Broken Wings

This story was supposedly a one-shot dedication to a friend of mine. But since my imagination took over and for that, I got motivated to make it a little bit longer than a one-shot. Anyway, this was based on a tiny part of journey of my friend who struggled to the cruelty of what we called LOVE.

Happy Birthday Ms. Zendi Butalon ^o^. This is my bitter sweet and late birthday gift to you. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own NARUTO

Porcelain tears were visible on her pale and looking tired face as it was still continuously poured down from her lavender eyes. The words were still lingering on her ears. It was slowly killing her. The only thing that her man left to her was the painful sensation she never wished to feel. It had been a week now, but the wound of her heart was still fresh as she reminisced that time:

*Flashback*

"I'm tired. I'm tired to work this thing out. I love you, but that isn't enough to compare yours. I'm trying trust me, but I can't. You're already strangling me. I'm sorry. I guess we need some space and if I'm ready I promise to come back and never hurt you anymore. I'm sorry." A sympathetic but manly voice from the phone didn't wait any respond from the other line. He turned it off yet his voice was still echoing through her ears repeatedly. She felt numb and dumb. The only thing she did was to cry silently in an empty space of her lonely and dark room.

*End of Flashback*

She tried to forget it. She tried to keep it away. She tried to kill the pain. She tried it all, but instead she was just killing her own self. She still remembered what he said. All those words he spilled, she really wanted to answer him back and slapped all the wrong accusations to his face. She wanted to reason out everything she'd done in their relationship. She didn't want revenge, instead she wanted to make him realized the words left unsaid of her was the word that lies the truth.

*I'm tired. I'm trying. 'You never really tried, but you still felt tired. I'm the one who worked it all. I'm the one who tried, but I never felt tired because I simply love you.'

*I love you, but that isn't enough to compare yours. 'I never measured my love to you because all I know is the feelings and not the calculations.'

*I guess we need some space. 'I always give your space; the space to breathe alone, but I never complain if it's me. You don't need space if you actually stay loyal to me.'

*I'm sorry. 'You always say that whenever I caught you in the arms of your women, but we never learned from those mistakes, so I kept forgiving you hoping that someday you'll change. Conversely, you still committing same mistakes knowing that I love you to just throw you away.'

*I promise to comeback and never hurt you anymore. 'I had enough to believe with your promises because that's the only proof for me to know that you love me. But, Do I have to believe it now? Do I have to keep living with your promises? Do I deserve to wait? You never failed to hurt me aren't you?'

I'm such a fool to still loving you and for not having a courage to fight coz' I simply too weak for you. She then closed her eyes and drowned herself to sleep with a nightmare waiting from her dreamland.

Work day was hard to her. It was hard because she forgot how to be alone anymore. She used to be with him in their workplace. She used to hold his hand in public. She used to smile at him. She used to love him so much. But those accustomed acts were gone now so fast like bubbles from the blue sky. As she walked alone in their company's corridor, someone tapped her back.

"Good Morning Hinata-chan!" A cheerful and childish voice greeted her. She turned around and saw her best friend, Tenten with her usual brown Chinese-style buns hair on her sides of her head and a black fabric uniform secretarial dress that fits her body well above her knees which was the same uniform that Hinata wore right now.

Hinata Hyuuga and Tenten were both working at Sharingan Industrial Company as one of the secretaries of board members. Fortunately for Hinata, she became the personal executive secretary of the president and head of the Sharingan Industrial Company no other than the great heir and the best friend of her now ex-boyfriend, Uchiha Sasuke just a month ago before that nightmare happened. Her promotion wasn't because of the influence of her ex-boyfriend, but it was because of her good performance and a devoted secretary in the company or that what she thought it was. But she never mixed her personal life in her career and that she always maintained her professionalism at their workplace even though she admitted that sometimes it was tempting to be intimate to her ex-boyfriend when they were together alone in his office. Those memories weren't the same in the present, so she attempted not to focus it on her mind.

She tried to hide the pain. Smiling wasn't her option, but she didn't have a choice but to fake it. "G-good morning Tenten-chan." A forceful smile was shown on her pale face. They both stopped in front of the door of the elevator. She pressed the button and silently waiting to the door to open.

Tenten noticed something to Hinata and she faced her looking worriedly to her best friend. "It's weird you're not with Naruto-kun. You've been together for almost three years and you both are inseparable, but this day is an exception." Curious auburn eyes were still looking at Hinata's direction while waiting together.

*Ding*

The elevator door opened and they both entered. Silence was her response, but Tenten was patiently waiting.

