After the success of his album launching, 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.

He stares at his phone.

Sakura is supposed to tell him a lengthy story of how her exams went, and if his calculations are correct, she is probably still in the middle of typing everything. She hates missing a single detail. He makes way towards the balcony where the upbeat tempo of the DJ is cut off by the calming breeze of the night sky.

He then sends her a message.

~O~

Sakura lays in her bed, typing furiously on her phone as she recalls everything that has transpired. 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.

She reaches the part where the Dean marches inside their classroom when her phone vibrates.

Call me.

She gasps then accidentally drops the device on her face. She scrambles up to a sitting position and slides open the phone in haste. Did she read that properly? Sasuke wants her to call him? Her heart roared inside her chest. This is... unexpected. All of sudden? Why?

She feels her cheeks go warm, the thought of finally hearing his voice sends her heart in a nervous flutter.

She copies her draft, then replaces it with - Are you sure?

His answer was instant.

Yes.

She doesn't understand why she is hesitating. Her hand shakes. Was it because she feels shy?

But I'm almost done typing!

She waits for his reply, anxious.

But it never came, because instead her phone rings and she freezes in surprise.

His name shines brightly on her phone's screen, as if demanding to be answered.

Her heart races. Okay, there's no room for excuses anymore, she muses. Wow, their first ever phone call. And she finds herself restless. With a gulp, and a quick vocalization - hello hello, she slides her finger towards the green button and places the device in her ear.

She hears nothing. She frowns. He probably wants her to speak first.

"Sasuke-kun?" She says, skeptic.

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, flopping herself on the bed.

Is that a problem? He answers, puzzled.

"You could have been more enthusiastic, you know?"

She hears him sigh at the end of the line. And then -

Sakura.

Her world stops.

Her heart skips a beat.

Her cheeks colored at the sound of her name.

Is it her or his voice sounds... 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 teases, and then thinks for a moment. "Then leave?"

My colleague said it's rude.

"God, you're such a party pooper, Sasuke-kun. Yet you still attend them!"

I have no choice.

She giggles at his response. "So you called me so you can avoid them, huh?"

A beat, and he says - ...Yes.

Her smile instantly turns into an 'o'. Does he mean that she is more interesting than the party?

You were typing?

His voice pulls her away from her thoughts, sounding impatient. She shakes her head to get 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.

Sakura finds herself muffling her squeal and regrets she asked him.

~O~

Hearing her voice that night was... stunning.

He stilled for a moment when she spoke his name for the first time. His heart was caught off guard by its soft lilt that he could only grunt in response. He realized he doesn't mind hearing it often.

He partly blames the alcohol for the surge of confidence, however it's something he is grateful for, up to this day.

It's been a week 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.

No hint of hesitation.

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 freezes him. Has she found out his secret?

"Really?" He masks his surprise.

Yes, really. Then 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. Tinder, probably?

He couldn't help but chuckle and decided not to comment. A part of him wants to come clean but his instincts tell him that it isn't the perfect time yet. He enjoys being treated like a regular person, he silently admits to himself.

But don't get your hopes up, Sasuke-kun. As I've said, you only sound like him. Don't get it over your head please!

"Aa."

Ugh god. There you go again with the grunts. Honestly, you should feel lucky I can carry one-sided conversations. Most people would give up at this point you know.

She whines, her intent to get more words out of him.

I just hope you don't find my ramblings annoying.

She adds, sounding worried.

~O~

Sakura waits for his reply with bated breath.

Don't worry, I don't.

He says with honesty.

And it takes her willpower not to burst, hastily muting her microphone to let out the squeal she held in. She has no doubts her face is covered in pink flushes, unable to contain her delight.

~O~

I'm glad! You're one of the few reasons I'm surviving med school aside from listening to Ryosuke. Even if you don't know him at all. Tsk.

Sasuke shakes his head with a small smile. He could easily tell she was grinning, from the traces of glee in her voice. However the situation remains funny to him because he and her favorite singer are the same person.

---

Oof! Now they're talking!

Sorry it's not the usual kind of storytelling. I don't know if I mentioned it earlier but it's going to full of time skips that show their development! Hopefully it delivers!

Thanks so much for reading!