Day 71- Proposal

The first question I asked myself after getting back to consciousness and before even opening my tired eyes was, "Why do I keep falling asleep?" The answer was obvious, "Because of my high-dose medications." Yet, I cursed internally.

I tried opening my weary eyes. They were lightly stuck together as though someone had glued it but eventually, my effort in opening them had proved commendable. The whiteness of the room was too bright for my watery eyes but at least I knew that it wasn't morning yet. I sat up and noticed that I wasn't in my bed but on Gray's. His sheet was nicely laid up till my waist. There was no one in the room and I felt somehow abandoned like a child would feel if his mom or dad would leave him alone in the house and go out for some late-night dinner at a high-end restaurant without him.

Swaying my wobbly legs on the tanned floorboards, I lifted myself up and staggered towards the door. I had flashes of what happened before I fell asleep like snow-white did after eating the poisoned apple but a sting of dizziness and ache thumped on my forehead so I discarded the idea of even talking until I was feeling just fine. And by just fine I mean truly walking like a model instead of characterizing myself as some drunk women.

There was no one in the living room as well which made perfect sense since it was around two in the morning but where is Gray if I was sleeping in his room? Is he sleeping in mine? I might as well go and check but something stopped me. And that was the sudden sound of the backyard door sliding open. I turned around where the dark couch stood and saw Zeref looking at me in surprise.

"ERZA!" He suddenly hopped towards me like a cute rabbit and hugged me tightly. "WHY THE HELL DO YOU KEEP FAINTING! YOU MAKE US ALL DAMN WORRIED, YOU KNOW THAT?!" He was literally yelling in my ears. Now, I might have pushed him annoyingly but I didn't want to because for once, at least, for once I wanted a guy friend who wouldn't think or talk about love and stuff related to love. I felt so warm in his hands, I would have slept again.

"I'm sorry." I managed to breathe.

He pulled back from the hug, his arms clenched on my shoulders and leveled his head to mine. "You didn't eat dinner, so we are going to give you company! Sorry, though, the rest of us were hungry so we ate already." He scrunched his nose but I didn't mind the already ate part. I pondered about what he meant by, we are going to give you company.

No sooner had my thoughts vanished when the rest of the members heard our voice and entered the house from the backyard. Each of them yelled by name and hugged me as tight as they could and made me promise myself that I won't faint again which I'm not too sure about now that I was being smashed between heavy bodies. Strangely, even Gray had joined in on the hug and was smiling, as though, whatever the two of us talked never took place.

I was oddly glad because, after some weird crappy days, I could look at him as just a friend even if it was for mere seconds.

Mavis had made rice and curry for dinner which she reheated for me. Seriously, she has the ultimate qualities of my mom and I bet on my life that she would be the world's best mom. We went to the backyard (Zeref and Jellal suggested it since the air was soothing and a little bit of fresh air would help destroy my vertigo) A tiny fireplace had been built by wooden sticks and hay and the fire was dimly burning and crackling at the swooshes of the faint breeze. We sat in an unperfect circle and I began eating while everyone stared at me which was awkward because I felt more like choking than chewing and swallowing the tasty curry.

"I know we have asked you a million times but how are you feeling, Erza?" Zeref asked teasingly.

I chewed and chewed and swallowed hard before speaking, "I'm feeling pretty good after eating this damn awesome curry." And I began eating again.

Zeref and Mavis chuckled.

"So, while our patient is eating," Zeref began but I didn't bother looking up at him, "Let's play truth and dare." Now, I looked at him, "Hm?"

"Sounds good to me," Gray said softly ending with a scoff.

"I wouldn't mind but please, Zeref-Kun, no strange or weird or silly dares," Mavis stated.

"But that wouldn't be fun if I don't ask strange or weird or silly dares, silly." Zeref said in a sing-song tone.

"Then I would have to say that I won't play." She pouted.

"All right, all right," He sighed. "No strange or weird or silly dares."

"Then I'm totally in." She grinned.

"What about you, Erza and Jellal-Kun?" Zeref asked.

I looked at Jellal and waited for him to respond and then per his answer, I decided I would give my answer to them.

He looked yet as impassive as ever. I doubted if he even was thinking anything or not since he stared at the fireplace like it was a beauty of art.

A few seconds had passed and then finally, he had opened his mouth. "Okay."

"All right then! I have a bottle right here with me." Zeref turned around a little and grabbed an empty beer bottle from behind him. He placed it in front of him and looked at each of us in a quick glance, "Ready?"

"Ready." Everyone said simultaneously.

Zeref spun the bottle quite skillfully and it spun and spun for so many passing seconds that we just came staring at it until it eventually stopped at Gray.

"Aha!" Zeref chuckled. "I was expecting Gray would be first. So, truth or dare?"

"Truth," Gray mumbled but under the silence of the night sky, even our breaths were audible.

