Chapter Text
After the success of his album launch, his manager has planned a celebratory party for everyone involved in one of the exclusive penthouses in the city. Of course, everyone attended as it was free drinks for all.
However, it wasn’t his type of party. Hence his current predicament.
While he has been polite enough to approach every single member of his team and offer them his gratitude for their outstanding efforts, it is rude to leave abruptly—especially when the party is for him.
Naruto could have been his company if he hadn't brought his plus one, Hyuuga Hinata.
The last thing he wants is third-wheeling with his personal assistant.
And then he stares at his phone.
Sakura is supposed to tell him a long story about how her exams went, and if his calculations are correct, she is probably still in the middle of typing everything. After months of texting her, he’s learned that she hates missing a single detail when telling stories and he expects a lengthy message in the next minute.
Making his way towards the balcony, he slides the glass door shut where the upbeat music and loud chatter of his team and guests are cut off by the calming breeze of the night sky.
He drinks down whatever is left of his beer and without missing a beat, sends her a message.
~O~
Sakura lays in her bed, typing furiously on her phone as she recalls everything that has transpired earlier in her university.
It turns out, one of her classmates, whom she also considers one of the worst bunch in school, is caught cheating and sleeping with one of their anatomy professors! And she has been telling Sasuke that she suspects them of having a secret relationship. While her friend isn’t too invested in her gossip, proving to him that her suspicions are true feels exhilarating.
As she reaches the part where the Dean marches inside their classroom, her phone unexpectedly vibrates.
Call me.
10:20 PM
She gasps and then accidentally drops the device on her face.
Quickly, she scrambles up to a sitting position and slides open the notification. Did she read that properly? Sasuke wants her to call him ? Her heart roars inside her chest. This is… unexpected. All of a sudden? Why?
She feels her cheeks go warm, and the thought of finally hearing his voice sends her heart into a nervous flutter.
But what if it was meant for someone else?
Taking deep breaths, she saves her draft and replaces it with—
You want to talk?
10:25 PM
His answer was instant.
Yes.
10:25 PM
She doesn’t understand why she is hesitating. Her hand shakes. And her heart feels like it’s about to burst. Is it because she feels shy?
But I’m almost done typing!
10:27 PM
She stalls and waits for his reply, anxious.
But it never came, because instead her phone rang and she yelped in surprise.
His name shines brightly on her phone’s screen as if demanding to be answered.
Her heartbeat becomes frenzied as she skitters around her room, trying to calm her senses. ‘Sasuke-kun is my friend, Sasuke-kun is my friend,’ she repeats before finally taking a seat at the edge of her bed.
While she’s still far from calm, she does a quick vocalization, making sure her voice sounds normal, and with bated breath, slides her finger towards the green button and places the device in her ear.
“Hello?” She hears nothing but her heartbeat, “Sasuke-kun?” She tries again, a little skeptical.
Hn.
His grunt makes her frown and effectively relieves her from her initial jitters. Even in phone calls, she realizes he is still short for words. And for someone who is desperate to be called, he lacks the decency to address her appropriately.
“Really, that’s the first thing you’ll say to me?” She huffs, crossing her legs on her bed.
Is that a problem? He answers, puzzled.
“You could have been more enthusiastic, you know?” She scolds him.
She hears him sigh at the end of the line. And then—
It’s nice to finally hear you, Sakura.
Her world stops.
Her heart skips a beat.
Her cheeks colored at the sound of her name.
It took every ounce of her strength not to make a squeal and hold everything in.
Is it her or does his voice sound a little… seductive?
She snaps out of her reverie. “Okay…” She manages to spit out. “That’s better.” She pinches her cheeks to calm her nerves and hopes he didn’t notice the pause.
“So why are you calling? Did something happen?”
There’s a celebration in the office. He explains in a bored tone.
She furrowed her eyebrows. “Then shouldn’t you be partying?”
No.
“Oh right, right ! You hate crowds. How could I forget!” She exclaims, and then thinks for a moment, “then why don’t you leave?” She asks as if it’s the most obvious thing to do.
My colleague said it’s rude.