Hesitated to tell her at first, but she thought her best friend will be the right one to tell this kind of scenario. "H-he broke up with me." A plain but sad statement was her respond. Her vision was now becoming blurred. She forced to calm herself and not to make any scene at the elevator although they were the only one who was there. She just didn't want to shred more tears now especially at the working hours.

The girl with her was taken aback and totally disbelieving to what she heard from her best friend. "What?" That was the usual reaction that Hinata expected to see and hear.

"S-since when? I thought you two were now engaged and planned to marry next year?" She was still confused, but found courage to still ask the teary lavender eyes with her.

"H-he said too many that I can't understand him already. B-b-but he promised he'll come back for me? He said he needs space for now." Hinata can't help to shaken while trying to explain everything to her best friend. She didn't want to burst out what she felt right now, but she can't help to feel like crying every time she thinks of it.

"That's bullshit!" A very furious Tenten suddenly said. Hinata widened her lavender eyes. She knew her best friend a lot. Tenten never say foul words except if she can't control her temper which was unusual to her. She felt like trying to defend her ex-boyfriend and that she didn't want Tenten to get angry for what he did. But, she found no words coming from her lips until the door opened.

Tenten sighed and decided to drop the topic for now as she stepped out first at the elevator since they both don't go in the same floor. Hinata worked at the same floor with the president which is the highest floor of the building. Tenten turned around to face Hinata.

"You know what he's such a jerk for loosing you just like that! He doesn't know what he lost." She was still furious and her auburn eyes were too obvious to show it. Before the door closed in front of her, her face became soft and warm. "Hinata, I just want you to know I'm here for you. Don't hesitate to talk everything."

Hinata faintly thanked her as the door closed. She can't help but to rethink how Tenten describe her ex-boyfriend. Maybe she's right, but I just can't hate him so much. She truly and dearly loved him. She thought forgiving and accepting were the things that might her ex-boyfriend changed from his playboy habit, but it turned in the other way around. For almost three years being with him, she can't blame herself not to hate him because he was been her everything; her strength, her guardian, her motivator and mostly her life. He let her bloom in his embrace and touch. He was the one who let her believe on herself when everyone doubted her. And for that she had grown to have confidence by his words of wisdom. He simply lightened her way so much that made her almost blind to what his bad side done to her. He was loving person too much for one woman that's why they were so many on his list. She was just the legal though.

He might be the prince charming and knight in shining armor she was dreaming of, but being a player was out of her league. And that made it too much to bear for her.

She closed her eyes trying to calm herself. She inhaled deeply and decided to be a professional right now.

*Ding*

The elevator opened. As she walked out, her eyes widened as she saw the least man she wanted to see right now.

"Hinata-chan." An obvious shocked on his voice echoed to her ear. He himself didn't actually think that he'll bump her ex-girlfriend early in the morning.

"Naruto-kun." A faint yet sincere smile flushed on her face. Hope was what written on her pale face.

"H-how are you now, Hinata-chan? I haven't heard and seen you for a week." He smiled back and put his both hand at the back of his head.

"I-I-I'm fine. I went on vacation last week. I visited my father in the hospital actually, so I asked a week off to take care of him." She almost told him the truth, just almost except the lie which she was not totally fine and she didn't really ask a one week off just to take care of her sick father.

Naruto looked sad on her. He felt guilt and sorry to what he did to her. "Oh. If you said it earlier to me I might accompany you to the hospital."

If you accompanied me, staying off for a week in work will be useless. "It's fine Naruto-kun. My father was confined in the hospital of our town which is five hours away from here. I-I don't want to trouble you especially since now we…w-we already broke up." She turned her face away from him when she said the word 'broke up'.

He moved closer to her. His both hands reached to cup her face. She was stunned by the sudden move of Naruto. He always did that whenever he comforted her. Then, he spoke up "Don't think of yourself as a bother to me. We might already break up, but I can still be your friend, a best friend. Okay?" His hands moved to hold her both hands on her sides while focusing on her.

She finally faced him. Lavender eyes met blue eyes. Anger and despise were written at her lavender eyes while guilt and sympathy in his blue eyes.

Last time I checked you were my ex-boyfriend, but now you're claiming yourself to be my 'best friend'? Am I that really easy to be fooled around, huh? She didn't move. Her heart was crashing again into pieces. A while ago she was hoping that maybe he'll change his mind and that he felt sorry to break up with her, but then again her hope became despair. She hated it. She hated when she really wanted to slap him hard in the face, but she can't do it in reality. She just can't.

