Sorry for not updating! I've been busy with my other stories.... so anyways, Chapter 10 is where the problem starts. What will Lucy do?! Oh, I also think that this chapter is exciting.

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"Some jokes are half-meant."

Lucy tossed and turned in her bed as she remembered what Natsu had told her. She knew that Natsu might just be having fun, but she also considered how Natsu said it. The way he said it, it was like he's being honest and serious. It was hard to believe because no one ever considered Natsu as serious. If he became serious, everybody would have a reaction like this: "Is the world ending?"

The blond beauty took a glance at her clock and saw that it was 2 AM. Tomorrow is a weekend, so it's okay if she sleeps late. Nevertheless, she wanted to sleep, but she couldn't. With thousands of thoughts swirling in her head, it'll be impossible to even take a nap.

"Does that mean that Natsu li— no! Never! Never gonna happen! Not when I'm living!" The blond beauty shook her head, trying to convince herself that Natsu will never like her. There were many reasons that were occuring in her head as to why Natsu's behavior was like that.

She closed her eyes once again, trying to summon sleep. She prayed that she'd get sleep already. She was so exhausted, but she couldn’t sleep. The irony, she thought.

Just when she felt sleepiness in her eyes, her phone rang. The sleepiness in her eyes went away in an instant. Lucy, feeling cranky, wanted to throw her phone away in annoyance. “Who’s calling? Why so early?” she groaned, picking up her cellphone. “Hello?”

“Deary! It’s your granny here. Sorry, did I wake you up? I know it’s too early. Sorry, but we have different timeslots, so I’m very awake this time.” Lucy’s annoyance disappeared. It was replaced with happiness and sadness.

She felt happy because she missed her granny so much. It’s been ten years already. For ten years, Lucy never saw her granny. However, she felt sad because last month, she found out that her granny had Lung Cancer. It was a very disappointing news.

"Granny! It's been awhile! How are you?" she asked cheerfully, trying to hide the sadness in her voice. She didn't want her grandmother to worry about her.

Her grandmother laughed, "You never call me by my name. I guess you're missing me very much. I'm fine, deary. No need to worry."

Lucy nodded, although she knew her grandmother was not fine at all. "Of course I miss you very much, Vanessa.” she smiled at the mention of her grandmother’s name.

“Meh, I prefer for you to call me granny instead. It’s music to my ears.”

“Okay then!”

“So how’s school?”

Lucy frowned. “As always. School is the best!” She was frowning but her voice were cheery and high pitched.

“I see,” her grandmother replied. “Got a new boyfriend? Your mother told me you’ve got one.” Lucy’s eyes widened.

“What? Mother told you? And no, I don’t have a boyfriend, granny. You know me. I promised you I’ll never have a boyfriend.” Technically, I have one. It’s Natsu. But he’s only a fake boyfriend of mine.

Her grandmother chuckled, “Oh, really? Your mother told me you've got one. What was his name again? Na.. Na.. Na.. what was it?"

"Natsu? You mean Natsu Dragneel?"

"Yes! That's right! So he's the one? Your mother told me he's very handsome, kind and a gentleman too."

Lucy laughed. "No! I am not in a relationship with that guy, gra–" she stopped babbling when her granny coughed. It wasn't an ordinary cough. Worry was now evident in her face. "Granny? Are you okay?"

“I’m okay. No wor–” her granny coughed louder than before.

“No. You’re not okay. I think you should rest.” Lucy insisted, pursing her lips into a thin line.

“Lucy—”

“Granny, please. I know all about your condition. Before I say goodbye, lemme clear things up. Natsu is not my boyfriend. He never was and never will.”

“Lucy. I’ve got a request for you before I end this call,” her granny started. “You don’t have any boyfriend as of right now, right? Well, if that’s the case, then please. I’d like for you to have a boyfriend. I’ll let you meet him tomorrow, at seven PM, at the playground outside your house. I'm gonna rest now." And Grandma Vanessa ended the call.

Lucy stared off into space, her granny's words slowly sinking in her brain. She couldn't believe it. She never wanted to have a boyfriend.

"Granny, why are you requesting me something like this?" she mumbled to herself and fell asleep.