“God, you’re such a party pooper, Sasuke-kun. I don’t understand why they still invite you.”
I’m their manager. I have no choice.
She giggles at his response. “So you called me just so you can avoid the party, huh?”
A beat and he says— ... Yes.
She wanted to scream so so bad, but she’s too embarrassed to be heard, and instead, she flops on her bed, feet flailing in the air as she reels in her feelings.
You were typing?
His voice pulls her away from her thoughts, sounding impatient. With a shake of her head, she gets back her focus and settles on a more comfortable position on her bed.
“You remember Ami right?”
Hn.
She scoffs, “what’s that supposed to mean?”
For you to keep talking.
She swears he is smiling smugly behind the line especially when he hears her release a groan.
“Can you please be more specific?” She asks playfully.
...Please continue, Sakura.
The said girl finds herself muffling her squeal and regrets she asked him.
Maybe she shouldn’t tease him too much, because in the end, it’s her who’s turning into mush and it’s problematic when her heart flutters.
~O~
Hearing her voice that night is... exhilarating .
He stills for a moment when she speaks his name for the first time. His heart was caught off guard by its soft lilt that he can only grunt in response as a greeting. He’s thankful she breaks him out of his stupor with a teasing reprimand.
Sasuke partly blames the alcohol for the surge of confidence, however, it’s something he doesn’t regret.
Their first phone call reaches hours of duration that only when he hears her yawn, he realizes it’s almost midnight and the party behind him has died down.
And now, a week has passed since they started including phone calls in their ways of communicating. When he isn’t busy recording songs or appearing on shows and she has finished school work, he sees himself easily tapping the ‘Call’ button.
With no hint of hesitation.
It reaches the point where her name has a spot on his phone’s Home Screen.
Ne Sasuke-kun, I hate to say this…
She tells him one time.
“Say what?” He stops cleaning his guitar, waiting for her next words.
The more I hear your voice, the more you sound like Ryosuke to me.
This completely stuns him. Has she found out his secret?
“Really?” He masks his surprise.
Yes, really.
For some reason, Sasuke feels a little nervous until she laughs.
But who am I kidding? As if that guy would ever find time to use Omegle. And there’s no way he’ll use it. He’s probably too busy and surrounded by lots of girls!
He scoffs at her last comment which she hears, and Sakura being herself takes offense at her idol, AKA him.
Excuse me, what was that for? —he suppresses a chuckle— Have you NOT seen Ryosuke? I’d probably die of cardiac arrest if I ever see him in person.
“I can’t let you meet him then,” he says, putting his instrument aside, “or I’ll charge him with murder.”
Ha! As if YOU can stop me. Besides, a kiss from him would probably resurrect me or something so don’t worry, Sasuke-kun.
With a shake of his head and a pinch at the bridge of his nose, it takes a bit of his willpower not to break composure.
Sakura just never ceases to amuse him.
He feels tempted to drop a clue of his identity, but decides against it, enjoying the way she defends him, from none other than himself. Listening to her always puts him at ease, and he worries revealing the truth will change their already perfect dynamic. In time, he thinks.
As I’ve said, you only sound like him. Don’t get it over your head.
“Aa.”
Ugh. You’re lucky I’ve cracked the code of your grunts.
“Oh?”
Yes.
“Hn.”
Words, Sasuke-kun. Use them. The alphabet exists for a reason.
“So do phonetics,” he smirks.
… Smartass.
He steals a glance at his bedside clock and notices the red 12:00 MN as if in a reminder.
“It’s getting late, you should sleep.”
Yes, mom. She replies, teasing. But you’re right, I still have morning classes.
He hears the ruffle of her bed sheets and the creak of her bed frame, and like her, he settles on his own bed, his gaze on the dimmed light of his room.
Talk to you tomorrow, Sasuke-kun!
“Hn.”
Spare me the grunts already! I need a proper goodbye.
“Alright,” he feels his lips curve into a smile as he obeys her request, “good night, Sakura.”
It takes a while before she replies to him, G—good night Sasuke-kun!
~O~
Somewhere in another city, a pink-haired girl wakes her neighbor with an ear-splitting squeal.