Ch. 34 - He's jealous?!

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“Wha-? W-Who the hell posted this?!” my eyes widened as I kept messing my hair up. W-What am I gonna do? I-I-if this spreads out, my plan to remain that our relationship a secret will be... will be ruined!

Just then, Natsu suddenly walks up in front of me and scratched the back of his head, speaking in a hoarse voice I've never heard before. “Oy, listen up, you lot. Nothing is going between me and Lucy. I mean, come on, don't tell me you guys don't comfort your girl-gendered bestfriends?”

The crowd nodded, murmuring in agreement. Natsu sighs, “Seriously, if Luce and I were dating, we'd be making out and stuff, not simply talking alone together by the lockers.” he scoffed.

I blushed at his remark but decided to control myself from bursting with joy from his description. The crowd 'awed' disappointedly and walked away from the two of us.

“The hell? All that for nothin'.”

“Yes! This means Natsu is single still!”

“Stupid. You ain't Natsu's type.”

As the crowd and their murmurings disappeared, Natsu and I managed to fall on the floor and groaned with frustration. “T-That was too close...” I sighed in relief.

“Yeah. Good thing those guys believed in my story.” Natsu spoke, rising up back to his feet then sniffed. “We better go get to class, then, Luce.” he handed out his hand.

I hesitated to reach out to take it. Managing to look away, I shook my head then stood up by myself. “Uhn. I can manage. Come on, then.”

C-Control yourself, Lucy. Remember, you're supposed to let Lisanna have her chance but then again, maybe I'll tell Natsu my real feelings later at midnight so at least he wouldn't hear what I confessed. At least to get rid of the reason why my chest tightens everytime I'm near Natsu.

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in class . . . . . .

     As the usual everyday routine, the teacher came in and started discussing about Physics of how to find distance, speed and velocity and stuff. Meanwhile, as I was copying notes, the door swung open, causing everyone to look at the door.

“Eucliffe! Just what in heaven's name are you doing?” the teacher gasped as he grasped the chalk tightly, standing straight and tall in front of that blonde dude I bumped into yesterday.

“Shut the hell up.” he stated, looking around the classroom as if nothing was wrong with what he was doing. Then he leaves by slamming the door close with a grunt and gritted teeth.

Half of the class were staring at the door while the other half stared awkwardly at the cowardice of a teacher. He cleared his throat, “N-Now then, w-where was I... a-ag-again?” he stammered nervously.

The class groaned when he still continued discussing. Probably because they wanted class to be dismissed since there is only 20 minutes before his class dismisses.

“Luce,” I heard someone call. Didn't have to turn to know who. “did you know who that was?” he asked in a deep, low voice, careful not to let the science teach hear us.

“I-I don't know but, he seemed nice when he helped me get up.” I said, then went back to looking at the front while taking down notes.

“He--He helped you what?!”

I shushed him in a whisper then looked at the adult--he was still teaching. Thank God for him to not notice. I shot a look at Natsu, “Natsu, whatever 'issue' you're thinking, don't. We'll talk about this later.”

What's wrong with him? Asking such a ridiculoua question while class is in process... w-wait a minute--c-could it be that he's . . . .

I turned to look at Natsu's irritated expression as his chin rested on the palm of his hand then looked away from class.

. . . jealous?

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As soon as the class bell rang, we waited for the science teacher. And as for me, my arms were folded together, waiting for Natsu to come and ask me that question. T-Try to keep it cool, Lucy. Y-You still don't even know if your theory is true.

   “Lucy! Let's go get Erza to eat lunch together with us!” Levy called while waving her hands around the air.

I raised a hand and smiled nervously. “U-Uh-Uhm, y-you go on ahead. I-I have to talk to someone.”

She shrugged, looking suspiciously worried. “Oh well, try to catch up with us, then, okay?”

I nodded and waved as she went on ahead of me. I turned to see Natsu and was about to ask but, “Natsu, we--” he was actually snoozing off to his dreamland.

I grunted then smashed his head with my hand. “Ugh! You're a real jerk, aren't you?! I'm out of here!” damn him! Telling me he was gonna talk to me but he stiffed me off! Ugh! I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!

