Day 100- Tie that binds

I stared at myself in the mirror. I was in white. My hair was tied up in a perfect bun and I had a beautiful bouquet of red roses in my laced hands. I imagined Jellal beside me, imagined him sliding the wedding ring and then kissing me. My heart thudded and jumped but I liked this feeling. I liked the pain of knowing that finally, it was happening.

There was a knock on the door. "Yes?"

"It's me." It was Jellal.

"Jellal-Kun--" I ran towards the door but his voice stopped me midway.

"Don't open the door."

"Eh?"

"I want to see you at the wedding."

"Oh..." I slowly walked over to the door so that I could clearly hear his voice. I placed my back to the door and listened to him.

"Scarlet, are you nervous?" He asked. "Because I am."

"I am too, Jellal-Kun."

"Will you not take off the Kun now?"

"Should I?"

"You should."

"Alright...Jellal—"

There was complete silence for a minute.

"That's better."

I chuckled.

"Scarlet..."

"Hm?"

Silence again.

This time it was much longer and it scared me, presupposing that he might have left so I called out in haste, "Jellal--"

"It's nothing." He said. "Are you ready?"

He was holding something back and I wanted to ask him what it was. Was he regretting something...was he going to regret marrying me? But the clock was ticking. It was time for us to be at the wedding.

"Yes..." I answered.

"I'm gonna go ahead first."

"Hm."

"See you."

And I somehow sensed the warmness leaving me and the cold wrapping me up like the first snow of winter. There were doubts, hesitations, and questions but this was not the time. Now was not the time to think all this after coming this far. I shook everything away from me and answered another knock on my door. It was mom, ready to take me to the church.

I sat behind with her, she said Jellal's car had left already. I looked out the window and everything was covered in a layer of fog.

The car accelerated, leaving my house at a hazy distance.

"Are you nervous, honey?" Mom asked me.

"Not really." I smiled.

"You should be happy."

"I am! I am..."

"Don't worry, I think I have a clue as to how you are feeling. It happens to all the girls at the wedding, but trust yourself and put your trust in him." She held my hand and it was tender and warm. For the first time in my life, I noticed her tired eyes, her wrinkled forehead, her fragile fingers. I was missing her already...I hugged her tightly, so tightly that she felt my heartbeat. She felt what I was feeling. She felt what I couldn't express. I cried but she was strong. She didn't cry. She patted my back and said that I chose the right one. One who would keep me happy for the rest of my life. One who wouldn't let me shed even a single tear.

It's amazing how everyone is trusting us. It would be a disappointment if we don't become one, right?

Just then, mom's phone rang and she picked it up. "Hello?"

"We are on our way."

I looked out the window. We were getting nearer to the church.

"What?"

"H-how...?"

I heard her stammer and looked at her. Her eyes were wide and she looked at me with trembling lips.

"Mom?"

She hung up the phone and told the driver to pull the car over. Immediately, he did and we came to a silent halt. For some reason, I was afraid...Her expression, it changed so drastically.

"Mom, what is it?"

"It's..." She choked, "It's Jellal."

"What about him?" I tried to stay calm.

"He—" A drop of tear dropped from her eye. "He's been in an accident..."

"What...?"

What is mom saying?

It can't be true...

"No, mom, call again and ask!"

She didn't say anything, rather, she couldn't.

"It must be a joke, mom...try calling again!"

"L-lily said the accident happened right in front of him..."

My heart suddenly became weary. I felt like somebody had just stabbed me in the back and ran away. Like somebody was repeatedly strangling my neck. My body couldn't move nor there was any tone left in my voice. However, as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I commanded myself to get the hell out of the car and run to Jellal. Run to him and confirm it myself that nothing has happened to him! That it was all just a damn joke they want to play on my wedding day!

I got out of the call and I could hear mom's voice calling out to me anxiously but I didn't stop. I held my gown in both my hands and ran as fast as I could. The church was near which meant that if the accident happened, it wouldn't have happened far from where I was.

I rubbed my eyes often to see the path ahead of me clearly. I screamed at myself that nothing has happened to Jellal and that we will get married today! That no power in this world can stop us from being together. That today wasn't his day to die...no, not today.

I ran and ran and it happened all so suddenly...I abruptly stopped when I heard a loud horn and looked to my side, horrified and in pain. I saw bright lights approaching me full speed ahead and I knew that I had crossed without looking, that the indication was still red and that I was going to die.

Everything happened so suddenly...I saw darkness and then light. I couldn't keep my eyes open for long. In fact, I couldn't feel anything at all. The world around me was spinning, there were muffled voices everywhere. The color scarlet had surrounded me, it covered me and it covered everything that my eyes fell upon. The tried to call the name that was on my mind. Jellal's name. "Je—ll—al..."

And everything happened so suddenly...I finally felt my last breath and the excruciating torture of my soul leaving my body.

--

I woke up with a loud gasp and a sweaty forehead. I breathed heavily and looked around. I was still in the same car, wearing the same gown and the driver was driving.