Bright light was all Lucy saw when she woke up. She felt like she slept for years. It was a great feeling. She suddenly remembered her conversation with her grandmother. It was like a dream. Part of her wished it was just a dream, and part of her wished it wasn’t a dream.

She went downstairs to eat her lunch. Yes, it was lunch. She skipped breakfast because of sleeping. “Hey, mom. Hey, dad.” Lucy nodded her head towards her parents who were eating lunch.

Her mother noticed Lucy’s disconcerted expression. “What’s the matter, sweety? You look bothered by something. Anything wrong?”

“No, mom. I’m okay,” Lucy responsed with a heavy sigh. “Anyway, I need to ask you something. Why did you tell granny that Natsu is my boyfriend? No, mom. He’s not my boyfriend.”

“What? He’s not your boyfriend? How come? He’s always coming to get you here, isn’t it? He even told me you two were going on a date."

"It's not true. That guy's a liar. We are not going on a date. He forced me even if I don't want to! And he considered it a date even if I told him not to!" Lucy pursed her lips into a thin line, He is, mom. But a fake one.

Her dad flashed her a pointed look. "That better be true. I don't want you, Lucy, to have a boyfriend. Focus on your studies. It will help you have a better future."

"Dad, about that. Granny called me a few hours ago. She told me that I'd be married to someone.”

“Oh, yes. Your grandmother and I have decided about that. Well, your granny did. It’s her....” her father trailed off, looking down on his plate.

Lucy furrowed her eyebrows, “It’s her what?”

“...dying wish.” his father finished. The blond beauty lose her appetite. Her eyes were wide with shock.

“That’s....” she started, disbelieving everything she heard.

“Lucy—”

The girl ran into her room. As she locked the door, a tear fell down from her face. It’s her dying wish. What should I do?

To calm her nerves down, she decided to call Levy.

“Hello?” Levy answered in a sleepy voice.

“You’re still asleep?”

“Lucy? Yes. Sorry, I was reading that’s why I just woke up. No, you were the ones who woke me up. You need something?”

“Actually, yes,” the girl with brown orbs frowned. “I have a problem.”

“That looks very serious. What is it?”

“So here’s the thing. Granny’s gonna die in a short period of time.”

“What!?” Apparently, her reaction was like that because she was close with Lucy’s grandma as well. “That’s.. hey, are you only playing with me? Seriously, I almost had a heart attack.”

“No, Levy. I’m serious, dang it. Lemme continue. Grandma told me her dying wish. She told me that I must have a boyfriend, since Natsu wasn’t my boyfriend, anyways. The thing is, I’m gonna meet the guy that will be my boyfriend today, at 7 PM! What will I do? It’s my grandmother! I couldn’t refuse to what she wants, especially now that she’s dying! But I don’t want a boyfriend!!” Lucy frustratedly elaborated everything to her friend.

“Lucy.. I think you must....” her friend trailed off. She was going to tell Lucy to make Natsu her fake boyfriend (which he was actually) but then she knew Lucy would never agree to that.

“I must what?”

“Never mind. Sorry, Lucy. I can’t do anything about your problem. I can’t do anything but sympathize with your situation.” Levy sighed, feeling sorrowful about her friend.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind. Thanks for listening to my situation, anyway.” Lucy ended the call.

She went outside her house when it was 7 PM.

There on the swing sat a guy with spiky, orange hair. The guy looked up and saw Lucy. “Hey.” the guy smiled. “Lucy, right? I’m Loki.” the guy stretched out his hand for Lucy to shake. Lucy shook his hand.

“I was sent here by your grandmother, Vanessa. I.. uhm.. uh.. here to make you my girl—”

“Hey, babe.”

“Natsu!?”

“Missed me, babe?”

Lucy, for a moment, hesitated to answer Natsu. “Yeah.” she turned to Loki, “This is my boyfriend, Natsu Dragneel.”

“Oh. I guess I’m not needed here anymore. Hi, Loki here.” Natsu nodded at Loki. Loki then went away.

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Hey guys! :) I just have a favor to ask of you. Can you please make a new cover for this story? I'd like to receive one. I'll appreciate it a lot! :)