     “Lucy,” Natsu managed to grab me by the wrist before I could leave the room. He had his deep hoarse voice. “come with me.”

His voice just now sounded scary. I've never heard his voice like this before. Now what did I even do wrong to him?

“Natsu, if you're still going on about that blonde guy, forget it. Nothing happened!”  he ignored me. He just ignored my explanation and continued to pull me by my wrist towards behind the school. “Natsu! Listen to me!”

I tried forcing his hand to let go of mine but he still wouldn't listen. He continued to pull me, this time, he tightened his grip on me, enough to make me wince in pain.

“I-It... hurts...”

Natsu stopped by the sound of my voice then turned, staring at my hand. He then pulls me on the other way, heading towards the clinic. “Huh. Nobody's around.” he shook his head disappointedly and sat beside me by the waiting area. He held my hand and started massaging it.

“Ow--Ow!”

“Sorry.  But, once this is over, you won't feel any pain.”

I sighed, pulling my hair back. “Lucy,” he started with a deep voice while he was still massaging my hand. “tell me already.”

“Tell you what...?” did he find me out?

He lifted his face, wearing a poker expression. “Are you an old woman? Duh. What did that blondie help you with?”

At first, I paused to stare at him, his words still processing inside my mind. “Seriously? All that grumpiness was about that issue?”

He looked away, letting go of my hand. My hand feeling cold when his warmth went away. I wanted him to hold my hands--to keep me warm all day.

“Yeah. So, what if it's an issue? I mean, who knows? Maybe it wasn't just a coincidence he helped you. Who knows what his motives were?”

My eyes widened, making me gasp out loud. Later, I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing. He looked to his side and frowned when he saw me snickering.

“Are you insulting me?”

“S-So-Sorry! I-It's just... pft--t-too hilarious how those words are coming from you, Natsu!” I couldnt help it. For a second there, he was like another person, like a matured man. But it was too good to be true, of course.

He grunted, “This ain't funny--not one bit.” he came in closer and stared into my eyes, our nose already twitching just by feeling each other. Instead of continuing to laugh, I gulped, feeling nervous of what comes next.

“O-Okay, I-I'll tell you. Just...move away.” I pushed his chest away from my body so, we adjusted our space a little then, fixed ourselves. “That happened yesterday. I was rushing out the school to--to...” I blushed, shakig my head. “I just had an errand to do that day so, yeah, I bumped into him, he helps me get up then poof, off he went.”

He didn't seem amused or satisfied with my story. “There's gotta be more. Dis he take you out for coffee to make it up to you?”

My eyes squinted at his theory. “Natsu, you better straighten yourself and your story because you do know I'm not a cheap girl who would allow a complete stranger to take me out to a coffee shop.”

My eyes completely felt open once I realized. I looked to my right where Natsu was sitting. He was crouching with his elbows on both of his legs and a chin covering his mouth. A blush rising to both sides of his cheeks and behind his ear.

“Natsu, don't tell me you're jealous of him?”

He grunted, turning his back on me. “So what if I am? I mean, imagine having what's yours be touched by someone else. The nerve of that bastard.”

I couldn't hear what he was saying but I know for sure he was whispering about me again as usual. I place both of my hands on my hips and pouted. “Well, don't tell me I'm a weirdo for saying you're jealous! Idiot.”

“Whatever. And I ain't jealous. What kind of guy would even like a girl like you?” he snickered at his own words as he rested his head in between his arms as he walked out from the clinic.

What kind of guy would even like a girl like you?

My heart was aching but, I knew I had to be strong. “Natsu...” I called him in a hoarse voice. He gulped, slowly daring to turn his head around. At the exact time he saw me, I immediately punched his face, sending him flying towards the wall in front of the clinic.

“YOU NO-GOOD, CHILDISH MAN!! YOU NEVER HAD ONE SENSE OF DELICACY!! SURVIVE A MONTH WITHOUT FOOD, asshole!”

I hate him.
I loathe him.
I hate him even more!