{Erza’s POV}

Juvia threw Gray’s shirt across the room.

One.

Mavis slept in Zeref’s arms.

Two.

Lucy yanked Natsu’s arm away from the food.

Three.

If there are couples in the park, then there are couples in the house. There were so many couples around here that I lost count already. The feeling of a third wheel.

In the midst of it all was Jellal nonchalantly watching on youtube the videos of Ryan Higa with his legs crossed, an amused smile on his features. Couldn’t say more, couldn’t say less, but all in all he’s handsome like that. The way I think about Jellal made me absolutely abashed and ashamed of myself. But yeah, sure, Jellal is handsome because of course he’s a celebrity, a singer... name it.

Coolly, I flopped down next to him. I laughed as he flinched from the sinking feeling he probably felt when I abruptly did that. “Hey, don’t randomly do that.” He reprimanded, me sticking out a tongue. So flashback from the time of confession...

♪FLASHBACK—TO THE TIME OF CONFESSION♪

“You.” Zeref answered, a little too serious and blunt. Juvia’s eyes switched from me, to Jellal and to Zeref. Not a moment later, Zeref guffawed and that’s when I gave him a baffled look. “Somebody’s furious.” Who? I looked around and found no one with a mad aura. “Okay, never mind.”

Juvia chimes in yet again. “He meant that it’s a joke.” She elucidated shortly, and I had to prevent myself from gawking. I honestly didn’t know what was going on anymore. Yeah, Jellal likes somebody, I forced him to tell me who it is, and that’s that. Clearly, the word “you” didn’t get to me.

Mentally slapping myself after realizing what everything meant, I lift my eyebrows, “I think I get it.” Then I laugh hard. “There’s no way that would happen! Not in a million years. Maybe even over my dead body.” Zeref and Juvia shared a glance that means: “Slow like a turtle.”

♪END OF FLASHBACK♪

For the first time after that time Jellal talked to me. He did avoid me, and my wish was that he’d die for it because him doing that was pure torture. I mean, I’m his best friend. No one would be able to take it if their best friend isn’t talking to them.

“Well, damn you.” I mutter, shooting him a pointed look. “If not talking to your best friend was a crime, then you’d be in prison right now. Nobody would visit you in there because you ignored your best friend.”

“I still have my family.” He countered, his tone almost smug. That’s a good comeback, but still, this girl in front of him is smart.

“Where’s your family, though?” He pursed his lips into a thin line, a little taken aback from the question. “See? That’s what might happen if you ignore your best friend.”

“Move on—”

“People of this house!” I yelled. “We’re gonna play a game so hurry up and sit in the living room.” Consecutively, they were all set in the floor after a few minutes. We looked like we were in a meeting. “Two Truths, One Lie.”

Natsu sighed in relief. “At least that’s not Truth Or Dare.”

Lucy nodded, agreeing with him. “Yeah, rather play Monopoly than play Truth or Dare.”

“I’m gonna start off,” Levy chimed in, smiling. “I love books.”

We all rolled our eyes to that. “The truth must be something we probably all don’t know. So Levy, since you’re the one who wanted to be first, then go on.”

“Then I... uhm... am allergic to peanuts.”

“I didn’t know that.” Gajeel commented, mouth a little open.

“Me either.” Lucy mumbled.

“Next, me.” Juvia volunteered. “I hate the show Teen Wolf.”

I was the first one to react. “You did not just say that.”

“But it’s true...”

“Teen Wolf is a very good show! Like, really! It’s better than anything in the world!” Levy exclaimed, standing up.

“Not all likes that show, so you may calm down, shut up and sit down so we can continue the game.”

Juvia jabbed her index finger towards Jellal who wasn’t sitting next to me. Idiot. “He’s the one sitting on my right.”

Jellal nods, “Fine.” He’s gonna state a lie. “I don’t like someone.”

Natsu had this bewildered face that could make anyone laugh. “But I thought he liked—”

“It’s a lie, you moron.” Gray answered, rolling his eyes.

“Oh.” Jellal awkwardly laughed at Natsu who had a plate of pasta in his hands. “So he still likes—” He trailed off, the reason without my knowing. Something or someone prevented him from saying such things. Now that Natsu have brought it up... who’s that girl? She’s so intriguing, in my opinion. Jellal never mentioned a thing or two about that.

“Lucy, your turn.” Levy poked her arm, picking her out from her trance.

This game dragged on for two more hours actually, and the facts that I have found out about my friends were really amusing to the point that I might not be able to sleep later in the evening. Through all that though, Jellal’s feelings for ‘the girl’ remained in my head, the focus I once had in the game split into two.

