went further in, I was at a meadow, and then I saw a girl and we were in a forest.”

“Hn. Were you dreaming inside that wardrobe?”

“No!” If he didn’t believe me then I’ll show him. I dragged him and pushed him into the wardrobe. He awkwardly tried to find a comfortable sitting position and leaned against the side, hugging his knees before I closed the door.

“Sasuke?”

“Go further in!”

“I can’t. There’s no room left.”

“What?” I opened the door and dragged him out. I had to try again. I sat in there just like before, nuzzled myself to the very end of the furniture and those fur coats were already touching my head. There was no room left, there was nowhere to go. No grass, no wind, no trees, no forest, no Sakura.

Why did this happen?

I kept touching the wooden surface and it was still the same. I closed and opened and closed the door again but nothing happened.

I gave up.

It was time to go home from grandma’s house. We waved goodbye through the window as the car drove away.

I kept looking at the window, at the buildings, houses and shop stalls that lined the streets. My mind kept travelling back to the meadow and forest, where it was springtime and everything there was pretty and mysterious altogether.

Here, snow was piling up along the rooftops and pavements.

There, the air was cool, the scenery green, and everything smells like spring.

Maybe it was just a dream. Maybe I was getting bored and I fell asleep in the wardrobe.

“Ouch!” I was leaning against the car door when I felt a sting from my forearm. There was a small cut. Wait I got this cut from the forest! From when I was running through the branches, and Sakura was leading me through.

I stared at the red wound on my arm.

That’s when I knew for sure.

It wasn’t a dream.

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.

.

“Hey!” she shouts. “What gives you the right to come here? This is my place!”

“Why are you even in there?” Sasuke mutters. “Are you trying to avoid someone?”

Sakura scoffs, and steps out of the wardrobe. She stretches her body out, arms reaching for the sky. Her shirt lifts up just the slightest to give Sasuke a nice view of her flat stomach, and he nods in appreciation. Sakura doesn’t notice.

“I’m always here. This is my sacred area.” She points to the spot in which she sat moments before. “How about you? Why are you here?”

“Look,” Sasuke growls. “The teachers have been wondering where you’ve been going during your free time, since you’re never in the library or study halls. As President of the student council, it’s been my unfortunate duty to search the whole campus for your whereabouts. I’ve had to scour through every room, some which I didn’t know existed, and even the rooftop and girls’ bathrooms.” Sasuke shakes his head, as if to forget the horrors of those incidents. “And now I’ve found you. Hiding in a fuckin’ wardrobe like a kid.”

Sakura crosses her arms. “You didn’t have to look for me, you know, President.” She bites the words with sarcasm and notes the irritation spreading across Sasuke’s face. “Why do you care so much?”

“I—“ he begins, an angry finger pointing at her chest.

They hear a fierce knock on the door. “Hey, is someone in there?”

Both of them stiffen. The knock repeats, and they recognize the voice as one of the stricter senseis—Iruka.

“Fuck, if he catches me, I’ll get my position revoked,” Sasuke growls. “I can’t lose this.”

Sakura rolls her eyes and takes Sasuke by the wrist. She pries the wardrobe doors open and forces him in there, ignoring the fact that another being had just desecrated her holy spot.

“What the—Sakura, I can’t go in there—“

The doorknob starts to rattle, and both of them know they have no time to waste. Sasuke fits himself against the wall, knees curled to his chest. His limbs are too long to stretch comfortably. Sakura jumps in and eases the panels closed, leaving them blanketed in darkness.

She eases her way between Sasuke’s legs, much to his embarrassment.

“Look,” she growls. “I can’t move to the other side without getting noticed. So just deal with this for a bit, alright?”

Sasuke doesn’t reply, but he believes the rapid thumps of his heart are enough to signal to Sakura that he can deal with it—just not calmly. She blames it on the fear of getting caught. Sasuke thinks it’s because of another reason entirely.

“You know,” he whispers. “Besides the tight fit, I can see why you like it so much.” He inhales. “Smells funny, though.”

Sakura jabs his stomach. “Take that back!”

“Shh,” he warns, smirking. They huddle together, so close that Sakura can feel his breath against her ear, while the scent of her floral shampoo wafts into his nostrils. She smells nice.

There are no more knocks at the door, and Iruka’s presence signals its disappearance when his footsteps become lighter and fainter. He is gone.

Sakura sighs in relief. “Thank God,” she cries out. She pries herself out of Sasuke’s lanky limbs, and pushes open the door panel—only, it doesn’t budge.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sakura breathes. She pushes harder, but nothing budges. Sasuke tries it himself, but even with his strength, the panel stays shut. Sakura realizes now that the place she cherishes so much, the place where she could escape to, has turned into hell.

“Are you telling me we’re stuck here?” Sasuke growls. “Sakura, I have work to do. As President of the—“

“Fuck off,” she snaps. “You’re the reason we’re in here in the first place.”

“Me? You’re the one—“

“I think I heard something!” Iruka shouts. Two sets of footsteps rush back to towards the door. Sasuke grabs Sakura and pulls her into an accidental embrace. They stay silent.

Sasuke’s arms are warm around her. They’re built of athleticism and yet exude protection. She feels safe.

And though Sakura doesn’t notice (thankfully!), Sasuke, with his forearms brushing against the curves of her chest, feels an unfamiliar excitement that torments him for the rest of the time they cling together.