Day 61 (Part 2)- Confrontation

Huh?

He says he is no stranger? Then does that mean he knows me?

No, there's also the possibility that he might be a stalker because a normal person wouldn't just pin me to the wall and shut my mouth.

I have to call for help!

"Okay, I'm going to let you go now but you have to promise me you won't run," He said, excitedly raising his brow.

Nonetheless, I just stared furiously in his eyes. Sure, they were pretty and shining but I can't let that weaken me. Who the hell is he anyway?

"You promise?" He asked again and I slowly nodded.

This will be my chance but he is trusting me for not running away so I have to take it slow...

Gradually, he slid down his hand from my mouth and backed away from me, "I didn't mean to startle you like this but you were gonna run away."

I stayed quiet, my hands unintentionally clenching to my sides.

"So back to the topic, I suppose you have a bad memory for remembering people."

Hm? What does he mean?

"Does the name 'Zeref' at least trigger something?" He asked in a grouchy tone.

Zeref...? I have never heard that name before, I mean, it sounds familiar but not that I have met someone with that name before. Or, it also might be that we may have talked a thing or two somewhere in the past, then again, my memories are faded. Hell, I don't even know what I ate for lunch two days ago.

"I don't know who you are," I said, "Have we met before cause you seem to know my name, Stranger."

"Ouch, don't call me Stranger, Erza," He scrunched up his nose, "Well, it can't be helped then...And I thought you would be happy to see me."

"Will you say it already? Who are you and how do you know my name?"

"We were in the same class in middle school, Erza. Remember? I confessed to you but you said you didn't like my attitude," He embarrassingly laughed, "To be honest, I knew you wouldn't recognize me since I was not that handsome before but I'm still hurt you didn't remember my name."

Wait...now I recall. Zeref Dragneel, the guy who confessed to me at the age of thirteen. He used to follow me everywhere and all the time and because of that some crappy rumors were spread around the entire school that we were dating (Trust me, middle school was the worst time of my life) And so since I was fed up of it all, I went to him, stood face to face and said, "Enough is enough."

Well, that made him leave me at least. But why is he back after so many years now? I hope he wasn't keeping an eye on me because that would be super creepy.

"Why are you back after so many years?" I asked.

"Good question," He pouted, "It was because I missed you."

"Huh?"

Missed me? Don't tell me that's another confession after seven damn years.

"You know I couldn't forget you even after all this time. I was in the states the whole time, just thinking about you, meeting you and then not a week before I came here to Japan. I went to the school we used to go to, and man, everything's changed so much. My flight was today but then yesterday I saw you working at the store near my uncle's house. I wanted to talk to you at the time but then you left as though you were in a hurry somewhere. So yeah, that's how destiny is."

Truly unbelievable...Karma really sucks, huh.

"But how did you know it was me who was working at the store? I mean seven years! Faces change."

"Erza, there's no way I could forget that Scarlet hair of yours. It's just unique and so beautiful. You are the only one who can look so beautiful with such a passionate color."

Is he for real...?

"I uh, I need to go somewhere..." I tried to say but he cut me off, "Can I invite you for a cup of coffee, though, if you don't mind."

"Actually, I really need to be somewhere right now, maybe next time?"

"Is that so?" He tilted his head a little, "Then why don't I just drop you in my car? Where are you heading?"

"No, it's actually fine, I can by myself—"

"Come on, Erza. Let me be a gentleman here. You do know that I'm quite stubborn, right?"

I let out a tiny sigh, "But it's just a few blocks away..."

Nevertheless, he walked towards me, gently grabbed my hand with a smile and dragged me out of the alley.

I was dazed for mere seconds as I just followed him to wherever he was taking me. When just then we halted in front of the finest, blackest car.

He finally let go of my hand and opened the door to my side, "If you may, my lady."

I couldn't help but blush upon his gesture. Slowly, I advanced towards the car and sat inside. Man, oh man, it was truly luxurious and elegant. I could certainly smell the scent of money and a rich man's aura from Zeref.

I never knew he was so wealthy. And really cool.

He closed my door, walked to the other side and sat inside.

"Seatbelt," He reminded and I buckled it.

"So, just a few blocks away, right?"

I nodded and we drove.

--

"Is this it?" He stopped right opposite Jellal's house.

"Yes, thank you even though you didn't have to drop me."

"Don't be so formal," He laughed.

"Then...see you—" However, unexpectedly, I noticed Jellal's front door opening. The same damn woman had come out with a big damn smile on her face and not long after, appeared Jellal in his handsomely damn shirt and pant. They exchanged a few words, smiled at each other and then BAM! She hugs him, he chuckles and she leaves. She doesn't notice me, or the car, or Zeref.

Jellal, instead, squints at us, or more likely the car parked right opposite his house but doesn't react much. He turns around and closes the damn door.

Zeref watches everything. And his mind is so quick that he perceived the situation right from the very beginning she came out and my expression turned from calm to agitated.

"Woah, that's not what you were expecting, right? He's your boyfriend?"

I couldn't answer him. I mean, how can I say Jellal's my boyfriend when another girl abruptly comes out of his house and acts as though they are a newly wedded couple?