“Are you for real?” Levy drawled out, eyes widening a fraction. “You are reading Harry Potter? Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it. You must be struck by one of Harry’s magic spells.” Gajeel’s face burned as Levy continued rambling about Harry Potter.

“It’s evening so I’m cooking dinner. Mavis and Zeref will be arriving later.” Lucy announced.

“Okay then, I’m going upstairs. Call me up later when dinner is ready.” Juvia mumbled. The others went up with her. Jellal was the last to go up but I held his hand. Then I felt him tense up. Not bothering to ask why, I dragged him to our garden.

“Do you need anything?” Jellal inquired sarcastically, rolling his eyes then looked at the grass as if it would give him an answer. What’s with the rudeness and attitude? It’s not like I did something bad to him.

“Yes. An answer is what I need, Mr. Jellal Fernandes.”

“Answer to what question, love?”

‘Love’? Startled by what he just called me, I tried to regain my composure. It’s a little dark, and the lamp posts on the streets are the only things that lightens up the outside of the house. I gazed at his orbs. “Answer to the one you like.”

“Why would I tell you? Why are you interested?” He asked, a smirk on his face.

“Because I’m supposed to be your “best friend?” Or is that just a title?” I retorted, emphasizing “best friend”. “Everyone wants to know, including me.”

“Your curiosity doesn’t match the others.” Jellal replied, leaning in. My breathing hitches as he stopped moving forward. “So why are you interested?”

I pushed him harshly. “Curiosity level doesn’t even matter. Is it wrong? You know I tend to get nosy with things like this.”

He slumped on the grass, picking on it. “Even if you’re my best friend, it’s not like I’ll tell you everything.”

“Okay, don’t tell me. Not like I care. I was just curious.” I mumbled, walking away with a calm look. Really, Jellal not telling me everything was fine. I’m not his mother to begin with.

He gripped on my arm suddenly. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

I chuckle, punching him. “Why wouldn’t it be fine? Yes it is, mister. I was just playing around.” Jellal seemed to be disappointed by that and... no idea why. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He loosened his grip on me and nodded. “Yeah. Go inside. I’m just gonna be chilling here.”

“If you’re not going inside then I’m staying here.” I say in an affirmative way. “You shouldn’t be isolating yourself, you know.”

“I’m not isolating myself. I would just like to have some quality time with myself, is all.” He fumbled with his fingers which means he was deep in thought about something.

That got me curious. Is he thinking about the girl? Is he thinking about our practices? Most probably, it’s the girl he’s thinking about. I’m not jealous veraciously speaking. My feelings for him (more than a friend) is as empty as a plastic bottle.

As I mulled through these things, Jellal sighed and wrapped an arm around me. “She’s amazing.”

“You mean the girl?”

“Well of course.” He answered. “She may be smart and acts to like tough, but trust me, she’s a scaredy cat.” That’s when the blue haired boy chortles with a slight blush on his face. He must be really in love, huh. “I like her for that.”

“You’re struck by the cupid pretty hard,” I informed blandly, smiling at his very happy face. “First time I saw you like that was tonight.”

“That’s the feeling of a person in love. You’d notice everything about her and think she’s wonderful in everything she does.” Then the big question hits me like a bomb. “What about you? Are you seeing somebody as of this moment?” Speechless. I don’t have feelings for anybody right now... I guess. “Hey, so you do like someone.”

I shook my head frantically. “No! You’ve got it all wrong! I don’t know honestly. All throughout my lifetime, I’ve had only one crush.” Jellal. It’s him. But of course I wouldn’t reveal that easily.

“Who is it?”

I smirked, thinking that I could fire back the question to him. “Why are you intrigued? And you’re just my best friend so you don’t have to know everything about me.” I mimicked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Oh, so that’s how you like everything to be.” He gives me a meaningful look. “Okay, I won’t be pushing you.” Plan: backfired. He laughed as he saw my expression. “You really want to know the name of the girl badly. I wonder why.” Jellal mused, glancing up at the starry night sky.

“I just wanted to know.” I simply shrug. “But I respect your decision if you don’t want to tell me.” It’s an honest answer.

That’s when he smiled at me, his blue hair waving at me from the slight breeze that nipped on my skin. I liked the feeling; it wasn’t too cold for me. But he wasn’t just smiling at me. He was staring at me, at my orbs. The action sent weird sensations all over my body but warmth topped it all. I flinched when he pecked my nose for a split second and did the most unexpected thing under the night sky: he confessed. “You’re the one I’ve liked for so long.” I didn’t know why, but I was wishing he’d say that all this time.