"Honey, you alright? You were mumbling Jellal's name in your sleep...Oh my god, what is it, Erza?"

I confusedly looked at mom for a second.

"Why are you crying?" She asked.

Crying...? I touched my cheek and it was wet. Quickly, I rubbed the tears away and shook my head. I still couldn't speak due to such shocking nightmare...or daymare.

"I...I just had a bad dream..."

"It's unusual for you to sleep like this, that too on your wedding day." She smiled, trying to calm me down.

"Guess I was just tired, mom..." I looked outside and I could see the church. We were nearing it.

"Mom, uh, did you get any call about Jellal...?" I hesitantly asked.

"Hm? No, sweet heart." She frowned but shook her head.

I let out a sigh of relief. Jellal was unhurt.

"What kind of a bad dream did you have?" She asked worriedly but I didn't want to think about it all over again. It was scary and I would rather forget all about it.

"It was nothing mom, really...Don't worry." I smiled and she returned the smile back to me and rubbed my back lightly.

"We are here." She said and the car stopped in front of the church.

Mom got out. I took another deep breath, checked if my hair was as perfect as before and then as the driver opened my door, I got out. Dad was waiting for me at the foot of the steps; ever ready to walk his daughter to the aisle.

He nodded once at my mom and then stood as straight as a British soldier while facing the doors. I wrapped my arm around his and he said, "Can't believe this day has come so soon." And promptly, the doors opened wide, revealing the audience, the groom and the priest at the end of the aisle.

At once, I had forgotten all about the dream, all about being scared and all about nervousness. All I felt was happiness, excitement, and love. This moment right here was all that I was waiting for.

Dad and I took a step forward into the church and all heads turned towards me. It was the best feeling any girl could ever get. Seeing the love of her life in an utterly black suit just a few steps away and then finally being together for the rest of her life. It's a miracle that's hard to come by.

The audience threw petals over my head. I also didn't leave the chance to notice that Mavis and Lucy both were my bridesmaids. On the groom's side, it was Zeref and Natsu. Suddenly, I felt something missing. No, it was someone and I eagerly started to search the room when in a flash, I saw him in the very front row; looking back at me and smiling ever so gently. I was more than contented that he came. I let out a soft sigh and smiled back.

I was just a few steps behind when dad let go of my arm. I looked back at him and he gestured me to go quickly. Ascending the two tiny steps, I was now beside Jellal, facing the priest. Now that I recall, he was the same priest that was on my and Gray's wedding...

He said the same words he had said on that day. Those same words made me want to look back at him and apologize because I knew how painful it must be for him to come here at my wedding. To see me marry someone else. I felt guilty and it wasn't going to go away so easily.

Then the words came when the church turned into a winter silence.

"Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent."

Jellal held both my hands and stared into my eyes. I stared into his and the world around us went into darkness. He was the only light I could see. His eyes were a galaxy, an infinite loop. I fell again, in love with him all over again.

"I promise to love and care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love," His voice was melodious. I thought I was in a dream I would never wake up from. "I will always be honest with you, kind, patient and forgiving. I will love you, hold you and honor you. I will respect you, encourage you and cherish you. In health and sickness, through sorrow and success, for eternity." His firm words were hard for me to fight back my tears but I did. I didn't want my voice to crack, so I gulped the uneasiness and kept my gaze on Jellal to stay calm. The priest then looked at me and I spoke like there was no tomorrow.

"A hundred days back, I asked you to give me a hundred days for me to make you fall in love with me..." Eventually, I sniffed and he smiled faintly, "If I lost, I would have to give up on you but if I won, you would've to marry me on a hundredth day and guess what? I won. It's the last day and I actually won." I cried.

Then the priest acknowledged that we have declared our consent to be married. Then he prayed and then he blessed us.

It was time to exchange the rings.

Jellal placed the wedding ring on my ring finger and looked at me again. He wasn't emotionless anymore. "Erza, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity."

I placed my wedding ring on his ring finger and looked up at him, "Jellal, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity."

"Now, you may kiss the bride." The priest said and Jellal leaned in forward.

"Congrats on winning." He whispered and waited for my reaction. I chuckled and our lips met. It was like a fairytale. A never-ending tale. A happily ever after.

And it was over. Jellal and I were now husband and wife. Everyone got up and clapped. Mom and dad were crying (Guess they might be regretting getting a divorce now) Gray wasn't here anymore...

At once, we all gathered for a group photo (It was going to be one hella big photo)

We were all heading out of the church and to our reception. It was all mom's arrangements. I and Jellal were in one car now and we were the last ones to leave.

He shifted his gaze from the window to me and held my hand in between his palms. "There's one thing I haven't told you the past hundred days, Scarlet."

"Eh? What is it?"

He wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me towards me, his soft breath tasted like spring. He bumped his forehead to mine and said the words I didn't realize I was yearning for, for so long. "I love you."

--

THE END.