"So that's why you were in a hurry...well, I know this isn't the right to say but a cup of coffee would actually be good right now. For both you and me," He looked at me, "Or you could just go up front and confront him."

Confront him...Yes, that's what I need to do to find out the truth.

"But wait, does he love you?" He asked.

"Hm?"

"Cause if he doesn't really love you then having another girl in his house does make sense to me," He shrugged, "You actually don't have the right to confront him unless he truly loves you, cause of course then he would be a cheater for doing so—but my point is, leave him and become mine, Erza Scarlet."

What's he blabbering about...

"I will confront him...I know he loves me..."

"I'm a little hurt and jealous but okay, if that's what you want, I will just give up on the coffee date."

"Thank you for dropping me here, though," I said and quickly got out of the car.

"We will meet again, Erza," He said leaning in front a little to get a look at my face.

"Maybe," I closed the door and jogged towards Jellal's house.

Everything around me darkened except the house number on his door, 19. My heart wouldn't stop racing no matter how much I tried to calm myself down. Maybe I was just afraid of the answers, and maybe I was just afraid of asking him...

However, before I could turn back, I rang the doorbell.

My heart stopped as I heard footsteps from the other side. I had no idea why my palms were sweating or why I was getting nervous when the real matter doesn't even point to me.

And then, the moment came when the flags had to be raised. The moment when the last sand particle falls in the hourglass. He opened the door.

He looked at me, yet expressionless and asked, "Scarlet? What are you doing here?" There was no tone of worry or guilt in his voice, no waves of tension or startle.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

"I told you not to come here, didn't I? There are a dozen boys living here--"

I cut him off, "So I'm not allowed but that girl is?"

"Huh?"

"I saw you with a girl...yesterday too..."

"Come in," He shifted a little to make way for me. I slightly bowed and entered. Jellal closed the door and walked in front of me. I decided I had to follow him, so I did.

We walked inside what looked like an average living room, having an average sized kitchen.

"Sit," He said and I did.

"Do you want anything to drink?"

I shook my head.

He sat beside me on the couch. There was silence in the air and quietude between us.

"I uh...the girl...?" I tried to ask again.

"She is my step aunt's daughter."

"Step aunt's daughter...?"

"Yeah, she lives in the states but she came here to meet me. Said she loves me."

"Loves...you?"

"Yeah."

"And what did you reply to her?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Then why are you letting her hug you? I mean, not that I was peeping...but--"

"I knew you were peeping," He rested his arm on his lap and placed his head on his clenched fist.

"Eh?"

"Anyway, I didn't give her my answer yet."

"But then..."

"You don't trust me?"

"I do...it's just that, you were smiling at her and you never smile like that in front of anyone and I couldn't help but think--"

When suddenly, Jellal placed his hand on my mouth and leaned in forward, making me fall back a little, "Scarlet, you talk and think too much," He whispered.

My heart was once again going haywire and my cheeks heating like a preheated oven. He was so close to me again, and I liked it. I am still jealous that he smiled in front of her but, since he did say he didn't give her an answer yet...then all I can do is trust him, right?

I blinked a few times and he just plainly stared at me.

After a few seconds, he took off his hand but we were in the same position.

"Why didn't you tell me, though...?" I softly asked.

"Tell you what?"

"That..."

"That?"

"That you had only a little time to live..."

"Huh?" He slightly grimaced.

"You—Lucy said that she met a girl in Okinawa saying that she knew you and that you were going to die..."

"What the hell?" He confusedly pulled himself back, "Did that girl have a name?"

I shook my head.

"Well, you can't just believe anything what people say these days," He sighed, "If I was dying, I would have been in bed right now, coughing up blood and falling unconscious every few minutes."

"Then..."

"It must have been her."

"Her?"

"Yeah, her name's Yukino. She has said things like this to people before so don't take it seriously."

"Eh?! So you're really not dying?!" I loudly said in relief.

"Why? You want me to die?"

"N-no! I'm just so glad that it's not true...but saying something like that? It's not right."

"Well, that's her character," He shrugged.

"Then...is she living with you right now?"

"No, she just drops by."

"When will she leave...?"

"Right after I give her my answer."

"And what is your answer?"

He opened his mouth to say something but ceased.

"Jellal?"

"You should go now, Erza. The boys will be back anytime now and believe me when I say that they are wolves," He got up and reached out his hand to help me get up as well.

I lightly grabbed his hand and got up. But he immediately let go of it.

"I will see you out," He said.

"No...it's fine," I said and quickened my steps towards the door.

Why didn't he say anything when I asked him what his answer was...?

"Scarlet, wait," His voice made me stop right before I could open the door, "Are you free tomorrow?"

I swiftly turned around and vigorously nodded. I don't know but him asking that question made me kind of happy.

"Then meet me tomorrow, I will text you the time and place."

"O-okay!"

"See you."

"See you..." I shyly smiled at him and eventually, left his house.

Somehow, I was getting positive vibes from his way of asking me. Positive as in, "I love you, Scarlet."

Though, I wonder why this Yukino character has suddenly come into mine and Jellal's story...that too right when Jellal's heart was connecting with mine!

Anyway, I have to be optimistic about tomorrow.

I have to forget about this Yukino gal and just think about my future with my Jelly.