The rain started pouring down on us, stopping Gray from smiling and speaking. I went ahead of him and tried to find a little shelter that can protect me even for just a short period of time. A sigh escaped my lips after I found one. The rain was unbelievably cold, and I was freezing to death.

"Don't you know that you left me?" Looking up, Gray's eyes met mine. His shirt, hair, pants and bag were wet. Speaking of bag... I forgot my bag at school. Stupid me. How could I forget such an essential thing? "I brought your bag along." I was actually expecting Erza to carry it for me, not Gray. A little touched that he didn't forget about my bag, I slightly nodded and pulled my bag from him.

He began to sit down slowly beside me, not too close but not too far. Hearing his teeth chattering, I chuckled. We both felt cold. "Sorry, my bad. And thanks." Never hearing a response, I decided to text Erza if there were any assignments or projects for today.

Gray sighed all of a sudden. "I didn't believe you." I gave him a baffled look. "When you said that you'd miss me, I didn't believe you. I mean, you said it. You did all of this for Erza's dare. Making me notice you, befriending me, asking me to be your boyfriend. All of those weren't sincere since you were insisted by Erza's dare."

He's correct, to be honest. "Hmm... but me becoming your friend was a nice experience actually. When you told me all about yourself, I felt happy that I was your friend."

"What about being my girlfriend?"

His blunt question made my cheeks turn pink. "U-Uh, not really. We don't even have 'that' feelings for each other, if you know what I mean."

I thought I saw him hurt and heard him say: "For me that's a no." Shaking my head as a sign that that was just a hallucination, he spoke. "I don't hold feelings for Lucy anymore."

"Okay..." I drawled, not knowing what to say. I didn't know why he told me that since no one asked. There's no need to tell me that since it's a little obvious.

"Tell me," The seriousness made me shudder. "Did Erza dare you to kiss me too?" Wanting to be veracious, I nodded. Then I saw the expression from him... the hard look. He looked away, his eyes becoming completely blank and empty. "So we aren't really sincere after all. We should break up."

My weird feeling came back, but this time it's different. It's mixed with... sadness. "Why?" My voice came out as a whisper. Good thing, because I think my voice was going to crack in the end if I was loud.

"You don't like me, that's why." It's as if he was preventing himself from the outburst but then really couldn't hold it in. I had my shaky breath, a little scared. "Right? You don't like me."

"I don't know, honestly!" I exclaimed, tugging on my hair frustratedly. "Like? Me liking you? I couldn't actually say no or yes. Because really, my heart is confused." He didn't answer me. "Not now."

Silence came upon us as Gray twiddled with his finger. There's something wrong in this situation, and it's not in my sight yet. "Actually," he said quietly. "I like somebody. Somebody who's been on my mind lately. Somebody who's making my heart pound in my chest. This girl isn't just a normal girl. She's unique, and I've never met someone like her. I want to be by her side always..." he trailed off and exhaled, "but she doesn't like me the way I like her." Sadness was overflowing around him, and I just couldn't help but feel pity.

Now I wonder. Who's that girl? Why did Gray look hurt when I told him that the kiss was just a dare by Erza? He knew... he knew but he didn't complain. At that moment, I realized he's not one of those bad people who lingered around like a delinquent. He helped me with the dares even though he knew it's gonna be quite troublesome.

"Thank you, Gray." I received a glance of confusion for the sudden change of subject. "Thank you for being nice to me, for helping me accomplish the dare. It's all thanks to you..." I really fought the urge to cry. "and I think we should break up." I swallowed the lump on my throat, going out in the rain. The streets were already empty which means Gray and I were alone. The atmosphere's mood? Gloomy. That's when all the tears in my eyes fell.

I walked through the freezing rain, bawling my eyes out. It's embarrassing to blubber in here, but since no one was around I took the chance to do so. "Why am I crying?" I queried myself, heart clenching. Is this the one? The one that's called heartache?

The rain started getting harder and I didn't know where I am anymore. It's an alley-more like a narrow tent-that led to somewhere, probably a forest. The thought of ferocious lions and vines with thorns made me shudder. That's when it hit me: the place was covered by a roof.

One text message received.

°°

From: Erza the Brat

You should be glad that your dares had become only seven. Minus one. The sixth one is meeting Lucy. So the seventh one is... break up with Gray. okay, I'm sorry if I confused you, but if you're not really comfortable of being with him, then you could break up with him.

