Day 12- The wheel of fortune

The door bell rang a few times, and I quickly ran towards it to open it. (Not to mention on the way, I smacked my toe on the tea table..Ouch)

It was dad, he had a couple of paper bags in his hands, so I took some from him and closed the door, but he told me to keep it open because there was someone behind him that was bringing a few other bags, so I did.

Placing the bags in the kitchen, my dad yelled from the kitchen to bring him a glass of water.

"Dad did you bring my Cheerios?!" I asked.

"Yea I did."

I went to the living room again with the glass of water,

"Mom went out to meet her employee, said she wanted to discuss some-"

Suddenly I stopped, wide-eyed and surprised.

Jellal was in the living room with my dad, the "someone that was bringing a few other bags" was in fact him.

"Thing..." I felt the glass slipping from my hands, however dad took it and gave it to Jellal.

He looked at me, as always expressionless and drank the water.

"Thank you Mr.Scarlet." He said and bowed.

"No thank you for your help kid, if not for you, my back would have been broken by now." Dad laughed and patted his back. "Oh let me introduce to my daughter, Erza."

He pointed at me, and reflexively I bowed.

"Nice to meet you." He advanced towards me, "I'm Jellal." And winked at me playfully.

"Wh-what are you doing here..?" I softly asked.

"Erza, I have to get back to office for a while so tell mom I will be home a little late." Dad said and I nodded.

Promptly, he left again after assuring Jellal that he can stay as long as he wants and that I would be there to give him company.

Since I knew him, I had no complaints about him staying but if he was a stranger, dad would have gotten an earful from me for leaving a stranger with his daughter.

"I helped your dad. Of course it was unintentional, I didn't know he was your dad so don't go thinking anything." He said and sat on the couch.

"I see.." That's all I said, and sat across him. "Well you can leave if you want."

"You want me to leave?"

"No uh I mean, you might have other important things right.." I snatched the pillow from beside me and held it tightly.

My heart was aching.

Somehow talking to him feels so awkward..

Like I want to run away from him.

"I'm free today, I can stay for a bit right." He asked.

"Sure...If you want to, but I don't have anything to entertain you so.."

"I don't need entertainment, you are there aren't you?"

"What does that mean?" I frowned confusedly.

"I mean, we could spend some time together, why don't you show me around your house or something?"

Do I tell him that I'm engaged with Gray?

But he didn't tell me that he's engaged with Meredy so why should I bother first right...

"Uh alright, if you want to see my lovely house then why not." I threw the pillow back in its place and got up.

I showed him the kitchen first, gave him a cookie from the jar for a munch, then showed him the laundry room, nothing interesting to see in there anyways, then mom and dad's room, again not-so-interesting and then finally my room.

"So yea..it's pink.." I said and walked in further.

"It's nice, it's girly..which doesn't suit you since you are more of the..hardcore type." He chuckled.

"So you noticed huh.." I said with a slight gasp.

"How could I not."

"Have a seat." I said and he did, so did I opposite him.

"I like your ring." He said looking at it.

His expression, it was like he was waiting for an answer.

Not the "Thank you.", but the "I'm engaged to Gray." one.

"Uh..yea, someone gave it to me."

It's getting awkwardly awkward now..

"Hm." He tuned.

"I like your ring as well." I said. He was wearing one too.

"Someone gave it to me too."

"Who did?" I asked and I swear I didn't want to, but maybe I was hoping to get an answer from him.

"Meredy, my fiancé."

So he said...

"Your--fiancé.." I tired to act surprised cause if he finds out that I found out about his engagement, then the atmosphere would become more awkward than it already has and my heart can't take anymore of the heaviness...

"Yea, I'm getting married Scarlet." He said calmly.

How can he say that so calmly..

"I see..." I uttered.

"Hm...that's not the expression I expected from you." He frowned confusedly, "I thought you would flip out or something, you know 'slap me' of the sort."

"Well...I don't have the right to slap you right." I chuckled hesitantly.

"Wai-Are you crying?" He asked and then I realized that I was tearing up.

Why was I tearing up when he was the one to betray me first?

Of course, he did say he would not fall for me no matter how much I try but...

He could have at least considered my feelings right?

Ugh!

I don't want to cry!

Enough of the crying!

I quickly got up from my place, "I will bring you something to eat." I said while wiping away my tears with my T-shirt sleeves and decided to head out of the room before anymore of these anger-filled tears fall down from my face.

However, right after I walked past Jellal, he caught my wrist.