"Y-yeah a-a b-b-best friend, huh. Yeah I'm okay with it." She forcefully smiled at him.

Lie! Lie! Lie! All I want to say to you is 'screw you'. "Don't worry. I-I have to go now. Mr. Uchiha is waiting for me in his office." She passed at him going to the direction of her boss's office.

"By the way Hinata." He cut her off and she turned around to see he was already inside the elevator. "Since we're already fine, I just want to inform you that I'm going to ask Sakura to go on a date with me. Wish me luck!" The door closed and there she left dumbfounded by her ex-boyfriend happily informed her he was going to pursue his love interest to his first love.

She trembled almost losing her posture. She can't walk straight now. She can't think properly. She bit her lower lip and tried to compose herself before entering the office of her boss just right after her counter table which is her workplace.

She knocked at the huge wooden door in front of her. She didn't wait someone to respond since the door wasn't locked and she personally didn't think that her boss, the great Uchiha Sasuke will shout to tell her she can come in because his office was mostly contained the three forth of the last floor and his long wooden veneer table was located in the far opposite of the door.

His office was made of a concrete dark blue colored-wall on the both side of his office which can be added to the darkness of the room whenever the roman blinds curtain was covering the beautiful sight of the city. While the opposite of her boss's table contain with a seamless glass walls with a huge wooden door at the middle, although you can't see the inside because it was always covered by the vertical stripe roman blinds just like its opposite wall. She thought that her boss loves darkness too much far from the likings of his best friend, Naruto.

She calmly entered the room removing the pain that was visible on her face. Before she greeted her boss a 'good morning' which was not on her morning case, Uchiha Sasuke motioned to look away from his paper works and he stared at her intensely.

"Why it took you so long?" A low but calm voice inquired with serious look of her boss. Something she was missing about his question. She didn't know what his statement was all about in which technically she wasn't even late coz' she always came early especially right now. So she can't figure out what kind of long he was talking about.

She tilted her head in confusion. "Excuse me?"

From some point, his eyebrow twitched not wanting the answer of her secretary.

He leaned over from his chair and gestured Hinata to come near on him. She felt nervous, but didn't mind it all. She came closer until she almost touched his table.

Without any reason, he suddenly stood from his chair and grabbed her hand that made them face each other just a few inches away.

"I forgot. You'll never understand it all and that made you like a shit all the time." Her face flushed into deep blush. She didn't know if his insulting words or the fact that they were so close now made her flushed ten times redder than she ever did in her past. Even how smart she is, sometimes she can't cope up or even apprehend the level of intelligence of her own boss. He was indeed a genius billionaire bachelor of their generation.

She already felt the warm breath of Sasuke. Thankfully, the slight darkness of their surrounding covered the flushed face she have, but she can't totally distinguish the expression of her boss. She felt an electric shock at her spine when she realized how intense his onyx eyes focused on her. She didn't know what to do.

He sighed and let her go from his grip. "Just give me the documents I need for the meeting next week." He then leaned back from his chair and turned around not wanting to feel the urge to grab her once again in his arms because he would probably do something more than he did awhile ago. Damn.

She didn't respond but immediately motioned herself outside as fast as she thought she can. Her heart was pounding. For so long she almost forgot this kind of sensation that she only felt the first time Naruto held her from his embrace. She was now confused. Does he know about what happened? Maybe coz' they're best friends right? But why did he act like that? Her mind was full of thoughts about what did Sasuke do to her. He was driving her crazy by that stupid logic he had put on her.

She did what her boss wanted from her. She gave the documents. She helped him sorting the important files from his emails which he usually did it alone. She made him coffee in which it was very unusual for him coz' he preferably like the Starbucks brand instead a coffee in his own company. Heck, she even stayed longer at his office to help him out from his works in which again a rare situation because he always liked to work alone and alone in his office. And for the record it was the first time he let his vertical stripe curtain to be folded up in the part where her counter table was located, so he could now see her thru the glass wall. She felt intimidated by the secret gaze that her boss was giving to her. She can't even concentrate from her works now. Oh God, what should I do?

It was almost midnight; time to leave. She gathered all the paper works and ready to leave as she grabbed her bag. Hesitating a bit, she bit her lower lip and knocked to his office to say a farewell to her boss.

"Mr. Uchiha if you don't need any-" She softly said but was interrupted by her boss.

"Then, let's go." He bluntly said and took her hand and they trailed in the elevator, but in the fact that Sasuke was actually dragging her.