°°

To: Erza the Brat

I already did.

°°

Tears threatened to fall as I sent the message.

°°

From: Erza the Brat

listen up, Juvia. you've been crying again. tell me, you like Gray, don't you? don't lie-I'll show everyone the picture of you with a pasta in your nose if you did-because it's for the better.

°°

To: Erza the Brat

there you go again with the "it's for the better." what's going to be better anyways?

°°

From: Erza the Brat

everything.

°°

Frustrated, I put my phone back to my bag. I like Gray? Biggest joke ever. It wasn't even April Fools.

"Juvia!" Gray ran all the way to me, everything with him wet. He'd really catch a cold with this. "Are you okay?"

A drop of water fell down his hair. "Why did you follow me all the way here?" My voice came out as a cold one.

"I-I was worried." He didn't seem to mind the cold air blowing around us. "Are you all right?" My outer and inner self was utterly bewildered by his abundant concern, but the weird thing is that my heart was overflowing with happiness now.

With a shrug, I reply, "I'm totally fine, but not with the weather." Just then, he grabbed my hand and started dragging me through the rain. "Hey! Who told you that you can drag me around? Picking a fight now? We could always continue that fight that's been left off since the first time we met right here, right now."

Gray rolled his eyes to this. "I'm not buying that. I've looked through your records and saw all the information about you when it comes to martial arts. I could do better than that." He shouted through the thunder and crackling rain.

Since I hated it when I'm being pulled around, I snatched my hand from him. "Not that someone cares. It'll be a pleasure to have a sparring match with you, don't you think?" And I despise this feeling I have in my chest.

Gray huffed, completely annoyed. "Look, this man in front of you doesn't want to fight a girl, especially you."

Arms akimbo, I lifted an eyebrow. "Especially me? What do you mean? You almost hurt me the first time we met. If it weren't for Erza, we could've been sent directly to the Principal's Office and get an hour of lecture."

He ran a hand down his face frustratedly. "Why do you want to fight me, Juvia? Have I done something wrong?"

"Yes you did!"

Gray stared at me with exasperated eyes, his lips quivering for some reason. "Then what is it so I could say sorry? After this, it's over."

"You wouldn't be able to say sorry..." I whispered in the wind, though I was sure he didn't hear me. And what did I just...? I don't understand myself anymore.

"What?"

A tear fell on my cheek, and of course he wouldn't notice it because it's raining. "No! Let go of me." Bad thing? My voice cracked in the end. I sobbed though, making it palpable that I was crying already.

"Wait, are you crying?" He asked frantically.

"No, I'm not!" I hated myself for sniffing out loud.

He sent me a dry look. "Yes, you are. What did I do now?"

"You did nothing..." I mumbled.

"Then why don't you want to go with me? It seems like you're mad at me for some reason."

"I am mad but... but..."

"But what?"

"I'm mad at myself." I continued quietly. "for being the most idiotic person on earth." I wanted to say more-I wanted to speak with my heart, but it's hard with Gray in front of me. Right at this moment something hit me. The cupid struck me hard with its arrow too many times that I've lost count. There's no denying it. I'm already in love with Gray Fullbuster.

One of Erza's dares was to make him-pertaining to Gray-fall. But I guess that won't be happening. It should be the other way around. Gray loved somebody else, and obviously that girl is not me. It's like karma slapped my face.

"Idiot?" Gray had this bewildered look on his face that almost sent me to craziness. Talking about dense? I have this man right in front of me. "Give me ten reasons as to why you're mad at yourself. It should be valid, dear." I couldn't believe the fact that he just called me dear with that deep voice of his. It's making me feel warm through this chilly rain.

"I'm sure it's valid, but I can only say one reason."

"And that is...?"

I got ready for the upcoming rejection before I let the words come out of my mouth. "I like you. Love you, rather." I waited for three seconds and when he didn't answer, I ran away. Tried to, but failed miserably. Gray held my hand in a comforting way that I wish he'd never let it go.

He embraced me while rubbing my back and whispered, "I love you too, idiot. Will you please be my girlfriend again?" I may be overreacting, but I need oxygen.

"Who are you calling an idiot? And yes..."

He let go, cupped my cheeks, and put his warm lips on mine. "Yes, you are an idiot. But you aren't the only one since we're both dense." We guffawed at this. The only funny thing I thought was: "Pardon me for failing your last dare, Erza."