"Do you feel sorry for what you did to Erza?" At once, the spoon in my hand clattered on the plate and I glanced skeptically at Zeref. He was staring at Gray as though any minute now he would get the hell up and punch him in his perfectly handsome face that shone under the moonlight and upon the glaze of the burning, orange fire.

Gray slowly averted his eyes from Zeref to me and nodded. He just nodded. Didn't say anything, just nodded.

"Okay then, guess he does." Zeref sighed and this time pushed the bottle towards Gray who spun it without talking anything. It landed on Mavis.

"Truth or dare?" He asked.

"Dare." She said softly, though I could see an edge of reluctance in her weak voice.

"Propose to Zeref." The remaining of us, who sat idly, instantly turned to Mavis who was now fidgeting with his cute, long fingers while her cheeks turned red, redder and reddest.

Zeref threw an annoying glance at Gray but didn't utter a word. Maybe because he knew that Mavis liked him or maybe because this was just a game.

"Zeref, I..." Mavis began but Zeref cut her off. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to." He said with all seriousness. The comedic gesture in his face had so suddenly vanished in a blink of an eye.

"No, it's okay...I want to do it!" She let out a tiny yell and looked at me hesitantly. I don't know what I should've done or said at this particularly awkward moment, but I did something and that was slightly nod once at Mavis because I knew this was the perfect chance to let out her damned feelings. This game sure is irritating but in a way, sometimes, it can bring to people together in ways that's unexpected.

Zeref's expression had turned a little soft as Mavis dared to look straight into his golden-ish eyes.

"Zeref...I don't know if you know this and I don't know if you even like me but...I love you, I really love you and I can't think of life without you and I know this is too sudden for you and it's too sudden for me too but please believe me when I say that you're the only person I love in this world right now. Right this moment. You're the only person that's taken half the place in my mind and if I ever wanna marry someone, it wouldn't be anyone but you." She said it so flawlessly. Each word had been said without a pinch of uncertainty as if she had been waiting for the moment. As if she had revised it all beforehand so that when the time came—which is now—she would say it so confidently that Zeref would have no choice but to trust her articulation. "That's why Zeref! Please...Marry me. Please..." Her pleading voice was so beautiful, it was like listening to a harp.

Zeref looked at her through the veil of darkness. His eyes impassively narrowing at her face. I couldn't tell if he was angry or surprised or shocked or already well-informed of Mavis's feelings. I was getting impatient and I probably guessed everyone was awaiting Zeref's answer because each of us, instead of staying and watching still like a rock, we began moving our restless parts. I began shaking my legs, Jellal began tapping his fingers to his thigh and Gray just kept running his hands through his utterly dark blue hair like he was finding something in there.

Eventually, the moment came when Zeref let out an exhale and spoke, "Mavis."

She was looking at him from the beginning but now she straightened herself as if to brace the hurtful afterwords.

And slowly, a smile crept onto Zeref's enflamed lips. He shrugged and said, "Fine, I will marry you." Mavis's eyes grew wider and I don't if she was holding back her smile or tears but her face had turned a little chubby and a pout spun around her cherry lips.

"Really...?" She managed to ask for a reconfirmation and all Zeref did was wink at her. I knew Mavis's heart would be beating a hundred kilometers per hour because even if she tries to hold back her happiness, her deep, flamingo cheeks betrayed her.

Next, Mavis spun the bottle and it landed on Jellal. I looked at him after so many seconds and felt a thump inside my chest.

Zeref excitedly chuckled.

"Truth or Dare?" Mavis asked. I could hear the bliss in her voice.

Jellal thought for a while. Perhaps he was optioning out the happenings that would happen at his either choice.

"Truth." He said.

"Have you ever thought of marrying Erza-chan?" Mavis's cutely asked question made me reflexively stare at Jellal. I wanted to look down at my plate but all there was left in it were leftover rice grains which were too hard to scoop with the spoon.

However, Jellal didn't hesitate, "Yes." He said clearly in one line.

Gray scoffed at his answer but I didn't care. Jellal was honest and that made me listen to my own heart beat rhythmically. I felt so happy that I began to feel thirsty and the more I stared at him, the more I wanted to touch and feel him. He is like a magnate, you can't stay away from him for long. That's his charm, I guess. A charm I radically fell for.

Mavis giggled and passed the bottle to Jellal, who spun it while looking at me. I looked at the bottle because his stare was making me a little uncomfortable and I didn't want to look like a tomato in front of him. The bottle stopped at me and Mavis clapped for some reason...

"Finally, it's Erza-Chan's turn!" She cheered for me.

I nervously smiled at her and then glanced at Jellal.

"This might be fun," Zeref smirked.

"Truth or Dare?" He asked.

I thought a lot. If I chose truth, I would have to answer some crappy love question Jellal might or might not ask and If I chose dare, I was sure he wouldn't tell me to do anything cringy or out of place because he's that kind of guy anyway.

So, I chose dare.

"Dare."

"Marry me." 

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To be continued...