"W-wait what are you…Ahmm Mr. Uchiha I guess you can enter alone since you don't want to be accompanied inside the elevator." It was true. Uchiha Sasuke didn't like the feeling with someone with him in the elevator except his best friend, Naruto.

"I don't mind." He flatly told her.

*Ding*

The elevator opened and they both entered. The silence was deep in their presence. She was afraid to break the silence since she didn't know what to say. With her little surprise, she glanced at their hands in which Sasuke was still holding hers. He noticed her glance but didn't mind it all instead he tightened it while still looking straight. She blushed and looked away as if she was debating herself whether to break his hold or remain as it is. The latter won as the elevator opened and their hands still holding each other.

They walked until they reached outside. Employees were almost gone at that time, so their audience was not too many. His car was already parked in front of the building and he motioned the personnel to toss his car key on him.

"Get in the car." He ordered her.

"I-I-I no. I'm okay Mr. Uchiha. I don't think it was good idea. I-I mean you're my employer so I-I r-refuse t-to…" She nervously disagreeing him. The last thing she wanted to do is to create any malicious act especially if it was regarding to her work.

He sighed. "Hinata." He looked at her. With what she saw was a sincere expression on him. "Work is done. I'm not your boss right now. I'm already your friend, an old classmate and to be specific the best friend of your 'ex'." She gulped on what he said with a matter-of-fact tone visible on him.

"So get in the car and I drive you home coz' its freaking too dangerous for someone like you to go home alone. Satisfied?"

To be honest, it was the first time she heard him spoke longer outside the topic of their work. Whenever they were together with their old friends, he usually didn't speak and just listen to the group's chitchatting. He just only spoke whenever he cursed Naruto or when it was necessary for him to talk. He was a silent type person, but she didn't mind at all because she didn't care although she more preferable to a silent –typed guy coz' she was just like that. However, she was fallen to an opposite guy knowing that it was more compatible to be in the opposite of what you are.

She then accepted his offer to drive her home. Their little journey was deafening due to the silence around them. Although she was a little bit frightened from the speed of his sport car, she didn't complain. She stared blankly from nowhere. Usually Naruto drove her home and sometimes he even stayed at her apartment. In fact, she wasn't already used to go home alone. So, she was quite thankful to Sasuke for driving her home now. Maybe in a matter of time she can adapt to go home alone and do everything alone.

"We're here." She snapped from her own thoughts when Sasuke talked.

"O-oh, thank you -." He frowned from her statement and it was obvious to her lavender eyes.

"I-I mean Sasuke-san. Thank you." She gave her genuine smile.

"Hn." He looked away from her and focused his gaze from the road while his both hands were still embracing the steering wheel.

Before she left, she took the chance to ask a question to him. "S-sasuke-san, may I…May I know why you drove me home? I-I mean you don't usually do this a-and that it's weird for you to do this, you know." She shyly pointed out.

He now faced her but didn't show any expression.

"Because I know you don't use to go home alone. I can't tolerate to see you in this kind of situation. Naruto might be the kindest and most important friend I have, but sometimes he can be a pain in the ass and just a bastard jerk." What he said was true, but what she was surprised because he was really concerned to her maybe because he was his secretary?

So he did everything to distract her away from the pain she felt. It was indeed effective because she didn't think about Naruto when she was at work a while ago. Now she understood why her boss let her do all the works with him. He was such a gentle and fretful man; a friend for her.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything Sasuke-san." She smiled at him; a sincere and genuine smile that she always shown to everyone.

"Hn." He looked away again covering a small blushed from his face. "See you tomorrow then. Bye." He started his engine on. As soon as she closed the door, he drove away at the speed like a professional car racer. She mentally prayed for his safety.

She unlocked the door of her apartment and opened the main light as she entered. A vision of a blonde-haired man welcomed her in the mini living room across from the main door. The man was happily run towards her with his arms stretched to embrace her. When she was going to reach him, the vision vanished and only an empty living room came into sight. She exhaled deeply. Exhaustion made her weaker tonight. Her knees soften and she let herself sat on the floor. She gathered herself at the corner side of the main door and burst into tears as she felt the loneliness of her apartment took over.

Meanwhile, her melodramatic moment was interrupted when she heard a loud bang from her door. She planned not to open it, but the knocked was continuously becoming louder until she mentally groaned in frustration and she opened it.

Her swollen eyes widened as she saw the intruder or maybe intruders at the middle of the night.

*end of chapter 1*

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