"Scarlet."

"W-what..?" I asked, there was no way I could turn around, and even if I wanted to, my face must have been swollen by now. Literally.

"Look at me." I sensed him getting up from his place as well.

"I--I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to.."

"That's weird, I thought you liked looking at me."

I scoffed, "Yea.." What more could I say. Plus, since when did he start noticing these things..

"It's alright if you don't look at me though, but I do have something I need to tell to you." He tugged my wrist, but I wouldn't budge.

"What-is it?" I asked.

And then I felt his body touching my back, he swung my wrist in front, and back-hugged me.

"It's an arranged marriage..." He whispered. He was so close to me, his face just inches apart from mine. "Her names Meredy, she is the daughter of the famous lady billionaire Ultear Milokovich."

Ah..I know Ultear Milkovich. She is famously known for her generosity in making the world a better place, fighting off justice and of course in putting her all to banish poverty.

"And my step-mom is her secretary." He mentioned. "I don't want this marriage to happen but I can't do anything."

"Why can't you?" I heedlessly asked.

"Business matters." He said. "Lady Ultear kind of made a deal with my step-mom, you might understand what kind of a deal right. I don't want to get into details.."

"Hm.."

"I'm sorry."

He apologized...

"But-Do you love me Jellal?" I was nervous to ask this question, but I did anyways.

He didn't reply.

Why didn't he reply?

What was stopping him from answering that question?

"Jellal." I pulled out from the back-hug, walked a few steps ahead and turned around. "I'm engaged too."

He tilted his head, "What?"

"His names Gray...He's a good guy."

"Scarlet, you're joking right?"

"I wish I was." I smiled.

"Then, what happened to make me fall in love with you in hundred days?"

"I guess it's pointless now. I realized that you don't love me, and that all I'm doing is wasting my time on something which is impossible."

"You didn't try hard."

"I don't need to now. It's over isn't it?"

"No."

"Huh?"

What does he mean by 'No'.

"It's not over. Scarlet, I-"

"Erza." I heard a voice behind me but couldn't turn around because Jellal was saying going to say something.

Was it something that I was expecting?

I would have known if the person behind me didn't grab my hand and suddenly drag me out of the room.

"You shouldn't leave the front door open." He said as we descended the stairs.

I don't know but I couldn't talk, I was blank, confused, clearly surprised to see him and I didn't get the chance to tell Jellal to 'wait for a minute'.

"Wait-What are you doing here..?" I finally asked as we halted in the living room.

"Don't tell me you forgot." He let go of my hand and turned around in all seriousness, "We were supposed to go on a date today."

"Date..? Oh oh yea..The date.."

The 'Date' which my mom had arranged.

"I didn't forget, uh my friend came so-"

"I understand." He said and looked away from me.

"I will go and get ready now-"

"It's alright..I mean if you are busy."

"No. He's going to go now anyways." I sighed, pushing my bangs behind my ears.

"You sure?"

"Yea." I nodded and he cracked a faint smile.

"You must be Gray." Jellal asked from behind me.

He approached Gray and they both shook each others hands. Real professional.

"And you must be Jellal. Erza mentioned a couple of times."

"Oh she did?" Jellal looked at me with a smirk.

"Nice to finally meet you." Gray said.

"You too."

"Um I will go and get ready, give me two minutes!" I said to Gray, shot a glance at Jellal and swiftly ran upstairs.

I wore a dress, a cute one since I always see and hear that on dates you need to wear and act cutely, but leaving out the acting part I will just get dressed in a nice red floral dress, and leave my hair open.

Running back downstairs, I noticed that only Gray was in the living room.

"Where's Jellal?" I asked.

"He left."

"Left? Without telling me?"

"Said he remembered some important work he had to get with."

"Ah..alright.."

"So you ready?"

"Yea."

Gray signaled me to link my arms with his and I chuckled.

"What?" He asked chuckling back.

"Nothing..it's just weird, this is our third meeting." I said.

"We are getting better at conversing." He said.

"We sure are..." I slowly linked my arms with him.

"Don't let go of my hand since there are surprises awaiting you. I don't want you to faint." He smirked.

"Surprises..oh boy."

"Uh-huh, I did ask you to give me a day didn't I?"

"You certainly did."

"You look pretty Erza."

"So do you." I said looking at him.

"Pretty?"

"Yea." I laughed.

It's strange.

My life is getting stranger.

Life is playing with me.

Destiny is hidden from me.

Karma is all I have left.